Harsh weather can cause your energy bills to skyrocket, especially when your HVAC system is pushed to its limits. However, there's something you can do about it. Homeowners in Laurel, Maryland, can easily save money and reduce stress on their HVAC system by following practical energy-saving HVAC practices. From scheduling a fall or spring HVAC tune-up to DIY HVAC chores, these simple changes can help you keep comfortable and cut costs.

Here, the experts at H&C Heating and Cooling will provide their best heating and cooling tips for HVAC energy efficiency to help you save on utilities without compromising comfort.

1. Get for Seasonal HVAC Maintenance

Of all the energy-saving HVAC tips for property owners, one that often makes the biggest impact is routine HVAC maintenance. Scheduling expert furnace maintenance in the fall and air conditioning maintenance in the spring helps make sure these systems are in top shape and ready for the heating and cooling seasons. It's also a perfect opportunity to identify and address any inefficiencies, worn-out parts or brewing problems—saving you from costly service calls and potentially maximizing the service life of your heating and cooling system. 

2. Use Programmable Thermostat Settings to Your Advantage

Programmable thermostats offer many ways to save energy. In summer, set your thermostat to automatically increase the temperature when you're out of the home. In winter, set the temperature to drop slightly when no one is home and shift the temperature back up when you get home. Even a small temperature shift can save a lot of energy.

Take your savings a step further with a smart thermostat. One of the many smart thermostat benefits is their ability to adapt to your schedule and automatically adjust your heating and cooling settings. By doing so, smart thermostats can increase your energy efficiency—and you don't have to manually change the temperature.

3. Prevent Energy Waste By Stopping Air Leaks in Your Home

Air leaks around windows, doors and in home ductwork permit heated or cooled air to leak out. Work with a reliable HVAC technician to determine if you need duct sealing and insulation services. Addressing duct issues, improving insulation and stopping airflow leaks all help reduce energy bills by allowing your HVAC system to work less in order to keep your home warm or cool.

4. Perform Basic DIY HVAC Maintenance

In addition to hiring a professional for professional HVAC maintenance, you can reduce energy bills by tackling these home HVAC maintenance tips:

  • Remove debris like sticks, grass clippings and shrubs from around your outdoor air conditioning equipment in spring
  • Clean the coils of the outdoor AC unit in spring
  • Follow a regular HVAC air filter replacement schedule: Check your system's filter monthly, replacing if dirty or every 90 days
  • Ensure air vents and registers are free of obstructions
  • Check your thermostat settings, ensuring it's on cool mode in summer and heating mode in winter

5. Replace Aging, Failing Units with Energy-Efficient HVAC Systems

Improve energy efficiency by installing modern high-efficiency HVAC systems. Keep an eye out for ENERGY STAR®-rated HVAC equipment, which operates more efficiently than non-rated units. When shopping for cooling equipment, check for a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating. Unsure what SEER means? The basic SEER rating explanation: the higher the SEER, the more efficient the system. This also is true with AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, which shows energy efficiency in heating equipment. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient the system. These ratings are important because energy-efficient HVAC systems can significantly reduce energy bills and enhance your comfort.

Work with H&C Heating and Cooling to Prevent HVAC Energy Waste in Your Home

When it comes to comfort and energy efficiency H&C Heating and Cooling is the HVAC company Laurel, Maryland, locals turn to for their furnace, AC, heat pump and more. From seasonal HVAC tips like these to heating and cooling installation, we provide full-service service all year. Call 301-235-2937 today for Laurel, Maryland, HVAC service you can count on.