Household Tips
Immediately Save Energy.
Get annual heating system tune-ups.
When your burner is running at peak efficiency your fuel consumption is minimized. That not only saves up to 10% on annual fuel bills, it also increases the lifespan of your furnace.
Spring tune-ups give you more.
Did you know that you have an advantage if you get your furnace tuned up in the spring rather than in the fall? When a furnace sits idle all summer long combustion residue that settles in the heat exchanger absorbs humidity from the basement and becomes nearly impossible to remove in its entirety. Have your furnace tuned up in the spring, before it goes on hiatus for the summer months. Any residue will still be dry, not affected by humidity and easily and effectively vacuumed from the heat exchanger, helping you achieve maximum efficiency for your furnace.
Change or clean your furnace filter regularly. This improves the flow of air and prevents your system from working harder than it needs to, which wastes energy.
Assess the furnace.
Investigate the advantages of replacing your conventional furnace with a high-efficiency one. Reports show that this can result in cost savings as high as 15 per cent – making it well worth the investment.
Circulate: Remember that warm air rises so turn on your ceiling fan to redistribute it into the rest of the room. In the winter months, the blades should rotate in a clockwise direction.
Move furniture away from vents.
Let the warm or cool air circulate freely so your system works more easily and minimizes fuel and energy consumption.
Install a programmable thermostat.
Then adjust temperature settings to energy-saving levels when you’re sleeping or away from home. You’ll lower your heating and cooling costs by 15% per year.
The dry towel energy saver.
Put a dry towel in the dryer with each load of wet clothes. The towel will absorb dampness and reduce drying time up to 33%.
Reduce Energy Use
- Keep Your Air Conditioning Unit Healthy
- Keep outdoor condenser clean
- Use a hose to thoroughly wash off any debris and build up on the outside cabinet of your AC unit. Also, keep a cushion of at least one or two feet between your condenser and any trees, shrubs, or outdoor décor.
- Keep outdoor unit level.
- Make sure that your outdoor AC unit is on a flat service. An uneven unit will not be able to properly drain. The best option is to have a professional place it on a concrete slab.
Utilize shrubs and tree
Planting a tall tree or shrub around the outside of your house can greatly increase the efficiency of your air conditioning unit. The shading these plants produce can decrease your energy costs by as much as 25%. Deciduous trees are especially effective (ones that shed their leaves in the winter). You’ll receive cool shade all summer long, while allowing warming sunlight to enter your home all winter.
Have your unit serviced at the beginning of the season
Call Hoover’s Home Energy Inc to have us clean and check your A/C at the beginning of the season to ensure optimum efficiency.
Consider replacing an older central A/C unit
Today’s models offer much higher efficiencies and should have a higher SEER rating than your current model and can save up to 40% of your cooling costs and with electricity cost today that can mean big savings.
