How to Decrease the Pressure on Your HVAC System When It's Hot Outside

During the summer, many people will be relying on their home’s HVAC system to stay cool. However, overuse of your unit can cause it to break down sooner than expected. Here’s how to decrease the pressure on your HVAC system when it’s hot outside.

Make Sure Your Home Is Properly Sealed

If your home isn’t properly sealed, hot air can easily creep inside. This means the HVAC must work twice as hard to keep the interior cool. Before steamy weather arrives, take the time to inspect for any cracks. Most small gaps can be easily filled using a caulking gun. Also, make sure the weatherstripping around your doors and windows is in good condition.

Make Use of Your Fans

Don’t just allow your home’s ceiling fans to just collect dust. They can help reduce the strain on your HVAC system. Simply switch your ceilings fans to rotate in a counterclockwise direction on hot days. This will produce a downdraft, which allows you to feel a cool breeze. Because modern ceiling fans are so efficient, you can run them throughout the day without worrying about increased energy bills.

Regularly Change the Filter

It’s important to properly maintain your HVAC System. By working with experts like STA SO COOL HVAC, you can learn the optimal frequency for changing the filter for your environment and system. Many experts suggest that a dirty air filter is one of the biggest contributors to accelerated wear and tear. When the filter is clogged, this can lead to the unit overheating. Generally, inexpensive fiberglass filters should be replaced every month. Meanwhile, pleated filters can last for up to 90 days.

Limit Sources of Heat Within Your Home

Some families unknowingly cause interior temperatures to rise. Heat-generating appliances, especially ovens and dryers, can put a greater demand on your HVAC system. Try to avoid using these appliances during the day. It’s also a good idea to run the bathroom’s exhaust fan while showering. This simple step will help reduce humidity levels. Furthermore, develop a habit of turning off lights when not in use.

Keep Out the Sun

At the peak of summer, the last thing you want is for the blaring sun to be streaming into your home. Consider installing blackout shades over your south-facing windows. Doing so can keep the room 10-15 degrees cooler. Your HVAC system will then have a lighter workload.

Don’t allow hot weather to put unnecessary strain on your HVAC system. By making a few changes, you could potentially extend the life of your unit by several years. Expect to also experience a lower energy bill.

Why You Should Occasionally Check Your Home's HVAC System

Most family homes rely on an efficient heating and cooling system to keep the house comfortable all year round. In hot or cold weather, we expect HVAC systems to work effectively. Often, we don't do much with the furnace or air conditioner unless a problem grabs our attention. But you should check your HVAC system now and then to ensure everything is working correctly.

Parts Can Fail

Even if your home's air temperature feels comfortable, something could be amiss without your detecting it. Check your furnace filter every few months to see how dirty it is. A filter covered with dust or lint may impact the circulation of clean, comfortable air throughout your home and raise your fuel cost. Beside the furnace in the basement or wherever it stands will enable you to hear small sounds like hissing that might not be noticeable on another level of your home. Catching minor issues like these involving one part of the HVAC system can lead to a quick, affordable repair.

Home Ventilation Can Change

The air circulation in your home can change unnoticed due to various factors. Loose window frames can worsen over time and let outside air into your home. Remodeling your home to add a door or windows that are left open occasionally can affect the air temperature, which in turn impacts your HVAC use. Removing window drapes to let the sunshine in might cause the thermostat to register an inaccurate whole-house temperature. Bringing a pet indoors might increase dander circulating through the house.

Air Conditioning Maintenance

Have your air conditioner serviced by an HVAC pro every year or two to keep it in prime operating condition. If your air conditioning maintenance is not kept up to date, the system could break down in the warmest season when you need it most. You will have peace of mind knowing the AC is ready to go when the temperatures unexpectedly soar, or with the commencement of warm weather.

Furnace Symptoms

Different noises or odd smells from your furnace equipment should be checked out immediately. It might be nothing to worry about, or it could be the start of a big problem that will impact the way your home is heated. Getting an odd noise or smell evaluated by an HVAC expert will bring you peace of mind and possibly a smaller repair bill. Don't let the problem go unchecked.

