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Is your energy bill much higher than you expected? Your heating or cooling system may be to blame. Thankfully, there are ways to improve HVAC efficiency in your home.

Did you know that nearly half of the average energy bill is from HVAC systems? According to Energy Star, “the average annual bill for a home equipped with a gas furnace and central air is about $875, which is roughly 43% of a year’s total energy spending.”

Here are some simple solutions to increase your HVAC system’s efficiency.

Use a programmable thermostat

If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, you might want to consider getting one. A programmable thermostat allows you to set and adjust timers for when the HVAC system turns on and off, along with a standard temperature level. That way, you can have your home heat up or cool down while you are home and not while you are away. 

If you do have a programmable thermostat, be sure that you are making the most of it. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.”

A programmable thermostat will allow you to set this automatically for when you are at work or away.

When choosing a new programmable thermostat, there many options. A newer, digital thermostat will have more options and features, but they aren’t necessarily as easy to use as electro-mechanical systems. 

Change your air filters

Changing your air filter is a quick and easy way to improve the efficiency of your HVAC system. A dirty filter can impede airflow to your HVAC system. Filters should be cleaned or replaced monthly and inspected. 

Clean A/C unit coils

Cleaning the coils in your AC’s outdoor condenser unit is another great maintenance task that can improve efficiency and extend the life of your unit. 

Clear away any debris from the unit, and be sure to trim any plants that are coming close to or have actually grown into the unit. Turn off the power to the unit and clean the unit with a vacuum or a hose. If your coils need a deeper cleaning, you can contact a certified HVAC technician to perform a tune-up. 

Check ducts for leaks

If your HVAC system doesn’t seem to be working as efficiently as it should be, it can be a good idea to check your ducts for leaks. Depending on how much of your duct work is visible, you should check the following areas for leaks:

  • Tears in the ducts
  • Check joints to see if air is coming out
  • Duct tape instead of a more permanent seal

If you find any leaks, you’ll want to seal them. Two possible methods include using foil-faced tape to wrap the duct or applying mastic. If the leak is extensive, you may want to get some of your ducts replaced. 

Keep windows and doors shut

This might seem like common sense, but it is very important. Leaving your door cracked to the outside can let your warm, or cool, interior air out. 

In addition to keeping windows and doors shut, check to see if any air is escaping through the window seals or the bottom of the exterior doors. This could be affecting the indoor temperature of your home.

You should also ensure that your home is insulated well. If you feel warm or cool air coming through a wall, that’s a sure sign that your home isn’t well insulated. 

Ensure vents and returns are not obstructed 

Make sure that none of your vents are closed or blocked by furniture. This can keep certain rooms from heating or cooling. 

Get a home warranty

In the event that your HVAC system does break down in the future, you’ll likely be faced with enormous repair or replacement costs. Purchasing a home warranty from Freedom Home Warranty can give you protection against those costs. With a warranty plan and the cost of a low $65 service fee, you can have a contractor sent to your home to evaluate and repair your HVAC system. 

A home warranty can also cover a pre-season HVAC tune-up, which can get your system clean and working efficiently. 

By following these tips, your HVAC system can start operating more efficiently.

Is the water in your sink draining slowly or not at all? Is there a weird smell drifting up through the drain? Here are 3 ways to unclog your sink.

Before we get to the correct ways to unclog a sink, be sure to put your liquid drain cleaner away. Chemical cleaners eat away at your plumbing instead of just the clog. Over time, the hydrochloric acid in the cleaner can cause extensive damage. Sometimes, the liquid cleaner won’t work at all. This post from Angie’s List goes into more detail on why you should never use liquid drain cleaners in your home.

Now that you’ve put your cleaner away, let’s get to work!

Method 1

For simple clogs close to the drain, especially in a kitchen or bathroom with two sinks, you can use a bent coat hanger to hook and dislodge the clog. This is a common clog where garbage disposals are. 

Push the bent coat hanger down the drain and twist so that it hooks on the baffle. Move it up and down. Run water to see if the clog was removed.

You could also try to plunge the sink. Be sure to cover the overflow opening of the basin or block the second sink’s drain before doing so. Fill the sink with some water and pump the handle a few times. Repeat as necessary.

 If neither of these steps work, you’ll need to try the next step.

