The sun is shining, leaves are appearing, and birds are chirping - spring is here. When doing spring cleaning, don’t forget your home’s cooling system. The transition between heating and air conditioning is the time to insure your home’s heating and cooling systems are working efficiently. A system working at peak capacity conserves energy dollars and avoids the stress of additional service calls.Don’t wait until the heat of summer gets here before you check your cooling system. Central air units should be completely inspected by a certified technician every spring before the unit is turned on. Technicians should vacuum the unit, check coolant, replace filters, and ensure the system is operating properly. Annual maintenance can prevent costly repairs and ensure that your unit is working at peak capacity. Once your system has its spring checkup, keep it healthy. Clean or change air filters monthly during the season-more often in extremely dusty or pollen-laden situations. Keep grilles on the exterior unit free from leaves and debris. If you’re investing in a new unit, effective January 2006, the U.S. Department of Energy will require a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio of 13 or higher on all new residential central air conditioners. Use of SEER 13+ systems is expected to lower electricity demand during the summer, which can represent as much as 70 percent of peak demand in some states. Contract a NATE-certified technician to conduct regular system inspections. North American Technician Excellence or NATE is the nation’s largest non-profit certification organization for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians. The U.S. Department of Energy endorses NATE. For a contractor with NATE-certified technicians, go to the Consumer Contractor Connection ONLINE at www.natex.org. And when selecting a new heating or cooling system, choose an Energy Star qualified model. |