Did you know that your HVAC maintenance is among the most energy-consuming equipment in your home?
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The heating and cooling unit consumes the most electricity compared to all other household appliances. Research indicates that the heating and cooling system accounts for over half of the monthly bills for the energy your household consumes.
Homeowners seeking HVAC installations services are more energy conscious and will appreciate efficient and effective units that run at a low cost. To achieve this, you will require regular maintenance, energy-efficient practices, and connected technology. You will considerably lower your energy bills and reduce your domestic HVAC energy consumption by employing some proactive steps.
Upgrade the Thermostat
In this busy-paced life, there are times that your home is empty. Most HVAC units work throughout to ensure the home temperature is constant and conducive with or without occupants. Thanks to technology, your HVAC can work less to maintain temperature levels when the house is empty and more when occupied, thus saving on your cooling and heating energy bills.
You can install a programmable or smart thermostat to save money and lower energy costs.
Programmable Thermostat: This type of thermostat raises or lowers your thermometer when set on a schedule. When beginning, you have to preset times according to your preferences. Some of the latest programmable thermostats have a 7-day programming option which allows you to customize everyday settings, while others come with a 5-1-1 day, 5-2-1 day, or a 1-week option.
Smart Thermostats: Smart thermostats are more advanced than programmable ones and allow you to control the temperature from your device even when you are not at home. Some sophisticated thermostats in this category learn your habits and lifestyle automatically, then effectively adjust to keep your home as efficient as possible.
Establish a Routine Maintenance
The first thing you may need is to conduct an HVAC inspection; otherwise, most energy-saving tips will not benefit you much if your system is not working well.
Follow a regular maintenance checklist and tick all the boxes required for your AC maintenance. Ensure that you check the air filters often and change them when necessary. Keeping your vents clean and clear is a crucial maintenance routine that will help lower energy costs.
If you have no proactive routine maintenance system in place, consider scheduling a semi-annual service with an HVAC company. An expert ensures that your unit operates at its most efficient settings and all parts of the components are in working order.
Check the Optimum Temperature Range
The HVAC systems in the market have optimum temperature ranges to ensure that you use energy efficiently. Check the manual or reach out to your technician to find the most energy-efficient temperature range that your system allows.
Avoid changing temperatures frequently. Turning the AC up on a cold day and way down to cool down on a hot day may sound like a great idea, but this fluctuation makes your system work harder than it should.
According to the US Department of energy, the recommended heat is 25.5 degrees during summer and 20 degrees Celsius in winter. When you are not home, you can let the HVAC run minimally. For the eight hours, you are not home, set your thermostat 10 to 15 minutes back and see how much you can save in energy bills every year.
Seal Homes from Drafts
During cold winter months, you can stop air infiltration. Air leaks in your house compromise AC efficiency as the cooled or heated air slips through crannies and nooks. To get rid of all drafts, ensure that all the windows are shut, caulk immobile parts of windows and doors, and apply weather strips to movable parts. Also, it helps insulate recessed lighting and seal any loose ductwork with mastic sealant or aluminum tape.
Control Home Temperature Using Curtains, Drapes, and Blinds
Window covering affects your cooling and heating load. By installing draperies, you can reduce heat loss by 10 percent and heat gains by 33 percent.
Here is a trick: You can harness free solar heat from the sun by keeping curtains, drapes, and blinds open on the south-facing window during day time and allowing sunlight in. At night, the window treatments will add another layer of insulation between your home interior and the glass. Keeping the windows covered during the day in summer will significantly reduce the temperatures.
Conclusion
HVACs are time-limited, like many other things, and a system over ten years old may be due for replacement as an outdated AC will use more energy. Consider replacing it with a new, more energy-efficient appliance.