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6 Ways to Save Money on Heating & Cooling

Today’s topic is “habits that waste money.” Like leaving the faucet on while brushing your teeth, sitting in an idling car, leaving food to spoil, and cranking up the heat while leaving a window open. No doubt you can think of some wasteful habits of your own, especially the kind you rarely if ever pause to consider. And while none may seem like a big deal on their own, these incremental money wasters can add up over time.

So, in the spirit of calling out things that waste money, here are 6 signs that your HVAC system isn’t running as efficiently as it should, thereby resulting in higher than necessary operating costs.

Temperatures fluctuate from room to room. If your HVAC system is not properly designed and sized for your home, you may experience hot and cold spots. To compensate, you might add a space heater or spike the thermostat to make one room or area of the house warmer, while running a fan or opening a window in another.

AC is not removing humidity. An AC’s job is to remove excess humidity from the air, thereby making you feel cooler and more comfortable during hot summer months. If yours is no longer cutting it, you may find yourself lowering the thermostat even more to find cooling relief, forcing the system to work harder and consume even more energy.

 The system runs constantly. If your HVAC system is struggling to keep up with your desired home comfort needs, chances are it’s undersized. Perhaps it simply can’t keep up with the climate, or maybe you added on to your home but did not upgrade the HVAC to match its new footprint. Whatever the reason, a system that runs constantly wastes energy and money.

Your whole house is on one thermostat. If you’re still heating or cooling your entire home regardless of how often or where it’s occupied at any given time, you might as well throw your hard earned dollars out the window. Home comfort is not a one-size-fits all operation, so why would you heat or cool your occupied downstairs at the same temp as your unoccupied second floor during the day, just as one example?

You see an increase in utility bills. This one seems obvious, but if you notice a gradual or dramatic spike in heating and cooling costs that can’t otherwise be explained, it could be due to aging or poorly maintained equipment.

More frequent repairs. Another no-brainer – if you’re making more frequent repair calls to your HVAC service provider, it may be a sign that your furnace or AC system is wearing down. Once this happens, it might be time to consider replacement, especially when a system is at least ten years old.

Just like any other appliance, you want your HVAC systems to work as well and for as long as possible. Well, the best way to accomplish that is with annual preventive maintenance performed by our top notch HVAC technicians. Bottom line, with regular maintenance your systems will run better, last longer, cost less to operate, and provide even distribution of warm and cool air.  Contact Messmer Mechanical today to schedule service.