6 HVAC Habits That Ruin Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Homeowners in Hampstead, NC, use air conditioners during the summertime. When your AC system is working well, you don’t think about it. But here are some things you may be doing that decrease the energy efficiency of your HVAC system:

Neglecting Proper HVAC Maintenance

Keeping your HVAC system in good condition requires scheduling regular maintenance. You should have a professional come in every spring to look over your home air conditioner. While visiting, the HVAC professional will evaluate your system and alert you of any problems that may arise in the near future.

Not Changing the Filters Often Enough

Your AC system has a filter that removes unwanted particles from the air inside your home. You need to change this air filter at least once a month during the summertime to keep your air quality high. Unfortunately, many homeowners forget to change their air filter on a regular basis. As a result, your HVAC system works much harder to push air through.

It’s best to pull your air filter out every couple of weeks and evaluate its state. If you can still see through it, it’ll continue to work for another couple of weeks. If you can’t see through the air filter, it’s time to replace it.

Setting the Thermostat Too Low

Most HVAC systems aren’t designed to cool homes below 72 degrees. The problem is that many home thermostats will allow you to set the temperature down to a low of usually 68 or 69 degrees. If you have your thermostat set below 72 degrees, it’ll constantly push your air conditioner to work harder and use more energy than necessary.

Not Using a Programmable Thermostat

If you’re still relying on an old dial thermostat, you’re wasting a lot of your hard-earned money on your energy bill. Programmable thermostats are a great way to make your system more energy-efficient. These allow you to set different temperatures throughout the day so that your air conditioner only runs at times when you’re at home.

You should set your thermostat to 78 degrees when you’re at home. At times when you’re not at home, you should program your thermostat higher. By limiting the amount of time that your air conditioning system runs when no one’s at home, you can drastically reduce the amount of energy that your system uses throughout the day.

Blocking Registers

Your HVAC system connects to the various rooms throughout your home via ductwork and registers. It’s important that these registers have adequate space directly in front of them to allow the cold air into your room. If you have placed an object in front of your register, such as a couch, it can drastically reduce the efficiency of that room getting cold.

Constantly Changing the Thermostat Temperature

It can be simple to set the desired temperature on your thermostat. Unfortunately, this simplicity can cause you to constantly mess with the temperature settings on your thermostat. For example, one moment you may have it set at 78 degrees and then decide that you want it colder so you crank it down to 70 degrees.

This constant change in temperature requires your air conditioning system to constantly turn on and shut off. When your air conditioning unit is consistently going on and off, the parts inside of it tend to wear out much faster. It also reduces the efficiency of the unit over time.

If you’re struggling with higher-than-normal energy costs due to running your HVAC system, you should consider calling a professional. Contact Gideon Heating & Air Conditioning to evaluate your HVAC system and make alternations to help it operate at peak efficiency when you need it the most.

Image provided by iStock