Heating and Cooling Tips Atlanta GA - Perfection Air, HVAC | Heating, Air Conditioning Marietta GA | 770-444-9142

No-cost Use shades, blinds and drapes to help with heating and cooling. Open them to gain the sun's heat during heating season and close them to block the heat during cooling season. Make it a habit today. Adjust your thermostat when you are asleep or away from home. You can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit from its normal setting for 8 hours a day. Recommended thermostat settings when you are home are 68 F in winter and 78 F in summer. Leave thermostat's fan switch on "auto" so the fan only runs when the furnace runs. Setting the fan to "on" causes it to run all the time, whether or not heating or cooling is needed. Turn thermostat down to 55 F when using a fireplace. Older, wood-burning fireplaces tend to be inefficient and can be costly, drawing more heated air out of your home through the chimney than a fire can produce. So, turn the thermostat down when you cozy up in front of the fire. After the smoldering embers are out, close the flue damper to keep warm air in the house. Low-cost Seal cracks and gaps around windows, doors and siding with caulk and weather stripping. This prevents loss of heated or cooled air and improves the comfort of your home. Use fans in summer, even if you have air conditioning. Circulating cool air makes it feel cooler. Using an air conditioner and fan together means you can set the thermostat at a higher-than-normal setting to save energy. Keep in mind that it does little good to run fans when you are not around. Similar to an outdoor breeze on a hot summer day, air moving across your body is what makes you feel cooler. Install a programmable thermostat for your comfort and convenience. It can adjust the heat or air conditioning for times you typically are away (when you go to work) and again for times you typically are home. You also can program it to turn the heat down when you go to sleep and turn it back up before you wake up in the morning. It adjusts automatically, so you don't have to remember to do it. Schedule regular tune-ups for your furnace and air conditioner. Seasonal maintenance keeps equipment running safely and efficiently, and saves money in the long run. More ways to save Furnaces and air conditioners Choose efficient furnaces and air conditioners when it's time for replacement. Furnaces and air conditioners are expensive to operate and to replace. If you need a new one, do not assume the size of the current unit is appropriate. Look at the unit's efficiency rating. Furnaces with an AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating of at least 92 and an electrically efficient blower motor (ECW or variable speed) are best. If you use your central air conditioner a lot, look for a model with a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) of 14 or more for the best efficiency. Focus on Energy (in Wisconsin) and Efficiency United (in Michigan) may offer rebates for higher-efficiency furnaces and air conditioners. Windows If you just look at energy savings, window replacement should be your lowest priority, since replacing windows involves a large investment. However, if you are getting new windows for other reasons - appearance, condensation, comfort - look for Energy Star qualified windows. Natural gas Consider switching to natural gas. Compared to other traditional energy sources, natural gas is the least expensive way to heat your home and water, dry your laundry and cook your food. HVAC Marietta GA