Energy Savings: Reduce Costs While Helping the Environment

One of the easiest ways to recover from financial stress is to look for places where you can cut back without impacting your lifestyle or comfort. You may be able to tap into energy savings by using your HVAC system more efficiently. Besides saving money, these tips might even help you prevent costly repairs in the future.

The Basics

Remember to check the air filter monthly when your system is running routinely. Change the filter when it’s covered with dust. One way to tell if it needs replacement is to look through it. If you can’t see through it, it’s time to change it. A clean filter is the best defense against high cooling bills and unnecessary breakdowns.

The outdoor condenser for the air conditioner needs to be kept clean and free from any obstructions within two feet of all its sides. Before you turn it on for the summer, remove the dead vegetation around it. If the coils look dirty, wash them gently with the hose. Some condensers have fragile fins around them that may need cleaning as well. Don’t use a strong water spray on them. Straightening them requires a special fin comb available at home improvement centers or online. An HVAC technician can straighten the fins as well.

Professional Maintenance

Even though there is a charge associated with a professional tune-up, it will pay for itself in energy savings this summer. When the HVAC pro goes through your entire system, he or she will clean and adjust all the parts, including the electrical components.

Over time, bits of corrosion form on these parts and slow the electrical flow down. Your A/C efficiency falls and energy costs increase. During the service call, the technician will remove the corrosion and apply a nonconductive lubricant to speed the electrical flow.

The tune-up might also reveal ductwork leaks or low refrigerant levels. If not corrected, these situations will drain any energy savings you want. If you’d like more information, contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning, providing HVAC services for Lorain-area homeowners.