High Energy Bills: How Much Can You Save With HVAC Maintenance?

Tired of seeing your energy bills rise? You can likely benefit from HVAC services. Since air conditioning expenditures make up 12% of home energy expenditures in the U.S. on average, homeowners can significantly lower their energy bills by investing in HVAC repairs, cleanings, and other routine services. Find out more about the most energy-saving HVAC maintenance services and how much money they can save you. 

1. Routine Filter Replacement

One of the simplest and easiest ways to stop your energy bills from spiking is to routinely change your AC’s filters. Typically, air conditioners need to be replaced every 90-days, but this time frame can change based on the air filter type. When an AC’s filter isn’t changed on its recommended schedule, dirt and dust will build up on the filter and prevent proper airflow.

Without smooth airflow, your HVAC unit will struggle to perform, having to run longer and use up more energy to cool your home. In fact, swapping out an old filter for a new one can reduce your AC’s energy consumption by 5% to 15%.

2. Duct Sealing

Your home’s ductwork is essentially a pathway for your home’s air, allowing air to flow from the AC into various rooms. Your HVAC system will blow cool air through these ducts and out vents to keep your home at your desired temperature. Since all your HVAC system’s air will need to pass through the ducts first, cracks and holes in your ductwork can be a major source of energy loss, with the EPA estimating that leaky ducts can reduce an HVAC system’s efficiency by up to 20%.

If you have cracks or other openings in your ductwork, a lot of the air generated by your AC will escape outdoors while in transit. As a result, your AC will have to run longer and produce even more cold air to get your home to the right temperature. With duct sealing services, an HVAC technician will patch up any holes and ensure no cool air can escape, saving you money on your energy bills in the process.

3. Air Blower Cleaning

Your AC’s air blower is essential to the proper operation and performance of your HVAC system. When the blower’s components aren’t cleaned regularly or have slipped out of the right position, your system’s efficiency can drop by around 15%. By hiring a trained professional to clean and adjust the blower components twice a year, you can ensure you’re not paying extra due to dirty or mispositioned components.

4. HVAC Replacement

Most HVAC systems last around 15 to 20 years, and as they get closer to the end of their typical lifespan, you’ll start to receive diminishing returns from HVAC maintenance. Even the most well taken care of HVAC system will start to have components break down more frequently and will eventually stop working at all. Before a full breakdown occurs, your HVAC system will become more inefficient, leading to poor performance and increased energy consumption.

Since an aging HVAC system can raise your energy bills and require expensive repairs, replacing it can often help you save money in the long term. Replacing your old unit with a new, highly-efficient model can significantly lower your energy bill. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy found that replacing a 10-year-old HVAC system can save homeowners 20% to 40% in cooling energy costs.

Choose Newcomb and Company for Energy-Saving HVAC Maintenance Services in Raleigh

If you’re looking for AC maintenance and HVAC repair near you in Raleigh, Wilmington, or the surrounding areas, turn to Newcomb and Company. Our many HVAC services are designed to cover all your maintenance needs, ensuring your system is running as efficiently as possible. Our HVAC repair services also allow us to correct any issues that might be harming your system's performance, and our custom HVAC design services are perfect for times when you need to replace an old, inefficient unit.

Learn more about our annual maintenance contracts and energy-efficiency services today. If you have any questions or want to schedule an HVAC maintenance service appointment, please contact us.