Depending on where you live, the temperature outside your home can vary significantly throughout the year. As it does, your heating and air conditioning system has to work hard to maintain the desired temperature in your home. Sometimes, your HVAC system may struggle to keep up with your demands. Whether your furnace filter is clogged or cool air is escaping through an undetected window leak, many things can go wrong.
It doesn’t usually take long for problems with your HVAC system to impact you directly. You may notice that your house never stays at the desired temperature, no matter how much you fiddle with the thermostat. This can be frustrating, especially when you notice your energy bill steadily rising despite your HVAC system consistently underperforming. If you’re tired of sweating or freezing in your own home, try these tips to keep your house comfortable all year round.
1. Save Energy With a Heat Pump
You most likely know what a standard furnace is, but you may not be as familiar with a heat pump. Unlike a furnace, a heat pump scavenges available warmth instead of generating it. Though heat pumps do use a small amount of electricity, they’re more efficient than standard furnaces. A heat pump pulls naturally warmed air from outside and pumps it inside the home through an exchanger. A furnace, on the other hand, uses some type of fuel like natural gas, propane, or electricity to heat the air inside the home.
Heat pumps are more energy-efficient in warmer climates, which is why they’re more popular in the southern states. If you live in such a climate, installing this type of system could save you energy while keeping your home nice and comfy throughout the winter. However, if you live in a colder climate, you may want to stick with a traditional furnace. Heat pumps have to work much harder in cold climates to scavenge enough outdoor heat to keep your home warm.
2. Schedule Regular Maintenance Services
Just as you take your car in for regular maintenance services like an oil change to keep it running smoothly, you should also keep your HVAC system well-maintained. Doing so can help ensure the system continues to work well and keep you comfortable all year long. Regular maintenance is also essential for identifying problems so you can repair them before they become disruptive.
Wise homeowners schedule HVAC maintenance services twice per year: in the fall and in the spring. These tend to be mild-weather seasons and are perfect for readying your heating and cooling system for severe weather.
What if you’re an adept do-it-yourselfer and enjoy maintaining your own heating and air conditioning system? That’s wonderful and can save you money, but you should still pencil your own maintenance sessions into your calendar. Otherwise, it’s easy to lose track of when you last changed the filter, checked refrigerant levels, and cleaned the coils.
3. Keep Vents Clean and Unblocked
Often, the cause of an inefficient heating or air conditioning system can be traced to something simple. For example, your toddler might stuff toys into a vent or you may accidentally block an air receiver with a toy box. In either of these scenarios, the problem is a pretty simple one, but the implications can be severe. If your vents are dirty or blocked, your system will have to work more diligently to try to push air through your home. This can impact the lifespan of your system and can lead to your home always feeling too hot or too cold.
To prevent this from happening, never place heavy items on or in front of your vents. At least once per year, use a vacuum cleaner with a long, thin attachment to vacuum out your ductwork. You won’t be able to reach all the way into your ducts without special equipment, but that’s not typically something to worry about. If you’re concerned about deep internal blockages, hire a professional to thoroughly clean your vents.
5. Check for Leaks Around Windows and Doors
Does it seem like your air conditioner or furnace is always working hard but still failing to maintain a desirable temperature in your home? If so, check the temperature of the air coming out of your vents. If it’s not warm or cold like it should be, you may have a mechanical issue that needs addressing. But if your system seems to be working as it should, the problem may boil down to air leaks in your home.
Leaks around windows and doors can let the temperature-controlled air inside your home out while letting outside air in. As you can imagine, this can put tremendous pressure on your HVAC system. To maintain a desirable indoor temperature year-round, check for leaks at least twice annually. Re-apply weather stripping and caulk as needed to seal up any cracks you find.
You pay good money to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It can be frustrating when your system doesn’t meet your expectations or maintain a cozy temperature in your home. Try these heating and air conditioning tips to address issues and keep your house comfortable all year long.