My local area experiences all four seasons.
- Each one brings some type of extreme weather.
The summers are short yet are often extremely hot and humid, with temperatures climbing into the high eighties. Both spring and fall tend to be windy, chilly and rainy. The winters are the longest season, with conditions dropping into negative temperatures, brutal wind chill and significant snow accumulation. The severe temperature fluctuations require heating or cooling just about year round. There is seldom the opportunity to go without the furnace and air conditioner and simply open a window. The cost of temperature control is a significant part of the household budget. I am always striving to reduce our monthly utility bills. To make sure the furnace and air conditioner operate at peak efficiency, I’ve enrolled into a maintenance plan with a local HVAC contractor. The plan includes two service calls per year. A technician thoroughly cleans, adjusts and troubleshoots the furnace in the fall and repeats the process for the air conditioner in the spring. This comprehensive inspection and testing identifies any concerns with performance or worn or broken parts. The necessary measures can be taken to avoid much more expensive malfunctions during the winter or summer. I am also diligent about replacing air filters every month. The air filters work to prevent dust and other contaminants from getting inside the heating or cooling unit, accumulating on the various parts and restricting airflow. Every summer, I walk around the outside of the house and look for any cracks or gaps where heated or cooled air might escape. I use caulk, foam insulation or weather stripping to seal them up.