Heating and cooling costs are the average American home’s largest annual expense. Your home’s heating system, by itself, uses more energy than any other system in your home, making up about 42% of your utility costs. That being said, it’s important to identify ways to help your HVAC system operate more efficiently and cost-effectively.
Even just a few small mistakes could be causing your heating and cooling bills to climb higher. To avoid this, make sure you’re avoiding these common HVAC “bad habits” below.
1. Turning up the thermostat to make your home cooler or hotter faster
If you’ve been out in the summer heat or winter cold all day long, it might seem like you need to crank the heat or the air conditioning when you come home. However, doing this doesn’t speed up the heating or cooling process in your home because your HVAC system always operates at the same pace. In fact, many homeowners forget that they’ve adjusted their thermostat, and their system continues to try to reach and maintain an extreme temperature until someone remembers to change it back.
2. Neglecting to perform regular HVAC maintenance
HVAC systems need to receive regular maintenance to overcome issues caused by loosening parts and dust buildup. It can be easy to neglect maintenance, especially if your heating and cooling system seems to be working perfectly fine. Even so, it’s important to schedule professional maintenance for your heating system and your cooling system annually to prevent expensive repairs and to keep them running as efficiently as possible.
3. Forgetting to change your system’s air filter
Part of performing regular maintenance on your HVAC system is remembering to change the air filter. Neglecting this quick and easy chore can be a surefire way to skyrocket your energy costs. Air filters that are too dirty or clogged can restrict airflow through your HVAC system and may even cause it to overheat and break down.
4. Not utilizing your ceiling fans
If you have ceiling fans in your home, use them to help decrease your energy costs. Ceiling fans can be used hand-in-hand with your HVAC system spread air around a room in order to cool or heat it more efficiently. When you want to make a room cooler, make the ceiling fan rotate counterclockwise. When you want to make the room warmer, make it rotate clockwise.
5. Turning off your HVAC system
While it may not seem like a big deal to turn off your HVAC system completely when you’re not using it, this can actually be an energy-wasting mistake. When you’re not home, it’s much more efficient to set your thermostat accordingly so that your system will come on every so often. That way your system won’t work as hard to keep your home at a consistent temperature.
For reliable heater and air conditioner services in the San Joaquin Valley, contact Monarch Home Services online or by phone: (661) 452-8707.