Residents throughout the state of Texas were paying close attention to the need for HVAC repair in their homes. With weekend temperatures going from high 70s at the beginning of the weekend to the single digit temperatures in Northern parts of the state, HVAC repair services were booked solid.
A weekend of record cold temperatures and big swings between high and low temperatures remind many homeowners the importance of paying attention to their furnaces and air conditioners. Homeowners who have ignored the manufacturer and industry suggestions to have their heating and cooling systems checked by HVAC repair and service personnel can find themselves waiting for needed emergency appointments.
Consider some of the tips, facts, and figures about the heating and cooling system in America:
- On average, heating and air conditioning a home takes as much as 43% from the monthly utility bill, according to statistics collected by the U.S. Department of Energy.
- Heating systems work more efficiently if they are properly checked twice a year by certified HVAC repair personnel.
- By installing high-efficiency HVAC systems some homeowners are eligible for rebates from their local utility company. In some areas these rebates are as high $400.
- As recently as the year 1993, only 68% of all occupied housing units in America had AC.
- By following through on manufacturer’s recommendations, HVAC systems can last for years.
- You may need to replace a home’s heating system if it is more than 12 to 15 years old, or if the system requires frequent repairs, or consumes increasing amounts of energy.
- Improper equipment installation can decrease a home?s heating and cooling efficiency by as much as 30%.
- T’is the season to make sure that your home furnace is properly serviced,
- Some HVAC repair experts estimate that up to 75% of emergency calls in the winter are related to a lack of maintenance. Left unchecked, a furnace can stop working suddenly, leaving a home in the cold on the coldest days of the year.
- Could you imagine driving your vehicle without ever changing the oil or air filter? It simply would not make much sense, would it? For the same reasons that you follow through on routine maintenance for your automobiles, you should make sure that you are thorough in your efforts to maintain your home heating and cooling system.
- Outside temperatures can drop quickly this time of year. The fact that places like North Texas saw single digit temperatures last weekend, for instance, is an indicator of how today?s weather can be unpredictable.
- Low-priced, preventive maintenance service contracts are offered by any heating and cooling companies. Some, in fact, only cost an average of $70 to $100 to clean and service a HVAC unit and replace an air filter. This preventative cost is a small fraction of what homeowners pay who have to call for emergency services on the coldest days of the year.
- Do you have a certified repair person who you call for all of your HVAC needs?
- Only two-thirds of all homes in America have air conditioners.
- Utility rates are something that homeowners cannot control. they can, however, control how much energy their homes use.
- Thermostats can play a major role in controlling heating costs. For every two degrees a thermostat is lowered, a homeowner can save approximately 5% on heating costs. If your health permits it, turning a thermostat all of the way down, or even off, can help you save additional amounts of energy.
- Scheduled filter maintenance can often be done by a homeowner, but overall checks require certified technicians.
- Installing insulation is generally the best single home improvement to take for a homeowner who is trying to reduce energy waste. Without adequate attic insulation, in fact, as much as 20% of every dollar spent on home heating can escape through the roof.
- Do you stop to take the time to compare your heating and cooling bills from this year to heating bills in the past? Taking into account any energy rate raises and temperature swings, you can monitor the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems and make the decision to finally upgrade.
- Energy efficiency is the goal of most new heating and cooling systems. While it may be more expensive, for instance to install a heat pump system, in the long run these more energy efficient units will save money.