Clean Your Home to Save Energy

It’s a bit late for spring cleaning, but if you’re like us — i.e., life gets in the way and you’re not getting to “spring” cleaning ’til July or Labor Day or thereabouts — we can lend a hand. The techs at Home Ace Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning won’t help you vanquish dust bunnies, but we can give you some cleaning tips you can use year ‘round to help keep your home energy spending under control.

Clean Out — and Re-Stock — Your Fridge

A dirty refrigerator isn’t just gross to look at. It’s actually costing you money. Keeping the rear of the fridge dust-free helps it operate more efficiently, as does cleaning off the seals around the doors (they can let cold air escape when they’re dirty). While you’re doing your cleanup, discard old and expired food that’s lurking in there. But don’t stop there; an empty fridge has to run more often to stay cold. Re-stocking your fridge means more than not running out of milk, eggs, and beer. Everything in there is helping everything else stay cool, so you use less electricity.

Dust Thoroughly

If you have pets, you probably spend a lot of time dusting already. Thorough dusting and vacuuming doesn’t just keep your black pants from looking like an Angora sweater, it also keeps your HVAC system running better. While you’re at it, see if your air filters need to be changed. Indoor air quality and HVAC performance alike will be better for it.

Make Some Changes…

If you’re still using incandescent bulbs or older-style CFL bulbs, consider changing to LED lights. Short-term, they’re a bit more expensive than their counterparts, although prices have come down significantly in recent years. Long-term, they can provide savings that more than offset their cost. They use much less electricity, but they also run cooler, which can mean using less air conditioning in the summer months.

…And Some Adjustments

Adjust your thermostat for the season. In the summer, setting it to 78 degrees will save you money on air conditioning, while setting it between 64 and 67 in the winter keeps heating bills lower. Another key adjustment is your water heater, which can be turned lower — about 120 degrees — in the summertime, so your showers feel more refreshing and your wallet gets a well-earned respite.

Get an HVAC Tune Up

You may already be doing every last thing on this list (and if you do, can we hire you, maybe?), but there’s one last item you shouldn’t overlook: maintaining your HVAC system with regular tune-ups. Your system needs cleaning and a bit of TLC every now and then, too, and it’s best to have that done by a professional. We’ll make sure everything is shipshape so your heating and air conditioning stay as efficient as they’re capable of being and you save money over the long term. To schedule an HVAC tune up, contact Ace Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning!