Some Heating And Air Conditioning Tips For You

Do you realize just how very important it is to keep your home heating and air conditioning unit running smoothly and efficiently. No doubt you realize that by doing this you will cut your utility bills. True - but did you also realize that by keeping them running efficiently you can extend their operational life greatly -- thus saving you the tremendously high cost of total replacement of these units?

But before you rush right out and start looking at your HVAC equipment, what about your house itself? Is it energy efficient? You can do things like install insulation (or more insulation - or better insulation) to help cut your costs. And you can place caulking around all of your windows, trapping the heat inside (in summer), or keeping the cold outside (in winter). You can also add some weatherstripping. One other essential: add a digital programmable thermostat to your line-up -- all of these things will help your fuel bill bottom-line.

Perhaps you've done all of that, and are ready for more. In that case, you can install a humidifier for your whole house. The additional moisture in the winter will make you feel much warmer. In addition to installing the humidifier, you can purchase some ceiling fans. You can operate them in both the summer and winter months - just reverse the direction of the fan blades to handle cooler verses hotter air.

Of course, if it has been ages since you have had your furnace or air conditioner inspected, then you need to call your local HVAC repair and service center. The technician will be able to adjust your units for maximum operational efficiency, and they might just spot a problem in the making before it gets out of hand - again, saving you a bundle on repair costs. Regular maintenance of your appliances is key to keeping them running efficiently.

The government can help you also -- when you choose to replace your furnace or air conditioner, you always want to purchase units that have a good ENERGY STAR rating. If an appliance has qualified as an ENERGY STAR appliance, it has met certain standards for operating and energy efficiency. In addition, there are many government and non-profit websites that you can consult for valuable information and recommendations.

What are some of these online websites? Well you can go to www.consumerguide.com . Or you can go to the EPA (The Environmental Protection Agency) at www.epa.gov, or the American Council for Energy Efficient Economy at www.aceee.org. You can find those ENERGY STAR appliances I mentioned in the previous paragraph at www.energystar.gov.

Let me sound a note of warning here: many people think that they can save on the cost of installing new HVAC equipment by doing the installation themselves. DON'T! Why not? Because you, dear reader, do not have the specialized training (not to mention the tools) necessary to do the job properly. Why risk botching the job? Then you will have to pay a professional to come in and do the installation all over again.

Again, if your equipment needs repairs, don't assume that you can repair it -- you can't. If you poke around your HVAC equipment you could hurt yourself, damage the equipment further, and also void your manufacturer warranty. Get a hold of a good HVAC man, and use him -- you won't have to worry about the job going wrong, and will rest easy knowing that you will get years and years from your new air conditioner or furnace.

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Author: Norman Fleming is a home heating and air conditioning expert. For tips about DIY home heating and passive solar heating visit his site.
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Air Conditioning Maintenance

If you have opted to have an air conditioning unit in your home then you probably understand just how valuable they are when the weather gets a little too hot or too muggy. Walking into a cool home or business is so much better than heading into a stuffy room that makes you want to take an ice cold shower then and there. However, just imagine how you would feel if the unit you had suddenly decided to go on strike! Well, you can prevent this from occurring with a little air conditioning maintenance every so often.

Air conditioning maintenance is easy enough once you know how to do it and what to look for. Any good engineer that comes to install a unit for you will be happy to tell you what to do and what common problems you should look out for. However, they do also tend to offer a maintenance service if you would rather pay a professional to do the air conditioning maintenance for you.

It is essential that you get into a routine if you are to complete the air conditioning maintenance yourself. Taking a look at the unit every six weeks to three months will help you to remember when a service is due, spot any problems before they get out of hand and call in the necessary electricians for repairs if need be.

The majority of people that do not get into a routine forget to perform air conditioning maintenance in winter when it is cooler because they tend to forget about it. An air conditioning unit can be used all year round to maintain a desirable temperature but if it is not on or not needed then your routine could fall by the wayside.

Air conditioning maintenance, no matter who performs it, is designed to ensure that your unit is running efficiently, is reliable, uses as little energy as possible, is clean so that dirt will not clog it up and will last longer, thus putting off the need to buy a new one for as long as possible. All of the above will save you money in the long run in terms of your energy bill and the need to buy another expensive unit before you absolutely have to! Good air conditioning maintenance is a must if you do have a unit in your home so plan ahead and get into a routine before you forget!

