Your HVAC system is one of the largest appliances within your home, and as a result will use a massive amount of power throughout the year. However, no matter what the weather outside is like, there are a few simple things that you can do to increase the overall efficiency of your central heating and cooling systems and cut down on your monthly utility bills as a result.

Programmable Thermostat

The simplest thing that you can do to reduce your monthly utility bills without sacrificing the comfort levels within your home is to install a programmable thermostat. You can set these thermostats to turn off when you are not at home or while you are sleeping, but to kick in a short while before you wake up or get home for the day – so you won't notice a difference in the temperature at home, but will notice a difference on your energy bills.

New Air Filters

Both your air conditioner and furnace have air filters that keep dust and other debris out of your vents and ductwork, maintaining the air quality in your home. However, once these air filters have been in service for a few months, they become clogged and prevent the proper circulation of air throughout your home. This causes your air conditioner or furnace to operate longer to provide the same level of heating or cooling. In general, you should replace your air filter at the start of every season, but depending on use and the air quality in your home, you may want to replace the filter more often.

Clean the Vents

In a similar vein to the above point, you should check the condition of the air vents throughout your home. If they are clogged with dust, you will want to vacuum or dust them off to improve general air flow – accomplishing a similar thing to replacing the air filter. You may also want to consider unscrewing the vent cover and cleaning out the area of the ductwork immediately behind. If there is a large accumulation of dust and other material, it may be worth contacting a HVAC professional, like those at Bergmann Heating & Air Conditioning, to clean out all of your ductwork.

Window Treatments

Finally, another way to maintain the temperature within your home is to make use of window treatments like heavy blinds and curtains throughout the year. In the summer months, blocking the sunlight from reaching the interior of your home can help keep the temperature cool. In the winter, switching out the window treatments for heavier fabrics can help trap heat inside instead of transferring through the glass.