Approximately half the energy used in your home goes for heating and cooling. Beaver Brothers would like to remind you that making smart decisions about your home’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big impact on utility bills, not to mention your wellbeing. Here are a few helpful pointers to get the most out of your heating and cooling system:
- Change the air filter regularly. Every month check your air filter. If it looks dirty, change it. At the least, change the filter every three months. A clogged filter slows down air flow and makes the system work harder to function, wasting energy.
- Have an annual pre-season check-up. Summer and winter are the busy seasons for contractors. Check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system each fall. A check-up now may save a costly maintenance bill later.
- Seal your heating and cooling ducts. Ducts that move air to and from a forced-air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump can be big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent. How do you know if your ducts are faulty? High summer and winter utility bills, stuffy rooms that never really get comfortable, or tangled and kinked flexible ducts in your system are good indicators.
Seal 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 duct connections. After sealing, wrap the ducts in insulation to keep them from getting hot in summer or cold in winter.
- Install a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat, which adjusts the temperature according to programmed settings for different times of the day — is ideal for people away from home for indefinite periods. Pre-programmed settings via a programmable thermostat can save you $180 annually in energy costs.
Spring is on the horizon! And as always, the friendly experienced staff at Beaver Brothers, now in our 94th year of service, is ready to help you with all your heating and air conditioning needs.