Severe weather can cause your energy bills to skyrocket, especially if your HVAC system is running constantly. But there's good news. Homeowners in Santa Clarita, California, can cut heating and cooling costs and reduce stress on their HVAC system by following effective energy-saving HVAC practices. From scheduling a fall or spring HVAC tune-up to DIY HVAC chores, these minor adjustments can help you keep comfortable and save money.

Here, the professionals at Verona HVAC will share their best heating and cooling tips for HVAC energy efficiency to help you save on utilities without giving up comfort.

1. Contact a Professional for Seasonal HVAC Maintenance

Of all the energy-saving HVAC tips for homeowners, one that often has the greatest impact is seasonal HVAC maintenance. Scheduling professional furnace maintenance in the fall and air conditioning maintenance in the spring is a great way to make sure these systems are in peak condition and ready for the winter and summer seasons. It's also a smart time to detect and resolve any signs of inefficiency, worn-out parts or brewing problems—saving you from avoidable HVAC repair and potentially extending the life of your heating and cooling equipment. 

2. Use Programmable Thermostat Settings to Your Advantage

Programmable thermostats offer many ways to conserve power. In summer, set your thermostat to automatically adjust upward when you're not home. In winter, set the temperature to decrease a few degrees while the home is unoccupied and warm back up when you get back. Even a small temperature shift can save a lot of energy.

Push your savings up a notch with a smart thermostat. One of the many smart thermostat benefits is their ability to learn your routines and automatically fine-tune your home temperature. This means smart thermostats can increase your energy efficiency—and you don't have to manually change the temperature.

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

Air leaks around windows, doors and in your ductwork enable 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. Fixing leaky ductwork, making sure you have adequate insulation and blocking drafts all help prevent energy waste by allowing your HVAC system to work less in order to maintain a stable indoor temperature.

4. Perform Seasonal DIY HVAC Maintenance

In addition to scheduling a technician for professional HVAC maintenance, you can reduce energy bills by handling these home HVAC maintenance tips:

  • Sweep away debris like sticks, dried leaves and shrubs from around your outdoor AC unit in spring
  • Clean the coils of the outdoor air conditioning equipment in spring
  • Follow a regular HVAC air filter replacement schedule: Check your system's filter monthly, replacing if dirty or every 90 days
  • Make sure air vents and registers are open and unblocked
  • Check your thermostat settings, ensuring it's on cool mode in summer and heating mode in winter

5. Replace Aging, Inefficient Units with Energy-Efficient HVAC Systems

Improve energy efficiency by replacing outdated HVAC equipment with modern high-efficiency HVAC systems. Keep an eye out for ENERGY STAR®-rated HVAC equipment, which operates more efficiently than un-rated units. When looking for cooling equipment, check for a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating. Unsure what SEER means? The basic 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 numbers are important because energy-efficient HVAC systems can really help reduce energy bills and boost comfort throughout the year.

Work with Verona HVAC to Prevent HVAC Energy Waste All Year

When it comes to making your home a more comfortable place Verona HVAC is the HVAC company Santa Clarita, California, locals turn to for their furnace, AC, heat pump and more. From seasonal HVAC tips like these to selecting and setting up new HVAC equipment, we provide reliable service all year. Call 661-449-9765 today for Santa Clarita, California, HVAC service you can count on.