Life on Long Island is expensive enough without having to worry about out-of-control energy costs. But you don’t have to make major home improvements or sacrifice comfort to reduce high energy bills. Just a few small steps can cut your energy costs in a big way.
- Heat smartly — If you’re not using a programmable thermostat, you’re missing out on some serious potential savings. When you leave the house or go to bed, it’s all too easy to forget to turn down the heat. The cost of that unnecessary heating adds up. With a programmable thermostat, you can set your heating system to reduce the temperature automatically when needed.
- Keep out the cold — Hang heavy drapes to hold back cold air coming in from the windows. Air sealing your home also helps. Small leaks around your doors and windows can let in a lot of outdoor air, making it harder to heat your home. Sealing these leaks with caulk, spray-on foam or weatherstripping can help you to save significantly on energy bills.
- Get an annual HVAC inspection — A yearly pre-season checkup by an HVAC technician can help increase your heating system’s efficiency, saving you money. For instance, the thorough cleaning included in the checkup helps prevent the buildup of dirt that could reduce your system’s efficiency. A professional inspection will also catch potential safety problems before they do any harm.
- Light efficiently — Replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) will significantly reduce the energy you use for lighting.
- Watch that water heater — For most people, a water heater temperature of 120 degrees is enough. At this setting, you can reduce high energy bills and extend the life of your tank, too. If the tank feels warm to the touch, it’s likely losing energy through the tank walls. Wrap it in an insulating blanket or jacket.
For more expert tips on how to reduce high energy bills while keeping your home comfortable, contact T.F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating. Since 1934, we’ve been providing Long Island with reliable HVAC services.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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