Did you know that your heating and air conditioning system consumes about half of the energy used in your home? If you’ve lived in a house for several years without having your HVAC system professionally maintained with a routine check it might be time for a tune-up. While Kermit the Frog may find it difficult to be green, Aire Serv Heating and Air Conditioning of Caledon-King says, “Making the choice to go green by updating your HVAC system will effectively increase your home’s energy efficiency and simultaneously decrease the cost of heating and cooling.”To create a more environmentally and energy-efficient home, Aire Serv Heating & Air Conditioning of Caledon-King suggests several energy saving solutions.
Routine maintenance of your HVAC unit is of the utmost importance. Scheduling a professional check of your HVAC system once every six months (generally in the spring and fall) is a certain way to keep your system running efficiently. Another solution is to install a programmable thermostat that adjusts to a timed schedule. This will allow you to minimize the use of your heating and cooling systems when you are away from home. Yet another solution is to use a high efficiency air filter in your furnace. Believe it or not, keeping your air conditioning unit shaded by nearby trees or shrubs can also help to keep your unit running smoother and cleaner, lowering the cost to keep your home cool. Ensuring that your attic, crawlspace or basement are properly insulated is also important in conserving energy in your home.
Aire Serv notes that if you own an older furnace and/or air conditioning unit, you are likely paying more than necessary to heat and cool your home. Air conditioning energy efficiency is calculated using a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), which calculates the cooling output during a typical cooling-season and divides it by the total electric energy input in that same period of time. In essence, the higher the rating, the more energy efficient an air conditioning unit is. Some older units manufactured approximately 10 years ago score around the 10 SEER range, while those models made today score closer to 20. It is also important to note that if you are updating your air conditioning unit, you absolutely must make sure that your furnace is capable of supporting the SEER ratio.
Often older furnaces do not support the SEER rate and therefore the new air conditioning unit will not be either energy efficient nor will it cool the house the way you thought it would. If you currently own an older unit, updating your entire HVAC system will likely cut your heating and cooling costs considerably.
As an environmentally conscientious company, Aire Serv recycles old HVAC systems to a municipal waste agency or Steel Recycling Institute.
Aire Serv’s 24/7 emergency service guarantees your comfort in every season. You can trust them as your preferred HVAC company, in the Caledon and King areas for: service, routine HVAC maintenance, installation, and/or when updating or repairing any of your HVAC system.
For more information contact Aire Serv Heating and Air Conditioning of Caledon-King
This article was featured on Caledon Enterprise.