Heating and cooling your home is expensive. It is the two things yearly that contribute to higher utility bills. It is also the two things that people look to most to cut down and lower costs. So, here are a few proactive changes that the experts at R.A. Styron Virginia Beach recommend.

Use a Fan to Circulate Air

When it is hot outside, you want to run your fan blades counterclockwise to circulate air downward. The cooler you keep a room using a fan, the less electricity you will take to run your air conditioner. When it is cold, a fan is still a good asset to circulate heat. You need to make sure you are not letting it rise and leave home due to weatherization issues that leaks and poor caulking around windows tend to cause.

Set You AC and Heater Temperatures Accordingly

Thermostats are tricky. Most people do not take the time to learn about them before using them which leads to lost costs. You need to set your temperature above your normal degree when at home and well above that when not present at all.  Every degree you save is 4 percent you will shave off your monthly electric cooling or heating bill.

Investing in a programmable thermostat helps, but if you want more control, you can purchase smart technology that gives you more freedom to control when you use your air or heat. It will dramatically reduce your usage during the long term.

Provide Proper Maintenance Annually

A major problem that technicians find in the field is that people do not schedule yearly maintenance checks until they need repairs. It is advisable to pay a smaller amount to provide maintenance that extends the life of your appliance rather than wait until they break and must pay higher fees and part replacement costs. It will also extend the shelf life of the appliances when removing dirt or cleaning your coils.

Avoid Activities That Generate or Build Heat

A major contributor to heat or cold is indoor activities you perform. Heat from a stove or dryer builds up and makes it harder for your air conditioner to cool down. In the same respect, using your dryer or stove in the winter can reduce the amount of heat you need. It is these small adjustments that help you adopt habits that will reduce costs.

Use Your Curtains, Shades or Blinds to Your Benefit

Did you know that your indoor heat is affected by the outdoor temperatures? If you want to cool down your home to reduce air conditioning, close your curtains, shades, or blinds you should keep the room as dark as possible. It will serve as good insulation against the cold temperatures outside. If you want to use the sunlight to your advantage during periods of cold weather, open the curtains and let the natural heat warm up your home.

The more you learn about ways to reduce heating and air conditioning bills, the more likely it will be that your family will make better choices that reduce your monthly electric usage and costs.

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