Apart from increasing your energy bills, having an inefficient HVAC system can affect your home’s indoor air quality and make it uncomfortable to stay inside your house. When ignored, your poorly-performing HVAC system may even break down and require an expensive replacement.
Don’t set yourself up for unnecessary expenses or discomfort. To maintain good HVAC efficiency, here are some tips to keep in mind:
1. Have regular maintenance
Just like with any type of appliance or device, an HVAC system needs regular maintenance to perform correctly and efficiently. Schedule a tune-up from the maintenance technician at least once a year to help prevent potential issues from affecting your system’s performance and efficiency. In this way, you can avoid having the system break down suddenly and having to pay for hefty repair bills.
2. Replace faulty parts
Sometimes, an HVAC technician may tell you to replace a part, and you might be hesitant to pay for it if it’s not broken yet. But whether you have to replace the thermostat or a PICV balancing and control valve, ignoring a faulty part can make things worse. That said, when the technician recommends the replacement of a part, it’s best not to go against the idea.
3. Switch to a programmable thermostat
Aside from saving you tons of money in energy costs, a programmable thermostat can make your HVAC system’s job easier and reduce the strain upon it. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat yet, make the switch for the improvement of your HVAC system’s efficiency and your wallet.
4. Clean or change air filters regularly
Dirty air filters make it harder for your HVAC system to cool or heat the house properly, and will then use more energy to do its job. For this reason, it’s important to clean or change your air filters at least once every 1-3 months to keep your HVAC system running smoothly. However, if you live in a dusty area or use your AC often, it may be necessary to change or clean your air filter every month.
5. Inspect your air ducts
Air ducts must also be regularly inspected and cleaned to improve both your indoor air quality and your HVAC system’s efficiency, as all types of contaminants (e.g. dust, waste from pests, dander) can get trapped in your ducts. Have an HVAC technician inspect your air ducts and remove accumulated debris at least once every five years.
6. Clean your air vents
Air vents are relatively easy to clean, so you shouldn’t have any excuse not to clean them. If you want to keep your rooms sufficiently heated or cooled, cleaning your air vents at least once a month is another excellent way to do it. Moreover, it can also decrease the number of pollutants circulating inside your house.
Good indoor air quality and HVAC efficiency often go hand in hand. If you want to achieve one of them, you must also strive for the other. That said, if you want to keep your HVAC system efficient, your energy and repair bills low, and your indoor air quality good, consider following these tips.
