5 ideas to save money with your HVAC system Home Gadgets Home Improvement by Dan Kalman - November 1, 2016November 1, 2016 5 ideas to save money with your HVAC system Is it painful every time you open your HVAC bill? So many homeowners sit inside their home, uncomfortable, and unsatisfied with their HVAC system without even realizing that there are plenty of solutions that can lower energy costs, make their home more comfortable, and even make a healthier family. Here’s four tips that could end up helping you cut costs and smile the next time you open up that HVAC bill. Image – Angie’s List Regularly Change Filters When you fail to regularly change out your air filter, the internal airflow is reduced. An HVAC unit is designed to have a certain amount of airflow, which ultimately causes your system to overwork. This malfunction will eventually raise the cost of your energy bill. Changing your air filter is a pretty simple task, with huge rewards. This is not something you will want to skip out on. For the best results, you will want to change out your filter once a month. Benefits: Extends HVAC life Keepsenergycostsdown Healthier air quality Make Sure Your Vents are Open And Clean If you aren’t changing your air filter this point won’t matter for you, because if your air filter is dirty, everything past it is dirty. Including your vents, and even the air you breathe. So before you check your vents, go back to the first tip and follow up on that. Are their little wisps of dust puffing out from your air vent? Have you seen dust, or pet hair trapped inside your air vent? These are both signs that your air vents are in need of a deep cleaning. When you get your vents deep cleaned you are not only ensuring that your HVAC system will run better, but also ensure the health of your family. Dust can carry harmful bacteria, so it’s important to keep your home as dust free as possible. Benefits: Better performance from your HVAC system More energyefficient Reduces energybill Fewer expensive repairs from wear and tear Longer HVAC life Lower likelihood of allergy or respiratory problems Makes it easier to keep your home clean In the end, this job is designated for HVAC experts, and is not a “do it yourself” project. A thorough cleaning can only be done by an industry leading expert with the proper tools designed to service the size and volume of a variety of homes. Protect Your Unit From Debris The HVAC unit OUTSIDE your home is just as important as all of the parts INSIDE your home. Protecting your unit from the sun and debris will keep your unit running stronger and longer. Make sure you are regularly clearing away any debris that might be surrounding your unit. This includes weeds, and household clutter (Ex: rakes, chairs, or any tools.) Next, you can ensure your unit is protected from debris created by more extreme weather by getting a vented unit box. This will guarantee that your unit doesn’t accidentally eat small sticks, leaves or dirt that can be picked up and become airborne with strong gusts of wind. Improve Efficiency by Upgrading or Replacing Your HVAC System Is your air conditioner/heater running more than you think it should be? Is it not keeping your house comfortable? Are you paying more than you think you should in energy bills? Is your HVAC system more than 10 years old? You may need to contact an HVAC specialist and see if you need to replace it. There is a wide variety of HVAC systems that can make your home a much more welcoming environment. Bonus Tip: Get a Programmable Thermostat Programmable thermostats give you the option to control your HVAC system even when you’re not there. This is a great tool because you can match your thermostat to your schedule so that energy isn’t wasted while you’re gone all day. This also means that you are able to come home to a comfortable thermostat setting without having to wait. You can even set the thermostat for particular rooms. This helps you save energy because you aren’t wasting your HVAC’s resources by heating or cooling the whole house, but are heating or cooling a single room. Again, this will play a role in cutting back your energy bill. Contact an Industry Professional If you need any help with maintenance on your HVAC system, or just need some advice, please feel free to contact Lee’s Company.