In the average home, about 55 percent of the annual cost of energy goes towards heating and cooling. This adds up to a lot of money, but it does not have to. As a homeowner, there are things that you can do to control and even reduce the cost of heating and cooling in DuPage County.
Before opening your toolbox or calling a professional HVAC technician, there are some things that can be done. The only thing that is needed is a sincere desire to control the cost of heating and cooling your home.
- Turn down the temperature: There is a “rule of thumb” that every homeowner should know and remember. Every degree that you set back on the thermostat reduces your heating cost by a full three percent. Consider turning the thermostat back by 10 degrees when you retire for the evening and while you are at work. This reduction in temperature over 16 hours a day during winter can result in almost a 15 percent annual savings in energy.
- Close the fireplace damper: An open fireplace damper is little different than a big hole in the roof. You may wish to consider limiting the times you use the fireplace, as hot air rises, you can end up losing heat rather than warm the room.
- Use fans: While cooking, the temperature in the kitchen naturally rises. Installing an exhaust fan can pull the heat from the room, which in turn has a positive impact on the cost of cooling your home.
- Use curtains: During the day, open the curtains on the south side of your house. When doing this, you let the heat from the sun work for you. Close all the curtains at night to conserve heat.
These four simple tricks can help you control the cost of heating and cooling in DuPage County. Take a few hours on the weekend; seal any gaps around the windows and doors. The smallest gaps can rob your home of heat; seal them and save money.
The cost of heating and cooling in DuPage County can be controlled. Reduce the temperature, use fans and curtains, limit the use of your fireplace, and keep your HVAC system in good working order. For HVAC service, maintenance and repair contact Blue Frost Heating & Cooling.
