Spring is in the air here in St. Louis – which means spring cleaning! Aside from purging your closet and getting around to dusting the blinds, here are some tips and tricks you can do that will increase energy savings around your home. If you have unaddressed questions or want to learn more about improving energy efficiency in your HVAC System, reach out to our St. Louis heating & air conditioning company for additional support.
10 Energy Saving Tips:
- Schedule an HVAC maintenance appointment: Want to lower your energy bills and get cleaner air? Cleaning and maintaining air filters on a regular basis can lower energy consumption by 15%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Having a professional clean and check your system will give you peace of mind that your HVAC system is operating as efficiently as possible and saving energy.
- Take advantage of ceiling fans: During the spring take the time to clean and dust all of your ceiling fans. You can then reduce the energy used by your air conditioning unit by using ceiling fans, which allow you to raise your thermostat by up to 4 degrees. During warmer months, ensure the blades spin counter-clockwise to push cooler air down.
- Eliminate dust in your ducts and vents: An easy way to increase energy savings is to clean out dust and dirt that has built up over the winter in the vents and ducts. It will also help you breathe easier and lengthen your HVAC systems lifespan.
- Repair air leaks: Prevent outside air from seeping into your home by looking for openings or gaps around windows, doors, or other openings and sealing them with caulking, sealant, or weather stripping. This helps keep the hot, St. Louis summer air out and the cool air-conditioned air in.
- Invest in window treatments: Prevent your home from baking like an oven and add a touch of style with curtains, blinds, or shades that deflect the heat of the sun’s rays and are energy-efficient. Save energy and costs associated with running your air conditioner by preemptively blocking out the sun.
- Change your light bulbs: Switch from incandescent light bulbs, which can heat up to 300 degrees and waste 90% of their energy producing heat. Instead use compact fluorescent (CFL) or light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs to increase energy savings and save money over the duration of their lifetime. LEDs that are ENERGY-STAR rated last 25 times longer and use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs.
- Repair leaky ducts for energy savings: Along with cleaning ducts, save energy by sealing them. You do not want to be spending money cooling the attic, and doing so can waste up to 30% of your air conditioners energy consumption. Reduce the work your cooling system has to do to keep you comfortable in St. Louis summers.
- Dust off your electronics: When dust accumulates on motors and electronics, they have to work harder and heat up faster. Save energy by dusting and cleaning office equipment, video game consoles, light bulbs, and refrigerator coils.
- Clean your sliding door track: An often-overlooked place that accumulates dirt and grime is the track for a sliding glass door. When gunk builds up, it has the potential to ruin the door’s frame, creating space for hot air from outside to come into your cool interior. Increase energy savings by keeping the track clean.
- Ensure your fridge’s seal is tight: Another way to easily increase energy savings in the home is to make sure cold air is not seeping out from the fridge and freezer into your home. Refrigerators use up a lot of energy compared to other household appliances – up to 11% – so maintaining an airtight seal will save you money.
Learn More About Energy Savings
These ten tips might not seem like they will make much of an impact, but altogether and over time, you will boost energy savings and save money while increasing your family’s comfort during the hot summer months. If you are not seeing desired results after implementing these maintenance tips, schedule an HVAC maintenance appointment with Galmiche to get your unit running in tip-top shape in no time!
