You may have just moved into a home with an HVAC system, or you may want to understand your existing system better. Either way, did you know that the heating/cooling of your home accounts for about half of your utility bill? If you can save money on your HVAC system, you can reduce your energy bills substantially. The following are tips on how to do just that.
Change Your Air Filter
It is probably a sound investment for your furnace to have an air filter. If it does not, you should get one installed. In addition to improving the quality of air in your home, other benefits come from having a clean air filter. When adding an air purifier, your HVAC system will run more efficiently and last longer. It also works to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption. The cleaner the filter, the more your HVAC system will work. The frequency you need to change the air filter depends on how many people live in your home and what types of pets you have. For example, if you have a dog, you need to replace your air filter more frequently because the animal’s hair and dander will accumulate in your filter.
Your furnace system is less efficient if it has too many contaminants in it, so keeping a clean filter is crucial for optimal performance. With advances in technology, there are various types of filters available on the market today. Some filters can be used to remove pollen from the air and those designed to capture large particles such as dust and dirt. Other filters have activated carbon which is used to absorb odors from pets or cigarettes. The more you know about the types of air filters available, the better equipped you will be at deciding what type you should purchase for your home. Doing this will help improve the air quality in your house, but it will also reduce your energy bills.
Check Your Vents
The heating and cooling systems of your home are the most expensive appliances you own. Not only do they cost a lot to install, but they also eat up energy at a rapid rate. The best way to save on these costs is to check up on your vents and make sure that air can flow properly through them. This will allow the air to circulate throughout the house to absorb heat or cool down. If you have dampers, make sure they are open to their maximum potential. Another way of saving energy is by air sealing your home around vents and other penetrations through walls, floors, and ceilings.
By using materials that are usually used for attics or crawl spaces, you will be able to seal these openings and save a lot on your energy bills. This is a cost-effective way of improving the comfort level in your house as well as saving money. By making sure that all vents are open and air can flow freely through the ducts, you will prevent the house from being heated or cooled down too much by your HVAC system. If you are not sure about your system, it is best to call in a professional who can perform the hvac inspection for you.HVAC companies can provide hvac install services as well as regular inspections of your vents and ducts so that there is no problem. However, this should be done at least twice a year so that you know your system works all the time properly.
Check Ducts for Leaks
Routinely checking your ducts for leaks can help you save on heating and cooling costs. Ductwork is the system of tubes that carries conditioned air from your HVAC system to the various rooms in your house. When leaks occur, heated or cooled air escape and make their way outside rather than remaining inside to provide comfort, leaks can occur anywhere in the duct system, including connections and seams. Leaks can also occur where the ducts attach to registers or vents to distribute conditioned air throughout your home. How do you know when it’s time to check for leaks and carry out a HVAC service? If your heating and cooling bills seem high and you aren’t sure why a thorough inspection of your ducts may be in order.
Checking the ductwork also becomes necessary if you notice temperature differentials between rooms or hear a whistling or hissing sound when your HVAC system is on. Ducts that leak cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter will require additional energy to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout your house. Decreasing these leaks can help you save significantly on heating and cooling costs. You may also choose to insulate your ducts to increase their efficiency and reduce heat loss. In addition to the savings potential, sealing duct leaks is one of the most effective ways to improve your home’s air quality.
Clean Your Dryer Vents
Cleaning your dryer vent is an important HVAC service small step that can save you a lot of money in the future. You probably know about the expense of heating and cooling. However, did you know how much heat gets wasted through your dryer vents? Cleaning out your dryer vent annually will allow for congested areas to be blown away, thus allowing for your dryer to be more efficient. If your vent is not cleaned out, it will become clogged with lint and cause the inner lining of the ductwork to deteriorate; this will make you lose money because you are paying for an inefficient appliance (your dryer). There are a few things to look out for when cleaning your dryer vent.
You need to ensure you have ample access to the area to use a brush or vacuum hose. If you have restricted space, get help from someone who can assist you. Ensure there is no alternative vent that can be used because this could make a fire hazard. When you take out the vent from your wall, it is advisable to be careful as lint can easily come off and leave unwanted messes on your floor or carpeting. After cleaning, reinstall the vent back into place, ensuring that there are no tears in the ductwork lining. It would be best to clean your vent once every year to ensure that your dryer is working at top efficiency.
Upgrade to More Efficient Equipment
While many people certainly understand the benefits of upgrading their system through HVAC contractors, some other individuals still don’t know how it works. Upgrading your HVAC system isn’t like buying a bigger house or purchasing a new car. It works differently because it doesn’t require you to buy an entirely new unit; instead, it requires replacements for parts of the current one. All you have to do is schedule a meeting with the contractor and get an assessment done. During this process, your HVAC system will be analyzed for its operating efficiency to determine the HVAC repairs that need to be done. The contractor will check on things such as blower noise, temperature control, heating and air conditioning as well as refrigerant pressure. After the assessment has been conducted, the contractor will give you a list of replacement parts that need to be installed. From there, it’s all about scheduling an appointment and letting the experts do their job. Upgrading your unit may sound like a big expense, but this is something many people look forward to because it can help improve your energy efficiency and lower your monthly expenses at the same time. If you are looking to save on your energy bills, upgrading is always a good investment. Upgrading your system also gives it a longer lifespan or operation hours which helps you avoid taking it down frequently. Another benefit of upgrading is that your current system will become more efficient. This means lower energy bills and a nice, comfortable environment throughout the year.
