The Right HVAC Tips Can Save Money and Energy

There are certain bills you just can’t avoid. Your heating and cooling system is one of them.

Your HVAC costs are the biggest share of your household expenses. Almost half of your monthly utility bills are spent covering your heating and cooling.

If you want to control costs, it’s the first place you should look to reduce monthly spending.

What’s the easiest way to get started? Start small. It doesn’t take much to start seeing results.

HVAC Tips to perform now

Start with cleaning or replacing your filters. At a minimum, once a season, especially when you start up your furnace and air conditioner for the first time. Because we’ve been spending more time at home this year, you may wish to change out filers more frequently, even once per month can make a big difference in the air quality throughout your home.

Spend a few minutes cleaning your vents and registers. Vacuum the surface to remove dust particles. You can also wipe them down to remove stuck dirt, pollen, and other contaminants that may have stuck in place as air passes through it each day.

Set your programmable thermostat to keep you comfortable all season long. You can adjust it so it matches your schedule. You should also change it based on the weather. Cut back on how frequent your furnace operates when we hit warm weather in the winter months, and during cold spells in the summer. Once it’s set, let it run for optimal performance.

You can also use your window coverings effectively. During the winter, keep south facing windows uncovered during the winter to allow the sun to stream in and heat your home naturally. Likewise, keep shades closed in the summer to keep the heat out.

HVAC Tips for long term savings

While it may sound counterintuitive to buy new equipment to save money, you can often recoup the costs in a relatively short period of time.

When was the last time you paid attention to exhaust fans? You should have them in the kitchen, bathrooms, and other areas to help control heat and humidity throughout your home. Have they been upgraded to high efficiency models? They can help your HVAC equipment operate more efficiently throughout the year.

For a higher efficient furnace, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. Energy Star models will exceed 90 percent AFUE and offer savings every time you operate your furnace. Air conditioners have a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), with an Energy Star model rating 14.5 SEER or higher.

Be sure to use a reputable HVAC company to help you select the right model based on the needs of your home. That’s where we can help. We’ve been helping families just like yours choose the right HVAC equipment for their needs, and save money in the process.

How can we help you?