Want to stay comfortable throughout the entire year? As Melbourne’s weather can fluctuate on a dime, you’ll want a heating and cooling system you can rely on, but you also don’t want to experience hefty energy bills. Comfort doesn’t have to come at a high cost.
By making a few smart changes around your home and investing in efficient systems, you can slash your expenses and experience year-round comfort. From dealing with chilly winters to unexpected heatwaves, these five easy and effective strategies will help you cut down on your heating and cooling costs.
Lowering Costs: A Fast Rundown!
So, you want to lower costs down, and quickly, but how can you do this? Let’s have a look at some surefire ways that will help you.
1. Programmable Thermostats: Smart Temperature Control
A programmable thermostat lets you set heating and cooling schedules based on your daily routine.
Why does this matter? Because heating and cooling an empty home wastes energy. A programmable thermostat ensures your system only runs when you need it. For example, you can set it to lower the temperature when you leave for work and increase just before you get home.
Advanced models, like Wi-Fi-enabled smart thermostats, give you real-time control via smartphone apps. You can adjust temperatures on the go and even track your energy usage. This intelligent control helps households reduce heating and cooling costs annually.
Templestowe Heating & Cooling expert technicians can help you choose and install the ideal thermostat to complement your existing system, whether you’re using ducted heating, split systems, or reverse cycle air conditioning.
2. Enhance Insulation: Seal and Save!
Australian homes—especially older ones—can have poor insulation, meaning that heating and cooling systems have to work harder to maintain a stable temperature, leading to higher energy bills. So, what are some things you can look at?
Roof spaces: Heat rises, and in winter, poor ceiling insulation means valuable warmth escapes upward. Think about the type of roofing you have as well, such as tiles, Zincalume, or Colorbond steel, as this directly impacts how well your home stays insulated.
Walls and floors: Floorboards, gaps in skirting, and poorly sealed wall cavities bring in cold air, which is counter-productive to your heating and cooling system. For example, draught-proofing is a cheap way to keep your home warm and can save you up to 25% on your heating bills, as per energy.gov.au.
Doors and windows: Consider weather stripping, draught stoppers, or upgrading to double-glazed windows. As much as 40% of a home’s heating energy can be lost through the windows.
Sealing leaks around ducts, vents, and plumbing penetrations can improve the efficiency of your HVAC system. Even small air leaks can have a big impact over time, so always keep this in mind.
Not sure where to start? Templestowe Heating & Cooling offers consultations that include system diagnostics and recommendations for improving energy efficiency in your home. You won’t need to keep stressing as the seasons change.
3. Regular HVAC Maintenance
How do HVAC systems work at their best? You need to maintain them. Without routine servicing, you are more likely to deal with:
- Blocked filters
- Dirty condenser coils
- Low refrigerant levels
- Low-quality airflow from duct obstructions
All of these issues lead to higher running costs, and pushing back maintenance can shorten the lifespan of your system. The last thing you want is to pay for a replacement or repair.
How often should you service your HVAC system? Templestowe Heating & Cooling recommends scheduling maintenance at least once a year, ideally before the summer or winter months begin.
Our technicians provide reliable, comprehensive servicing for:
- Split systems
- Ducted heating
- Evaporative cooling
- Reverse-cycle air conditioners
We also offer scheduled maintenance plans for peace of mind and long-term performance, cutting back energy use.
If you would like to learn more, have a read about our services, repair, and maintenance solutions, which include general maintenance and scheduled servicing.
4. Ceiling Fans: Improve Air Circulation
Ceiling fans are a great way to improve indoor comfort, so you don’t always need to rely on air conditioning or heating completely for air circulation.
In summer, ceiling fans create a breeze that makes it feel cooler, so you can raise your air conditioner’s thermostat. According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, just a 1°C increase in your cooling setting can save around 10% on your cooling energy costs.
In winter, switch the direction of your fan’s rotation (clockwise at low speed) to push warm air downward. This will help heat distribution throughout the room. What are some of the benefits of combining ceiling fans with your HVAC system?
