You don’t have to sacrifice home comfort in the name of energy savings this summer. North Texas homeowners can take the shock out of utility payments with small actions and household projects.

We’ve got a few tips to help you increase both efficiency and comfort:

• Seal air leaks. Your Home’s shell may have leaks around pipes and wiring entrances. Other common sites are where two or more materials come together, such as at windows, doors and vents. If you have a forced-air HVAC system, it pushes the energy right out of these leaks. You can seal them with caulk, spray foam or weather stripping.
• When you’re sealing, don’t forget the attic. Sealing air leaks in your attic has the added benefit of protecting the attic from moisture, which can foster mold growth and unhealthy indoor air.
• Seal ducts. In addition to your building and attic, air leaks can be found in your ducts. Leaky ductwork can account for more than 50 percent of wasted energy in the average U.S. home, reducing home comfort dramatically.
• Make sure your AC equipment has 400 CFM per ton of air for both return air and supply air. This is a quick calculation and is provided free of charge by Crawford Services.
• Upgrade to high-efficiency light bulbs. High-efficiency bulbs use less energy, last longer, and emit less heat than standard bulbs.
• Run the clothes washer with cold or warm water. This can save up to 4 percent on energy.
• Only run the dryer when it’s full.
• Clean or replace the A/C air filters. This simple fix helps your cooling system run at peak performance and increase your indoor air quality.
• Add insulation. A surprising number of U.S. households don’t have adequate insulation, either because contractors cut corners during installation, or because the insulation has lost efficiency. Every home is different, so for an assessment of how much insulation you may need, call Crawford Services.
• Upgrade to high-efficiency equipment. The average home air conditioner releases about two tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, switching to high-efficiency air conditioning may save from 20 to 50 percent on utilities.

For more home comfort advice, contact Crawford Services. We’re happy to help North Texas homeowners increase efficiency.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Crawford Services provides heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to all of North Texas. To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.