(RICHMOND, VA) -- With temperatures rising and energy costs not letting up, there are a variety of steps Richmond homeowners 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 and president of Marshall Mechanical.
Annual Maintenance
One step to control energy costs is to schedule annual maintenance checks to make sure your HVAC 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.
And, remember, Federal Tax Credits of 30% up to $1,500 are available on HVAC and non-solar water heaters for those installed in 2009 & 2010 in existing homes. And Federal Tax Credits for up to 30% with no upper limit are also available for geothermal heat pumps and solar water heaters through 2016 for existing homes and new construction
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 when you're gone during the day or on vacation. If you have setback thermostats, you can program them to have your living areas comfortable when you arrive home.
Your Richmond HVAC contractor can help you select the best heating and cooling units for your home and help you determine potential energy savings quickly.
To find out more about cutting your cooling costs this summer, call Marshall Mechanical at 804.323.0189. We specialize in geothermal and solar energy options, as well as Energy Star rated products from Lennox and others. And we here to help you maximize the investment you've made in your Richmond VA home.
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"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 and president of Marshall Mechanical.
Annual Maintenance
One step to control energy costs is to schedule annual maintenance checks to make sure your HVAC 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.
And, remember, Federal Tax Credits of 30% up to $1,500 are available on HVAC and non-solar water heaters for those installed in 2009 & 2010 in existing homes. And Federal Tax Credits for up to 30% with no upper limit are also available for geothermal heat pumps and solar water heaters through 2016 for existing homes and new construction
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 when you're gone during the day or on vacation. If you have setback thermostats, you can program them to have your living areas comfortable when you arrive home.
Your Richmond HVAC contractor can help you select the best heating and cooling units for your home and help you determine potential energy savings quickly.
To find out more about cutting your cooling costs this summer, call Marshall Mechanical at 804.323.0189. We specialize in geothermal and solar energy options, as well as Energy Star rated products from Lennox and others. And we here to help you maximize the investment you've made in your Richmond VA home.
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