If high furnace operating costs have you wishing harder than usual for spring, you may wonder if installing an energy-efficient HVAC system is the right choice. A better option might be a professional inspection to ensure your current system runs smoothly and deliver seasonal energy savings. When you need HVAC energy saving tips, professionals offering HVAC services in Tallahassee, FL, can help.
1. Call for an HVAC Maintenance Tune-Up
One of the best ways to keep your HVAC system running smoothly and efficiently is to call professionals for annual maintenance visits. By inspecting the HVAC system each year, professionals can replace parts that are close to failing and clean other parts, ensuring the unit is burning fuel as efficiently as possible.
2. Clean or Replace the Furnace Filter
One of the easiest HVAC energy saving tips homeowners can manage on their own is changing the furnace filter. Inserting a new filter allows for optimized airflow, meaning the furnace doesn’t have to work as long to bring the desired level of heat to the home. With better airflow, it should run for less overall time, meaning it’ll use less fuel and reduce your utility bills in winter.
Most HVAC systems need the furnace filter replaced every three months. If you have a lot of pets or live in a dusty and windy area, you might need to replace the filter every two months.
3. Repair Any Leaking Air Ducts
Duct sealing is an efficient way to save money on your winter energy costs. When the ducts aren’t tightly sealed, some of the heated air from your furnace will leak into crawl spaces, walls, and attics. This is a waste of heated air, forcing the furnace to work harder to generate the desired level of heat in the living areas, which increases your energy bills.
Although duct sections usually remain tightly connected, vibrations, temperature variations, and physical damage could cause the seams to eventually pull loose. Professionals can inspect the ducts for any areas with leaks and repair them by adjusting the bracket screws or by adding a sealant.
4. Clean the System’s Ducts and Vents
Asking professionals to clean the HVAC’s ductwork and vents is one of the most effective HVAC energy saving tips to follow. The interior of the ducts will collect dust and other particles over time. Eventually, this dust could inhibit air movement and leave the system unable to heat the house as efficiently.
The vents in the system may also accumulate dust and other contaminants. When heated air cannot move efficiently through the supply vents or when the return vents have dust blocking them, the furnace has to work harder to heat your home.
5. Add a Smart Thermostat
One of the most common ways households waste energy during winter is running the furnace at times when people are sleeping or at work. You could install a smart thermostat to limit the furnace’s operation during these times by automatically reducing the temperature setting.
When you install a smart thermostat, you can adjust the thermostat’s settings through an app on your smartphone. You can also create an automated schedule to lower the temperature at times when the family is sleeping or isn’t in the house and doesn’t need the heater to run.
Smart thermostats may even pay for themselves over a year or two by delivering improved energy efficiency and lower heating bills.
6. Upgrade an Older HVAC System
If you have an older air conditioner and furnace, one of the longest-lasting HVAC energy saving tips is upgrading the system.
Newer HVAC systems have components and designs that focus on saving energy, even when compared to systems installed 10 or 15 years ago. A new HVAC installation can make a significant difference in your energy bills compared to an older system that’s near the end of its lifespan.
Although upgrading an older heating and cooling system entails a significant expense, you should save on operational costs almost immediately. You should also need fewer repair visits from your HVAC service technicians, saving even more money. These savings continue to accumulate over multiple winter seasons.
7. Install an Energy-Efficient Heat Pump
For homeowners in the southeastern United States, heat pumps provide an option for saving money in winter. These units deliver both cooling and heating services in one system.
A heat pump is not as energy efficient when used in place of a furnace in areas where below-freezing temperatures are common. The weather in the Southeast, though, makes a heat pump a smart choice for those who want maximum energy efficiency in winter. A local HVAC professional can advise you on whether a heat pump is a good choice in your situation.
8. Only Use the Heat Pump’s Emergency Heat When Necessary
One of the heating mistakes to avoid when you have a heat pump is running it in emergency mode too often. Sometimes, the heat pump can’t generate enough heat to match the temperature setting on the thermostat because of outdoor temperatures approaching the freezing mark. If so, the heat pump may go into emergency heat mode, which involves using a secondary heat source to supplement the heat pump.
Although emergency heat mode works well to keep you comfortable, it requires more energy to operate than the heat pump alone. If you frequently run in emergency heat mode, you’ll see an increase in your winter utility bills. Check the thermostat occasionally to make sure emergency heat mode is not active on days when temperatures outdoors don’t warrant using it.
Cooper’s Plumbing & Air Is the Trusted HVAC Service Team in the Tallahassee Region
Whether you need help maintaining a furnace or making a heat pump efficient, our experts at Cooper’s Plumbing & Air can help. We offer HVAC energy saving tips that give you improved heating performance while saving money.
Don’t ignore higher-than-average energy bills in winter. They could indicate that your HVAC system needs repair and maintenance to return to energy-efficient operation, helping you save money. For an appointment to discuss your heating system’s performance, call us today at (866) 464-7132.