Any air conditioning system in the San Ramon area will get a tough workout during the summer. Fortunately, modern central air conditioning systems are durable and can take the heat while dishing out the cold.
But how much do you expect to pay for your AC to tackle the summer weather this year? The costs of keeping cool can be steep—although you may be paying more than you have to. There are many ways an air conditioning system can lose its energy efficiency and start raising utility bills. But there are also many ways to boost an air conditioner’s energy efficiency and cut down on costs. Below are a few tips for improving the energy efficiency of your AC this summer season.
It’s easy to dismiss a recommendation given by an HVAC professional, especially for a service you don’t really need “right now.” Unless something is preventing you from using your air conditioner effectively—like a loss of cooling power—you could be really tempted to put off your air conditioning maintenance tune-up.
Temperatures are finally warming up a bit in our area, which means it’s just about time to shut our heaters down for the season, schedule an AC tune-up, and start enjoying the comfort an effective cooling system can deliver. But wait, before we talk about shutting our heaters down—how did yours perform this past winter? Did it show any signs of struggle? Were you told it needed repairs, but have yet to take care of them?
Spring may officially be here, but we’ll still experience cooler temps for a while. Therefore, it’s no secret you want to have a functional furnace that operates efficiently.
It may almost be the official start of spring, but temperatures are still cool for now, and probably will be throughout the start of May. Hopefully, your heating system served you well and you’ve had minimal problems with it—this will typically be the case if you had your system professionally tuned-up before the start of the season.
As winter comes to a close, it’s easy to neglect your heating system and turn your attention to your air conditioner. In fact, we hope you’re thinking about your cooling system, since now is the perfect time to schedule AC maintenance. However, if you have an aging heater or if you skipped maintenance, we encourage you to follow a few care tips, like those we’ve listed below, before shutting off your heater for the season.
Your HVAC system is one of the most important components to your home, especially considering how chilly it can get in the winter, and equally how hot it can get in the summer. Given our relatively minor winters, though, homeowners in our area tend to opt for a system that can both heat and cool, such as a heat pump, or a 
We may not experience the frigid temperatures that our friends in the Midwest do, particularly lately, but our winters still necessitate the use of a fully functioning, efficiently operating, heating system. So if your heating system is experiencing problems right now, we understand the concern! Fortunately, though, if you can detect problems with your furnace early enough, you can have them repaired before they develop into a complete system breakdown.
If you are still using an old manual thermostat—you know, the one with a little slider that’s hard (actually, next to impossible) to get on the exact right temperature you need it to be—then the answer to this is a resounding yes.
This is typically the time of year that homeowners throughout San Ramon are using their heaters on a daily basis, not necessarily shopping for a new system. But if your heater has reached the end of its run, your situation is different, and you’re likely in a rush to find a new heater, now! We urge you to consider your options, and not buy the first system you can find in your budget, as this can be a mistake not only in the installation, but over the years if the system’s efficiency doesn’t meet the needs of your home.