COVID-19 has certainly brought significant changes to our everyday lives — from the way we spend holidays with family, how our children learn and, in a significant way, how we work. According to Stanford University, more than a third of Americans are currently working from home. A Gallup Poll also indicated many employees have a new-found affinity for working remotely, indicating that working from home may become the new normal — even post-pandemic.
However, this drastically new way homeowners are living and working warrants taking a closer look at how contractors can make homes consistently comfortable while maintaining healthy indoor air quality (IAQ) and increasing energy efficiencies. The International Energy Agency projects that working from home could increase residential energy consumption by as much as 23 percent, depending on the efficiency of home appliances and HVAC systems, leading homeowners to search for ways to reduce their energy usage and monthly bills. Modern, top-tier HVAC systems can support these goals while demonstrating the value of first cost versus total cost of ownership over the life span of the unit.
Superior IAQ for healthier homes
The pandemic has shined a spotlight on improving indoor air quality to reduce the risk of airborne contaminates and provide homeowners with additional peace of mind that their families are breathing clean air. Unfortunately, even the cleanest homes can contain unhealthy air. Consistently maintaining excellent IAQ requires superior ventilation, improved filtration and precise humidity control to mitigate allergens, viruses, and other harmful airborne particles, which is an important educational opportunity when looking to sell premium HVAC systems to homeowners.
During warmer months, condensation in the inner coil of an HVAC system can be a source of bacteria and mold growth. Installing ultraviolet germicidal lights in the ductwork can destroy the DNA of mold and bacteria. Not only does this contribute to healthier IAQ, it also helps improve the system’s efficiency and will be a major selling point this year for high-end equipment.
Greater efficiency, reliability and comfortSpending more time at home is also contributing to a rise in energy costs. With
daytime energy savings mode no longer an option, replacing a low SEER HVAC unit with a higher SEER system can keep homeowners comfortable throughout the workday and into the night, while significantly reducing energy costs, which can be a major deciding factor for homeowners considering a system upgrade.
For example, systems using inverter-driven variable capacity technology provide consistent comfort without undesirable temperature fluctuations. This technology is ideal for homeowners who are seeking consistent comfort while lowering their power consumption by up to 50 percent. In addition, advancements in climate control technology allow contractors to preconfigure operating profiles to optimize the system for a specific climate.
New high-end systems also provide more advanced reliability than equipment of the past, giving customers peace of mind that despite the uncertainty of many things in the current climate, they can rely on their equipment to consistently perform. Design improvements in premium equipment such as enhanced microchannel coils, which are corrosion resistant, and electronic expansion valves, which provide even temperatures and superior humidity control, ensure lasting performance.
Working from home also requires quiet spaces to maintain focus and concentration. Advanced HVAC units can include sound-reducing components such as a sweptwing fan, composite base pan and sound containment cloak, which can reduce sound to levels comparable to a high performance indoor appliance such as a dishwasher.
Customized comfort with zoning technology
While working and learning from home can lead to additional stress among family members, fighting over room temperature doesn’t have to be a source of contention. New zoning technology provides distinct temperature preferences throughout homes to maximize individual comfort, while operating at peak efficiency — this is a major selling opportunity for contractors during the work-from-home era.
Zoning systems allow every component of the HVAC system to communicate with each other so they can be automated based on user preferences and daily schedules eliminating the need for frequent manual adjustments. Premium zoning systems can be controlled at home or remotely via mobile app synced to a connected thermostat controlling the zoning system. Communicating thermostats and sensors can be partnered with both indoor and outdoor units for optimal, customizable year-round comfort.
Remote monitoring of high-end equipment
With technology now at the center of our lives, today’s homeowners are seeking out high-end HVAC solutions they can control and customize remotely. Using an app via a mobile device, consumers can control a variety of system features including temperature and humidity control, geofencing, away mode and vacation mode.
Using advanced mobile app technology, contractors can also create enhanced relationships with homeowners as a trusted advisor, using abilities to remotely access their advanced HVAC systems and monitor their performance. With abilities ranging from monitoring basic system data to more advanced system settings, troubleshooting potential issues remotely has never been easier. This not only saves contractors time and resources, it keeps everyone safer by reducing the need for in-person visits, while still maintaining the level of service homeowner expect with their investment in premium HVAC systems.
Solutions for smarter, safer homes
With houses now serving as the epicenter of many lives, homeowners need to feel an elevated sense of safety and comfort. Contractors have a lot to offer customers with high-tier HVAC systems. Not only do they add value to a home, high-end HVAC systems can also provide an extra layer of security by improving IAQ and offering personalized comfort while delivering optimal efficiencies to lower energy costs.