Who doesn’t love this time of year? Leaves are changing colors and the landscape is filled with beautiful new
As we unpack our sweaters and dust off our boots, it also happens to be a great time to save energy. There are some simple but effective things you can do this time of year to get the most out of your air conditioning and heating system. Here are our top tips to increase energy savings and reduce your monthly bills:
Adjust your thermostat
Just as you change your clocks or smoke alarm batteries, adjusting your thermostat regularly is an important habit to develop. If you have a programmable thermostat, consider adjusting your air to come on only when you need it. Take advantage of cool evening temperatures, and make sure your system isn’t running non stop when no one is at home. If you’re interested in upgrading your thermostat to one that adjusts automatically according to your lifestyle, we can help you with that.
Bring out the blankets
Sure, it sounds simple, but by wearing extra layers around the house, or throwing on more blanket at night, you can keep keep warm without having to crank up the heat before you absolutely have to. Flannel and fleece will help trap heat in and keep your body warmer throughout the night. Natural bedding materials like cotton, wool or down will also help keep you warm without leaving you feeling overheated.
Test run your heater
It’s important to turn on your heater and give it a test run before you desperately need it. You will most likely smell a slight burning odor, which is perfectly normal the first time around. This is due to dust that has settled on the heating components and will go away quickly. The more important point of this exercise is to make sure your heat actually comes on and works properly. If it doesn’t, or you suspect some other issue, call us. We’ll send out a technician to diagnose the problem before temperatures get too cold.
Reverse your ceiling fans
Simply changing the direction of your ceiling fans to reverse can reduce heating costs by circulating the warmer air that settles up near the ceiling. Maintain the current, or regular, fan direction if you still want to cool down during the afternoon without having to turn on the AC, or until the temperatures are consistently cool.
Check your filters
We can’t stress enough how important it is that you are regularly cleaning and/or replacing your air-conditioning system filters. By doing so routinely, you can reduce your energy costs by up to 15%. This also helps cut down on allergens or dust that can circulate in your home and negatively effect sinuses.
Schedule a seasonal checkup
We love to service systems before they have problems. This is because preventative maintenance can save you so much money and stress in the long-run. If you haven’t scheduled a checkup (or you’re long overdue), get us on your calendar while temperatures are mild. We want to make sure your home is ready for winter, and help you avoid emergency break downs during our busiest times of the year or when temperatures are at their lowest. Call us at (317) 585-8981 and we’ll get your heating and cooling system in tip-top shape.
