5 Energy Resolutions You Should Make in 2017

When the temperature drops and the winter weather arrives in Palmetto, Florida, there’s no need to keep racking up sky-high energy bills. From small changes like reviewing your utility bills to larger upgrades like investing in a new heating system, you can take steps to lower your energy consumption. Start 2017 on a positive note with these energy-saving resolutions.

Review Your Utility Bills

To understand how much energy your family uses, start by reviewing your utility bills for the past year. Did you pay much more for your energy consumption during certain months of the year? If most of your family’s cooking, cleaning and bathing habits are relatively consistent throughout the year, there’s a good chance that your HVAC system contributed to seasonal changes in your energy consumption.

One of the easiest ways to keep tabs on how much energy your HVAC system uses is to take advantage of the energy reports that smart thermostats provide reports. These handy reports show you when your system uses the most energy so that you can make informed changes to your heating and cooling habits throughout the year.

Haven’t upgraded to a smart thermostat yet? The knowledgeable technicians at All American Heating and Cooling can install the right thermostat for your system and help you to optimize it for your home.

Update Your Window Coverings

Adding weatherstripping to your window frames to seal major air leaks is a smart way to keep unconditioned air from affecting your home. That isn’t all you can do to keep your home cozy without using extra energy, though. Make seasonal checks of your windows, and you could save big all year long.

First, make a point of opening south-facing blinds during the day to let in sunlight and give your indoor temperature a moderate boost during the winter months. In the evening, be sure to close the blinds to keep the drafts out. Consider installing curtains that cover the entire window, and keep them closed whenever there’s no direct sunlight. This will help raise the temperature in your home a few degrees without using any extra energy. Keep windows coverings closed as much possible during the cooling season to keep the heat out.

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Humidity tends to fall during the winter months, and dry air can make cool temperatures feel even chillier. To fight that cold, dry feeling indoors, take steps to improve your home’s indoor air quality.

Our HVAC experts recommend installing a whole-home humidifier to increase moisture levels throughout your house. Since this type of component works with your HVAC system, it’s easy to adjust the settings for the ideal temperature and humidity levels. A whole-home humidifier can even help your heating system run more efficiently and use less energy overall. A dehumidifier will lower humidity during the hot months.

Schedule Preventive Maintenance

When you want to lower your energy consumption and help your HVAC system last longer, schedule preventive maintenance once a year for your heating and cooling units. During a standard tuneup, our technicians will change the air filter, check electrical wiring, lubricate any moving parts and clean any accumulated dust or debris. We’ll also alert you to any potential issues and address them quickly and effectively.

By scheduling maintenance with our team, you’ll ensure that your heating and cooling systems run smoothly throughout the seasons and help you avoid major breakdowns. Since a more efficient system means lower energy use, you can also look forward to more manageable utility bills.

Invest in a New HVAC System

If your furnace or heat pump is over 15 years old, upgrading to a new system is a great way to make a substantial impact on your household energy consumption. Look for an Energy Star-certified system so you can feel confident that it will use as little energy as possible while still keeping your home nice and warm.

Seek out advanced features like a variable-speed motor, and you’ll do even more to limit your energy usage. Since these heating systems consistently run at a low power and dial up the power only when necessary, they’ll take your household energy savings to a whole new level.

Whether you need to schedule preventive maintenance or you want to make the upgrade to the ideal HVAC system for your home, our team is at your service. Now’s the time to call All American Heating & Cooling at (941) 451-5228 so you can start saving energy today.

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