The 4 Best Strategies That Elevate HVAC Energy Efficiency

You’ve had enough of tearing open your utility bills and finding that you’re paying more than you’d like. With some simple changes, homeowners in Lake Placid, Florida, can finally stop stressing about utility payments. The key is to increase energy efficiency. Enjoy the energy efficiency you’ve always wanted with these strategies that will reduce strain on your HVAC system:

Schedule Regular Maintenance

One of the best strategies for improving your home’s energy efficiency is to schedule regular professional HVAC maintenance. Your HVAC system experiences normal wear and tear over time. That wear can add strain to the system, which exacerbates energy waste. Schedule professional maintenance at least twice a year, and your service technician will ensure that your system runs at peak efficiency.

In addition to scheduling professional HVAC maintenance, you should also conduct your own DIY maintenance. While you shouldn’t repair components or bother with the interior of your system, you can change your air filter monthly and clean around the system.

Clean Your Living Space

Cleaning your home isn’t only a road to improved indoor air quality. Cleaning in and around your living space will also increase your HVAC system’s energy efficiency. Clutter and excess dust and dirt in your home, especially around the system’s indoor air handler, will decrease airflow and strain the system. Debris around your outdoor compressor unit will also cause problems.

Clean your home regularly, especially around both the indoor and outdoor components of your HVAC system. You’ll improve airflow and take pressure off the system. Plus, who doesn’t love a clean house?

Seal Air Leaks

Nothing wastes energy like an air leak. Your HVAC system spends all its time and power attempting to keep your home comfortable and healthy. But all of that goes out the window when your home isn’t properly sealed against air leaks.

Breaches in what’s known as your "thermal envelope" allow conditioned air to escape and unregulated air to enter your living space. That exchange doesn’t only reduce your comfort and indoor air quality. It also places greater strain on your HVAC system as it tries to compensate.

Increase energy efficiency by sealing your home where outside air is invading. Look for leaks around windows and doors where you may see light streaming through where it shouldn’t. You can also find less obvious air leaks where dirt and dust collect.

An under-insulated area of your home may be an additional contributor to air leaks. Seal the leaks you find around doors and windows with weatherstripping and caulk. Don’t be afraid to invest in adding insulation to areas of your home to lower utility costs and improve comfort.

Heat and Cool Responsibly

Much of your home’s energy efficiency is a consequence of your habits. Even a well-maintained HVAC system will struggle if you’re pushing it too hard. In fact, the further the temperature on your thermostat is from the temperature outdoors, the more your system will strain as it attempts to meet your demands. As a result, it’ll waste more energy.

Instead of keeping your home at 65 degrees when it’s 95 outside, try to keep it closer to 78 degrees. That may not be your ideal temperature, but the difference will increase your energy efficiency considerably. As a result, you’ll notice your energy bills decrease.

In addition to watching your heating and cooling habits, consider installing a programmable or smart thermostat. These thermostats allow you to set different temperatures for your home during different periods of the day. Maybe you can’t handle 78 degrees while you’re home. But a programmable thermostat will allow you to keep your home closer to the outdoor temperature while you’re away at work.

Make these four simple strategies a part of your routine and you’ll see savings in no time. To improve your energy efficiency with professional HVAC maintenance, call Miller’s Central Air, Inc. at 863-699-5455.

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