The easiest way is to upgrade your system. If you have an inefficient system of more than ten years old, replace it. If you want to save energy but don’t want the expense of replacing your whole system, consider having a service company clean your cooling coils each year.

A typical system with dirty coils will lose about 10% of its efficiency per year until it eventually cannot cool at all! You can also purchase a programmable thermostat that allows you to set different temperatures for weekends and weekdays, adjust the temperature based on the time of day or turn it off when you’re not home.

Most experts agree that an annual inspection is sufficient. However, if your system is constantly running or exhibiting problems, you may want to consider having one done every six months.

The general consensus is that an HVAC technician should inspect your unit at least once per year. As part of this inspection, he should also conduct a heating & cooling load calculation which determines how many BTUs are required to heat and cool your specific house properly.

That depends on several factors, but a good rule of thumb is every three months. If you have allergies, replace your filter frequently. This will ensure that your family is not exposed to particles in the air.