Spring is around the corner. It’s still not quite warm enough to neglect your furnace and boiler.
The average American home today is spending too much on heating and cooling costs. If you feel you’re one of them, reaching out to a contractor might be the best idea you’ve had in a while. There are a lot of small and major factors that go into affecting our home’s ability to use energy properly. From old HVAC systems that need to be replaced to an improperly installed boiler, these are best figured out with the aid of a professional. They’ll help you set up 2019 so you’re finally at harmony with your day-to-day living and your bills.
Try out this basic guide to learn more about your energy usage and how you can finally start turning it around.
Americans Waste Too Much Water
Here’s something you already know: your water usage needs to go down. Recent studies have concluded too many American households today are wasting precious dollars with poor water habits. One particular study found as much as $6 billion per year is wasted as a result of running toilets, leaking faucets, and general leaks. Tankless water heaters can provide hot water at a rate of two to five gallons per minute. Homes that use 40 gallons or less of hot water can make the tankless water heater up to 35% more efficient.
Your Air Conditioner Might Need Replacing
Another good place to start saving energy is with your HVAC system. Over two-thirds of all homes in the United States have central air conditioners in place, though only some are using them efficiently. Air conditioners cost America homeowners more than $11 billion each year. Regular maintenance will not only keep your system running smoothly, it will save you hundreds of dollars. Your filters should be swapped out every three months or so to keep from stressing out your system (as well as polluting your air).
Furnaces Have Updated And More Efficient Models
Does your home have a furnace? Talk to a contractor this year and make sure it’s working to the fullest of its ability. Furnaces have a lifespan of 15 to 18 years, though after a decade you might want to start browsing the market for more efficient models. The lowest efficiency allowed by law for new gas furnaces is just under 80%, with some models as high as 90%. This means furnaces that are providing more heat and using less energy, all at the same time.
Double-Check your Water Heaters
Let’s double back around and look at the water heater again. Most tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of at least 20 years, making them a long-lasting investment that will more than pay for itself in time. Heating water today accounts for 30% of the average home’s energy budget, particularly for households with children and pets. Old water heaters are notorious energy suckers and come with obvious warning signs. These include showers that run out of heat quickly and faucets that take forever to get warm.
Saving Money With An Experienced Plumber
Before you start looking into construction projects for your backyard, consider tackling your energy problem first. American homes today are withering under high monthly bills and poor returns on the investment, staggering beneath poor HVAC systems and outdated furnaces. A plumber will take a look at your home on the whole and determine what, exactly, is causing your energy bill to spike. The few days it takes to consult and install a new system will last you for years.
Spend the rest of the winter in comfort. Let Joe Nelson contractors beef up your AC unit, furnace, or water heater.