To say that a lot of money goes into heating and cooling our homes would be an understatement. If you live in an area that’s prone to swelteringly hot summers and/or bitterly cold winters, a sizable chunk of your income is likely to be put toward maintaining comfortable temperatures in your residence. While there’s no end-all solution for exorbitant heating and cooling costs, there are a number of convenient ways to save yourself some money in this area.
So, if you’re tired of forking over a small fortune to keep your home at an agreeable temperature, put the following pointers to good use.
Install Ceiling Fans
Although ceiling fans aren’t exactly a substitute for air conditioning, they can work in tandem with AC to ensure that your home stays comfortably cool throughout the summer months. For best results, install dependable ceiling fans in key areas and set them to rotate counterclockwise. This will enable them to blow air downward and create a cool, refreshing breeze. Conversely, during the cooler months, you should set your fans to rotate clockwise, as this will facilitate good air circulation without making your home uncomfortably cold. For maximum safety, make sure that your fans are completely turned off before proceeding to switch the direction of the blades.
Open Your Windows
During the summertime, outside temperatures tend to get much cooler after the sun goes down. So, if there’s a significant difference in daytime and nighttime temps in your area, consider taking advantage of this. Once the sun sets and the temperature cools down, turn off your AC and open your windows. Next, use your ceiling fans to circulate the cool outdoor air throughout your home. In many cases, this is more comfortable and far more cost-effective than leaving your AC on all night.
Have Your Temperature-Control Devices Serviced Regularly
To operate at peak efficiency, your home’s heating and air conditioning units will need to be serviced on a regular basis. The exact frequency with which these essential devices should be professionally serviced varies depending on age, manufacturer, model and level of usage. If you’re unclear on your heater or AC’s recommended service schedule, have a look at their respective owner’s manuals, visit the websites of their manufacturers or contact the manufacturers directly. When servicing your units, seasoned pros will meticulously inspect them for signs of wear, identify any potential problems that may be brewing and carry out thorough cleanings. Additionally, if you need help with cleaning dirty air conditioner coils, simply entrust this task to a trained serviceperson.
Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Windows
A fair amount of air escapes through your windows, even when they’re not open. The more air that escapes, the harder your heating and AC have to work – and the harder these devices have to work, the more you can expect to pay. In the interest of giving your heating and AC a break and bringing down your energy costs, consider replacing your current windows with energy-efficient ones. Unlike standard single-paned windows, energy-efficient windows contain multiple panes, making it difficult for inside air to escape and outside air to enter.
Since energy-efficient windows tend to be pricier than single-paned windows, it’s easy to see why so many homeowners pass them up. While it’s true that the immediate expense is somewhat high, energy-efficient windows stand to save you a considerable sum in heating and cooling costs over the long run. Provided you have the resources to spare, parting ways with a little bit of money in the short term is preferable to shelling out a princely sum on a monthly basis.
Another way to be energy-efficient is via using radiators that do not waste much energy and save a lot of money.
Hang Thermal Curtains
If energy-efficient windows are out of your price range, considering investing in high-quality thermal curtains. Per their name, thermal curtains are substantially thicker than standard window dressings. Like energy-efficient windows, they can help keep indoor air inside and outdoor air outside. As an added bonus, some thermal curtains are adept at muffling outside noise. So, if you live in a perpetually noisy area, thermal curtains may prove conducive to a quieter home.
It’s no secret that many homeowners spend a sizable sum on heating and cooling costs. Although state-of-the-art heating and air conditioning are necessities in virtually any modern-day home, there’s no rule stating that you have to pay a king’s ransom in order to maintain comfortable temperatures. While there’s no way to eliminate heating and cooling costs entirely, there are numerous steps you can take to bring these costs down.
