Maintaining a comfortable temperature inside your Dallas, GA, home throughout the year is possible if you have a reliable and powerful HVAC system. However, if you live in an older home, you may struggle to balance comfort and efficiency. Older homes are often drafty and not set up for comfort as well as new construction homes. This can leave your heating and cooling system struggling to reach an ideal temperature without chomping through your utility budget.
With this in mind, know that it’s still possible to make your system more efficient. With a few simple tips that you as a homeowner can take on and some help from our professional technicians, you can keep your home comfortable without soaring energy costs.
What Can I Do Myself?
There are a number of things you can do on your own without professional help to increase the efficiency of your HVAC system. Many of these tasks are simple and require no additional equipment or materials. These ideas are often just a starting point to make small changes before you can get an appointment with the professionals.
Close All Doors and Windows
Keep all windows closed tightly when the HVAC system is in operation. This helps keep a barrier between the outside temperature and the temperature indoors. Limit opening the doors as much as possible. Seal windows that are overly drafty, especially during winter.
Use Your Ceiling Fans
In the winter, switch your ceiling fan to rotate in a clockwise direction. This creates an updraft that helps circulate warm air without creating a cold breeze down below. Flip the switch to a counterclockwise direction in the summer which gives you the cool breeze from a downdraft.
Change Your Filters
Your HVAC system has air filters that trap dust and contaminants. These filters should be changed every one to three months. Clogged filters can add stress to the system, leading to less efficient output. Dirty filters also lower the quality of indoor air and allow dust and allergens to circulate freely.
Time for the Professionals
Beyond these small ideas listed above, there are several options you have to boost efficiency and keep your home comfortable that require professional help. These tips are essential for older homes and may work alone or in conjunction with other professional services. Take a look at the professional services that help improve efficiency without sacrificing the quality of comfort you enjoy in your older home.
Schedule Professional Duct Cleaning
Clogged and dirty air ducts can drastically lower the efficiency of your HVAC system. If conditioned air has to squeeze through due to buildup and blockages, you’ll lose some of the ideal temperature. Your system may have to work harder to make up for the loss, resulting in more energy spent and higher heating and cooling costs.
Schedule duct cleaning every three to five years to remove buildup and prevent clogs and blockages. During the cleaning process, our technicians will also inspect the ductwork to ensure there are no leaks, gaps, or other issues that require special attention.
Add Insulation
Older homes tend to not be as well insulated as newer houses. Without proper insulation, extreme outdoor temperatures can creep into the house through the walls and roof. Our technicians offer spray-in attic insulation to keep air from escaping through the roof, adding a layer of protection for your home comfort.
Install Ductless Air Conditioning
Ductless mini-split systems are similar to your central air conditioner but are ideal for smaller spaces. These systems are easy to install and require no ductwork. The indoor fan unit disperses cold air directly into the room. Ductless systems are ideal for harder-to-cool rooms and areas, helping lower the burden on your central system while keeping your home cool.
Upgrade Your HVAC System
Some systems simply lose efficiency as they age. If your furnace or air conditioner is more than 10 years old, it may be a good idea to replace the system, especially if you live in an older house. A new system can bring more sufficient airflow without the added costs of utilities to keep your home more comfortable.
Switch to a Heat Pump
Heat pumps provide both heating and cooling using natural resources for some of the energy. A heat pump pulls air from the ground or the air and creates further hot or cold air inside the unit to regulate the temperature inside your house. These systems are environmentally friendly and result in lower heating and cooling costs.
Schedule Professional Maintenance
Professional heating and cooling maintenance service is an essential to-do that should be scheduled every year for both the furnace and air conditioner. During annual maintenance, our technicians inspect the system and look for signs of trouble that could hinder airflow later on. We also clean, tune, and adjust the system so that the parts and components stay in optimal condition and your furnace and AC can operate more efficiently.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
If you’re still using a basic thermostat for your older home’s HVAC system, an upgrade is a top priority. Programmable thermostats allow you to choose different settings based on your schedule so that you can set it and forget it. This allows you to keep your home comfortable while you’re in it and save on heating and cooling costs while you’re away.
Smart thermostats take control a step further. With a smart thermostat, you can control your home from an app to make adjustments even while away from home. Smart thermostats have the ability to eventually learn your routines and make adjustments for you based on a variety of factors. These devices may also provide you with data about your HVAC usage, helping you find ways to cut spending on heating and cooling.
Try Zoned Heating and Cooling
Zoning systems allow you to control different areas of your house using separate thermostats. Dampers inside the ductwork respond to the settings on the thermostats, allowing you to heat and cool one area while leaving the other at the current temperature. Zoned systems are great for larger homes and those with spaces that are used less often or have vastly different heating and cooling needs. With a zoning system, you can utilize your HVAC system more in one space without heating or cooling the entire home to the same level. This results in lower energy and fuel consumption for the HVAC system as well as decreased stress on the furnace and AC to save money on utility bills, repairs, and replacements.
Hire the Local Professionals for Your Home Comfort
Home comfort is our main priority. Our technicians have the skills and experience needed to handle all your heating and cooling needs. Count on us for repairs, installations, and maintenance for your HVAC system. Try our Protection Plan to keep your HVAC system working its best. We also provide indoor air quality services.
If you want to stay comfortable inside your Dallas home without breaking the bank, count on our technicians. Call Precision Heating & Air today for all your home comfort needs.
