It is a fact that more than half of the energy used at home goes to heating and cooling. How comfortable you are, as well as how much energy you use and the resulting cost is a result of the decisions you make about your HVAC system. Let us help you to make smart decisions when you heat and cool your home.
The Basics
Change that Filter
Rememeber to change your air filter regularly. At the least check it every month, particularly when it is running, summer and Winter. If the filter seems dirty change it right away. No more than three months should go by without changing it. When the filter is dirty is slows down air flow and the system has to work harder to keep you comfortably warn or cool. That is using a lot of expensive energy. When a filter is clean is also prevents dirt and dust particles from landing on everything, leading to poor air quality and possible heating and cooling equipment failure.
Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly
Your HVAC equipment does many more ‘miles’ than your car every year. Just as you wouldn’t go a year without changing your filter, neither is it a good idea to go for years without maintenence. You system will run more efficienctly and be much less likely to break down.
Install a programmable thermostat
Programmable thermostats can save you more than it costs to install them in under a year. A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week.
Seal your heating and cooling ducts
Just as you wouldn’t leave your door or window open on a cold day, neither do you want gaping holes in the ducts that circulate the air which you have paid to warm. Ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent — and sometimes much more.
What we focus on is to seal ducts located in crawlspaces and attics that are exposed to uncooled or unheated air.
Consider installing high efficiency heating and cooling equipment
If your equipment is more than about 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, it is not a bad idea to have it evaluated by a professional HVAC contractor. They will usually do it for free(although they will likely try to sell you a new one.
Boer Brothers Heating and Cooling can of course help you with any of this.
Schedule an evaluation