Method 2

Disconnecting the trap beneath the sink is another way to unclog your drain. The trap is the U or P-shaped pipe that can be found underneath the sink. Before starting any work, be sure to put a bowl or bucket under the trap to catch any water in the pipe.

First, loosen the fittings that attach the trap to the drain pipe. Depending on the material, you may need pliers or a wrench. Pour the water into the bucket and wipe out the inside of the trap. If there was nothing clogging the trap, do not replace it. Otherwise, replace the trap and you should be good to go.

Method 3

If the above steps don’t work for your kitchen sink, you can run a snake or hand auger through the pipe. If you haven’t replaced the trap, feed the cable into the pipe in the wall. Otherwise, you can use a snake from the drain, including one with a basket strainer. Using a drain snake this way does require some modifications to the end of the cable, which are described in this post by Family Handyman. 

Pull out a few feet of cable and feed it down the drain. You can then lock it in place by tightening the thumbscrew. Turn the hand crank, stop,and repeat until you feel something in the pipe. Crank the cable back and forth until it breaks up the clog. Then reassemble the trap if you haven’t done so. 

It may be a good idea to flush out the pipe after removing the clog. Use baking soda and boiling water to clean the pipe. Once it stops fizzing, turn on the hot water for a minute or so. 

If all of the above fails to work, and you still find yourself with a stubborn clog, you may need to get a professional plumber to your home. 

The weather is growing warm in most parts of the U.S. It’s about the time of year when many homeowners will start to turn their A/Cs on. With even warmer temperatures just around the corner, you’ll want to make sure your air conditioner is working as efficiently as possible.

Depending on where you live, you probably haven’t used your air conditioner for a few months. While your unit has been sitting, it has likely collected dirt and dust. Your outdoor condenser unit was exposed to weather, and is probably in need of some TLC.

Beyond that, when your air conditioner ran last summer, some of the internal components may have loosened.

According to Energy Star, “Dirt and neglect are the top causes of heating and cooling system efficiency and failure.”

In Energy Star’s official heating and cooling guide, they suggest that air conditioners be tuned-up by a qualified technician in the spring, before contractors get too busy in the summer.

Here are four reasons to get a tune-up for your air conditioning system.

1. A tune-up can increase the efficiency of your unit

Over time, your air conditioning unit collects dust and debris. The condenser coils in your outdoor unit are exposed to weather, and can become filled with leaves, grass, dirt, and dust. Sometimes, plants can even grow into your unit. All of this natural debris and buildup can prevent the unit from receiving proper airflow.

It isn’t just the coils that collect dust and debris. Your condensate drain could be clogged, which can lead to the inability of your system to control humidity.

In fact, according to Energy Star, a clogged condensate drain “can cause water damage in the house, affect indoor humidity levels, and breed bacteria and mold.”

Tune-ups can also lubricate the motors in your system to keep them moving smoothly, check refrigerant levels, and check system pressures.

2. A tune-up can decrease your cooling cost

If your air conditioner isn’t running efficiently, it is likely running longer. Your A/C unit will need to run for extended periods of time to get your home to the desired temperature, which means that you’re using more electricity.

Even replacing the filters frequently can result in a cost-savings.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing or cleaning your air filters can lower your energy consumption by 5-15 percent.

An A/C tune-up can get your unit running more efficiently, which allows it to cool your house faster.

3. A tune-up can extend the life of your unit

Getting an annual A/C tune-up can lead to fewer repairs, which prolongs the life of your unit. Most air conditioning units state that they will last between 12 and 15 years, but that’s only if they are properly maintained.

4. Maintenance is less costly than repairs

Tune-ups don’t prevent all A/C problems from occurring. However, proper maintenance of your air conditioner can keep much of your A/C in working condition for years to come.

According to HomeAdvisor, “most air conditioner repairs cost between $163 and $534 with most homeowners reporting that they spend about $347.”

HomeAdvisor further breaks down the cost of common A/C repairs, such as evaporator coil replacements at $650-$1200.

Getting a tune-up for your A/C unit can prevent you from having to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on preventative repairs.

One of the benefits of a home warranty is for the applicable $65 service call fee on a homeowner’s coverage, Freedom Home Warranty can send a contractor out to perform a tune-up on your HVAC to ensure that it is in good working order.

You can schedule your A/C tune-up by clicking on Request Service in our website’s menu or by calling 888-495-2249.

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