Beat
the heat by preparing your air conditioner for warm weather.
Warm temperatures are around the
corner – and it’s important to make sure your home is ready. Being prepared can save you money.
“Proper care of cooling equipment
can keep your unit running efficiently, which saves money and helps avoid
costly repairs,” said Joel Kinsch, President of Elite Service Company Heating
and Air Conditioning. “Cooling and
heating equipment use more energy than any other appliance. This inevitable shows up every month on the
energy bill, but it’s important to remember that energy costs can be
controlled.”
Consumers’ play a vital role in
making sure their cooling equipment for warm weather is to schedule an annual
maintenance check up to make sure your unit is running efficiently. “One of the most effective steps consumers
can take to help ensure they’ll get the efficiency they paid for is to contact
an experienced, reputable air-conditioning contractor to check their system’s
refrigerant charge and operating safety controls,” said Kinsch.
Although a qualified service
technician should handle major maintenance, owners can also help keep the
equipment running smoothly. Operating a
dirty unit can cause unnecessary loss of efficiency and can damage the
unit. You can take the following simple
steps to ensure your system is running properly:
- Trim brush and shrubbery near outdoor units to prevent airflow obstruction
- Remove grass clippings, leaves, and other debris from the outdoor coil
- Replace indoor unit’s filter monthly
- Reduce clutter in your attic to maintain proper ventilation and reduce the system’s cooling load
“A few minor steps are a
small price to pay for high efficiency, which means lower energy bills and
improved total comfort,” Kinsch said.
If
you’re in the market for a new cooling unit, consider purchasing a high
efficiency model. They can help reduce
your energy costs as well as conserve our natural resources.
When
selecting an air conditioner or heat pump, pay close attention to the SEER
(Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). This
is a system for rating the efficiency of cooling equipment. The high the SEER, the less your unit will
cost to operate. The minimum SEER rating
is 10. Some units can have a SEER rating
higher than 19.
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. Zoning is efficient, easy to install, and
flexible enough for any home.
Programmable
or setback thermostats can make a big difference in energy consumption. These thermostats deliver maximum comfort,
efficiency, and energy savings. Setback
thermostats are used to achieve the temperatures 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 an empty house. If you have setback
thermostats, you can program them to have your living areas comfortable when
you arrive home.
