Fall is in full swing, and that means the weather is only going to get colder from here on out. With this change in temperature comes a change in how you use your thermostat, as well as a change in your energy bill.
But staying warm doesn’t have to mean paying out the nose for heating costs! There are some things you can do to save money on your heating bill and still stay warm when the fall weather starts to dip into the chill zone.
Here are some fall money-saving tips, including how to adjust your thermostat setting to save money.
Program your thermostat
When nobody is home, do you really need to keep the house warm? Especially if everyone’s out during the day, there’s no reason to keep the heater running all the time. If you have a programmable thermostat, it might make sense for you to have it turned down during the day and have it kick on just before your family usually starts to arrive back home.
You can lower the thermostat by 10 or 15 degrees during the day, and the house will not get too cold. By doing this, you’ll save around 10 percent annually on heating costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. This works best if you have gas heating; if you have an electric heat pump, try lowering it less (about 3 to 4 degrees) for best results.
Smart thermostats
One type of programmable thermostat is a smart thermostat. While a programmable thermostat is nice, it requires you to actually program it yourself and change it if your schedule changes. What if the thermostat could do that for you? That’s where a smart thermostat comes into play.
These devices can be installed on your existing heating system to give you total control over your thermostat settings, even when you’re not home. They connect to the internet via your home’s wi-fi, and you can adjust the settings through an app on your phone from anywhere you have cellular or wi-fi connectivity.
Some models also have features that can sense when you’re home or away and automatically adjust the temperature accordingly. You may even be able to set it to turn on or off when you’re a certain distance from your home.
Bundle up
An old-school way to save money on your heating bill is to bundle up when it gets cold out. Wearing a nice, comfy sweater at home or cuddling with blankets on the couch can also allow you to turn the thermostat down a few degrees. This fall money-saving tip is not only frugal, but it can be a good excuse to get close to your partner for a movie night at home.
No matter how you choose to go about it, adjusting your thermostat setting to save money is a good idea. Not only will you be saving money, but you’ll also be using less energy, which is good for the Earth.
Everything in your home has a shelf life—even your heater. If you’ve been having trouble with your furnace for the past few years, it can be difficult to discern whether you should have it repaired or replaced.
Fortunately, there are some telltale signs it’s time to get a new heater. Replacing your heater might not be something you want to do, but it will likely be worth it in the end.
Here is how you’ll know when to replace your heater.
Age
This is the number one factor in deciding whether you should replace your heater. Each furnace has a lifespan of about 15 to 20 years.
If you’ve recently bought a house and are having trouble with the furnace, you can check the owner’s manual or the model number to determine how old it is and whether you need to replace it.
Soaring energy costs
Everyone wants to conserve energy, both for the good of the environment and for their checkbook. If you find that your energy costs are rising quickly over time, the problem might be your furnace.
An improperly-working furnace has to work harder than it normally would to achieve the same temperature, lowering its efficiency while raising your energy costs.
Loud noises
While your furnace should make some noise, certain sounds can be legitimate cause for concern. If your furnace is making popping, humming, rattling or screeching sounds, you’ll want to have it looked at to see whether you need to replace it or not.
Popping can be due to temperature changes; rattling could be equipment or ducts that are loose; and screeching may be a damaged component like a blower motor, belt or pulley.
Uneven heating
The rooms in your home should be heated uniformly—that is, the temperature should be just about the same in every part of the room, and each individual room should be the same temperature.
But if you notice that temperatures are fluctuating within each room and between each room, the issue could be caused by your furnace, and you may need a new one.
Visible wear and tear
A big conundrum with HVAC systems is you can’t physically see the problems with them. You can usually only hear or feel them.
But sometimes you can see signs of wear and tear on your furnace, such as rusting or cracking. These are obviously significant problems and can develop over long periods of time, serving as indications that it might be time to invest in a new furnace.
Numerous repairs
If you find yourself constantly having to call repair technicians to come to your home to fix your furnace, that could be a sign that it’s time to get a new heater.
You can look at your repair bills over the past two years—if you’ve called repair technicians more times than most, that’s probably a good indication that it’s time to start talking to experts about replacing your heater.
Call for a consultation today
Before you know it, winter will be upon us, which means it’s imperative that you have a properly-working furnace. To discuss your furnace, or if you want a checkup, give us a call at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We can cover anything from inspections and repairs to maintenance and installation—all with high-quality brands and top-notch service.
It’s probably been about six months since you’ve thought about your home’s heater, but with autumn setting in, now is the time to make sure your furnace is in proper working order. Checking and maintaining your furnace can ensure that it works well when you need it the most.
Some heater maintenance tricks might seem obvious to you, while others might be things you haven’t considered. This article will cover some fall heater tips that you can use to make your heater run efficiently this fall and winter.
Replace your filters
For your furnace filters to adequately do their job, they must be clean. You should be changing your HVAC filters every one to three months or as directed by the manufacturer. Changing your furnace filter can not only prolong your heater’s lifespan, but it can also ensure that your family is breathing in clean air as well.
Clean your vents
Before the leaves begin to fall, you should go around to your home’s vents and make sure they’re unobstructed. Once you’ve done that, you can remove the grate or register from the vents and use a vacuum on them to remove any dirt, dust or debris. This should not only improve your air quality but make your furnace run more efficiently too.
Test your thermostat
If you have an older thermostat, it might not be as accurate as you’d like it to be. You might have been able to get through the summer with an imprecise thermostat, but the winter could be a whole other story.
Check your thermostat, and test it to see if it’s correctly monitoring and adjusting the temperature in your home. A properly-working thermostat is key to a furnace’s efficiency, and if yours isn’t working anymore, you can invest in a newer, better model.
