Are you looking for ways to increase your energy savings? These simple tips can help you cut down on costly heating and cooling bills throughout the year, and maintain your comfort level while keeping your home or office utilizing energy in an efficient and optimal manner.

Rain or shine, snow or sleet, these tips will save you money in the long run and increase the lifespan of your current HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system:

• Seal those leaks: Air leaks cool (in the winter) or heat (in the summer) your structure unnecessarily, which ultimately costs you money. Weatherstripping or caulking windows, doors or anywhere else air may be leaking will help keep your energy bills down. Consider using a door-sweep seal, which you can purchase at most home-improvement stores, and have a look at sealing your ductwork, too.
• Manage your conditioned air wisely: When heating or cooling rooms, close the doors to unused rooms, shut windows, and let your system maintain the temperature only where it is needed.
• Program for savings: Consider installing and using programmable thermostats, which enable you to establish schedules around which your heating system comes on. That way, when you’re not at home or at the office for an extended period, you’re not unnecessarily heating or cooling it.
• Upgrade for greater savings: With technology growing fast each year, energy-efficient appliances are now available that can offer you even greater savings, such as Energy-Star certified furnaces with features that can increase the efficiency of your system by using less fuel.
• Change your air filters: Change air filters monthly, or at least every six to eight weeks, to ensure your system is working at maximum efficiency. A dirty filter inhibits your system’s performance, as it works harder to push air through clogs.
• Schedule preventive maintenance: Let the professionals do what they do best, and have your HVAC equipment tuned up yearly. Annual preventive maintenance ensures that your system is clean and lubricated, and enables your technician to spot small issues that, if left untreated, could escalate into large and costly problems.

For more information, contact the experts at Smoky Mountain Heating & Air. We serve residential and light-commercial customers in the Asheville area, and are happy to answer any questions that you have about your heating and cooling 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).

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