Tag: costs

Practical Tips to Cut Heating and Cooling Costs

Ways to Save Money While Staying Comfortable

Heating and cooling account for a large share of most utility expenses, but staying comfortable does not have to mean overpaying each month. Small changes to daily habits and basic system care can make furnaces and air conditioners run more efficiently and last longer. A simple plan that combines routine heating maintenance and AC maintenance, strategic use of ceiling fans, and the advantages of a modern smart thermostat can significantly reduce wasted energy. The sections below outline how these three steps work together to support comfort, reliability, and lower operating costs throughout the year.

Maintenance and Air Filter Replacement

filter A clean air filter allows air to move freely through the system. When an air filter becomes clogged, the blower must work harder to pull air through, which reduces efficiency and can shorten equipment life. Regular air filter replacement helps furnaces and air conditioners run with less strain, improving airflow, protecting internal components from dust, and often resulting in quieter operation.

Professional heating maintenance and air conditioning maintenance go beyond filter changes. During a tune‑up, a technician inspects critical parts, cleans coils and burners, checks electrical connections, and verifies refrigerant levels and safety controls. This attention helps systems operate closer to original design efficiency, which can translate into lower energy use. Catching worn parts early can also prevent unexpected breakdowns and extend the overall lifespan of heaters and air conditioners, reducing long‑term repair and replacement costs.

Utilize Ceiling Fans

fan A properly used ceiling fan is a simple tool for stretching heating and cooling dollars. Fans do not change the actual air temperature, but they circulate air so that spaces feel more comfortable at slightly more efficient thermostat settings. In warm weather, a ceiling fan set to rotate counterclockwise pushes air downward, creating a breeze that makes rooms feel cooler, allowing the thermostat to be set a bit higher while maintaining comfort.

During colder months, most fans include a switch that reverses direction. At a low speed and set to rotate clockwise, the fan gently draws cool air up and pushes warm air that has risen at the ceiling back down into the occupied space. Used correctly, fans support both heating and cooling equipment, helping reduce run times and energy consumption without major changes to the HVAC system itself.

Install a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat offers another effective way to manage heating and cooling costs. Unlike a basic thermostat, a smart model can be programmed with detailed schedules, adjusted remotely through a phone or tablet, and monitored for usage patterns. Smart thermostat installation allows precise control over temperature setbacks at night, during work hours, or while residents are away, which can prevent systems from running unnecessarily.

Many smart thermostats provide energy reports, filter change reminders, and alerts about unusual operation, encouraging timely service and efficient use. Some can even learn preferred temperature settings over time and automatically fine‑tune schedules. When installed and configured correctly, a smart thermostat helps keep indoor conditions comfortable while minimizing wasted energy, often leading to noticeable savings on utility bills.

About Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc.

Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc. is a top-rated, award-winning heating, air conditioning, and indoor air quality company providing quality HVAC services throughout Daytona and the surrounding areas. Their prompt and professional technicians are committed to ensuring customer satisfaction, so call them today to schedule AC or heating services in Daytona Beach, FL.

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Three Practical Ways to Save On Heating and Cooling Costs

Save Money While Staying Comfortable

Homeowners in South Daytona, FL, have many opportunities to cut down on heating and cooling expenses without sacrificing comfort. Making a few smart changes—such as maintaining the HVAC system, installing energy-efficient thermostats, and optimizing airflow—can significantly save utility bills. By adopting these straightforward practices, homeowners can ensure their living spaces remain comfortable and energy-efficient while keeping monthly costs in check.

Regular Maintenance and Replacing Air Filters

Regular HVAC maintenance and timely air filter replacement are key to reducing heating and cooling costs. Keeping filters clean optimizes airflow and efficiency. When a filter is clogged, the system must work harder, increasing energy consumption and driving up utility bills. Therefore, it is important to check filters regularly and replace them every 1-3 months, depending on the filter type and household conditions.

