For homeowners in Murray, Park City, and throughout Salt Lake County, heating and cooling costs represent one of the largest portions of the monthly utility bill. The good news is that many of the most effective ways to reduce those costs come down to maintaining your HVAC system properly and making a few smart adjustments. Here is a practical guide to cutting your energy expenses without sacrificing comfort.
Regular HVAC maintenance is one of the most effective ways to reduce your monthly energy costs.
Up to 30%
Potential energy savings with properly maintained HVAC equipment, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Why HVAC Maintenance Matters for Your Wallet
Your heating and cooling system accounts for roughly 40 to 50 percent of your home’s total energy consumption. When that system runs inefficiently — due to dirty filters, worn components, or deferred maintenance — it works harder and longer to achieve the same temperature. That extra effort translates directly into higher utility bills every single month.
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that proper HVAC maintenance can reduce energy consumption by 15 to 30 percent. For a Salt Lake County household spending $200 per month on heating and cooling, that represents potential savings of $360 to $720 per year.
Beyond the monthly savings, well-maintained equipment lasts longer, breaks down less frequently, and avoids the expense of emergency repairs. Maintenance is an investment that pays for itself many times over.
The Biggest Energy Wasters in Your HVAC System
Before diving into maintenance tips, it helps to understand where energy waste commonly occurs. These are the most frequent culprits we see during service calls across Murray, Park City, and the surrounding areas.
Dirty or Clogged Air Filters
A dirty filter is the number one cause of HVAC inefficiency and the easiest to fix. When the filter is clogged with dust, pet hair, and debris, your system’s blower motor has to work significantly harder to push air through the restriction. That increased strain raises energy consumption, accelerates wear on the motor, and reduces the amount of conditioned air reaching your living spaces.
Quick Win: Check your air filter every 30 days and replace it every 1 to 3 months. Homes with pets, allergies, or higher dust levels should lean toward monthly replacement. This single habit can reduce your HVAC energy use by 5 to 15 percent.
Leaky Ductwork
The ductwork in your attic, crawl space, or walls is responsible for delivering conditioned air from your furnace or air conditioner to each room. Over time, duct joints can separate, seals can deteriorate, and physical damage can create gaps and cracks. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the typical home loses 20 to 30 percent of conditioned air through duct leaks before it ever reaches the intended rooms.
That means your system has to produce 20 to 30 percent more heated or cooled air just to compensate for losses — a significant and ongoing waste of energy and money.
Neglected Outdoor Units
Your air conditioner or heat pump relies on the outdoor condenser coil to release heat efficiently. When that coil is coated in dirt, grass clippings, leaves, or other debris, heat transfer is impaired. The compressor runs longer and works harder, increasing energy consumption and shortening the life of your most expensive HVAC component.
Old or Poorly Calibrated Thermostats
An outdated mercury thermostat or a digital thermostat that is not calibrated correctly can cause your system to run when it should not, overshoot target temperatures, or cycle on and off too frequently. Each of these behaviors wastes energy.
Maintenance Steps That Save Money
Here are the specific maintenance actions that deliver the most significant energy savings for homeowners in Salt Lake County and Park City.
1. Schedule Professional Tune-Ups Twice a Year
Professional HVAC maintenance should happen twice annually — once in the spring to prepare your air conditioner for summer, and once in the fall to ensure your furnace or heat pump is ready for winter. During a tune-up, a technician performs tasks that homeowners cannot do themselves, including checking refrigerant levels, testing electrical connections and controls, cleaning evaporator and condenser coils, inspecting the heat exchanger for cracks, lubricating moving parts, and calibrating the thermostat.
These steps restore your system to peak operating efficiency. A system that was running at 85 percent efficiency due to deferred maintenance can often be brought back close to its rated efficiency with a single tune-up.
2. Replace Air Filters on Schedule
As noted earlier, this is the single most impactful thing you can do between professional service visits. Set a recurring reminder on your phone or calendar. Buy several filters at once so you always have a replacement ready. For homes in the Salt Lake Valley where winter inversions can increase indoor air particulate levels, consistent filter replacement also helps maintain healthier indoor air quality.
3. Seal and Insulate Your Ductwork
If you have accessible ductwork in your attic, basement, or crawl space, check for visible gaps at joints and connections. Professional duct sealing using mastic sealant or metal-backed tape (not standard cloth duct tape, which deteriorates quickly) can dramatically reduce air loss. For ductwork running through unconditioned spaces like attics, adding insulation around the ducts prevents heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter.
