We can all benefit from saving a few bucks where we can. One of the easiest ways to do so is by improving energy efficiency in your home. Upgrading your HVAC equipment or installing a smart thermostat, for example, offers more control over your HVAC equipment, resulting in a more energy-efficient home and savings on your monthly energy bills.
Keep reading to read about 4 ways you can make energy-efficient home changes.
1. Install a Smart Thermostat
If you still use an older thermostat and adjust it manually, consider taking a step toward the future by installing a smart, or Wi-Fi, thermostat – which includes a number of features to make your home more energy efficient.
The feature homeowners like the most is having the capability to adjust their smart thermostats from anywhere through their smartphone or other smart device. As an example, when you forget to use your thermostat before leaving for vacation, you can simply take out your smartphone and make the necessary adjustment.
Similar to a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat enables you to pre-set your home’s temperature determined by the time of day and day of the week so you’re not cooling or heating an empty house. Smart thermostats also offer the capacity to watch your temperature preferences over time and automatically make energy-efficient corrections. They even provide monthly energy reports that demonstrate how much energy you’re using and when so you can make adjustments to save money.
If you’re curious about how to obtain a free smart thermostat, ask your utility company to learn if there are any discounts or free smart thermostats offered.
2. HVAC Tune Ups
Unfortunately, some homeowners often forget to have their heating and cooling systems maintained. While this might not seem like a problem, ignoring maintenance will sometimes lead to a number of issues, including inefficiency, breakdowns, and a shorter system lifespan.
With an HVAC maintenance service, a heating and cooling technician will inspect your HVAC system, clean key components, and identify minor problems before they lead to bigger, more expensive repair issues. Tune ups keep HVAC systems functioning at optimal condition, which means less energy is used to heat and cool your home. This can help with your energy bills, expand the lifespan of HVAC equipment, and contribute to fewer repairs.
We recommend two HVAC tune ups annually – once in the spring before summer and another during the fall before the arrival of frigid weather.
3. Replacing Your Old, Inefficient HVAC Equipment
Annoyingly, like all appliances, HVAC systems don't last forever and inevitably need to be replaced. New heaters and cooling equipment is much more energy efficient than models manufactured just over 10 years ago. Thankfully, quality HVAC companies like H & H Service Company can handle professional services including furnace installation in Mechanicsburg.
Well-maintained furnaces and air conditioners can last approximately 15-20 years. If your systems are within that span, it is often be a good idea to replace them ahead of time to prevent untimely equipment failures that can leave you cold and uncomfortable on a cold winter night. If your system is about 15 years old and needs an expensive repair, it’s almost always time to replace it. As reported by the U.S. Department of Energy, getting a new HVAC system could save you approximately 20-40% on your monthly energy bills, so you’ll get back some of the costs of buying a new system.
A professional heating and cooling technician can help you identify the most energy efficient HVAC system available. In general, seek out HVAC systems that are Energy Star certified, which means the equipment fulfills strict guidelines set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. LENNOX HVAC systems can be some of the most efficient systems around, boasting both high AFUE and SEER ratings. AFUE is for heating systems and measures how well they convert fuel to heat. SEER, in the meantime, is used to measure the energy efficiency of air conditioning systems.
Contact a reputable HVAC provider like H & H Service Company for air conditioning installation in Mechanicsburg.
4. Use Energy-Efficient Air Filters
The next time you’re searching for new HVAC filters, keep in mind that not all air filters are created equally. Certain air filters are far more successful than others, leading to lower energy bills and cleaner indoor air.
The performance of HVAC air filters is scored by their Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV rating. The MERV scale ranges between 1-20; the higher the number, the more efficient the filters are. It’s important to note, however, that high-efficiency air filters can in fact obstruct airflow too much depending on the type of HVAC system you installed. It’s beneficial to read the owner’s manual before purchasing a filter to determine the ideal model for your system.