5 Ways You May Be Wasting Energy

If you asked Seneca Gardens, Kentucky, homeowners about their top home concerns, how often would energy conservation come up in conversation? Saving energy in the home can often be overlooked, yet it can greatly help control your household utility bills. From inefficient water heaters to improperly maintained HVAC systems, find out which of the following four ways you may be wasting energy in your home.

Using an Inefficient Water Heater

Generally located in the basement or garage, water heaters are tanks in which water gets heated using gas or electricity. Understandably, a home water heater uses a substantial amount of energy to heat the water you use in your home. But if you’re finding that taking one long shower or running the dishwasher and the washing machine at the same time is exhausting the supply of hot water, your tank is likely too small for your household. Consult a plumber about proper sizing needed for your home.

In addition to the water heater itself, think about your own usage of this appliance. Using hot water in several appliances simultaneously — the dishwasher, washing machine, and shower — can use up all the hot water in the tank before it has time to reheat.

Ignoring Your Lighting Usage

According to ElectricChoice.com, lighting accounts for 20 percent of electricity costs in the United States. To save energy, you can either reduce the amount of electricity consumed by your home’s lighting sources or decrease your lighting usage. Keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Use natural lighting as much as possible. Keep blinds and drapes open to allow the daylight into your home.
• Use a single high-wattage bulb instead of multiple low-wattage bulbs in floor or table lamps. Make sure that the high-wattage bulb doesn’t exceed the recommended level for the lighting fixture.
• Keep lamps away from thermostats. The heat that lamps produce can cause your home’s furnace to run less than needed or your home’s air conditioning system to run more than needed.

Overusing Home Appliances

Clothes dryers, dishwashers, ovens, and washing machines all contribute to energy usage in your home. Think about how often you use these appliances and use them only when necessary. Energy-conservation practices such as using the washing machine only when you have full loads can greatly help reduce the amount of energy used in your household.

Improperly Using Your Home’s Thermostat

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save on home heating costs during the winter if you lower the thermostat while you’re asleep or away from home. In fact, 68 degrees Fahrenheit is considered comfortable when you’re at home and awake. During the summer, you can follow the same strategy with your air conditioning by keeping the house warmer when you are away from home.

Programmable thermostats can allow you to adjust the temperature in your home following a predetermined schedule. Having this capability is important especially if you often forget to turn down the heat before you leave your home for work. Programmable thermostats can also enable you to raise the temperature at a specific time of the day, such as right before you and your family return home from work and school.

Improperly Maintaining Your Home’s HVAC System

Keeping your home a pleasant and inviting place to live and entertain guests requires having a properly maintained HVAC system. No matter what type of heating system you have, regular upkeep will ensure that your system is ready to serve you throughout the year. Foregoing regular HVAC system maintenance checks not only puts your system at risk of a major malfunction but also leaves you unaware of issues that could be impacting your home’s energy usage.

At One Choice Mechanical, LLC, our service professionals have been providing HVAC services to homeowners like you in the Seneca Gardens area for more than 10 years. Let us help you find ways to maximize your home heating and air conditioning system for optimal home comfort. To schedule a service appointment with a member of our professional services team, call us today at (502) 242-8204.

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