How To Increase HVAC Performance While Lowering Your Energy Costs
As a homeowner, you more than likely rely on your HVAC system throughout the year to keep indoor temperatures comfortable. Because your HVAC system is in use often, it is important to take steps that ensure optimal performance while maintaining low energy bills throughout the year – having your system inspected by a professional once a year is essential. Here are a few other things you can personally do to increase HVAC performance while keeping your energy costs to a minimum:
Replace the Thermostat
By installing a programmable thermostat that's compatible with your HVAC system, you can expect to decrease your monthly energy bills by up to 15 percent. Programmable thermostats allow you to manage interior temperatures 23 hours a day whether you're home or not, which minimizes unnecessary work for your HVAC system and therefore reduces its overall wear and tear. These thermostats come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and designs to complement your home's décor.
Seal the Ducts up
If you have a forced-air HVAC system, your home may be losing up to 30 percent of the air moving throughout your system if any leaks, cracks, or holes are present in the ducts. Questionably high energy bills in both summer and winter months, stuffy rooms, and hard to heat or cool spaces are all signs that your ducts need to be sealed. An easy way to combat this problem for ease of wear and tear as well as some energy savings is to use metal thermal tape or mastic sealant along the edges of every duct you can access, including in the basement and attic.
Plant a Few Trees
Planting deciduous trees in front of windows and entrances that tend to get direct sunlight throughout the year is a great way to lower energy costs because their leaves will naturally keep your home cooler during summer months, and their loss of leaves allows the sun to naturally heat things up in the winter. This leads both to less wear and tear as well as a year-round cost savings on your energy use.
Planting trees in the yard can even increase your property value by up to 20 percent overall. Consider planting magnolias, dogwood, crab apples, or cherry trees – keep their size at maturity in mind when planting your trees, and plant them far enough away from your home where their branches will not hit your home's roof if they break off in extreme weather as they age.
For more information, contact Mike's Bremen Service Inc or a similar company.