JUMP START YOUR SUMMER WITH SPRING ENERGY TIPS FROM NOCO
TONAWANDA, NY – With warmer temperatures and brighter skies, plenty of homeowners across Western New York are either starting to tackle projects around their home or will be soon. NOCO is reminding homeowners to also consider a few spring maintenance tips to help optimize your home’s energy usage.
“Taking a look at your home’s energy systems now is a great way to get ahead of energy costs during the dog days of summer,” said Kevin Williams, executive vice president of NOCO Residential. “Ensuring your air conditioner is working effectively, air is circulating throughout your home, and cool air is not escaping outside are just a few things you can do now to help not only keep your home cool and comfortable during the summer months but also help to keep your energy bills in check too.”
Here are several simple tweaks from the NOCO team that can help reduce your energy consumption into the summer and beyond:
- Replace furnace filter. Even with your furnace turned off entirely until next fall, if you have central air conditioning, you need a clean furnace filter. The filter should be cleaned or replaced monthly or as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Maintain AC unit. Use a hose to clean off the outdoor air conditioner unit to get rid of any leaves, dirt, and other debris that may be stuck inside. An annual tune-up from a dedicated HVAC professional can ensure that your unit is running efficiently to keep your house cool.
- Keep vents clear. As you spring clean around your home, make sure furniture and curtains are not blocking any air vents to allow for proper circulation.
- Adjust overhead ceiling fans. Set your ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise to better circulate the air and create a cooling breeze.
- Insulate. Insulate. While you likely never considered insulation for air conditioning season, 20-40% of a home’s energy loss is due to poor insulation or sealing around windows and doors, meaning that cool air inside your home may also be going outside too.
- Improve the quality of indoor air. While an HVAC air filter can catch some particles like dirt and dust, it’s not entirely effective when it comes to pathogens and other airborne particles. For those seeking relief from spring allergies or asthma, installing an air purification system can help by further mitigating dust, pollen, and odors.
- Use natural light. Keep your curtains and shades open during the day to utilize sunlight rather than turning lights on in your home.
- Conduct a home energy assessment. Whether looking to reduce energy bills, improve your home’s comfort, or minimize your environmental footprint, consider a comprehensive home energy assessment. Also known as an energy audit, this is a thorough evaluation of your home’s energy use and checks for air leaks, inspects insulation, assesses heating and cooling systems, and evaluates your lighting and appliances. Many home improvements may also be covered by available state incentives.
- Test sump pump. With the ongoing spring thaw and April rain showers, sump pumps are working overtime. The time to test your sump pump functionality and schedule a plumbing inspection with a certified plumber is now, before it shuts down during a torrential rainstorm.
- Check generator. If you have a whole house generator, clear any obstructions around the outside unit to prevent overheating, and ensure proper ventilation so it’s ready for any unexpected power outages this summer.
NOCO provides thousands of homes across Western New York with energy products from heating, ventilating, and air conditioning to standby power, natural gas, electricity, and sustainable options like geothermal, solar, and insulation.
To schedule an AC tune-up or home energy assessment this spring, call NOCO at 716-216-5680 or online at noco.com.
