Heating your home and heating your home efficiently are not one in the same. While heating your house to a comfortable temperature fulfills a need of course, moving beyond that need is to do so in a way that uses the least amount of energy as possible.
An efficiently heated home means you are going to have lower energy costs and use fewer resources. That’s a win-win.
Here are a few ways to get the most bang-for-your-buck as far as your house’s energy needs are concerned.
Update Your Insulation
One of the most important factors in keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer is to make sure the air your heater or air conditioner cycles through your house stays in your house. That means you need to have quality insulation. And, that insulation has to be installed correctly.
You will also want to make sure the attic is properly insulated as well as your basement or crawlspace. These are two areas that often get ignored.
You might even consider double insulating all of these areas.
Replace Old Windows
Like your insulation, having the best windows your budget allows makes sure the air you warm or cool to comfortable temperatures actually stays in your home. Old windows allow more air to escape than newer ones do. And, their seals might not be good.
If your current windows are serviceable, you can reseal them for a little extra insulation. But while costly, older windows that are noticeably drafty should be replaced. The money you will save on your utilities will more than make up for the replacement cost. And, it’s good for the overall value of your house.
Have a Professional Inspect Your HVAC System
Your HVAC system is a machine with a lot of moving parts. As such, over time it suffers a reasonable amount of wear and tear. That leads to a system that is not operating as well as it could be.
Having a professional HVAC technician inspect your system both before heavy usage begins in the summer and in the winter allows for them to make any tune ups, adjustments, and repairs that are necessary to get yours working as well as possible.
They will also be able to let you know when it’s time to replace the whole unit, which while an expensive up front cost, can save you thousands in energy costs over the years.
In Summary
Having your heater pumping out hot air only to have most of that air escape your house is a recipe for an extremely expensive utility bill. Two major ways to minimize that escaping air is with proper insulation and new energy efficient windows.
Another key factor in energy efficiency is to have an HVAC unit that’s working to the best of its ability. Dirty air filters and corroded wires can cause minor problems that slowly but surely get worse over time, increasing your energy bills. Having a professional do regular maintenance is more than worth the cost.
