How to lower your heating and cooling bills is a common concern for homeowners in Englewood, CO and throughout the Denver Metro area, especially when temperatures swing from cold winter nights to hot summer afternoons. Your HVAC system is responsible for a significant portion of your home’s energy use, so even small improvements in efficiency can make a noticeable difference in monthly utility costs.
Reducing heating and cooling costs does not necessarily mean sacrificing comfort. Proper HVAC maintenance, smart thermostat settings, improved airflow, insulation, air sealing, and timely equipment upgrades can all help your home maintain comfortable temperatures while using less energy.
Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance
Routine HVAC maintenance is one of the most effective ways to keep heating and cooling costs under control. Furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps operate more efficiently when components are clean, properly adjusted, and functioning as intended.
A professional HVAC technician can inspect the system for problems that may be increasing energy consumption. Catching these issues early may also help prevent unexpected breakdowns and expensive repairs.
Keep Your Heating System Running Efficiently
Colorado winters can put significant demand on a furnace or heat pump. Before the coldest weather arrives, heating system maintenance can help ensure the equipment is prepared for extended operation.
A heating maintenance visit may include checking burners, electrical connections, safety controls, airflow, the blower assembly, and other important components. The technician can also look for signs of wear or performance problems that could cause the system to work harder than necessary.
When a furnace struggles to heat the home because of restricted airflow or mechanical problems, it may run longer to reach the thermostat setting. Longer heating cycles can contribute to higher energy bills.
Prepare Your Air Conditioner for Summer
Air conditioning maintenance is equally important before temperatures climb across Englewood and the Denver area. Dirty coils, airflow problems, worn components, and other issues can reduce cooling efficiency.
Professional AC maintenance gives a technician an opportunity to inspect the system and identify problems before peak cooling season. An air conditioner that can transfer heat efficiently typically has an easier time maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures.
Change Your HVAC Air Filter Regularly
A dirty HVAC filter can restrict airflow through your heating and cooling system. When airflow is limited, the equipment may need to work harder or run longer to heat or cool the home.
Check your filter regularly and replace it according to the filter manufacturer’s recommendations and the needs of your household. Homes with pets, significant dust, remodeling activity, or heavy HVAC use may require more frequent filter changes.
Signs that it may be time to check the filter include:
- Weak airflow coming from supply vents
- A visibly dirty or clogged filter
- Longer heating or cooling cycles
- Increased dust around the home
- Higher energy bills without an obvious explanation
Avoid assuming that the thickest or highest-rated filter is automatically the best choice. Your HVAC system needs adequate airflow, and some systems are not designed for highly restrictive filters. An HVAC professional can help determine an appropriate filter for your equipment.
Use Your Thermostat More Efficiently
Thermostat settings have a direct impact on heating and cooling costs. The greater the difference between the outdoor temperature and the temperature you want indoors, the harder your HVAC system generally has to work.
Adjusting the thermostat when you are sleeping or away from home can reduce unnecessary heating and cooling.
Consider a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
A programmable or smart thermostat can make temperature adjustments automatically based on your household’s schedule. Instead of remembering to change the temperature every time you leave, you can create a schedule that reduces HVAC operation when full heating or cooling is unnecessary.
Depending on the model, smart thermostats may also provide features such as:
- Custom heating and cooling schedules
- Remote temperature adjustments
- Energy-use information
- Maintenance reminders
- Temperature and comfort settings for different times of day
The goal is not to make your house uncomfortable. It is to avoid paying to maintain the same temperature when nobody is home or when a modest adjustment would go unnoticed.
Seal Air Leaks Around Your Home
Even an efficient HVAC system can produce high energy bills if conditioned air constantly escapes from the house.
Air leaks around windows, doors, plumbing penetrations, attic access points, and other openings allow heated or cooled air to escape. At the same time, outdoor air can enter the home and create drafts or uncomfortable temperature changes.
Weatherstripping and caulk can help address many common leaks around doors and windows. Larger or less obvious air leakage problems may require a more thorough home energy assessment.
Reducing air leakage helps your home hold onto the heating and cooling your HVAC system has already produced.
Improve Insulation
Insulation creates a barrier between your home’s conditioned living space and outdoor temperatures. Insufficient insulation can make it difficult to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures, particularly during Denver-area cold snaps and hot summer days.
Attics deserve particular attention because inadequate attic insulation and air sealing can contribute to significant heat transfer.
If some rooms become much hotter in summer or colder in winter than the rest of the house, insulation and air leakage may be part of the problem. HVAC performance, ductwork, window exposure, and airflow should also be considered.
Keep Supply and Return Vents Clear
Furniture, rugs, curtains, boxes, and other household items can accidentally block HVAC vents. Restricted vents can interfere with normal airflow and make it harder for the system to distribute conditioned air throughout the house.
Walk through your home periodically and make sure supply registers and return-air grilles have room to move air freely.
Closing numerous supply vents in unused rooms is generally not an ideal energy-saving strategy. Residential HVAC systems are designed around specific airflow requirements, and significantly restricting airflow can create comfort or performance problems.
