Heat & Cool Efficiently: Part I
As much as half of the energy used in your
home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home's
heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect
on your utility bills and your comfort. Take these steps to increase the
efficiency of your heating and cooling system.
Change your air filter regularly
Check your filter every month, especially
during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a
month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty
filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm
or cool, wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from
building up in the system, leading to expensive maintenance and/or early
system failure.
Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly
Just as a tune-up for your car can improve
your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can
improve efficiency and comfort.
Maintenance Checklist
Maintain your equipment to prevent future
problems and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at peak
performance by having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups. Contractors
get busy once summer and winter come, so it's best to check the cooling system
in the spring and the heating system in the fall. To remember, you might plan
the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.
A typical maintenance check-up should include the
following.
Check
thermostat settings to ensure
the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable when you are home and
saves energy while you are away.
Tighten all
electrical connections and measure
voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe
operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.
Lubricate
all moving parts. Parts that
lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increases the amount of
electricity you use.
Check and inspect
the condensate drain in your
central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A
plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity
levels.
Check
controls of the system to ensure
proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure
the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.
Cooling
Specific
Clean
evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the
system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the
equipment.
Check your
central air conditioners refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your
system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the
equipment.
Clean and
adjust blower components to provide
proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce
your system's efficiency by up to 15 percent.
Heating
Specific
Check all
gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. Improperly operating gas (or oil) connections are a fire
hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or cracked heat
exchanger causes improper burner operation. Either can cause the equipment to
operate less safely and efficiently.
Actions: To Do
Yourself
Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace,
and/or heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this. A dirty filter
can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.
