Temperature control has a significant impact on the household budget.
The cost of heating and cooling adds up to more than fifty percent of our energy consumption.
The winters in my local area are especially long, cold and snowy. For more than half the year, we run the furnace. The temperature frequently remains below zero and can drop down into the negative digits. To manage such extreme weather conditions, the heating system runs just about non stop and blasts at maximum capacity. Our summers rarely last for more than a couple of months. However, the temperature regularly soars into the high eighties or even the nineties. The humidity is brutal. Central air conditioning provides a huge relief. It helps to reduce issues with condensation, mold and mildew. I always search for ways to lower utility bills. I am conservative about temperature settings on the thermostat. Raising or lowering the settings by just a few degrees for a few months makes a noticeable difference in expenses. I also take good care of the furnace and air conditioner. I make sure to replace the air filters every six weeks. I have signed up for a maintenance program with a local HVAC contractor. They provide a tune-up for the air conditioner in the spring and for the furnace in the fall. With annual inspection, diagnostic testing, adjustment and replacing broken parts, I can expect the heating and cooling systems to operate more efficiently and reliably. The equipment should experience fewer malfunctions and last longer. Plus, this professional service fulfills the requirements of the manufacturer’s warranty. I spent a great deal of money to have a high-efficiency furnace and air conditioner installed. It only makes sense to take the best possible care of the equipment. I also strive to minimize the workload on the systems by caulking, weatherstripping and sealing up any cracks or gaps that might allow energy waste.