Heating and cooling make up a huge part of most home’s household expenses. In many cases, it’s the single biggest energy consumer in Chesapeake, VA homes. That means you have a vested interest in making your system as energy-efficient as possible. Keeping reading for a few simple ways to make your system more energy efficient.
Change Thermostats
The standard thermostat that comes with most systems is very basic and rather limited. It lets you pick a temperature and not much else. That means you must manually adjust the setting every time you enter or leave your home. A programmable thermostat changes all of that. It lets you tell the system to raise or lower the temperature on a schedule, such as your work schedule. Using this kind of thermostat can reduce your heating and cooling costs as much as 10% a year.
Change Air Filters Monthly
Air filters on your HVAC system will get more and more clogged with dirt, particles, and pet hair as time goes by. The more clogged the filter gets, the harder it is for your system to maintain temperatures. This drives down efficiency. Switching out the filter every month is an affordable way for you to help keep your system working at peak efficiency.
Seal the Ductwork
Ductwork comes in pieces. Anytime the ducts must make a turn, for example, it means there is a joint. All of these joints can leak heated or cooled air that’s moving through your HVAC system. That leaking air saps your system’s efficiency. You can seal or reseal joints in your ductwork yourself with the right tape. Your best bet, though, is to have your HVAC company do it on their next visit.
Making your HVAC system more efficient isn’t necessarily about buying a new unit. You can do small things to boost its efficiency, like changing out filters, replacing your thermostat, and sealing the ductwork. The HVAC experts at Climatemakers are here to answer all your energy-efficiency questions. Give us a call or stop by our office!