Severe weather can make your energy bills to spike, especially when your HVAC system is pushed to its limits. The good news? Homeowners in Northridge, California, can easily save money and reduce stress on their HVAC system by following effective energy-saving HVAC practices. From scheduling a fall or spring HVAC tune-up to DIY HVAC chores, these small things can help you stay comfortable and cut costs.

Here, the professionals at Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating will provide their best heating and cooling tips for HVAC energy efficiency to help you reduce energy bills without sacrificing comfort.

1. Schedule for Seasonal HVAC Maintenance

Of all the energy-saving HVAC tips for homeowners, one that often offers the most benefit is seasonal HVAC maintenance. Scheduling pro furnace maintenance in the fall and air conditioning maintenance in the spring is a great way to make sure these systems are in optimal working order and ready for the heating and cooling seasons. It's also a smart time to spot and fix any signs of inefficiency, worn-out parts or brewing issues—saving you from avoidable HVAC repair and potentially maximizing the service life of your heating and cooling system. 

2. Use Specific Programmable Thermostat Settings for Winter and Summer

Programmable thermostats provide multiple ways to conserve power. In summer, set your thermostat to automatically increase the temperature when you're not home. In winter, set the temperature to lower a bit while the home is unoccupied and warm back up when you get home. Even a 2–3°F temperature change can make a noticeable difference.

Take your savings a step further with a smart thermostat. One of the many smart thermostat benefits is their ability to track your daily patterns and automatically adjust your heating and cooling settings. Because of this smart thermostats can increase your energy efficiency—without you having to do a thing.

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

Air leaks around windows, doors and in old ductwork enable heated or cooled air to leak out. Work with a reliable HVAC technician to evaluate whether you need duct sealing and insulation services. Fixing leaky ductwork, adding 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 Seasonal DIY HVAC Maintenance

In addition to scheduling a technician for routine HVAC maintenance, you can reduce energy bills by tackling these home HVAC maintenance tips:

  • Remove debris like sticks, dried leaves and plants from around your outdoor air conditioning equipment in spring
  • Clean the coils of the outdoor air conditioning equipment in spring
  • Follow a seasonal HVAC air filter replacement schedule: Inspect your system's filter monthly, changing it if it’s clogged or every 90 days
  • Keep air vents and registers are open and unblocked
  • Check your thermostat settings, ensuring it's on cool mode in summer and heating mode in winter

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

Increase energy efficiency by replacing outdated HVAC equipment with modern high-efficiency HVAC systems. Consider opting for ENERGY STAR®-rated HVAC equipment, which consumes less power than un-rated units. When selecting cooling equipment, check for a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating. Unsure what SEER means? The simplest SEER rating explanation: the higher the SEER, the more efficient the system. The same concept is true with AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, which rates efficiency in heating equipment. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient the system. These calculations are important because energy-efficient HVAC systems can significantly reduce energy bills and improve year-round performance.

Work with Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating to Prevent HVAC Energy Waste in Your Home

When it comes to making your home a more comfortable place Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating is the HVAC company Northridge, California, locals rely on 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 (818) 727-9993 today for Northridge, California, HVAC service you can count on.