Energy Efficiency Tips for your HVAC

09 Sep Energy Efficiency Tips for your HVAC

Kingsport TN

Energy bills in the United States continue to rise. You can do your part to minimize these price increases by ensuring your HVAC is running as efficiently as possible. How do you accomplish this? We explore that topic today on the blog, with these HVAC energy efficiency tips.

Set to the optimum temperature range

Every HVAC unit has an optimum temperature range, where it will perform well but also maximize energy efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting an HVAC at 78 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. This is probably going to sound too hot for most people, so a setting between 72 and 75 degrees is likely more reasonable. You can also consider increasing the temperature during the day when your house is empty and everyone is out at work and school.

Use a programmable thermostat

Smart home technology includes the ability to manage various devices and systems in your home, all from a single control panel or the app on your phone. By installing a programmable thermostat, your HVAC temperature will rise and lower on its own as part of a pre-set schedule. For example, as mentioned, you can increase the temperature by 5-10 degrees while the house is empty and then revert to a more comfortable setting about an hour before people return home. Some smart thermostat programs have a seven-day programming option so you can customize each day of the week to meet your needs. Certain smart home systems can even study your lifestyle habits and use that information to recommend adjustments to your temperature settings.

Seal all ductwork

If one of the ducts in your HVAC system has a gap or a leak, you are wasting energy as that air emanates out wherever the leak is occurring: your attic, your basement or a gap in your wall. Signs of a ductwork issue include rising energy bills with no difference in the weather, certain rooms staying hotter or cooler than others or accumulating dust and dirt around your vents. To repair a problem with your ductwork, don’t try to fix the problem yourself. Instead, contact an HVAC repair professional. Until someone can visit your home, you can perform a stopgap repair by covering any detected gaps in ductwork with duct tape.

Schedule regular HVAC maintenance

Your HVAC is the same as your health. Prevention is the best course of action. If you go to the doctor every year for a checkup, this allows regular monitoring of your health and makes it easy to identify any significant changes. The same holds true for your HVAC system. Maintenance twice a year – once in the spring before the weather starts to warm up and once in the fall before winter begins – can keep your HVAC running well and efficiently.

If you are looking for a trusted and experienced company to meet your HVAC repair and maintenance needs, then consider Thompson Electrical Service. Our company is fully licensed, bonded, and insured. We offer preventive maintenance plans with semi-annual service. To learn more about these plans or to schedule an appointment with one of our professional technicians, contact the office of Thompson Electrical Service today by calling (423) 343-5726.