There is no “BEST” thermostat but a digital, programmable stat is more accurate and the programming capability saves you money by automatically setting back when your away.

The average life of a system is 10 to 12 years with proper maintenance. Most builders use low SEER builders grade units and sometimes replacing these with high efficiency systems can make fiscal sense.

If you have 2 stage equipment it may run long cycles when it is hot or cold out. If you have single stage equipment, it should cycle off after 30 or 40 minutes and come back on 15 to 20 minutes later.

Keep all windows and doors closed when air conditioning equipment is running. Close shades and window coverings on the sunny side of the house to block the sun's summer rays and lower the heat being transferred into the home. In summer, set your thermostat to the cooling mode and to a temperature that is comfortable. The average resident is comfortable at a setting of 78 to 80 degrees. For every degree that you lower your thermostat below 78 degrees you increase your electric consumption by 2% to 5%. When cooling your home, setting the fan to the "on" position will cause the indoor fan to run continuous, thus providing uninterrupted circulation of air between cycles. Many users are able to set their thermostat a few degrees warmer with this movement of air. Ceiling fans can also be used to move air and allow us to leave our thermostat at a higher setting. Programmable thermostats can be used to automatically raise and lower temperatures as needed when away or sleeping. Do not turn your air conditioner off during the day when you are away from home. Raising the temperature to 82 or 83 degrees while away is a better solution to saving energy. This will use less energy and still allow for the air conditioner to recover when you lower the thermostat to your desired comfort level when you return home in the evening. Do moisture-producing chores (such as laundry, running the dishwasher) and chores that require heat (baking, cooking) in the early morning or at night when it's cooler. Also, chores that involve exercise, such as cleaning floors, windows, etc. raise your body temperature and should be done when outside temperatures are cooler if it is an option. Sufficient insulation can be an economical way of reducing your electric bill while increasing the overall comfort of your home. If you need an insulation professional referral, please contact us. A well ventilated attic will decrease the heat build up and can lower your air conditioning usage. Your outdoor coil should be kept clean and free from debris. Wash the outside coil of your air conditioner with a garden hose once a year in order to keep it at top performance. Finally, routine maintenance keeps your equipment running at its best. Small repairs that may be performed during these regular visits will increase efficiency as well as avoid costly and unwanted larger emergency repairs.

We recommend checking your filter every 4 weeks. Usually you change your filter every month or every six months depending on how thick your filter is and your household living conditions. Changing you filter regularly can avoid costly repairs.

Compressors draw higher amps at start up and can make a louder noise when starting. After the pressures build up it should quiet down. Having routine maintenance will assure proper operation.