By: Brian Schutt
While we’re still in the spirit of New Year’s resolutions, we wanted to provide you with five of the worst HVAC habits we see in a lot of our clients and offer tips on how to break them in 2020. By reversing these five bad HVAC ventilation habits, you will be well on your way to saving energy and money on your HVAC system this year.
- Neglecting to Change Your Filters
- Obstructing Your HVAC Ventilation
Blocking airflow with plants, toys, furniture, shoes, etc., will significantly decrease your HVAC system’s efficiency and performance. Too much damage to this equipment over time could result in costly emergency repairs. - Misusing Your Thermostat
It’s important to fully understand how your thermostat works, and avoid constantly adjusting it. Turning your air conditioner or furnace on and off adds a lot of wear and tear to your unit. Additionally, consider setting your thermostat back during certain times of the day, especially when you aren’t home. Reducing your temperature by just one degree will reduce your energy bills by 1-2% percent. This is a great way to save energy and money without even feeling the temperature difference. - Closing Your Register and HVAC Ventilation
Your HVAC system is designed to heat or cool a certain space in your home. If you close your vents or registers, you change the amount of space that needs to be heated or cooled, therefore making your system work differently than it’s supposed to. This may lead to your system running longer than it needs to, resulting in damaged components or a shorter system life. - Ignoring Preventative Maintenance
We always say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and we’re sticking to that in 2021. Having an HVAC contractor look at your heating and cooling system twice a year — in the spring and the fall — may prevent serious (and expensive) issues with your HVAC system. Preventative maintenance is also a great way to save money during peak seasons.
Dirty filters block airflow and significantly lower the quality of your indoor air. We strongly recommend changing your air filters every month — creating a new habit that is inexpensive and easy to do.
Have you scheduled your first preventative maintenance appointment for 2020 yet? If not, give us a call at (317) 458-9255, and we can help!
