Cost Saving Maintenance: How Much Can You Save with a Simple HVAC Routine?

Did you know that simple HVAC maintenance can save you money in the short and long-term? Your HVAC unit is a machine that stays with your home for a decade and more. This means that the performance and care of this machine can strongly influence not just your experience of cool, comfortable air, but also the overall costs of maintaining your home.

Your HVAC accounts for up to 30% of your power bill, and repairs can be costly if caught after more extensive damage has occurred. What are some simple maintenance steps that anyone can do with their HVAC at home?

HVAC Routine Maintenance Schedule:

• Monthly:

  • Change air filter

  • Adapt thermostat default settings

• 3 Months: 

  • Clean outdoor HVAC unit

  • Clean indoor vent covers

• Yearly:

  • HVAC inspection

  • Preventative maintenance

  • Indoor unit cleaning

• 5 Years: 

  • Duct cleaning and repairs

  • Air balancing

  • New thermostat

• 10-15 Years:

  • New HVAC Unit

Fresh Filters for Better Performance

Regularly replace your HVAC filters every one to three months. The air filter provides a unique and important role in your HVAC system. It takes dust and allergens out of the air before the dust has a chance to build up inside your ducts, vents, and the HVAC unit itself. When the filter is clogged, dust isn't caught as effectively and the AC must work much harder to pull cool air through - costing you on the power bill.

A clean, fresh air filter improves HVAC performance to save you money every month.

Cleaning the Indoor and Outdoor Units

If your outdoor AC unit is on the ground (sometimes they are on the roof), be sure to keep it clean and free of debris or growing plant life. This unit is essential for handling heat exchange outside the house, and the biggest risk to your HVAC efficiency is a branch or plastic bag blocking the vent or mechanisms of the outdoor unit.

Make sure your outdoor unit is clear and keep an eye out for any signs of issues that may require repair.

Adapt Your Thermostat Settings

Each month, adapt your thermostat default temperature.  Most households choose a comfortable spot between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit,  but which temperature you choose should be your comfort level closest to the temperature outside. If you're willing to nudge the thermostat one or two degrees each month based on the weather, you can save a surprising amount in AC and furnace costs over the next few years.

Dust the Air Vents

Don't forget to dust your vents. Combined with fresh air filters, regular dusting can significantly reduce the total amount of dust in your home and increase your total air quality. With a good air filter in place, dusting your vents actually reduces the dust blowing with each gust of the AC - and reduces clogging if there is significant dust buildup in or behind each vent.

If you notice a wooly texture or "dripping" dust in the ducts behind your vents, consider duct cleaning which will restore home air efficiency, lower costs, and increase air quality in one fell swoop.

Annual HVAC Inspection

Of course, don't forget one HVAC maintenance inspection per year. Early autumn or early spring are both ideal times for an HVAC inspection as you transition from cool to heat or heat to cold. Why? This allows you to put one HVAC unit away cleaned and in good condition while tuning up the other for the season to come. One annual HVAC inspection can catch future repairs before they become costly - and often your technician will fully clean the inside of your HVAC unit in order to lengthen the lifespan by removing clogging dust.

Cost Saving Maintenance and HVAC Repairs

Taking good care of your HVAC heating and cooling systems can lower your power bill in a very real way. This gives you a chance to notice the imminent need for repairs early, even earlier than your annual inspection, so that preventative maintenance can help you avoid more costly repairs from a damaged system in the future.

If you are in need of a routine or repair HVAC service in Cokato or the surrounding area, contact us today. A R Engh Heating & Air Conditioning is your local HVAC team here to help you save costs every year.