Now that spring is almost here, it's time to tend to house repairs that may have accumulated during the winter months. The winter's snow, ice, and high winds may have affected your home's energy efficiency.
The Spring energy-saving tips below will help prepare you for the warmer months ahead and can help lower your monthly lower energy bill while making your home energy-efficient.
Use your windows.
Your windows don't just exist to make your home look nice–you can open them up, too! During the cool early days of spring, you may be able to turn your thermostat completely off and enjoy the pleasant outdoor temperatures.
Bring in sunlight.
During daylight hours, switch off artificial lights and use windows and skylights to brighten your home.
Switch the direction of your ceiling fan.
In the winter, your ceiling fans should rotate clockwise at low speed to distribute the rising warm air around the room. In the spring and summer, the fan should turn counterclockwise to force air into the room to help keep you cool.
Switch on bathroom fans.
Bathroom fans suck out heat and humidity from your home, improving comfort.
Service your air conditioner.
Easy maintenance, such as routinely replacing or cleaning air filters, can lower your cooling system's energy consumption by up to 15 percent. Also, the first day of spring could serve as a reminder to check your air conditioner's evaporator coil, which should be cleaned annually to ensure the system performs optimally.
Keep your filter clean.
It's always important to keep a clean filter in your cooling system to prevent airflow issues that will cause efficiency problems. Many people suffer from allergies during spring, so changing your filter every month will also help relieve their symptoms by removing allergens from the air!
Seal ducts.
Air loss through ducts can lead to high electricity costs, accounting for nearly 30 percent of a cooling system's energy consumption. Sealing and insulating ducts can go a long way toward lowering your electricity bills.
Cook outside.
Keep the heat out of your home on warmer spring days using an outdoor grill instead of an indoor oven.
Lower your water heater temperature.
As the warm weather returns, it could be time to lower your water heater temperature. According to the Department of Energy, your water heater could cost you more than $400 annually. Turning down the temperature by 20 degrees could bring that cost down and will not significantly impact how hot your water feels.
Clean off the refrigerator coils.
Warmer weather means more dust, pollen, and pet hair will collect on your refrigerator's coils and make the refrigerator work less efficiently. A long-handled brush is perfect for dusting and cleaning coils on the bottom or back of the fridge.