Monster Mechanical Energy Saving Tips
At Monster Mechanical in Oak Ridge, NJ, we know how expensive heating and cooling your home can be. In many cases, they account for up to 70% of your utility bills! While heating and cooling can be expensive, there are many things you can do to reduce energy bills that don’t require the service of a contractor.
Below are our top home energy saving tips:
Modify the temperature per season based on your family’s needs. If you are not home as much in the summer, you can set your thermostat for a higher degree, thus, causing your air conditioner to not run as frequently. The same applies to your furnace, heat pump or boiler in the winter. Changing the temperature by only 1 or 2 degrees can make a dramatic change to reduce energy bills.
Invest in a programmable thermostat so your temperatures fluctuate automatically. You can set your thermostat to be higher or lower for your home during the day, depending on the season, so you aren’t heating or cooling an empty home.
As your incandescent light bulbs burn out, replace them with compact fluorescent ones. These bulbs last longer and save energy. If you MUST use an incandescent bulb, use a lower wattage one.
Decrease the temperature on your water heater from the standard 140 degrees to 120 degrees. This will not only save you money on your monthly utility bills but could also prolong the life of the water heater since it is not working as hard.
Check to make sure the weather stripping on exterior doors is in good shape and actually seals. Also check your windows to make sure they seal properly. Keeping your windows locked also helps to insure that they are closed and sealed.
Make sure you change the filter in your furnace or heat pump. Doing so prevents the machine from having to work harder to circulate air. This prolongs the life of your equipment, and improves your indoor air quality. Lack of regular filter changes and maintenance is the Number 1 cause of system breakdowns and costly repair bills.
Have your Air Conditioning and Heating system tuned-up for the season, so that you are running at peak efficiency. Operating at peak efficiency will lower energy bills because the system doesn’t have to work as hard to do its job.
Flip the fan switch on your thermostat into the “fan on” mode when cooling the house. This process will ensure that air is always being stirred to prevent hot and cold pockets from forming.
Set air vents on the second floor to receive approximately 75 percent of the conditioned air. This will help even out the temperatures from the first to the second floor of the home.
Keep the shades and curtains drawn to reduce the radiant heat of the sun.
Install awnings or plant trees that will shade southern facing windows. This keeps the hottest rays of the sun from shining directly into the house during the summer.
Install an attic fan to help ventilate some of the hot air out of the attic in the summer. Attics can reach temperatures of 140 – 150 degrees and this build-up of warm air can make the upstairs of a home warmer than it needs to be. This makes the air conditioner work harder to do its job. It costs you more to cool your home and the life of the system can be decreased.
Run a dehumidifier in the basement if the basement is humid. A damp basement can add moisture to the whole house in the summer. A dehumidifier in the basement will help to reduce the humidity levels in the home, making it more comfortable throughout the hot summer months.
Clear or cut back shrubs and bushes from the outdoor unit. The sides of the unit require at least 12-18 inches of clearance for proper performance. In addition, keep fallen leaves, grass clippings, foliage and other dirt and debris away from your outdoor unit. And keep the a/c coils clean, following manufacturers’ instructions.
All of these home energy saving tips will help lower energy bills, while keeping your family comfortable all year long.