Since modern air conditioning was invented a century ago, energy efficiency has been a top priority throughout the HVAC industry, and that’s as true for consumers as it is for manufacturers. Follow these tips to make the most of your energy costs and keep your home comfortable without breaking the bank.
Control Equipment
Perhaps the most intuitive way to reduce your energy costs is to turn your home comfort equipment down or off when it doesn’t need to be running at full blast. Overnight, for instance, you can afford to set your thermostat a few degrees warmer because your body can tolerate hotter temperatures while you are asleep. Your home may be a little warmer than you’d like when you wake up, but your air conditioners can bring the temperature back down in a hurry. Likewise, consider shutting your air conditioning down before leaving home for the day.
Manual control is one way to save energy throughout the cooling season, but advanced AC control equipment is far more powerful. With a programmable thermostat, you can set your air conditioners to automatically reduce their output during the day, then kick in again in time to have the house cool and comfortable when you get home. Likewise, a zoned system can help you save money by turning off air conditioning in rooms that only see occasional use. Set your guest room as a separate zone, close the door and watch for the difference on your utility bills.
Preventive Maintenance
To keep running at maximum efficiency all year long, your air conditioners need to be properly maintained. Some maintenance steps are easy to carry out at home; change or clean your air filters every month, for instance, and check periodically for corroded wiring and other visible issues. Performing monthly checks can alert you to any minor issues before they grow enough to require an expensive repair.
Good home maintenance will help your air conditioners run efficiently, but to maximize your HVAC equipment’s lifespan and minimize your energy bills, you need professional air conditioning service. With an annual service agreement, you can rest assured that air conditioning experts are periodically checking your cooling equipment and locating minor issues before they threaten the future of your machines. Each service visit also includes calibration adjustments designed to maximize energy efficiency.
System Upgrades
Even with great maintenance, an older system will always lag behind newer equipment in terms of energy efficiency. The HVAC industry is constantly working to produce more efficient machines, which means an upgrade will make a big impact on your monthly utility bills. In many cases, the energy savings from a new machine will offset the cost of installation in just a few years.
We at Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating are air conditioning repair, installation and service experts. If you need a service agreement or an upgraded system anywhere in the McKinney, TX, area, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
