Upgrading Your HVAC System for Comfort: What You Need to Know
When you want to improve your HVAC’s dependability and performance, you do not necessarily have to go out and buy a brand-new system. Several steps can help you keep your home more comfortable year-round. These 10 tips help you upgrade your HVAC system for comfort.
1. Replace Old and Outdated Equipment
You can upgrade your HVAC system for comfort by replacing old and outdated parts, such as the filter, the blower fan, and the capacitors and contactors. This will help keep your system energy-efficient, which translates into lower utility bills. Taking steps to upgrade the worn-out equipment system will also keep your home more comfortable year-round.
2. Use a HEPA Filter
Filters are an essential part of any HVAC system and are designed to remove airborne contaminants. A HEPA filter removes most airborne contaminants, like pet dander, dust, and pollen, to boost indoor air quality (IAQ). With a HEPA filter, fewer contaminants will get trapped in your HVAC system, and fewer will circulate in your home. Cleaner air filters help increase your HVAC’s energy efficiency.
3. Seal Your HVAC Ductwork
The ductwork plays a key role in the performance and efficiency of your system. When you seal the ducts, you prevent heat and cool from escaping through openings around them. You also reduce the amount of contaminants that get in the air from these same openings. You get better healing and cooling year-round from your HVAC system.
4. Put in New Insulation
When your home is insulated well from the outdoor elements, the conditioned air remains inside where it belongs. Poorly insulated walls, floors, and ceilings allow conditioned air from your AC and furnace to escape. Ensure your HVAC offers premium performance without high energy use and utility costs by adding insulation where needed.
5. Establish HVAC Zones in Your Home
Establishing HVAC zones throughout your house similarly increases your year-round indoor comfort. This can be done by adjusting the ductwork and installing dampers and other features to your system. Each HVAC zone will have a dedicated thermostat. You won’t have to rely on one thermostat to keep your entire house comfortable, which will reduce energy use, provide more affordable heating and AC bills, and improve energy efficiency.
6. Use a Programmable Thermostat
As its name implies, a programmable thermostat is a thermostat that can be programmed to adjust the temperature automatically. You can program your thermostat to meet your needs based on your daily routine. You can set one temperature when you’re sleeping or at work, and schedule a more comfortable temperature for those hours you are home. In other words, you can keep the house a little warmer when you’re away during the summer and schedule the thermostat to lower the temperature when you arrive home.
7. Install and Use an Energy Recovery Ventilator
An energy recovery ventilator, or ERV, uses outdoor air to maintain your home’s indoor air temperature. It can reduce air conditioning costs by 30 to 60 percent by ensuring adequate ventilation, letting in fresh air, and removing excessive humidity and heat.
8. Seal Your Doors and Windows with Weather Stripping
Like ductwork, spaces around your doors and windows allow air to escape your home. You can improve your system’s performance and your home’s comfort at the same time by using weatherstripping to seal your doors and windows.
9. Use Whole-house Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers
Whole-house humidifiers and dehumidifiers control the humidity levels inside your house. They also help your HVAC maintain a more comfortable level and prevent this system from overworking to compensate for poor indoor air quality. You get better energy efficiency and potentially lower utility bills when you include these devices in your HVAC upgrade.
10. Seasonal Maintenance
Seasonal maintenance can also play a significant role in upgrading this system. During routine maintenance, an HVAC technician will check out components like the coils and drain so they remain clean and safe to use. Your technician can also top off the system’s refrigerant, look for holes and cracks in the ducts, and make sure the electrical components work safely.
Find Out How We Can Help
The nearly 40 years’ worth of experience we have with servicing HVAC systems works to your advantage. At JAMCO Heating & Air Conditioning, we work on both residential and commercial HVAC units. Our team can handle complex installation and repairs and offer routine and seasonal HVAC maintenance to keep your system working reliably and your home comfortable all year.
We have the air conditioning and heating upgrade solutions you need for your home. Contact us to learn more!
