HVAC Systems – Understanding How They Work

Like many other things in your home, your HVAC system needs attention and a bit of understanding of the way it works. Although most of the time it only takes a few buttons and knobs to operate HVAC systems, you do need to know about how to deal with repairs and replacement when the time calls for it. Understanding when to do maintenance, how to deal with problems, and knowing when to replace your unit will save you money in the future. So what can you do to keep HVAC usage costs down without sacrificing comfort?

How to reduce HVAC operation cost

As it turns out, there are plenty of ways on how you could cut your HVAC operation cost without cutting usage time. Here are 8 simple ways on how you could do so:

1. Always schedule maintenance – if you don’t already have a maintenance program set up for your HVAC unit, you should contact your HVAC contractor right away. Preventive maintenance keeps your unit working in top order for longer. It will also ensure that all parts are working as intended, steering you clear of any problems in the near future.

1. Operate at optimum temperatures – it’s a common mistake among homeowners to blast away with the thermostat settings. While it may be tempting to crank up the thermostat on a hot summer’s day, it may not be the most efficient way. Consult your owner’s manual for the most energy-efficient temperature range. Do note that temperature fluctuation will cost you more money than sticking to the desired temperature range. Consult experts like Florence HVAC Experts to know more on thermostats and the best settings.

1. Seal your home properly – a lot of the factors that make your HVAC unit run inefficiently has to do with windows and doors. If they aren’t sealed properly, cool or warm air from your HVAC system might be lost, leading to inefficiency and increased operating costs.

1. Get better insulation – insulation is key when it comes to making your home as energy efficient as possible. Warmth or coolness of a room may seep into walls if insulation is done poorly. Be sure that your house is insulated properly so your HVAC system won’t have such a hard time cooling or heating up.

1. Ease up on the thermostat – again, it all boils down to the right thermostat temperature. Scale back on the thermostat and find the right setting during cooling or heating months. In the winter, set the thermostat back about 10-15 degrees for around 8 hours. According to the United States Department of Energy, doing so would save the homeowner around 5-15% in heating bills each year.

1. Use a programmable thermostat – manual thermostats are a thing of the past. Newer models are programmable and some learn from your average usage to determine the most suited temperature settings for your household. Contact your local HVAC contractor Florence for more information on what kind of thermostat would suit your needs.

1. Do regular air filter cleaning or replacement - air filters play a huge role in keeping your HVAC system working in top order.

1. Use drapes and thick curtains – thicker drapes or curtains will provide an insulating layer in addition to your home’s insulation. They prevent warmth or coolness from escaping, adding to the efficiency of your HVAC system.

If you have any more questions about minimizing HVAC costs, contact Florence HVAC Experts.

Florence HVAC Experts Florence, SC 29501 843-636-3260 http://florencehvacexperts.com/

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Vent Covers – Things You Should Know About

The vent covers in your HVAC systems are rather the smaller parts of the system. However, they are important in making sure that the temperature is at the correct levels. It also ensures proper airflow within the house. In most instances, we don’t really put any emphasis on these vent covers unless they are blocking some room decorations. When it comes to air conditioner repair, they don’t also get that much attention. However, the importance of these vents should always be taken into account.

Understanding how your vents work in an HVAC system

There are two types of vents needed for an HVAC system to work. These vents are used for supplying air and returning air into the system. This return and supply of air keeps the home at a comfortable temperature. It is important to know the function of each vent. They are placed strategically by your HVAC contractor for higher efficiency. Cold air vents – these vents could either be located at a central location of the home or in every room. However, most professionals recommend having return vents in each room for maximum cooling capacity. They also regulate air flow and pressure within the household which keeps energy costs down. Supply register vents – these vents work in the same way as return vents. They must also be placed within each room for temperature control. These vents allow air from the HVAC system to enter the room, cooling or heating the room as necessary. These vents should be spaced away from return vents to avoid recirculation of supplied air. Grills or vent covers – these parts are necessary for each vent. The vent cannot be just a gaping hole in the wall without a cover. There are a lot of design options when it comes to vent covers that blend in with the design and motif of your room. Taking good care of your vent covers Regardless of how your vent covers look like, if they are not clean they aren’t good for you. Ducts, vents, and vent covers can accumulate dust over months of continuous use. This dust could become home to fungi and bacteria which could become a huge problem to the health of the people living in the house. That is why most homeowners hire the services of an HVAC contractor Florence to have these areas cleaned. Floor vents – these vents should have the most attention. Since there will be some foot traffic within these areas, dust could easily collect in them. That is why they should be cleaned most often than other places. Baseboard vents – these vents, like floor vents, should also be cleaned more often than others. Due to the inevitability of foot traffic, dust could easily accumulate on baseboard vents. Despite easy access to vent covers, they are only a part of the system. Your vents and ducts should be cleaned and maintained as well. That’s why a lot of homeowners prefer to leave the cleaning and maintenance to experts like Florence HVAC Experts. It’s the best solution and it, with no doubt, worth every single penny.

