Severe weather can make your energy bills to get really expensive, especially if your HVAC system is running constantly. The good news? Homeowners in Crown Point, Indiana, can cut heating and cooling costs and reduce strain on their HVAC system by following effective energy-saving HVAC practices. From scheduling a routine HVAC tune-up to DIY HVAC chores, these small things can help you stay comfortable and save money.

Here, the pros at Struven Heating & Cooling will provide their best heating and cooling tips for HVAC energy efficiency to help you save on utilities without giving up comfort.

1. Contact a Professional for Seasonal HVAC Maintenance

Of all the energy-saving HVAC tips for homeowners, one that often offers the most benefit is routine HVAC maintenance. Scheduling pro furnace maintenance in the fall and air conditioning maintenance in the spring is a great way to make sure these systems are in top shape and ready for the winter and summer seasons. It's also a smart time to detect and resolve any signs of inefficiency, worn-out parts or brewing problems—saving you from unnecessary breakdowns and potentially lengthening your heating and cooling equipment's lifespan. 

2. Change Programmable Thermostat Settings for the Seasons

Programmable thermostats offer several ways to conserve power. In summer, set your thermostat to automatically increase the temperature when you're out of the home. In winter, set the temperature to lower a bit when no one is home and rise again when you get back. Even a few degrees can save a lot of energy.

Take your savings a step further with a smart thermostat. One of the many smart thermostat benefits is their ability to track your daily patterns and automatically adjust your heating and cooling settings. This means smart thermostats can increase your energy efficiency—with minimal effort on your part.

3. Prevent Energy Waste By Stopping Air Leaks in Your Home

Air leaks around windows, doors and in home ductwork enable heated or cooled air to leak out. Work with a qualified professional to find out if you need duct sealing and insulation services. Fixing leaky ductwork, adding insulation and stopping airflow leaks all help reduce energy bills by allowing your HVAC system to work less in order to keep your home warm or cool.

4. Perform Basic DIY HVAC Maintenance

In addition to hiring a professional for seasonal HVAC maintenance, you can reduce energy bills by handling these home HVAC maintenance tips:

  • Sweep away debris like sticks, leaves and plants from around your outdoor air conditioning equipment in spring
  • Clean the coils of the outdoor air conditioning equipment in spring
  • Follow a seasonal HVAC air filter replacement schedule: Look at your system's filter monthly, swapping for a clean one if it's dirty or every 90 days
  • Ensure air vents and registers are uncovered
  • Make sure your thermostat is set correctly, ensuring it's on cool mode in summer and heating mode in winter

5. Replace Old, Inefficient Equipment with Energy-Efficient HVAC Systems

Improve energy efficiency by upgrading old, inefficient heating and cooling systems to new high-efficiency HVAC systems. Look for ENERGY STAR®-rated HVAC equipment, which uses less energy than non-rated units. When looking for cooling equipment, check for a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating. Not sure what SEER means? The basic SEER rating explanation: the higher the SEER, the more efficient the system. The same is true with AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, which rates efficiency in heating equipment. The higher the AFUE, the more more energy efficient the equipment. These ratings are important because energy-efficient HVAC systems can really help reduce energy bills and improve year-round performance.

Work with Struven Heating & Cooling to Prevent HVAC Energy Waste in Your Home

When it comes to staying comfortable and saving money on your heating and cooling Struven Heating & Cooling is the HVAC company Crown Point, Indiana, locals rely on for their furnace, AC, heat pump and more. From seasonal HVAC tips like these to selecting and setting up new HVAC equipment, we provide full-service service all year. Call 219-292-0956 today for Crown Point, Indiana, HVAC service you can depend on.