Modesto is no place to be without a functional air conditioner. It isn’t that great in the wintertime either if you don’t have a central heater in place. Still, though, these things cost money to run. In fact, HVAC systems account for about half of a home’s energy use. It makes sense that you’d like to use yours as efficiently as possible.
The good news is, there are very easy ways to do just that. Read on as we uncover our checklist for HVAC efficiency to help you start saving money.
Replace Your Air Filter
Did you know that the air filters that come standard with your HVAC systems are not in place to protect your indoor air? That’s right. Their actual purpose is to protect the HVAC systems themselves from dust, dirt, and other debris that can get in and damage the sensitive components.
When an air filter gets too clogged up with that debris it restricts airflow going into the system. When this airflow is restricted, it impacts the HVAC systems’ overall performance. Your air conditioner will have to run longer to cool properly and your heater will have to run longer to heat.
This is inefficient operation that can be resolved and prevented by changing out your air filter for a new one every 1-3 months.
Close (Or Open) Your Blinds and Curtains to Compensate for Ambient Heat
During the summer, you’ve probably noticed that you get a lot of ambient heat from a couple of windows in your home. South-facing windows get the brunt of this! So, early in the day, it’s a good idea to keep the blinds and curtains closed on these windows to block out as much ambient heat as possible. Then your air conditioner won’t turn on quite so early in the day, and as a result, you’ll save energy and subsequently save money.
This concept can be reversed in the winter! We don’t have bitterly cold winters, and we can take advantage of ambient heat if we want. So keep the blinds open when temperatures are cooler. This will help your home warm up faster during the day and your heater won’t have to run as long.
Invest in Professional Maintenance
Professional HVAC maintenance helps both your air conditioner and heater work as efficiently as possible, for as long as possible. It also helps improve safety–since air conditioners have some potentially harmful components like refrigerant and electrical connections, and heaters have heat exchangers that could leak gas into your property. This is rare, but it is more common in an aging system, which is why proper checkups are so important.
Utilize Your Ceiling Fans
Your ceiling fans, when used in combination with your forced-air HVAC systems, help distribute air more evenly. This means that in the summer you’ll feel cooler, and in the winter you’ll feel warmer, if you use your ceiling fans in conjunction with your air conditioner and heater, respectively. And when you feel cooler or warmer, you can adjust the thermostat accordingly so the system doesn’t have to run as long to get the job done.
DeHart Plumbing, Heating, and Air Inc. is your local trusted resource for professional HVAC services in Modesto, CA and beyond. Contact us today!