Shutting off the lights when you leave a room and taking shorter showers can help you shave a bit off your utility bills each month. But if you want to see serious improvements in the efficiency of your home, you’ll need to go beyond lifestyle changes and consider modern upgrades to your fixtures and appliances.
Investing in technology that saves water and energy offers a trifecta of benefits. Not only will these upgrades provide long-term savings on your monthly bills, they may also increase the value of your property. Better yet, Mother Earth will thank you for lowering your carbon footprint.
Not sure where to start? The HVAC and plumbing professionals at Service Experts are here to help with some recommendations on energy-efficient upgrades to make around your home. Here’s how to make your home work for you.
Switch to a tankless water heater
How often is your family using hot water? For most households, the biggest demand for hot water is during the morning and evening for showers. However, if you have a traditional water heater, it’s using energy to keep that water hot all the time — even when you don’t need it.
“The tank has to be heated and maintained so that when we do use hot water, it’s there, but the heat radiating from the tank ends up consuming a lot of energy,” said Jim Hughes, senior manager of education and training at Service Experts.
Cut back on this waste by switching to a tankless water heater. This energy-efficient upgrade gives you steamy showers on demand, without constantly keeping a tank warm.
“Just about everyone out there has been the last person in the house to hop in the shower and have no hot water. That doesn’t happen with tankless water heaters. You use only what you need, so it saves you energy and improves comfort,” said Hughes.
Upgrade your HVAC system
Your HVAC system works hard to keep your home comfortable throughout the scorching summers and shivery winters. That effort takes a toll on the system, reducing its efficiency (and increasing your energy costs) over the years. Regular maintenance can help keep it running, but at some point, it no longer makes financial sense to keep repairing an aging HVAC system.
“If you look at the cost of cleaning it and making it as factory-fresh as you can, but the system’s already 12 to 15 years old, you might be better off investing in a new system that’s nice and clean, and built to a much higher efficiency than older ones,” said Hughes.
It might take a while to save up for a new HVAC system. However, you may be able to make that upgrade a lot sooner with the Advantage Program from Service Experts. Participants can get a new, energy-efficient air conditioning and heating system installed at their properties right away for a fixed monthly fee that’s typically lower than the average internet bill. Plus, the program includes 24/7 emergency service, parts and repairs at no additional cost. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that your HVAC system will always keep your home the perfect temperature, with no unpleasant surprises along the way.
Upgrade your faucets and shower heads
Think you’ll sacrifice water pressure by installing energy-efficient faucets and shower heads? Think again. Newer versions of these fixtures offer just as much pressure as ones from decades past, minus the wasted water (and the accompanying expenses).
“Shower heads and faucets had higher flow rates of three to four gallons per minute before 1990. Some of the new aerators and shower heads bring it down to one gallon per minute, but the designs allow us to keep our water pressure,” said Brian Stigner, regional plumbing manager at Service Experts.
Upgrades like these can make a difference in your bottom line — and reduce the guilt you might feel when you indulge in a lengthy shower at the end of the day.
Install new doors and windows
Windows are another area of concern when it comes to improving the efficiency of a home. If they’re aging or damaged, you may be spending more than necessary to keep the temperature in your home cozy.
“Windows have come a really long way. Whereas you used to feel all the heat from the sunlight coming through a window, they now have windows with coated glass that reflects the heat back out and reduces the amount of heat building up inside the house,” said Hughes.
You can also make similar upgrades to your doors to help reduce drafts and maintain comfortable temperatures.
“It used to be all doors were wood, which is not a very efficient material. Old doors would lose a lot of heat,” Hughes explained. “Newer doors, some of which are made of metal or fiberglass that looks like wood, have insulation inside that almost makes them like a cooler you would take to the beach. It cuts down on radiant heat quite a lot.”
Invest in a dual-flush toilet
You’ve probably already seen those new toilets with two buttons for different flush strengths at various public places, like shopping malls and universities. But did you know those dual-flush toilets are also available for private homes? They’re the latest offering in water-efficient plumbing.
“Toilets are a major fixture that uses water. Prior to 1990, most toilets were manufactured to use 3.5 gallons per flush. Then, they converted to 1.6-gallon flushes. A couple of years ago, they came out with new dual-flush toilets that give you the option for 1.1-gallon flush,” said Stigner.
Dual-flush toilets conserve water and ultimately help you avoid flushing your hard-earned money down the drain.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to improving the efficiency of a home. Explore which options make the most sense for you right now, then make the right investments to yield years of savings down the road.
Tired of paying an arm and a leg for HVAC repairs, only to have the system break down again next month? Ask Service Experts about the benefits of their exclusive Advantage Program where you can subscribe to home comfort from a new, high-efficiency HVAC system with no down payment, no repair charges ever for labor or parts and no cost annual maintenance. Call 866-397-3787 or find a Service Experts location near you.
