You can save money and improve your indoor air quality by upgrading your HVAC system. Improvements can also lower your utility bills, prevent inconvenient, expensive breakdowns, and make your Spring Lake, North Carolina, home more comfortable. Some of the most popular upgrades are programmable thermostats, indoor air quality monitors, air purifiers, and ventilators.
Programmable Thermostats
You can use a programmable thermostat to save energy by running your HVAC system less when you’re asleep, at work, or on vacation. You can set a programmable thermostat to turn your heater or air conditioner down when you go to work or go to sleep, and then return your home to a more comfortable temperature about half an hour before you wake up or come home.
You can control many models from your computer, smartphone, or tablet; and most have touchscreens as well. Many programmable thermostats also let you set temperature zones so you won’t have to condition unoccupied areas and every family member can choose the most comfortable temperature for the room they’re using.
Indoor Air Quality Monitors
Indoor air quality monitors measure pollutants like dust and volatile organic chemicals or VOCs. Until recently, these devices cost thousands of dollars, but now they’re available for less than $200. They let you know when you should clean your home, change your HVAC system’s air filter, or have your system inspected by a professional. This saves energy and prevents asthma and allergy symptoms.
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers, also called air cleaners, use air filters to remove dust, dirt, mold spores, pollen and other contaminants from your home. If your air cleaner has a high MERV or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, you can even use it to get rid of bacteria and viruses. Keeping pollutants out of your ductwork and your HVAC system will also prevent breakdown and increase airflow, which increases efficiency.
A whole-home air cleaner connects directly to your ductwork to filter all the air in your home, while a less expensive portable air purifier can clean the air in one or two rooms at once. You can move it from room to room as needed.
Ventilators
An energy recovery ventilator or ERV removes stale air and brings fresh air into your home. It also works like a heat pump to heat or cool air before it comes into your home, saving energy. You should also have exhaust fans installed in your bathrooms and kitchen to remove excess moisture and pollutants from cooking. Use them when you cook or take a shower.
Dehumidifiers
High humidity encourages mold growth and makes the air inside your home feel warmer. During North Carolina’s hot humid summer, a dehumidifier can make you and your family feel cooler. That way, you can use your air conditioner less and save energy. A dehumidifier also helps prevent rot, mold growth, and pests. Like a whole-home air cleaner, a whole-home dehumidifier attaches directly to your ductwork to dehumidify your entire home.
UV Lamps
A UV air purifier, also called a UV lamp, kills mold, dust mites, bacteria, and viruses by damaging their DNA with light that has a shorter wavelength than visible light. This improves your indoor air quality and reduces asthma and allergy symptoms.
Use a coil sterilization lamp on your HVAC system’s outdoor unit to stop mold growth caused by condensation. You can also install an air sterilization UV lamp inside your ductwork. They’re more expensive, but they use less energy because they only turn on when your HVAC system is running. Some UV lamps have an indicator that glows when the light is on. You should replace your UV lamp once per year and clean it with isopropyl alcohol once per month to keep it working efficiently. Take care of this whenever you change your HVAC system’s air filter.
Bass Air Conditioning Company is a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer with almost 65 years of experience. We can help you install, maintain, and repair a wide variety of equipment to make your home more comfortable and your HVAC system more efficient. Call us anytime at (910) 672-8885 for excellent service from our NATE-certified technicians.
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