Many homeowners here in California and Nevada are resigned to paying higher and higher utility bills. The truth is, we don’t have to just accept higher costs for energy.
Try the following simple tips to boost your HVAC system efficiency — and increase home comfort — while bringing utility costs into line:
- Use a programmable thermostat. It’s an “automatic” energy and money saver, allowing you to pre-set temperatures according to your schedule. This way you’ll use less energy much of the time, when you’re not home and when sleeping. When you’re home and awake, you’ll enjoy the comfort of your preferred temperatures plus lower energy bills.
- Replace or clean your furnace/air conditioning filter monthly, especially during seasons of heavy use. Clogged air filters interfere with airflow through your home, reduce your indoor air quality and make your A/C or heating system work extra hard to keep you comfortable. That’s a big waste of energy and can damage your system over time. Changing the filter regularly protects equipment components from harm due to dirt buildup, which could cause the system to break down frequently and fail many years sooner than necessary.
- Schedule a professional system check-up each year. Neglecting the annual system inspection and check-up can be a safety issue, since systems may develop leaks or electrical problems that may go unnoticed. In addition, regular check-ups will keep your system in nearly-new condition and maintain its efficiency.
- Seal the duct system. Unseen duct leaks, especially those outside the conditioned living space, waste lots of energy. According to Energy Star, insulation and sealing of ductwork in your basement, attic and crawl spaces may increase the efficiency of your home comfort equipment up to 20 percent and beyond. Since you can’t easily access many of these areas, calling in a pro is a cost-effective solution.
For assistance in increasing your home comfort system efficiency and decreasing your energy bills, contact the AC Pros. Serving Southern California and Nevada, we’ll connect you with a certified professional in your area who can help. Visit our website to learn more or just give us a call.
Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Programmable thermostat image via Shutterstock
