Emergency Heating And AC Repair: Helpful Ways To Save More Energy At Home | Richardson, TX
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The easiest way to save energy at home is by changing your habits and ensuring proper maintenance of your appliances, especially your heating and cooling system. In the winter, you’ll most likely use your HVAC almost every day to stay warm and comfortable. While the best way to conserve energy is by lowering the temperature, it helps to know other ways of conserving energy and saving money.
We’ll discuss helpful tips to help you conserve energy. We will also help you find and fix air leaks to save more money. If you need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to an emergency heating and AC repair service technician in Richardson, TX.
Easy tips to save energy:
Utilize Ceiling Fans
In the winter, you would want to get the heated air moving around your living spaces, and a fan can effectively help you distribute the warm air around. As a result, you can save on your heating costs, and it prevents strain on the HVAC system that may lead to costly emergency heating and AC repairs.
It’s also important to reverse the rotation of the fan during winter. It should be clockwise in the colder months and counterclockwise in the summer. Do you need more assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact an emergency heating and AC repair service technician in Richardson, TX?
Set the Thermostat One Degree Higher or Lower
Consider setting the thermostat at least one degree lower during the colder months to save more energy and money. But make sure that you’re also dressed up for the winter to stay warm and comfortable. You may go one or two more degrees lower and conserve more energy. Do the same when summer comes.
You can help your HVAC system by doing the suggested tip above. It extends its lifespan and prevents costly emergency heating and AC repairs.
Use Solar Energy
Take the pressure off your system by opening up shades and curtains during the daytime and letting natural light warm up your home. Then, close them down during summer so your AC won’t have to work harder.
Don’t Expose Your System to Direct Sunlight
Don’t place your HVAC system directly to sunlight as it will strain the system and use up more energy. You’ll only end up with higher bills and calling for emergency heating and AC repairs. Instead, position it in a cooler area and ensure that nothing is obstructing airflow. If you need more help, don’t hesitate to reach out to an emergency HVAC repair service technician near you.
Seal the Ductwork
When you have leaky ductwork, it means that your HVAC system will use up a lot of energy. It will lead to higher bills and emergency heating and AC repair services. It’s also essential to check your ductwork from time to time and ensure it’s not contaminated with rodents or buildup of dirt. Contact a technician in your area if you need help to clean or seal the ductwork.
Get a Routine Checkup
One of the most effective ways to save energy on your HVAC system is getting a regular checkup. Do this at least a month before winter and summer. A routine inspection ensures that your heating and cooling system is in top shape. Any problems that may lead to emergency heating and AC repair services in the future will be addressed. When scheduling a regular inspection, do ensure that you’re hiring a qualified technician. A poor routine checkup can lead to more costly repairs down the road.
Get in touch with One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating as our technicians are licensed and highly experienced to take care of routine inspections, repairs, maintenance, or installations.
Clean the Unit Including the Filters
Besides getting a regular checkup from a licensed professional, ensure that you also clean the components of your HVAC, including the filters.
Dirt or dust buildup in the unit and the filters can affect the unit’s efficiency. It will consume more energy and may lead to system breakdowns in the future. Clean or replace the filters every two to three months and follow the manufacturer’s recommendation on how to clean or replace the filters properly.
Hire Licensed Technicians for Repairs
If you suspect there might be issues with your heating or cooling system, please only work with qualified professionals to ensure a permanent solution to the problem. Inexperienced or unlicensed technicians may cut corners and not permanently resolve the issue. It may end up with a more damaged system or costly emergency heating and AC repairs services down the road. Get in touch with One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating to ensure you’re getting exceptional services on every appointment.
Buy an Energy-Efficient System
If you’re shopping for a new heating and cooling system, consider switching to high-efficient furnaces or air conditioners. These systems are designed to use less energy with the same comfort. While they can be a little pricey, you get to save money in the long run. For installation, however, do make sure to always work with a licensed and experienced technician to avoid poor installation issues. Contact us right away if you’re planning to get a new unit installed so we can help.
How to Find Air Leaks
One of the best ways to take charge of your energy bill is finding and sealing the air leaks in your home. Unfortunately, leaks can also make your HVAC work harder and lead to emergency heating and AC repair. To avoid calling a technician in Richardson, TX, for repairs, ensure that you find and completely seal the leaks in your home. We have prepared a helpful guide to help you find leaks:
An average home has air leaks that add up to about a 2 square foot hole, equivalent to opening a medium-sized window wide open for 24 hours. This can significantly add up to your utility bills and eventually lead to emergency heating and AC repairs.
