Six Tips that Any Homeowner Can Take Advantage of to Ensure High-Efficiency HVAC in Their Homes

1. Consider installing a new smart thermostat.

Smart thermostats and programmable thermostats do a lot of the same things. You can schedule your heating and cooling so your system doesn’t use as much energy when you’re not at home. You’ll be less likely to forget to turn it off when you leave the house or turn it down when you go to bed.

The main perks of smart thermostats are reporting metrics and the ability to control your home’s heating and cooling when you’re not there.

Smart thermostats can deliver energy reports to your phone, so you have a better idea of which times of day or parts of the year are costing you the most money. The data may even help you identify trends and notice performance issues before they become larger problems.

Smart thermostats can even remind you when it’s time to change your air filter or schedule maintenance.

2. Deal with duct leaks and drafts.

Duct leaks and drafts are two sides of the same leaky coin. Drafts are often attributable to worn out weather stripping on doors and windows while duct leaks frequently form at the corners or seams of rigid ductwork or as a result of punctures in ducts. In both cases, cooled or heated air escapes.

You may not notice drafts right away, but if you have them you’ll eventually walk into them. If there’s a cold spot in your home during winter or you feel the hint of a warm breeze during summer it’s possible a nearby door or window isn’t snug or has compromised weather stripping. In many cases that stripping can be replaced with solutions available at your local hardware store.

Finding and fixing duct leaks is tricker from a DIY perspective. Homeowners run the risk of damaging more of their ductwork while attempting to identify and patch small leaks. If you suspect a lot of your heated or cooled air is escaping into your attic or somewhere it’s not supposed to go you may want to contact Vito Services.

3. Invest in insulation.

It’s not always easy to add insulation in homes with limited or nonexistent wall cavities or minimal attic space, but there are a number of different DIY-friendly insulation options for some homes.

In some hard-to-reach places an insulation installer may be able to get around space issues using injectable spray foam insulation.

Homeowners can also buy their own blanket insulation (batt and roll) to put in their attic. Adding your own insulation is more affordable than calling a professional, but make sure to do some research on how to install it properly for optimal performance.

4. Change HVAC air filters frequently.  

From an HVAC performance standpoint your system will run smoother longer if it’s not struggling to pull air through dusty, clogged filters.

Different filters come with different recommendations for frequency of replacement. Higher quality filters may only require replacement every three months, while lower quality filters may need to be replaced every month when running your system regularly.

Your family’s health and indoor air quality may also play a role in how frequently you change your filters. If people in your home have asthma or other breathing problems, more frequent replacement is likely a good idea.

5. Scheduling routine maintenance.

When your car needs an oil change or maintenance a helpful little light often clicks on to let you know. HVAC systems don’t have a similar warning sign, so it can be easy to forget to schedule seasonal maintenance checkups. Most HVAC experts will recommend scheduling maintenance twice a year, once before heating season and once before cooling season.

The frequency of maintenance is up to you as the owner, but it’s worth noting that maintenance can help your system maintain optimal efficiency and will prevent frequent breakdowns. A well-maintained air conditioner or furnace will also likely last longer.

Members of the Vito VIP Club get maintenance service (and reminders) with their membership.

6. Should you turn off your system or leave it on when you’re not home?

Many people make a knee-jerk assumption that turning their system off when they go to work will save money and is therefore the right option. This really depends on the outside temperature, your home’s insulation and the efficiency of your system.

The temperature in your home may drop enough (in winter) or rise enough (in summer) that it will take even more energy to reheat/cool your home. It may be more efficient to adjust your thermostat a few degrees while you’re at work so the system doesn’t have to run as long or hard when it’s set back to your desired temperature.

Get Worry-Free HVAC Service in Washington D.C.

Residents of the DMV looking for a reliable, honest company to handle their HVAC maintenance or AC and heating repair should consider contacting our experts at Vito Services. Your family’s comfort is our business (and our reputation), which is why we are committed to offering fast service with energy-efficient, long-lasting results.

Give us a call at 800-438-8486 if you have questions about your heating or cooling system or you’d like to schedule a replacement estimate.