When the more extreme temperatures begin to set in here in St. Louis, whether that is our very chilly winters, or our hot and humid summers, the first thing most of us want to do is change the thermostat way up (or way down!). However, when the unfortunate reality of those energy bills kicks in, we tend to become a little more judicious with that thermostat dial. The good news is that there are ways in which you can enjoy a comfortable home temperature setting while still seeing reasonable energy bill costs. Read on to learn more about what we are talking about.
In St. Louis and the surrounding areas, if you would like more information about how you can save on energy bills when it comes to your heating & air conditioning, give Galmiche & Sons a call today. We look forward to answering any questions you may have, or scheduling your routine HVAC maintenance appointment with one of our service technicians.
How to Keep Those Energy Bills Down Simply Using Your Thermostat
The more temperatures differ outside from the temperature inside your home, the higher you can expect your energy bills to be. How do you find that perfect temperature that lets you relax in comfort while not creating a monster in energy usage? Here are a few tips we think will be helpful in your endeavor to keep your energy bills reasonable:
- Adjust your thermostat a few degrees – By adjusting your thermostat just a few degrees up or down, depending on the season, you can reduce the load on your HVAC system. For example, if the outside temperature is 90° and your thermostat is set at 75°, that’s a 15° degree difference. By going up just a couple degrees, you reduce the load significantly, which results in energy bill savings.
- Nights and out of the house – When nights are cooler, especially in early summer, you can save by turning off your thermostat and opening windows overnight to reduce your cooling. You can also reduce your heating or cooling use when you are out of the house or asleep by changing the thermostat up or down before you leave or go to sleep.
- Programmable thermostat – Consider investing in a programmable thermostat if you do not already have one. This will make it easier for you to control your home energy use, and therefore your home energy bills because you can tell the thermostat exactly when temperatures should reduce or heighten.
Other Ways to Keep Your Energy Costs Down
In addition to taking control of your energy bills with your thermostat, here are a few other ways to help keep your home warm or cool, depending on the season:
- Use ceiling fans – Make use of your home’s ceiling fans whether it is in summer or winter. In the summer, ceiling fans are, of course, a great tool to create a breeze in the room they occupy. However, in winter, heat loss occurs because hot air rises. However, usually with a simple flick of a switch, your ceiling fan’s direction can be changed and used to gently push that warm air back down into the room.
- Clothing – While it is nice to be able to wear whatever you feel like at home, if you wear lighter clothing in summer or add a couple layers in winter, you can add to your home comfort without adding to your energy bills.
- Check for air leaks – Check for and seal places where air is leaking, such as window and door frames. This will improve energy efficiency and lessen the load on your HVAC.
- Use curtains and shades – In the summer, draw the curtains and lower the shades where the sun is shining during its peak times. Likewise, in winter, use heavy curtains as an insulator to keep warm air in.
Learn More About How You Can Save On Your Energy Bills
For more information on how you can save on your heating & air conditioning energy bills for your St. Louis area home, give Galmiche & Sons a call. We are happy to help with all your HVAC needs.
