How to Use Your HVAC System More Efficiently in Weston, FL

Of all the energy used by U.S. homes, an average of 55% goes toward heating and cooling, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That’s why homeowners in warm areas are often on the hunt for creative and effective methods to run the AC more efficiently. Instead of buying a new system at the first sign of a utility bill increase, follow these tips to use your HVAC more efficiently in Weston.

Insulate Your Home

When you run the air conditioner, you assume that the air will remain in your home. However, this cool, comfortable air may find a way outside if there are cracks or weak spots in your house.

Like our parents used to say, you don’t want to pay to air condition the whole outdoors. That’s why you need to ensure your home is adequately insulated. Ways to improve insulation in your home include:

• Increasing insulation in the walls
• Adding or replacing attic and roof insulation
• Using thick curtains, especially on large windows
• Adding weather-stripping to windows and doors
• Keeping the windows and doors closed

Proper insulation will keep the air in your home. Furthermore, your system won’t need to work as hard to maintain your preferred temperature.

Turn Down the Temperature

Many families argue over the perfect temperature to set the thermostat. It’s a debate of comfort over savings.

The lower the temperature is set, the harder it will have to work in the summer to get the home to that temperature. You need to find a temperature that everyone can agree on, and even a little compromise can make a huge difference. Raising the temperature just one or two degrees will provide modest yet noticeable savings on your bill.

Generally speaking, the best temperature for high use in the summer rests somewhere between 70 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. To save money on utility bills, Direct Energy recommends setting your thermostat toward the high end of that range at 78 degrees. If you go away for a summer vacation, it’s a safe bet to set the temperature at 85 and 88 degrees as long as you don’t have any pets left at home.

Turn the AC Off

Sometimes, the simplest answer is the best answer. If you want to keep your HVAC system running like new, don’t put it to so much use. Turn it off when it isn’t necessary.

On nice days, open the window instead of running the AC. With that being said, it is not helpful to turn your system off for short periods of time just to turn it back on again, and it’s likely you won’t be able to comfortably open windows in Florida again until well into October or November. Turning the system on and off multiple times a day only makes it work harder instead of saving electricity while it’s off.

HVAC Maintenance

All HVAC systems require maintenance. In many cases, a homeowner can handle simple HVAC maintenance tasks.

Every HAVC system has a filter that collects dust and other unwanted particles in the air. When debris clogs the filter, the unit cannot circulate air properly.

Clean or change the filter when the indicator light comes on. If your system doesn’t have a clear light to let you know when the filter needs to be changed, change it once every three months just to be safe. You may change it more often if you have pets.

You can’t handle all of the maintenance by yourself (not without proper certification anyway). Therefore, don’t hesitate to call for annual maintenance once a year before it starts to get warm.

An HVAC tech will thoroughly clean and optimize they system. Professional maintenance will keep your system efficient and significantly increase its life expectancy.

At Hi-Vac Air, we can provide all the HVAC services you need. Our certified and licensed HVAC technicians provide professional and timely service with a smile. We’ll get the job done right the first time, and that’s why we’re South Florida’s No, 1 choice for air conditioning repair, installation, and maintenance.

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