St. Patrick’s Day is almost upon us—are you ready for a sea of green? While many people are wearing it this holiday, we encourage you to go green, and save some green while you’re at it.
May the luck of the Irish be with you as we head into a cooling season and need our air conditioners to work as efficiently as possible. Read on for some helpful tips on how to do just that.
Upgrade Your HVAC System!
The average, well-maintained air conditioner is designed to last about 10-15 years. In the last decade, there have been huge advancements to HVAC technology. Even if your aging AC system is in seemingly good shape, upgrading to a newer HVAC system could offer you even more in efficiency and energy savings.
Invest in professional installation! A shoddy installation job can lead to damaged ductwork, an improperly sized air conditioner, and other related problems. All of this can lead to a 30% efficiency loss, even in a brand new system. This leads to higher-than-necessary energy bills and potentially premature replacement needs, too.
Seal Up Your Ductwork
No no matter how efficient your HVAC system is, it means nothing if you have air leaks coming from your ductwork. Your heating and cooling ducts can accumulate damage from extremely high temperatures in the attic where it’s installed, poor initial installation with improperly sized joints, or even rodents getting to the material and chewing holes.
If this happens, air will leak into unused spaces of your home. This is conditioned air you’re still paying for, even though you’re not enjoying its comfort. Store-bought duct tape won’t do the trick here—contact our team to have your ducts professionally sealed.
If you’re unsure whether your ductwork has a problem or not, reach out to our team for professional duct system efficiency testing.
Change Your Air Filter
Homeowners often mistakenly assume that their HVAC system’s air filter is there to protect their indoor air quality. While this air filter certainly doesn’t hurt air quality, this isn’t its intended purpose. It’s in place to protect your air conditioner or heater from dirt, dust, and other debris that can get in its internal components, leading to friction and restricted airflow.
Depending on the type of air filter you have and the level of contaminants in your home, you should be changing this air filter every 1-3 months.
Get a Programmable Thermostat
Do you work outside the home? Even if you only leave the house on occasion, it pays to have a programmable thermostat. Just by programming the thermostat to go lower in the winter or higher in the summer by several degrees when you are away, you can save hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs.
Install Insulation for Increased HVAC Energy Savings
Many folks hear the word insulation and think about what it means in the wintertime. Proper insulation helps keep the heat in so you aren’t freezing in your home. Insulation also helps tremendously during the summer too, by keeping heat out. This means your air conditioner has an easier time cooling down the home and doesn’t have to work as hard to do so, therefore contributing to better efficiency and more energy savings.
When you’re ready to go green, look no further than Dayco Systems for your HVAC and home performance needs. Give us a call today, and in the meantime have a fantastic St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
