Energy-Efficient HVAC Upgrades
What’s worse than finding a sky-high energy bill in the mail during the dog days of summer? If your energy bills have hit the roof and are threatening to break through the ceiling, it’s time to consider adding some energy-efficient HVAC upgrades to your home. With these upgrades, you’ll enjoy reduced energy bills, improved comfort, and plenty of other appealing perks.
Programmable Thermostats
Installing a programmable thermostat is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to fine-tune your energy consumption. Unlike the basic thermostats of yesteryear, these high-tech gadgets allow you to control precisely when the HVAC system kicks on and for how long.
For example, running your AC or heater when you’re not at home is a big waste of money. With a programmable thermostat, you can trigger the system to run only when you’re at home.
High-Efficiency HVAC Systems
If your HVAC system is 15 to 20 years old, it’s long past due for a replacement. Haven’t shopped for a new system lately? You’re in for a pleasant surprise. Today’s systems are environmentally friendly and don’t cost as much to run as older models.
When shopping for a replacement, choose a unit with a good Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). To be considered high-efficiency, an AC needs a SEER rating of at least 16. The most efficient models have ratings of 26 or higher.
Pay attention to ENERGY STAR ratings, too. Units with a 50 rating are average, while the best are rated 75 and up.
Ductwork Optimization
Are your home’s air ducts in good shape? If not, a lot of the cool and warm air that blows through them is going to waste.
HVAC experts, like our team at Welkie’s Hometown Heating and Air, can inspect your ducts for energy-sapping leaks. We can also make sure that your ducts are correctly configured to match your home’s layout and other energy-efficient HVAC upgrades.
Variable-Speed Blowers
Traditional blowers have two modes: on and off. Variable-speed blowers, on the other hand, adjust the output of warm and cool air on the fly as needed. For instance, if the system detects a sudden temperature increase, the blower might spin faster to provide speedy cooling.
Variable-speed blowers are all the rage because they help distribute even temperatures throughout homes. On top of that, they reduce how hard your system has to work, extending its lifespan in turn.
HVAC Zoning
If you have a fairly large home, chances are that you spend most of your time in certain rooms and not others. It doesn’t make sense, then, to heat or cool the rooms you’re not using.
That’s where HVAC zoning comes in. By creating zones throughout your home, you can cool or heat only the rooms you’re in, which significantly slashes your energy bills.
Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency Today
Need help choosing the best energy-efficient HVAC upgrades for your home? Our pros at Welkie’s Hometown Heating and Air have you covered. We’re your one-stop shop for HVAC installations, maintenance, and repairs.
To learn more about our most popular energy-saving heating and cooling upgrades, call (910) 931-0094.
