Throughout the coldest and hottest moments in Port St. Lucie, your heating and cooling system is an essential ally in keeping your home comfortable. Unfortunately, it’s also your worst enemy when trying to lower your energy consumption. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, your HVAC system could be the culprit behind nearly half of the energy you use.
That large draw of energy makes your HVAC unit a perfect place to start changing your energy habits. Whether you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint or want to lower your utility bill, there are several ways—big and small—to direct how your heating and cooling system expends energy.
Change Your Air Filters
The air filters in your HVAC system are important to keeping up your home’s air quality. They help capture a variety of debris—including dust, dirt and other small particles—and block them from polluting your house. However, when your filters become dirty, it isn’t just your air quality that is affected. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a dirty filter can lower air conditioner efficiency by up to 15 percent. Replacing your air filter routinely keeps your system from using an unnecessary amount of energy. Replace one-inch pleated filters every month. Remember, filters may need more frequent attention if your HVAC system is in constant use, is by dusty conditions, or you have pets in the house. Contact Custom Air Systems Inc to find out what frequency of filter change is correct for your system.
Schedule Regular HVAC Service
If you expect your HVAC system to run as efficiently as possible, routine maintenance is significant. While it’s spring, have an HVAC technician assess your air conditioner and clean its coils, check refrigerant levels, adjust system controls and more. In the fall, have them come back to check up on your furnace and make adjustments before the cooler weather sets in later. Routine maintenance confirms your equipment is ready to work exactly as it was planned to—with peak efficiency. Custom Air Systems Inc experts are trained to help your system get back on track.
Switch Out Your Thermostat
Reducing those energy costs can be as easy as adjusting the temperature in your home while you’re asleep or away. The closer your home’s temperature is to the conditions outside, the lower your energy bill can be. However, this doesn’t mean you’ll need to take crazy measures all the time. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends lowering or increasing (depending on the season) your temperature by easily resetting your thermostat when you are asleep or not at the house.
You could make these adjustments manually each day, but a programmable thermostat streamlines the process. These thermostats allow you to select a schedule for your HVAC system and automatically regulates the temperature in your home to reach that goal. A smart thermostat takes your control a step further, often allowing you to monitor the temperature wirelessly from almost anywhere. Chat with Custom Air Systems Inc to see if either of these options would be beneficial for your home.
Review Your Equipment
Old HVAC equipment can be an issue on your energy bill each month. Whether they’re no longer working efficiently, are the incorrect size for your home or lack the energy efficiency new systems have, there’s a good chance your system is costing you extra money if it’s more than 10 years old.
When you’ve determined it’s time to look for a replacement system, Custom Air Systems Inc can give give you a hand. We’ll help you get to know different efficiency ratings and select a system that will work for your needs.
If you have more questions about watching your energy costs, need to book maintenance or want to discuss new system selections, the team at Custom Air Systems Inc in Port St. Lucie is all set to guide you. Call us at 772-247-2283 or schedule an appointment online.