Heating and cooling systems cost about half of your total utility bills. This makes central heating and cooling a major energy expense in an Edmonton house. Every homeowner aims to cut their energy bills as much as possible. Cutting on the major source of energy consumption is the best way to do it.
New HVAC systems are quite energy efficient. However, a new system is not always an option for everyone. Fortunately, there are some steps that you can take and make your old
HVAC system energy efficient. The article explains some of the many actions that can increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.
Change Your Air Filter
Most homeowners know that changing air filters is an essential part of HVAC system maintenance. However, many do not actually know its importance in increasing the overall efficiency of the system. The main purpose of these air filters is to stop dust and debris from making it to your home’s air. Over time, these pollutants accumulate on these filters, causing blockages. This build-up on the filters makes your system work even harder to push the clean air out of it.
Old, clogged air filters ultimately result in poorer air quality and decreased efficiency of the HVAC system overall.
HVAC experts generally recommend changing air filters every three months. However, households with allergies and pets may need to change their filters more often.
Usefulâ âTipsâ âToâ âImproveâ âYourâ âHVACâ âEfficiencyâ
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Don’t Lag On Maintenance
Being a busy person, you find it very tempting to ignore and put off the preventive maintenance of your HVAC system. However, routine maintenance has a significant impact on the efficiency of your cooling and heating system. Minor tune-ups and repairs can help you save a lot of money in terms of monthly energy bills and unprecedented major repairs.
In routine maintenance, your
HVAC technician will clean the drain line, check the refrigerant levels, and calibrate the system. The technician may also guide you about the steps to keep your system clean and efficient from one maintenance time to the next.
Invest In Smart Thermostat
A smart or programmable thermostat is a great investment to save a lot of money in the long run. A programmable thermostat can contribute significantly towards increasing the efficiency of your HVAC system. Reducing the temperature of your system by a few degrees can cause a big difference in your monthly heating and cooling bills.
A smart thermostat can adjust the temperature by monitoring the external temperature and even the household’s activities. It will adjust the temperature when the occupants of the house are out or sleeping. Hence, by having a smart thermostat, you can increase the efficiency of your HVAC system without making any effort. You can also pre-set it or even control it from your mobile when out at jobs or on vacation. You can switch off the system when no one is home and switch it on remotely to welcome yourself to the warmth of your home.
Seal The Household Gaps
The small household gaps allow a big chunk of your HVAC unit’s air and heat to escape. As a result, the system has to work harder to achieve the set temperature. These culprit gaps can be present around windows and doors. Other areas where you can lose this expensive air are around the ducts or fireplace chimneys. Take an inspecting round across your house and identify these small gaps and fill them up.
Fortunately, you can fill these gaps easily by adding caulk to them. You can also use weatherstrips to block the cold drafts from under the doors. Fix the switch plates and other outlets using foam gaskets to block the air loss through them. When it comes to the air loss through ducts, you can schedule an inspection with a professional to examine and fix the air loss path.