Spring is here, and for many people, that means giving your home a good cleaning. Add these simple steps to your spring cleaning checklist to make sure your clean home is as energy-efficient as possible:
FRESHEN UP YOUR AIR DUCTS & VENTS. Cleaning out all the dust and dirt that has accumulated makes things easier for both your lungs and your heating and cooling systems. You’ll save energy and may even increase the system’s lifespan.
SEAL ANY AIR LEAKS. Caulking, sealing, and weather-stripping cracks and openings around your windows, doors or any other openings can help keep air from leaking out of or into your home, helping your heating and cooling systems run at maximum efficiency.
SEAL YOUR AIR DUCTS. Leaky air ducts can reduce the efficiency of heating and cooling systems by up to 30%. Sealing and insulating ducts can prevent you from wasting a significant amount of energy and money.
CLEAN BEHIND YOUR FRIDGE & CHECK YOUR DOOR SEAL. Your refrigerator uses a fair amount of your home’s energy, so add it to your spring-cleaning checklist and clean behind it. Dust, dirt, and pet hair that accumulates behind your fridge can decrease airflow past the coils, forcing your refrigerator to work harder to keep your food and drinks cold. Also, make sure the seals on your refrigerator and freezer doors are clean and tight.
CLEAN THE SLIDING DOOR TRACK. If your home has a sliding glass door, clean out the track. Dirt and grit in the track can ruin the door’s seal and create gaps where air can escape.
GET OUR YOUR DUSTER. Dust keeps electronics and motors from running at top efficiency. Be sure to dust off your computer, office equipment, electronics, light bulbs, and even refrigerator coils.
REPLACE YOUR AIR FILTERS. This simple step can improve airflow and increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems and could lower your energy consumption by up to 15%.
GET YOUR HVAC SYSTEM SERVICED. Having your heating and cooling system inspected, cleaned, and serviced at least once a year helps ensure it’s working at maximum efficiency and wasting as little energy (and money) as possible.
UPDATE THE INSULATION of your attic, doors, windows, floors, roof, and walls to help prevent heat from escaping your home. This can play a huge role in helping your heating and cooling systems run more efficiently.
SWITCH TO ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING. Did you know LED bulbs use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescents? Swapping out your incandescent bulbs for LED or CFL bulbs can save a ton of energy and money over time. LEDs also emit very little heat, so they can help keep your home cooler as the weather gets warmer.
TURN DOWN YOUR WATER HEATER. Water heating accounts for 18% of the average utility bill. Turning down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F) can help reduce your energy consumption.
USE YOUR CEILING FANS WISELY. Once it starts getting warmer, switch your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise so that they push cool air down—keeping your home cooler and allowing you to ease up on the AC.
Small steps like these can make a big difference in your home’s energy consumption—helping you save both energy and money.