We can all benefit from saving money here and there. One of the easiest ways to do so is by identifying energy inefficiencies in your home. Upgrading your HVAC system or adding a smart thermostat, for example, offers more control over your HVAC equipment, resulting in a more energy-efficient home and savings on your monthly energy bills.
Keep reading to learn more about 4 ways you can make energy-efficient home improvements.
1. Look for Smart Home Products Like a Smart Thermostat
If you still use an older thermostat and control it manually, consider taking a step toward the future by installing a smart, or Wi-Fi, thermostat – which contains numerous features to improve your home's energy efficiency.
The feature homeowners like the most is being able to access their smart thermostats from anywhere through their smartphone or other smart device. As an example, in situations where you forget to adjust your thermostat before taking a vacation, you can just pull out your smartphone and make any needed adjustments.
Like a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat allows you to pre-set your home’s temperature determined by the time of day and day of the week so you’re not cooling or heating an empty house. Smart thermostats also offer the ability to understand your temperature preferences over time and automatically make energy-efficient adjustments. They even provide monthly energy reports that illustrate how much energy you've used and when so you can make changes to cut costs.
If you’re curious about how to obtain a free smart thermostat, check with your utility company to learn if there are any discounts or free smart thermostats available to you.
2. Routine HVAC Maintenance
Unfortunately, some homeowners often forget about having their heating and cooling systems maintained. While this may not seem important, inadequate maintenance can lead to a number of issues, including inefficiency, breakdowns, and a shorter system lifespan.
With an HVAC maintenance service, your technician should examine your HVAC system, clean necessary components, and catch minor flaws before they create bigger, more expensive repair issues. Tune ups keep HVAC systems running in optimal condition, which means they use less energy to heat and cool your home. This can reduce your energy bills, increase the lifespan of HVAC equipment, and lead to fewer repairs.
We suggest two HVAC tune ups every year – one in the spring before summer and another during the fall before the arrival of winter weather.
3. Upgrading Your Worn-Down, Inefficient HVAC Equipment
Annoyingly, like every appliance, HVAC systems have a shelf life and inevitably need to be replaced. New heaters and cooling products are much more energy efficient than units sold just over 10 years ago. Luckily, helpful HVAC companies like Aggressive Mechanical can offer professional services like furnace installation in Neptune City.
Well-maintained furnaces and air conditioners can run for around 15-20 years. If your system is within that timeframe, it is often be a good idea to replace them ahead of time to avoid premature equipment failures that can leave you cold and uncomfortable if it’s a cold winter night. If your system is about 15 years old and has a problem that needs an expensive repair, it’s almost always time to replace it. Per the U.S. Department of Energy, upgrading to a new HVAC system can sometimes save you between 20-40% on your monthly energy bills, so you’ll recover some of the costs of buying a new system.
A professional heating and cooling technician can help you identify the most energy efficient HVAC system for your needs. In general, try to find HVAC systems that are Energy Star certified, meaning the equipment meets strict guidelines set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. LENNOX HVAC systems can be some of the most efficient systems on the market, featuring both high AFUE and SEER ratings. AFUE is intended for heating systems and illustrates how well they convert fuel to heat. SEER, on the other hand, is used to quantify the efficiency of cooling systems.
Get in touch with a reputable HVAC provider like Aggressive Mechanical for air conditioning installation in Neptune City.
4. Look for High Efficiency Air Filters
When you’re shopping for new HVAC filters, keep in mind that not all air filters are created equally. Some air filters are far more effective than others, leading to lower energy bills and cleaner indoor air.
The effectiveness of HVAC air filters is rated by their Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV rating. The MERV scale ranges between 1-20; the higher the number, the more effective the filters are. It’s relevant to note, though, that high-efficiency air filters can sometimes impede airflow too much based on the type of HVAC system you have. It’s beneficial to review the owner’s manual before purchasing a filter to determine the ideal model for your system.