A home’s HVAC system is often its top energy consumer, with HVAC operation accounting for 40% to 50% of most household budgets. This also means that an HVAC system accounts for much of a household’s environmental impact. Worse, aging HVAC systems tend to become less efficient and therefore less eco-friendly. There are, however, ways to mitigate the environmental impact of your HVAC system as it ages.
Bi-Annual Maintenance
Annually tuning up an HVAC system is a good idea regardless of its age. Once your unit exceeds 15 years of age, though, you should assume it needs checkups and tuning at least twice a year. If your household heavily uses the HVAC system, you may even want to consider seasonal tune-ups.
The big reason for scheduling regular HVAC maintenance for an older system is that its efficiency declines about 5% to 10% every year it goes without attention. Many of the potential causes seem minor, but they add up.
For example, a lack of regular lubrication can cause moving parts, like fans and blower motors, to wear out. Poorly lubricated systems move less air, and the HVAC system has to work harder and longer to produce the same results. The net effect isn’t great for your utility bills or the environment. Fortunately, our technicians perform lubrication as part of our standard tune-up.
A good maintenance schedule can address a host of issues that make an HVAC system a bit of an environmental menace. Something as simple as performing filter replacements can boost efficiency by perhaps 10%. The improved airflow ensures that the HVAC system doesn’t have to apply lots of pressure to overcome gunk in the filters. We also check thermostat performance and communication to ensure that your HVAC system is operating within a reasonable range around the actual target temperature. Small adjustments can go a long way toward preventing an HVAC system from cycling more often.
Coil cleaning for the AC is also very important. Keeping the evaporator and condenser coils clean allows the system to operate as efficiently as possible by promoting heat exchange. Clean coils are also less likely to corrode and leak refrigerant, one of the biggest environmental problems in an older HVAC system.
Install a Smart Thermostat
Installing a smart thermostat is a small upgrade, but adding a smart thermostat to an older HVAC system can make a noticeable difference. A smart thermostat can track system performance and optimize it based on data. This significantly reduces unnecessary run times and frequencies, making the HVAC system more environmentally friendly.
The programmability of a smart thermostat also makes it more ecologically sound. Your smart thermostat can reduce operation when you’re away, lowering energy consumption. It can also detect when you’re close to getting home, so it can ramp up heating or air conditioning as needed. The net effect is that your HVAC system runs more efficiently without reducing your overall comfort.
Even if you opt for a high-grade smart thermostat, the payback period tends to be short. Most smart thermostats will pay for themselves in reduced costs within 6 to 18 months. Consequently, installing a smart thermostat is one of the first upgrades we recommend to all our HVAC customers.
Even better, nearly all smart thermostats will be compatible with any future HVAC system you install. If you’re trying to get the most out of your aging system, you can still be comfortable knowing that the smart thermostat will work when the time comes to get a new system. Again, this makes putting in a smart thermostat an easy decision for most homeowners.
Ductwork and Duct Cleaning
A home’s air ducts often have a surprisingly negative impact on its HVAC performance. Accumulated dust in the ductwork can impair energy efficiency by as much as 15%. Heat transfer is worse in dirty ducts. Also, airflow tends to be poorer. The net effect is increased system strain, leading to premature failure of parts like the compressor and capacitors. You should schedule duct cleaning once every two to three years to maximize performance and minimize environmental impact.
It’s also a good idea to hunt down leaks in the ductwork. Even a small gap between two sections of ductwork can leak significant amounts of heated or cooled air. Sealing leaks can improve efficiency by as much as 20%.
Refrigerant Replacement
Refrigerant tends to be one of the greatest environmental threats posed by an aging HVAC system. Older refrigerants pose two to three times the global warming potential of the newest types. Replacing the refrigerant is also a good time to check the lines and connections in an AC or heat pump to ensure there aren’t any leaks.
Note that replacing the refrigerant in your HVAC system is purely a job for our technicians. You should never try to perform the work yourself. Our technicians are licensed to safely remove and dispose of older refrigerants. We also have the needed equipment to properly add and charge a new refrigerant type.
Dehumidification
Every bit of burden you can take off an older HVAC system makes it more eco-friendly. One of the best ways to unburden an HVAC system is to add a whole-house dehumidifier to the system. A good dehumidifier tied to a high-quality smart thermostat should be able to keep your home in the ideal range between 30% and 50% humidity. This range discourages dust formation, promotes filtration, and prevents mold growth. These all encourage better performance.
Dehumidified air also has a lower thermal mass. Consequently, your HVAC system will spend less energy heating it during the winter and cooling it down in the summer. This makes the HVAC system more efficient and environmentally sound.
Selective Upgrades
It can be hard to argue for replacing an older HVAC system if it still runs well. However, you might want to perform selective upgrades. For example, we encourage folks in this part of Georgia to consider upgrading the AC because it tends to get the most work in our climate, which is warm and moist much of the year. You can then target a heating upgrade down the road.
Another upgrade worth considering is switching the HVAC system to a variable-speed drive. This type of system runs the system more steadily, eliminating the energy-expensive hard stops and starts of a traditional design. The added efficiency also makes the HVAC system more environmentally friendly.
You may also want to choose upgrades that match the available incentives. If your utility company offers a rebate or a reduced rate for adopting a high-efficiency AC, then that might be your best target for a selective upgrade.
Want to Get an HVAC Upgrade? Call Today!
Precision Heating & Air is happy to talk with customers from Dallas, GA, and the surrounding areas about their older HVAC systems. We perform AC installations, repairs, and maintenance on heating and cooling systems. You can even talk with us about the benefits of newer technologies, like heat pumps and ductless mini-split ACs.
Our business has been around since 1985, and it’s family-owned and operated. Every product we sell comes with an excellent warranty from a recognizable and respected manufacturer. We also proudly guarantee customer satisfaction. Contact Precision Heating & Air now to learn how to mitigate the environmental impact of your Dallas home’s aging HVAC system.
