2 questions about heating and cooling.?
2. If you do not toucn your thermostat (it was at 78 for May and June), is it more expensive in June because it was only slightly warmer outside or could it be the filter which was dirty?
Answers:
Heating and Cooling Tips
Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer.
Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.
Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if in doubt about how to perform this task, call a professional.
Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.
During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your southfacing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
During the cooling season, keep the window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar gain.
Weatherize your home by weather stripping or caulking around doors and windows. This will help keep heat from your system inside the home.
Add programmable thermostats (figure C) to your central heating system. This will help save energy by not heating your home when you're away.
Other answers:
YES
YES
Its cheaper to keep your thermostat where it is, the constant up and down makes the cost rise. Yes, clean your filters monthly. Also helps in your air quality. Happy cooling and heating.
Filters need to be changed every three months. The cost depends on the price of gas and electric where you live, and your climate.
If you don't touch your stat at all, cost will vary depending on your outside temperature. This is true whether heating or cooling.
Hope this helps.
If your home isn't insulated well, it'll cost you alot to do both.
They raise elec. rates in summer and gas rates in winter, so you know they only want to make profits.