Clean obvious obstructions such as newspaper, leaves, etc. from around the exterior of the unit.
AC Exterior
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HVAC
Heat Thief
When using a wood-burning fireplace, more heat can be lost up the chimney than is produced by the fire itself. To reduce heat loss when using your fireplace, follow these suggestions: 1) Lower the thermostat setting so your system doesn’t keep trying to replace the warm air being drawn toward the chimney. 2) Open the window nearest the fireplace about one inch and close any doors in the room so the fireplace can’t draw heated air out of the house. 3) Install glass fireplace doors to help keep the warm air in the room. 4) Close the chimney damper when the fireplace is not in use.
Heating Your House
It is as important to understand the space you’re heating as it is to know the unit you are heating with. Examine your home and rooms. Remember that south-facing rooms may overheat during the day and call for extra heat in the evening. Bedrooms may be closed off or out of use during the day, but create high demand at night. While zoning will answer many of these issues, two-stage or multi-stage furnaces are the ideal solution since they can deliver high, medium or low levels of heat depending on demand, without creating excess. When designing heat zones or controlling heat through registers, excess heat must always be taken into consideration. If it is not dumped into an excess heat zone, such as a spare room, workshop, basement or garage, the heat can back up into the furnace, causing damage.
Heat Clearance
Keep warm-air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators clean and clear of furniture and drapery for maximum efficiency.
AC Insulation
If you have a room air conditioner, remove it for the winter or seal it up and insulate it. Water heater insulation jackets can work well for covering and insulating the air conditioner.
Gas Logs
Gas logs release a lot of water vapor when they are burning. You should be wary of mold and mildew, especially if you have asthma and respiratory problems, when using them for longer than a few hours. A CO detector is a great gas-log accessory. You can find one in many home-improvement and mass chain stores
Space Heater Guard
Purchase a heater with a guard around the heating element. A wire grill or other protection is essential to keep fingers or fabrics from touching the hot element. Portable electric heaters that heat by circulating oil or water, however, usually have lower surface temperatures and may not need guards.
More Fans
Consider using an interior fan in conjunction with your window air conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home without greatly increasing your power use.
Thermal Pane Windows
If your home has single pane windows, as almost half of U.S. homes do, consider replacing them. New thermal-pane windows with high performance glass can cut your heating and cooling bills.
Mold Timing
If mold is a problem in your home, you should clean up the mold promptly and fix the water problem. It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
