Home Tricks Or Treats

In the spirit of the season we have put together our own tricks or treats list, which addresses home ‘Myths’ (or tricks) vs. home ‘Facts’ (or treats)!

Read the list below to know what you should and should not be concerned about when it comes to the upkeep of your home’s heating/cooling systems!

Heating Tricks Or Treats

Trick Or Treat? Your HVAC System’s Filters Need To be Changed 6 Times A Year.
This one is a bit of a trick – you don’t HAVE TO change your HVAC system’s filters every 2 months. With that said, we do strongly recommend that you change them regularly (at least once a quarter). With new filters, your equipment will provide cleaner air throughout your home while working more efficiently. The increased efficiency is a treat, saving you up to 15% off of your heating and cooling bills!

Trick Or Treat? Turning your central air or heat OFF when you aren’t at home saves you money.
Don’t be tricked by this! Turning your system off when you are not at home will cause the equipment to have to work harder to get back to your ideal temperature when you are at home. Instead of turning your heat or air conditioning off, use a programmable thermostat to set temperatures when you are away from home 7-10 degrees less (for heating season) or more (for cooling season) than your normal setting.

Trick Or Treat? Ceiling fans should be used in the winter.
This is a treat! Ceiling fans can add efficiency to your home in the winter. Simply change the settings on the fan so that it spins clockwise – this will force the rising warm air down from the ceiling, keeping your home warmer.

Trick Or Treat? Programmable thermostats save money.
This is a treat – but beware of being tricked! A programmable thermostat can save you up to $180 in energy costs each year BUT it must be set correctly! EnergyStar.gov recommends a:

“10 hour daytime setback of 8° F in winter and setup of 7° F in summer, and an 8 hour night time setback of 8° F in winter and a setup of 4° F in summer”.

Need help programming your thermostat? Call Weltman Home Services today!