Trademark Mechanical Heating & Air Conditioning

Interested in reducing your energy costs? You have more control of your utility bills than you may think. Here are a few tips to save you some money:Change your furnace filter.If you have the standard 1" furnace filter, it is important to replace it every six weeks. If you have air conditioning, keep the six week schedule throughout the entire year as air conditioners use the same filter your furnace does. Dirty filters restrict airflow, taking your system longer to satisfy the setting on your thermostat. This costs you money!

Use the programming on your thermostat.Keeping your thermostat at consistent settings will reduce your costs. It is easier for your heating and cooling system to maintain temperatures than to have to constantly catch up when you set it up or down manually. We recommend a daytime setting and a night time setting.

Upgrade your thermostat.If you have an old thermostat, consider replacing it. Old thermostats lose their accuracy and dependability. Use a new one that has programmable settings. This will reduce costs and keep you more comfortable!Tune-ups.Your furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump requires annual maintenance. A little bit of dust and dirt build up on your system can reduce its efficiency by up to 30%! Having a professional tune-up performed on your equipment is inexpensive, and will pay for itself in reduced utility costs.

Keep blinds and curtains closed.If you have a window with exposure to the hot sun in the summer, keep the blinds or curtains closed. A hot window can add several hundred BTU's of heat to your home.Replace drafty windows.Drafty windows are a big problem for your energy efficiency. It will directly work against your heating and cooling system.

Do not block your return air vent.That large vent, typically upstairs in an inconvenient spot, needs to be clear of furniture and debris. It is how your furnace and air conditioner breathe and needs to be able to do so with ease. Try not to block this vent!Add attic insulation.Especially in older homes, adding insulation in your attic will pay huge dividends on your gas and electric bills.

Replace old equipment.If you have an old, dusty, worn out furnace, you may be surprised to find out how much cheaper it is to heat and cool your home with new equipment. Older equipment loses efficiency with time. A new furnace or air conditioner can significantly reduce your utility bills, and in many cases, pay for itself. New high efficiency equipment also have rebates available from utility companies, and tax credits to help offset the cost.

Heat pump vs. air conditioner.We are often asked why choose a heat pump over an air conditioner? It is a very simple answer for North Idaho: We have the second lowest electricity costs in The United States. It makes more sense to heat your home with a heat pump rather than a gas furnace. While you will still need the gas furnace during the coldest times of the winter, a heat pump will heat most of the time, saving you money. A heat pump then cools during the summer months, so you get the best of both worlds!