When your air conditioning system breaks, you might feel understandably devastated — and you won’t feel any better if your heating system crashes with it, as is often the case. Heating and air repair can get expensive, and replacements aren’t any cheaper. The fact of the matter is that few of us are really prepared for these kinds of repairs. With that being said, there are ways you can avoid these problems. Another thing you may want to be concerned with in terms of money is cutting down on your energy bill. Though you might think your heating and air conditioning units are running well, a high bill might indicate otherwise. There are plenty of things to be aware of when owning a house, so it’s understandable if you’ve perhaps let a problem or two fall to the wayside. However, if you want to have heating and air conditioning systems that not only last as long as they should but don’t result in your energy bill going through the roof, there are a few steps you need to take. Not only do these steps help you — by making your house more energy efficient, they also are probably more eco-friendly than whatever you were doing before. Let’s look into how you can decrease your need for home air conditioning repairs, not to mention the amount of money you spend monthly.

Home Air Conditioning Repair And Maintenance: The Difference

Nobody wants to admit that they’ve neglected their need for home air conditioning repair and maintenance — but let’s be honest, we have. Perhaps you haven’t prioritized your HVAC unit for a reason; with other bills needing to be paid, you’ve decided that as long as your house feels like it’s being heated and cooled, you don’t need to act. Often, we become so used to poor performance that we don’t even realize that it’s not what it should be. However, the fact is that you’re paying for your HVAC system to run at full strength. And for that matter, if you neglect things like home air conditioning repair and maintenance for too long, you’ll be facing the far more expensive reality of a whole-unit replacement. Proper maintenance should guarantee a new HVAC system a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. You should inquire about how old your HVAC unit is if it was already installed before you bought your home, to give yourself perspective on how much longer it should last. If your unit is between 12 and 15 years old, a replacement may be a more cost-effective choice. If it isn’t, however, you will be losing money if it breaks early and is beyond repair. As such, you should invest in having your unit regularly serviced. It may not be something you want to do — but it is something you have to do. Should your unit need to be replaced, do yourself a favor: don’t attempt installation on you own, and don’t trust “cheaper” amateurs. Professional installation is the way to go. In fact, improper installation of an HVAC unit can increase your energy costs by up to 30%.

Home Remedies: Small Ways You Can Lower Your Energy Bill

If you can’t install your unit yourself, what are some ways you cut down on energy costs by yourself? The solutions are very simple. You can change your air filter on your own, and you should do so at least once every three months. Not only does this mean that your unit will run better; it also means that there will be less of a chance of dirt, dust, and other allergens being circulated around your home. A programmable thermostat is another measure you can take to cut down on energy costs. By installing a programmable thermostat, you can cut your energy bills by as much as $180 a year.

However you choose to take care of your HVAC system, take care of it you must. By taking these precautions, you will not only have a cooler house, but a less expensive one as well.