Bundle Up Your Home and Your Wallet

By: Aire Serv Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. | 0 Shares 77 Reads

October 10, 2007 // Franchising.com // WACO, Texas – Before your home begins to whistle through its cracks and take your wallet hostage, consider bundling up with a little maintenance. You can beat the winter chill, cut costs and keep your family safe and warm.

"Homeowners can often avoid the inconvenience of their heater or furnace not working properly with a little planning before winter," said Doyle James, president of Aire Serv Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. "By taking a whole house approach to heating preparation, energy consumption is more efficient and keeps the entire family comfortable."

To keep your heating system in excellent condition this winter, follow these tips by Aire Serv:

• Look for leaky windows and doorframes. Check the caulking and add new weather stripping as necessary – a large gap causes the loss of heat, energy and money.

• Identify problems early with a seasonal check-up by your heating and cooling contractor. Dirt and neglect is the main cause for AC and heating system failures.

• Open your window blinds and let the sun in to reduce the load on your heating system. Then close them at night to reduce the winter chill.

• Check the filters monthly and replace as necessary.

• Insulate the air ducts. Proper insulation will keep moisture out of the house and heating bills low – nine inches of insulation is suggested for most homes.

• Keep heat-generated appliances like TVs and computer equipment away from thermostats. • Reverse ceiling fans. By switching the blade's direction, warmer air that's accumulated near the ceiling will be pushed back down.

Residents can also save money by…

• Installing a programmable thermostat. This "smart thermostat" can turn on the heater to the desired set point one hour before you arrive, avoiding the need to run the system all day.

• According to the Department of Energy, your energy bill can be reduced by up to 10 percent if you reduce it from 72 degrees to 65 degrees for eight hours a day.

• If your air conditioner is outdated, you'll save money by upgrading. Energy Star®-rated units can save homeowners up to 16 percent on electricity bills and reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted.

About Aire Serv®:
Established in 1992, Aire Serv is a global franchise organization providing installation, maintenance and repair of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and indoor air quality systems. Recognized by Entrepreneur magazine among its "Franchise 500," Aire Serv franchisees provide these services to both residential and commercial customers at more than 140 locations worldwide. Aire Serv is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc. For further information or to find the location nearest you, visit www.aireserv.com.