Ways to Keep A Home’s HVAC System Running Efficiently

Keeping an HVAC system running efficiently is of vital importance to help reduce utility costs each month. It also helps homes create a much smaller carbon footprint. Aside from these obvious benefits, an efficient system can also increase a home’s indoor air quality and help keep the home a more comfortable and consistent temperature. After knowing the benefits of having an efficient system are known, the next question is what can be done to help improve it.

One of the best ways to maintain efficiency with an HVAC system is to allow it to work at a consistent pace throughout the day. One way is to keep the temperature consistent and not constantly going from heat to cool. A great way to get the HVAC system from working overtime is by installing a Wi-Fi thermostat. This type of thermostat has settings that will gradually increase and decrease the temperature, giving the system the break it needs without having to crank up the temperature to full blast. These thermostats come with a number of different features that can help improve energy use such as energy reports and even programs that allow it to self-adjust depending on weather reports.

Home weatherization is an important step to take in order to help a heating and air conditioning system run more efficiently. If a home’s windows and doors have cracks, leaks, or other areas where the conditioned air can escape, it causes the HVAC system to work harder to compensate for this loss. Make sure to identify any areas where leaks can occur and properly seal them up. This can include adding additional caulking and weather stripping around windows or doors and sealing areas in the wall where pipes come through.

When regular HVAC maintenance is performed on a system, technicians will clean the entire system and check for possible repairs or problems that can reduce a system’s efficiency. They will also inspect the filter and other airflow issues ensuring that the system is running as optimally as possible.

Sometimes furniture and home decor can negatively affect the efficiency of an HVAC system. When the vents and returns are blocked, it can limit the airflow in the room and make the system have to work harder in order to push through the air. Make sure to have space around each vent so as much heat or air-conditioned air can enter into the room as possible.

Dust, dirt, pollen, and pet dander can find a home in a home’s ductwork. Over time this debris will build up and begin to inhibit the flow of air through the system. When this occurs, an HVAC system will begin running longer and kick on more often to be able to push out warm air and get the home to the desired temperature. When cleaning the ductwork, an HVAC technician will also check the ductwork for any leaks or cracks that can lessen efficiency.

Having proper insulation around ductwork and in the attic, and crawl space of a home is a crucial part of keeping the conditioned air contained in the home. Over time, insulation can become wet or damaged and break down, resulting in holes. If there is a problem with rodents in a home, they can also use insulation to make nests and will often chew through and damage parts of it.

It is important to perform a visual inspection of the attic as well as crawl space and check for signs of moisture, damage, or empty space. If just a few places are detected, they can be filled in, but if the insulation is old or has a lot of damage, it would be wise to consider installing new insulation.

Following the few tips listed above will help improve the efficiency of a home’s HVAC system. Schedule maintenance today by contacting Maximum Heating and Air at 423-894-4970.