It’s not just the efficiency of your HVAC system that dictates energy costs. Although you may not know it, multiple factors in your home contribute to either manageable or out-of-control energy bills. Ultimately, to boost home performance — and keep energy costs low — you need to approach your home systematically, ensuring that all of the home’s systems can work together to drive energy efficiency up.

Here are nine areas to consider when you’re looking to boost home performance:

1. Home structure ­– Sealing air leaks that occur around the home’s perimeter, such as windows, doors, light switches and wall/ceiling joints, will boost home performance by stopping air transfer through the leaks.
2. Ductwork – Ductwork can leak too, so it’s necessary to seal the joints along the areas where duct piping connects. Adding insulation helps too, as it decreases energy losses through the duct walls.
3. Insulation – Your home’s insulation acts as a thermal barrier to the movement of heat. Adding more to the attic is often one of the most cost-effective ways to boost home performance.
4. Windows – If you have old, single-pane windows throughout your home, you may benefit from upgrading them, or consider using plastic-sealing kits to stop heat loss through windows.
5. HVAC system – The best way to optimize this component, aside from investing in a high-efficiency system, is to ensure that it’s serviced regularly so that it can operate a peak efficiency.
6. Water heater – This energy consumer will cost you more in terms of energy consumption than every other home system except for your HVAC equipment, so it pays to invest in an efficient unit and maintain it.
7. Lighting – Lighting costs can add up over time. Be sure to use efficient light bulbs so that this necessary home system doesn’t cost you more than it should.
8. Ceiling fans – Run them in summer to enhance cooling, and using the reversing switch, use them to save in winter too.
9. Appliances – Whenever you upgrade appliances like your fridge or microwave, invest in Energy Star-rated ones, which generally consume less energy than standard appliances.

Need to boost home performance? Contact Smoky Mountain Heating & Air today for expert help and advice regarding any of these home systems.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Asheville, North Carolina and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

Image courtesy of Shutterstock