People spend a significant portion of their annual income on utilities. When energy prices swing to the higher end of the spectrum, you may spend hundreds more on your electric, natural gas, heating oil or propane bill.
Aside from keeping an eye on consumption, you should take routine home maintenance seriously to keep your monthly costs in check and reduce your carbon footprint.
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How Can Home Maintenance Improve Energy Efficiency?
Regular upkeep of your house plays three roles in energy efficiency:
- Ensuring every appliance operates at peak performance
- Maximizing each one’s functionality
- Addressing energy waste immediately
Upgrading to the latest products is the most effective path to achieve maximum efficiency. However, prioritizing specific maintenance tasks will lower your utility bills, no matter how old your devices may be.
9 Maintenance Tasks for a More Energy-Efficient House
Routine maintenance can be overwhelming. Focus on these nine tasks to stop wasting electricity and quickly save cash.
1. Thermostat Battery Replacement
A functional thermostat is vital to home energy efficiency. It monitors your indoor climate, telling your HVAC equipment when to heat or cool the air. When its battery runs low, it may misread the temperature or stop working.
Ensuring it has fresh batteries should be your top priority. Air conditioning and space heating account for 19% and 12% of American houses’ power consumption, respectively. Pick this low-hanging fruit to enjoy your desired comfort levels efficiently.
Check your thermostat’s battery icon to see if its batteries are dying. A faintly lit or unresponsive display is also a telltale sign. If your thermostat is Wi-Fi-enabled, loss of connection is another red flag to watch out for.
When your HVAC system doesn’t heat or cool your rooms as it should, your thermostat may be low on energy. However, if nothing happens after swapping them, its location may be suboptimal. It should be at the center of a room you frequently use and shouldn’t be too high from the floor since heat naturally rises. You need a professional HVAC technician to relocate your thermostat.
2. Thermostat Setting Recalibration
Program your thermostat to 68-75 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the time of year. Any setting outside of this range will increase your electricity consumption without necessarily improving your comfort level.
If you have a smart thermostat, maximize its programmability. It uses machine learning to understand your preferences and automatically adjust the settings to your liking.
3. Ceiling Fan Operation Readjustment
Changing the direction of your ceiling fan can make your rooms toastier or cooler. When spinning counterclockwise, its blades can create a breeze and make your AC’s job easier. Conversely, when moving clockwise, they can push the warm air down and make winter months more bearable.
4. Filter Cleaning
Many appliances — such as your HVAC system, range hood, dishwasher, washing machine and clothes dryer — have air and water filters. Dirt and debris can build up on the filters over time, causing your machines to use more energy when operating.
If you have washable filters, clean them according to the manufacturers’ recommendations to avoid premature damage and incorrect installation. If you don’t have reusable ones, buy the appropriate replacements.
5. Dryer Vent and Air Duct Unclogging
A congested clothes dryer vent makes removing moisture from garments more time-consuming and resource-intensive. However, running inefficiently does more damage than just inflating your energy bills.
A dryer constantly choking on lint may frequently malfunction or fail ahead of its expected service life. If you have a gas dryer, a clogged vent will increase your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The same logic applies to your HVAC ductwork. Dust can accumulate within the ducts, reducing their capacity to hold and distribute air. While cleaning your dryer vent and air ducts may be doable, think twice to avoid causing more problems than you solve.
Ducts can be fragile and become impaired when mishandled. Some vents are also hard to reach, rendering access challenging and hazardous. Consider sitting out this home maintenance task and tapping professionals instead, especially when there’s wildlife inside your dryer vent and air ducts.
6. Outdoor HVAC Unit Tuneup
If you have central HVAC equipment, give its condenser unit some TLC. This component releases heat to the outside — a crucial aspect of air conditioning. Any obstruction to the airflow can interfere with its fan’s operation, negatively affecting the rest of the system’s performance. Inefficient heat rejection can result in additional energy consumption and premature wear.
Remove debris carefully, keeping anything from getting stuck in the delicate fins to protect them from damage. Observe a minimum clearance to ensure adequate airflow and help your condenser unit expel heat efficiently.
7. Water Heater Insulation Installation
Bare hot water tanks can be an energy drain. They heat water whenever its temperature dips below the threshold — an incredibly wasteful process to ensure warm water is on tap. Wrapping an insulating blanket around your hot water tank can minimize heat transfer, preventing its content from cooling too quickly. The longer the idle water stays comfortably hot, the less energy you waste.
Note your tank’s specifications for cutting your insulating blanket to fit. Temporarily tape your blanket around the tank to mark the areas covering the controls — like the pressure release valve and pipes — so you can cut these parts later. Alternatively, buy a precut water heater jacket to speed up installation.
8. Insulated Glass Washing
Dust and grime buildup can impact the performance of low-emissivity coatings on high-performance windows and glazed doors. These tiny coatings reflect most of the sun, eliminating unwanted solar heat and preventing your indoor spaces from becoming a furnace.
Wash stubborn dirt particles on glass surfaces to avoid compromising their energy efficiency. Generally, you should use a nonabrasive cleaner and a soft rag or cloth to avoid permanently damaging the coatings. Mild cleaning products, soapy water or diluted vinegar are safe options.
Spray your cleaner on a filthy area and wipe it in a circular motion. Clean your window and glazed door glass on a cloudy day, as direct sunlight may leave unsightly residue.
9. Window and Exterior Door Gap Sealing
Airtight windows and front and back doors help make your house a tight envelope, which is crucial for minimizing heat loss. If you have store-bought units, you may have used weather strips to block drafts. Check them to ensure they’re still intact.
A cursory inspection lets you notice obvious signs of damage. However, your vision alone can’t detect air intrusion effectively. Instead, light up a candle and place it near the gaps around your closed windows and doors. If the flame flickers, there may be air leakage, and the gaps may need resealing.
Mind you, candles can flicker without drafts due to gravity. Move the candlelight back and forth around the gaps to observe its behavior long enough to determine whether outside air can get in.
A Well-Maintained Home Is an Energy-Efficient One
Maintenance can only do so much to minimize your energy consumption and eliminate waste. After all, upgrading to energy-efficient products is the real key. Still, tick every box on this checklist to experience bill shock pleasantly when utility bills arrive.