We have homeowners all over the country who experience different challenges based on their local climates, but one thing everyone everywhere seems to have in common is that the cost to keep their homes comfortable is just too darn high. We’re homeowners too so we understand the struggle.

Today we’re going to learn a few ways to keep your home more comfortable year round and help lower your bills!

STAY ON TOP OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

The cost to replace a full HVAC system can be well into the five figures. That’s a lot of cash! If your furnace has a useful life of 15 to 20 years and you can squeeze the full time out of it, that’s a major boon to your bottom line. And the best way to do so is to stay on top of routine maintenance. We’ll share some ways to do that below.

Sometimes, though, it makes better financial sense to go ahead and replace your systems. If you have particularly old and inefficient ones, for example, you may save enough by replacing them to recoup your cost in just a few years. If you have an older leaking air conditioning unit, for example, the financial — not to mention environmental — cost of having your machine recharged with coolant each year can easily be in the upper hundreds or more.

SPEND MONEY TO SAVE MONEY

While there are many home tasks that you can and should do on your own, sometimes you have to call in a professional and spend a little money to save a lot. We can’t recommend enough that you should get your systems serviced annually before you need to use them.

This can help you identify small problems before they become costly ones. It also ensures that your machines are humming when the busy season begins and technicians can be booked up, potentially leaving you without heat or air on top of a repair bill.

You can save money on your annual tuneups by planning ahead. Schedule your service before the busy season happens. Technicians have more availability and are likely to offer discounts or bundles during this time. Househappy also secures local deals to save you money on these types of tasks — keep an eye out in your inbox!

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

An energy audit of your home will help you find ways to keep your family more comfortable year round and save money on heating and cooling costs. You may even be able to get one for free or low cost!

To see if your local utility company offers them, search “energy audit + your local power company name”. If they don’t offer this resource, we can help connect you with professionals who do. Let us know in the notes when submitting your request that you’re looking for an energy audit service so we can connect you with the right pro right away.

WHAT THE DUCT

It’s important to have your ductwork cleaned and inspected. Not only can this help improve the air quality in your home and result in fewer sneezes, but this can also save you a ton of money in heating and cooling costs. A leak in the duct system can mean that as much as 20 percent of your conditioned air is lost.

We’re all about DIY tasks here at Househappy, but this is one to leave to the pros since it requires expensive tools and experience. A sloppy cleaning job could damage your ducts and cause costly repairs.