The HVAC system in your home is essential for creating a comfortable environment inside when the weather outside peaks at extreme temperatures in summer and winter.

There are some simple steps you can take to help your system run efficiently:

• Check thermostat settings. Set to 78°F in the summer and 68°F in the winter to stay cool and save money.
• Change air filters. Dirty filters use excess energy and can shorten the lifespan of the unit. Through our partnership with Filterchange.coop, you can have clean filters delivered to your door and have reminder emails sent once a month reminding you to change your filter.

It’s also important to have a professional tuneup twice a year, ideally in the spring and fall.

Maintenance on an HVAC system can uncover faulty equipment in need of repair before the entire system breaks. It can also expose issues that are costing you money every month.

A typical maintenance check-up includes:

• Tightening electrical connections and measuring voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.
• Lubrication of all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increase the amount of electricity you use.
• Inspection of the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.
• Checking controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates and shuts off properly.
• Cleaning evaporator and condenser coils. Dirty coils reduce the system’s ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
• Checking central AC refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
• Cleaning and adjusting blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system’s efficiency by up to 15 percent.

Tune-ups cost around $85 for a home with one HVAC unit. Use our contractor network to find the best local experts, www.jacksonemc.com/ contractors.