We can all benefit from saving money from time to time. One of the easiest ways to do this is by making some energy-efficient changes throughout your home. Upgrading your HVAC equipment or installing a smart thermostat, for example, offers more control over your HVAC equipment, leading to a more energy-efficient home and lower monthly energy bills.
Read on to learn more about 4 ways you can make energy-efficient home enhancements.
1. Try a Smart Thermostat
If you still use a round-dial thermostat and control it manually, think about taking a step toward the future by installing a smart, or Wi-Fi, thermostat – which comes with a number of features to make your home more energy efficient.
The feature homeowners appreciate the most is having the capability to adjust their smart thermostats from anywhere they want through their smartphone or other smart device. As an example, if you forget to use your thermostat before going on vacation, you can just pull out your smartphone and make any needed adjustments.
Like a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat allows you to pre-set 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 feature the capability to learn your temperature preferences over time and automatically make energy-efficient corrections. They can even provide monthly energy reports that show how much energy you've used and when so you can make adjustments to save money.
If you’re wanting to know how to get a free smart thermostat, check with your utility company to learn if there are any discounts or free smart thermostats offered.
2. Routine HVAC Maintenance
Sadly, lots of homeowners often forget to have their heating and cooling systems maintained. While this might not seem like a problem, inadequate maintenance could result in a number of issues, including inefficiency, breakdowns, and a shorter system lifespan.
With an HVAC maintenance service, the technician should inspect your HVAC system, clean key components, and catch minor flaws before they produce bigger, more expensive repair issues. Maintenance can keep HVAC systems working at optimal condition, which means they use less energy to heat and cool your home. This can help with your energy bills, expand the lifespan of HVAC equipment, and contribute to fewer repairs.
We suggest two HVAC tune ups annually – once during the spring before summer and again in the fall before the arrival of winter weather.
3. Replacing Your Worn-Down, Inefficient HVAC Equipment
Regretfully, like any appliance, HVAC systems can't run forever and inevitably need to be replaced. Newer heaters and cooling systems are much more energy efficient than equipment manufactured just over a decade ago. Thankfully, helpful HVAC companies like Tri County Climate Control LLC can handle professional services such as furnace installation in Bend.
Well-maintained furnaces and air conditioners can live about 15-20 years. If the equipment is within that period of time, it might be a good idea to replace them ahead of time to prevent untimely breakdowns that can leave you cold and uncomfortable if it’s a cold winter night. If your HVAC system is around 15 years old and needs an expensive repair, it’s usually time to replace the system. Per the U.S. Department of Energy, installing a new HVAC system could 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 comfort technician can help you determine the most energy efficient HVAC system for your needs. As a general rule of thumb, look for HVAC systems that are Energy Star certified, which means the equipment satisfies rigid guidelines set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. LENNOX HVAC systems are some of the most efficient systems around, offering both high AFUE and SEER ratings. AFUE is used for heating systems and illustrates how well they convert fuel to heat. SEER, meanwhile, is used to quantify the energy efficiency of air conditioning systems.
Call a reputable HVAC provider like Tri County Climate Control LLC for air conditioning installation in Bend.
4. Look for High Efficiency Air Filters
If you’re looking for new HVAC filters, consider that not all air filters are created equally. Specific air filters are far more effective than others, resulting in lower energy bills and a clean home.
The efficiency of HVAC air filters is illustrated by their Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV rating. The MERV scale ranges between 1-20; the higher the number, the more effective the filters are. It’s relevant to note, though, that high-efficiency air filters can sometimes restrict airflow too much according to the type of HVAC system you installed. It’s beneficial to read the owner’s manual before buying a filter to determine the ideal model for your system.