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Economical Way of Air Conditioning

The heat weakens your strength and you put an air conditioner in your room. Obviously it would be comfortable staying in a room with the air conditioning facility. But at the same time the cost factor knocks our minds too.

A market research has shown the average American family pays about 40% of the energy bills for the air conditioning. Like electricity there are some other possibilities which add up the usual costs.

So, the concept of 'Being Economical' becomes the obvious one so long as we think of using an air conditioner. Following are some of the measures by which you can easily shrink the costs.

- For small room do not go for a central air conditioning; a portable one can do the cooling service with the same acumen. Modern portable air conditioning with the high EER will prove to be very effective. It will cool your room properly and save a lot.

- Protect the AC from the direct sunlight by installing mini-blinds or white window shades. A bamboo shades or tightly woven screens in the windows can also reduce an 80% of the sun’s heat.

- Keep all the windows closed in the daytime and at night open them all for ventilation. Do keep the fan mode on instead of the AC mode that time.

- For mini split air conditioner, make sure the outside part has some spaces for the easy outflow of air. It should never be obstructed by any means.

- Dust reduces the air flow. So, clean your air filter once in a month at least.

- Just ensure the right size of air conditioner while at a purchase. A small unit can not give the total cooling in a big room, while a large unit is too bigger for small room. 200BTU per hour of a room air conditioner is approximately needed for each square meter of space. Similar other determinants are there, too: size of rooms, insulation levels, size of windows & doors, shading, number of occupants, appliances, lighting, climate, etc.

- In case of a central air conditioning, do seal all the ducts properly.

- Try getting an air conditioner with higher EER. EER or Energy Efficiency Rating, though some say Energy Efficiency Ratio, is inversely related to the power consumption and as such a higher EER would reduce the power consumption and the less amount of electricity bills you need to pay at the month-end.

- Perpetual air conditioning is not good either. Give some interval. Run the AC for some time, and switch it off to have the cold air stay for the next few hours.

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Jason Uvios writes about on Economical Way of Air Conditioning to visit :- air conditioners for sale, air quality control and air conditioner repair

Air Conditioner Buying Guides

It's that time of year again. If you don't have an air conditioner you may be thinking of getting one. If the one you do have seems to be less than adequate, it may be time for an upgrade. What should you look for? Many consider buying an air conditioner a confusing process. Why not take a minute to read up on what's available and what all those numbers mean.

Points to Remember before Buying Air Conditioner:

• First, BTU stands for British thermal units per hour. Really, all that one really needs to know about this is that the higher the BTU, the more space the air conditioner can cool efficiently.

• The aim is to get as many BTU's as necessary for sufficient cooling without getting a unit that is more than you need. As a general room of thumb, look for five to six thousand BTU's for each 100 to 300 square feet you want to cool. Consider seven thousand to eighty two hundreds BTU's for 250 to 55o sq. ft. and ninety eight hundred to twelve thousand five hundred for area that is 350 to 950 sq. Expect a standard air conditioner to cool one or two rooms.

• One of the most important steps is to consider the need and matching that to the most effective solution. Is the air conditioning needed for the entire house, or mostly for a single room? Additionally, how often will it be used? If air conditioning is only needed occasionally for a small area, a temporary in-window model might be more appropriate, as it can be removed when not necessary. On the other hand, if permanent air conditioning is needed for the entire home, a larger solution might be needed.

• With an idea of the type of air conditioner needed, it is important to consider energy costs. Air conditioners can use significant power, and some units are more energy-efficient than others. Comparing models to find one saves energy while still performing effectively can save a significant amount on monthly power bills.

• Check the labels: most list the capacity of the model in British Thermal Units (BTUs) and give an idea of how energy-efficient the unit is. The more British Thermal Units, the greater the capacity of the unit. Additionally, some utility companies offer cash incentives to customers purchasing energy-friendly appliance replacements. Energy costs can make a huge difference when considering different air conditioners.

• Of course, the price of the unit itself is a consideration as well, and it is important to shop around to get a good deal. However, the price of the unit itself should not be the only consideration. When comparing prices, it is important to factor in the cost of delivery and professional installation, if required. In some areas, product discounts and faster installation may be available in colder months when demand for air conditioners is lower.

• When properly researched, purchased and installed, shopping for an air conditioner need not be difficult. Air conditioning can make a home more comfortable as well as more appealing to some home buyers. By considering needs and shopping around for a good dealFree Articles, buyers can make a smart decision.

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