Your New HVAC System Will Need Some Help to Maximize Energy Savings

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You’ve just watched as your favored Cincinnati HVAC contractor installed a fancy new central heating and cooling system in your home. Or perhaps you’re thinking of upgrading your home’s HVAC system. You’re thinking to yourself – there will be nothing more to worry about when it comes to making your home comfortable and energy efficient. Yet, don’t get yourself too comfortable. There’s a lot more to accomplishing those goals than the equipment that’s at the heart of your home’s HVAC system.

Creating a home environment that saves energy while properly heating and cooling requires a whole-house approach. Your well-maintained heating and cooling equipment can’t work optimally without effective air sealing, insulation and ventilation in the house, and responsible energy use by home residents.

Ingredients of a Whole-House Energy Strategy

Energy-efficient equipment. If the equipment that comprises your home’s heating and cooling system is of relatively recent vintage, it’s likely much more energy efficient than equipment manufactured 20 years (or even 10 years) ago. Over the years, the federal government has raised minimum efficiency standards for furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps. Meanwhile, HVAC technology has made significant advances, allowing equipment to consume much less energy than in the past to create the same amount of heat or air conditioning. When looking to upgrade your home’s heating and/or cooling system, consult with a reputable Cincinnati HVAC company on the ideal equipment for your home and budget.

Maintenance. It’s important to commit to regular professional and homeowner maintenance once your new HVAC system is installed in your home. Just like any other mechanical product, even the best furnaces, ACs and heat pumps will see a gradual reduction in energy efficiency, performance and durability if they don’t receive regular maintenance. Schedule professional maintenance twice a year, once in the fall before cold weather begins, and another time in the spring before the temperatures start rising. Join a maintenance club with your favored cooling and heating services contractor in Cincinnati, for discounts, maintenance reminders and priority service. Homeowner maintenance is important as well, with the main task being regular air filter checks and when needed, replacement.

Responsible energy use. How you and other occupants of your home consume energy also is an important component of accomplishing whole-house energy savings. There’s nothing wrong with being as comfortable as possible in the home. Yet, that doesn’t mean you need to run the AC at 68 degrees when it’s 95 degrees outside, or keep the heat running full blast when everybody is at school or work. Invest in a quality programmable thermostat to minimize energy waste in the home. Experiment with household temperatures a few degrees lower than you’re accustomed to in the winter and higher in the summer. During the warm months, use ceiling fans to make rooms feel cooler to occupants, allowing you to turn up the thermostat a few degrees.

Weatherization. This category involves the physical improvements and repairs that save energy while making it easier for your HVAC system to heat and cool your home. We can break this up into three sub-categories.

Components of Effective Weatherization

Air sealing. If your home has a lot of places where air escapes to (or enters from) the outside, your furnace, AC or heat pump will have to work harder and longer to achieve the temperature you set on the thermostat. This means higher utility bills, a less comfortable house, and equipment that may be more prone to breaking down due to overwork. You (or a trained professional) should locate where air is leaking, and seal those leaks with the appropriate sealant – either caulk, spray foam or weather-stripping. Common places where air is likely to leak? Where building materials meet (such as foundation and drywall), where utility or exhaust pipes, wiring and conduits penetrate the outer walls of the house, and where doors and windows are located.

Insulation. The right type, amount and location of insulation is imperative for optimal energy efficiency in a home. Insulation slows the transfer of heat energy (and to a lesser extent, air) between the inside and outside of a building. It’s especially important to have sufficient insulation in the attic, where there’s high potential for heat to move between outside and inside (and vice versa), and between the attic and the lower floors where people live.

Ventilation. This is more of an air quality concern, though some types of mechanical ventilation (HRV and ERVs) can help save energy in a home.

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