EFFICIENCY WITH YOUR HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS

For reasons that you can’t figure out, your Marion, Iowa heating and cooling bills keep going up. This problem is one that affects many people in the area and can be a very frustrating one to overcome. Thankfully, you can utilize the simple tips below to make your home more efficient and comfortable. These steps are things that you can do on your own or with the help of professionals near you.

STEP ONE: USE FANS EVEN WITH AIR CONDITIONING

The fans in your home shouldn’t be ignored just because you have high-quality heating and cooling items. In fact, your fans should be run during the summer to help make your home feel cooler. While this step might seem like it would negatively affect your cooling efficiency, the opposite is true. The fans will help to circulate the air and make your home not only more comfortable but turn off your furnace sooner.

As a result, you won’t have to set your heater or air conditioner as high as usual to get the temperature that you want in your home. Just as importantly, these fans have a unique effect on your body when the air runs across your skin. In the summer, it will evaporate your sweat and help to keep you more relaxed. But in the winter, it will help push the warm air close to you and make you feel better.

So make sure that you put up a handful of box fans throughout your home to circulate this air. Try to position them near doors and other walkways to ensure that you get the best results. And, as always, try to find a setting that works for you. A high-volume capacity may be too much for some people, but you may also appreciate higher speeds if you are more sensitive to temperature changes.

STEP TWO: DRAW YOUR SHADES AND BLINDS

Although you may not realize it, the shades and blinds of your home are surprisingly powerful when it comes to managing your heating and cooling needs. For example, opening your curtains in the winter can help you draw in a lot more heat and reduce your need to use the furnace.

Just as importantly, you can shut your blinds in the summer to keep the heat out and to reduce your air conditioner uses. This factor can change up a little during the night in both seasons. For example, you can open your blinds at night in the summer to capture colder air and keep out cool air in the winter.

Try to add dark blinds and shades when you can because these will block the maximum amount of sunlight and heat from your house. They also provide you with increased safety and privacy, which is always a good thing if you live in a very busy or populated area.

STEP THREE: PROPER THERMOSTAT ADJUSTMENT

Your thermostat is one of the most critical aspects of your heating and cooling efficiency. Too many people set their temperature at one level and leave it that way for too long. Thankfully, you can avoid this mistake by utilizing high-quality thermostat control in your home.

For example, if you set your thermostat 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit higher in the summer and the same amount lower in the winter, you can save 10 percent on your bills. Even better, you can install a programmable thermostat to get even more efficient results.

These thermostats allow you to create a schedule of temperature changes throughout the day. For example, you can have the temperature lower while you’re at work or while you sleep during the winter or higher in the summer. This step should be all you need to get positive results.

STEP FOUR: ADD NEW EFFICIENCY ITEMS

Lastly, you need to add high-quality efficiency items to your home to improve your heating and cooling needs. These items vary wildly depending on how you utilize them and the different elements of their design. For example, you can add a new efficiency furnace that is designed to operate more smoothly and effectively than your old one. Typically, you want to look for a stove with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency or AFUE rating of at least 92 with an efficient electric motor to ensure that you get the best results here.

Just as importantly, you need to check the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating or SEER rating of 14. These levels provide you with high-quality efficiency that makes your unit run more effectively. However, you can also add new fans that blow are better and which utilize a hybrid design to minimize fuel use. For example, hybrid furnace options are available that allow you to switch between electric and gas fuel sources to ensure that you get the cooling and heating benefits that you deserve.

In many cases, you can get rebates for buying these types of items, often directly from the federal government. However, you don’t have to stop at your heater or air conditioner either. You should add better-quality insulation to your home as well as better windows. Make sure that you look for the Energy Star ranking on your windows before you install them to get the best windows money has to offer. And make sure that you seal the edges properly to keep hot and cold air from escaping your home.

YOU DESERVE EXPERT HELP

So if you’re looking for the best heating and cooling Marion, Iowa has to offer, please make sure to contact us at Comfort Solutions today. Our experts have years of experience serving people in the area and are proud to be residents of this beautiful city. They will work hard to ensure that your unit is repaired correctly and that get the best results possible from their high-quality repair services.