Helpful Tips from Green Zone

1. Always check your air filter monthly unless you have a media filter or electronic air cleaner. Don't follow the old automotive method "if you can still see through it - use it." This may shorten the life of your system. Pleated filters are good as they will trap up to 4 times the dirt as the spun wool see-through filter. Therefore it will keep your duct work and home much cleaner.
   
   
2. If you want to save money and have a more efficient system, schedule a preseason check up.  With a preventative mantinence service, your system will be cleaned and checked by a Service Star Technician.  This service is a valuable part of the lifetime of your system.  In other words, you have your oil changed in your car every 3,000 miles.  Treat your system the same way.
   
   
3. Keep your coils both indoor and outdoor clean.  Dirt ALWAYS blocks the air flow of your system.  If your outside system is dirty, wash it down with a hose.  Just never power wash it.  Coils located on your roof or in your attic may be dirty but make sure a technician cleans it during a routine check-up.
   
   
4. Never put things on the top of the unit.  Most units blow out hot air and need as much as 15 feet of vertical clearance.
   
   
5. Make sure when you do yard work to watch where debris falls.  You don't want leaves or cut grass in your system.  If there is debris in your system remove it with a Bristol broom or brush.
   
   
6. If you plant anything around your system, try to make it at least 4 feet away for a number of reasons.  First, your system draws air in from the sides and if it is blocked you will overwork the system and it could lead in to some problems you don’t want.   Be smart about what you plant.  You don’t want to plant something that will eventually grow into the system.  A good idea if you have to plant anything would be a shrub.  If you have to plant something else that may grow, use a retaining wall to elevate it from the ground to ensure it never growing into the system.
   
   
7. A great way to ease your mind of a mechanical breakdown is having a preventative maintinece service plan.  When you have something like this as part of your annual service of your home you can be assured that a professional has taken care of the small stuff and could potentially prevent a major problem for the future.  The cost of a service package pays for itself over time. You will be saving money on your utility bill because your system will never be overworked.  Our professionally trained technicians will catch anything that could cause a major breakdown.
   
   
8. Digital thermostats are a great way to conserve energy!  You can save up to 20%!  With this type of thermostat, you can preset when you want to have your system running.  Why would you want to run your system when you are not home? It is not recommended to use programmable thermostats on heat pump units.
   
   
9. Try not to block your vents in your home.  The air flow is blocked and your system is working harder to reach the ideal temperature that is set on your thermostat. Air blockage can also be the cause of premature heat exchanger failure.
   
   
10. Keep your doors open in your house.  This allows air to flow from all rooms and as a result your house will cool or heat faster.
    
    
11. Try to keep your blinds or curtains closed to block the sunlight from coming in and heating your home.
    
    
12. Always have your system checked every 12 months.  One check-up for your air conditioning unit and one for your heating system is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
    
    
13. Never set your thermostat higher or lower than you really want it. By doing this you are only making your system work longer than it has to be.