Health experts around the world agree that maintaining a well-controlled, comfortable home temperature throughout the year can dramatically help improve your well-being and that of your family.
Sure, you want your home to be warm during the winter and cool during the summer; however, keeping your home at a comfortable temperature all year round can often put your wallet under severe stress.
If you are wondering how you can lower your HVAC bill, implement the following power-efficient changes to use your HVAC wisely and save some serious money.
Check Air Filters Once a Month
One of the best ways to optimise the performance of your HVAC system is to check its air filters at regular intervals, preferably once a month. When the air filters get clogged or dirty, the HVAC system works harder to suck air in, which not only increases energy consumption, but also damages the system in the long run. Cleaning the air filters monthly, and having them replaced when necessary, will improve the performance of your HVAC and make it more energy-efficient.
Keep Windows and Doors Closed
Every time you leave a window or a door open, you allow the conditioned air to flow out. This forces your HVAC to put in extra effort to maintain the set temperature, which pushes up your energy bill considerably. However, if you occasionally want the outside air to come in, make sure you turn off the HVAC before opening doors and windows.
Keep the Space Surrounding the Condenser Chamber Clear
If dirt or plants are encircling the outside condenser unit, the HVAC will not work efficiently. Take the time to remove weeds, trim plants, and clear debris to allow for good airflow around the condenser unit, which will improve air conditioning performance across your home. Ideally, keep an area of about four-foot radius empty around the HVAC’s condenser unit.
Replace Energy-Hungry Light Bulbs
You might be wondering, what light bulbs have to do with your HVAC? Well, traditional halogen and incandescent bulbs produce light by generating heat. The unnecessary, excessive heat not only wastes electricity, but it also negatively impacts the performance of your HVAC. Replace halogen and incandescent lamps with light-emitting diode (LED) lamps or compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) to reduce HVAC energy consumption.
Consider the External Landscaping Design
The external landscape of your home can directly affect the temperature inside. If there are lots of rocks, asphalt, and concrete near the outer walls, the overall temperature around your home will rise. This will make the HVAC system work longer to maintain the indoor temperature, which will increase your energy bills. Try adding trees that provide shade to your outdoor landscape. A few well-positioned trees can radically improve the cooling effect.
Upgrade to Ducted Air Conditioning Systems
Engineered to provide increased comfort with improved control, ducted air conditioning systems deliver just the right degree of cooling or heating, which drastically lowers your energy costs.
If you are keenly interested in ensuring year-round comfort without wasting your hard-earned money, consider upgrading your HVAC system to ducted air conditioning from ActronAir.