#1 Reason: Inefficient heating and cooling equipment.
Did you know that your Heating/Cooling system represents more than 60% of your entire energy bill? – If you have an older inefficient heating and cooling system, NOTHING you can do will make a bigger impact on your bill than installing a modern efficient system.
- Old gravity vent gas furnaces were 60% efficient when new – which means 40 of your energy dollars have just been going up the flue.
- Old air conditioners rated at 8 Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (8 SEER) are terribly inefficient compared to modern units with SEER ratings of up to 26! (Old heat pumps which run winter and summer also have similarly low SEER ratings.
#2 Reason: Lack of Service.
Did you know that the only way to keep your system operating at it’s money-saving peak is to keep it regularly serviced? But that’s good because regular service is fast, easy and the cost is more than offset by the return in energy savings.
- Gas furnaces need to have burners cleaned and adjusted to provide proper combustion air.
- Blower wheels need to be cleaned to deliver proper air flow across the heat exchanger and maintain proper temperatures.
- Filters need to be changed on a regular basis. Dirty filters cause blowers to work harder to deliver air through the ductwork.
- Motor capacitors need to be checked. Defective capacitors increase amp draw on motors resulting in higher utility bills.
- Heat exchangers need to be checked. A cracked heat exchanger can leak dangerous carbon monoxide into the air stream and into the living space.
- Venting of the furnace needs to be checked. A blocked or partially blocked flue will cause the furnace to malfunction causing safety concerns and improper combustion in the furnace.
- Heat pump reversing valves need to be checked. The refrigerant cycle involves changing the state of refrigerant from liquid to gas each cycle. An improper charge increases utility costs and reduces the life of the compressor.
- Heat pump compressors need to be checked. Both “start” & “run” capacitors aid in reducing power usage by reducing amp draws. They need to be checked regularly and replaced as needed.
