Top Steps to Ensure HVAC Efficiency

HVAC system bills can make up almost half of your utility expenses. There is always the need for heating or cooling your home to create a comfortable environment regardless of the weather outside or time of year. If you do not take proper care of your HVAC system, your energy bills may continue to rise as it loses its efficiency over time. An energy-efficient HVAC unit can help you save money on energy bills because they require less energy to operate. This article looks at some of the top steps you can take to improve the HVAC efficiency and comfort of your home.

  1. Get a Home Energy Audit

A home energy audit can help you determine the efficiency of your HVAC system and the amount of energy you are using on heating and cooling your home.

Worker repairing ceiling air conditioning unit
A professional can recommend any changes that are needed to ensure the efficiency of your home’s HVAC system. While you may feel just fine with the monthly energy bills you pay for your air conditioning system, a home energy audit can give you a better perspective on your energy consumption and what you can do to save more on your bills in the long run.

  1. Inspect Your Ductwork

Dust, pollen, pet dander, and other air pollutants can accumulate inside your HVAC system over time and get re-circulated into your indoor air. This can cause poor indoor air quality, which can affect your health. You can always schedule a professional air-duct inspection to get rid of debris that you are unable to reach with your vacuum cleaner hose. Cleaner ductwork helps to reduce respiratory problems by improving the air quality in your home.

  1. Change Your Air Filter

Air filters perform at their best when cleaned regularly or as recommended by the manufacturer. This is very crucial especially for people who live in a dusty region, as you may have to change your air filters more often to maintain good indoor air quality. Clogged filters increase the time your system takes to heat or cool your space. As a result, it uses more power because it has to work harder than usual to deliver the same level of comfort as before.

  1. Calibrate Your Thermostat

Never assume that your thermostat knows the exact temperature of your home as they can differ with a few percentage degrees from the actual temperature. This small difference can cost you in the long run as it accumulates big expenses over the years. You may require a trustworthy thermometer to be certain that your thermostat is giving actual readings. You can keep it a few inches from your thermostat for referencing purposes whenever your energy bills start to increase gradually.

  1. Use Automatic Controls Where Possible

Automatic controls can regulate the speed, run-time, and output of your HVAC equipment such as compressor motors, fans, and chillers to provide appropriate levels of heating and cooling around your home. A variable air valve and other programmable energy features can reduce a bigger percentage of your energy bills while maintaining needed comfort during appropriate times of the day. While automatic controls may sound like an expensive investment up front, they can help you save more in the long term.

 

  1. Insulate Your Home

A poorly insulated building can lose a lot of conditioned air in the process making your HVAC system operate longer than required to heat or cool your home. Consider adding extra insulation to your walls and windows to make your HVAC system more efficient. It is also important to consider pipes, ducts, and outlets by wrapping them in insulation to save energy. R-value refers to the amount of insulation a material provides to space. This means that a home with a higher R-value traps more of the conditioned air, increasing the efficiency of your HVAC system.

  1. Schedule Annual Maintenance

Regular maintenance keeps your HVAC system running optimally to maximize its energy efficiency. Regular inspections should be scheduled at the beginning and end of hot and cold seasons to avoid paying huge costs on expensive repairs in the future. A professional HVAC service company can always recommend the right maintenance schedule for your system based on your usage.

Small changes to an existing HVAC system can make it more energy-efficient as long as it is well maintained. Systems that have been properly maintained throughout their lifetime can be customized for energy efficiency by adding air economizers and condenser fan controls or replacing the compressor. These useful tips can help you get the most out of your HVAC system while spending less on your energy bills in the long term.