Annual Maintenance Homeowners Can Do To Save on Energy Costs

While we may have talked about the five common ways that your home may be losing energy, we didn’t spend a lot of time talking about the annual maintenance activities that you can perform to keep your energy costs down. Over time, the sealant around windows can go bad, creating a draft; or the weatherstripping around your front door may allow outside air to enter the home during the winter months.

To help you get started, here are some annual home maintenance tasks you can do to keep your energy costs minimal.

Check for Air Leaks

Also known as energy leaks, these are unintended structural breaches that allow the free passage of outside and inside air to and from the home. These can range from crumbling caulk or sealant around a window frame, a damaged weatherstrip surrounding a door, or a crack in the structure itself as a result of water damage.

There are various methods of performing energy leak tests at home, but the most reliable method is to contact a local reputable energy auditor to perform an in-home assessment.

Checking for air leaks can be done once a year or as needed.

Regularly Change Your HVAC Filter

Simply put, if your system has to push past a clogged filter, it is going to have to work harder to maintain your desired setting, thus driving up your energy bill. The job of this filter is to collect and trap the impurities from the outside air that is brought in before it is then dispersed throughout the duct system. Over time, dust and debris clog this filter and can reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system if it becomes too clogged.

When changing the filter, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations in regards to filter type and installation.

Changing your HVAC filter can be done every 6 months or as needed, preferably in the spring and autumn months when demands on your system are at their lowest.

Replace Your Light Bulbs with Energy-Efficient Bulbs

This is especially relevant to those who live in older homes. Older bulbs that use filament wire are nowhere near as efficient as newer LED bulbs, with the latter using up to 35% less energy than the former. And even better, they also tend to last 2x-3x longer than traditional light bulbs, and do not put off as much heat. And of course, if you are using inefficient bulbs that burn hotter, you are not only getting hit in energy costs to power that light bulb, but also your HVAC system as well, potentially, as it fights to keep up.

How FAMCO Can Help

FAMCO is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of HVAC supplies in the Pacific Northwest. We craft our parts with the utmost quality and care, so that you can get back to the business of building. If you are interested in learning more about how FAMCO’s products can help you reduce your energy costs, or have any other questions or concerns, give us a call or send us an email. We will be more than happy to help.