Harsh weather can cause your energy bills to spike, especially when your HVAC system is pushed to its limits. The good news? Homeowners in Holbrook, New York, can easily save money and reduce wear on their HVAC system by using practical energy-saving HVAC practices. From scheduling a routine HVAC tune-up to DIY HVAC maintenance, these small things can help you stay comfortable and save money.

Here, the professionals at Fal-Ken Heating & Cooling Corporation will provide their best heating and cooling tips for HVAC energy efficiency to help you save on utilities without compromising comfort.

1. Schedule for Seasonal HVAC Maintenance

Of all the energy-saving HVAC tips for homeowners, 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 ensures these systems are in top shape and ready for the heating and cooling seasons. It's also a good time to spot and fix any inefficiencies, worn-out parts or brewing issues—saving you from unnecessary breakdowns and potentially extending the life of your heating and cooling equipment. 

2. Use Specific Programmable Thermostat Settings for Winter and Summer

Programmable thermostats provide several ways to reduce electricity use. In summer, set your thermostat to automatically increase the temperature when you're out of the home. In winter, set the temperature to lower a bit while the home is unoccupied and rise again when you get back. Even a 2–3°F temperature change can cut down significantly on energy use.

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 fine-tune your home temperature. Because of this smart thermostats can increase your energy efficiency—and you don't have to manually change the temperature.

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

Air leaks around windows, doors and in home ductwork allow heated or cooled air to escape. Work with a qualified professional to find out if you need duct sealing and insulation services. Addressing duct issues, 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 comfortable.

4. Do Basic 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, leaves and shrubs from around your outdoor air conditioning equipment in spring
  • Wash the condenser 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
  • 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 Old, Failing Units with Energy-Efficient HVAC Systems

Improve energy efficiency by upgrading old, inefficient heating and cooling systems to new high-efficiency HVAC systems. Look for ENERGY STAR®-rated HVAC equipment, which operates more efficiently than non-rated units. When picking out 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 measures efficiency in heating equipment. The higher the AFUE, the more more energy efficient the equipment. These ratings are important because energy-efficient HVAC systems can do a lot to reduce energy bills and improve year-round performance.

Work with Fal-Ken Heating & Cooling Corporation to Prevent HVAC Energy Waste All Year

When it comes to comfort and energy efficiency Fal-Ken Heating & Cooling Corporation is the HVAC company Holbrook, New York, locals trust for their furnace, AC, heat pump and more. From seasonal HVAC tips like these to selecting and setting up new HVAC equipment, we provide reliable service all year. Call 631-802-6021 today for Holbrook, New York, HVAC service you can depend on.