• Tips for Purchasing a New Furnace.
    • Do your homework and research the products available.
    • Sit down with a trusted HVAC rep and discuss warmth, humidity, budget and capacity needs.
    • Ask about rebates and tax incentives.
    • Speak to an HVAC sales representative about a free, in-home, no-obligation evaluation.
    • Have your rep explain all the related terminology until you understand exactly what you’re getting.
  • Tips for Clean, Functioning Gutters.
    • Clean your gutters each season to account for trees going through their different growth cycles.
    • Spring is also a good time to inspect your gutters for damage that may have occurred from winter snow and ice.
    • Consider gutter screens or urethane filters to help keep out debris between cleanings.
    • Improper gutter maintenance can lead to clogged or damaged gutters and cause thousands of dollars in damage to your foundation, exterior trim and basement.
  • Tips for a Cool Home During Summer Heat.
    • Keep furniture away from air conditioning vents so cool air can flow freely.
    • Close vents in unused rooms and shut the doors.
    • Close blinds and drapes to reduce the sun’s heat.
    • Limit heat-producing tasks – like cooking and laundry – to the early morning or late evening.
    • Use fans – both ceiling and freestanding models – to help cool your home by pushing cool air around the house.
    • Find the best setting for your A/C during the warmer months. 78 degrees (Fahrenheit) is recommended.
    • Replace your thermostat with one that is programmable.
    • Fix household leaks to prevent cold air from escaping through places like doors, windows and fireplaces.
    • Check your air filter monthly. Clean or change it as often as necessary.
    • Keep ducts and vents clean from dust, dirt, pet hair and dander so cool air can flow smoothly.
    • Keep bushes and plants trimmed away from the fins of the outside cooling unit. Clean off the outside of the fins to ensure good airflow.
    • Seek the help of a trusted HVAC professional to find the right air conditioning model for your home, properly install the unit, and then maintain it.
  • Tips for Choosing the Right A/C System.
    • Size it right for comfort and efficiency. The rule of thumb for determining the right size unit for your home is: 600-700 square feet of your home = 1-ton A/C unit.
    • Don’t try to save money by undersizing your air conditioning unit. Conversely, an oversized unit will cost you more money to install, run and maintain.
    • Take advantage of HVAC professionals who provide free in-home estimates.
    • Study up on SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) which measures the unit’s cooling and energy efficiency.
    • Be sure your HVAC professional uses the more earth-friendly refrigerant hydro-fluorocarbon (R-410A).
    • Turn to a trusted HVAC professional for proper installation and maintenance of your unit to avoid unnecessarily high operating costs.
  • Warning Signs of Equipment Inefficiency.
    • Your furnace or A/C unit is more than 15 years old. Recent models are much more efficient, so an upgrade can mean savings on monthly bills immediately.
    • Your system needs frequent repairs. Age of system and lack of regular maintenance can lead to problems down the road.
    • Your system is noisy. This could be a sign of problems with the system itself, or with the duct work.
    • Rooms in your home are too hot or too cold. No matter how efficient your system, improper sealing, duct work and insulation can cause poor distribution of warm or cool air.
    • You leave your thermostat set on one constant temperature. Installing a programmable thermostat is an inexpensive way to save on energy bills.
  • Power Companies that Offer Rebates and Incentives.