How to Improve Energy Efficiency in Your Minnesota Home with HVAC Upgrades

How to Improve Energy Efficiency in Your Minnesota Home with HVAC Upgrades

Energy efficiency is a top concern amongst Minnesota homeowners. And thanks to the amount of weather we can go through in the space of a single year, it’s not hard to see why. For many homeowners, the HVAC is in constant use. It’s possible to experience blistering cold winters capable of plunging to -20, only to have a summer that reaches above 90. The HVAC and your energy bill never quite get a break, but you can invest in HVAC upgrades to improve your energy efficiency in the long term.

Energy Efficient HVAC Upgrades

Homeowners throughout Minnesota often struggle to keep their energy consumption in check. The most common culprit here? The HVAC. The Minnesota climate makes it difficult to find a balance between heating and cooling and your household budget. 

Because of that, it’s important to be aware of the energy-efficient HVAC upgrades your home could benefit from. Here are the most commonly required and most impactful upgrades that we often recommend at MD’s Heating and Air:

Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats let you remotely control your HVAC system with the touch of a button. This makes it much easier to adjust the current heating or cooling level without having to check your HVAC system. As the thermostat is also a remote device, you can access it when you're out of the house, too. 

However, smart thermostats can also adjust HVAC settings themselves. They are designed to adapt to your usual heating and cooling behavior, track external temperatures, and adjust temperature settings accordingly. This helps improve the energy efficiency of your home by preventing your furnace or AC from running too long, being set at too high or too low a temperature, and ensuring your HVAC isn’t left on when it’s not required (such as overnight). 

Insulation

Homes need insulation no matter what, as it ensures your indoor air stays temperate year-round. However, without sufficient insulation (in terms of coverage, amount, and thickness), HVAC systems are fighting a losing battle. 

HVAC systems heat and cool as required. If a property’s insulation is of poor quality or has gaps, this air will steadily leak out. Padding out insulation helps keep the air in place and maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature at all times. 

Proper Ductwork

Ductwork helps to improve the air quality of your home, and ensures indoor air doesn't contain things like dust and moisture. As such, if your home doesn’t have the right ductwork, your HVAC system won’t be able to remove excess humidity from your home. And in Minnesota, humidity can reach 80 percent or higher. Your AC can’t work efficiently if it has to routinely work harder to remove moisture from the air before it can even start cooling. 

Routine HVAC Maintenance

The HVAC in a Minnesota home undergoes many sudden changes throughout the year. You might need heating in the morning and cooling by noon, then switch back to heating within the next 2 to 3 hours. 

That puts a lot of pressure on an HVAC system. Routine maintenance offsets these pressures, improves performance, and extends your HVAC’s lifespan. Timely maintenance also prevents breakdowns on those hot and cold days when you need your HVAC the most. 

A New High-Efficiency System

Minnesota’s weather conditions also make it very difficult for HVAC systems to operate efficiently throughout the year. If your HVAC is older, and has already experienced a number of breakdowns, it’ll be next to impossible for it to heat and cool efficiently. 

Replacing it with a new, high-efficiency system is usually the best way to keep energy bills low. These systems are designed to operate in the more extreme, fast-changing climates common in the Midwest. 

Get Your Energy Saving HVAC Solution From MD’s Heating and Air

If you’re worried about energy efficiency in your home, we’re here to help. We’re HVAC experts who know what it takes to keep your heating and cooling systems performing at their best in the Minnesota climate. Call us at (651) 815-9260 to talk about your energy concerns. Because no matter what your home needs, our team is here for you. Whether you need HVAC maintenance, HVAC installation, or recommendations for energy-saving upgrades, we’ll find the right solution for you.