Are you worried about high heating bills this winter? As soon as the cold lets up and spring arrives, you get a short break until it is time to pay for costly air conditioning expenses. It almost seems like you never get a break. If you find that your heating and cooling bills are getting out of control, there might be some things that you can do to improve your HVAC efficiency and decrease your monthly utility costs.
Schedule a full HVAC evaluation
Before you attempt to make any HVAC repairs or upgrades that might not change your monthly heating and cooling bills, it is a good idea to schedule a full HVAC evaluation. This evaluation is completed by professional AC companies. They will give you an analyzed report of your current heating and cooling systems. This report will give you current efficiency ratings and will recommend any needed heating or air conditioning repairs. A full HVAC evaluation is especially useful if your HVAC system is more than 10 years old as new air conditioners today use about 50% less energy than they did in 1990. Even needing minor air conditioning repairs can significantly affect your monthly utility costs.
Make air conditioning repairs in the off season
If you are concerned about high air conditioning repair costs, consider having your AC repairs completed in the off season. Many AC repair services see a decline in service calls during the winter months because not as many customers are using their air conditioners. This means that due to low demand, you can usually get a good discount. You might even get the air conditioning company to also take a look at your heating unit. In many cases, the heating and cooling units are combined.
Don?t ignore inefficiencies
Many consumers are worried about the cost of heating and air conditioning repairs. They notice weird noises or a reduced efficiency of their HVAC unit and they ignore it. Not only is it possible that the problem could get worse, but you are also throwing away money each month on your high utility bills. When you make necessary air conditioning repairs, you can keep your hard earned money in your pocket. Even efficiency HVAC systems should be inspected twice per year, once at the beginning of winter and again, at the beginning of the summer season.
Replace air filters and clean out air ducts
HVAC inefficiencies can be caused by dirty air filters or blocked air ducts. Fortunately, both of these repairs are easy and you can complete them on your own. According to Energystar.gov, most HVAC system filters need to be changed every one to three months. However, if you live in a house with a smoker or pets, it might need to be changed more frequently. Purchase a bulk box of air filters from your local retailer and make sure you schedule a professional air duct cleaning two times per year.
Monitor your monthly utility bills
Many homeowners do not even realize that they are paying too much for their heating and cooling bills. Instead of simply paying your bill each month, track your costs. Compare each month to the prior year of that same month. If possible, include additional information like the temperature on that date. This will help you to better understand what you are paying monthly. It can also help you track any repairs or upgrades you make and their effect.
Winter weather has already begun and many states are experiencing cold weather. It is only going to get worse, with some states seeing negative temperatures. Upgrades and repairs can help you improve your HVAC efficiency and reduce these costs. Following these steps will help you understand your current HVAC system and make the necessary changes to save you money in the long run.