If you’re a commercial building owner in the Birmingham, Alabama area, you probably are looking to trim those high bills you receive each month from your high-energy commercial HVAC system. As a business owner, it is important to keep your costs low and reduce HVAC energy consumption.
Many of the steps a business owner can take to reduce operating costs require little or no expense and are simple to practice. Take a look at the following ways you can trim your commercial HVAC bills and improve the efficiency of your commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.
Regular Maintenance
Your HVAC system is like a car — it needs regular maintenance to perform at optimal levels. A professional and certified HVAC contractor can undertake maintenance checks to ensure the system is not using more energy than it needs to. If a system is too old or is faulty for some reason, it will use more energy than it needs and increase your bills in the end. Proactively seeking to maintain quality checks on the unit will reduce costs in the long run. A technician can clean, tune, and make adjustments to improve efficiency.
Install Energy-Saving Thermostats
An important way to keep efficiency running throughout your business is by setting a comfortable temperature that is just enough. Setting the temperature is taken care of by programmable thermostats, which do all the hard work. You don’t have to worry about constantly moving the temperature up or down. These thermostats focus on reducing costs when indoor spaces are not being used. Thermostats can be tailored to five- or seven-day cycles, where less energy will be used on the weekends.
Duct Cleaning and Sealing
Doing something simple like properly sealing and cleaning ducts can do wonders for your energy efficiency and bottom line. Keeping the heating and cooling ducts clean is beneficial, as it ensures the HVAC system is working better, not harder. If you also properly seal the ducts, you can increase the HVAC efficiency by not allowing air to flow out. The sealing process can use various materials, such as foil tape, and further enclose it with insulation. There are some areas of the building that will need to be focused on, such as storage spaces, which receive no heating or cooling.
Change HVAC Filters
Another simple method to reduce your bills is to change the filters in the HVAC system regularly. If the filters are dirty, it will make the system work harder to pass enough air throughout the building. The air quality is subpar and can lead to higher costs to maintain the proper running of the HVAC system. You should check your filters every three months and change these from one month to three months at a time to reduce costs.
Replace or Upgrade HVAC System
If you have an older HVAC system, you might want to start thinking about replacing or upgrading it. While there may be concerns about the cost of installing a new system, running an older HVAC system past its peak will lead to higher costs and bigger headaches, especially if the system shuts down entirely without warning. If it is more than 10 years old, consider an HVAC system that is built to save energy. Energy Star HVAC systems are recommended and installed by licensed technicians. Deciding to replace your HVAC system will save you money in the long run.
Running a business takes into account reducing unnecessary costs. Why see higher bills now and pay more later for an inefficient HVAC that could easily be taken care of? By following these steps, your business will see a reduction in energy bills. Everyone working for the business will also feel comfortable coming to work, as the building will heat or cool nicely.
If you’re looking to save money and keep your HVAC system working longer and more efficiently, contact One Source Heating, Cooling & Electrical for all your commercial HVAC system needs. We have over 20 years’ experience, are available 24 hours a day, and have NATE-certified technicians work for you. Call us at
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