Making my Home More Energy Efficient

One simple solution to making your home more energy efficient is to upgrade your HVAC system to a newer more efficient one but if getting a new furnace and air conditioner just isn’t an option right now, but you’d still like to save a bit of money, here are some efficiency tips:

Get Rid of Dust

Dust gets into your ducts and furnace filter, clogging it so the HVAC system has to work harder. Your furnace filter should be changed every 3 months and make sure it’s installed properly – the arrows on the filter should be pointing towards the furnace, not the duct. If you clean your ducts and vents, less dust gets into the air and less dust gets sucked back into the furnace, making your system work more efficiently.  Furnaces can be a breeding ground for bacteria so it’s important to keep it as clean as possible. While you should change the filter yourself, the ducts, fans, and motor need to be cleaned by a professional.

HVAC Check-Up

You should have your system checked twice a year – your air conditioner in the spring and your furnace in the fall. Preventative maintenance ensures your system is running in tip-top shape, as efficiently as it was designed for.

Seal Ducts

When your system is running, feel for spots along your ductwork where air might be escaping, particularly where registers meet floors, walls or ceilings. Use metal tape or mastic sealant (not duct tape, ironically – it doesn’t last) to cover any leaks.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are not home for periods of time during the day or week. It can be set so that your home changes temperatures to be more comfortable when you are home and cooler in the winter or warmer in the summer when you aren’t home, making your HVAC system work less.

Insulation

Adding new or additional insulation to your walls, ceilings, and attics along with proper caulking along doors and windows will help to prevent cool air escaping during the summer and cold air seeping in during the winter. Fewer air leaks during the winter also can add to the natural moisture of the air without having to run a humidifier.

Windows

Windows can be a major source of heat loss in your home. Newer windows, especially ones with the Energy Star label have double, or triple glazing with sealed glass which has inert gas trapped inside, plus the sashes and frames have insulation built in to prevent air seepage around the edges.

If your windows are older, while leaving blinds and curtains open are wonderful for letting in natural light, they can also let in vast amounts of heat in the summer or cold in the winter. Leaving blinds closed during the heat of the day, particularly if in direct sunlight, can help reduce temperatures greatly on upper floors. Curtains can also be kept closed in the winter to act as a barrier between drafty, cold windows.