Need help with your HVAC system? Give Florence HVAC Experts a call today.

Florence HVAC Experts Florence, SC 29501 843-636-3260 http://florencehvacexperts.com/

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HVAC Tips – 7 Ways To Boost Efficiency

We all want to stay comfortable at home all year long. Your HVAC system plays a great role in terms of keeping that comfort. However, there are ways to increase the efficiency of your HVAC system even more. You can do a number of things to reduce power consumption while keeping comfort. Here are seven tips on how to increase the efficiency of your HVAC unit.

Tips on giving your HAVC a lighter load

Open those windows – the seasons take a beating on your HVAC unit as it works overtime to provide cool room temperature during summer and warmth during winter. However, during spring and fall, you can ease up a little bit on your heating and cooling usage. Give your HVAC system a small break by turning off your thermostat and opening those windows. Let the naturally cool air outside flow into your home. This saves you money in terms of energy costs in the long run. These transition seasons allow for lighter HVAC usage. If you don’t know how to properly set up your thermostat, you could always call your local HVAC contractor for assistance. Don’t forget to change those filters – in between seasons (during fall and spring) is the best time to swap out those filters with new ones. You could either clean those filters or have new ones installed. Either way, clean filters ensure that the HVAC unit is working normally and don’t have to spend more energy to cool or heat the entire home. HVAC tips in winter Use thick blankets – instead of increasing the heat, use thick blankets instead. This will cut energy usage significantly without a tradeoff. A nice thick blanket paired with hot cocoa normally does the trick. Get the right thermostat setting – a lot of people tend to step up or lower their thermostat settings to increase heating or cooling. As stated in the previous tips, there are ways on how to keep cool or stay warm without the need for cranking up the thermostat. Going for a reasonable thermostat setting is always the best. It may be tempting to adjust that thermostat but doing so would not be efficient at all. Experts like Florence HVAC Experts can be of great help to keep your HVAC system running smoothly. Tips during summer Keep your linens light – lighter materials for your linens is one of the main ways to cut down on energy costs. It’s a no-brainer. All you need to do is choose a linen material like cotton to keep cool at night without lowering the thermostat. Don’t overdo it with the thermostat – setting your thermostat too low can increase the chances of your system failing. Temperature settings that are too low can cause the system to malfunction as it tries to balance internal and external temperatures. Overall, saving energy costs involves a good thermostat setting and unit. Invest your money in a thermostat that can learn and adapt to your usage. These kinds of thermostats save you money and let you control temperature settings with ease. Call your local HVAC contractor Florence for more ideas.

Call Florence HVAC Experts if you need help in anything related to heating and cooling.

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Perks Of Scheduled HVAC Maintenance

HVAC systems are designed to perform their best right out of the box. However, with months of constant use, your HVAC system will require maintenance to maintain its level of performance like the first time you got it. Skipping maintenance will reduce the efficiency of your system. And since it deals with air circulation, dust will accumulate on the filters causing the system to be inefficient if unmaintained. Aside from being inefficient, an HVAC system that has not been properly maintained will consume more electricity and will translate to increase energy bills.  

Maintenance offers many benefits for your HVAC system

A lot of us don’t really pay attention to the need for regular maintenance. We just turn it on and as long as it functions it is okay. However, this is bad practice. As a homeowner, you must always be aware of when you need to service your HVAC Florence. When you have your system serviced in the right time, it will preserve the integrity of your unit. And of course, it will have positive impacts on the unit and its performance. Repair costs are greatly lowered If your HVAC unit is a couple of years old, it would have incurred some wear and tear due to constant use. Some of the effects of aging and degradation could lead to damages which may require repairs or replacement. However, repair costs would be greatly lowered by frequent maintenance. An HVAC system that is maintained at least once or twice a year may increase the lifespan of the unit significantly. It will also keep the costs of repair to a minimum. Always have your system maintained regularly. You may need to have it serviced more times in a year depending on your location. Some areas may have negative impacts on the unit. For instance, areas with a lot of trees would mean a lot of dirt when the wind hits the trees. Fallen branches and leaves may be an issue later on. Always be sure to keep the area of your outside unit clean as possible. If you are able to, install a fence within the perimeter to ensure that there is not dirt and debris that could damage the unit. Have your system maintained by qualified professionals like Florence HVAC Experts. Professional care is always better. DIY maintenance is possible but may not be as good as that of a professional’s work. Air quality is greatly improved Bad indoor air quality is a major cause for lung diseases in the United States. Dirty coils and filters will increase the chances of lung problems for people within the house. Don’t wait too long to have your coils and filters cleaned. When you leave your unit unmaintained for a long time, bacteria may reside on the coils and filters which could harm the health of the people dwelling in the home. Dirty coils and filters could trigger asthma and other lung problems. On the other hand, a clean HVAC will improve the overall air quality. Don’t hesitate to have your unit maintained by an HVAC contractor. They will take care of your system and you can reap the benefits of a well maintained HVAC system.

Call Florence HVAC Experts if you have any concerns about your HVAC system.

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