Start with an energy audit to check for air leakage in your home. A professional auditor can find leaks that an average homeowner would miss.
What’s a blower door test?
The auditor will likely conduct a blower door test if you hire a professional to do a home energy audit. The test involves tightly sealing your home and then blowing a special fan that will depressurize your home. It’s done before and after your home is completely sealed so that the professional can compare home air leaks and provide you with cost-effective solutions to save energy and help prevent emergency heating and AC repair.
What happens during a blower door test:
After the home is sealed, a special fan is mounted to your doorway, and it blows air out of your home to depressurize it. Higher outside pressure will then force air through the openings in your home, and the auditor will measure this. According to Energy.gov, an average homeowner can save 5 to 30 percent of the energy bill by simply sealing air leaks in your home. In turn, this can also help your HVAC system — it will no longer work harder; it becomes more efficient and prevents emergency heating and AC repairs.
Other ways to find air leaks in your home:
If you don’t want to hire a professional to do a home energy audit, you can also check for air leaks in your homes. Below are some of our helpful tips:
- Check for any gaps or cracks inside your home. The spots you need to check include electrical outlets, door and window frames, phone and cable lines, vents and fans. Always be on the lookout for any gaps and cracks, and make sure that you completely seal them. You’ll notice a change in your energy bills after sealing all the cracks or gaps in your home. You are also helping out our heating or cooling system at the same time. It won’t have to work harder to give you the same comfort level, and it also prevents calling a technician in Richardson, TX, for emergency heating and AC repairs.
- Try to hold a piece of paper in areas with suspected leaks. You’ll know there is a leak as the paper moves. Seal it immediately.
- Use a flashlight method to test for leaks. You will need to ask a family member to help you out. If you suspect any gaps, ask a family member to shine a flashlight through the gaps from the inside. Do this when it’s dark outside. Stand outside and check if light seeps through.
- Check your home’s insulation. The insulation in your walls plays a significant role in preventing air leaks. It ensures that the heated or cooled air stays inside. As a result, your HVAC won’t have to work harder. It also prevents calling a technician in Richardson, TX, for emergency heating and AC repairs.
Remember, air leaks can develop in places that are so easy to miss. The more leaks you find, the more energy you get to save every month.
Some of the common areas of air leaks include:
- Attic air sealing and knew walls
- Porch roof
- Ducts
- Whole-house fan
- Fireplace well
- Windows and doors
- Attic access
- Chimney shaft
- Floor and foundation
How to Seal Air Leaks in Your Home
When your home is completely sealed, your HVAC will be more efficient, and you get to save money on your utility bills every month. And as mentioned, it also prevents emergency heating and AC repairs. Below are some tips to help you seal air leaks in your home:
Add Weatherstripping in the Windows and Doors
Use the right weatherstripping for sealing your windows and doors. If you have sliding or double-hung windows, consider using V-shape or V-strip weatherstripping to seal them. A Rolled-vinyl gasket is used for the bottom of your doors. Contact a professional if you need assistance to help you seal your windows and doors. You may also consider installing energy-efficient windows to help your HVAC system. Contact an emergency heating and AC repair service technician today for issues with your heating and cooling systems.
Caulking
Caulking is helpful if you want to seal gaps or cracks. It’s essential to pick the right caulking for effectively sealing the cracks or gaps. To apply caulk, ensure that you clean the areas first and remove old caulk if there are any. Next, apply the caulk to all joints in the window frames and caulk in a straight continuous stream. It’s important to ensure that the caulk sticks to both sides. Contact a professional in Richardson, TX, if you need assistance. For issues with your heating and cooling, please don’t hesitate to reach out to an emergency heating and AC repair service.
Work on Your Home’s Insulation
You can choose from three different types of wall insulation for your home:
Spray foam wall insulation – This option is ideal for adding or increasing the amount of insulation in your existing walls.
Block wall insulation – This is a foam board placed on the inside of the wall to improve insulation. It’s ideal for your unfinished basement.
Blown wall insulation – Ideal for existing walls and difficult to reach places. You may need special equipment for this. It’s best to contact a professional for assistance.
Having good insulation can make your home energy-efficient. It also prevents emergency heating and AC repairs as you won’t strain your HVAC system.
Get In Touch With One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas
Do you need emergency heating and AC repair for your home in Richardson, TX? Reach out to us today! We have a team of professional technicians that will never cut corners when it comes to installation or repairs. We always make sure that your heating and cooling system is in top shape. Also, we’re fully equipped, so there’s no need to schedule another appointment. Our team will resolve the issue on the same day. Get in touch with us today for an appointment!
