It’s a fact of life that your energy bill fluctuates month to month and season to season. Most people are aware of this — and for the same reason, they often don’t notice how high their bill is until it suddenly jumps. Then comes the hard part: scrambling to figure out the reason why their bill increased and how to lower it by the next month. Thankfully, Blanco AC, Electrical & Plumbing has compiled a list of tips and tricks to help lower your energy bill. Read on to learn more about ways you can use less energy all year round!
1. Change/Clear air filters
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), more than half of your energy bill goes to heating and cooling your home.
Surprisingly, you can reduce your AC’s energy consumption from 15% to 5% just by cleaning your AC’s air filter alone.
The Energy Star program recommends that air filters should be changed every month, or at least every three months. While it may seem like a hassle, a monthly filter change is much less expensive than having to call a professional electrician or HVAC technician for system maintenance or to repair a system failure.
2. Repair damaged ductwork
Cracks and holes in your ducts can be a major source of energy loss. And at no surprise — your air ducts are one of the most important systems in your home! They’re located inside your walls, floors, and attics. Like any other complex system that runs daily, they require maintenance.
According to Energy Star, in a typical house, about 20 to 30 percent of the air that goes through the duct system is lost due to leaks and holes. Failing to patch up leaky ductwork could be one of the reasons why your energy bill has hiked over time.
If you’re noticing that some rooms in your home are warmer or cooler than others, or that there’s more dust than usual, it could that mean your air ducts are leaking.
It is possible for homeowners to take on a DIY approach and repair ducts on their own, but for hard to reach places, it might be best to call a professional electrician. We at Blanco AC would be happy to perform a duct inspection in your home to help you achieve a lower energy bill overall. Blanco AC specializes in air duct replacement and repair services to keep your home cooling efficiently all year long.
3. Fix leaky faucets and water heater leaks
Heating and cooling aren’t the only things that can be increasing your energy bill.
Plumbing related issues, such as leaky faucets or water heater leaks, could also be hidden causes.
One way to check if you’re having either of these issues is to take a look at your faucets. If they’re constantly dripping, you have a plumbing issue. Thankfully, this is an easy fix for a professional plumber.
However, another issue that’s more complicated is a water heater leak. If your water heater is older and you notice water gathered where the pipe on your heater enters the ground, it might need repairs. A leaking water heater is almost the same as having hot water running for several hours a day – it wastes water, electricity and costs you money that should be staying in your pocket.
Whether you need help with a simple leaky faucet or a water heater leak, Blanco AC can help. We offer not only air conditioning repair, but professional plumbing repair services as well!
4. Replace or remove old appliances
Sometimes a high energy bill may not have to do so much with issues in your AC or plumbing, but more with the appliances you’re using.
Do you have an old TV in your home that no one uses? Or an old-fashioned refrigerator in your garage that holds only a few items? Appliances that were built in the 1990s are likely a huge culprit behind your high energy bill if they are still plugged in to an electrical outlet.
According to Energy Star, old appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers didn’t even receive a rating until after 1997.
Newer appliances are made to be more energy efficient, so it might help cut your bill to replace any old appliance you either no longer use or suspect just might be older than you!
Contact Blanco AC, Electrical & Plumbing
For any more of your AC, Electrical or Plumbing needs, contact Blanco AC. We’re more than happy to answer any questions regarding how you can lower your energy bill, optimize your home’s energy use, or show you more about your home’s service needs! Contact us today to start getting the most out of your home’s heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical use.
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