Here are four things you can do to improve your HVAC system’s efficiency, reducing fuel usage while cutting down on your utility expenses:

1. Change or clean air filter – Probably the easiest, quickest, and cheapest thing you can do to help your HVAC system run better and at a higher level of efficiency. Furnaces and air conditioners need unobstructed air flow to run properly. A dirty filter blocks that air flow, causing your HVAC system to run harder and waste more fuel to keep up with temperature demands in your home.
2. Conduct regular maintenance – Regular preventative maintenance keeps your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump running efficiently and reliably. You should have your HVAC system inspected and maintenance performed at least annually. Regular maintenance allows a trained eye to assess the condition of your HVAC system and ensures all components are operating as they should. Small problems in your HVAC system can be fixed before they become big headaches.
3. Use a programmable thermostat – Programmable digital thermostats let you control your furnace to a much more precise level than traditional thermostats. You can accurately schedule on and off cycles that reduce how much your heating or cooling system runs when you and your family aren’t at home, which cuts down on unnecessary fuel use.
4. Seal ductwork – Ductwork accounts for a great deal of energy loss in your HVAC system, and in this case, energy loss also means money loss. Leaky ductwork lets air you’ve already paid to heat or cool escape unused. Check all segments of ductwork and ensure they fit tightly together. Seal connections, joints, and elbows with mastic or metal tape. Where you ducts run through unheated parts of your home, insulate the pipes to prevent energy loss through the thin metal of the ductwork itself.

Since 1969, Bradley Mechanical has been Central Virginia’s source for HVAC, plumbing and indoor air quality needs. Contact us todayfor answers to your questions about improving furnace efficiency or to schedule a professional maintenance call.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about efficiency and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Bradley Mechanical services Richmond, Chesterfield, Glenn Allen, Petersburg, Hopewell, Colonial Heights and surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!