May Energy Smart Tip

Prepare your home for cooling season

Warm weather inevitably means we'll be hearing the hum of those AC compressors soon.

To get the most from your air conditioning, make sure your air filter is kept clean. Keeping the filter clean can lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by 5%-15%. Cleaning the evaporator and condensor coils is also a must to ensure that the unit can absorb heat efficiently and should be checked on a yearly basis. See the Energy Star checklist for a full list of actions to keep your system running its best.

If your heating and cooling system is over 10 years old, Energy Star recommends evaluating whether you should replace it with a new high efficiency system. A new system could save you up to 20% on your utility costs. (An energy rater can help determine whether this will be effective and what the "payback" period would be. Check my Website for local references.)