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The weather in the Greensboro, NC, area can be quite harsh at times, especially during the summer and winter. During these months, you will likely depend heavily on your HVAC system to keep your home comfortable. Unfortunately, operating your heater or air conditioner all day consumes a lot of energy, which substantially raises your monthly utility bills. Here, we will discuss a few simple, affordable steps to enhance your HVAC system’s energy efficiency.
1. Utilize Curtains and Blinds
Believe it or not, the curtains and blinds in your home can significantly enhance HVAC energy efficiency. This is particularly true if your curtains are relatively heavy like black-out curtains are, or specially designed for energy efficiency. During winter, it’s generally advisable to keep these curtains closed. When closed, they help prevent much of the warmth from your heating system from escaping through windows or glass doors.
As a result, your heater won’t need to run for as long or use as much electricity to keep your living space warm. This can also be effective during the summer, as the curtains can keep heat out of the house, allowing your AC unit to work more effectively.
2. Clean Your Air Ducts and Vents
Once conditioned air from your HVAC system has passed through the air ducts, it must travel through vents to reach various parts of the house. However, over time, it’s normal for dust, dirt, and other debris to accumulate inside the air vents. Eventually, if enough of these contaminants build up, they can start to obstruct the airflow of your heating and cooling units. This means that your HVAC system will have to work significantly harder to push the air through, resulting in increased energy consumption.
The good news is that your air vents should be easy to clean. Use a screwdriver to remove the cover panel from each vent every few months. Then, simply remove the contaminants from the vent with a vacuum cleaner and an extension hose. Then schedule professional duct cleaning every year or two to do a deep cleaning of your HVAC ductwork. Regularly doing this should help reduce your monthly energy costs.
3. Schedule Professional Tune-Ups
Scheduling professional heating maintenance and AC tune-ups is one of the most beneficial actions you can take to enhance your household’s energy efficiency. At least once a year, you should arrange maintenance for your heating and cooling systems. At Custom Air Inc., our skilled technicians provide this service for all types of HVAC units. During the tune-up, they will thoroughly inspect the system, look for any equipment issues, and make adjustments to optimize its performance. Beyond boosting the unit’s energy efficiency, HVAC maintenance offers various other benefits.
- More consistent home comfort
- Improved indoor air quality
- Longer HVAC system life expectancy
- Lower likelihood of serious equipment problems
- Improved peace of mind
4. Seal Air Leaks in Your Home
If you have air leaks in your house, they may be significantly impacting your energy bills. Although you may not notice them, small cracks or gaps often form around the edges of windows and doorways. These openings allow conditioned air to escape your home, forcing your HVAC system to work much harder and use more electricity. Additionally, air leaks affect your home’s climate and increase the likelihood of uneven temperatures.
You should search your home for air leaks at least once or twice a year. Check all of your windows and doors, and feel around for any moving air. Remember that these leaks are often very small and difficult to see. If you find any openings, you can seal them with weather stripping and caulking, both of which are available at hardware stores.
Your Trusted Local HVAC Professionals
Since 1998, residents of the greater Greensboro area have relied on Custom Air Inc. for HVAC services. We are a family-owned business that takes pride in delivering quality services and worry-free warranties. Our technicians are experts in furnaces, heat pumps, ACs, ductless mini-split ACs installations, repairs, and maintenance services. Additionally, our technicians also offer duct services, crawl space encapsulation, indoor air quality solutions, UV light services, whole-house dehumidifier installation, evaporator coil services, and more.
If you’re interested in learning more or scheduling an appointment, simply reach out to us at Custom Air Inc. today!
