The right upgrade or accessory for your HVAC system can help you save energy and lower your utility bills. Many will pay for themselves over time through energy savings and increase your Vestavia, Alabama, home’s value. An upgrade will also extend your heater and air conditioner’s life by keeping it from working as hard. Popular energy-saving upgrades include programmable thermostats, air purifiers, zoning, and ceiling fans.
Programmable Thermostats
You can set a programmable thermostat to turn down your heater or air conditioner when you’re at work or asleep and then start returning your home to a comfortable temperature when you come home or wake up. Many models are controllable from your smartphone or computer, so you’ll never have to worry about wasting energy while you’re away from home.
Lots of programmable thermostats can also monitor the humidity in your home and remind you to change your air filter. If your humidity is too high or low, your home will feel hot or chilly, and you’ll have to use your HVAC system more. Forgetting to change your air filter reduces airflow and forces your system to work harder as well.
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers or air cleaners use air filters to remove pollen, dirt, dust, mold spores, and other pollutants from your home. Some air purifiers can even get rid of viruses and bacteria. That way, you can improve your indoor air quality and keep contaminants from restricting your airflow by accumulating in your system’s air filter and your ductwork. Air cleaners trap dust and dirt before it can cause inconvenient, expensive mechanical problems.
You can also have a UV air purifier or a UV lamp installed to kill mold, bacteria, viruses, and dust mites and keep these organisms from living in your HVAC system. UV air purifiers damage the DNA of microscopic organisms with UV-C light, a type of ultraviolet radiation that’s usually blocked by the atmosphere. You can attach a coil sterilization lamp to your outdoor unit with a magnet or have an air sterilization lamp installed in your ductwork.
Zoning
With zoning, you can set different temperatures for the various rooms in your home. Special dampers in your ductwork direct warm or cool air to the areas or zones that need it most. Many ductless systems with more than one indoor air handling unit offer zoning as well. You can avoid heating or cooling unoccupied rooms and save energy with either type of zoning system.
Several models come with remote controls and even motion sensors. Many people who build a new addition or remodel their home add a new HVAC system to the new area. That way, they won’t have to use more energy for heating or cooling unless people are using the addition and the central part of a home at the same time.
Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans don’t change the temperature of your home, but they can help you save energy by making rooms with fans feel more comfortable. That way, you won’t have to use your HVAC system as much. The additional air circulation also eliminates warm spots and chilly areas. In summer, a fan spins counterclockwise to create a pleasant breeze.
You can also use your fan to feel warmer in winter. Most ceiling fans have a small switch in the center near the light. Just climb a ladder or stepladder and then flip the switch to make the fan blades spin clockwise. This pushes warm air that typically collects near the ceiling towards the walls and the floor, circulating air without creating a breeze.
Ceiling fans come in a variety of colors and styles, and they can improve your decor and add value to your home. Make sure the ceiling fans you have installed are easy to use by adding wall switches, remote controls, and multiple settings. That way, people can turn them on and off easily.
One Source Heating, Cooling & Electrical has more than 20 years of heating and cooling experience. We can help you install, maintain, and repair a variety of HVAC equipment, including energy-saving upgrades. Call us anytime at (205) 509-1929 for skilled service from one of our friendly technicians.
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