Maintaining Your HVAC: 12 Valuable Tips

HVAC tipsFollowing a few HVAC tips can help increase your home’s comfort level and energy-efficiency in all seasons. You don’t necessarily have to make major changes to get meaningful benefits, including more consistent temperature control, improved indoor air quality, and lower heating and cooling bills. Here are 12 HVAC tips to improve both your home environment and the costs of keeping comfortable.

  • Change your air filter regularly.  Replace it with a quality, pleated filter every month during the cooling season and at least every other month during the heating season.
  • Invest in a programmable thermostat. Program indoor comfort to meet your household schedule and preferences. Energy savings can pay for the unit after the first year.
  • Schedule an annual system tuneup by a qualified HVAC contractor. This ensures your system is functioning up to specs and also reveals minor problems before they become major issues. In many cases, it’s also required by HVAC-component warranty terms.
  • Keep all vents open. Closing supply vents in individual rooms can unbalance airflow throughout the system.
  • Clear away weeds and other obstructions around the air conditioner’s outdoor component.
  • Get a combustion efficiency test. This can reveal problems in your furnace burner that affect heating efficiency. It’s also important to detect excess carbon monoxide.
  • Have your ductwork inspected and, if necessary, sealed. Ductwork leaks can increase heating and cooling costs by as much as 30%.
  • Check your attic insulation. Adequate attic insulation retains heat in winter and keeps it out in summer. Make sure insulation meets current Department of Energy standards.
  • Ventilate bathrooms and kitchens. Powered vent fans remove excess water vapor that degrades indoor comfort and makes the house harder to cool.
  • Check indoor-environment alarms. Change batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on schedule every year.
  • Seal the gaps. Inspect windows and doors for worn weatherstripping that leaks heating and cooling and replace if necessary.
  • Replace components on time. On average, central air conditioners last about 12 years before requiring replacement, and furnaces average around 15 years.

For more HVAC tips to increase household comfort and efficiency, contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company.