Forced air heating and cooling is incredibly effective at making your home warm or cool fast. However, there are many common mistakes you may be making that can put strain on your system. If your heating and cooling bills are increasing, check out these four common heating and cooling mistakes.

Closing Vents

Closing vents seems like a great way to use less energy because it allows you to heat or cool only specific parts of your home. The problem, however, is when the room gets too cold, it will pull warm air from the other areas of your home. During the summer, hot air from the room will seep into the rest of your home. In addition, it puts extra strain on the system because it must work harder to push air through fewer vents. The best solution is to keep all vents open. If you want zoned heating, you'll need to purchase a HVAC system with that feature.

Not Adding Insulation

You've probably never worried about the level of insulation inside your home, but if your home just won't stay cool or hot, you may need to add some. One of the most important areas to check is the attic. You want to have about 10 to 14 inches of insulation in there. Your heating and cooling ductwork should also be insulated around the exterior of the vent in the attic, basement, crawlspace and other areas that aren't temperature controlled.

Installing the Wrong Size System

When you purchase a new system, you must ensure it is the right size for your home. The problems with a system that is too small are obvious. It just doesn't have enough power to get the job done. However, a system that is too big can cause troubles too. A furnace or air conditioner that is too big will cycle on and off too frequently, which wears down the system faster than normal.

Failing to Clean and Maintain Ductwork

When your furnace or air conditioner aren't working properly, you likely have them maintained or repaired. However, have you ever had your ductwork maintained or cleaned? Dust and debris gradually gathers in your ducts. The system is then forced to work harder to pump the air through narrowing ducts. The ductwork should also be inspected for holes and gaps, which are common and allow the heated or cooled air to escape before it even reaches you.

If you're sick of seeing your heating and cooling bills increase or if you need frequent repairs, you may be making one or more of these common mistakes. For more information, contact a HVAC maintenance technician in your area today, such as at Bishop Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, Inc..

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