Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is among the major investments in your home. It’s also among the components in your house that use the most energy. Since it might be challenging to leave without a heating and cooling system, especially in cold and hot months, looking for ways to improve your HVAC’s efficiency is vital.
However, before diving deep into how to keep your HVAC unit efficient, you must know the signs that might tell that your HVAC’s inefficient. These include increased monthly utility bills, frequent thermostat recycling, weird sounds, and ice build-up on the compressor.
Now that you know these signs, read on to learn what you can do to boost your HVAC’s efficiency levels.
Clean And Unblock Your Vents
Your vents collect dust, dirt, and other debris floating in the air. This makes them dirty, negatively affecting the unit’s efficiency. For this reason, you should vacuum and clean your vents regularly to boost efficiency.
To effectively clean the vents, you’ll need a vacuum cleaner, dish soap, scrubbing brush, gloves, bathtub, and screwdrivers. Alternatively, if you’re in Virginia and you need HVAC Arlington services, consider hiring reputable technicians with the experience and equipment required.
But if you decide to do the cleaning yourself, remember to turn off the HVAC system before you begin the process. This helps prevent unnecessary accidents and damage to your unit. For effective cleaning, follow the following steps;
- Using a screwdriver, take off your vents and put them aside.
- Then, vacuum your ducts to get rid of as much dust and dirt as possible.
- Use a duster to get rid of dirt and dust from your vents. When doing this, avoid getting much dust in the air, as it may end up in your ducts again. Preferably, dust the vents inside a garbage bag to prevent the dust from spreading into the air.
- Prepare soapy water in a bathtub and soak your vents for 15 minutes. Avoid soaking them longer since many vent materials may start to rust. Soaking the vents helps remove the grease and grime that attracts dust.
- Dry the vents using a clean towel and then fix them back. Ensure to get them as dry as possible to prevent the re-collection of dust.
- Finally, check your filter’s condition before turning the HVAC system back on. If the filter is clogged, replace it immediately. If it’s clear, there’s no need to replace it.
After cleaning and unblocking your vents, remove items or debris around your indoor air supply vents. This ensures there’s steady airflow into the system.
Schedule Regular Professional Maintenance
Even if you adopt all measures to keep your HVAC running efficiently, there are other issues that professionals can only handle. Trying to address these issues may lead to more harm than good.
There are many benefits of hiring professionals for an inspection. For instance, professionals usually identify and fix potential issues before they occur, thus saving you money. Additionally, hiring a technician ensures you’re safe. This is because the HVAC system runs on electricity and harmful gases, so trying to clean or inspect it yourself could lead to injuries and complications.
A certified technician has the knowledge, experience, and necessary equipment to handle all HVAC systems. Moreover, working with a professional gives you peace of mind. When your HVAC system is inspected and maintained by a certified technician, you trust that your system will work efficiently and save you money. Finally, working with a technician creates an opportunity to learn more and understand your system in detail.
Isolate Heat-Producing Appliances From The Thermostat
Heat-producing appliances such as TVs, consoles, lamps, clothes dryers, stoves, and refrigerators can impact your thermostat’s ability to record the right room temperature accurately. When these appliances are near the thermostat, they record high temperatures.
As a result, the HVAC system works extra to cool the space. If this continues for quite a while, your systems end up tearing fast or using excess energy. Therefore, consider limiting hot appliances or placing them away from the thermostat.
For example, suppose the thermostat is installed in a hot area, like next to the kitchen. In that case, you should hire a reputable technician to replace it.
Close Your Windows And Doors
Your HVAC system is designed with specific measurements to serve a particular area. So, any extra air from unclosed doors and windows exceeds the system’s capability to heat or cool, causing your system to overwork. Experts recommend turning off your HVAC system if you need a breeze from outside. If you leave the system on, it tries to warm or cool down the incoming air. This overloads the system causing more wear and tear and higher electricity bills.
Besides closing your windows, you should cover them as well to block the day’s heat from entering your home. This is essential, primarily when boosting your system’s efficiency. A good tip is to lower your blinds and curtains in the morning before leaving the house to ensure your home stays cool during the day.
Clean And Place Your Outdoor Condenser Under A Shade
Many homeowners forget that keeping your outdoor condenser clean and debris-free is as crucial as cleaning filters and ducts. Debris, such as leaves and twigs, can affect the efficiency of your HVAC unit by clogging and damaging the outdoor fans. Additionally, they restrict airflow into your system, causing it to strain to cool or heat your home.
On the other hand, not placing your outdoor unit under a shade causes it to overheat, especially during the hot summer months. This causes the system to strain when cooling your home, resulting in wear and tear. To prevent this, design a shade for your condenser, but don’t obstruct airflow into the system.
Conclusion
If you need to enhance the efficiency of your HVAC system, ensure to incorporate the tips outlined in this post. Executing them will save you money in the long run and prolong the lifespan of your HVAC system. An efficient heating and cooling system guarantee cool air on hotter days and warmer in colder months. Nevertheless, if you implement these tips but still experience signs of inefficiency, consider contacting a certified HVAC technician for help.
