Seven mistakes that drive home energy bills through the roof

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Canton, Mich.— RepairClinic.com®, the trusted online store for replacement parts and free repair help for home appliances, outdoor power equipment and heating and cooling equipment, today shared appliance and heating and cooling equipment care mistakes that waste energy and money.

1.    Not fixing appliances right away.

Failing appliance parts can cause other components to run nearly constantly, wasting energy and leading to more expensive repairs. Pay close attention to changes in appliance performance. Troubleshoot and repair at the first warning signs to save energy and prevent problems.

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2.    Leaving dirty filters in furnaces and air handlers.

Furnace and air handler air filters should be changed at every three to six months. Air flow restriction will cause the unit to run longer to keep up and may also lead to problems such as a furnace overheating and air conditioner coils freezing. It also negatively impacts home air quality.  Those who suffer from allergies may need to replace the filters more frequently.

3.    Forcing the central air condensing unit to work in bad conditions.

The condensing unit’s aluminum fins surrounding the condenser coils tend to collect leaves, grass clippings and other yard debris. It’s important to regularly remove debris to maintain good airflow over the coils, which dissipate the heat.

A refrigerator condenser coil-cleaning brush makes this a simple job.  The aluminum fins are delicate so it is important to be gentle when cleaning the condensing unit.

4.    Lint buildup in dryer venting.

When air flow is restricted, dryers must work longer to dry loads. Lint buildup and heat is also an extreme fire risk, causing tens of thousands of fires across the U.S. and Canada every year. Use a long, dryer vent cleaning brush to clear the venting system from the inside of the dryer to the outside, at least once per year.

Dryer vent cleaning brush

Lint trap filter cleaning should happen after every load. Every few months, the filter should be cleaned with warm water and vinegar to clear clogged filter holes.

5.    Using ceiling fans, portable air conditioners and space heaters in unoccupied rooms.

Ceiling fans do a great job moving air to make a room feel cooler to its occupants. However, they’re energy wasters if no one is actually in the room to enjoy them. Portable fans and space heaters should only be used in occupied rooms for spot cooling and heating. Be mindful that space heaters are compact in size and known to tip over if bumped, causing a fire risk. Only use space heaters when they can be monitored. Avoid using space heaters in homes with pets and children.

6.    Poorly insulating and leaving holes in the exterior.

Having a properly-insulated home can significantly reduce heating and cooling costs, reduce likelihood of premature wear of key components, extend the life of the building and improve air quality.

Unfinished attics should be layered with insulation sufficient for particular regions as recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy. Use caulking to seal exterior holes and apply weather-stripping around windows to reduce warm or cool air loss.

7.    Powering energy hogs.

Audit your appliances, electronics and heating and cooling equipment using a plug-in energy meter to find inefficiencies and determine what should be unplugged, repaired or replaced.

RepairClinic’s free troubleshooting and repair help system empowers do-it-yourselfers to fix common problems associated with home appliances, outdoor power equipment and heating and cooling equipment. DIYers enter a model number to choose from a list of common symptoms for that particular model, troubleshoot and watch expertly-produced videos to learn the most likely causes and conditions and purchase the correct part.

RepairClinic’s more than 2,200 award-winning how-to videos have been viewed more than 38 million times. This year, the company celebrates 16 years in business and three and a half million customers who have saved an estimated $260 million in repair costs by fixing things on their own.

RepairClinic.com was recently honored to be part of Internet Retailer magazine’s 2015 Hot 100 list, which annually lists the world’s best retail websites for innovation. The retailer’s expansive repair-help content was cited as a leading reason for the honor.

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RepairClinic.com® makes fixing things easy for millions of people. Founded in 1999, it is North America’s trusted online store for replacement parts and free repair help for home appliances, outdoor power equipment and heating and cooling equipment. More than 2,200 how-to videos empower people to fix stuff on their own. One million parts for 160 brands are stocked at its 86,000-square-foot facility in Canton, Michigan. It offers a generous, no-hassle 365 Days. Period.® return policy. In-stock parts are guaranteed to ship the same business day. For more information, visit RepairClinic.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Contact Jody Lamb, Public Relations Manager, at JLamb [at] RepairClinic.com.

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