Balancing My HVAC SystemBalancing My HVAC System

The energy efficiency of new HVAC units has drastically increased over the past several years, but if your current HVAC unit is still running well you may not presently want to spend a large amount of money to purchase a new unit. Luckily, there are several things you can do to help increase the energy efficiency of the air conditioner that you already have, even if it is not a fancy new model. Use the following tips to make your air conditioner run more efficiently while also reducing your energy bill during the summer months:

Get Your Air Conditioner Tuned Up

An HVAC unit is an expensive and complicated piece of machinery and you can't expect it to run as efficiently as possible without any maintenance. When you want your air conditioner to perform its best so it can cool your home without running constantly, it is important to schedule regular tune-ups with professionals, such as A Bailey Plumbing. Ideally, you should schedule an HVAC tune-up in the spring months so you have the peace of mind of knowing that it is in good repair and will work well over the summer months when you need it most.

Buy a Programmable Thermostat

There is nothing energy-efficient about an air conditioner that is running and cooling a home when no one is home. This is a problem that is easy to solve with a programmable thermostat. When you install a programmable thermostat, you can set the temperature in your home to be higher when no one is home, and program the air conditioner to begin cooling the house shortly before you return. In addition to lower energy bills, a programmable thermostat can also reduce the wear and tear on your HVAC unit so it lasts longer.

Shade Your Outdoor HVAC Unit

A metal HVAC unit that is fully exposed to the summer sun in the afternoon will heat up quickly, and it will have to run a lot longer and work a lot harder to cool the air that is blown into your home. To make your outdoor HVAC unit more energy-efficient, consider shading it with shrubs or a tree; just make sure that you don't plant anything too close to the unit since you don't want branches or leaves getting sucked in.

Insulate the Air Ducts in Your Home

For added energy-efficiency, think about having the air ducts in your home insulated by an HVAC services company. Insulated ducts can ensure that no cool air is leaking out while also making sure that the air blowing into your home is as cool as possible. With insulated ducts, your air conditioner will likely need to run less often in order to keep your home cool.