Install a carbon monoxide detector
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas that is toxic to human beings. It prevents your blood from carrying oxygen sufficiently and can lead to serious injury and even death.
Several electrical appliances, like stoves, furnaces and generators, can generate carbon monoxide and leak them into your home, but with a carbon monoxide detector, you’re alerted to the gas’s presence and can get out of your living space before it’s too late. Be sure to place your carbon monoxide detector at least 15 feet from any HVAC ducts, as putting it any closer could result in false alarms.
Schedule an inspection
While there are steps you can take yourself to make sure your heater is working before the frost sets in, there’s no substitute for an expert. Getting a tune-up for your furnace is a must for any homeowner, as professionals can catch small problems before they become larger ones. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) even recommends that you have your furnace inspected every year, and right before winter is an ideal time.
Call for your heater’s tune-up today
Hopefully, these fall heater tips and heater maintenance tricks can prove useful to you in some way, but if you want the expertise of a professional, call us at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We have over 15 years of experience in the HVAC industry, and we’re available 24/7 for HVAC repairs whenever you need assistance.
Unless you work in the HVAC industry, you probably don’t think much about the future of HVAC—but the new innovations that are emerging will be exciting for everyone. Whether you want to save money on your energy bills, reduce your carbon footprint or both, these new technologies are sure to make an impact.
Here are some of the most interesting HVAC developments to watch:
Ice-powered air conditioning: Why cool down hot air when you can start with cold air? One California-based company has created an air conditioner that freezes water inside a tank overnight. In the morning, when the air conditioner comes on, it blows over the ice to cool down the building. After the ice has melted, the traditional method of blowing air over cold condenser coils takes over.
Thermally-driven air conditioning: Some companies are starting to manufacture air conditioners powered by solar energy, wind and even natural gas. If your home is already outfitted with solar panels, this could be a great opportunity to harness renewable energy and stay cool at the same time.
Movement-activated air conditioners: Constantly cooling down your home—even when you’re not home—costs a lot of money. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint while staying comfortable, movement-activated air conditioners can help cut down on bills. You’ll be able to concentrate your air conditioning only in the rooms that are being used. No word on whether that means you’ll have to occasionally get up from your summertime Netflix binge, though.
Dual fuel heat pumps: If you have access to both gas and electricity, dual fuel heat pumps can help keep you warm all winter long—and save money in the process. The gas portion of the pump runs when temperatures are extra low, then switches to electricity as soon as the temperature is warm enough. This saves money by using the cheapest possible energy at any given time.
Computer-harnessed heat: Have you ever noticed how your laptops and other electronics get hot when they run? Some companies are trying to harness this heat to warm up homes and offices, as well as cool down server rooms.
Geothermal heat pumps: Geothermal heat pumps use the naturally occurring heat underground to heat both your home and your hot water supply, saving you money and energy.
Fully automated homes: With automation becoming increasingly popular, many experts predict that HVAC systems will become another part of our fully automated homes.
App-driven heating and cooling: You might be familiar with smart thermostats like Nest, which allow you to control your home’s heating and cooling from anywhere with an internet connection. Look for more companies to jump on the bandwagon—app-driven thermostats will definitely become more common in the future.
If you’re looking for the latest innovations in HVAC technology, we can help. Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling is dedicated to bringing you the future of HVAC—or simply ensuring that your existing system runs well. Reach out to us today to get started with a maintenance appointment!
It’s hot and muggy outside—so it’s just about the worst time for your air conditioner to break down. Why is this happening? It was working fine yesterday. Is your AC really broken, or do you just need to replace your filter?
Air conditioners require regular maintenance, including a filter change every 30 to 90 days. If you’ve been slacking off on your filter changes, that might be the reason your AC isn’t performing appropriately. Here are some things to troubleshoot before you call your local HVAC company for help:
Check the filter: First, check to see if your AC filter is particularly filthy—which can happen if you’ve forgotten to switch it out regularly, or you’ve been experiencing particularly bad air quality. Dirty, clogged filters will block the flow of cool, clean air completely. Your AC unit might be working fine otherwise. Change or wash the filter, then see if the air conditioner starts pushing out cold air again.
Make sure the unit is plugged in: If the unit doesn’t seem to be coming on at all, there may be a problem with the power supply. First, check to make sure it’s plugged in all the way. If it is, check the main electrical panel to see if the air conditioner has tripped a breaker. Reset the breaker and try again. If the breaker continues to trip, you may need to call an electrician for assistance.
Check the outdoor condenser: If the air conditioner is running, but it doesn’t seem to be pushing out enough cold air, take a look at the outdoor condenser. Is anything blocking the air intake? Weeds, debris, grass, toys, lawn furniture and more could be preventing airflow into the machine. Clean the outside and move anything that’s blocking the air. Then allow your air conditioner to run for a few hours. If you notice a difference, that means the problem is likely solved.
Look at the thermostat: Finally, check the thermostat. Is it on and set to “cool”? If not, you might just need to change the batteries. Turn the temperature down a few degrees and see if the air conditioner kicks on.
Why do I need to replace my AC air filter?
Once you’ve troubleshooted your air conditioner problems, you might forget to change your filter again—but that would be a big mistake. When you fail to replace your filter regularly, it can cause problems. Poor air quality, inefficiency (and the resulting high electricity bills), uneven cooling and malfunctions are all possible.
Your air conditioner might also start “short cycling,” which is when it kicks on and off repeatedly throughout the day. This is supposed to happen—at least on a limited basis—but when your filter is dirty, it can happen every few minutes. Change the filter and see if the problem is solved. If not, call your HVAC contractor for assistance.
When you need AC help, reach out to Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We’d be glad to take a look at your AC and make sure it’s doing its job correctly!
