Your home’s HVAC system is crucial to keep you safe and comfortable during the hot summer months, especially in hotter climates like California and Florida.   What do you do when your energy bill starts creeping up because of the spike in temperature?

Here we discuss ten tips to increase the efficiency of your HVAC system:

1. Clean Your Condenser Unit

Regularly clean your outdoor condenser unit by checking for debris and other obstacles on and around it that can significantly reduce its efficiency. Don’t use a fully enclosed structure or place anything overhead if you choose to hide your unit.

2. Clear and Unblock Vents

Dust bunnies and buildup can prevent cool air from coming out by clogging vents.  Check your vents to see if anything needs clearing and avoid placing furniture and other blockages in front of them to maximize airflow.

3. Install a Whole-House Fan

More powerful than the average ceiling fan, a whole-house fan brings fresh air from outside while purging stale air from inside. Smaller fans can run all day or night using relatively little energy to quietly keep your home more cool.

4. Maximize Attic Ventilation

Attic ventilation is a great way to reduce hot air and prevent it from affecting the temperature in your home. The placement and proper sizing of attic ventilation is key to effective heat reduction in an attic and your overall home.

5. Install Window Coverings

The sun coming in through your windows can dramatically increase your home’s interior temperature. The most effective way to block out the sun’s heat is to install curtains, but if you want more light you can use UV-blocking blinds.

6. Regularly Change Out Air Filters

Energy Star recommends inspecting your air filters every month and changing them at least every three months. This helps to improve your HVAC efficiency and the air quality of your home.

7. Use Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are an extremely energy efficient way to circulate cold air, making the room more comfortable. By using ceiling fans you increase your HVAC efficiency by reducing the demand on your unit.

8. Locate and Seal Leaks

A lack of proper attic insulation and worn-out seals on your windows and doors can let cold air escape, making your HVAC system work harder. While a visual inspection can find more obvious sources of leaks, it’s a good idea to have a professional inspection done to find the less obvious culprits.

9. Avoid Additional Heat Sources

It’s recommended to avoid using the oven as much as possible during the hotter months. It’s also wise to avoid using your dryer on extremely hot days.

10. Schedule Regular Maintenance

There are plenty of steps you can take on your own to increase the efficiency of your HVAC system, but there is no substitute for regular maintenance from a professional HVAC technician. A licensed HVAC technician can make sure everything is running properly and detect issues before they become bigger problems, maximizing the lifespan of your AC unit.

You can check off all of the steps listed above to help lower the cost to run your HVAC unit, but what if your energy bills are still higher than expected?  The average HVAC unit has a life expectancy of 10-15 years, so if your unit is getting older it may be time to replace it. Here are some signs that it may be time to replace your HVAC:

• Higher energy bills
• Runs constantly
• Unusual noises
• Strange odors

Air conditioner repairs can be expensive. If you’ve had to call in an HVAC professional multiple times for an older unit, the cost of replacement would be comparable. Installing a more dependable air conditioner will give you peace of mind that you can keep your home cool, even in the middle of a heatwave!

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is a financing program that helps homeowners obtain funds to make their homes more energy-efficient and safe.  Some benefits of financing your project with PACE include:

• No money down
• No minimum FICO score
• Fixed competitive rates
• Payment terms (up to 20 years)

Don’t sweat when it comes to upgrading your HVAC system! Give our experts a call at 844.736.3934 and get pre-approved today!

Important Disclosures

PACE financing is subject to approval. Underwriting requirements and restrictions apply. PACE financing is secured by a lien on the subject property and often required to be repaid upon refinance or sale. PACE financing is private financing that must be repaid in full. PACE financing is not a government subsidy. Renew Financial Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Renew Financial), is a private company and not a government entity. The installation or construction of property improvements financed with a PACE assessment is provided through an independent third-party home improvement contractor or other third-party provider, and not by Renew Financial or a government entity. Homeowners should perform due diligence before selecting a home improvement contractor or source of financing. Financing provided in California through Department of Financial Innovation and Protection License No. 60DBO-90653.

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. Renew Financial makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information found by following any link on this site. Renew Financial is not a financial or home improvement advisor and information contained in this post should not be viewed as legal or financial advice.