Perhaps no other system offers more ways to save energy in your home than your HVAC system. That’s great news considering that home cooling and heating accounts for up to half of your home’s energy consumption. Use these tips to leverage the whole HVAC system for maximum energy savings with no loss in comfort.

Coil Cleaning

Your heat pump or central air system use refrigerant circulating inside coils to extract or release heat from or into your home. When the coils become dirty, which is sure to happen, HVAC efficiency drops and your energy bills go up.

To clean the coils, use a can of foaming self-rinsing coil cleaner. Remove the panel protecting the coil at the indoor air handler. Spray a liberal amount of foaming cleaner on all parts of the coil and fins. The dirt and grime will drip away with the foam into the condensate pan.

At the outdoor unit, spray the side grille with the foaming cleaner. You may want to use a garden hose to rinse the foam and apply it a second time.

Vents and Grilles

Use a cleaning cloth or vacuum brush extension to clean dust and debris from the indoor vents and grilles. Make sure that all vents are open and that there are no obstructions, such as furniture, blocking free airflow.

Seal Ducts

Leaky ducts make your HVAC system work longer, which uses more energy that can drain your pocketbook, too. If your ducts are accessible, check them for tight connections, holes, and tangled flex ducts. Leaks are best sealed with an aerosol sealant and metal tape.

Best Thermostat Temperatures

Programmable thermostats are practical devices that can make life easier, more comfortable, and save energy. Consider the following temperature programming tips from Energy Star:

• At home: 78 degrees for cooling months and 68 degrees for heating months.
• At work: Turn-up/back the temperature eight to 12 degrees.
• Sleep hours: Turn-up/back the temperature four to eight degrees.

To learn more about utilizing all the parts of your HVAC system to maximize energy savings in your home, contact us at Powers Heating & Air today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.

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