The grocery store and the gas station aren’t the only places higher prices take money out of your pocket. You might have experienced sticker shock when you opened your latest monthly utility bill.
Homeowners are facing some of the highest energy bills in years. According to the Wall Street Journal, a natural gas supply crunch has made it more expensive for utilities to produce electricity, and they are passing that cost on to you.
“As a result, some customers have seen their power bills increase by 20% or more compared with the year before, in addition to higher home heating bills,” the newspaper reports.
You might be unable to do anything about rising energy prices, which are affected by global events. But you can take steps to make your home more energy-efficient and lower your monthly bill. Here are some tips from the pros at Lee Company.
Replace Your Old HVAC System
An older heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system could waste money. A new system will use less energy to keep your home comfortable. Your new system will have a higher SEER, which is short for a seasonal energy efficiency ratio. The U.S. Department of Energy says that upgrading from SEER 9 to SEER 14 can cut your energy use by more than 35 percent.
Some systems have even higher SEER ratings. Lee Company experts can help you decide if it’s time for a change and recommend the right system. We offer great pricing on top HVAC brands, financing, and flexible payment options that fit your budget.
Retrofit Your Ductwork
If you have uncomfortably hot or cold rooms or notice dust collecting in your home, the problem might be your older ductwork. Improperly sealed ductwork can draw dust from the attic or crawl space into your home’s living area. And ductwork that isn’t optimally installed won’t efficiently move warm or cool air throughout your home.
Lee Company technicians will take you along, virtually speaking, while they inspect your system using our visual findings platform. We’ll capture photographs and videos in real-time so you can see what we see and confidently make decisions.
Choose a Programmable Thermostat
If you work outside your home or are gone for hours at a time, a programmable thermostat could save money. Instead of running throughout the day, your HVAC will turn on and off according to your schedule. Lee Company pros will help you understand how to get the most from your new thermostat, from setting its schedule to setting up alerts and reminders.
Install a Solar Powered Attic Fan
On a 95-degree day, attic temperatures might soar above 130 degrees. Your air conditioning system has to work harder to cool the living space. A solar attic fan can cool the attic and reduce the load on your air conditioner. Since it’s powered by sunshine, it costs nothing to operate.
Install a Tankless Water Heater
Instead of storing a tank full of hot water, an energy-saving electric or gas tankless water heater provides hot water on demand. You’ll never run out of hot water and save money on your utility bill. Tankless water heaters are 8% to 14% more efficient in homes that use a lot of hot water. In homes that use 41 gallons or less per day, a tankless water heater can be 24% to 34% more efficient, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Coupled with low-flow plumbing fixtures installed by Lee Company, those savings grow even more.
Call Lee Company
If you’d like to learn more about improving the comfort and energy efficiency of your home, call Lee Company. Our experts are professional, knowledgeable, and always ready to help.
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