No matter what kind of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system you have in your house, you can save money and increase comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your equipment. Here are some tips that can help you save on your energy bills.
- Replace your system if it was built prior to 2006.
- This will save 30% minimum and can save up to 56% with more efficient systems. The USA government passed a law effective in 2006 that does not allow any manufacture to build a system that has an efficiency less than 13-SEER.
- Change the air filter every 30 days.
- Let your utility bill be your reminder.
- Dirty filters restrict your air flow.
- Clogged filters cause your system to freeze up and stop all air flow.
- Have your return air filter moved to the ceiling.
- Warm air rises.
- If your filter is at knee level, the warm air never gets returned to the air conditioner to be cooled. During the heating cycle, the warmest air is returned to the system and re-circulated.
- Have the bottom gap of all interior doors at least 1-inch above the carpet/wood/tile.
- Closed doors restrict air flow.
- The prefect system has a supply outlet and return inlet in every room.
- Have your outdoor unit cleaned once each year.
- This unit is a heat exchanger. Dirt, grass etc. reduces its efficiency.
- Turn your ceiling fans off.
- Ceiling fans add heat to the house all the time that they are running.
- Ceiling fans do not circulate air.
- Ceiling fans do cool people when they are directly under them.
- Ceiling fans do move warm air from the ceiling when they are set in the reverse (up) direction during the winter time. The modern variable speed fan in your central heating and cooling system provides comfort, circulation, and 24/7 filtration for about 11-cents per day.
- Ceiling fans add heat to the house all the time that they are running.
- Have a timer added to your water heater.
- Water heaters make up 33% of your utility bill.
