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.

Article Source: http://www.a1-optimization.com/articles

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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