Do you chew your fingernails incessantly? Do you constantly slouch? We all have bad habits we’d rather not discuss, but homeowners in may not be aware of the bad habits that are increasing their utility costs. Target your bad energy use habits, and you’ll cut your utility costs and improve comfort and health in your Raleigh, North Carolina home.
Forgetting to Change HVAC Filters
Maybe you schedule regular preventive HVAC maintenance, but those appointments often only come twice a year. Your HVAC system needs care on more than those two occasions. Every month, you should change your HVAC system’s air filter. If you don’t, the filter will clog and not only reduce indoor air quality but also put a strain on your HVAC system, which in turn increases your utility costs.
Leaving Electronics Plugged In
As long as you turn off your electronics, they’re not using any power, right? Wrong. As long as your small appliances and electronics (yes, even your cell phone charger) are plugged in, they’re sapping energy and causing your utility bills to rise. To cut this bad habit, either unplug electronics when you’re finished with them or plug everything into power strips that you turn off when you don’t need the energy.
Pushing Your Air Conditioner
The harder you push your air conditioner, the more it will cost you. We know how tempting it can be to turn up the AC after a long day out in the sun but do so at your own risk. The further the temperature on your thermostat is from the temperature outside, the more your HVAC system will strain to maintain comfort. That strain will hike up your utility costs and more than likely reduce the lifespan of your system. Try not to push your system so hard, and find other ways to stay cool.
We all have bad habits that we’d like to kick, and while some are easier than others, you should easily be able to ditch the bad habits that are increasing your utility costs. To schedule professional maintenance that will decrease your utility payments, call Cape Fear Air, Electric, & Plumbing at (919) 879-2033.
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