Many homeowners understand that by doing the little things, like unplugging appliances and turning off lights, can save a little extra on the energy bill. However, most don’t know that an entire HVAC replacement can help save a significant amount of money in the long run. Here are a few of Warner Service’s favorite examples:
- Duct-work. Energy Star estimates that homeowners can improve the efficiency of their heating and cooling system by 20 percent by sealing the duct-work using duct sealant or metal-backed tape. Begin with the seams and connections, then wrap everything in insulation. While most ducts are concealed inside walls and ceilings, taping and insulating the easily accessed duct-work can make a huge difference.
Homeowners can also add more insulation to the attic to knock an estimated $100 to $600 off heating and cooling bills, according to HouseLogic.com, a site created by the National Association of Realtors.
Begin by measuring the thickness of your home’s attic insulation. Popular Mechanics suggests if you have less than 11 inches of fiberglass or 8 inches of cellulose, which has the equivalent insulation value of R-30, you could improve energy efficiency by adding more.
Expert Tip: To save more, roll fiberglass batt insulation over the existing insulation, or rent a machine to blow in a few more inches of cellulose around the room, including the attic side of your access door. - Furnace. Older furnaces have about a 60 percent heating efficiency, while modern, high-efficiency furnaces boast up to a 95 percent efficiency. By replacing the old with the new, homeowners can achieve nearly 40 cents to every dollar in reduction of fuel costs, according to Auchinachie, an HVAC company in Binghamton, NY. On top of that, your home will receive more dependable, evenly distributed air.
Expert Tip: Aside from saving money on your monthly energy bill and early repairs, high-efficiency appliances can also earn you federal tax credits, according to TurboTax.
- Thermostat. A research paper, Energy Savings through Thermostat Setbacks, by Nelson and MacArthur confirmed that, on average, if homeowners turn a manual thermostat down by one degree Fahrenheit for eight hours every night, they’ll use about 1 percent less energy. To make saving money your energy bill even easier, the chief designer behind the iPod developed the programmable thermostat, so homeowners can fine-tune their home’s temperature even if they’re away.
Pam Goertzen, a program manager at former non-profit C3 (Climate Change Central), told The Huffington Post Canada that a programmable thermostat can pay for itself in as little as one month -- if you use it correctly. However, a study by the Energy Analysis Department at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory concluded that 90 percent of owners use the appliance manually, and 15 percent had the wrong time set.
If you avoid setting the programmable thermostat to a permanent “hold” or at the wrong time, it can save a pretty penny on your energy bill. For more information, check out our blog, 4 Benefits Of A Programmable Thermostat.
Expert Tip: If your home has zoned cooling and heating, install a programmable thermostat in each zone, especially if you have rooms that are unoccupied for long periods of time like a spare bedroom or unfinished basement.
While the upfront cost of an HVAC replacement may seem like a deterrent, many upgrades pay for themselves within a short period of time. Upgrading to a more efficient appliance also means a longer lifespan, which means you save on using energy and scheduling early repairs.
For more ways to save on your energy bill, check out our HVAC Maintenance Checklist, which will help you identify problems with your heating and cooling system before you call the experts:
