Top Spring HVAC Upgrades to Increase Energy Efficiency in Vancouver, WA
Spring is the best time to inspect and improve your home’s central comfort system to ensure it functions optimally before the temperatures rise. Make these top spring HVAC upgrades to increase your system’s energy efficiency in Vancouver, WA.
Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat
Upgrade your HVAC system by installing a smart thermostat. This device lets you create heating and cooling schedules to save you money while promoting better energy efficiency.
Many of these smart thermostats also have mobile apps that make them more convenient to use. Smart thermostats additionally have learning features that allow them to learn your preferences and adjust your home’s temperature automatically based on your preferences and daily routine.
Use High-Efficiency Filters
Use high-efficiency filters in your HVAC unit. They improve air quality by trapping pollutants and smaller particles.
Examples of high-efficiency HVAC filters include:
- HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters
- MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) 13 to 16 filters
- Electrostatic filters
- Activated carbon filters
You should change your HVAC unit’s filters every two to three months to optimize its function and reduce its energy use.
Seal Your Ductwork
Keep your HVAC system’s ductwork sealed. Loose ducts and openings, like punctures or cracks, let in air and moisture. These elements reduce your HVAC system’s airflow and force the unit to work harder. Use materials like foil-backed tape or mastic sealant to seal the ductwork.
Upgrade and Install New Insulation
Adding new insulation in your home enhances HVAC efficiency. Insulate areas like the:
- Attic
- Walls
- Floors
- Windows and doors
- Ductwork
Add insulation to the basement and foundation to maintain a stable temperature in your home.
Likewise, upgrading to a higher-quality insulation helps your HVAC system function more efficiently. Consider using fiberglass batt insulation, which is more affordable and easier to install.
You can also choose from insulation materials like spray foam, blown-in cellulose, rigid foam boards, and mineral wool. Use reflective insulation in the attic to reflect radiant heat away from your house.
Inspect and Replace Weatherstripping
Inspect and replace weatherstripping to improve HVAC energy efficiency. You should keep weatherstripping around:
- Exterior doors
- Windows
- Attic hatches
- Basement doors
You should also install it along the tracks of your sliding doors to create a better seal when the doors are closed.
Use weatherstripping made from foam tape, metal, rubber, vinyl, or felt. V-strip (tension seal) and door sweeps also work well to keep out air drafts.
Install Energy Recovery Ventilators
Install energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) in your home. These systems improve your home’s air quality and HVAC energy efficiency by transferring moisture and heat between outgoing and incoming streams of air. They also help regulate the humidity inside your home and could lower your heating and cooling costs in Vancouver.
Run Your Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans help your HVAC system run more efficiently in the spring. During the warmer months, circulate your ceiling fans counterclockwise to move air downward to create a cool breeze. As spring and summer end, change the fans’ direction and run them at a slower speed to push warm air back down along the walls.
Pair Your HVAC System With Solar Panels
Pair your home’s heating and cooling system with solar panels. Solar panels reduce energy consumption by between 40% to 50%.
They create renewable energy for your HVAC system to use to maintain your home’s indoor temperature. They also lower your home’s carbon footprint and lessen its dependence on the local power grid.
Opt for Demand-Controlled Ventilation
Invest in demand-controlled ventilation to increase energy efficiency. This system adjusts the amount of outdoor air that your HVAC system brings into the house based on real-time comfort needs. It utilizes sensors, such as those for carbon monoxide detection, occupancy and humidity detection, to monitor your home’s environment.
It will also reduce the ventilation when your home is not occupied, or the air quality is sufficient. When the system detects higher occupancy and indoor activity, it will increase ventilation.
Add UV Lights
Add ultraviolet lights to your HVAC system to help with energy efficiency. These lights improve indoor air quality by emitting UV-C radiation, which targets and eliminates microorganisms like fungi, viruses, and bacteria.
You can choose from coil sterilization or air sterilization UV lights. Coil sterilization UV lights sit near the HVAC unit’s coils to prevent microbial growth while maintaining energy efficiency. Air sterilization UV lights go inside the air ducts to treat air as it passes through to provide your home with cleaner air distribution.
Upgrade to a Heat Pump
If you have an older HVAC system in your home, consider upgrading to a heat pump. A heat pump is an energy-efficient device that keeps your house cool by removing heat from the inside air and then releasing it outdoors. It is environmentally friendly, cost-effective and works in any kind of climate.
Choose an ENERGY STAR HVAC System
An ENERGY STAR-rated HVAC system uses less energy than standard HVAC models and meets EPA standards. It saves you money on energy costs and reduces greenhouse gas emissions without sacrificing performance or your indoor comfort. Installing an HVAC system with the ENERGY STAR label typically gives you advanced technology, improved heat exchangers, and variable-speed motors.
Consider a Geothermal HVAC System
Similarly, consider a geothermal HVAC system to conserve energy. It is an eco-friendly, highly efficient indoor home comfort system that uses natural heat to regulate indoor temperatures.
Its components include ground loops that circulate water or an antifreeze solution to absorb heat from the ground. It also has a heat pump and a ductwork or radiant floor heating system to distribute heat or cooled air throughout your home.
Switch to Variable-Speed Blowers
Variable speed blowers allow the fan in your HVAC system to run at different speeds to match the cooling or heating needs of your home. They can run at lower speeds for prolonged periods when your home needs less air circulation. They operate quietly, control indoor humidity and help your HVAC unit run more efficiently.
Rethink Your Thermostat Placement
Move your thermostat to improve HVAC energy efficiency. Choose a central location to ensure the thermostat accurately measures the air’s temperature. Avoid placing it in isolated rooms or within the corner rooms.
Additionally, keep it away from heat sources like appliances and direct sunlight. Avoid spots with drafts, such as areas near the doors, windows, and air vents.
To reap the best benefit, mount the thermostat about five feet off the ground for ideal air temperature sensing. It’s best to install the thermostat in frequently used areas like the living room so it reflects the air temperature where you and your family need the most comfort.
Upgrade to a Mini-Split System
A mini-split HVAC system lets you create zones in your house. It maximizes energy efficiency during the spring and summer by allowing you to keep some parts of the house warmer than others. You avoid paying money to cool rooms that you do not use as often.
Schedule Springtime Maintenance
Hire one of our HVAC technicians to maintain your system every spring. Yearly tune-ups ensure optimal performance and address minor issues, such as a loose hose, that can become larger and more expensive problems to fix later. Spring maintenance also helps your HVAC system last longer and use energy more efficiently.
Choose Our Team for Your Spring HVAC Upgrades
Customers in the Vancouver area have chosen our HVAC company for their homes’ HVAC upgrades for more than 20 years. We also install new heating and cooling systems and service windows and ductwork. Our technicians provide our customers with free estimates. Contact Revival Heating & Cooling to ask about spring HVAC upgrades today.