Tips, Hints And Helpful Information On Saving Money And Caring For Shreveport And Bossier City, Louisiana Area Home's Heating And Air Conditioning Systems

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Do you know that the biggest user of energy in the home is your heating and cooling system? To save money, conserve energy and cut down on energy waste here's what you can do:

Upgrade older equipment with higher efficiency furnaces, central air conditioners and heat pumps. Make sure that your heating and/or cooling equipment is properly sized for your home. Operating a unit that is too small or too large is very inefficient. Your heating and air conditioning contractor can determine the best size unit for your home.
Check your heating system to see that it is running efficiently. Have your dealer inspect the system before the winter months. Be sure to change the filters regularly — at least every three months.
If you replace your central air conditioner, make sure that the contractor replaces the indoor coil as well as the outside condensing unit. Otherwise, your system won't perform at its promised efficiency. Install electric ceiling fans to boost the efficiency of room air conditioners in the summer and to circulate warm air away from the ceiling in the winter. Be sure to clean or replace filters of all equipment regularly. Clogged filters make appliances work harder, so they use more energy to do the same job.
Invest in an automatic setback thermostat. It will adjust temperatures at night and when you are away from home.
Install a zoning system. It will control and regulate airflow and temperature so you only have to heat or cool areas of your home that you're using.
Ad a humidifier to your heating system. It may enable you to turn your thermostat down and still be comfortable at lower temperatures.
Help lower your energy requirements by wearing appropriate clothing in your home. For example, lightweight clothing in the summer and warmer clothing in the winter.
Check the efficiency ratings mandated by the Department of Energy when you shop for new equipment. Make sure you're getting high-efficiency equipment. Ratings will be prominently displayed on the yellow hangtag required by law to be on each new unit sold.
Preventive Maintenance = Savings …… Ignore your HVAC system and you will wind up spending a lot of money on it. Have basic maintenance performed and you can keep that money for yourself. Your HVAC system is a great big (and expensive) mechanical system just like your automobile. You know that you need to keep your car tuned up and get your oil changed every 3,000 miles. So why do so many assume they can just ignore their comfort system? You can ignore it, and it will break down more, need replacement sooner, COST YOU MORE MONEY throughout its shortened lifespan, and most importantly, it might impact your health.

Understanding Efficiency Ratings For Heating And Air Conditioning Equipment

Central Air Conditioner efficiency is measured by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The higher the SEER the more efficient the unit. Units with a SEER of 12 or above are considered high-efficiency; 17 is the highest available.

Furnace efficiency is measured by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. The colder the climate and the higher the local utility rates, the higher the AFUE you should get. Furnaces with AFUE ratings of 90% percent and above are considered high-efficiency; 96.6% is the highest available.

Heat pump cooling efficiency is measured by a SEER rating; a heat pump's heating efficiency is measured as the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF). A heat pump with a SEER of 12 or higher and an HSPF of at least 8 is considered high-efficiency.

Room Air Conditioner efficiency is measured by the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), which is the BTU/hr output divided by the watts of electricity the unit uses. It basically tells you how much heat you get out of the unit compared to how much electricity you put into it. The higher the EER, the less the electricity the air conditioner will use.

Clean Up Your Air Conditioner To Increase Efficiency!

Air Conditioners are like cars - they run better when they're kept clean. Keep grass and shrubbery at least 18" from your air conditioner, and have your unit professionally cleaned at least every other year (more often if you're in a dusty environment).

Know The Right Filters!

Everybody knows to change their filters once a month but beware of the "high efficiency" filters you see in the big box home improvement stores. Your system needs a lot of air to function properly, and many of the less expensive filters don't allow enough air to flow through them. Ask your LenAire Tech about the right type of filter to use.

Windows

Do you know that up to 25% of your heat can go out the window? Here's what you can do:

1. Use caulking and weather-stripping to stop much of the heated air from escaping.
2. Replace single-thickness windows with thermal-type double thickness windows.
3. Install storm windows and doors to provide additional insurance against heat loss.

Insulation

Are you aware that an uninsulated attic can raise your heating and cooling costs? Here's what you can do:

1. Install R-30 insulation in the ceiling.

Heating and air conditioner repair, replacement and installation experts for your home – call 318-742-6230.