We can all benefit from saving a few bucks from time to time. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by making some energy-efficient changes throughout your home. Upgrading your HVAC equipment or installing a smart thermostat, for example, offers more control over your HVAC system, leading to a more energy-efficient home and savings on your monthly energy bills.
Read on to learn more about 4 ways you can make energy-efficient home enhancements.
1. Install Smart Home Products Like a Smart Thermostat
If you still use a round-dial thermostat and adjust it manually, think about taking a step toward the future by installing a smart, or Wi-Fi, thermostat – which comes with numerous features to assist with energy efficiency.
The feature homeowners like the most is having the ability to adjust their smart thermostats from wherever with their smartphone or other smart device. For example, when you forget to change your thermostat before going on vacation, you can easily pull out your smartphone and make the necessary adjustment.
Like a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat allows you to set up a schedule for your home’s temperature according to the time of day and day of the week so you’re not heating or cooling an empty house. Smart thermostats also feature the ability to learn your temperature preferences over time and automatically make energy-efficient adjustments. They also provide monthly energy reports that demonstrate how much energy you've used and when so you can make adjustments to save money.
If you’re wondering how to get a free smart thermostat, talk to your utility company to learn if there are any discounts or free smart thermostats available to you.
2. Routine HVAC Maintenance
Regrettably, some homeowners often forget to keep their heating and cooling systems maintained. While this may not seem like a huge deal, ignoring maintenance could result in a number of issues, including inefficiency, breakdowns, and a shorter system lifespan.
When performing an HVAC maintenance service, a heating and cooling technician will examine your HVAC system, clean important components, and pinpoint minor issues before they lead to bigger, more expensive repair issues. Maintenance keeps HVAC systems working at optimal condition, which means less energy is needed to heat and cool your home. This will lower your energy bills, increase the lifespan of HVAC equipment, and contribute to fewer repairs.
We recommend two HVAC tune ups every year – one in the spring before summer and again in the fall before the arrival of winter weather.
3. Upgrading Your Old, Inefficient HVAC Equipment
Unfortunately, like all appliances, HVAC systems have a shelf life and eventually need to be replaced. New heaters and cooling systems are much more efficient than models manufactured just over 10 years ago. Thankfully, helpful HVAC companies like Airtech Cooling & Heating can handle professional services like furnace installation in Sarasota.
Well-maintained furnaces and air conditioners can live around 15-20 years. If your systems are within that span, it can be a good idea to replace them ahead of time to minimize the risk of untimely breakdowns that can leave you cold and uncomfortable if it’s a cold winter night. If your system is approaching 15 years old and needs an expensive repair, it’s definitely time to replace it. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, installing a new HVAC system could save you about 20-40% on your monthly energy bills, so you’ll get back some of the costs of installing a new system.
A professional heating and cooling technician can help you identify the most energy efficient HVAC system available. In general, try to find HVAC systems that are Energy Star certified, indicating the equipment meets rigid guidelines established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. LENNOX HVAC systems are some of the most efficient systems on the market, offering both high AFUE and SEER ratings. AFUE is for heating systems and measures how well they convert fuel to heat. SEER, meanwhile, is used to quantify the energy efficiency of cooling systems.
Contact a reputable HVAC provider like Airtech Cooling & Heating for air conditioning installation in Sarasota.
4. Switch to More High Efficiency Air Filters
When you’re looking for new HVAC filters, consider that not all air filters are the same. Certain air filters are far more effective than others, resulting in lower energy bills and a cleaner home environment.
The efficiency of HVAC air filters is illustrated 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, though, that high-efficiency air filters can in fact restrict airflow too much based on the type of HVAC system you own. It’s worthwhile to study the owner’s manual before buying a filter to determine the right one for your system.