Aug. 04, 2025
With a few tweaks to your habits and a little DIY, you can make your home more comfortable and save money too.
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New high-efficiency furnaces use the least amount of energy, but older models can also be made more efficient. Annual servicing by a professional is the first step. That will involve cleaning the parts you can’t see or reach and making sure it isn’t working harder than it has to. For your part, replacing filters every three months more if you’ve done renovations or have pets ensures air moves easily into the unit and also prolongs your furnace's life.
On-demand water heaters are often the most efficient choice, since water is only heated when it's in use. For electric hot water tanks, try wrapping them in an insulating blanket to reduce heat loss.
Hot air can escape through joints in ductwork. That means you’re paying to heat places you don’t want to (for instance, an unfinished basement) and not getting heat to areas you do (upper floor rooms). Applying heating-vent tape to all visible joints will help.
Without an airtight seal, you’re wasting energy when heating and cooling your home. Check for drafts by holding a lit incense stick or a candle around window frames and doors. If it flickers, you have a draft. Use caulking around frames, install or replace weatherstripping, and add a door sweep. In colder months, applying exterior window film will increase efficiency even further.
Ceiling fans are great when you need to cool bedrooms, but not the whole house, especially at night. The fan will also help in cold months most come with a “reverse” option that pushes hot air down into the room.
The washer, dryer and dishwasher all use a lot of energy and often run for long periods of time. If you are on time-of-use rates, try shifting your schedule to wash clothes or dishes in the evening or any time on weekends. Also consider using the air-dry option on the dishwasher and washing clothes on a shorter cycle.
Dryers can account for up to six per cent of a home’s total energy use. Hang your clothes outside in warm months and inside to air dry during the winter when possible.
When the vent at the back of the refrigerator and the clothes dryer exhaust get clogged with dust, the motors work harder, requiring more energy. Vacuum those areas a couple of times every year.
A smart thermostat can reduce your heating and cooling costs by up to 15 per cent. It work by learning your habits and adjusting the temperature automatically. For example, if you tend to turn the temperature down before bed at 10 p.m., a smart thermostat will start making that adjustment automatically. You can also control a smart thermostat from an app, whether you're at home or not. So, if your schedule changes unexpectedly, you can still maintain control of your heating and cooling costs from the palm of your hand.
Automating your lighting can also help you save. For lights, install dimmer switches and motion sensors that turn off when you leave the room.
Plug countertop appliances and electronic devices into a power bar and program it to switch off at night. Remember that televisions, cable boxes, PVRs and game consoles suck energy even when they're not in use. Having them all on a single power bar makes it easy to switch them off before everyone goes to bed.
Chargers that are plugged in draw power even when no device is attached. Once your phones, tablets or other devices are fully charged, unplug it it keeps drawing energy if you don’t.
Once you’ve done everything you can accomplish yourself, a professional can tell you where there’s room for improvement and more savings.
5 Min. Read
Heat pumps represent the future of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC), promising widespread energy efficiency and substantial cost savings, but for many, this is a new concept, and heat pumps are not as popular or commonly known as other energy transition technologies such as electric vehicles, solar panels, or battery storage.
Unlike traditional HVAC solutions, heat pumps displace existing heat instead of generating it, which results in benefits, including home energy savings, increased comfort, and a reduced carbon footprint.
In this article, we’ll explore heat pump technology and take a closer look at why savvy homeowners are switching to heat pumps, plus share heat pump tips on how to get the most out of these appliances.
Heat pumps are revolutionizing the HVAC market, and with federal tax credits of up to $2,000 available, combined with substantial energy savings, heat pumps are an appealing choice for modern homeowners.
The heat pump market is diverse, with one of the main distinctions between heat pump models being the source of heat used. Most heat pumps extract heat from outdoor air, but geothermal models that displace heat from the ground or even models that use water as a heat source are available and might be a better fit depending on where you live.
You can also choose between ducted and ductless models depending on what you prefer for your home. While ducted heat pumps push warm air through a network of ducts, ductless systems utilize refrigerant to transport heat to different rooms within your home.
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You can find the type of heat pump that best fits your climate, with features such as variable-speed compressors, which are ideal for cold climates, or two-speed heat pumps that allow for comfortable zone control.
Ultimately, the best heat pump type for your needs will depend on multiple factors, such as the size of your home, your lifestyle, and the climate in your area.
Heat pump energy efficiency is superior because these appliances displace existing heat rather than generate it.
Heat pumps are also better at creating a uniform temperature throughout your home thanks to their improved airflow compared to traditional HVAC systems, meaning that a heat pump doesn’t have to run for as long or as often as a furnace or AC unit to achieve the same results, creating energy savings.
Additionally, increased airflow is beneficial for indoor air quality and can help reduce humidity, contributing to a more stable temperature. Homeowners also report quieter operations compared to traditional HVAC systems, helping to enhance comfort.
Following heat pump tips, such as maintaining a steady temperature and keeping up with maintenance, can reduce your energy usage by 31 to 47%. Heat pumps can also lower your environmental footprint by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from heating by an impressive 75%.
One of the best heat pump tips is to properly set your thermostat to maximize savings.
During the fall and spring, you can save on your energy bills by turning the “auto” mode off to prevent the heat pump from constantly switching between heating and cooling modes. Maintaining a steady temperature can also reduce energy consumption by allowing the heat pumps to make small adjustments.
Combining a heat pump with a smart thermostat is one of the best and most efficient heat pump tips. This simple upgrade allows you to create a heating and cooling schedule based on occupancy or time of day and you can leverage this smart energy management add-on to prevent frequent switching between heating and cooling. It can also be beneficial to consider a smart panel upgrade for more advanced control over your energy consumption.
In addition to following programmable thermostat tips, you can further reduce your energy usage by keeping up with routine heat pump servicing and maintenance.
Heat pump maintenance can be done every month and includes cleaning the outdoor unit, checking duct vents for obstructions, and cleaning or replacing air filters routinely as needed.
You should also have an HVAC professional stop by for a maintenance call every six months. In addition to teaching you to clean your heat pump, an HVAC expert can perform advanced maintenance tasks, such as cleaning the air exchanger, checking refrigerant levels, inspecting moving parts, installing software updates, calibrating temperature sensors, and more.
We also recommend using a smart monitor to keep an eye on heat pump performance and energy consumption so you can spot and address any changes early on.
Another benefit of heat pumps is utilizing zoning for your HVAC system. Dampers can be added to ducts to direct warm or cool air to specific rooms, while ductless systems can use mini-splits to adjust the temperature independently in each room.
HVAC zoning allows you to heat or cool your home based on current occupancy and usage. For instance, you could limit heating to your bedroom at night or only heat your home office during the day.
Combining a heat pump with zoning will help you save even more on energy bills.
With their increased energy efficiency, a higher level of comfort, and cost savings over traditional heating and cooling appliances, heat pumps are the future of HVAC.
Whether you’re considering a heat pump installation or have already embraced electric heating and cooling, maximizing your energy usage and cost savings with these tips will help you make the most of your system.
The right HVAC contractor can help you explore your options or get more out of an existing heat pump. When it comes to investing in a heat pump, deciding which appliance you’re going to install can be a big decision, but finding a qualified electrical contractor to install your heat pump should be easy.
Qmerit can help. With the largest and most experienced network of electrification professionals across the U.S. and Canada, we’re here to make going electric as seamless as possible—and with Qmerit’s easy-to-use rebates and incentive finder, you know you’re getting a good deal without compromising on the quality and safety of your installation.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of most efficient home heat(ru,fr,hr). Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
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