Each month you get your electric bill in the mail or online. If you have Reliant Energy, you may see a breakdown of how you compare to an average home as well as an efficient home. If you are like many homeowners, your energy usage is probably much higher than the efficient home usage. Your HVAC system uses more electricity than any other system in your home. Energy.gov reports that in an average home, 43% of the electric bill is the results of cooling home. The good news is that you do not have to sit in a hot room to save money on your energy bills. There are a few things you can do to help lower your electric bill as well as save you money in other ways when it comes to your HVAC system.
Get a tune-up for your AC system
Just like your car, regular maintenance of your AC system will keep it running more efficiently as well as possibly save you from costly repairs. At the very least, it will prolong the serviceable life of your AC system before needing to be replaced. You AC system works day and night keeping you and your family comfortable. Regular maintenance will keep it running as efficiently as possible. Higher efficiency equals less energy consumption which reduces your electric bill.
Install a programmable thermostat
Modern, programmable smart thermostats can save up to 10% on your electric bills simply by regulating the temperature when you are not home or sleeping. For every 1°F that your AC is turned up uses 1% less energy. Energy Star studies estimate that the average home can save up to $180 a year by properly using a programmable, smart thermostat. These thermostats can be programmed to run your thermostat more efficiently thus saving money on your electric bill.
Replace your aging AC with a high-efficiency AC system
Although getting a new HVAC system for your home may sound expensive, if you take the time to look at the costs of not replacing your system, it may make more sense to replace your system. In southeast Texas, a properly maintained HVAC system can last up to 15 years. After that, continuous repair calls and higher electric bills could be more costly than replacing your HVAC system. Your new AC system will come with a fairly lengthy warranty as well as keep your home cool more efficiently saving you money on your electric bill.
