Learn how to save on energy bills in simple and easy steps:
Bills are an inevitable part of life. Mortgage, heat, hydro, water, cable, it all adds up. At some point, we can be left scratching our heads at where our paycheck went.
As a homeowner, you are responsible for every little thing that happens in your home, and it can get pretty costly at the end of the month.
But not every bill needs to leave you cringing in fear. There are many ways homeowners can save on their monthly energy bill by improving efficiency in their homes. Civil plumbing will help you to save on energy bills.
Seal Air Leaks in Your Home’s Duct System
Your air ducts are a vital part of your home, and if they are poorly insulated, they will be contributing to your high-energy bill.
Energy losses in cooling/heating ducts in most homes can run 25-30%. Luckily, most of these losses are due to air leaks that can be easily fixed.
Check your ducts for sections that should be joined, but have been separated, with obvious holes. The best type of tape to seal holes in your ductwork are duct mastic, foil tape, butyl tape, and other heat-approved tapes.
Also, make sure that connections at vents and registers are well-sealed where they meet the floors, ceilings, and walls. These are common places to find leaks and disconnected ductwork.
If you find some rooms are always cold or often too stuffy, you could have a leak somewhere you can’t see, and might need to call in a professional to take a look.
Using Curtains and Drapes Helps Control the Temperature in Your Home
Poorly insulated windows can result in temperature issues throughout the home. Having the right window coverings, however, can make a huge difference on your bill by managing some of the warm and cool air transfer.
Curtains and drapes are not just for decor; they can help improve and maintain the temperature in your home. Picking the right kind of drapes can reduce heat gains by up to 33%. Drapes should be drawn at night, especially in the winter months, although the weather doesn’t get too cold in San Diego, CA.
Keeping drapes closed during the heat is helpful also, to keep the heat out, and keep the room cooler. Drapes also stay cooler in the summer than some other window coverings because their pleats and folds lose heat through convection.
To maximize effectiveness, curtains or drapes should sit as close to the window as possible, and fall all the way down to the floor or window sill.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
When it comes to save on energy, a programmable thermostat is a quick payoff. If you were to turn the heat down 10 degrees during the day, and 5 degrees at night, you would be cutting your energy bill by 5-20 percent.
Sure, this can all be done manually. But the beauty of a programmable thermostat is that it can raise the temperature before you get out of bed in the morning, and never forgets to turn it down at night.
General home hardware stores carry many different programmable models. The prices range from $25.00 – $100.00, depending on how many programming options you would like. A standard programmable thermostat will work with most heating/cooling systems, with the exception of electric baseboard heating systems. These require a ‘line voltage’ thermostat.
Paying bills is inevitable. But paying excruciatingly high energy bills are not. Not now that you have discovered these three cost-effective ways to improve energy efficiency in your home, and keep some cash in your pocket this year, Just save on energy bills.