Your home & heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system keeps you and your family comfortable all year long by regulating the indoor temperature. HVAC systems offer several advantages to you as a homeowner, including the ability to control them via a remote or smartphone app and pre-setting run temperatures with a digital thermostat. You may find that these systems also help to lower your energy bill; however, there are a few ways you can ensure that your HVAC unit runs at top efficiency to help you save even more.
1. Upgrade Your Home
Before your HVAC system can run efficiently, your home must also be energy efficient as well. Old windows, a lack of proper insulation, and drafty attics can all affect how often your system must run to maintain your home & temperature. Consider installing energy-efficient windows, add insulation to your attic or, if it is old, replace it completely. The better your home & insulation, the more efficiently your HVAC system can run, and you are likely to see lower energy bills as a result.
2. Monitor Air Filters
An HVAC system & air filters prevent allergens, dust, hair, and other impurities from being pumped out of its ducts along with heated or cooled air. However, these filters can become clogged after a few months, and you should monitor their condition regularly to ensure they are not blocking your air & outflow. Most filters last anywhere from six months to a year, but they should be checked every few months, especially if you own pets that shed heavily or run your HVAC system every day.
To check the system & air filters, remove them from the grating and hold them up to the light. If no light filters through and the surface is noticeably covered with debris, it is time to replace them. If you are unsure about how to handle these filters, have a professional HVAC technician come out to inspect and replace them.
3. Keep Ducts and Registers Clean
Because of the direction of the airflow through your HVAC system & ducts, you might think that any debris, dust, or hair gets caught in the filters so that the ducts do not require cleaning. However, it is possible for your home & ducts and registers to become clogged, especially if you run your system often. When dust and other impurities collect in the ducts, it may obstruct the air flow. This means more wear and tear on your HVAC system, as it must work harder to push the air out into your home.
You can vacuum your heat and AC registers once a week to keep them free of dust and hair, but if you are still struggling with uneven cooling or heating after doing so, you should contact an HVAC company to have your ducts inspected. A knowledgeable tech knows what to look for and may be able to resolve the problem quickly.
4.Listen to Your HVAC System
Your HVAC system probably makes a series of sounds as it kicks on, runs, then shuts off again, and you have no doubt grown accustomed to them. However, taking the time to listen for any peculiar noises during a run cycle can let you know if the system is working efficiently. Popping, grinding, long pauses, or longer cycling can be signs something is wrong.
If you do encounter any strange noises or suspect a malfunction in your HVAC system, take note of what you are hearing so you can let your repair technician know. The better you can describe the issue, the more quickly it can be diagnosed.
An HVAC system helps to make your home a haven of comfort all year long. Keeping the unit maintained can help it run at peak efficiency for years to come, offering you a temperate indoor environment and peace of mind as a homeowner.