Premier Strand offers duct inspection and sealing services for homes across Salt Lake County. If your home has rooms that are consistently uncomfortable or your energy bills seem higher than they should be, duct leaks may be the cause.
4. Clean Around Your Outdoor Unit
Maintain at least two feet of clearance around your outdoor air conditioner or heat pump condenser. Trim shrubs and vegetation, remove fallen leaves and debris, and gently rinse the coil fins with a garden hose a few times during cooling season. This simple step ensures proper airflow and efficient heat exchange.
Upgrading to a smart thermostat is one of the easiest ways to reduce energy waste.
5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats learn your schedule, adjust temperatures automatically, and provide energy usage reports that help you identify waste. Many models also detect when your HVAC system is running inefficiently and alert you to potential maintenance needs.
For Park City homeowners with vacation properties, smart thermostats offer remote access that allows you to lower heating or cooling when the home is unoccupied and restore comfortable temperatures before you arrive — saving significant energy during extended absences.
Pro Tip: Setting your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours a day (while you are sleeping or at work) can save up to 10 percent annually on heating and cooling costs, according to Energy.gov.
6. Manage Airflow Throughout Your Home
Closing vents in unused rooms might seem logical, but it actually increases pressure in the duct system and can force more air out through leaks. Instead, keep all vents open and unobstructed by furniture, rugs, or curtains. Ensure return air vents are also clear — blocked returns restrict airflow and reduce system efficiency.
7. Address Insulation and Air Sealing
Your HVAC system cannot operate efficiently if your home’s building envelope is leaking. Gaps around windows, doors, electrical outlets, plumbing penetrations, and attic hatches allow conditioned air to escape and outdoor air to infiltrate. Even modest improvements in insulation and air sealing reduce the load on your HVAC system, meaning it runs less often and uses less energy.
When Maintenance Is Not Enough: Knowing When to Upgrade
Regular maintenance extends equipment life and improves efficiency, but there comes a point when an aging system is better replaced than repaired. Consider upgrading your HVAC equipment if any of the following apply.
- Your system is 15 years or older and requiring increasingly frequent repairs
- Your energy bills have been rising steadily despite regular maintenance
- Your home has rooms that are consistently uncomfortable no matter how you adjust the thermostat
- Your system uses R-22 refrigerant, which has been phased out and is expensive to replace
- Repair costs are approaching 50 percent of the replacement cost
Modern HVAC systems — including heat pumps, high-efficiency furnaces, and ductless mini-split systems — deliver significantly better efficiency than equipment manufactured even ten years ago. The energy savings from a new system can offset much of the installation cost over time.
How Premier Strand Helps You Save
At Premier Strand Heating & Air Conditioning, we help homeowners across Murray, Park City, and Salt Lake County get the most from their HVAC investment. Our maintenance plans are designed to keep your system running at peak efficiency year-round, and our technicians provide honest assessments when repairs or upgrades make financial sense.
- Comprehensive tune-ups that address every efficiency factor
- Duct inspection and sealing to stop hidden energy losses
- Smart thermostat installation and programming assistance
- Honest equipment assessments — we recommend replacement only when it is the right financial decision
- Free estimates for system upgrades and new installations
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I save with regular HVAC maintenance?
Most homeowners save 15 to 30 percent on heating and cooling costs with consistent professional maintenance combined with regular filter changes and basic homeowner care. The exact savings depend on your system’s age, condition, and current efficiency level.
How often should I have my HVAC system serviced?
Twice a year is the standard recommendation — once before cooling season and once before heating season. If you have an older system or one that has been neglected, an initial deep service may be needed to restore efficiency before moving to a regular schedule. Learn more in our guide on how often you should service your AC.
Are maintenance plans worth it?
For most homeowners, yes. Maintenance plans typically include two annual tune-ups, priority scheduling, and discounts on repairs and parts. The cost of the plan is usually less than booking two standalone tune-ups, and the long-term savings from maintained efficiency and fewer breakdowns make it a strong value.
Will a new thermostat really save money?
A programmable or smart thermostat can save 10 percent or more on annual heating and cooling costs by automatically adjusting temperatures based on your schedule. For a relatively small investment, the payback period is typically under one year.