How To Fight Higher Utility Bills

When the end of the month comes and you have to pony up money to pay your utility bills, it can be frustrating, especially if it seems like your bills keep getting higher every month. Of course, this is unavoidably going to happen if your HVAC system is aging and losing its efficiency. Your HVAC usually makes up the largest percentage of your energy usage. That is, it takes a lot of electricity to power your furnace and air conditioner. Obviously, during certain months, the bills are much harder to handle.

Some homeowners just try to solve this problem by turning down the thermostat and using it less often. This might be a great temporary solution, but it isn't going to solve any problems if your system is becoming less efficient due to improper maintenance. That is, most people fail to do any maintenance to the heating system, and they end up paying for it through their increased utility bills. Instead of trying to use your system less, you should invest in a little bit of maintenance (whether it is professionally done or DIY) and enjoy a more efficient and cheaper system.

Filter Replacement

Perhaps the most basic maintenance job is to simply replace your air filters. This is something you can do yourself, and there's no reason to hire a heating services professional. Filters are sold at home improvement stores, and even some grocery stores. So, buy them in bulk and you can always have them on hand.

Clean the Compartment

But, just replacing your filter often isn't sufficient enough. The compartment that houses the filter can also get very dirty overtime if it is not cleaned out. So, when you pull your filter out, use a vacuum to clean out the compartment while it is empty before replacing it with a new filter.

Professional Servicing of Fuel Lines

While you can replace your own filter quite easily, there are some other jobs that you should pay professionals to do. For instance, you need to make sure your fuel levels are topped up. That is, the fuel that powers your burner is usually linked to the public utility line. But, this does not necessarily mean that your furnace is calibrated correctly. Over time, pressure in the lines can diminish, and your burner could be receiving too much or too little fuel. If it is receiving too much fuel, it will over burn and waste a lot of it, but it will still cost you. If it isn't receiving enough fuel, your furnace might have to work harder and struggle to heat up. So, fix these problems as soon as possible.


Share