Donny's Tips

* Replace your furnace or air handler
filters on a regular basis.
Lack of regular filter changes and
maintenance is the Number 1 cause of
system breakdowns and costly repair
bills.

* Keep the thermostat constant.
Continuously adjusting the thermostat
can be very inefficient. You can, however,
raise the thermostat 2-3 degrees during
the day while you're away to save money.
For every degree you raise the setting,
you can expect to cut energy consumption
by up to 3-5%.

* Keep the shades and curtains drawn to
reduce the radiant heat of the sun.

* Install awnings or plant trees that will
shade southern facing windows. This
keeps the hottest rays of the sun from
shining directly into the house.

* Replace older windows with more
efficient low-E glass. These windows help
to reduce the effect of the suns warming
rays.

The above 3 tips will reduce the heat load
gain on your home which means your air
conditioner doesn't have to work as hard
to keep the home at a comfortable
temperature. This saves money and
extends the life of the system.

* Install an attic fan to help ventilate
some of the hot air out of the attic.
Attics can reach temperatures of 140 - 150
degrees and this build of warm air can
make the upstairs of a home warmer than
it needs to be. This makes the air
conditioner work harder to do its job. It
costs you more to cool your home and the
life of the system can be decreased.

* Run a dehumidifier in the basement if
the basement is humid.
A damp basement can add moisture to
the whole house. With the humidity
levels as high as they are around here on
their own, you don't need that! A
dehumidifier in the basement will help to
reduce the humidity levels in the home,
making it more comfortable throughout
in the hot summer months. Whole house
dehumidification is also available.

* Clear or cut back shrubs and bushes
from the outdoor unit.
The sides of the unit require at least 12-18
inches of clearance for proper
performance.

* Keep fallen leaves, grass clippings,
foliage and other dirt and debris away
from your outdoor unit. And keep the A/C
coils clean, following manufacturers'
instructions.

* Don't block vents or ducts inside the
house to assure air flow in the home.

* Caulk and install weather stripping
around windows and doors (especially the
attic) to close air gaps.

* Avoid using the oven during the day.
Run the dishwasher, washing machine
and dryer in the evening, when electricity
rates may be lower and heat from those
appliances won't increase A/C demands.

* Turn off lamps, TV and other appliances
when not in use.

* Consider use of a programmable
thermostat to automatically increase or
decrease temperatures during day and
night to suit a family's lifestyle and
reduce energy cost.

* Use shades, blinds or curtains to keep
sunlight out of the house.

* Keep windows and doors closed when the
A/C is on.

Chilly

Summer

A Company is only as
good as the promises it
keeps

# Set the Thermostat
The most economical operation of your
system comes from setting the thermostat
properly. Set the thermostat at the
highest summer setting or the lowest
winter setting at which you are
comfortable. Typical settings are 78
degrees for summer cooling and 68 degrees
for winter heating. When cooling, your
operating costs increase from 3% to 8% for
each degree your thermostat is lowered.
When heating, your operating costs
increase similarly for each degree your
thermostat is raised.

# Keep the Air Filter Clean
The easiest way to ensure your system
operates efficiently and economically is
by keeping the air filter clean. There are
several types of air filters and several
possible locations for the air filter. Ask
your service technician the next time he's
out at your home to show you where your
air filter is located and which type of
filter to use. If you have allergies, you
should look at a pleated allergy filter or a
media or electronic style air cleaner.

# Keep Doors and Windows Closed
Close all doors and windows to the outside.
This will reduce the heating load in
winter and the cooling load in summer.
Your system will operate more
economically as a result.

# Keep Vents and Grilles Unobstructed
Arrange your furniture and drapes so
that all output vents and intake grilles
are free from obstruction. This will
reduce the cooling and heating load on
your system for more economical
operation.

# Avoid Excess Use of Exhaust Fans
Excessive use of kitchen or bathroom
exhaust fans will make your system work
harder. This will increase energy
consumption and costs. Keep costs in check
by making wise use of exhaust fans.

# Control Direct Sunlight
Let the sun in during the winter. In
winter, direct sunlight reduces the load
on your heating system. Open window
shades and awnings to increase direct
sunlight and lower the heating load.

# Keep Heat Away from the Thermostat
Make sure no heat-generating appliances
are near your thermostat. These include
lamps, TV's, stereo and computer
equipment.

# Keep an Air Tight House
Ensure maximum retention of heated or
cooled air by adding insulation to outside
walls and to the attic. Seal cracks and use
storm doors and/or insulated doors to
prevent air leaks.

WINTER

# Fireplaces
When you cozy up next to a crackling fire
on a cold winter day, you probably don't
realize that your wood-burning brick or
masonry fireplace is one of the most
inefficient heat sources you can possibly
use. It literally sends your energy dollars
right up the chimney along with volumes
of warm air. A roaring fire can exhaust as
much as 24,000 cubic feet of air per hour
to the outside, which must be replaced by
cold air coming into the house from the
outside. Your heating system must warm
up this air, which is then exhausted
through your chimney. If you use your
conventional fireplace while your central
heating system is on, these tips can help
reduce energy losses.

# Weatherization
Warm air leaking into your home during
the summer and out of your home during
the winter can waste a substantial
portion of your energy dollars. One of the
quickest dollar-saving tasks you can do is
caulk, seal and weather-strip all seams,
cracks and openings to the outside. You
can save 10% or more on your energy bill
by reducing the air leaks in your home.

When your
comfortable your
happy

Donny's Tip's

When your comfortable Your happy

850-942-IFIX (4349)