Between saving money and going green, there are many reasons for homeowners to look into more efficient heating and cooling options for Southwest Florida homes. Use these heating and cooling tips as a start and watch your utility bills drop.
- Install a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats allow homeowners to only heat or cool the home when it’s needed, preventing wasteful energy consumption. This is particularly useful during the night or while the home’s empty for several hours at a time.
- Change the air filter regularly. Check the air filter at least every 90 days, and if it looks dirty, change it out. During the winter and summer months, you may be changing your filter more frequently, but during the fall and spring, you may only need to change it every three months. If a dirty air filter stays in your HVAC system for too long, it will slow down the airflow and cause the system to work harder than necessary. A shorter system life and reduced indoor air quality can result.
- Take care of your home’s ductwork. Air leaks in ductwork can cause the conditioned air that passed through to leak out into the unconditioned part of your home. This will make your heating and cooling system work harder to heat or cool your home. Replace aging ductwork when needed, and seal up tears or holes if and when they’re found.
- Have your heating and cooling equipment serviced semi-annually. Having a professional come out and inspect your system can head off major problems that could lead to a total replacement later on. Having a tuneup performed on the system can also increase performance, which leads to more efficient heating and cooling.
For further professional advice on more efficient heating and cooling, contact Conditioned Air. Our team of HVAC pros has been serving the Southwest Florida area since 1962.
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