Harsh weather can make your energy bills to spike, especially if your HVAC system is pushed to its limits. The good news? Homeowners in Waunakee, Wisconsin, can cut heating and cooling costs and reduce strain on their HVAC system by following practical energy-saving HVAC practices. From scheduling a seasonal HVAC tune-up to DIY HVAC maintenance, these minor adjustments can help you stay comfortable and save money.

Here, the professionals at Home Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning LLC will offer their best heating and cooling tips for HVAC energy efficiency to help you cut your monthly utility costs without sacrificing comfort.

1. Get for Seasonal HVAC Maintenance

Of all the energy-saving HVAC tips for homeowners, one that often offers the most benefit is regular HVAC maintenance. Scheduling expert furnace maintenance in the fall and air conditioning maintenance in the spring helps make sure these systems are in optimal working order and ready for the winter and summer seasons. It's also a good time to identify and address any signs of inefficiency, worn-out parts or brewing issues—saving you from costly service calls and potentially maximizing the service life of your heating and cooling system. 

2. Use Specific Programmable Thermostat Settings for Winter and Summer

Programmable thermostats offer several ways to save energy. In summer, set your thermostat to automatically increase the temperature when you're away. In winter, set the temperature to decrease a few degrees when the home is empty and shift the temperature back up when you get back. Even a few degrees can cut down significantly on energy use.

Take your savings a step further with a smart thermostat. One of the many smart thermostat benefits is their ability to adapt to your schedule and automatically manage your home's temperature accordingly. This means smart thermostats can increase your energy efficiency—and you don't have to manually change the temperature.

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 evaluate whether you need duct sealing and insulation services. Fixing leaky ductwork, adding insulation and eliminating air gaps all help prevent energy waste by allowing your HVAC system to work less in order to keep your home warm or cool.

4. Perform Simple DIY HVAC Maintenance

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

  • Clear debris like sticks, dried leaves and shrubs from around your outdoor AC unit in spring
  • Wipe down the fins of the outdoor air conditioning equipment in spring
  • Follow a seasonal HVAC air filter replacement schedule: Inspect your system's filter monthly, changing it if it’s clogged or every 90 days
  • Ensure air vents and registers are open and unblocked
  • Review your temperature schedule, ensuring it's on cool mode in summer and heating mode in winter

5. Replace Aging, Inefficient Units with Energy-Efficient HVAC Systems

Improve energy efficiency by upgrading old, inefficient heating and cooling systems to advanced high-efficiency HVAC systems. Consider opting for ENERGY STAR®-rated HVAC equipment, which operates more efficiently than non-rated units. When selecting cooling equipment, check for a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating. Unsure what SEER means? The simplest SEER rating explanation: the higher the SEER, the more efficient the system. This also is true with AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, which measures efficiency in heating equipment. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient the system. These calculations are important because energy-efficient HVAC systems can really help reduce energy bills and improve year-round performance.

Work with Home Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning LLC to Prevent HVAC Energy Waste in Your Home

When it comes to comfort and energy efficiency Home Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning LLC is the HVAC company Waunakee, Wisconsin, locals trust for their furnace, AC, heat pump and more. From seasonal HVAC tips like these to heating and cooling installation, we provide full-service service all year. Call 608-850-9498 today for Waunakee, Wisconsin, HVAC service you can trust.