- Your air conditioner or heater won’t wear itself out
- Temperatures across larger rooms or open-plan homes are even
- You won’t use as much energy
You can pair ceiling fans with zoned air conditioning systems for even better efficiency. Templestowe Heating & Cooling can help design the perfect setup that works with your home’s layout.
5. Upgrade Lighting and Appliances
The wrong lighting and outdated appliances can also eat away at your savings. Changing over to energy-efficient appliances and LED lighting add up in the long term.
For lighting, replace all incandescent or halogen bulbs with LED lights, which use up to 80% less energy and last longer. LEDs also reflect less heat, helping keep rooms cooler on warmer days.
Is it time to upgrade your washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, or fridge? Choose models with high Energy Rating labels. These use less electricity and water, supporting both environmental sustainability and lower bills. To Sustainability Victoria, this rating is based on an Australian standard test and can be trusted, using a 6-star rating to show how efficient a product is. The more stars, the more efficient it is.
In general, it’s a good idea to invest in reverse cycle air conditioners and ducted systems with inverter technology, which adjusts performance based on demand rather than running at max capacity all the time!
Templestowe Heating & Cooling helps you find the best energy-efficient HVAC systems, including split systems, gas ducted heating, evaporative cooling, and multi head split systems. We can recommend the most economical options that meet your needs.
How can you choose the ideal heating and cooling system for your residential or commercial property?
Is it the right size for your home? Undersized systems will struggle to maintain temperatures, running constantly and wasting energy.
Oversized systems may cycle on and off too quickly, failing to properly regulate humidity and increasing wear. That’s why professional system design and installation are so important.
Why call Templestowe Heating and Cooling for scheduled servicing, maintenance, installations, and finding a reputable HVAC manufacturer?
- Family-owned, committed to customer satisfaction and has been in the industry for over 60 years.
- We service all major brands, from Mitsubishi Electric to LG, Brivis and Daikin, so you’re getting the best on the market.
- We offer sales and technical support, including an after-sales service, if you have any concerns.
- We have a local showroom where you can visit our range of the latest heating and cooling products.
- Fully insured and accredited.
- We offer a 100% product warranty guarantee.
- We never use subcontractors to get the job done!
What is a reliable Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioner model? The MSZ-AP Series wall-mounted air conditioner makes you feel refreshingly cool or warm and cosy and works well for both single rooms and compact rooms. Some of the features include:
- A capacity range of 2.5 kW to 7.8kW
- Night mode
- Quiet operation
- Heating and cooling
- Weekly timer
- Vertical and horizontal vanes
- Dual barrier coating
- Wi-Fi control
Whether you need a compact split system for a small flat or a ducted setup for a multi-storey home, Templestowe Heating & Cooling makes sure that your HVAC setup is perfect for your space, usage habits, and budget.
Schools, office spaces, commercial buildings, nursing homes, childcare facilities, and a number of industries can benefit from our heating and cooling products and services.
Need Help with Heating and Cooling in Melbourne? Call Us Today
Saving on heating and cooling doesn’t require massive renovations or major lifestyle changes. By installing a programmable thermostat, improving insulation, and servicing your system regularly, you can enjoy year-round comfort while keeping your energy bills in check.
Growing with the developments in energy-efficient heating and cooling technology over the years, Templestowe Heating & Cooling provides the latest products and can help you take advantage of what new technology has to offer. We can help you with ducted reverse cycle air conditioning in Kew, Malvern, Mitcham, South Yarra, Nunawading, and Surrey Hills.
For expert advice, energy-efficient system upgrades, or to schedule maintenance, Templestowe Heating & Cooling helps you create a home that’s as efficient as it is comfortable. We are also accredited by the Victorian Building Authority and Energy Safe Victoria.
Contact us today at 03 9852 2335, schedule your free quote online, email us at mail@temptv.com.au, or visit our showroom in Bulleen.
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