What are Some Energy Saving Strategies for your HVAC System?
A St, Michael home’s heating, cooling and ventilation system is often the main source of high utility bills. This is partly because by its nature, this appliance is a high energy consumer. However, in many homes there is a lot of energy wasted. Here are some important energy saving strategies to implement.
Keep it Clean
Dirty HVAC systems can suffer from restricted airflow and damage to internal components. Keeping the system clean helps it operate more efficiently. To keep dusty debris from collecting on your heating and cooling, do the following:
• Check your filters each month and change them when they are becoming clogged. Dirty filters are among the top culprits for causing dirty HVAC systems and ductwork.
• Have a technician perform bi-annual maintenance visits. Your technician will clean areas that are difficult to access and will check that everything is running smoothly.
• Keep dust levels down in the home. Dust in the home can easily make its way to your HVAC system.
Use a Programmable Thermostat
These thermostats allow you to program different temperature settings for different times of day or days of the week. When you are asleep or away from home, generally you won’t need the same degree of cooling or heating as when you are at home and awake. Programmable thermostats can be set to raise or lower temperatures at specific times, allowing you to remain comfortable while still conserving your HVAC system’s energy.
Install a Zone System
Zone systems separate area of the home according to climate control needs. For example, upper levels of the home have different requirements than lower levels do. Also called system zoning, these work by way of dampers installed in the ductwork that are controlled by a control panel. Each zone has its own thermostat that connects to this and lets the system know which dampers to close or open.
This saves energy by channeling heated or cooled air only where it is needed and only to the degree it is needed. In traditional systems, energy is wasted because all areas of the home receive the same amount of heating or cooling. This also results in overheating or overcooling some areas while leaving the others under-cooled or under-heated.
Energy-saving strategies almost always provide benefits beyond saving energy. In the case of your HVAC system, taking these energy-saving strategies will also keep your St. Michael home more comfortable, reduce energy bills and, in some cases, reduce indoor air pollutants. These gains are more than sufficient to inspire most homeowners to implement these strategies as soon as possible.
If your St. Michael, MN HVAC unit needs some extra attention and you are trying to conserve energy do not hesitate to reach out to B & D Plumbing, Heating & A/C at (763) 497-2290.