The benefits of clean filters go beyond saving energy. Fresh filters help improve indoor air quality by trapping allergens, pet dander, and other airborne particles, creating a healthier living environment. Increased dust around vents can indicate that it's time to change the filter. The small investment in regular filter replacement—typically $10-20 per filter—can help prevent costly system repairs in the future.

It is recommended that annual professional maintenance be scheduled for the HVAC system to maintain its effectiveness. During these visits, technicians clean components, lubricate moving parts, and catch potential issues before they become expensive repairs. Proper maintenance can reduce energy consumption by up to 15%, resulting in significant savings on monthly bills. This routine extends the equipment's lifespan, delaying the HVAC system replacement cost. While the average maintenance visit costs between $80 and $ 150, the long-term savings make it a smart investment for budget-conscious homeowners.

Utilize Ceiling Fans

fan Ceiling fans are not just for keeping cool during the summer; they can also help lower heating and cooling costs year-round. The blades of a ceiling fan spin are crucial for comfort and energy efficiency, yet many homeowners often overlook this easy adjustment.

During the summer months, setting ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise is recommended. This configuration creates a refreshing downdraft, making rooms feel up to 4 degrees cooler, allowing homeowners to set the thermostat higher without sacrificing comfort. The Department of Energy notes that this simple adjustment can reduce cooling costs by up to 8% during hot weather. The breeze the fan produces delivers a wind-chill effect, enhancing the cooling sensation on the skin. Turning off the fans when leaving a room is important, as they cool people, not the entire space.

During winter, reversing ceiling fans to rotate clockwise at a low speed can help circulate warm air more efficiently throughout the living space. This simple adjustment creates an updraft that pushes warm air, naturally rising to the ceiling, back down into the room. Most ceiling fans come with a reverse switch in the motor housing for easy operation. By improving warm air circulation, this adjustment reduces the load on the heating system, allowing homeowners to lower the thermostat by 1-2 degrees while maintaining comfort. This small change can save about 5-10% on heating bills.

Install a Smart Thermostat

thermostatSmart thermostats are among the most effective tools for reducing heating and cooling costs while ensuring optimal home comfort. These programmable devices automatically adjust temperature settings based on homeowners’ habits and preferences, reducing energy waste when they’re away or asleep. Most homeowners notice a reduction in their utility bills within the first month after installation, thanks to the immediate energy efficiency benefits.

Switching to a smart thermostat offers several key advantages beyond basic programming. Many models learn a user’s schedule over time, creating customized heating and cooling patterns that maximize savings. They also track energy consumption through intuitive mobile apps, helping homeowners pinpoint cost-saving opportunities. According to Energy Star, smart thermostats can save an average of 8% on heating and cooling bills, translating to around $50 in annual savings.

These devices save significantly in several ways. First, they eliminate human error by maintaining consistent temperature settings. Second, geofencing technology detects when a homeowner leaves the house and automatically adjusts the temperature to eco-friendly settings. Third, many models send maintenance reminders and filter change alerts, ensuring HVAC systems operate efficiently.

About Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc

Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc. is a trusted provider of high-quality HVAC services in South Daytona, FL, and the surrounding areas. They offer exceptional warranties and reliable performance. Renowned for their outstanding customer service, they prioritize informing and advising clients, ensuring a seamless experience. Committed to delivering honest advice and top-notch workmanship, Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc. is dedicated to helping homeowners make the best choices for their home’s comfort and efficiency.

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Keep Cooling Costs Low While You're Away This Summer

Ways to Save Energy and Money While Cooling an Empty Home

Summer is a busy season, and while most homeowners are leaving their homes empty to go to work or do fun things, it doesn’t mean they can’t find a way to keep their homes cool in the summer heat without having to fork over an excessive amount of money in energy bills. To keep homeowners from experiencing the sticker shock of a high summer electricity bill, HVAC experts have the following advice about cooling an empty home to help balance home comfort with energy savings.

