Saturday, February 18th, 2012 at 7:00 pm ?
Stop Paying Out the Pipes: Beat the High Cost of Home Heating & Cooling
Article by Melanie Broemsen
Whether you live in a tropical paradise or winter wonderland, your home is your refuge from nature?s unpleasant elements, and it requires some form of control to maintain a comfortable temperature. Unfortunately, the energy costs associated with your home heating and cooling system can become expensive, especially during harsher months.
According to consumerreports.com, the average home-heating bill is expected to increase nearly 20 percent this season (October 1, 2008, to March 31, 2009). Many factors, like the energy efficiency of your central furnace, heater or air conditioner, can affect your utility bill. How much you pay will also depend on your choice of energy. Electricity is less expensive than natural gas and other fuel options, like propane.
Regardless of how you choose to heat or cool your home, there are some small things you can do to help reduce the cost, without having to shiver or sweat. Follow these simple tips to increase your home?s energy efficiency, and you?ll enjoy the savings when it?s time to pay your utility bill.
Tips to reduce your heating and cooling expenses
Seal your ducts ? The Department of Energy (DOE) says that homeowners lose between 25 to 40 percent of their home?s energy due to leaks. Although it seems natural to start with windows and doors, you actually lose more heat due to cracks, gaps and disconnections in your ventilation duct system than from window and air leaks. For the best results, start with your duct system, and plug the big leaks first. Also, shut the fireplace flue when it?s not being used, and close the vents and doors in any unused rooms.Keep your hands to yourself ? Don?t fiddle with your thermostat. Either choose one constant temperature, or for better energy-efficiency, install a programmable thermostat ( to 0). If you program it to keep your home cooler during the night and while you are away, it will pay for itself within the first year.Care for your appliances ? Clean and replace your air filters on a regular basis, and treat your home heating and cooling system to a checkup twice a year, before harsher weather begins.Maintain the proper humidity ? If you?ve ever wondered why 100 degrees in Las Vegas seems cooler than in Miami, you can thank the humidity. This water vapor makes us feel warmer. If your home seems cooler than the thermometer suggests, try increasing the humidity setting on your heating and cooling system. If it does not have one, place some bowls of water near your vents to increase your home?s humidity. During warmer months, you may need to reduce the humidity in order to stay cool.Use your ceiling fans ? This may seem counter-intuitive, but a ceiling fan set in reverse will improve the circulation of warm air throughout your home.
Consider a new heating and cooling systemToday?s Energy Star? furnaces are 90 percent efficient, whereas models with a pilot light only have about 65 percent fuel-efficiency. If your furnace is more than 20 years old, it?s probably time to replace it. Upgrade to a new Energy Star heating and cooling system, and you could cut the cost of your utility bill in half.
Of course, installing a new central heating and cooling system can be expensive. Before you take the plunge, compare the costs of your investment to your anticipated savings. Handy guides are available online, such as this calculator from Energy Star, that can help you through the process.
Conduct a home auditBefore you invest in a new heating or cooling system, be sure to conduct a home audit. If you really want to improve your home?s energy-efficiency, this will help you determine where your money will be best spent.
If you make any significant home improvements, be sure to review your homeowner?s insurance policy to make sure you have adequate coverage. If the value of your home increases due to the improvements, there?s a good chance you?ll also need to adjust your policy accordingly. If you?re not sure, take advantage of free help from insurance companies like Nationwide, which offers the On Your Side Review.
About the Author
Melanie Broemsen is a content specialist at Rosetta, one of the top 10 interactive agencies in the U.S. Broemsen has a degree in Public Relations from Kent State University and more than 10 years of experience in Web marketing.
Tagged with: Beat ? Cooling ? cost ? heating ? HIGH ? Home ? Paying ? Pipes ? Stop
Filed under: Heating Cooling
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