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The 4 Best Ways To Improve Home Heating And Cooling Efficiency

The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is one of the most critical appliances in your home. It runs year-round, ensuring consistent temperature in your home and keeping it as comfortable as possible, despite the changing weather condition. The HVAC system also helps maintain the proper humidity levels when filtering indoor air so that you can breathe better.  

At the same time, your heating and cooling system significantly contributes to your overall energy bills. This article shares proven and effective strategies to help boost your heating and cooling efficiency, get the most out of the system, and save on energy bills.  

  1. Seal The Ducts 

A new or even the most efficient HVAC system can waste energy when hooked up to a leaky duct system. A leaky duct system allows cool air to escape before it even reaches the inside of your home while allowing hot air in and vice versa.  

This is a costly issue that’s often overlooked and can lose you a lot of money. As such, any holes or cracks within the duct must be filled, preventing any more air leakage. This YouTube video shows how holes and leaks in air ducts are sealed:

  https://youtube.com/shorts/2e-Q-roie2g?feature=share

However, this task is best left to the professionals. They have the necessary experience and tools to determine the location of a leak and seal them properly. It’s fairly easy to find a local HVAC contractor online. For instance, if you live in Haubstadt, Indiana, you can quickly search ‘duct sealing near me Haubstadt, IN,’ and you’ll get a list of potential providers.  

  1. Schedule Regular Professional Maintenance And Tune-Up 

Generally, HVAC systems don’t require much maintenance. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t forget to schedule routine maintenance.  

An expert HVAC contractor can help inspect, clean, and tune up your heating and cooling system. They help clear dust or debris accumulation and clean all parts of your HVAC system. And a clean HVAC means higher efficiency.  

In addition, professional maintenance includes a comprehensive inspection of the unit, connections, and wires to ensure they work as efficiently as possible. Moreover, an HVAC contractor can help spot any potential issues in your unit, resolving them accordingly to prevent more extensive and costlier issues.  

On average, preventive HVAC maintenance should be done at least twice a year. Experts suggest scheduling a furnace servicing in late summer or early fall and an AC inspection in spring. This way, your system will be optimized for efficiency before it’s time to switch systems.  

  1. Clean Or Replace The Filter 

This is one of the simplest ways to improve your heating and cooling system’s efficiency. And yet, most homeowners tend to neglect or forget it altogether. While it’s typically included in your regular professional HVAC maintenance schedule, cleaning or changing the filter is really up to you.  

Dirty filters can reduce the performance of your heating and cooling system. Built-up dirt can block air and cause the fan to overwork. This prevents the system from working efficiently.  

Most HVAC systems use a fiberglass or pleated filter. Check these filters at least once a month and replace them if they’re dirtier than usual, even if it’s ahead of schedule.  

  1. Upgrade Home Insulation 

Poor insulation can cause your heating and cooling unit to work harder. And an HVAC system that works harder in maintaining consistent indoor temperatures means lower efficiency, higher energy bills, and reduced lifespan.  

So, if you want to help your unit, you should upgrade your home’s insulation. The attic is the most important place to insulate. Insufficient attic and ceiling insulation allow warm air and direct sunray to penetrate your roofing system and enter your home. This makes it difficult for your heating and cooling system to regulate indoor temperature. Also, make sure to insulate your basement and seal any gaps and holes in your windows, walls, and doors.  

During summer, consider adding a covering on your windows to block out the day’s heat and prevent the unit from working too hard. Alternatively, opening the curtains during winter allows even the smallest amount of sunlight to come through, naturally warming your home and putting less strain on your HVAC system.  

Takeaway 

There’s no denying that your heating and cooling are costly endeavors of home ownership. And with the rising cost of electricity, most homeowners are now looking for ways to improve the efficiency of their HVAC and lower energy bills. However, by considering the above tips, you can significantly increase your HVAC system’s efficiency and ensure it remains in good working condition for years.

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