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The average homeowner spends about $1,350 on heating and cooling expenses every year. That’s only half of a typical home’s total energy expenses, so it’s a hefty bill. If your HVAC system is an energy hog, that makes things worse. An energy-efficient HVAC system works the other way, as it helps lower energy costs. Let’s look at how maintenance keeps your HVAC system energy efficient.
HVAC System Energy Wasters
Fans, coils, filters, and compressors work together so your HVAC system can do its job. When things are going well, the system uses just enough energy to do the job. What happens when parts get dirty, break, or start to wear out? The system works harder and uses more energy to do its job. Regular maintenance helps stop these common energy wasters in their tracks.
1. Dirty Air Filters
Filters catch dust, pollen, and all sorts of irritants that can get into your air. If a filter is filthy, then it doesn’t work like it should. Your HVAC system struggles to push air through. The result is a system that runs longer and uses more energy. Replacing a dirty filter is like giving your system access to fresh air. When air flows freely, the system doesn’t burn extra energy.
2. Dirty Coils
Your HVAC system has an evaporator coil and a condenser coil. The evaporator coil pulls heat from the air inside your home, while the condenser coil pushes that heat outside. If either coil is dirty, it affects the efficiency of the HVAC system. The system runs longer and burns more energy to complete the process. Keeping those coils clean makes the system faster and more energy-efficient.
3. Duct Problems
Ducts move cool or warm air from your HVAC system into each room of your home. The problem is that ducts can leak. The air goes into the attic, crawl space, walls, and other places where you don’t need it. With all this going on, very little air makes it into your rooms. The air loss means it takes longer for your rooms to reach the desired temperatures. Your HVAC system uses more energy, working longer and harder to make up for the loss. Maintenance keeps your ducts in good shape, and that makes leaks less likely.
4. Faulty Moving Parts
Fans, motors, and compressors need lubrication and adjustment. Rust, wear and tear, and other issues can cause these parts to slow down. The effort to keep moving goes hand in hand with higher energy use. If you want these parts to stay in good shape, then regular maintenance is the answer.
Energy Difference of an Efficient System
Maybe you’re still not convinced that maintenance is all that important. Here’s something to change your mind.
Imagine that your system uses 1,200 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each month. What happens if you let the filters and coils get dirty? The ducts are also leaking all over the place. Instead of using 1,200 kWh per month, that could skyrocket up to 1,400 kWh or more. The average cost of a kWh in the United States is between $0.17 and $0.19.
On the higher end, that 1,200 kWh per month costs you $228. If your use goes up to 1,400 kWh per month, you’ll pay $266. So you’ll go from $2,736 per year to $3,192 per year. That’s a whopping $456 more all because your HVAC system isn’t energy efficient.
Consider the Environment
An energy-hungry HVAC system does more than affect your power bill. The extra energy use means that power plants have to burn more fossil fuels. That’s more pollution and greenhouse gases going into the air. Reducing your energy use is great for the environment. This is just one more reason why HVAC maintenance is a good idea.
Contact the HVAC Professionals
Your HVAC system is possibly costing you more than you realize. At Bryant’s Heating & Cooling, we excel at HVAC maintenance. We can keep your system in top-notch shape. Our team can also clean your ducts and check them for leaks. Fort Payne, AL residents know they can reach out to us for all their HVAC needs. Feel free to contact Bryant’s Heating & Cooling for more information on HVAC maintenance and our comfort club.
