As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills and comfort. Take these steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.
Change your air filter regularly. Check your filter once a month, especially during heavy use months (summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every three months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you cool, resulting in wasted energy.
Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly. Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your HVAC system can improve efficiency and comfort.
Install a programmable thermostat.
A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.
Seal your ducts
Ducts that move air to and from a 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.
Focus first on sealing ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement, or garage. Use duct sealant (mastic) or metal-backed (foil) tape to seal the seams and connections of ducts. After sealing the ducts in those spaces, wrap them in insulation to keep them from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter. Next, look to seal any other ducts that you can access in the heated or cooled part of your home.
For more information contact GW Richardson Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc., your local factory authorized dealer of Carrier heating and cooling products. Come visit our showroom located at 28231 Avenue Crocker, Unit 100 in Valencia or visit our website at www.gwrichardsonac.com. You may also contact us at 661-295-0115 or email us at info@gwrichardsonac.com. Office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday, by appointment on weekends.