Change Your Furnace Filter
This is a piece of advice that’s really good year-round, and because we tend to not think about our heating and air-conditioning system very often (me being the exception of course). I like to remind folks about it whenever I can. This applies to heat pumps, ductless heat pumps and electric furnaces alike. It’s important that you at least inspect the filter once a month and change them every three months. Remember: this is at minimum – you may need to change them as often as once a month, and even though you’re not going to need your electric furnace over the summer months, you likely haven’t changed that filter for a long time, so you might as well do it now. Remember. When in doubt, check, clean, and change your filters.
Even though they seem simple, your air filters actually have a major effect on not only your indoor air quality but also on the way your furnace operates! Hence, it’s important you keep on top of changing your air filters for a number of reasons.
As your filter collects various bits of dust, pet dander, pollen, etc., it starts to get clogged. Over time, the clog can build up and make it much more difficult for air to pass through. This causes the fan blower to work harder, increasing your energy bill and eventually causing the blower motor to overheat and burn out. If you let it go for too long, your heating and air-conditioning might require an expensive service call. Changing your furnace filters regularly – at least every three months but preferably every month – is the best thing you can do to ensure proper furnace operation all year round.
And the same goes for your heat pump water heaters, dehumidifier, or any other appliance with a filter. If it has a filter, then the filter needs to be maintained for optimum performance and longevity of the equipment.
Turn Off, or Turn Up Your Thermostat
If you have a heat pump, switch it over to ‘cool’ and test the system by turning the temperature down. If the air conditioner does not turn on, first check to make sure no breakers are tripped. If you can't figure out the problem, call your heating and air-conditioning repair person. Calling early may keep you from making an ‘emergency’ call when the temperatures are high and you really want your air-conditioning system to work now.
Then, after you’ve tested your air-conditioning – turn it off. If you don’t need it, then don’t use it and here on the North Olympic Peninsula we have some of the mildest climate in the continental united states, and most summer days you’ll be just fine with just a fan running (see below), and then save your air-conditioning for those stretches when it does get a little warmer.
Then, when you are running your air-conditioning, make sure you set it at your thermostats set point at 78 degrees, or even higher. Of course, you know best where you’re the most comfortable and you don’t need our permission to set the air-conditioning at a lower temperature. It’s just that the principle is simple - the warmer that you keep your house, the less energy it takes to keep it that way and the lower your summer energy bills are as a result. Also, avoid setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you first turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense.
Of course, if you’re cooling with a ducted heat pump you can also consider upgrading to a smart thermostat. Clallam County PUD currently offers a $100 rebate for eligible smart thermostats, and right now you can find great deals on smart thermostats at our big-box store. For more information and a list of eligible thermostats, please take a look at our website at www.clallampud.net/smart-thermostat-rebate.
Run the Fan
Using a ceiling fan is a small tip that people don't often think of. In our comparatively mild weather, it’s often not necessary to have air-conditioning and running a ceiling fan and creating a gentle cool breeze in the house, costs significantly less than running an air-conditioner.
During summer months, your ceiling fan blades should be set to spin counterclockwise. When your ceiling fan spins quickly in this direction, it pushes air down and creates a cool breeze. This helps keep a room’s temperature consistent throughout the day and reduces the need for an air conditioner to run constantly. A good ceiling fan can make you feel significantly cooler while saving energy.
Another thing related to fans that you may perhaps not think of is to let your bathroom fan run a little longer after you’ve showered or taken a bath. Your laundry room might also benefit from spot ventilation. The fan removes heat and humidity from your home, so if you’re trying to save money by not running the air-conditioning as much, using the bath and laundry fans more can help keep your energy bills down buy also making your home a little more comfortable.
Be a Speedy Chef
Nothing is more energy efficient for cooking than your microwave. Your microwaves use a lot of energy when operating, but because cooking times are so drastically reduced, using a microwave to prepare a meal will reduce energy use by about two-thirds compared to a conventional oven. Because less heat is generated in the kitchen, you may also eliminate energy waste from unnecessarily having to run the air conditioning because your oven is heating up the kitchen. Some microwave ovens include sophisticated features to further boost energy efficiency and cooking performance, such as temperature probes, controls to turn off the microwave when food is cooked, and variable power settings. New “rapid-cook” ovens combining microwaves with other cooking technologies— notably halogen lights or convection—are designed to cut cooking time and improve the quality of foods compared to standard microwave preparation.
Better yet, use the summer heat as an excuse to fire up the old backyard barbeque. Outdoor grilling is a summertime tradition for a reason—you can cook delicious meats and veggies while keeping the heat outside. You can even use your propane fired camp stove to cook outside when it’s warm. Particularly if you’re boiling a large pot of water for corn or pasta. Boil that pot of water outside on your propane burner and keep all of that excess heat and moisture outside.
Close Your Blinds
Close your blinds or drapes in the daytime to keep out the greenhouse effect of the sun. Southern- and western-facing walls in particular take the brunt of the sun’s heat, so invest in good drapes or shades for the windows on these walls and keep them closed. North-facing windows admit relatively even, natural light, producing little glare and almost no unwanted summer heat gain. You can leave these shades open to admit natural light into your house without heating things up.
Of course, it’s the best if you can keep those direct sun rays from entering your house through the windows in the first place, so if you can, think about investing in some kind of outdoor shades.
Wash Strategically
Washing machines, clothes dryers, and dishwashers all generate a ton of heat. Cut back on this by using cold water to do your washing as often as possible. Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes to avoid running the appliances too much. Of course, that advice is good all year around. But specific to the summertime, after washing, hang up your wet clothes to air dry outside.
Go Low-flow to Reduce Water Use
In the summer, water usage usually increases — whether it’s watering your lawn or watering your vegetable garden. Keep outdoor watering costs down by only watering grass and plants in the early morning or at dusk so the water doesn’t evaporate in the summer heat. With the water alerts that we send out later in summer, we appreciate all the help you can provide and while there’s no concerns with our water supplies this early in the summer it’s good if you can think ahead so that you’re prepared if and when the later summer water advisories go out.
Another secret to having an energy efficient home is installing low-flow water fixtures. These work well on shower heads, toilets and even your outdoor sprinkler. Depending on where you install it, low-flow water fixtures can reduce your water use all year around, and if the low-flow fixture is using hot water, like a shower, then you’re also saving energy cost.
Save on Your Energy Bill All Year Long
Energy saving isn’t just a summertime activity. Many of these tips will save you money all year long. Weather stripping, insulated curtains, and smart thermostat usage will keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Creating smart energy habits will reduce waste, improve efficiency, and save you money on your energy bill year-round.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this article or if you would like to discuss any other energy saving opportunities, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We work for you and you can reach us via the web, www.ClallamPUD.net, email, EnergyConservation@ClallamPUD.net and phone, (360) 565-3249.