Home comfort is a top priority to every home owner. Finding a balance between comfort and energy consumption is key to creating a cost effective and environmentally-friendly approach to your heating and cooling needs. Below we will talk about HVAC related practices that can help reduce energy consumption while maintaining the best indoor environment possible.
Regular Maintenance
We preach this over and over again, but the best way to ensure your HVAC system is running at 100% efficiency is to have regular maintenance performed annually. This includes items like cleaning or replacing filters, inspecting and cleaning indoor and outdoor coils, checking refrigerant levels, lubricating moving parts, examining electrical components and evaluating the overall performance of your HVAC equipment.
Upgrading Equipment
HVAC equipment older than 12 years old simply uses more energy than newer models. Today's HVAC equipment will provide long-term energy savings by using much less energy. Look for Energy Star certified products, make sure your sizing is perfect for your home layout, and consider features such as variable speed and/or 2-stage compressors. Investing in newer, energy efficient equipment will save in energy costs for years to come.
Thermostat
Optimizing your thermostat settings can help you conserve energy while still maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures. Practices you can perform with a new digital thermostat include programming schedules to adjust temps while you are home or away, small 1 degree adjustments seasonally to prevent your system from working as hard, and frequent adjustments based on how you are feeling. Setting and leaving a consistent temperature will create a steady temp while using energy effectively.
Energy Escape
You can have the best, most energy efficient HVAC system available, however, if ductwork isn't properly sealed and the home isn't properly insulated, you will waste a lot of energy in air leakage. Search for leaky attics, walls, windows and doors and consider upgrading is necessary. Seal ductwork and weather stripping if you can feel air escaping or entering. By ensuring that your home is well-insulated and sealed, you can significantly reduce your HVAC system's workload, leading to energy conservation and cost savings.
At 4 Seasons Heating, Cooling & Electrical, we are experts at recommending HVAC strategies that will use less energy and positively impact the environment and your wallet as much as possible. Call us today at (204) 953-5700 to learn all the details about new HVAC technology, financing options and regular maintenance packages that will save you the most in energy possible.