Don't get caught without air conditioning on a blistering hot summer day or without heat on a sub-zero winter night. Keep your HVAC system working correctly with routine monitoring and maintenance.

Why You Should Hire an HVAC Contractor Before Spring Hits

The HVAC system needs constant checks and maintenance for optimal performance. Spring forms the best time of the year to spruce up your HVAC systems before the hot summer season. Here are the reasons why. 

Preparations for Summer

The summer season is unbearably hot, and you will require your HVAC system to operate throughout for maximum comfort. Most HVAC companies are fully booked during summer, attending to common issues such as clogging, lubricating movable parts, replacing air filters, cleaning the ducts, and fixing electrical connections.

There is no worse feeling than your heating and cooling systems breaking down in summer. Scheduling an appointment becomes increasingly difficult and expensive as most contractors are busy. However, it is easy to avoid such frustrations by hiring an HVAC contractor during spring. Moreover, you will get better deals and exceptional customer service as more experts are at your disposal.

Save Money

In summer, the temperatures will rise, and so shall your cooling expenses. The reason is getting and maintaining your room temperatures down requires a significant amount of energy. However, you may notice your utility bills being a bit more than your neighbors because of a lack of prior maintenance.

Spring is the perfect time to prepare adequately for summer and ensure your HVAC runs smoothly and efficiently. During the maintenance, the professionals check your insulation, repair nonfunctional parts and install energy-saving equipment. These steps ensure optimum performance of the HVAC units hence saving you money. The preventive maintenance will help you avoid frequent replacements as the system will have less strain and wear and tear, increasing its longevity. Finally, it is the best way to keep your warranty active.

Easy Planning

It is not uncommon for homeowners to hear they need to replace some parts for their units after an inspection. During the rush summer season, you may be tasked to search for the required parts as most contractors do not have time. Therefore, there is no luxury of conducting thorough research and getting the best deals. The mild weather in spring gives you a leeway to not only do thorough research but plan your budget accordingly. As such, you will not feel as though you have rushed into making purchases.

If you live in a hot climate, do not wait until the summer to have your HVAC inspection. Look for a reliable and efficient contractor as soon as possible. 

HVAC Tricks to Try When the Temperature's on the Rise

In addition to having your HVAC system professionally serviced a few times a year, there are some simple tips and tricks that you can use to improve its efficiency on your own. With a few simple projects and upgrades, you can rest assured that your HVAC system will continue to run smoothly when the weather begins to heat up.

Clear Around the Outdoor Unit

Cleaning around the outdoor condenser unit is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve the efficiency of a heating and cooling system. When you are clearing the area around that unit, you should also inspect it for any signs of visible damage. Catching the signs of damage early on will often allow air conditioning repair experts to carry out easier fixes that prevent bigger problems down the line. Some problems may require more costly repairs if they aren’t resolved by a professional soon enough.

Clean and Declutter Around Vents

If one or more vents are blocked by clutter, then the HVAC fan will have to work much harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. As a general rule, there should be nothing within a foot or two of the vents so that the pressure within the ducts remains consistent. To improve your home’s air quality, you should also consider vacuuming in and around the vents at least once every few weeks.

Install Duct Booster Fans

Adding a few duct booster fans is another simple upgrade that can have a big impact on your family’s comfort. Those devices are going to equalize the pressure in the ducts and ensure that your entire home remains at a consistent temperature. There are many different types of duct booster fans to choose from, and you should consult with an HVAC technician to learn more about all of your options.

Use Ceiling Fans Strategically

When ceiling fans are used properly, it can have a big impact on the interior temperature of a home. During the hottest months of the year, ceiling fans should be spinning counterclockwise so that a gentle breeze is created. Having the ceiling fans spinning at a slow speed will allow you to increase the temperature on your thermostat by a few degrees without sacrificing your comfort.

Homeowners who want to keep their utility bills at a reasonable level should also consider investing in a smart thermostat. Those devices could potentially lower your bills by hundreds of dollars a year, and they can often be installed in a matter of minutes.