Have you been looking for ways to go about increasing your HVAC efficiency? You’re in the right spot. As homeowners, we are all often looking for ways to decrease our utility costs. One of these expenses that gets quite pricey in the warmer months is your AC working overtime to keep your home nice and cool.
No matter where you live, you are likely not a stranger to rising temperatures and utility bills that keeping climbing up right along with the heat. If you find yourself pinching pennies and needing to find ways to cut the costs of using your air conditioning during these scorching summer months, it may be beneficial for you to learn ways to approach heating and cooling efficiently.
An HVAC unit that runs more efficiently utilizes less energy to operate, which means your utility bills will not be hurting your bank account quite as drastically. If you want to save money, without sacrificing that sweet relief of an air-conditioned room in the summer, keep reading!
The State of Your Windows!
While windows may not be directly related to the operation of your HVAC unit, they do play an important role in how much energy and effort is required to cool your home down. There are a few things that you should keep an eye on in regard to your windows.
The first thing to note is the age of your windows. Older windows were not created to be as energy-efficient as most of the newer windows that are being manufactured today. Because they were not designed with this energy efficiency in mind, there is a tremendous amount of air exchange that exists between the inside and outside of your home, meaning that hot air can get in and cool air can get out easily. This results in your HVAC needing to work constantly in an attempt to regulate the temperature.
The next thing to keep an eye on with your windows is what kind of shape they are in. Even the smallest crack or break in a window can have a big impact on your energy usage. It is best to regularly examine your windows and the area around them both from the inside and outside. If you find any areas in need of repair, make sure to address them immediately to avoid excess energy usage.
Keep the Seal Unbroken
Another one of the ways to go about increasing your HVAC efficiency is to ensure that all of your windows are sealed up tightly. Check the seal around the insides and outsides of all of your windows on a regular basis and re-seal or re-caulk as needed. This seal has the potential to crack or flake off after a lengthy period of time, especially in extreme temperatures. It is best to keep an eye on it and complete maintenance as needed.
Everybody Automate!
Home automation is more than just a cool trend that offers a lot of convenience in your everyday life. Automating certain devices within your home can actually help your utilities run more efficiently, saving you money.
One of the biggest ways you can accomplish this is by simply switching out your old outdated thermostat for a smart thermostat. This allows you to set schedules for your HVAC, allowing it to not run as much while you are away, and kicking back on when you need it to. Many of these smart thermostats also connect to an app on your phone so you can control the HVAC system from anywhere, inside or outside your home!
Keep it Clean!
Another fairly simple task that can help with increasing your HVAC efficiency is to keep it clean. This entails a couple of different aspects. One is to consistently replace your air filters. When these get clogged up with dirt and dust (which we have plenty of here in Alabama!), it requires more energy to push air through them, which cuts down on how efficient your HVAC can operate.
You can also have your air ducts regularly cleaned, which helps remove some of the pollutants and particles that are in your ductwork, reducing the amount of energy your HVAC needs, and also reducing allergy symptoms you could be experiencing in your own home.
Stay Maintained!
Perhaps one of the most important ways to keep your HVAC operating efficiently is to keep it well-maintained. Having a technician pay regular visits to ensure that everything is running as it should be, and repairing or replacing anything that is amiss, can prove to be extremely valuable. Not only will it save you utility costs, but will also prevent any major problems with your unit as well!
Don’t get heated over how much your utility bills are, contact our expert technicians today! We will keep you cool when it matters most. If you are looking for an energy-efficient HVAC unit, or you would like to schedule a consultation or service with one of our HVAC services or HVAC maintenance professionals, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Valley Heating & Cooling! Save yourself the time of searching for “heating and cooling services near me,” and have us get the job done for you.