Owning a home comes with a number of bills you have to take care off. If you don’t look for ways to keep these bills low, they can really begin to pile up. One of the most expensive bills is your energy bill. If your HVAC system is inefficient, it can drastically increase your energy bill and take away money that you could be spending in other ways.
Whether you just bought a new home, or haven’t checked your HVAC system’s efficiency levels in a while, it is important to know if your HVAC system is wasting energy. B&L Ott in Reading, PA is here to help with this guide to testing your HVAC’s efficiency levels.
Why is it Important to Know the Efficiency Levels of My HVAC System?
Make Sure Your System is Functioning Properly, Not Just Functioning
It is easy to just make sure your HVAC system is running and call it a day. However, if you stick to this tactic, you may not realize that there is something wrong with your system. Not every problem is obvious and if left unattended, small problems will turn into major repairs. Be sure to call B&L Ott at least twice a year to make sure your system is running properly.
Save Money
When a system isn’t functioning properly, its ability to heat or cool the home effectively and efficiently is reduced. Then it will spend more energy to warm or cool your home to your desired temperature. If left without maintenance for long enough, you will end up with high energy bills and expensive repairs.
Make Sure Your System Reaches Its Full Life Expectancy
A problem that reduces efficiency can eventually lead to a total system shutdown. Think about your HVAC system like a car. If you neglect oil changes, that car will still drive, but may not be functioning properly. Before you know it the motor will seize before the car reaches its life expectancy. A neglected HVAC system will do the same. That is why B&L Ott recommends testing your system biannually to make sure it is producing the correct amount of heat or cooling.
What Factors Contribute to an HVAC System’s Efficiency?
As your system ages, it can often suffer from efficiency degradation. Many factors can cause this.
Dirt Buildup
Over time the dirt that runs through your system will build up, especially if you don’t change your filter often enough. This dirt will clog your system and cause more wear and tear on the components. The best ways to avoid problems is to change your filter regularly and contact B&L Ott for routine maintenance.
Failing Components
Over time, the mechanisms in your system will experience wear and tear. Eventually, certain components will fail and make it more difficult for the other parts to work efficiently. This can lead to more costly problems. By scheduling an inspection with B&L Ott regularly, we can catch failing parts and replace them before they cause problems with the rest of the machine.
System Not Installed Properly
Just because a system is rated at a certain efficiency, does not mean it will run at that efficiency. Systems that were not properly installed, commissioned, tested and balanced will not operate at their rated efficiencies.
Every home or business building is different, and that means that each HVAC system may need to be installed in a slightly different way. When systems are not properly set up, rated efficiency and delivered efficiency become two very different things. B&L Ott understands this principle and will thoroughly analyze your home or building’s needs and plan for a proper HVAC installation.
How Can I Tell If There Is an Efficiency Problem?
The best method for an owner to realize there might be an efficiency problem with their system is to monitor their energy bills. If you notice a drastic change in your energy bills, you should call B&L Ott for a diagnostic evaluation.
You should compare your energy bills month by month, as well as compare the same month each year to last year of the same month. If you have a heat pump and notice a huge increase in your electric bills, you should call B&L Ott right away.
How Can I Help Maintain My System’s Efficiency?
There are two important things you should do to make sure your system runs at its top efficiency.
Change Your Filter Regularly
The first thing you can do is to make sure your filter is replaced routinely. If you have a 1″ filter, change it every 30 days. Ignore whatever the filter says. Some say 60-day or 90-day, but make sure you replace the filter every 30 days!
Call B&L OTT for Maintenance
The best way to make sure your system is running in tip-top shape is to have B&L Ott’s professionals take a look at it. Our technicians are trained to catch even the smallest of problems. We can improve your efficiency in a variety of ways including:
- Routine maintenance checkups.
- Installing systems that improve the air quality in your home.
- Cleaning the air ducts.
- Cleaning the coils.
- Balancing the airflow.
- Verifying that you have an accurate, digital, programmable thermostat.
B&L Ott will also help verify that all of these tools and systems are being used properly. We can teach you how your system works by addressing any concerns and answering any questions you may have.
