Improving Your HVAC System’s Energy Efficiency

You can lower your utility bills, help the environment, make your Coal City, Illinois, home more comfortable, and even increase your home’s value by taking good care of your heater and air conditioner. You can also avoid inconvenient, expensive breakdowns and extend your system’s life by reducing wear and tear. Improve your HVAC system’s efficiency with ceiling fans, more insulation, an upgrade, and regular maintenance.

Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans create a cool breeze in summer, and they can save energy by letting you use your HVAC system less. Use fans in occupied rooms and your family members can choose the settings they like for their own rooms.

In fall, you can change the direction of fans from counterclockwise to clockwise by using a small switch near their centers. This pulls cold air toward your ceilings, pushing warm air at the ceiling down. That way, you can get plenty of air circulation without feeling chilly. Just climb a ladder or a stepladder to reach the switch. Many ceiling fans can run at multiple speeds, and they often include ceiling lights. They come in a variety of sizes, colors, and styles, and they’re inexpensive and easy for a handy homeowner or professional to install.

More Insulation

Some extra insulation will help you save energy by keeping conditioned air from escaping in summer and winter. It can also keep contaminants like pollen from getting into your home. Check for air leaks by turning off your HVAC system and any fans. Then, carry a lit candle or incense stick by the windows and doors in your house. When the candle flickers or smoke wavers, you’re most likely near a spot that needs more insulation or weatherstripping.

You can seal smaller gaps around light switches, windows, or electrical outlets with caulk, and adding weather stripping underneath doors and windows will help you conserve additional energy. Insulated curtains can help lower your energy bill, too. If you still notice leaks or drafts, contact a professional. You could need to have some insulation upgraded or removed and replaced. You should also have an expert check your ductwork for leaks and seal them or add insulation if needed. Ducts without insulation that pass through unconditioned areas like basements raise your utility bills and make staying comfortable more difficult.

An Upgrade for Your HVAC System

If your heater or air conditioner is more than a decade old, you can lower your utility bills by upgrading to a more efficient model. A new HVAC system is a significant investment, but the energy savings are worth it. A geothermal heat pump works like a conventional heat pump, but it exchanges heat with the ground or a body of water instead of the air. Since soil and water temperatures don’t fluctuate as much as air temperatures, geothermal systems are more efficient.

With a ductless system, one or more indoor units are connected to an outdoor unit with a small tube for refrigerant. You can control the indoor units independently and avoid wasting energy on unoccupied rooms. You also won’t have to use power to move conditioned air through ductwork. To enhance an existing system, you can add a programmable thermostat that will adjust your HVAC system to save energy when you’re asleep or away from home.

Regular Maintenance

No matter what type of HVAC system your home has, you should have your system checked by an expert at least once per year. That way, you can catch problems like refrigerant leaks, obstructions in your ductwork, or a malfunctioning thermostat before they have a chance to raise your utility bills or create warm spots or drafts.

You should also replace your HVAC system’s air filter once per month. A dirty filter will spread contaminants like dust or dirt around your home instead of catching them. You could notice allergy or asthma symptoms or a lot of dust on your furniture and floors.

Popejoy Plumbing, Heating, Electric has over 30 years of HVAC experience. For excellent service from our comfort specialists, call us anytime at (815) 692-4471.

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