As an essential part of your home or business, your HVAC system controls temperature and other environmental conditions within the area. By heating and cooling the space, your unit can create a comfortable space anytime during the year.
However, these heating and cooling features contribute to significant utility expenses, prompting a need for system optimization to ensure maximum functionality. Here are six simple ways to optimize your HVAC system, so you can keep the equipment healthy throughout the seasons.
Schedule Regular Cleaning
While it helps to clean your HVAC system during the late summer and early fall, cleaning your unit at any opportunity is best for optimization and avoiding overheating. Many homeowners typically schedule cleanings or perform the task themselves after using their cooling options for months before transitioning to heating.
It’s common for individuals to contact an HVAC technician to clean equipment; however, you can always conduct cleaning yourself! Always turn off the unit when cleaning your system to avoid injury.
During cleanings, clean ducts, remove dust particles and debris from reusable filters, and remove grime from electrical terminals. You’ll also want to inspect blower compartments for accumulated dirt.
Remove Debris and Obstructions
Your HVAC system should be relatively quiet. While it may generate noise during its initial start-up, the ongoing sound is typically minimal. When your HVAC system’s intakes become obstructed with debris, your system has a harder time cooling off.
In the summer, the HVAC system will expel warm air outwards while keeping cooler air within the area. Without regularly wiping a unit’s intakes, your system will work harder than it should, impacting efficiency.
If you live near a wooded area or just cut your grass, you may expect to find branches, leaves, and clipping near your unit. These types of debris can travel inside the equipment’s unit, creating obstacles for its compensator. To ensure proper airflow, consider inspecting your HVAC unit frequently and clearing all obstructions.
Change Air Filters
As another method to help optimize your system, changing your HVAC’s air filters is a significant step you don’t want to miss! These components can be your equipment’s first line of defense in trapping particulate matter before it circulates in your home.
With many individuals having some form of allergy, filters can trap allergens and promote cleaner breathing air. Filters can also eliminate malodor and viral bacteria to help decrease your chances of becoming ill.
While filters provide several health benefits, regularly replacing this component can promote your HVAC system’s peak performance. Visit our webpage at Remember The Filter; we are Flanders filters distributors with products that can serve your HVAC equipment well.
How To Change Your Air Filters
Air filter sizes depend on your particular system; most paper filters required in a unit are cost-effective and don’t take too much to replace.
First, turn off your HVAC unit and identify its circuit board, vents, and filter cartridge. Many furnaces have a pre-determined size, but your system could require a custom fit. Remove the panel and gently pull the old filtering component out.
You’ll want to check the airflow arrows to ensure proper installation; insert the new air filter, replace the panel, and turn the unit back on. Changing your air filter three to four times per year, sometimes more frequently for larger households or those with pets would be wise.
Calibrate Thermostat Settings
Many thermostats on the market today will auto-regulate temperature, allowing you to save money each month. These auto-regulating thermostats will heat and cool to keep temperatures within your home at a determined reading.
On the other hand, traditional thermostats will heat or cool to maintain the desired temperature, wasting energy in the process. It’s best to tune the temperature to 78 degrees Fahrenheit; this is the standard temperature that is comfortable and can help reduce costs.
Some thermostats also have settings that delay the power of an air conditioning unit when turned on or off. Rapidly turning your AC on and off could damage your system. Thermostats may require calibration to set minimum and maximum temperature ranges so you never accidentally overheat or overcool your home.
Hire a Technician for Routine Maintenance
Sometimes, you don’t have time to inspect, clean, and perform tests on your HVAC units. Considering many homeowners’ busy lives, it’s common to hire assistance to perform these tasks. With their extensive knowledge and expertise, technicians can pinpoint and provide solutions to concerns before you realize your unit has an issue!
Routine maintenance does not need to be intrusive or occur every month. You can schedule routine maintenance twice a year before summer and winter.
Tests performed by technicians will be extensive and can measure air intake, power usage, and heating and cooling cycle rates. An experienced technician can assess and estimate how long your system should last, helping you budget for the future, and saving money on potential repairs.
Provide Your System With Assistance
Providing your system with assistance includes all the ways you can keep cold air or warm air in and the opposite out! It is a good habit to consistently check for drafts beneath doors or windows. If drafts are present, there is no insulation between the temperature outside and inside.
Typically, these spaces can be fixed with door and window weather stripping. Weatherstripping is affordable and can be applied yourself. A measuring tape and utility blade will help apply the weather stripping correctly.
After you’ve evaluated your doors and windows, it helps to check insulation within your garage and attic. It’s standard procedure for all homes to have insulation in room walls and main living areas; however, it is not required for most homes to have insulation in garage walls or the attic.
Adding insulation will help your home maintain the desired temperature if you have an attached garage and attic.
Replace Your Unit
Sometimes, optimizing your unit means having to replace equipment. Even if you change and clean filters and perform other maintenance tasks, relying on an older HVAC system can result in poor indoor quality and increased utility bills.
Signs Your System Needs Replacing
There are a few indicators that may determine it’s time for a new system:
- Repair costs are greater than the cost of new equipment.
- Your utility costs continue to increase.
- There is malodor or abnormal sounds coming from the HVAC unit.
- Equipment is older than 10 years old.
- Rooms within your home have different temperatures.
Whether used in a residence or commercial space, HVAC units use significant energy to help keep you comfortable indoors. While equipment may become less efficient over time, you can utilize a few simple ways to optimize your HVAC system, reducing the chances of malfunction.
