Everyone benefits from HVAC technology. Without it, we would deal with hot or cold environments that would make it uncomfortable or impossible to live the way we do. However, very few people understand how an HVAC system works or how it is maintained and repaired.
If you don’t already know about HVAC technician topics, you might be interested to know that keeping your HVAC system up to date and in good repair can increase the energy efficiency of your home, whether you use partial air conditioning, a central air conditioner with gas heat, or any other HVAC system.
HVAC systems that are broken or in poor repair can drive up energy costs through inefficiency, which is both expensive and bad for the environment. Repair your HVAC system early and keep it properly maintained to save money on energy costs year-round.
Past generations of HVAC technology were not nearly as energy-efficient as the modern models. If you have an old HVAC system, you might consider replacing it with a new heating and cooling unit. Some governments offer environmental rebates to encourage people to upgrade, which makes it an affordable and responsible choice.
The control is a building’s interior air and its humidity, air flow, and temperature together is known as climate control, and for any commercial building or private home, climate control is something to be desired, especially in winter or summer or in an area where temperatures change often. Any HVAC service can regulate the air’s temperature and flow, but sometimes, home efficiency can be hampered by a damaged or worn out HVAC system, and high utility bills are sure to follow. But properly insulating an attic, updating heating and air conditioning services, and any other needed HVAC service can keep a building comfortable and control the energy bills.
Why A Home May Need HVAC Service
An up to date HVAC system with no damage can easily regulate climate control for the building’s occupants’ comfort, but the bad news is that sometimes, things will go wrong with it, and even without damage to the system, other factors can harm a house’s energy efficiency. For one thing, leaving blinds and window curtains open all day in summer allow sunlight to heat the house, which forces the HVAC system to keep turning back on and cooling the building, which only racks up the energy bill. Similarly, worn out or low quality spray foam insulation allows too much heat or cold to escape during months of extreme temperature, which again forces an HVAC system to work overtime to compensate.
In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy has estimated that anywhere from 25% to 40% of the energy used for heating or cooling a home ends up wasted. Sometimes, this is due to contaminants building up the system, which forces it to work harder. What are these contaminants? Near air vents, loose dust, pollen, pet hair, lint, and much more can coat the vent’s metal and restrict air flow, and the blower fans inside the HVAC systems may become coated with similar materials, weakening their power and efficiency. Air filters gradually get clogged with contaminants (as part of their job), and if not replaced, they choke the system. Finally, squirrels may enter the house and build nests in air vents, further restricting air flow. Whether to fix contamination or a worn out system, an HVAC service can get a building’s system working again and fix all these problems.
Fixes for HVAC
HVAC service can involve repairing a damaged system, cleaning it out, or even replacing the entire system with a new one, not to mention fixing damaged insulation or putting in new insulation. While a homeowner can clean out the air vents on the walls, an HVAC service can do more, such as cleaning off the blower fans, removing squirrel nests, and fixing damaged air ducts. And if the system is particularly old, it may not meet modern energy efficiency standard even if it isn’t damaged, so an HVAC service will replace the entire system with a new one. This new HVAC system may also have computers and other programmable, automatic controls for when heating and air conditioning turn on. This all helps save energy by shutting off the system when it isn’t needed.
Further, the EPA’s Energy Star Program determined that adding proper insulation and fixing air leaks can save on energy, possibly lowering monthly energy bills by up to 20%. Sometimes, calling a separate company may be needed to repair a home or building’s wall or attic insulation, and the results are bound to show up on monthly energy bills. For all these fixes, searching for “HVAC companies near me” online can help any homeowner find an HVAC service to get their systems in top shape.