Extreme weather can cause your energy bills to spike, especially if your HVAC system is pushed to its limits. The good news? Homeowners in Chelan, Washington, can easily save money and reduce wear on their HVAC system by using effective energy-saving HVAC practices. From scheduling a routine HVAC tune-up to DIY HVAC maintenance, these minor adjustments can help you stay comfortable and lower expenses.

Here, the experts at Lakeside Heating & Air will offer their best heating and cooling tips for HVAC energy efficiency to help you reduce energy bills without sacrificing comfort.

1. Contact a Professional for Seasonal HVAC Maintenance

Of all the energy-saving HVAC tips for property owners, 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 peak condition and ready for the winter and summer seasons. It's also a perfect opportunity to detect and resolve any inefficiencies, worn-out parts or brewing issues—saving you from costly service calls and potentially extending the life of your heating and cooling equipment. 

2. Change Programmable Thermostat Settings for the Seasons

Programmable thermostats provide many ways to conserve power. In summer, set your thermostat to automatically raise the setting when you're away. In winter, set the temperature to drop slightly when the home is empty and rise again when you return. Even a small temperature shift can make a noticeable difference.

Increase your savings even more 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—with minimal effort on your part.

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

Air leaks around windows, doors and in damaged ductwork allow heated or cooled air to seep out of your home. Work with a qualified professional to find out if you need duct sealing and insulation services. Addressing duct issues, adding insulation and eliminating air gaps all help reduce energy bills by allowing your HVAC system to work less in order to keep your home warm or cool.

4. Perform Simple DIY HVAC Maintenance

In addition to bringing in an expert for seasonal HVAC maintenance, you can reduce energy bills by handling these home HVAC maintenance tips:

  • Clear debris like sticks, leaves and shrubs from around your outdoor air conditioning equipment in spring
  • Wipe down the fins of the outdoor AC unit in spring
  • Follow a regular HVAC air filter replacement schedule: Check your system's filter monthly, swapping for a clean one if it's dirty 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 Aging, Failing Units with Energy-Efficient HVAC Systems

Increase energy efficiency by upgrading old, inefficient heating and cooling systems to modern high-efficiency HVAC systems. Keep an eye out for ENERGY STAR®-rated HVAC equipment, which consumes less power than un-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 is true with AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, which shows energy efficiency in heating equipment. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient the system. These calculations are important because energy-efficient HVAC systems can really help reduce energy bills and boost comfort throughout the year.

Work with Lakeside Heating & Air to Prevent HVAC Energy Waste Year-Round

When it comes to comfort and energy efficiency Lakeside Heating & Air is the HVAC company Chelan, Washington, 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 full-service service all year. Call 509-300-1829 today for Chelan, Washington, HVAC service you can trust.