5 Ways to Increase Your HVAC Efficiency in 2020
The new year is here and increasing your HVAC efficiency should be on your resolution list. If you’ve been unhappy with your HVAC in the past, there’s no need to be repeating those issues in 2020. Your HVAC should be helping your home stay at a great temperature while using only the necessary amount of energy to do so.
For over 70 years, Entek has been servicing the Portland area’s heating and cooling needs, and here are a few things that have proven to aid your HVAC when it comes to efficiency. These units are hardworking but can produce the same results with less work with a little help. Here are five ways to enter 2020 with a more efficient HVAC.
1. Change Air Filters
If having healthy air quality isn’t enough of a reason to regularly change your air filters, then your HVAC’s efficiency will be. Aside from filling your air with dust and allergens, an unclean air filter can also interfere with the overall performance of your heating and cooling unit.
When your filter is clogged up with airborne contaminants, dust, or any other type of debris, it also blocks the airflow through your system. When this happens, your HVAC unit has to work harder to push through that blockage and run smoothly. This can lead to a shorter life span for your HVAC and an increase in your energy bill. To avoid negative effects on your family’s health and decreased efficiency in your HVAC, be sure to change your air filters whenever they start to show signs of build-up. We recommend checking them once a month.
2. Install a Programmable Thermostat
One way people decrease their HVAC efficiency is by having the system running nonstop at really high or low temperatures. There are many times during the day or week when no one is in the room or building the unit is working to heat or cool. This increased usage puts unwanted stress on the unit, makes it more susceptible to malfunctioning issues, and decreases its life expectancy. Increase your HVAC’s efficiency by easing its load this year.
Installing a programmable thermostat can help you be in control of when your HVAC is in use. You can increase your HVAC’s efficiency by only running it while people are in the home or choosing to decrease the temperature during these times. With a programmable thermostat, you can also be in control of the temperature settings from anywhere that has access to Wi-Fi, or you can control the settings for the week by having everything on a timer. Decreasing the temperature by just 10 degrees while you’re away in the winter or sleeping can decrease your heating costs by 10 to 20 percent.
3. Have Your Ducts Sealed
Taking better care of your ductwork is a great way to increase HVAC efficiency. If your HVAC is working well but air is lost or backed up in the duct work, your unit will have to work harder to make up for it.
Leaky ducts can reduce the heating and cooling efficiency of your HVAC system from 20 to 45 percent. You may not be able to tell that your ducts are leaking, but your HVAC unit can, and its need to work harder will be reflected in your energy bill.
When your ducts are correctly sealed, your HVAC system can run at its maximum efficiency. Because leaky ducts are a common issue, having your ducts professionally sealed is a sure way to avoid it. Entek offers a premier duct-sealing service called Aeroseal, which is the only product able to seal your ducts from the inside. Having this service performed with Aeroseal can save the average residence between $600 to $850 in energy savings during the first year.
4. Schedule Regular Maintenance
Just like you schedule regular maintenance for your car, you should also do so for your HVAC system. After all, your HVAC system is the reason your home stays at comfortable temperatures all year. Having it checked every so often will assure that it maintains its high efficiency and can also be a good way to spot a small problem before it turns into a larger one. Regular maintenance can also help you lower your utility bills and extend the life of your system.
Still, staying on top of regular maintenance can seem like adding one more thing to your already long list of things to do. That’s why HVAC servicing companies like Entek created several “peace of mind” Planned Maintenance Programs. Just like at car dealerships, our service department can keep track of your most recent services, equipment, and warranty information, and inform you of when it would be a good time to have maintenance performed. We suggest having maintenance performed in the spring and fall of every year to make sure your equipment is in tip-top shape for the months with harsher weather.
5. Replace Your Old Unit
If your HVAC system is outdated or very old, it may not be capable of performing at the efficiency level you desire. And what you’re losing with your increased energy bill, you could be investing in a newer, more efficient unit. Sometimes an update is necessary, and if that’s the case for you, you’ll want to make sure you start out with a unit that’s geared toward increased efficiency.
Entek offers some of the most up to date, high-efficiency units you can purchase in the Portland, Oregon, area. With options that can suit any residential or commercial property, investing in a new unit can be a much easier process than you think. High-efficiency furnaces are a popular option to reduce fuel costs and increase indoor comfort, while newer ductless heat pumps can get rid of problematic duct issues and provide you with an efficient heating and cooling experience.
Taking any of this advice will prove to increase your HVAC efficiency. Entek can provide the Portland and Vancouver area with any HVAC servicing needs that may come up and complete regular maintenance on your unit as needed. Start 2020 with a more energy-efficient HVAC unit that will provide great heating and cooling all year long.
