10 Tips to Optimize Your HVAC System and Save Money

Is your heating and cooling system causing your energy expenses to get out of hand? Homeowners strive for low energy bills. Why would you spend more money on something you don’t need to? Regarding heating and cooling energy efficiency, it’s essential to focus on the efficiency ratings of your HVAC systems. They’ll use less power from your electricity provider and save you lots of money in the long term.

The good news is that inefficient heating & cooling systems don’t have to last forever. You can do many things to make your HVAC more efficient to save on energy and operational expenses. Consider these ten tips to get the most efficiency out of your HVAC systems.

1. INSPECT FOR LEAKS IN YOUR DUCTS

Leaks in the heating and cooling ducts are a significant waste of energy. You can save as much as 20% of your home’s energy costs when your ducts are properly sealed.

2. REPLACE YOUR FILTERS OFTEN

Dirty air filters cause two major problems. First, they clog and restrict air flow, which means your system will have to work much harder to achieve the same temperature. Second, dirty air filters can create unsafe indoor air quality, affecting your family’s health. Change your filter as often as recommended (usually monthly) to reduce these hazards, and avoid a breakdown in the process.

3. DON’T IGNORE THE SMALL REPAIRS

Annual HVAC tune-ups can save you as much as 40% of total maintenance costs. Mechanical technology will eventually have issues. They usually start small. If those small problems aren’t repaired, they can turn into bigger problems later. Find a reputable HVAC repair and maintenance company that you trust. Ignoring issues won’t make them go away.

4. INSTALL SMART THERMOSTATS TO REDUCE WASTE

Installing a smart thermostat can save you up to 26% on heating and cooling costs. Smart thermostats change your home’s temperature based on your routine and who’s home. This ensures the room is set to your comfort level when you get home and saves as much energy as possible when you are away.

5. CLOSE YOUR CURTAINS & BLINDS

In the summer, keeping curtains and blinds closed during the day prevents sunlight from heating the room when your AC is on.

In the winter, closing them at night helps insulate your windows against the outside cold so your home stays warmer with less strain on your furnace or heat pump.

6. KEEP HVAC REGISTERS CLEAR

Your HVAC systems use energy to circulate air through your home.

Don’t make it work harder by placing obstacles over the registers. Reaching your desired temperature will cost more.

If you have furniture or décor blocking the registers, rearrange your room to provide a clear path for the air to circulate.

More importantly, blocked registers cause air pressure spikes which can cause major damage to your HVAC system.

7. 1 DEGREE OF SEPARATION

Increasing your thermostat by just 1 degree can reduce the running cost of your HAVC system. The Department of Energy estimates savings of about 1 percent for each degree of thermostat adjustment per 8 hours and recommends turning thermostats back 7 to 10 degrees from their normal settings for 8 hours per day to achieve annual savings of up to 10%.

8. ADJUST CEILING FANS

During the summer months, your ceiling fan blades should be set to spin counterclockwise. When your ceiling fan spins quickly in this direction, it pushes air down and creates a cool breeze. This helps keep a room’s temperature consistent throughout the day and reduces the need for an air conditioner to run constantly.

Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise in summer to push air straight down, helping to create a cooling effect, and clockwise in winter to pull cool air up. Set the fan speed to high in warmer weather, and in cooler weather, it works best on low. Checking they rotate in the correct direction can make a world of difference to your home’s temperature.

The ceiling fan direction in summer should be counterclockwise to help create a downdraft, which creates that direct, cooling breeze. Your fan direction in winter must be clockwise to create an updraft and circulate warm air around the room.

Setting the right direction of your fan blades will help you control the temperature so you can save on both cooling and heating costs.

9. SEAL GAPS

Air leaks can waste a lot of your energy dollars. One of the quickest energy- and money-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal, and weather strip all cracks and large openings to the outside. Seal gaps around doors and windows to ensure the cool or warm air can’t escape.

Air leaks allow drafts into the home and can create unhealthy changes in humidity levels. Not to mention, mice and insects can fit through small openings from the outside.

EPA estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces, and basements.

Seal the gaps and save.

10. UPDATE OLDER HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS

Unfortunately, A/C systems have a shelf life. You may need a replacement if you’ve had your system for ten years or more. Investing in a new system should significantly reduce your energy costs. Our staff is fully trained to install, maintain, and repair all major brands of central air conditioning, including ductless mini-split systems, indoor air quality, humidifiers, humidification, air cleaners, and dehumidifiers. No matter your budget, Hillside has options ranging from economy to high efficiency.

HVAC Installers

Hillside installs, maintains, and repairs all major brands of central air conditioning, including ductless mini-split systems, and can connect your smart hub to these heating and cooling systems.

With Hillside, you can enjoy a worry-free summer while they install, maintain, and repair your central air conditioning system. These times can be a hassle, but with Hillside’s technicians, you won’t have to worry about any of it.