Adjust Your Thermostat
It is possible to save on your HVAC system by having your thermostat set at a lower temperature when you are not home. Even if you leave the heat running for an hour before you head out to work, you can still keep cool in the summertime when nobody is around to need heating. If you have kids who take long showers, it is best to turn off the water heater in the tub. Putting your thermostat in energy-saving mode when you are home but not needing cooling or heating is another great way to save money. Quite often, many people leave their air conditioning system running all day long without the need it being on at all.
Turning your thermostat up on the days, you are home is another way to save some money. Talking with a service company about energy-saving thermostat tips is something you should do when you aim to save money on your heating and cooling. Your equipment will last longer because it runs more efficiently and that in turn will save you even more money in the long run. The service company you choose to work with will tell you how much you can expect to save by adjusting your system in this way. Taking the time to adjust the temperature at which your HVAC is running can prevent many unneeded HVAC repair and extend its life overall. Although it may seem like a small thing, these small changes add up over time, meaning that you will save more money in the end.
Stop Using Space Heaters
Space heaters work by using a fan to push air across the heating element. The heated air is then forced into the room from an outlet near the floor. Some of this air mixes with cool air from other rooms and cools off before being warmed up. The scientific effect is that the room never heats to the temperature of the thermostat. Space heaters are also very inefficient, especially when compared to your heating system, which pumps heated air into each room every time it turns on. A space heater only produces heat for a short period of time-typically 10 hours at most per day. A heating system pumps heat into the room 24 hours a day, ensuring that your house will always be as warm as you set it on your thermostat.
When you use a space heater, your HVAC system will have to work harder to heat the remaining air in the room. That added load makes it more difficult for your furnace or heat pump to keep the rest of your house warm when you turn it on later. The result is that your furnace or heat pump will run more often and for longer periods hence creating the possibility of requiring heat pump repair services. Than it normally would. This puts a lot of added stress on the machinery and will cause it to wear out faster. It can also raise your utility bill higher than you might expect. Space heaters usually don’t offer the same level of comfort as a whole-house heating system. They heat the immediate area where they are placed, but not to the level of a thermostat. The result is that you feel like you are uncomfortable even though the space heater is set as low as it can go. In contrast, a whole-house heating system will always warm the house to the temperature the thermostat is set for. If you want to save money on your winter utility bill every year, then perform a hvac tune up and adjust your household behaviors.
Utilize Ceiling Fans
The next time you are thinking about making some changes to your home, consider looking at how you use your heating and cooling system. Oftentimes, most homeowners flip on their air conditioner or heater every time they enter a room. Setting up fans is a great way to circulate air throughout your home without using an energy-intensive HVAC system. Modern ceiling fans can help keep your home cool without costing you an arm and a leg on your energy bill. Ceiling fans create a wind-chill effect by increasing the evaporation rate of perspiration on your skin. This process is similar to the evaporative cooler commonly known as a ‘swamp cooler.’ By circulating the air in your home with a ceiling fan, you may feel much cooler than you would if the room were stagnant.
Make sure to clean your ceiling fans regularly so they can work most efficiently. Cleaning your ceiling fans will also prevent the dust from circulating throughout the air in your home. Ceiling fans are not just for summer. Many homeowners use their ceiling fans year-round to circulate cool air from open windows or doors. It may cost a little more initially to install a ceiling fan, but the energy savings will pay off over time. Before cooling your home with an HVAC system, it might be best to run the ceiling fan in reverse. When you flip the switch to turn it on, the fan will draw warm air off the ceiling and push it back down. This creates a wind-chill effect in your home that makes you believe your room is cooler than what it feels like. If you run your fan in reverse all summer long, you can save a lot of money by not cooling your home with an HVAC system.
Use Natural Light Whenever Possible
Your HVAC unit works hard to keep you comfortable. It is a system that takes warm air from inside your house and heats it so you can stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter, plus all of those months in between! However, it doesn’t do this without cost. The unit has to use energy in the form of electricity or gas (or sometimes both!), and it doesn’t take long for that cost to add up. A little-known fact about keeping your home cool is that you can save money on heating and cooling costs by opening shades and blinds during the day to let in natural light.
When you use natural light to warm up your home, you use the sun’s energy instead of yours. This makes it much cheaper and ultimately saves you money. You can hear your house for about 10% of what it normally costs when the sun is out. This is because you do not need to run your furnace when the sun is shining, and the cost of heating a house with gas can add up quickly. One way to apply this information (and save money) is by installing automated blinds. The window coverings will open up when the sun comes out and then close when it goes away, giving you that warm feeling inside your home while saving on energy costs. So there you have it. If you want to apply this information to your home’s heating and cooling system, contact a professional company that can give you a free estimate on installing blinds in your home.
There is no doubt that your heating and cooling system is probably one of the biggest and most important expenses in your home. While you might not avoid the cost entirely, considering the tips discussed in this article will help you save on your HVAC System dramatically.
