What are Some Energy Saving Strategies for your HVAC System?

Your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system can account for as much as half of your energy usage. The right energy saving strategies for your HVAC system can therefore greatly reduce your heating and cooling costs while also improving your comfort. Use the following steps to make your HVAC system more efficient:

• Regularly Change Your Air Filter

Examine your air filter once a month, especially during the winter and summer when your system will see heavy use. A dirty filter should be changed. At the very least, your filter should be changed every three months. Filters that are clogged with dirt slow the flow of air and will increase the amount of work that your HVAC system has to do to keep you comfortable. Replacing your filters also keeps dust and dirt from accumulating in the unit. Accumulated dirt can cause system failure, which means that you will either have to have it repaired or replaced.

• Get Regular Inspections and Tune-ups

As with any piece of machinery, regular tune-ups for your HVAC system are important to ensure efficiency and smooth operation. Have your system inspected and tuned up at least once a year.

• Have a Programmable Thermostat Installed

With a programmable thermostat, you get control of your home’s temperature even while you are away. You can set it to keep the temperature high or low while you are gone and to lower or raise it before you get home. This keeps your HVAC system from unnecessarily cooling or warming unoccupied space. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, this kind of thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.

• Have Your Ducts Sealed

You could be wasting energy because of the ducts used to move air from your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump to the rest of your home. Having them sealed and insulated by an HVAC contractor can improve your HVAC system’s efficiency by 20 percent or more. The ducts that run through your attic, crawlspace or garage should be sealed and insulated first. Your HVAC contractor will use mastic or foil tape to seal seams and connections.

• Purchase ENERGY STAR Qualified HVAC Equipment

Have your HVAC equipment assessed by your contractor if it is more than a decade old or has stopped keeping your home comfortable. If it has to be replaced, opt for a system that has earned the ENERGY STAR qualification as this can lower your annual heating and cooling costs by over $115. Before investing in a new HVAC system, have the rest of your house and duct system inspected for air leaks. In some cases, air leaks may be the cause of your issues and not the HVAC equipment.

If you need professional HVAC services in your Anoka, MN home, contact us at Superior Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical, Inc.; our phone number is763-422-1721.