Before summer hits, the spring temperatures will allow our heating bills to settle a bit. While we're fighting neither heat nor cold, it is a good time to see how Rodenhiser can increase your energy savings. There is an Energy Star website that can help do that. With a quick input of some basic information, area homeowners can get helpful tips on energy savings for summer and ways to get prepared for another winter.
A homeowner with a gas furnace, gas water heater and central air can get tips at the Energy Star website such as these:
- Seal up leaks--Homes with leaks lose conditioned interior air. Gaps at doors and windows and around attic spaces costs many homeowners higher energy bills.
- Seal ducts--Ducts can lose their seal at joints over time; they can develop rusty holes, get rips in flexible ducting and become loose in hidden areas of the home. A close inspection of ducting can find those leaks. Sealing them keeps cool and warm air from being lost.
- Increase insulation--Recommended insulation levels in our area are an R-38 for attics and R-18 for walls. Increasing insulation keeps outside temperatures from penetrating into our living space.
- Upgrade equipment--Energy efficiency has dramatically increased in the last 10 years. If your boiler, furnace, water heater or air conditioner is aging, look at upgrading to increase your energy savings.
- Programmable thermostats--These thermostats are an excellent means of conserving energy during hours the home is unoccupied. Lower settings increase energy savings by reducing gas and electrical consumption.
Go to the Energy Star website and see other tips to help you maximize your energy savings. It's anonymous, private and has great information. If you have any questions about your equipment or how to go about increasing your home comfort and lower your bills, give us a call. The Rodenhiser team is always happy to help you keep your home comfort at its best and your utility bills at their lowest.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about saving energy and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide.
Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning serves the Route 495/128 area of Medway MA. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.