Heating & Cooling Energy Tips
Clean
or replace filters so that they will be fresh when you turn the air conditioning
on for the first time in the summer or the furnace in the fall. Dirty filters
not only restrict air flow , they can also contribute to equipment breakdown.
Ideally,
furnace filters should be replaced on a quarterly basis, but certainly no less
than twice a year.
Have the plumbing and heating service technician drain and clean your
humidifier. You probably won't need it during the humid summer months and
shutting it off saves electricity, as well as wear and tear on the equipment.
Remember
to shut off your humidistat, which powers and regulates your home's automatic
humidifier.
One of
the most important things you can do to get your air conditioner ready for heavy
summer workout is to clear the area around the outdoor condenser of dirt, leaves
and other debris that accumulated over winter. Also, periodically throughout the
summer you ought to check for shrubbery growth around the outside condenser and
keep it trimmed.
Check
closely for air leaks in ductwork, especially at connection points. Ductwork
exposed to outside or attic air must be insulated for additional reduction of
heat transfer.
If your
fuel bills are exceptionally high, you may want to find an HVAC contractor that
offers sophisticated blower door technology inspections. These high-tech
operations find leaks that are undetectable by normal means.
Central
air conditioning units should be inspected, cleaned, and tuned by a professional
technician once every two to three years to extend the life of the unit and cut
down on energy consumption. Check with your
heating and air conditioning
contractor on the proper maintenance schedule for your unit.
"-
At the current time, we use the home warrantee company for all the
components in our home, with the exception of our air conditioner
and heating unit, where we continue to contact Betts Heating & Air
for all the essential repairs to our system." --
Michael and Melinda Kennedy,
Acworth GA
