Hot weather in Santa Rosa means lots of excellent things: cool drinks, swimsuits, outdoor barbecues and beach parties! It can also mean uncomfortable levels of sweat and heat. To deal with the less pleasant aspects of the Santa Rosa summer, many area residents rely on their air conditioners—but at what cost? Keeping your air conditioner running in the Santa Rosa heat can drive your electricity bills through the roof, making your air-conditioning a less comfortable prospect by the minute.
Don’t decommission your HVAC just yet, though. Before you start bathing in ice or pursuing other less practical solutions, why not see if there’s a smarter way to use your air conditioner? There are lots of ways you can reduce the costs of your HVAC, and most people in the Santa Rosa area aren’t using enough of them. Not to worry, though—with our help, you’ll be able to reduce the installation, running, and service costs of your HVAC system. The result? A guilt-free path to being the coolest person on your block.
Budgeting for Installation
A quick Google search for average HVAC installation costs might have you terrified of purchasing an HVAC if your home doesn’t already have one, or replacing an older system in your building with something modern. However, you should note that installation fees can vary greatly depending on the type of system you purchase and the contractor who you hire to install it.
When it comes to choosing an HVAC system, look through some of the most commonly used systems in America and do some comparison shopping. You’ll find that the price of the cooling unit itself varies greatly: from less than $2000 to over $5000. While you certainly don’t need to purchase the most expensive unit you can find, it’s normally a good idea to aim for a system that strikes a balance between high quality and a friendly price. Carrier tends to be a well-trusted name throughout the industry, due to both their reliability and proliferance of their products among US dealers (which makes finding replacement parts an easier and less complicated process).
Remember, the unit isn’t the only thing you’ll have to pay for when having an HVAC installed. You’ll also be paying for the labor your contractor puts in, so it’s a good idea to find out their rates beforehand and compare them with others—as long as everyone you look at is properly licensed. If your home doesn’t have existing ductwork, you’ll also have to pay for that. The prices for new ducts will depend largely on how expansive your home is and how much material is required.
Cutting Down on Running Costs
One of the biggest complaints people have with HVAC usage is high utility bills, but despite California’s exorbitant consumer electricity prices you don’t have to pay through the nose to make good use of your system. In fact, many of the costs that worry people have more to do with efficiency problems in their units than with electricity prices. When your unit has to work harder to cool your space, it uses more power—which comes straight out of your pocket in the form of dollars and cents. Because of this, it’s important to make sure you’re getting the most out of your HVAC every moment it’s running.
You can do a lot to increase the efficiency of your HVAC all by yourself. Make sure that you change the filter on your outdoor unit at least once every few months, to prevent it from becoming dirty and clogged. A dirty filter cuts off the airflow in your system, making the compressor work too hard and increasing the energy it consumes. Furthermore, overwork can cause your compressor to fail, which is an expensive fix. Other small tasks you can do to keep your system efficient include keeping vents open in your home to relieve pressure on the system, clearing debris away from your outdoor unit each weekend to prevent buildup from occurring inside, and pouring a solution of bleach and water down your condensate drain once a year to prevent it from becoming blocked. You should also keep your system running in its optimum temperature range—the range at which it uses power most effectively.
Saving Money on Repairs
The best way to save money on air conditioner services in Santa Rosa is to prolong the lifespan of your equipment and save yourself from expensive disasters. Fortunately, increasing the efficiency of your system also reduces strain on its components, which means that you won’t have to worry about replacing the priciest parts too soon. It’s also smart to sign an annual service contract with your HVAC technician, which often provides you with the preventative maintenance your system needs to stay healthy at a slightly discounted price.
Affordable air conditioning isn’t a myth; it just requires a bit of homework. Choose your system carefully, hire reliable professionals for routine maintenance, and don’t be afraid to give your system some TLC on your own. Follow all this advice, and you’ll find air conditioning in Santa Rosa a much more affordable prospect than you expected. Contact us for more information.