Check Your Ductwork
Your furnace or air conditioner can operate properly while still wasting energy if conditioned air is lost before reaching your living spaces.
Ductwork problems may include disconnected sections, damaged ducts, poor connections, air leaks, or inadequate insulation in certain locations. These issues can reduce comfort and contribute to longer HVAC cycles.
Possible signs of ductwork or airflow problems include:
- Certain rooms consistently being too hot or too cold
- Weak airflow from specific vents
- Unusually dusty areas
- Whistling or other airflow-related noises
- Noticeable temperature differences between floors
- Heating and cooling bills that seem unusually high
An HVAC inspection can help determine whether the problem is related to ductwork, the equipment itself, or another part of the home.
Reduce Heat Gain During Denver Summers
Your air conditioner is not the only factor determining how warm your home becomes. Sunlight entering through windows can add a substantial amount of heat to indoor spaces.
Closing blinds, shades, or curtains on windows receiving strong direct sunlight can help reduce indoor heat gain. This is particularly useful during the hottest part of the afternoon.
Ceiling fans can also improve comfort while you are in a room. Fans do not actually lower the room temperature, but the moving air can help occupants feel cooler. Turn fans off when rooms are unoccupied to avoid unnecessary electricity use.
Take Advantage of Colorado’s Cooler Evenings
The Denver Metro area’s climate can sometimes provide opportunities to reduce air conditioner use when outdoor temperatures drop in the evening.
When conditions are appropriate and outdoor air quality is good, opening windows can allow cooler air into the home. Once outdoor temperatures begin rising again, closing the windows and blinds can help retain the cooler indoor conditions.
This strategy depends on the weather and your home’s characteristics, but it can reduce the amount of mechanical cooling needed during certain periods.
Avoid Making Your HVAC System Work Harder Than Necessary
Everyday habits can increase the cooling load inside a home. Ovens, dryers, dishwashers, electronics, and other appliances can generate heat.
During hot weather, consider using major heat-producing appliances during cooler portions of the day when practical. Keeping exterior doors and windows closed while the air conditioner is operating also prevents cooled air from escaping.
In winter, make sure exterior doors close properly and address noticeable drafts. Small sources of heat loss can add up when they occur throughout the home.
Know When HVAC Repairs Can Improve Efficiency
An unexplained increase in utility costs can sometimes indicate an HVAC problem.
A system that suddenly begins running longer, cycling unusually, struggling to reach the thermostat setting, or producing inconsistent temperatures should be inspected. Continuing to operate malfunctioning equipment can increase energy use and potentially allow a smaller problem to become more serious.
Pay attention to changes in your system rather than focusing only on whether it still turns on.
Watch for Changes in HVAC Performance
Contact an HVAC professional if you notice problems such as:
- Heating or cooling cycles that seem much longer than normal
- Frequent starting and stopping
- Uneven temperatures throughout the home
- Weak airflow
- Unusual noises
- Unexpected increases in heating or cooling bills
- Difficulty reaching the thermostat setting
These symptoms can have several causes, so a professional diagnosis is preferable to replacing parts based on guesswork.
Consider HVAC Replacement for Older, Inefficient Equipment
Maintenance can improve the performance of existing equipment, but it cannot make every older HVAC system as efficient as modern equipment.
If your furnace or air conditioner is aging, requires frequent repairs, struggles to keep the home comfortable, or contributes to consistently high utility bills, replacement may be worth considering.
Choose the Right Size HVAC System
Bigger is not automatically better when it comes to heating and cooling equipment.
An oversized air conditioner may cycle on and off frequently instead of operating as intended. An undersized system may struggle to maintain the desired temperature during extreme weather.
Proper HVAC sizing considers more than the home’s square footage. Factors such as insulation, windows, orientation, air leakage, construction, and other characteristics affect heating and cooling requirements.
Professional HVAC installation and proper equipment sizing can make a major difference in comfort, performance, and long-term energy costs.
Focus on the Entire Home, Not Just the Thermostat
The best approach to lowering heating and cooling bills is often a combination of HVAC efficiency and home improvements.
Start with simple measures such as replacing dirty filters, keeping vents clear, using sensible thermostat settings, and controlling sunlight. Then consider whether air leaks, inadequate insulation, ductwork problems, neglected HVAC maintenance, or aging equipment are contributing to higher costs.
For homeowners in Englewood, CO and the Denver Metro area, a properly maintained heating and cooling system is especially important because HVAC equipment has to perform through both freezing winter conditions and hot summer weather. If your energy bills are increasing, rooms are difficult to keep comfortable, or your furnace or air conditioner seems to run constantly, a professional HVAC inspection can help identify where energy is being wasted.
David’s HVAC provides HVAC services in Englewood and throughout the Denver Metro area, including heating and air conditioning maintenance, repair, and system replacement. Keeping your HVAC equipment in good condition and addressing efficiency problems throughout the home can help reduce heating and cooling bills while maintaining reliable year-round comfort.
Content reviewed and published according to the David's HVAC Editorial Team.