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Certain telltale signs indicate it's time to consider replacing
heating and cooling equipment, or improving the performance of your
overall system. It may be time to call a professional contractor to help
you make a change if:
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Your heat pump or air
conditioner is more than 10 years old. Consider replacing
with ENERGY STAR qualified equipment that uses 20 percent less
energy than new standard models.
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Your furnace or boiler is
more than 15 years old. Consider replacing with an ENERGY
STAR qualified furnace, which is 15% more efficient than a
conventional furnace. If you have a boiler, consider replacing with
an ENERGY STAR qualified boiler that is 10% more efficient than a
new, standard model.
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Your equipment needs
frequent repairs and your energy bills are going up. Your
cooling or heating equipment my have become less efficient.
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Some rooms in your home are
too hot or too cold. Improper equipment operation, duct
problems or inadequate insulation could be the cause.
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No one is home for long
periods of the day and you do not have a programmable thermostat.
Install an ENERGY STAR qualified programmable thermostat or have a
good contractor install one and instruct you on its use--to start
saving energy and money while they're away or sleeping.
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Your home has humidity
problems. Poor equipment operation, inadequate equipment,
and leaky ductwork can cause the air to be too dry in the winter or
too humid in the summer.
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Your home has excessive
dust. Leaky ducts can pull particles and air from attics,
crawl spaces and basements and distribute them throughout your
house. Sealing your ducts may be a solution.
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Your heating or cooling
system is noisy. You could have an undersized duct system
or a problem with the indoor coil of your cooling equipment.
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Your score on the Home
Energy Yardstick is below five. That means your energy
use at home is above average and you're probably paying more than
you need to on energy bills.
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