How Can I Reduce My Energy Bill In an Older Home?
March 08, 2022
More than likely, it's no surprise that the seasons in Arkansas can be brutal, taking a toll on our everyday lives as well as our homes. Those of us with older homes know that an outdated HVAC system can cost a small fortune in utilities during the harshest months of the year. So how do you lower that pesky utility bill without replacing your entire HVAC system? Find out below!
Energy Efficiency
Even in an older home, your best weapon is to strive to make your home as energy-efficient as possible. Implementing the suggested steps below will help your home become more energy-efficient.
Ventilation
Ventilation is a great way to keep your home's energy bill at a minimum while maintaining excellent indoor air quality. While it may not be the best idea to open your windows in the middle of winter, during the fall and spring, when the temperatures are at their best, opening windows and doors can give your HVAC system a break while letting in some fresh air.
Install A Programmable/Smart Thermostat
Programmable thermostats allow you to schedule when you want your air conditioning or heater to be running during the day or night. According to the Department of Energy, using a programmable thermostat in your home can save about 10% on your heating and cooling costs.
HVAC Maintenance:
You've heard it before, and you'll likely hear it from the Mohr team for generations to come. The best thing you can do for your home's efficiency is schedule regular maintenance on your HVAC unit. Your unit from the factory is rated with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER). This rating is when your unit is working at its best, so even if you have a unit with a great SEER, it will not retain this score over time if it is not maintained correctly.
Insulation
Having quality insulation throughout your home can make all the difference when being energy efficient with your heating and cooling. Without good insulation, the hot or cold air produced by your heater or air conditioner would be wasted, forcing your unit to run constantly.
Consider Adding A Variable-Speed Compressor
It's a part of your HVAC system. You might not have guessed it, but most HVAC units are set up to cool or heat your home like it is the hottest or coolest part of the day, whether the sun is out or not! That means there are no in-between settings, and your HVAC system runs on full blast when it is on. So as you can imagine, the air conditioning you're not able to benefit from will still increase your energy consumption and raise your bills.
The variable-speed compressor is a new technology that could fix all of this! With adjustable speed technology, the compressor signals the thermostat and blower motor to adjust the amount of air your system uses to match the temperature outside and combat the humidity in your house. That way, you are only using the energy that you need!
Since the energy consumed by your HVAC makes up about 40% of your utility bill, you will start to see the savings from your variable speed compressor every month!
Long-term Savings
Another great thing about installing a variable speed compressor is its ability to distribute the cold or warm air throughout your home evenly. This is especially great if your house areas are usually colder or warmer than others. With a variable speed compressor, you'll be able to enjoy a home that's more accurately cooled and warmed.
Adding a variable speed compressor means that many parts in your HVAC system will need to be replaced entirely. However, this technology could also be an excellent investment in the long run because it will prolong the life of your HVAC system.
Running at 100% capacity at all times is detrimental to your system and, over time, causes it to break down more quickly. Using a variable-speed compressor and running it on longer and lower settings will allow your HVAC to prevent overwork and last longer.
Basically, a variable-speed compressor allows you to maximize your cooling power and limit the amount of work your AC has to perform. But, of course, a slower, more efficient system will always work better and longer than one that runs in overdrive constantly.