How to Keep Your Energy Bill Low in Extreme Temperatures

Whether the temperatures are heading to the high 80s or 90s or plummeting to the low 20s, that fast change in temperature can have a massive impact on your HVAC system. With those extreme temperatures also come extreme energy bills. You want to keep your home and family comfortable, but what do you do to keep your energy bills in check as well?

1. Consider upgrading to a newer high-efficiency HVAC system

How old is your system? If it is older than 10-15 years, you may want to consider getting a new system. There have been major advances in technology that have made HVAC systems much more energy-efficient. Make sure to check the SEER rating and talk to your local trusted contractor before settling on a system. Most efficiency systems have a rating between 14 and 18.

2. Always buy Energy Star labeled equipment.

Energy Star equipment has to meet very strict guidelines from the EPA. There is also a possibility of receiving rebates from your utility companies when you use Energy Star equipment.

3. Determine your usage needs

No one knows your home better than you. Determine where you don’t need as much heat or air and then install programmable thermostats to decrease your usage when it’s not needed, like when you are at work or on vacation, or at night when everyone is sleeping.

4. Turn up your thermostat

You would be surprised how much money you could save just by turning up the thermostat a few degrees. It is recommended to keep your home between 68 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit or as high or as low as your household can stand.

5. Clean up around you

By removing dirt and debris from around your air conditioning unit you can keep all airflow paths clear. If you don’t, you run the risk of having your system clogged up. It doesn’t just have to be about your residential AC system. If you are a business owner, don’t neglect your roof.

6. Keep the sun out

Make sure to close your blinds on the west and south facing windows to keep the sun out, especially in the summer. If not, your air conditioner will have to work a lot harder to keep those rooms cool.

7. Do not ignore regular maintenance

Just like your car, your HVAC system needs regular maintenance. By having it performed on your AC unit in spring and your furnace in the fall you will have fewer problems on the hottest or coldest day of the year. Maintenance also means your system will be performing at peak efficiency which saves your household money.