Heating and Cooling

The energy efficiency of your home is strongly evident in the quality of your heating and cooling system. Well over half of the cost of utilities for your home goes into keeping temperature at the desired mark. When updating your home for more convenient living for yourself or to bring a better market price, one area of focus should be to ensure the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

First, ask yourself this question: “Am I happy with the performance of my current heating and cooling system?” If you have no complaints about its current performance, then perhaps calling your service provider for a routine inspection and cleaning is all you will need to do. However, if you are already aware of existing problems, now may be the time to replace your system with a more energy efficient and effective heating and cooling system.

If you have been pleased with the service of the vendor you use for your current system, ask your technician if the company offers a discount for repeat customers. Installing a heating and cooling system is definitely a task for a professional. There are certain licenses which must be maintained through your state to ensure current knowledge of this trade. Many companies keep a stock of new units that can be installed in an afternoon. For specialty systems, an order might take a bit longer.

Remember, heating and cooling your home is not simply an issue of appliances. Be sure to take a good look at your windows and doors. To be sure you are not losing money through inadequate seals, try this simple trick: Open a window on one side of your home to create a latent crosswind. Hold a lighted candle (using common sense precautions) near the seals of windows and doors on the opposite side of the house. If the flame flickers due to wind created through gaps or faulty weather stripping, you may need to add new fixtures or light-duty repairs to your list.

If your goal is to provide your family with reduced costs of living and a more comfortable environment, investing in an updated heating and cooling system is a great place to start. On the other hand, if your goal to update your home to attract a buyer, installing a new and dependable heating and cooling system will do just that!