If you’re a regular reader, you know that heating and cooling your home makes up almost 50 percent of your annual energy bill. Since your HVAC unit – or heating and cooling unit – is typically the largest consumer of energy in your home, it’s important to make sure it’s in tip-top condition.
Maintaining your HVAC unit is much like changing the oil in your car – it’s not something we necessarily like to do, but it must be done or we may risk costly expenses. We recommend that you have your HVAC unit serviced by a professional at least once a year, preferably before the cooling season if you’re only planning to have it serviced once a year. This can not only help identify possible problems, but can extend the life of the system while maintaining optimum efficiency.
During routine maintenance, ENERGY STAR® recommends that your HVAC contractor check thermostat settings, tighten all electrical connections, lubricate all moving parts, check and inspect the condensate drain, and check the controls of the system.
You’ll also want to check the filters in your air return ducts inside your home monthly and change them when they’re dirty. Adequate air flow through your HVAC system is critical to ensure efficient operation. Check with your HVAC contractor or the unit manufacturer to make sure you’re using filters that are appropriate for your unit.
Of course, the easiest way to take control of your cooling costs is to monitor your thermostat setting. We recommend a setting of 78 degrees or higher in the summer and 68 degrees or lower in the winter. Each degree higher or lower can significantly increase your cooling costs in the summer and heating costs in the winter.
For even more energy saving tips, visit our website.
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