Becoming a homeowner is an exciting milestone, congrats on becoming one! New home ownership can be a little intimidating at times. There are a lot of components to understand and care for, one of the most important being your heating and cooling system. Even having a small amount of knowledge about your heating and cooling system can save you money on your energy bills in the long run.
What to look for:
Was your heating and cooling system maintained?
It’s important to know how old your “new” home’s heating and cooling system is and whether or not it was properly maintained. If you weren’t able to get this information from the previous homeowners themselves, you can always turn to the professional HVAC company that they used, if the previous owner had their system maintained regularly it’s easy to get inspection reports and find out whether or not there were any problems or repairs.
Was your heating and cooling system properly installed?
If the HVAC system installed in your home is over-sized, under-sized or the duct system was poorly designed the system will not perform as advertised and you will likely see higher heating and cooling bills.
• If the HVAC system is too large, it won’t be able to remove humidity adequately. If the HVAC system is too small, it won’t be able to reach and or maintain a comfortable temperature.
• A poorly designed or leaky duct system can cause your home to lose anywhere between 25-40% of your energy.
Whether your “new” home’s heating and cooling system is new or old, there are several things you can do to make sure your system runs efficiently and lasts as long as possible. Getting certified HVAC professionals to properly install and charge your heating and cooling system is crucial if you want your equipment to deliver on its rated efficiency.
Heating and cooling tips:
Purchase a programmable thermostat
By using a programmable thermostat, you can customize energy use around your regular weekly schedule. Program your thermostat to more energy efficient levels when you’re away at work and have them automatically adjust to more comfortable levels during the times you’ll be home.
Change air filters
Just like the maintenance on your car, your heating and cooling system needs similar maintenance. Changing air filters helps your system heat and cool more efficiently, saving you money. Clean air filters also reduce allergens in the air.
Get regular maintenance
Having regular maintenance performed on your heating and cooling system keeps your equipment running smoothly and may help keep your equipment from having a costly breakdown. Regular maintenance can help extend the life of your equipment by as much as 3 to 5 years.
Use window treatments
Obviously, energy efficient windows are a better solution than just using window treatments, but you can still save without purchasing new windows. Window treatments can significantly reduce the amount of work your air conditioner has to perform if used right. Keep window treatments closed during the day to block out the sun’s heat during the warmest months and open your window treatments during the colder months to bring in sunlight and warmth.
For more on heating and cooling turn to the experts at Lindstrom. We’ve proudly served South Florida homeowners for more than 45 years.