5 HVAC Upgrades That Will Help and Not Hurt Your Wallet
It’s easy to improve your HVAC system’s efficiency if you have an unlimited budget. But how can you make your HVAC system more efficient without overspending in your Pittsburg, Texas, home? From regular tuneups to smart add-ons, check out five HVAC upgrades that won’t hurt your wallet.
Add High-Quality Weatherstripping
At Wood Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we recommend keeping things simple and starting with the easiest way to boost your HVAC system’s performance. If you’ve never added weatherstripping to your home, it might surprise you just how much it can help your HVAC system.
Add weatherstripping material around window frames, especially those that tend to let cool drafts into your home. You can also replace thin curtains or blinds with heavier curtains to keep warm air in and cool air out. Consider adding a draft stopper under exterior doors, too, especially if the front or back entryway feels chilly often.
By making these inexpensive updates, you’ll help keep your home remain comfortable during winter. You’ll also help your heating system run more efficiently, since it won’t have to deal with drafts.
Schedule a Professional Tuneup
HVAC tuneups don’t cost much, but they can help you save big bucks down the road. Our team recommends scheduling a tuneup twice a year – once before you turn on the air conditioner in the springtime and again when you turn on the heating system in the winter. When you commit to two maintenance sessions per year, you’ll give our team a chance to identify minor issues before they demand expensive repairs.
An HVAC tuneup also ensures that your heating or cooling system will be in optimal shape all season long. That means your HVAC system will operate as efficiently as possible, and it may even last longer as a result, so you can stretch your HVAC budget even further.
Upgrade Your HVAC Filter
If you can’t remember the last time you replaced your HVAC filter, now is the ideal time to do so. You’ll usually need to replace these disposable filters every three months; although, you’ll want to change it more often during periods of constant use.
Pay attention to the filter’s minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating, too. A filter with a MERV rating of 7 to 12 will increase your HVAC system’s efficiency while keeping indoor pollutants out of your home’s air supply. A filter with a lower MERV rating (under 7) probably isn’t doing your HVAC system any favors.
Invest in Indoor Air Quality Add-Ons
If there’s room in your household budget for a minor HVAC upgrade, focus your attention on the most persistent indoor air quality issue in your home. If you’re constantly dealing with excess moisture, a whole-home dehumidifier can do wonders for your family’s comfort and your HVAC system’s efficiency.
If dust, mold or pet dander are frequent concerns, consider a whole-house air purifier instead. Not only can this indoor air quality add-on help alleviate allergy and asthma symptoms but it can also help your HVAC system run more smoothly all year long.
Install a New Smart Thermostat
If you haven’t replaced your old manual thermostat with a smart thermostat yet, now is the ideal time to do so. Programmable models like the Housewise Wi-Fi Thermostat can help you save around 20 percent on your HVAC-related energy costs.
This device can also streamline your heating and cooling. It just takes a minute or two to program your family’s heating and cooling schedule. As a result, the thermostat will automate your HVAC settings for maximum efficiency.
Most Wi-Fi-enabled models even allow you to adjust temperature settings from your smartphone, so you can save energy no matter where you are. Check the device’s energy reports to identify ways to save even more energy and give your wallet a break.
Why postpone these simple HVAC upgrades when they can help you save money now? Call the HVAC experts at Wood Air Conditioning & Plumbing at 903-285-6550 to learn more.
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