{"id":1680,"date":"2026-01-05T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/?p=1680"},"modified":"2026-01-09T09:38:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T14:38:06","slug":"new-year-new-comfort-how-to-improve-home-efficiency-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/home-improvement\/new-year-new-comfort-how-to-improve-home-efficiency-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"New Year, New Comfort: How to Improve Home Efficiency in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As 2026 begins, many homeowners are looking for simple, effective ways to boost comfort while lowering energy bills\u2014and your HVAC system in Joliet, IL<\/a> plays a big role in those improvements. With a few DIY adjustments and some strategic upgrades, you can make this your most efficient and comfortable year yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"New<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Use Ceiling Fans to Your Advantage<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ceiling fans are one of the easiest tools for improving comfort without raising your energy use. In the winter, set fans to rotate clockwise<\/strong> at a low speed. This gentle updraft pushes warm air along the ceiling back down into your living space, easing the workload on your heating system. In the summer, switch your fan direction to counterclockwise<\/strong> to create a cooling breeze that makes rooms feel several degrees cooler\u2014allowing you to raise the thermostat without sacrificing comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harness (or Block) the Power of Sunlight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sunlight can either heat or cool your home depending on the season. In winter, open south-facing curtains and blinds during the day to let in natural warmth, then close them at night to keep heat inside. During the summer, do just the opposite: use blackout curtains or cellular shades during peak daylight hours to prevent heat gain and reduce the strain on your air conditioner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seal Drafts for Immediate Energy Savings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Drafts around doors, windows, attics, and crawlspaces are some of the biggest causes of energy waste. Use weatherstripping, caulk, or expanding foam to seal these gaps and prevent heated or cooled air from slipping outdoors. Even small cracks can cause major energy loss, so taking an hour or two to tighten up your home can have a big impact on your comfort and utility bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fine-Tune Your Thermostat Settings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Small thermostat adjustments can deliver dependable savings. In winter, keep your thermostat at the lowest comfortable setting when you\u2019re home, and lower it by 7\u201310 degrees at night or when you\u2019re away. In summer, raise it slightly during those same periods. If you haven\u2019t already programmed your thermostat\u2014or don\u2019t yet use a smart model\u2014this is one of the easiest ways to save year-round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upgrade Your Home\u2019s Efficiency with Our Help<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re ready to go beyond DIY fixes, we offer several professional solutions that can dramatically boost home comfort and efficiency. Smart thermostats<\/a><\/strong> make automatic, intelligent adjustments based on your schedule and preferences. Duct sealing<\/strong> ensures conditioned air actually makes its way into your living spaces rather than leaking into attics or basements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whole-house indoor air quality solutions<\/strong> improve airflow, reduce contaminants, and help your HVAC system perform more smoothly. And don\u2019t overlook insulation<\/strong>\u2014upgrading attic or wall insulation is one of the most effective long-term ways to reduce energy waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set Comfort and Savings Goals for the New Year<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you want to reduce energy bills, enjoy more consistent heating and cooling, or improve indoor air quality, taking a proactive approach now will pay off all year long. Start with a few easy DIY habits, then let us help you tackle the bigger upgrades when you\u2019re ready. With the right plan, 2026 can be your most comfortable\u2014and efficient\u2014year yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact J&A today<\/strong><\/a>, sleep tight tonight!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With the right plan, 2026 can be your most comfortable\u2014and efficient\u2014year yet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1685,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[78],"tags":[284,92],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1680"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1680"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1680\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1687,"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1680\/revisions\/1687"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1685"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}