preparing your air conditioning unit for summer use

Heating and cooling are some of the biggest energy consumers in residential homes. That means you can cut your energy bills considerably if you improve heating and cooling efficiency. Below are some practical tips to help you boost your house's heating efficiency.

Program the Thermostat

Automated heating controls tend to give better heating and energy efficiency than manual controls. You might forget to turn the temperature up or down, but the thermostat won't forget to do it as long as you have programmed it to do so. Therefore, if you have a smart or programmable thermostat, set the dates and temperatures and let it automate the changes. Remember to periodically confirm the condition of the thermostat battery.  

Use Natural Heating

The more the heater has to raise your temperature, the more energy it will consume. Therefore, you can make the heater's work easy by increasing your house's ambient temperature via natural means so that the heater only has to raise the temperature by a small margin. This can be as simple as opening the blinds when the sun is out during the day. Remember to close the blinds when the sun starts to go down so that you don't lose your house's warmth to the outside temperature.

Insulate the House

Proper insulation is necessary for both heating and cooling efficiency. Ensure there are no air leaks that can leak heated air or allow cool air from outside to affect your indoor temperatures. Watch out for the common culprits such as the areas around window or door edges, plumbing installations, and electrical installations. Ensure your house's insulation material is intact. The goal is to ensure all the heat generated by the heating system stays indoors and cool air from outside doesn't cool the house.

Maintain Your Heating System

Lastly, you need to maintain your heating system to ensure it's always running at optimal levels. The exact maintenance schedules and services vary by the heating system, but the following tend to be common across the board:

• Changing air filters
• Keeping the unit clean
• Ensuring vents and registers are clear
• Ensuring ductwork is clear
• Lubricating the relevant parts

Your owner's manual or local heating repair services can help you with more specific instructions for taking care of your heating system.

Note that your heating system won't be efficient if any of its parts are malfunctioning. That is why you need to service your heating system regularly and fix malfunctions as soon as they occur.