Living in Lubbock, TX means spending a lot of time talking about hot weather and using air conditioning to stay cool. But guess what? Even in Lubbock a good portion of your energy usage is devoted to heat:
- Heating your home during our winter cold snaps and the occasionally brutal deep freezes like we suffered through a few months ago.
- Heating the hot water we need for daily living.
Something You May Not Know
Heating your home uses more energy than cooling it. It can take up to three times more electricity to heat a home than to air condition it. You may not recognize that because we do live in an area with predominantly mild winters, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to save money on your utility bills.
Don’t Forget About the Water Heater
No one thinks of hot water as a luxury. In fact, it’s often taken for granted. As a result, homeowners often don’t realize the water heater is the 2nd largest energy user in the typical home—behind only the HVAC systems.
Money Saving Tips
Armstrong Plumbing, Air & Electric is here to help you keep your home warm, your water hot, AND save as much money as possible on the monthly utility bills. Here are some tips to start with:
- Set the thermostat at 68 degrees or lower. It’s a lot cheaper to put on a sweater than it is to pay to keep the house warmer.
- If you have a fireplace, keep the damper shut when it’s NOT in use.
- When it’s sunny outside open your shades and curtains.
- Make sure your water heater thermostat is set no higher than 120 degrees.
- Use cold water when possible (washing clothes, etc.)
Choose the Correct Equipment
A majority of Lubbock, TX homes fall into two categories when it comes to heating and cooling:
- Homes with a gas furnace for heat and an electric air conditioner for cooling.
- Homes with an electric heat pump providing heating and air conditioning.
Historically natural gas is the cheapest energy source and is always a good choice for home heating. However, if you don’t have access to gas service or prefer to have an all-electric home, then a heat pump is far and away the most economical choice. It’s far more efficient than any other type of electric heat such as an electric furnace or electric baseboard heat.
What About the Water Heater?
Gas and electric water heaters will both do a fine job. Again, if natural gas is available, it will likely result in lower utility bills. A more important decision is choosing between a traditional tank-style water heater or the newer tankless systems. While they cost a little more upfront, a tankless system will save money in the long run and you will virtually never run out of hot water.
Call Now and Let’s Talk Heat
Armstrong understands that right now you are thinking about the long, hot summer ahead for Lubbock, TX. But it’s also a great time to talk with us about the most economical choices to keep your home warm next winter and your water hot for those nice luxurious showers all while keeping the monthly utility bills as low as possible. To learn more about Armstrong Plumbing, Air & Electric be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
