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Why do electric bills go up in the winter? Even if you don’t have electric heat, you may use more electricity during the winter, resulting in higher electric bills. Several factors can contribute to the higher bills.
Source: NOVEC Newsletter 02/08
Energy right®
High tech thermostats. Programmable thermostats can save you money and energy any time of the year. For instance, in the winter you can program the thermostat to run cooler at night and warmer during the day. Interested? Talk to your heating and air conditioning contractor for a programmable thermostat designed just for heat pumps.
Make sure the lights are off when the air conditioning is on. It’s always a good idea to turn off unused lights – you’ll save energy and money. But it’s especially smart when it’s hot outside. Lights, appliances and tools generate heat and make your air conditioner work harder – and that costs you money.
Keep it indoors. Whether you’re heating or cooling, you don’t want your energy going out the door. Caulk and weather-strip around doors and window frames. Closely check any area where pipes go from the outside of your home to the inside, especially plumbing pipes. And if you have operable storm windows, make sure those are shut, too.
Energy Wrong
Forget about those filters. But only if you want to increase heating or cooling costs. Dirty filters make your unit work harder. For maximum efficiency, clean or replace your air filters every month. A good way to remember is to change out the filter when you get your electric bill.
Hide those unsightly vents. You may not like the way they look, but your vents and return grill need to be out in the open. Adequate air flow is important not only for your comfort, but also for the life and efficiency of the heating and cooling system.
Ignore your SEER rating. All heat pumps or central air conditioning units have a SEER or EER rating. A higher rating means your system will work more efficiently and use less energy to heat or cool your home. After a few years, the savings will help offset the added cost of higher efficiency equipment.
The registers throughout your home help to regulate the flow of air and to maintain the desired temperature.
To get the most out of your cooling and heating systems keep the air properly balanced in your home. In a 3 level home, always keep the middle level registers about halfway open. During the summer, keep the registers downstairs closed and upstairs open. Switch these during the winter, with the upstairs being closed and the downstairs being open.
By opening and closing the registers, you can determine the amount of cool or warm air that enters a room. Once the registers are adjusted, they, together with the thermostat, will maintain the temperature in your home. In addition to the air outlets, your home will have an air intake (return) register. None of these registers should ever be obstructed.
It is the single, most important thing you can do for your central heating/air conditioning system.
We suggest checking filters monthly. If you have a disposable type filter, (these usually have a cardboard edge), and it is dirty, just replace it.
A fiberglass filter must be changed every month. It is coated with oil which is what catches the particles as it passes through. This oil will dry out in a month’s time. A pleated filter can last you up to 3 months depending on the traffic in your home. Be sure to check it every month until you are sure how long this type will last for you.
If you have a permanent type filter, it is very simple to clean. Just follow these four simple steps.
Step 1 - With the thermostat in the “off” position, located and remove your air filter. Different systems have different filter locations. If you don’t know where your filter is located, now would be a good time to learn.
Step 2 - Using a garden hose with good water pressure, spray off the filter from both sides. You can repeat this process several times if the filter is very dirty. Just be careful not to use too much pressure or damage could be done to the filter media. When the water runs clear and the filter is clean you are ready to move to step 3.
Step 3- Shake off the excess water. You may let the filter sit out and dry but it is not necessary. You can re-install a damp filter.
Step 4- Slide the air filter back into the rack and you are done. Now you can turn your thermostat back on.
Remember to do this on a regular basis.
In a typical zoning system, sensors in each room or group of rooms, or zones, monitor the temperature. The sensors can detect where and when heated or cooled air is needed.
These sensors send information to a central controller that activates the zoning system, adjusting motorized dampers in the ductwork and sending conditioned air only to the zone in which it is needed.
By delivering conditioned air only to areas that are in use, a zoning system eliminates the needless waste of keeping unused areas comfortable.
A zoned system quickly adapts to changing conditions in one area without affecting other areas. For example, many two-story houses are zoned by floor. Because heat rises, the second floor usually requires more cooling in the summer and less heating in the winter than the first floor.
A non-zoned system can't completely accommodate this seasonal variation. Zoning, however, can eliminate wide variations in temperature between floors by supplying heating or cooling only to the space that needs it.
A properly zoned system can be up to 30 percent more efficient than a non-zoned system. A zoned system supplies warm or cool air only to those areas that require it - energy isn't wasted heating and cooling spaces that aren't being used.
In addition, a zoned system can sometimes allow you to install smaller capacity equipment without compromising comfort. This reduces energy consumption by reducing wasted capacity.
A zoned system allows more control over the indoor environment because you decide what areas to heat or cool and when.
Consider, for example, cases where children have moved out and some rooms have only occasional use. Or, rooms originally intended for one purpose are converted to other uses.
Zoning lends itself well to these situations because it easily adapts to heating and cooling load changes caused by increased or decreased usage, room additions or a change in occupants or lifestyle.
Energy costs have increased 30% or more this year. One way you can minimize this increased expense is by having annual service done to your air conditioner. Studies show that homeowners having annual service to their systems spend an average of $40 less each month because of increased efficiency. Lack of regular maintenance is also the #1 cause of system breakdowns and costly repairs. Check out TBLM’s Preventive Maintenance Service Agreements
here.
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