What Time Should You Upgrade Your HVAC System?

As the heat and humidity drop, any amount of time you have to spend on making your home more energy efficient and upgrade your HVAC system will be time well spent. Over the years, your HVAC system tends to lose efficiency, as do some elements of your home.

Where to Start

The envelope of your home contributes a good deal to the overall energy efficiency of your home. While you can upgrade your HVAC system without addressing the attic insulation, the air tightness of the walls, or the windows, it’s better to evaluate the basics of your home first.

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends at least 10 inches of insulation in the attic, and for the best protection from the heat, they recommend up to 20 inches. Adding insulation is one of the most cost-effective and affordable projects you can do to stop high energy costs.

Sealing up the walls is another project that has a low-cost, high benefit project ideal for the more comfortable days of fall. Once you find the air leaks by having an energy audit or conducting your own, you can easily and effectively seal them with caulk and expanding foam.

Windows pose a challenge if replacements aren’t in the budget, since upgrading them is costly. However, thermal drapes, window shade screens, and sealing around the frames will help cut high cooling and heating costs.

Dealing with the HVAC System

You may need to upgrade your HVAC system if it:

• Requires frequent repairs.
• Runs more frequently, resulting in high energy bills.
• Has leaking ductwork.
• Doesn’t adequately cool or heat your home.
• Humidity climbs in the summer.
• Is over 15 years old.

If your equipment meets some of these criteria, fall is a good time to talk to your trusted HVAC contractor about upgrading or replacing it, as well as the home energy efficiency improvements you plan to do.

If you upgrade your HVAC system, you can achieving home comfort year-round. To learn more, contact CCAC, Inc., providing trusted HVAC services for Coastal Bend homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.

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