Summertime means hot days, and when it gets really hot outside the best thing to do is stay inside, in the air conditioning, or drink a lot of water. These amenities are vital to living comfortably in both hot and cold weather, so it’s important to be knowledgeable about your home’s HVAC (heating, venting and air) and plumbing service. You don’t want to require emergency HVAC services, so it may be beneficial to perform regular HVAC maintenance or even replace your equipment altogether.
Your HVAC System
About 66% of homes in the United States have air conditioners, which means millions of people rely on an HVAC system. Of these millions, common problems will arise and it can save a lot of money to know what they are and how you can combat them.
One of these problems is duct leakage, which is when air is leaking from your vents and wasting energy by as much as 20-40%, even if your air conditioner is otherwise working properly. A simple call to local HVAC repair services could have someone there to check it within the week, and save you a lot of money in some cases. It’s recommended to have an HVAC maintenance or plumbing service check your HVAC system twice a year to ensure efficiency. Another area of concern, that you can easily attend to yourself, is your air conditioner filter. Be sure to replace it every 1-3 months, according to Energystar.gov suggestion.
Some air conditioners are beyond repair and may need to simply be replaced, which can save money in the long run. If your system is at least 10 years old, it’s recommended to replace it altogether, which may seem like a waste of money, but doing so could save you up to 20% on your power bill.
The Winter Months
Your air conditioner may also keep you warm in the winter, but many homes have a furnace for when it really gets cold. It’s also important to maintain this appliance, and ensure it won’t break on you when you need it. Roughly 75% of no-heat calls to maintenance companies are a result of neglect. Many of air conditioner problems are true for a furnace, and can likely be fixed by the same HVAC or plumbing service, but the lifespan is different. Furnaces can last as much as 20 years, so it may seem it won’t give out on you, but it eventually will. And when it is time to replace your furnace, or other HVAC system, it is very important to invest in a well-reputed furnace HVAC or furnace installation. Having your equipment installed haphazardly can result in a 30% reduction in efficiency.
Plumbing Service
Water is another valuable and useful amenity in either cold or warm weather. In the summer, you need to hydrate or rinse off, and in the winter, a hot shower or beverage can turn the day around. So you want to make sure your plumbing service won’t give out on you, either.
About 10% of homes have some sort of water leak, and these leaks can waste up to 90 gallons per day. That will really raise a bill if left unchecked! A call to your local plumbing service can most times rectify this easily and save about 10% on your bill.
Simple attention to commonly missed details can save you many headaches regarding your HVAC or plumbing system. Hopefully this information helps you consider maintenance, or maybe reminds you of a problem you noticed just the other day. Whatever your need, a good HVAC or plumbing service will know exactly how to help.