New Year, New Comfort: 6 HVAC Resolutions for Homeowners
Every January, millions of people commit to personal improvement. We vow to exercise more, eat healthier, or finally organize that cluttered garage. While these goals are admirable, they often fade by February. This year, why not add a resolution that is easier to keep and offers immediate financial rewards—one that focuses on improving your HVAC system?
We are talking about your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
Your HVAC system is essentially the lungs of your home. It works tirelessly year-round to keep you cool during scorching summers and cozy during freezing winters. Yet, it often goes unnoticed until something goes wrong. A neglected system can lead to skyrocketing energy bills, uncomfortable drafts, and expensive emergency repairs.
By adopting a few simple HVAC-focused resolutions, you can extend the life of your equipment, improve your indoor air quality, and keep more money in your pocket. Here is how to set your home up for success this year.

Commit to Regular Filter Changes
It sounds simple, but changing your air filter is the single most important maintenance task a homeowner can do. Despite its simplicity, it is also the most forgotten.
A clogged air filter restricts airflow. This forces your furnace or air conditioner to work much harder than necessary to circulate air throughout your home. This extra strain consumes more energy, driving up your utility bills, and accelerates wear and tear on the system’s components.
The Resolution: Check your filter once a month.
If you have pets, allergies, or a large household, you likely need to change it every 30 to 60 days. Even if you live alone without pets, do not let it go longer than three months.
Pro-Tip: Buy your filters in bulk at the start of the year. Set a recurring reminder on your phone or write the date of installation on the edge of the filter so you never have to guess when it was last swapped.
Schedule Professional Maintenance Early
Many homeowners operate on a “break-fix” mentality. They only call a technician when the heat stops working or the AC starts blowing warm air. By that point, the damage is done, and you are likely facing a costly repair bill—often during the busiest times of the year for HVAC companies.
Preventative maintenance is the antidote to the emergency service call. A professional tune-up involves deep cleaning, lubrication of moving parts, electrical connection checks, and safety inspections.
The Resolution: Schedule two service calls this year.
Aim for a spring tune-up for your air conditioning unit and an autumn tune-up for your furnace or heat pump. Getting on the schedule early ensures your system is ready before the extreme weather hits. This proactive approach can catch small issues, like a worn belt or a refrigerant leak, before they turn into catastrophic failures.
Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat
If you are still using an old manual dial or a basic programmable thermostat, you are missing out on significant efficiency gains. Technology has come a long way, and modern controls offer a level of precision that older models cannot match.
Smart thermostats learn your schedule and preferences. They can automatically lower the temperature when you leave for work and bring it back up before you return home. Some models even feature geofencing, which detects when your phone is nearing the house to adjust the climate accordingly.
The Resolution: Install a smart thermostat.
This upgrade gives you control over your home’s climate from anywhere using your smartphone. Beyond convenience, the energy savings are real. By not heating or cooling an empty house, you can reduce your annual energy usage significantly without sacrificing comfort.
seal the Leaks in Your Home
Your HVAC system produces conditioned air, but that effort is wasted if the air escapes before it can circulate through your rooms. Drafty windows, doors, and attics are notorious energy thieves.
However, ductwork is often the biggest culprit. According to Energy Star, about 20% to 30% of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts. This means you are paying to heat your attic or crawlspace while your living room remains chilly.
The Resolution: Audit your home for air leaks.
Start with the easy tasks. Check the weatherstripping around doors and windows. If you can see daylight or feel a draft, replace the seals. For ductwork, look for visible disconnections or holes in exposed ducts in basements or attics. While you can use metallic tape for minor fixes, hiring a professional to perform a pressure test and seal your ducts is the most effective way to ensure every bit of conditioned air reaches your living spaces.
Prioritize Indoor Air Quality
We spend a significant amount of time indoors, especially during the winter months. If the air inside your home is polluted with dust, pollen, pet dander, or mold spores, it can aggravate allergies and respiratory issues.
Your standard HVAC filter traps some particles, but it isn’t a catch-all solution for air quality.
The Resolution: Assess your indoor air quality needs.
Consider adding whole-home solutions that integrate with your existing HVAC system.
- Humidifiers/Dehumidifiers: Maintaining humidity levels between 30% and 50% is ideal. Winter air is often too dry, which can cause dry skin and increase susceptibility to viruses. Summer air is often too humid, which can encourage mold growth.
- Air Purifiers: Whole-home air purifiers use UV lights or advanced filtration to neutralize bacteria, viruses, and odors.
- Ventilation: Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) swap stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air without wasting energy, keeping your home feeling fresh.
Know When It’s Time to Let Go
No appliance lasts forever. The average lifespan of a central air conditioner is about 15 to 20 years, while furnaces can last 15 to 20 years, and heat pumps about 15 years. If your equipment is nearing the two-decade mark, it is likely operating at a much lower efficiency than modern units.
Holding onto an aging system can be a false economy. You might avoid the upfront cost of replacement, but you pay for it in higher monthly bills and frequent repair costs.
The Resolution: Plan for replacement before it becomes an emergency.
If your system is old and frequently requires repairs, start budgeting for a new one now. Newer models have higher SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) ratings, meaning they use significantly less electricity to provide the same amount of cooling.
Partner with the Right Experts
Setting these resolutions is the first step, but executing them requires a reliable partner. You don’t have to navigate the technical aspects of SEER ratings, MERV filters, or duct sealing alone.
If your HVAC system is underperforming or if you’re ready to upgrade to something more efficient, American Cool & Heat is ready to help. Contact us to schedule installation, repairs, an evaluation, or just to get a free estimate, and let us help create a climate-controlled space that keeps your home or business comfortable through every season.
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