Monday, June 22, 2009

You can’t control the Richmond VA summer heat but you CAN control your energy costs.

With temperatures rising and energy costs continuing to soar, there are a variety of steps you can take to cut the expenses of cooling your home this summer.

"Cooling and heating equipment use more energy than any other appliance. This inevitably shows up every month on the energy bill, but it’s important to remember that energy costs can be controlled," said Sean Cantrell, owner of Marshall Mechanical.

Annual Maintenance

One step to control energy costs is to schedule annual maintenance checks to make sure your unit is running efficiently. Most cooling systems require very little owner maintenance. However, operating dirty cooling equipment can result in an unnecessary loss of efficiency and can damage the furnace. You play a vital role in making sure your cooling system continues to operate at peak performance.

High Efficiency Cooling Equipment

If you’re in the market for a new cooling unit, consider purchasing a high efficiency model. They can help reduce your energy costs as well as conserve our natural resources. When selecting an air conditioner or heat pump, pay close attention to the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). This is a measure of cooling efficiency for air conditioners. The higher the SEER, the higher the savings. The minimum SEER rating is 13.

Zoning

Zoning can drastically lower your heating costs. With zoning, you no longer have to pay to heat or cool areas of your home that are rarely used. You won’t have to heat or cool the whole house just to make one room comfortable. Zoning divides your home into separate comfort areas, which are heated or cooled based on your needs.

Programmable Thermostats

Programmable or setback thermostats can make a big difference in energy consumption. These thermostats deliver maximum comfort, efficiency, and energy savings. Setback thermostats are used to achieve the temperatures you want throughout your home. For example, if you’re going to be away, you can set the whole house at an energy-saving temperature to avoid heating an empty house. If you have setback thermostats, you can program them to have your living areas comfortable when you arrive home.

To find out more about reducing your Richmond VA cooling costs, call Sean Cantrell or Mike Smith at Marshall Mechanical today at 804.323.0189.
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