Many efficient HVAC devices are available that can help you save money and keep your Frederick, Maryland, home more comfortable. Many of these devices can even increase your home’s value. Speak with an HVAC professional to help you install a variable-speed compressor, a programmable thermostat, a humidifier or a dehumidifier, or an air purifier.
Variable-Speed Compressors
Variable-speed compressors save energy and lower your utility bills by changing the speed of your compressor motor according to the heating or cooling load in your home. For example, the motor will run at a higher speed in the fall. This keeps your HVAC system on more often and makes the temperature in your home more constant and comfortable without making you and your family too hot. Traditional systems simply turn on or off instead.
Since variable-speed compressors stay on more often, they control the humidity in your home better than traditional systems that run faster and shut off more. This prevents mold growth and keeps hardwood floors and furniture in good condition. Many variable-speed compressors also provide extra heating and cooling capacity during very hot or cold weather. They reduce speed again automatically if they’re in danger of becoming damaged.
Programmable Thermostats
You can set a programmable thermostat to turn your HVAC system down or off when you’re asleep, at work, or on vacation, and then turn your heat or air back up about half an hour before you wake up or come home. You can set a different schedule for every day of the week with some programmable thermostats, and with others, you can set one schedule for weekdays and one for weekends. Many models can communicate with your smartphone, PC, or tablet.
Smart thermostats are programmable thermostats that can learn the temperatures you’re comfortable at and your schedule with no manual programming. Some can even use a text to remind you to change your HVAC system’s air filter and measure the humidity in your home with a hygrometer.
Humidifiers or Dehumidifiers
If your home feels dry and chilly in the winter or stuffy and hot in the summer, you should use a humidifier or a dehumidifier to save energy and make your home more comfortable. You can have a professional install a whole-home model or use a less expensive portable humidifier or dehumidifier in one or two rooms at a time.
When the air in your home is too dry, viruses, bacteria, dust, pollen, and other contaminants stay airborne longer. This leads to congested nasal passages, sore throats, dry skin, irritated eyes, and many other symptoms. It can also make existing respiratory conditions such as asthma even worse. Too much moisture encourages mold growth, pests, and rot. Many people are allergic to mold as well. Dehumidifiers are especially useful in humid areas such as bathrooms. In the fall and the winter, you may feel most comfortable with a humidifier for most parts of your home and a smaller dehumidifier for after a hot shower.
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers or air cleaners use air filters to remove dust, dirt, mold spores, pollen, pet dander, and other contaminants from your home. The air filter in an air purifier has a higher MERV or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value than the filters that come with HVAC systems. Filters with higher MERVs can eliminate more pollutants from the air, but they could restrict your heating and cooling system’s airflow and increase your utility bills. The best filters can even capture bacteria.
Like humidifiers and dehumidifiers, whole-home or portable air purifiers are available. For the most comfort and the best indoor air quality, have a professional install your whole-home air cleaner.
Griffith Energy Services has 12 locations in five different states. We’re a Factory Authorized Dealer for Trane Air Conditioning, Columbia Boiler Co., Regal Warm Air Furnaces, and Climate Master Geothermal Heat Pumps. We can help you choose, install, maintain, and repair the best HVAC devices to make your home more comfortable. Call us anytime at 888-474-3391 for great service from our expert technicians. We guarantee all our repairs for a full year.
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