Did you know that the average household spends nearly $1,100 per year on a home’s heating and cooling costs? Homes with inefficient heating and cooling systems and energy leaks can see energy bills in excess of $3,000 per year. The sizable cost of keeping your home temperate is the reason it’s critical to assess your HVAC system.
What is HVAC, you ask. HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, and this system is responsible for moving warmed, cool, or dehumidified air throughout your home. Since HVAC uses the greatest amount of energy in your home, it’s a wise idea to make sure that your HVAC system is as energy-efficient as possible.
How can you tell if your HVAC system is energy efficient? The first steps in assessing whether or not you need a new HVAC system are getting a Home Energy Assessment to determine where your home is leaking energy, fixing your home energy leaks, and then determining which pieces of HVAC equipment need to be replaced. Here are some signs that a replacement may be in order.
Does your equipment need frequent repairs?
Frequent repairs can be a sign of a slowly failing system or of energy inefficiency. It may be time to invest in a new, energy-efficient HVAC system.
Is your furnace or boiler more than 15 years old?
If your furnace or boiler is entering its teenage years, it may be time to part ways. We would recommend considering an energy-efficient model for your next purchase. ENERGY STAR furnaces are 15% more energy-efficient than conventional furnaces, and that ENERGY STAR boilers are 5% more efficient than a standard model. Many states including Florida offer fantastic energy rebates on the purchase of energy-efficient heating and cooling systems.
Is your heat pump or air conditioner more than 10 years old?
If your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old, it is likely not running as efficiently as it should. If you are considering replacing your heat pump or air conditioner, we recommend opting for an ENERGY STAR labeled appliance, which can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs.
Is your heating or cooling system noisy?
If you’re heating or cooling system is making noise, it’s likely not just trying to wish you good morning. Noisy heating and cooling systems can be indicative of an undersized duct system or a problem with the indoor coil of your coil equipment.
If you have answered yes to any of the energy efficiency questions above, it is possible that your HVAC system is not energy efficient, or needs to be replaced. At Wattson Home Solutions, we provide home energy assessments that can help determine if you may need a new HVAC system.
Remember that while the prospect of replacing your HVAC system may be financially daunting, having an energy-efficient HVAC system is great for your wallet in the long term and will reduce your energy spending considerably. It’s also wonderful for the environment!