11 Tips for a More Energy-Efficient HVAC System

April 22, 2025

Owning a home comes with endless responsibilities and expenses—some more costly than others. From caring for your lawn to more major upkeep like your roof, your home needs ongoing TLC.

When it comes to the cost of cooling your home in the summer and keeping it warm through the winter, you might be looking for ways to manage the electricity expenses and keep your HVAC system running efficiently.

We hear you—so we put together this guide, especially for you. In this article, we share 11 tips to enjoy a more energy-efficient HVAC system for your home. We’ll talk about the benefits of improving your HVAC system’s energy efficiency and help you identify when maintenance may not be enough, signaling that it’s time to consider a new system.

11 Tips to Improve HVAC Efficiency

Energy-efficient HVAC systems offer substantial savings on energy bills and contribute to a comfortable indoor environment through controlled heating and cooling, making them essential for any home or building.

1. Insulate Your Attic

You might not think of the attic as the first place to start when looking to improve your HVAC’s efficiency—but a poorly insulated attic can be the source of a lot of wasted energy.

Your attic absorbs heat from the sun in the summer and allows heated air to escape in the winter. Proper insulation keeps heat from entering your home and prevents heated air from escaping.

2. Replace Your Air Filters

Replacing your air filters regularly—at least every three months—is important to ensure your system performs at its peak capabilities. HVAC systems rely on quality airflow, pushing conditioned air throughout your home.

With fresh filters, your system doesn’t have to exert additional energy to move air through the filter, reducing the strain on your system, and helping prevent costly repairs.

3. Use a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat is a Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat for your HVAC system. In addition to regulating temperature, smart thermostats come with a host of other features to help you maximize your energy savings, including:

Custom schedules to prevent excessive heating or cooling
Machine learning (ML) studies your routines to make the most efficient changes over time
Remote access from smartphones and other devices for monitoring and energy-saving insights

4. Insulate and Seal Your Ductwork

Insulating your ductwork improves your HVAC energy efficiency by minimizing the environmental impact on your unit's air temperature.

Improperly insulated ductwork allows the temperature to neutralize as air travels. Insulation helps protect your ducts from the surrounding temperature so your system doesn’t have to overwork itself to maintain the goal temperature.

Similarly, sealing leaks in your ductwork prevents conditioned air from escaping and keeps unfiltered external air from entering the ducts.

5. Adjust Your Thermostat Settings

The idea is simple: If you reduce how much you’re heating or cooling your air, you can save on energy costs. But what does it take to make a real difference?

Programmable thermostats can be set to heat or cool your home less when you’re away. However, while setting your thermostat to 1 or 2 degrees warmer in the summer and a couple of degrees cooler in the winter can reduce the amount of work your HVAC has to do, it takes bigger changes to reap bigger rewards.

According to the US Department of Energy, turning your thermostat back 7°–10°F when you’re away or asleep can save you as much as 10% a year on HVAC energy costs.

6. Pay Attention to Curtains and Blinds

Closing your curtains and blinds during hot months helps prevent the sun from heating up your home. Meanwhile, when it’s cold outside, you can open south-facing curtains to let in additional sunlight and help warm things up.

7. Clear Your Condensate Drain Line

A condensate drain line is a crucial component of your air conditioning system. It cools air by removing moisture from the air it pulls on. Condensation develops during this process, and the condensate drain line collects this water and sends it outdoors to drain.

When this line gets clogged, it can cause a leak, ruin your floors or walls, and restrict airflow in the HVAC unit, making it work harder. Keeping the condensate drain line clean helps your system run at its best.

8. Clean Around the Condenser Unit

The condenser unit releases heat from extracted air, helping to cool the refrigerant circulating from your AC. When it gets clogged with leaves, dirt, and debris, it restricts airflow, making your system work harder. Keeping it free of this debris helps your system cool your home with less effort.

9. Unblock Indoor Vents

You may be picking up on a pattern, and you’d be right for doing so! Airflow is the key to a more energy-efficient HVAC system. Unblocking your indoor air vents helps maximize airflow so your system can run with less effort and produce the best possible results. Whether it’s rugs, furniture, or any other object, keep an eye on your vents and make sure they stay unblocked.

10. Schedule Preventative Maintenance

Benjamin Franklin famously said that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is absolutely the case when it comes to getting the most from your HVAC and keeping energy costs down. Scheduled maintenance with a professional HVAC service can help you with:

Optimizing system performance
Improving efficiency
Detecting and preventing problems early
Cleaning and replacing parts
Extending your system’s lifespan

Most HVAC contractors will have a maintenance or tune-up plan that will keep your HVAC equipment running efficiently through big seasonal shifts and even extend its life.

A professional will visually inspect your system, clean blowers and condenser coils, lubricate moving parts, check your refrigerant and electricity, and more to help keep your system in good running order.

Call 402-509-4016 or schedule a maintenance appointment online today.

11. Upgrade Your HVAC System

Upgrading to a new energy-efficient HVAC system can help you significantly lower your energy costs. We know it’s a scary thought, but investing in a more efficient system can bring you long-term peace of mind if your current system isn't cutting it.

If you’re thinking of upgrading your HVAC system, contact us to see how we can help.

Benefits of Improving HVAC Efficiency

Improving your HVAC system’s efficiency brings four important benefits:

Reducing your system’s negative impact on the environment
Saving on your monthly energy costs
Making your HVAC system run more effectively
Helping prevent costly repairs

If you’re worried about the effort or expense of making your HVAC system more efficient, know that it will almost certainly pay off in the long run.

Is a High-Efficiency HVAC System Worth the Extra Cost?

Replacing an older HVAC with a high-efficiency ENERGY STAR system can reduce energy use by as much as 50% for electric systems and 10% for gas furnace systems.

A new HVAC system isn’t cheap, but the higher up-front cost can bring you greater long-term savings on electricity and gas, typically saving 10-30% on heating and cooling costs compared to less efficient legacy systems.

The combination of a new, efficient HVAC system and proper ongoing maintenance can lengthen your system’s lifespan and reduce monthly costs.

Signs You Need a New Energy-Efficient HVAC System

If your HVAC system isn’t operating at its peak performance, you might not notice right away. Pay attention to the following, as they might indicate that it’s time to get a new system:

Higher energy bills
Difficulty maintaining your desired temperature
More frequent repairs
Your system’s age
Unusual noise coming from the unit
An increase in dust or mold

Talk to the Experts at Aksarben

Following the above tips can help you get the most out of your HVAC system, potentially lowering your energy costs while simultaneously helping your system last longer. If you’d like to have your system inspected, want to set up an ongoing maintenance plan, or are concerned you need repairs or a replacement, we’d love to help you out.

Call 402-509-4016 and speak with one of our helpful HVAC experts, or schedule your appointment online. We look forward to talking to you!