Energy Efficiency

There are many things that can be done to minimize utility bills and optimize efficiency with any system (old or new, apartment or single–family). Here are a few tips:

1. Keep your comfortable air inside the house.

• Caulk and weather–strip doors and windows, around chimneys and flues, and anywhere else inside air can escape.
• Insulate attics, crawl spaces, basements, and walls to the R value recommended for your area. Also insulate duct work in un–conditioned spaces.
• Check for cracked or broken shingles, crumbling grout, and worn or torn vapor barriers.
• Keep your windows closed when you have the heat or air conditioning on.

2. Inspect the exterior of your home once or twice a year.

3. Inspect/evaluate your windows.
If you are having a home built or windows replaced, invest in vinyl– or wood–clad insulated (thermo pane) windows and storm windows.

4. Keep vegetation and debris well away from the outdoor unit of your system.
Debris can block air flow which causes the system to work harder to produce the same level of comfort, ultimately costing you more money now and potentially more money in the future when the equipment fails prematurely.

5. Maintain a stable temperature on your thermostat.

• Set the thermostat at the highest comfortable level in the summer and the lowest comfortable level in the winter. A change in 1 degree changes energy consumption by about 4%.
• Humidifiers and dehumidifies can also make a big difference in the way the temperature feels.
• A programmable thermostat installed by a professional can help you save up to $180 per year.

6. Make sure room vents are working properly.

• Close them at least part–way in rooms that are not used.
• Never block the vents with furniture, pictures, or window coverings.

7. Consider a zoned system if your home has two or more stories or is very large.

8. Have your system serviced twice a year
Our service and maintenance agreements not only help with energy consumption but can also extend the life of your system.