Simple Ways to Lower Your Heating Bill this Winter
As inflation continues to be an unfortunate reality, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), a sub-agency of the Department of Energy, says that changes in households’ heating costs for the upcoming winter will likely vary significantly by region and the type of heating fuel used.
After several years of skyrocketing winter heating costs, Americans are expected to finally get a little bit of relief – if they’re lucky enough to be in the 46% of U.S. households who heat their homes with natural gas. Natural gas heating is expected to be 7.8% lower than last year. Electricity, which is the second most common source of heat in the U.S. (41% of homes; with the highest concentration in the South) is projected to be up slightly, at 1.2%. On the other hand, winter is expected to be costlier for those who heat with oil, where cost is expected to jump 8.7% from last year.
Regardless of the ebbs and flows in costs, home heating is really pricey, and even with the projected drop in natural gas heating costs, families will still shell out a significant amount of money to stay warm this winter.
As homeowners, we rely on a thermostat to keep our home’s temperature just the way we like it. And while adjusting the thermostat might save some money, almost everyone appreciates a warm, toasty home when it’s cold outside. But as colder weather sets in and furnaces start to go into overdrive, there’s an unfortunate price to pay (literally) for keeping inside temperatures cozy.
One of the biggest sources of energy consumption in your home is the HVAC system, and heating a home can be expensive – especially in colder climates. But there are ways to lower those monthly utility bills. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, families can cut their energy bill by as much as 20% to 30% simply by doing proper equipment maintenance, and air duct cleaning is one of those maintenance tasks that can help save big money on energy bills!
Think of it this way. Your heating and cooling system is the lungs of your home, and it circulates air through a series of air duct pathways throughout the home. Believe it or not, as your family goes through the seasons, all of those everyday activities you do both inside and outside of your home can contaminate the indoor air with unseen pollutants like dust, dander, pollen, mold, chemicals, and more. Over time, as that air recirculates over and over, contaminants continuously build up in the ductwork and on other HVAC system components.
Dirty HVAC systems – especially dirty coils – use up to 30% more energy to heat or cool the home! Even dirty air filters block airflow through the system, making it harder for your HVAC system to heat or cool your home to the desired temperature.
And guess what? All that hard work your HVAC system is doing results in higher energy bills.
A clean HVAC system is more efficient and doesn’t use as much energy to maintain a comfortable temperature, ultimately saving you money on monthly utility costs.
Replacing filters and servicing your furnace and air conditioning unit regularly can go a long way toward maintaining clean air ducts. However, filters can’t catch everything. Taking the extra step of having your home’s air ducts properly cleaned helps your HVAC system run more efficiently by removing debris from sensitive mechanical components. Plus, clean systems typically have a longer lifespan and operate more effectively than dirty systems, also leading to lower utility bills.
All About Air Duct Cleaning
Having your air ducts cleaned properly can greatly improve indoor air quality and save energy. It also helps avoid expensive repairs and replacements in the future. That’s because the harder your system works to circulate air throughout your home, the more likely it will break down from overuse.
The most effective method of cleaning a HVAC system is through source removal — the process of removing built-up dirt and debris. This requires a professional contractor to place the system under negative pressure using a powerful, specialized vacuum. While the vacuum draws air through the system, brushes, air whips, and compressed air nozzles are inserted into the air ducts to remove any debris that is stuck to interior surfaces. The debris can then travel through the air ducts and into the vacuum, which removes it from the system and the home.
Keep in mind that air duct cleaning is a bit of a misnomer, since the entire HVAC system should be cleaned, and failure to clean all components of the system can result in recontamination of the entire system — which can minimize the benefits of cleaning. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends cleaning the entire HVAC system, and making sure the contractor you choose is prepared to clean each of the following components:
- air ducts
- coils
- drain pan
- registers
- grills
- air plenum
- blower motor and assembly
- heat exchanger
- air filter
- air cleaner
Learn more about proper HVAC system cleaning here.
Cleaning your air ducts isn’t something you should ever attempt on your own. It’s a complex process that requires advanced knowledge of HVAC systems, as well as specialized tools. It’s best to leave it to the pros! Make sure you choose a qualified contractor to ensure the job is done right – and be wary of deals that appear too good to be true. Learn more about ways to avoid air duct cleaning scams here and here.
When you’re ready to tackle those air ducts, NADCA makes it really simple for homeowners to find an HVAC system cleaning professional. All it takes is a zip code to search our online directory to find a NADCA member in your area. NADCA members are the best-of-the-best, and have technicians on staff with advanced training and certification in HVAC system cleaning, and follow the highest of standards when it comes to customer service.
Click Here to Find a Certified Air Duct Cleaning Professional Near You