Is the amount of energy used to heat and cool your home worrisome, and you’d like to learn effective ways to boost your household efficiency? If so, a good place to start is by getting your home’s different systems in sync to streamline your energy usage and efficiency. Here are some important steps toward syncing HVAC systems that can help you optimize efficiency throughout your home:
Maintain Your HVAC Equipment
Scheduling semi-annual professional preventive maintenance for your HVAC system is essential because clean, well-tuned equipment operates at maximum efficiency, especially when emerging issues are caught and fixed while they’re still minor.
Eliminate Air Leaks
Controlled air exchange is essential for good air quality, but it’s vital to eliminate air leaks in the exterior envelope to improve efficiency. You can minimize these losses by using weatherstripping, caulk and expandable foam to fill cracks and gaps around exterior doors, windows, the foundation/sill plate, and wherever wires, pipes or vents pierce the shell.
Evaluate the Ductwork
If you have leaky and uninsulated ductwork, you can lose 20 percent (or more) of your HVAC system’s output. To curtail this waste of energy, address duct deficiencies like crushed or disconnected sections, have the joints and seams sealed with metal tape, and get the accessible runs wrapped with R-6 insulation.
Seal and Insulate Your Attic
Air leaks and inadequate attic insulation can result in costly energy waste through heat transfer and conditioned air movement. You can take a two-prong approach to stop this energy drain: first, seal leak sources around electrical, HVAC and plumbing lines, the access hatch, chimney, and attic floor perimeter. Then, install insulation between the floor joists up to R-60.
Replace Inefficient Windows
Upgrading your older windows can end drafts and limit heat gains/losses through the glass. To choose the right windows your Ohio home, look for Energy Star-qualified units with a U-factor of 0.25 (or less), a solar heat gain co-efficient (SHGC) from 0.35—0.60, along with an air leakage (AL) rating of 30 or lower.
For more advice on syncing HVAC systems in your Dayton home, contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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