5 Amazing HVAC Hacks to Improve Your HVAC System

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are gaining a lot of popularity in households. Their provision of high-quality indoor air and thermal comfort makes them have an increase in demand in the market. Many modern HVAC systems are designed to be energy-saving. This means that you will spend less money on utility energy bills. However, what if you do not have an energy-saving heating and ventilation system? If you have a regular HVAC, you are about to get five amazing hacks you can use to save as much money on energy as possible. First, let us appreciate the importance of having a heating, air conditioning, and ventilation system at home. Some of the reasons why the system is significant to include:

• The heating and ventilation system controls the whole climate of your home. The system makes proper adjustments to the home climate whenever there is a change in the outdoor climate.
• The level of productivity at home improves when you have an efficient HVAC system. No one enjoys being in a freezing house or a house that feels like a furnace.
• The quality of air in the home improves significantly when you get the ventilation and air conditioning system. Any impurities in the air are filtered out, giving your home a fresh and healthy atmosphere.

These tips will also help you to improve the efficiency and performance of air conditioners.

Replace the air filter

When was the last time you changed the air filter? Most people know that the air filter should be changed regularly, but they do not change it as often as required. This negligence is because most people do not realize the importance of an air filter in increasing the efficiency of the HVAC system. The air filter prevents pollutants like debris and dust from making it into the air of your home. As these pollutants pile up in the air conditioner over time, the ventilation system has to work harder and use more energy to filter the air and push out clean.

When you fail to change the air conditioning for a long period, the quality of the air being circulated into your home drops significantly. The ventilation system also becomes less efficient in purifying the air due to the blocks of dirt in it. Most manufacturers recommend that you change the air filter after every three months or 90 days to continue receiving high-quality air. If you have pets such as cats, dogs, hamsters, or any other kind of furry pet, you may need to change the air filter more often than most people do.

Conduct routine maintenance

In case you are always busy with work or school, you may easily forget to carry out maintenance on the heating, air conditioning, and ventilation system. Leaving the HVAC running for months without any check-up or maintenance will cause it to perform poorly in regulating clean air and temperature. Never underestimate the power of minor repairs and tune-ups for the ventilation system.

Regular repairs will help solve any technical problems early on, thereby saving you many costs that you would incur in high monthly energy ills and replacing the entire heating and ventilation system. A normal routine maintenance schedule entails a technician checking the refrigerant levels, cleaning the drain lines, and attuning the HVAC system. In some cases, the technician may provide you with additional tips on how to clean and care for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.

Get a programmable thermostat

Did you know that a programmable thermostat could work wonders in increasing the efficiency of your home? A drop in the temperature of your home, even by several degrees, can have a huge impact on your monthly cooling and heating bills. A thermostat can help you out with this. With current technology, there are new thermostat designs that can even monitor your habits within the household. Such a thermostat automatically adjusts itself when you are asleep or away from home. If the thermostat sensor senses that you are always home by 9 pm, it will automatically turn on all the lights at 9 pm. If it senses that you turn off all the nights every day at 11 pm to sleep, it will automatically start turning off the lights at 11 pm.

You can also adjust the thermostat manually, especially if you will be away from home for a while. This will help you save as much energy as possible. There are thermostats that are programmable using Wi-Fi. This allows you to access the settings of the thermostat remotely and program it to your preference. A Wi-Fi programmable thermostat allows you to control your HVAC system from your smartphone wherever you are. No more uncertain moments during the morning rush when you are stuck at work wondering whether you turned off the AC. You can simply change the settings on your phone now.

Seal all gaps

Small gaps in your house allow the air and heat from your HVAC unit to escape. This in turn, makes the heating and ventilation system work harder to produce more heat and pure air, thereby resulting in more energy bills. You can identify the small gaps around the windows and doors. Air ducts, chimneys, and fireplaces are also possible outlets of air that will cost you a lot each month in the form of increased energy bills. You can analyze your home carefully to identify any other possible areas that air and heat may escape. Once you identify the gaps, you can seal them with caulk. For larger spaces such as the space underneath doors, you can use weather strips for blocking out the drafts of cold. Foam gaskets may also be useful in preventing loss of air through larger outlets.

Get a fan

Many people do not think it is necessary to have a fan if you already have an HVAC system. However calling an HVAC company in Plymouth MN would tell you, using ceiling fans together with the heating system will improve the efficiency and circulation of air, especially during those hot summer days. Fans are also helpful during cold seasons because hot air always rises and may make it hard for the heating system to warm the home. The ceiling fans will cause the hot air stuck at the top to disperse around the room, thereby warming the entire area. Using a fan will allow you to drop several degrees in your thermostat without experiencing any change in its performance.

Using any of the above tips will help to improve the comfort of your home as well as reduce energy costs. As you have seen, being energy efficient does not take many expenses. Sealing the gaps, adding ceiling fans, using programmable thermostats, conducting routine repairs, and frequently repairing the air filter are all affordable hacks of maintaining thermal comfort and quality air in your home.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on average, Americans spend 93 percent of their life indoors. The agency further states that various skin and breathing problems are caused due to poor indoor air quality. The quality of indoor air is 2 to 100 times more polluted the outside air.

