With costs rising across the board, we are all watching our expenses a little closer these days. We know how frustrating it can be to open your mail and find a bill for an amount that is much higher than you were planning on. If you notice that you have been getting higher electricity bills lately, your HVAC system could be the culprit. There are several potential issues that could be causing your system to use more energy than what is normal, but there is often a solution.
Let’s go through some of the more typical possibilities that could be factors in your HVAC causing you to receive higher energy bills.
1. Part Failure
One of the most common reasons that your energy bill has increased due to an issue with your HVAC is that one or more parts of your HVAC are failing. Your HVAC system is made up of a variety of components, each of which has the potential to break down. Oftentimes, this will not cause your system to completely shut down right away. Motors can lose efficiency and struggle for quite some time before they finally give out. Components that are dying could diminish your system’s efficiency, leading it to have to work much harder to heat or cool your home, leading to a higher energy bill.
2. Dirty Air Filters
Before the conditioned air that you breathe makes it into your home, it must first pass through the system’s air filters. When an air filter is dirty, it is similar to your kitchen sink not being able to drain because the strainer that catches all the scraps is full. In order to have the sink water pass through the strainer properly, the debris must be removed. The same must be done with the air filters on your HVAC system.
When your air filters are dirty, your HVAC system has to work too hard to pull in the right amount of air to reach the desired temperature. The excessive power it is having to use could be the reason why your energy bill has skyrocketed.
3. Duct Problems
It is possible that your air conditioner itself is not the issue. There is a chance that the problem is with your ducts. Ducts can develop leaks due to them being knocked loose or even punctured. This can lead to your hot or cold air leaking into another room or your attic instead of the room it is intended for. Leaky ducts will make it so that your unit takes much longer to get your home to its desired temperature. This, in turn, means a higher energy bill.
4. Low Refrigerant
Air conditioners and heat pumps use Freon or Puron to transfer heat in or out of the circulated air in their systems. This refrigerant is necessary for the unit to work, and a low amount can compromise efficiency. Your system may still be operable, but you will likely notice that the air coming through your vents is not as hot or as cold as what is expected.
5. Age
HVAC technology has improved a great deal in the last few decades. If your unit is more than 15 years old, it is possible that it is not meeting the standards that you are accustomed to. An example of how this could occur is if you move into a house that does not have an updated HVAC system. In a situation such as this, the HVAC system will not be as efficient as newer models, and you could get stuck with a higher utility bill than you are used to.
6. Routine Maintenance
Another possibility is that your HVAC is not being properly looked after through routine maintenance. It is important that you have routine maintenance done on your HVAC system at least once a year. Having a licensed HVAC professional annually inspect your system can help ensure that your HVAC is running at optimum efficiency and help prevent you from getting stuck with high utility bills and even worse problems like the need for a costly repair.
While an annual routine maintenance appointment should be thought of as mandatory, having two check-ups a year is recommended. This should ideally be done prior to the summer and then before the winter. This helps to make sure that your system is prepared ahead of time for the hottest and coldest periods of the year.
7. Fluctuating Costs of Resources
Sometimes your rising energy bill may have nothing to do with your HVAC at all. Your energy is provided by a company that is subject to market fluctuations, availability, and a variety of other factors. Usually, there is some advance notification if the cost of your electricity or other resources is going to increase, but that is not always the case. If you believe your HVAC system is running efficiently, it is possible that the rise in your energy bill could simply be due to an increase in the cost of the energy itself.
Speak With a Professional
If you are in Gilbert, AZ, or the surrounding area and suspect that your high energy bill has something to do with a problem that your HVAC is having, get in contact with the team over at A/C Doctors right away. With how hot it can get in Arizona, we want to make sure that your home is safe and comfortable for you and your loved ones.
We are a family-owned company that has over 20 years of experience meeting the heating and cooling needs of the community we serve. Our specialty is making sure that your air conditioning and heating systems are running smoothly and with optimal efficiency. Not only that, but we get the job done quickly and maintain a high standard of workmanship at a price that is competitive.
We also offer emergency service 24 hours a day as well as appointments the very day that you get in contact with us. With us, you also do not have to worry about things like hidden fees. All of our work is transparent and done with the same respect that we would give to a member of our own family.
Our team offers a full range of services to meet your needs. Some of these include testing for indoor air quality, commercial services, and specialty solutions. Not only do we service heating and cooling systems, but we also do installations. You can even come to us for all of your plumbing needs. We can do everything from drain cleaning to pipe replacement.
Whatever questions you may have about any of the services that we can provide, we are happy to answer them over the phone or in person.
If you are ready to find out for sure what is going on with your HVAC system and if there is an issue to address that will bring your energy bill lower, give A/C Doctors a call today, or fill out our online form.
