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Most systems have a lifetime of 10 to 20 years. As your equipment gets older, its efficiency can decrease dramatically. You may notice that it gets noisier and needs repairs more often. When a unit begins to show its age, you have two choices: overhaul the system or replace it. Because heating and air conditioning technology improves over time, a unit designed with newer, more energy-efficient equipment makes sense, especially if your system is 10 or more years old. Our authorized air conditioning and heating professionals can provide an in-home estimate on the cost of a new system as well as a payback schedule that will show you how much money your newer, more efficient system will save you in utility bills.

No, you don't want your heating or cooling system to be too large. Air conditioners control the comfort level in your home by cooling the air and by removing humidity. An oversized air conditioner can cool your home faster, but it will use more energy and will not remove humidity adequately. In addition, your existing ductwork may not be able to support the airflow of a larger system. A unit that is too big for your home will have short-run cycles. It can take only a short time to cool the air, but the unit shuts off before enough air blows across the indoor coil where moisture condenses into water and drains from your system. Too much moisture left in the air can lead to mold and mildew problems. These short-run cycles also mean your system starts and stops more often, which uses more energy and causes a lot of wear and tear. An air conditioner operates more efficiently during long-run cycles. The same holds true with heating systems. An oversized furnace can warm the house quicker, but it uses more fuel and causes greater temperature swings in the home.

Here are some ideas to reduce your energy costs: upgrade to a high-efficiency air conditioning or heating system, install ceiling fans, schedule annual maintenance check-ups, don't block vents in well-used rooms, close vents in unused rooms, and install a programmable thermostat.

Start with your utility company; they can help a great deal. Comparing previous bills isn't always a good measure, as the weather is never exactly the same month to month. Instead, if you take your energy bill and divide it by the square footage of livable space in your home, don't count areas like unfinished garages or basements — you can calculate how much you are spending to heat or cool each square foot of your home. Your energy provider can tell you what the average cost per square foot is in your region for that same period of time so you can compare apples to apples.

While it may cost less initially to replace the outdoor unit on an older system, over time utility expenses will add up and may even cost you more. Replacing only the outdoor unit will lower the efficiency of the unit. Even worse, your system may fail sooner than normal and most manufacturers' warranties will be voided. You should always replace the indoor cooling coil along with the outdoor unit.

You can give the professionals at Mechanical Trade Services Inc. a call or message and they will contact you to tackle the project at hand or answer any questions you might have with the process. Phone: (410) 984-8555 Email: mechtradeser@yahoo.com