Heating and Cooling Systems

Courtesy of energystar.gov

Check your system's air filter once a month and replace it at least every 3 months. Have a pre-season check-up of your system by a licensed contractor in the Spring and Fall, to ensure all parts are working properly to avoid early system failure. If your furnace is more than 15 years old, or your a/c unit is more than 12 years old, consider replacing it with a more efficient and properly sized unit.

As much as half of your household energy use goes to heating and cooling. Replacing old equipment with more efficient equipment is one way to save. But equipment is just one part of an entire system that requires proper sizing, maintenance, properly sized and well-sealed ducts, insulating ducts in unconditioned spaces and more. For more information, get a copy of EPA's A Guide to Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling (2.6MB)

Bigger doesn't always mean better. Oversized equipment can cause reduced comfort and excessive noise. Oversizing also can shorten the life of the equipment by causing it to cycle on and off more frequently than a properly sized unit. However, undersized equipment can reduce the efficiency and accelerate wear on system components, leading to early failure. For more information about sizing, use Energy Star's Central Air Conditioner Sizing Tutorial.