Q: How can I control energy costs?

A: With energy costs soaring, there are a variety of steps you can take to cut the expenses of cooling your home. Cooling and heating equipment use more energy than any other appliance. This inevitably shows up every month on the energy bill, but it’s important to remember that energy costs can be controlled.

Maintenance

One step to control energy costs is to schedule annual maintenance checks to make sure your unit is running properly and efficiently. Most home comfort systems require very little owner maintenance. However, operating dirty heating or cooling equipment can result in unnecessary loss of efficiency and can damage the unit. You play a vital role in making sure your system continues to operate at peak performance.

High Efficiency

If you are in the market for a new home comfort system, consider purchasing a high-efficiency system. They can help reduce your energy costs as well as conserve our natural resources. When selecting a new home comfort system, pay close attention to the SEER rating of the air conditioner and the AFUE of the furnace. The higher the SEER or AFUE, the higher the savings.

Zoning

Zoning can drastically lower your heating costs. With zoning, you no longer have to pay to heat or cool areas of your home that are rarely used. You won’t have to heat or cool the whole house just to make one room comfortable. Zoning divides your home into separate comfort areas, which are heated or cooled based on your needs.

Programmable Thermostats

Programmable thermostats can make a big difference in energy consumption. These thermostats deliver maximum comfort, efficiency and energy savings. Programmable thermostats are used to achieve the temperature you want throughout your home. For example, if you’re going to be away, you can set the whole house at an energy-saving temperature to avoid heating or cooling an empty house. You can then program them to have your living areas comfortable by the time you arrive back home.

Q: How can I make my home more energy efficient?

A: Follow these suggestions for making your home more energy efficient:

• Make sure all ductwork vent registers are not blocked by furniture.
• Leave all interior doors open at least 2 inches if the room does not have its own return air intake vent.
• Insulate your attic and ductwork.
• Install solar screens, awnings, or plants to shade windows and walls during the summer months.
• Keep heating and cooling filters clean and inspect them monthly.
• Have your heating and cooling system thoroughly cleaned and tuned (not just a check-up) by a reputable company with certified technicians, such as Service Experts, at least twice a year.
• Seal ductwork airtight.
• Turn off all lights, fans, computer monitors, etc. when a room is unoccupied.
• Consider replacing low efficiency incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Replace old inefficient heating and cooling systems with new super-high efficiency models.
• Always buy products with the Energy Star label.

This article was provided by Service Experts. Service Experts is North America’s leading home comfort company because we sell, service and repair more heating and cooling systems than any other company. No other HVAC company has more home comfort experience. Visit the website today.