78 Is the Magic Number

thermostatThe debate on the perfect home temperature when away from home has always been, excuse the pun, a heated one. Still, when considering energy usage and home comfort, many agree that the sweet spot is 78 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. 

When occupied, a home may not be comfortable enough at 78 degrees to get through the scorching summer heat. But when empty, 78 degrees is enough to keep a home from overheating without unnecessarily overworking the air conditioning. At this temperature, homes can save on energy bills even as they allow homeowners to come home to a house that has been kept comfortably sheltered from the worst of the summer heat.

Keep Temperatures Steady

Setting temperatures at extreme levels and making large temperature fluctuations in an attempt to have a cool house to come home to or to save money when no one is home won’t just result in high energy bills but can also result in unnecessary wear and tear on the air conditioner. 

Homeowners are advised to avoid setting the thermostat in such a way that would result in large temperature fluctuations when the home is empty and when people return to prevent this from happening. Making more minor fluctuations in temperature can prevent the AC from overworking and consuming more energy.  

Invest in a Smart Thermostat

thermostatA common dilemma among homeowners who have to leave their homes for periods in the summer is how to conserve energy best and save money without sacrificing comfort. Modern technology can help with the availability of programmable and smart thermostats. Replacing an old thermostat with a smart or programmable one can give homeowners the flexibility and savings they crave but cannot get from older units. 

Because smart thermostats have more advanced settings, can automatically adjust the temperature to save energy, and can be set remotely from an app, homeowners can save money on cooling costs. They also don’t have to worry if their homes are too cold or too warm when they arrive since they can control their ACs remotely and change the temperature before returning home.

About Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc.

Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc. has over two decades of experience serving Daytona Beach and the surrounding communities. They provide true transparency pricing, a membership plan, and financing. Call them today for smart thermostat installation and repair in Daytona Beach, FL.

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3 Tips for Cutting Cooling Costs This Summer

How To Stay Cool and Spend Less This Summer

As spring gives way to summer, Florida homeowners are already using their air conditioners around the clock to fight the growing heat and humidity. And since it’s only going to get hotter and muggier over the next few months, most homeowners will likely see their utility bills go up and up until September at the earliest. After all, the AC is generally the single biggest energy consumer in the entire home.

But there are ways to bring down that energy consumption and the monthly bills that go along with it. With simple modifications and eco-friendly habits, homeowners can save on their cooling costs without sacrificing comfort. So keep reading for three of the best hacks for saving money while staying cool and comfy all summer!

Invest in a Programmable or Smart Thermostatthermostat

One great way to cut costs and make life easier is to replace that old analog thermostat with a programmable or “smart” model. With a programmable thermostat, homeowners can create a custom cooling schedule for every day of the week instead of adjusting the temperature manually. This can eliminate the likelihood of forgetting to change the thermostat setting and cooling an empty house while at work or on vacation.

With a smart thermostat, homeowners can make their cooling schedule. The thermostat will track usage patterns and either suggest energy-saving changes or implement them independently, depending on the model. Most smart thermostats can also be controlled remotely via a wireless device or laptop. Some come with advanced energy-saving features such as occupancy sensors, performance alerts, and weekly energy reports. 

Install Weatherstripping

Another trick to help reduce the electric bill every month is to install weatherstripping throughout the home. Weatherstripping is designed to seal the gaps around windows, doors, attic hatchments, or other portals to the outside world (or uninsulated home parts like a garage or crawlspace).

Weatherstripping comes in many forms, like foam tape, rubber gaskets, and flexible metal strips, to name just a few. Different designs and materials are suited for other doors and windows and can range widely in cost and ease of installation. However, most types of weather stripping are inexpensive, easy to install, and can be found in the local hardware store.

