As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home’s air conditioning service and heating service can have a big effect on your utility bills—and your comfort. Take these steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

Replace Your Air Filter Regularly

Check your filter often, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months as part of your air conditioning service and heating service program. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will prevent dust and dirt from building up on the system fan and evaporator coil— leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.

Maintain Your HVAC Equipment

Just like maintaining your car can improve your gas mileage, regular air conditioning service and heating service can improve efficiency and comfort. Try our Comfort Society Maintenance Program for premiere heating service and air conditioning service.

Install A Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Proper use of pre-programmed settings can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.

Seal Your Air Ducts

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. A duct inspection should be an annual part of any air conditioning service and heating service program.

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 the house.

Consider Installing Energy Efficient Heating And Cooling Equipment

If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, have it evaluated by AirOne Heating and Air Conditioning. If it is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading, consider replacing it. Depending on where you live, replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with more energy efficient equipment can cut your annual energy bill by nearly $200. But before you invest in a new HVAC system, make sure that you have addressed the big air leaks in your house and the duct system. Most manufacturers require scheduled air conditioning service and heating service to maintain the warranty coverage on new systems. AirOne Heating and Air Conditioning includes a two year air conditioning service and heating service Comfort Society membership with our new system installations.

Proper Installation Of Your New Equipment

Replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with new, energy-efficient models is a great start. But to make sure that you get the best performance, the new equipment must be properly installed. In fact, improper installation can reduce system efficiency by up to 30 percent—costing you more on your utility bills and possibly shortening the equipment’s life. AirOne Heating and Air Conditioning uses a Total Performance Diagnostics report to verify proper system operation of all new equipment installations. Even properly installed equipment should be maintained with scheduled air conditioning service and heating service.