We can all benefit from saving a few bucks from time to time. An easy way to accomplish this is by improving energy efficiency in your home. Upgrading your HVAC equipment or putting in a smart thermostat, for example, offers more control over your HVAC equipment, resulting in a more energy-efficient home and lower monthly energy bills.
Keep reading to read about 4 ways you can make energy-efficient home changes.
1. Install a Smart Thermostat
If you still use an older thermostat and adjust it manually, consider taking a step toward the future by installing a smart, or Wi-Fi, thermostat – which contains several features to improve your home's energy efficiency.
The feature homeowners appreciate the most is having the ability to adjust their smart thermostats from anywhere they want through their smartphone or other smart device. For instance, when you forget to use your thermostat before going on vacation, you can just pull out your smartphone and make the necessary adjustment.
Like a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat permits you to schedule your home’s temperature based on the time of day and day of the week so you’re not spending energy on an empty house. Smart thermostats also offer the capacity to learn your temperature preferences over time and automatically make energy-efficient modifications. They even create monthly energy reports that demonstrate how much energy you've used and when so you can make adjustments to cut costs.
If you’re wanting to know how to obtain a free smart thermostat, check with your utility company to learn if there are any discounts or free smart thermostats offered.
2. HVAC Tune Ups
Unfortunately, some homeowners often forget to keep their heating and cooling systems maintained. While this might not seem like a huge deal, ignoring maintenance can lead to a number of issues, including inefficiency, breakdowns, and a shorter system lifespan.
With an HVAC maintenance service, the technician will evaluate your HVAC system, clean key components, and pinpoint minor flaws before they produce bigger, more expensive repair issues. Maintenance keeps HVAC systems running in optimal condition, which means less energy is needed to heat and cool your home. This could also reduce your energy bills, prolong the lifespan of HVAC equipment, and lead to fewer repairs.
We suggest two HVAC tune ups every year – one in the spring before summer and another in the fall before the arrival of winter weather.
3. Getting rid of Your Aging, Inefficient HVAC Equipment
Regretfully, like any appliance, HVAC systems can't run forever and eventually need to be replaced. New heaters and cooling products are much more energy efficient than units manufactured just over a decade ago. Luckily, helpful HVAC companies like Olde Towne Heating & Air can offer professional services such as furnace installation in Mount Pleasant.
Well-maintained furnaces and air conditioners can live about 15-20 years. If your system is within that span, it can be a good idea to replace them early to prevent premature equipment failure that can leave you cold and uncomfortable if it’s a cold winter night. If your system is around 15 years old and needs an expensive repair, it’s definitely time to replace the system. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, installing a new HVAC system can sometimes 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 determine the most energy efficient HVAC system available. In general, try to find HVAC systems that are Energy Star certified, meaning the equipment fulfills firm guidelines established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. LENNOX HVAC systems are some of the most efficient systems around, featuring both high AFUE and SEER ratings. AFUE is used for heating systems and illustrates how well they convert fuel to heat. SEER, in the meantime, is used to measure the energy efficiency of cooling equipment.
Contact a reputable HVAC provider like Olde Towne Heating & Air for air conditioning installation in Mount Pleasant.
4. Use Energy-Efficient Air Filters
The next time you’re shopping for new HVAC filters, remember that not all air filters are created equally. Specific air filters are far more efficient than others, leading to lower energy bills and a cleaner home environment.
The effectiveness of HVAC air filters is scored 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 actually restrict airflow too much based on the type of HVAC system you own. It’s beneficial to read the owner’s manual before getting a filter to find the best option for your system.