Therefore, proper maintenance and working of the HVAC system of your home is an integral part of its functioning. As such, you should always hire HVAC repair contractors to take care of any issues that you may face. The fall or spring is preferably the best season to schedule an HVAC maintenance and service. It is necessary for a healthier and longer life of the unit. Some things can be looked at just once or twice a year, while others require immediate attention. You purchased the HVAC system for enjoying comfortable room temperature throughout the year. But, to ensure that it functions smoothly, you also need to care for it and maintain it regularly. Find below ten methods to increase your HVAC system’s life and prevent it from breaking down soon.

• Clean the areas surrounding your HVAC system regularly, as dirt and debris and dirt in and around the system can restrict airflow.
• Make sure that the system is installed correctly and the settings are as recommended. Both wrong system settings and improper system failure result in an unexpected system failure.
• People think that a bigger AC is better. However, that is not true. For advice on the correct size of the HVAC system, contact a reliable HVAC service provider.
• The HVAC system’s ideal temperature is 68 degrees during winter and 78 degrees during summer.
• The familiarity of the HVAC system can help you whenever it malfunctions. You can troubleshoot the unit until a nearby HVAC service provider arrives to fix it.
• In hot weathers, stop the water supply to the furnace humidifier. Set the humid adjustments between 30% and 40% during winter, by turning on the water supply.
• Set the registers above 20% to avoid strain on your HVAC system.
• Remember to replace the batteries in the carbon monoxide detector at least once a year.
• Improper lubrication reduces the efficiency of your system as it can increase the friction of moving parts. It can cause them to wear out sooner than expected. Therefore, lubricate your HVAC at frequent intervals.
• Frequently clean the condensate drain line to make sure that it is free from harmful bacteria, algae, dirt, and fungus.

#Pro Tip
Mix 3 cups water with 1 cup bleach and stir it well. Clean the condensate drain line by pouring this solution directly into it.

HVAC systems have a life expectancy of about 15-20 years and do not last forever. Therefore, if your HVAC system is close to that duration, purchase a new one instead of repairing the existing one. When you’re looking for a new system, consider the below-mentioned factors.

• Area, in square foot, to be cooled/heated
• The amount of shade your home receives
• The type of construction (wood, concrete, or any other material)
• Insulation provided to ceilings and walls
• The ideal indoor temperature in which you feel comfortable
• Facing the direction of windows and doors
• Number of skylights, windows, and doors

You will be to invest in a system that works efficiently throughout the year by considering the above points. Remember, the HVAC is your home’s respiratory system. It keeps your heating AC systems and furnaces in place. Therefore, please keep it in smooth working condition and clean at all times. Likewise, make sure that its air ducts are clean by changing its filters once every three months or if they are dirty.

How can dirty filters affect the HVAC system:

• The buildup of debris and dirt such as rodent infestation, dust, pet hair, and mold can reduce the efficiency
• Lead to system failure
• Excessive power bills due to wastage of energy

You can ensure that the HVAC systems are in good condition by looking after your heating AC systems as well as furnaces.

Here is what you should look out for in both cases.

Furnaces
• The flame of the furnace can be a sign suggesting the state of your system. It is okay and in a good working condition if the flare is crisp blue. But, you will need to call a professional furnace repair company if the flame is yellow or orange.
• The first step is to check your safety. Any loose connections or leakage can decrease efficiency or lead to safety issues.
• Your furnace becomes more prone to breakdowns the older it gets. In case your furnace is more than 5 to 20 years old as well as its repair costs you 15% more than purchasing a new furnace, consider replacing it.
• An overworked furnace leads to bloated energy bills. Get in touch with a local furnace repair company, if you begin seeing a significant increase in your power bills, and get a new furnace installed.
• An outdated duct system will no longer be able to distribute heat evenly throughout your house.
• An inefficient furnace can cause some rooms to be warmer or colder than others.

Professional advice is undoubtedly better than a DIY approach if you start experiencing any of the above.

Heating AC Systems
Repairing your heating AC systems is never easy, especially when winter is approaching.

The scenario is worse in case your heater has broken down. You have no options left apart from calling an emergency local HVAC repair service. It will cost you a lot of money.

Unlike most homeowners, you should not ignore the following signs of heating problems in your HVAC system.

• Even though you turn up the thermostat, the entire house is not warm enough.
• Your heating system is consuming too much energy.
• When an AC short cycles, it uses a lot of energy every time it has to start and stop because it is not running long enough to complete a heating cycle.
• You should immediately turn off the furnace if you notice flame discoloration. It should always be blue. Else, it is a sign of rust or debris inside the burner.
• Get a professional service close to you to check your HVAC at least two times per year. They will check for faults with motors and electric supply.

The next time you face problems with your furnaces, heating AC systems, or HVAC, contact http://www.samedaypros.com HVAC repair service for immediate help.