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Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning - Furnace & HVAC Repair St. Louis

Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning - Furnace & HVAC Repair St. Louis

energy costs

4 Heating Mistakes That Could Be Costing You Money

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Even when you are trying to save energy, you may be making some mistakes that are costing you big time. 

Winter is upon us and while curling up under a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book sounds pretty much like the coziest thing you could do, you may start dreading the winter months soon if the utility bills break your bank. 

According to Energy Star, heating accounts for almost 30% of a typical utility bill. Saving energy is essential for your finances. The problem is that even when you are trying to save energy, you may be making some mistakes that are costing you big time. 

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Closing Doors and Vents

One of the biggest and costly misconceptions about saving energy is that you can conserve heat by closing the vents and doors to the rooms that don’t need to be heated. Unfortunately, that’s not the way heaters work.

A heater pulls air from the inside of your house, heats it, and then returns it. If there is not enough airflow, the heater will have to work harder to pull the air.

Moreover, the heater will push the air into the closed vents, leading to pressure building up in the ducts. Over time, this added pressure can shorten the heater’s lifespan. 

You’re Not Setting the Thermostat Correctly

It may make sense to crank up the thermostat if your home is freezing and you want to heat it quickly. However, there is a problem with this.

The thermostat activates the heater and then shuts it off when it reached the set temperature. Cranking it up will only make the heater work harder and for longer, inflating your utility bill and causing wear and tear.

You Are Using Multiple Sources of Heat at Once

If the heater is not warming the house as fast or as much as you would like, you may decide to turn the fireplace on too. While it may seem like a good idea to use all your sources of heat at once to reach a comfortable temperature, it’s generally more cost-effective to alternate them. 

You’re Using the Heater at the Wrong Times

By using a smart thermostat and creating a schedule, you can save as much as 10% on your utility bills. Returning to a cold home is not desirable, but that doesn’t mean that you should blast the heater nonstop. Instead, set a lower temperature when no one is home or when you are sleeping. 

Are You Making Any of These Costly Mistakes? 

You may understand that if you want to save energy, you should seal the doors and windows to avoid allowing hot air to escape and inspect the air filters regularly. But there also are the little things that you may not be paying attention to that can cost you a lot of money. 

24/7 SERVICE. FIVE STAR REVIEWS. 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

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High Energy Costs: Is My Air Conditioner to Blame?

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Whether it is a malfunction or a lack of maintenance, your AC unit needs regular check-ups, especially when it’s running all day.

There’s nothing like a cool room to make summer more bearable. It’s clear that during summer, air conditioning is one of the most used appliances. However, sometimes it feels like a luxury when you look at the electricity bill.

If you are suddenly paying unreasonable amounts on the monthly electricity bill, one of the most common culprits might be the air conditioning system. Although you should expect it to add a little more to the bill, it shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Here is what to investigate when you suspect your air conditioning is costing you more than it should.

st. louis couple reviewing energy bill

Is the Air Filter Dirty?

You might be surprised at how many people forget to replace or clean the air filter on the AC unit. Not only can this damage your health, it can put an unnecessary strain on your air conditioner. Because of dirt buildup on the air filter, the air does not flow properly, and the unit works harder than usual to do its job. Replace or clean the air filters at least once every two months and see if your next bill is back on track.

Do You See Any Leaks?

If you see wet stains around the unit or certain drippings that shouldn’t be there, give us a call right away. A faulty air conditioner is not only bad at cooling your house efficiently, but it can be bad for your health or even safety.

Leaks of the refrigerant solution will cause the air conditioner to put extra effort into cooling. Another type of leaks occurs in the duct system. A professional will be able to tell if that’s the case and seal the hole.

Is Your Air Conditioner Old?

If your air conditioner was purchased and installed a long time ago, then it may simply be outdated. A decade ago or more, air conditioning units were not as advanced as today, and that shows in their efficiency, and therefore in their energy consumption. Add to that all the years of hard work and you have your answer as to why the electricity bill is so high.

Has It Been a Long Time since a Professional Last Checked Your AC?

If cleaning the filters did not work and nothing else seems off, the best way to diagnose the problem is to call an HVAC professional and have it checked. You might be close to identifying a problem yourself, but a specialist will have the necessary tools and knowledge to pinpoint the issue and solve it. They may recommend a part replacement, repairs, a duct sealing, etc.

St. Louis Air Conditioning

Whether it is a malfunction or a lack of maintenance, your AC unit needs regular check-ups, especially when it’s supposed to run all day. Keeping it well maintained is cheaper than having it run improperly and pump up your electricity bill.

Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 471-7625

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10 Facts About Energy Costs

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On average, around 90% of U.S. homeowners pay higher energy prices every year.

reducing energy costs

Your heating and cooling system seems pretty straightforward. If you want it cold, you turn the thermostat down. If you want it warm, you turn it up. But the truth is that what you do with your heating and air conditioning unit can affect how long it lasts, how much you pay in energy costs, and the carbon footprint you leave on this earth.

Here are ten facts you should know about your HVAC system:

  1. On average, around 90% of U.S. homeowners pay higher energy prices every year. This means that energy prices are continuously on the rise across the board.
  2. According the U.S. Department of Energy, the average homeowner pays somewhere around $2200 a year on utilities. About half of that cost is reported to be heating and cooling expenses. In colder areas, it is even more substantial.
  3. If you are a homeowner that uses propane gas to heat your home, then you probably spent around $3,000 on your heating last year, substantially more than other homeowners who have natural gas.
  4. If you are a homeowner that uses electric heat, you probably spent close to $1,000, and if you are using heating oil, then the cost was about $1,800.
  5. Statistics show that if you turn your thermostat up or down about ten degrees when you leave the house for work or while you are away for an extended period (more than sixteen consecutive hours), you can save as much as 14% on your heating and cooling bills.
  6. If you turn your water heater down by ten degrees, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save as much as three to five percent on energy costs.
  7. If you make changes to your heating and cooling habits that save you $75 a month or more, you will be able to save over $900 annually. If you do that over the course of a lifetime, that is about $9000 a decade. Over twenty years, that equals over $18,000. So, yes those small changes can really add up!
  8. In the U.S., many regions had record low temperatures because of the polar vortex, which had the average American spending more on energy.
  9. If you choose to install a new boiler system, it will cost you upwards of $5,000.
  10. The typical furnace will last a homeowner about twenty years. The older your HVAC system is, the less efficiently it is working, which will shorten its lifespan.

Your HVAC system works tirelessly behind the scenes, so it is easy to ignore it. Now that you know how much paying attention to your HVAC’s efficiency can help to save you money, it might be time to throw a little tender loving care its way. You don’t have to do a whole lot to change your energy bills, and as any homeowner knows, every little bit counts.

At Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC, we know that keeping your home cool and comfortable in the summer months is very important. Call to schedule a Free Estimate at (314) 471-7625.