Depending on the area of the country one lives in, there’s a good chance the vast majority of homes take advantage of either air conditioning, heating services, or both throughout the year. Many homeowners have moved away from manual temperature methods such as fireplaces or countless room fans in order to utilize easy to use, time saving alternatives offered by general contractors. Unfortunately, if these systems are not good quality, they can cost a lot of extra money in utilities. Here are a few factors to keep an eye on:
- Air Conditioners
- Furnaces
- Water Heaters
With two-thirds of American homeowners opting to install cooling systems in their house, air conditioners are quickly becoming one of the largest generators of energy costs in the country. These expenses are only amplified for those residing in year-round warm climate areas such as in the south. Fortunately for them they need not worry much about heating their homes.
Because furnaces have been a popular appliance for so long — much longer than air conditioners — they have overtime been designed to last for long periods of time. However some older models have deteriorated in quality over the years or may simply not be as economical as more recent designs. Once a furnace has reached the age of 10 years, it is strongly suggested to have it inspected annually by a general contractor to ensure safety and efficiency.
No matter the climate a residence is located in, they will always have a need for hot water. In order to conserve money, many consumers have turned to a new design of tank-less water heaters. With 30% of an average home’s energy costs stemming from heating water, any increase of efficiency could end up saving a decent chunk of change.
With so many appliances working to moderate the temperature of a home at any time, heating and cooling systems account for the majority of utility costs. This is partially due to the use of old or inefficient devices. A good general contractor can not only install new and efficient machines but will help keep them running at the optimal level.
