Jacksonville, FL

This is a 13-SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) unit, but when matched with a variable speed air handler, raises the rating to 14-SEER, producing more control over humidity and more efficient energy usage.

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Many homeowners endorse the ritual of spring cleaning, but when it comes to their heating and air conditioning system, reason goes out the door.

Maintenance on the system that is one of your home’s biggest and costliest appliances is a necessity. Not only will it save you those runny noses and itchy eyes that come from dirty air filters, it can also save money on energy costs. And if you’re contemplating installing a new system, there may be tax advantages. IRS explains this latter benefit as, “any insulation material or system that is specifically and primarily designed to reduce the heat loss or gain of a home when installed in or on such a home.”

George Morris, president of Morrhall, Inc., in Jacksonville, smiles when asked if homeowners put off regular maintenance on their HVAC systems. “When it gets hot, they turn the system on. They don’t think about it until they need it.”

Morris has been in the business for more than 20 years. He says people tend to forget to change their filters. Morris says sometimes when a homeowner discovers the system won’t work, he’ll run out to buy a filter, hoping that’s the problem. And most forget another rule of HVAC maintenance, having the coil cleaned. “As long as the unit’s working, they just don’t think about these things.”

Once hot weather arrives, demand for service rises.

JEA has energy tips posted at their Web site. The advice echoes Morris’s recommendations. Among the tips are: change your air filter monthly and have your HVAC system checked once a year. Cleaning the coil is essential. Routine maintenance can save you money and prolong the life of one of your home’s most expensive appliances.

So before those hot-enough-to-bake-a-brick days return, do a little spring cleaning on the system that will keep you nice and cool. Doing maintenance ahead of time gives you the jump on all those homeowners who’ll bump down the thermostat on a 95 degree day and feel nothing but a blast of hot air. (photo & text by Kay B. Day)

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