Weatherstripping can reduce energy consumption (and utility costs) by reducing the amount of cold air lost to the outdoors. The home will stay cool longer without needing the AC to run constantly. Even better for the electric bill, the same principle applies in the colder months. The home will retain warm air and keep the cold air out, reducing heating costs! 

fan

Utilize Fans To Reduce AC Usage

Last but not least, homeowners can significantly reduce cooling costs by using their ceiling fans (or portable fans) more and their air conditioner less. Most modern fans use very little electricity, while even the most energy-efficient AC uses more than nearly any other home appliance. 

Turning on the ceiling fans (counterclockwise in the summer) will help circulate cool air in the home and produce a pleasant breeze to help lower body temperature. This will allow homeowners to raise the thermostat setting by at least a few degrees, which can lower costs by about 1% per degree (provided that the setting is maintained for 8 hours or more).

With this in mind, homeowners can further reduce their electric bill by setting the thermostat to a higher temperature while away from home or asleep, limiting their air conditioning usage to when needed most. Once these tips are implemented, homeowners may be pleasantly surprised by how much their utility costs have dropped!

About Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc.

Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat has been proudly serving the residents of Daytona Beach, FL, and the surrounding areas since 2002. They provide transparent pricing, knowledgeable technicians, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Call them today for air conditioning services in Daytona Beach, FL.

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How to Save Money on Heating Costs This Holiday Season

Three Ways Homeowners Can Save Money on Heating Costs

Homeowners looking for ways to make the most of holiday savings this year can cut back on their heating costs with the following tips from HVAC experts. 

  1. Upgrade to a smart thermostat: Smart thermostats use the latest technology to keep energy bills low. 
  2. Change the air filter: Furnace and central air systems need to change their air filters every 1-3 months.
  3. Keep a maintenance log: Making a schedule for maintenance and sticking to it will keep the unit running efficiently for longer. 

Installing a Programmable Thermostatthermostat

Calling an HVAC technician for smart thermostat installation can help homeowners maximize their heating and cooling savings. Smart thermostats, also called WiFi thermostats, use the latest technological advancements in heating and cooling technology to detect the temperature and climate and make the most accurate adjustments to save energy. 

This reduces the environmental impact of the heating system and saves the homeowner money. Because thermostats control the function of the HVAC unit, replacing outdated models can have a huge impact on reducing heating costs.

 

Replace Air Filter a Minimum of Every Three Months filter

Most central air systems use air filters to remove particles from the air. Furnace heating systems 

with draft work can get dust and animal hair in the ductwork, making the system run inefficiently. Using the right size and type of filter is essential for keeping the air system in good working order. 

The filter usually needs to be replaced every three months, but in homes with many people, large homes, and ones with pets or smokers, the frequency may increase to monthly. Not only does replacing the air filter regularly help keep the heating system running efficiently for cost-effectiveness and longevity, but it also helps prevent the spread of airborne allergens. Pet dander, dust, and other allergens can be circulated in the air without filtration if the air filter is not installed properly or changed frequently enough. 

Keeping a Log of Maintenance 

Doing regular HVAC maintenance saves homeowners money by preventing small problems from getting worse and ensuring that the system runs efficiently. To keep track of maintenance, homeowners should keep a written or digital log of maintenance appointments. Adding maintenance reminders to calendars can help with scheduling. 

When the heating system is running properly, it will use the least amount of energy. Broken, outdated, and dirty components can affect the efficiency of the system. Doing regular maintenance is a powerful tool in preventing avoidable HVAC disasters in time for the holidays. Some homeowners like to schedule maintenance far in advance, such as cold-weather maintenance while it is still hot outside. 

Benefits of Regular HVAC Maintenance Services:

  1. Lowers utility bills
  2. Keeps repairs less expensive and less frequent 
  3. Increases the longevity of the unit 
  4. Talk to an experienced HVAC specialist for tips 

About Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc. 

Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc. is dedicated to serving the health, safety, and comfort of the community of Daytona Beach, FL with affordable HVAC services. Their dependable, experienced repairmen and installers are available for appointments now. Call today for HVAC services! 

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