You’ve been trying to save more money for months. You’ve been eating out less often, limited the amount of times you go to the movies and even cut back on shopping. Still, despite saving money in those areas, your heart drops when you get your monthly utility bill in Charleston, South Carolina. Cut HVAC utility costs today by understanding where you can maximize energy usage and when you need professional assistance.
Schedule an Energy Audit
The best way to start using your energy more efficiently is to discover how it’s used. Some of the significant contributions to your energy bill likely come from sources that you can’t physically see or control.
With an energy audit performed by a licensed professional, you can discover where your energy goes and how each part contributes to your utility bill. These professionals know where to look. They’ll analyze your thermostat settings, HVAC system and even identify potential air leaks. Finally, they’ll ask you about your energy usage habits and help you develop a more energy-efficient lifestyle.
Schedule HVAC Maintenance
Hopefully you already have a habit of regular HVAC maintenance. If you don’t, there’s no better time to start than now. We recommend that you have HVAC maintenance conducted at least twice a year – once in the fall and once in the spring.
The winter and summer both force the HVAC system to work harder, and it needs a checkup before and after those seasons. HVAC maintenance generally involves a system inspection that determines if it’s working properly.
Following an inspection, service technicians often clean the system, which improves efficiency and air quality in your home. Maintenance allows your system to work at peak efficiency, which reduces its impact on utility costs.
Limit ‘Vampire’ Energy
These ‘vampires’ don’t come for you in the night; they come for your energy. When you turn off your appliances and electronics, they stop sapping electricity, right? Wrong. Despite flipping the switch off, your electronics continue to draw energy as long as they’re plugged in. That means you’re paying for energy you never use.
You can easily cut off ‘vampire’ energy by unplugging all your electronics and small appliances when you’re finished using them. You can also plug everything into power strips, which you can turn off when you aren’t using any of the devices.
Use a Smart Thermostat
A large part of cutting utility costs comes down to how you heat and cool your home. For instance, if you keep your system heating your home to a cozy temperature while you’re at work, you’re paying for energy that you don’t get to enjoy.
You can use a smart thermostat to take personalized control of the way you heat and cool your home. With it, you can program a schedule that will keep your home at different temperatures at different times of day.
Smart thermostats also run regular energy diagnostics on your home and send you reports. With that information, you can determine where you can improve energy usage.
Replace Air Filters
One of the simplest ways to cut utility costs is also one of the most neglected. Every HVAC system has an air filter that catches particles before they enter your living space. Without replacement, however, these filters can clog. This reduces indoor air quality and puts increased strain on your system. Check your air filter once a month and replace it when necessary.
Cut monthly utility costs, and you’ll have more money for the other areas of your budget. Let us do our part to scale down your utility costs by calling Berkeley Heating & Air Conditioning at (843) 277-6030.
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