At Endless Energy, we get lots of questions from folks who have Massachusetts homes and want to know how to maximize HVAC performance. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to increase the performance of an HVAC setup. Consider talking with one of our technicians about the following options.
Regular Maintenance by a Professional
Many of the worst performance issues for HVAC units come from preventable problems. Even a seemingly minor issue like a slightly dirty air filter can significantly reduce the system’s performance. Worse, the problems can cascade. If the system is struggling to get clean air because of a dirty filter, then it may have to run harder. Consequently, major components might fail sooner because the filter never changed.
There are plenty of maintenance tasks that will make a difference. Our professionals can make sure the moving parts in the HVAC system have sufficient lubrication. We also can quickly check the system’s refrigerant levels. Doing these little bits of work at least once a year will make a huge difference in the system’s performance, efficiency, and longevity.
Cleaning
HVAC setups tend to get dirty in a handful of common areas. The outdoor condenser unit can collect debris from dirt in the air, fallen leaves, animal nests, and even local pollution. As a thin layer builds around the unit, the exchange of heat can become less efficient. Consequently, the system may run harder to do the same work.
Similar issues can occur with ducts. Dirty ducts aren’t great from a health perspective, but they also can negatively affect performance. You want the ducts as clean as possible to ensure that the most air will flow through them.
Implementing Zones
Zonal control is a great way to maximize performance in specific parts of your house. A zoned system allows you to focus heating and cooling where you need them most. For example, you might have a spare bedroom that doesn’t normally need lots of HVAC. Implementing a zoned system will allow you to minimize the airflow into the extra room. Our technicians can use dampers, vents, and zone-specific thermostats to target particular spaces.
A zone setup also can allow you to balance the airflow in the house better. If you have one room that’s always colder than the others, you might set it for a zone that gets a little more air. By balancing the air in the house, you will reduce draftiness. By extension, fewer drafts can prevent systems from overcompensating to heat or cool a difficult zone.
Sealing
Little cracks in the system can lead to a huge downside in its performance. Even interior leaks can cause the airflow to become weaker and more turbulent. Sealing these leaks along the ducts is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve HVAC performance.
Insulation
Many ducts run through parts of a house that don’t need the heat. Without insulation, these ducts will radiate heat into those untargeted areas. For example, a duct through your home’s basement can end up heating the basement more than it does the rest of the house. This is simply wasted energy since it’s not that hard to run sufficient heating to the basement with its own set of ducts and vents. Insulating the ducts that go elsewhere will reduce heating losses. It also will increase the amount of air that gets to the target room.
Programmable Systems
Modern microcontroller technologies are getting better by the year. For homeowners, that means the ability to control HVAC units is becoming a cost-effective way to get the most from the system. Lots of folks who have smart home technologies integrate those systems with their house’s thermostat.
Especially if you’re going to be gone for long periods, the programmable system can run the HVAC less in your absence. This is great for people with long workdays. It also is good for saving money when you’re on a vacation or a long business trip.
You also can use a programmable thermostat to turn the HVAC temperature up before you get home. If you want the house to be nice when you walk in after doing your shift at work, just program a warmup for 15 minutes before you get there. Newer smart technologies can even use your vehicle’s smart systems to tell your house’s programmable thermostat when you’re close. The thermostat can then kick on when you’re a predetermined distance from home.
Right Sizing
Every HVAC setup has a rating based on its heating and cooling output. Usually, you’ll see these ratings denoted in BTUs or tons. In either case, you want the right output for the size of your particular house. Running too big of an HVAC can be inefficient because the larger system demands more energy at startup. Likewise, running too small of a system can leave the machine taking longer to do the same work. In both cases, it tends to be costly to use the wrong size.
Right sizing is simple. Our technicians will measure the house to determine how many cubic feet of air need HVAC. They can then find the closest setup for your home and install it.
Using a High-Efficiency HVAC
There are usually additional Energy Star ratings for HVAC units. Typically, these ratings appear on yellow labels. They provide data about how efficient the system is. A lower-efficiency HVAC loses more heating and cooling to radiated losses.
A high-efficiency HVAC system will save you a lot of money over its lifetime. However, it also will just perform better. With a lower energy loss rate, the system will always push more heating or cooling into each room.
Fans and Shades
Little additions to rooms can make a notable difference. This is particularly true if a room gets a lot of sun or wind. Adding shades to a room that’s sunny most of the day will reduce the solar energy that warms it up in the summer. You also can open the shades to get more energy during the winter. Fans serve a similar role by moving air around the house. If you have a home with high ceilings, a fan can draw warm air away from occupants. This also has the benefit of making the HVAC work less to provide the same comfort level.
Dehumidification
Warming or cooling the same unit of air gets more expensive the higher the humidity level is. An HVAC with good dehumidification capabilities will ensure that the system won’t run as long to provide the same performance. Likewise, the air will feel better because it won’t be as humid.
Numerous homeowners in Massachusetts have had Endless Energy handle HVAC work in their homes. We can install, repair, upgrade, and maintain systems. Our team also performs energy assessments, and we even take on plumbing jobs. Qualified homeowners should inquire about financing options, too. We put decades of HVAC experience to work for our customers, so contact Endless Energy today, and ask how we can make your house more comfortable.
