Being residents of the Southeast United States means that we have long, hot summers to contend with. Our energy bills can be quite high as a result. There are, however, many ways to use your heating and air conditioning system to actually save money on energy bills. We’ve come up with three ways you can leverage your HVAC to save electricity and lower your electric bill.
How to Save Energy and Electricity – Control Your Thermostat
One of the best ways you can save energy with your heating and air conditioning system is through properly controlling your thermostat. Using a digital and programmable thermostat will allow you to control the temperature in your home at different times of day. Homeowners can program their thermostat to reduce its output while they are away at work or on vacation. Today’s smart thermostats can also learn your patterns to help maximize energy savings.
In addition, remember that your thermostat will tell the AC or Furnace when to kick on; let it do its job. When you constantly fiddle with the thermostat, just to get a few additional minutes of comfort, you’ll needlessly waste energy.
Save on Electric Bills – Routine HVAC Maintenance
Homeowners should also ensure that they adhere to routine maintenance schedules for their HVAC system. When your AC unit is poorly maintained, it will use much more energy than it needs to. Routine HVAC maintenance typically includes cleaning/changing the air filter, a thermostat assessment, electrical check, condensate drain and duct checks, outdoor/indoor unit assessments, etc. All these checks will ensure your system keeps functioning at peak levels.
Save Money Over Time – Replace Your HVAC System
One final option that is worth mentioning is replacing your entire HVAC system. If your system is over 10 years old, or simply the wrong size/configuration for your space, there will be very little you can do to save on your energy costs. In this case, it might be in your best interest to replace your system with a new, efficient model. This will not only reduce your monthly energy usage, but it will also help the environment by reducing the amount of energy generated through burning carbon-based fuels.
These are just a few ways homeowners can use their HVAC systems to reduce their electricity consumption. If you need additional guidance,
contact one of our recommended HVAC pros, who will be happy to meet with you and provide you with additional options.
