Save Money, Maintain a Healthy System, and Keep Your Home Energy-Efficient All Year Round With Our Advice
As seasons shift, so do the demands on your heating and cooling system. Through strong summer heat and harsh winter nights, your HVAC system works hard to keep your home at the optimal temperature throughout the year.
While our trusty HVAC technicians can keep your HVAC system operating smoothly all year, at Meyer Heating & Air we also care about keeping your costs down by helping you maximize on energy efficiency, no matter what weather conditions lie ahead.
8 Heating and Cooling Tips to Get You Through Any Kind Of Weather
Read on to explore our top tips for improving energy efficiency for your heating and cooling units, so you can save money without sacrificing comfort.
1. Spring Cleaning? Don’t Forget Your HVAC System
Spring is the perfect time for an HVAC system inspection. Your AC system will be working its hardest in just a couple months, so a thorough air conditioner clean and check will ensure your unit is operating at it’s most efficient. A comprehensive cleaning involves replacing air filters, cleaning your outdoor units, inspecting ductwork, and ensuring every component is free of debris. Properly cleaning your HVAC system ensures optimal functioning which in turn optimizes the energy efficiency of your unit.
As an added bonus, if anything is broken, this visit can ensure you get ahead of any necessary air conditioning repairs or new air conditioning installation, with plenty of time before it gets too hot for comfort.
2. Regular HVAC Maintenance Saves Energy and Prevents Costly Air Conditioner Repair
For your HVAC system to run optimally throughout the year and maximize on energy efficiency, HVAC experts recommend getting your system inspected and serviced twice a year, once in the fall and once in spring. To cut costs, many trustworthy HVAC service companies offer an HVAC service agreement that includes two maintenance checks/inspections per year, many include extra perks such as labor discounts and priority service appointments.
Opting for a service agreement means you can benefit from twice-yearly maintenance visits, and cover all your essential services for the year. This includes your air conditioning clean and check in the spring, and a full heating system inspection and service in the fall.
3. Seal Leaks
Before the height of summer or winter, conduct a thorough inspection of your home to check for drafts and leaks. Seal any gaps with proper insulation.
Insulation keeps outdoor air out and indoor air in, so your home maintains a consistent temperature and your HVAC system doesn’t have to work overtime when heating or cooling your home. Sealing leaks and using proper insulation improves energy efficiency and leads to a reduction in bills.
4. Warm Up the Smart Way
If you want to save money on heating bills, you can do so by lowering the temperature on your thermostat and wearing socks, house slippers, and sweaters. Grab your favorite blanket while you’re watching TV on the couch so you don’t overwork your furnace.
Remember to keep your thermostat at least 55 degrees during the winter to avoid frozen pipes, and take care to ensure your home doesn’t get too cold for elderly family members, small children, or pets.
5. Cool For the Summer
A strong strategy for efficient cooling is to use ceiling fans in conjunction with your air conditioning. The combined effect can cool off your home, without you having to turn your thermostat down, therefore balancing both comfort and energy efficiency in your home.
Still not feeling cool enough? Grab your breeziest outfit, like loose-fitting shorts and a cotton shirt, and a glass of ice water. But just like during the winter, be mindful of how warm your home gets to ensure everyone stays healthy and comfortable.
6. Replace Old Systems With a Multi-Stage One
HVAC systems usually last between 10 and 15 years. If you’re ready to replace your furnace or air conditioner, heating and cooling can be made even more efficient with a multi-stage HVAC system..
A multi-stage HVAC system is more energy-efficient than a single-stage system as it requires less energy to reach the lowest temperature for cooling and the highest temperatures for heating. This HVAC system is also able to better maintain a moderate temperature at all times which means two things: fewer temperature fluctuations, and a system that does not need to frequently turn on and off and instead, uses an energy conserving mode to keep your home at the desired temperature.
Extreme temperature fluctuations can be a big culprit for energy inefficient systems so running a lower setting for longer to reach a constant and comfortable temperature, is one of the significant benefits of a multi-stage HVAC system and greatly reduces energy consumption.
7. For New Air Conditioning Installations, Go Eco-Friendly!
If you’re planning a new heating or air conditioning installation to replace an old unit, consider upgrading to an energy-efficient system. Researching is key, so be sure to consider all your options and look into SEER ratings to weigh up the energy efficiency of potential AC units. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and refers to the cooling output divided by the total energy used to determine the energy efficiency of an air conditioner. The less energy required to operate the AC, the higher the SEER rating.
Calling your local HVAC service company like Meyer Heating & Air is a great way to find the best energy-efficient AC system that works for your home, and get advice on SEER ratings. We can also help you save money on bills every month, while reducing your carbon footprint at the same time.
8. Invest In Smart Home Technology
Many homeowners like you are opting for smart thermostats due to their ability to customize the heating and cooling for your home in a way that’s perfect for your lifestyle.
This smart technology adjusts your home’s interior temperature by following a program you create, but “learns” your household habits and adjusts the temperature accordingly, like using energy-saving temperatures while you’re away.
Some can even take weather into account when adjusting its settings, thanks to Wi-Fi connectivity. Or, you can control your system from your smartphone.
Call Your Local HVAC Specialists For Advice On Greener Heating and Cooling Options In Your Home!
Learning eco-friendly strategies on how to keep your home comfortable is the ideal way to maximize energy efficiency and cut costs at the same time.
To stay up to date on the best ways to optimize your HVAC system, follow Meyer Heating & Air on social media for HVAC top tips and customized HVAC solutions.
Our team is also available to answer your questions on heating and air conditioning repair, installations, and ongoing maintenance to guarantee your comfort at home and help you make energy-efficient choices. Call us today to discuss your personalized HVAC solution!
