Many homeowners are now seeking ways to boost their energy efficiency and keep more money in their pockets at the end of the month. Not to mention, improved efficiency with your appliances can help them last longer and save energy through the use of renewable energy systems.
If you’re thinking about how you can modernize your existing appliances, here are a few upgrades you can make today:
Upgrading Appliances to Energy-Efficient Models
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is simply replace your old clunkers with something new that can save you tons on energy consumption and costs. If you have the budget to upgrade even one of your existing appliances, start with the oldest one first. Newer models are bound to be more energy efficient than those that have been around for decades.
Many people don’t have the budget to consider making these energy efficiency improvements, but you can still do small things to lower your energy costs and improve energy efficiency.
Refrigerator
The first thing you can do to retrofit your refrigerator is to clean it thoroughly, especially the coils on the back of the appliance. You can also raise the internal temperature of the refrigerator section to at least 9.4℃ (40℉) for continued food safety. Be sure to check the sealing around the doors so that no cool air leaks occur.
Stove
Cleaning is one way to keep your stove and oven in great working order. Scrub away leftover food remnants from the surface of your stove, from inside your oven, and wipe away grease from the range hood over the top of your stove. All of this allows your stove to work far more efficiently, saving money and even time when cooking.
Water Heater
Your water heater is a great place to visit when you want to conduct an energy audit on your home. Heating the water for your home is a major task, but most people have their water heater set too high for their skin to tolerate. Check your temperature settings!
This is also a great first appliance to replace if you have the budget.
Heating & Cooling Costs
Your HVAC system works overtime to keep you comfortable in all kinds of weather. Whether you have a heat pump system or a central air conditioning unit, you should check that it’s working efficiently. Allow it to work smarter and improve indoor air quality by replacing the filter regularly and using a HEPA filter when possible.
You can even set your thermostat higher in the summer and lower in the winter to minimize how much your unit has to run. If you can replace your heating system, look at the annual fuel utilization efficiency to ensure that your heat pump is utilizing fuel as efficiently as possible.
Appliance Repair & Retrofitting
These are all things you can do on your own until you can purchase a new ENERGY STAR appliance. If you want to see what you can do to maximize your current appliances, contact KAR for all your West St. Paul appliance repair needs!
