Proper care keeps air conditioners, heaters working efficiently

One of the best ways to ensure that your home will be comfortable and warm during the winter months -- and keep sky-high power bills in check -- is to make sure your heating system is running efficiently and safely.

Scheduling a maintenance checkup with a certified HVAC technician will not only give you peace of mind, but ensure that you won't be left in the cold this winter. Qualified, professional technicians are trained to go over heating and air conditioning systems using equipment designed to detect potential component malfunctions such as a cracked heat exchanger or dirty burners. A cracked heat exchanger can cause carbon monoxide poisoning to the people inside the house and dirty burners can cause a fire.

According to statistics compiled by Nevada Power, as many as 70 percent of heating and air conditioning units in Las Vegas are not operating as efficiently as they could be. One of the major causes is refrigerant levels that are either too high or too low.

Nevada Power has sponsored an initiative to correct this problem. Called Charge-Rite, the initiative offers an incentive for area residents to have their units' refrigerant levels checked through a computerized program. Among the participants in the program is Buenos Aires Air Conditioning & Heating, which uses high-tech equipment to correct refrigerant levels for apartment and condo units in the valley.

Additionally, cleaning the condenser and evaporative coils will help keep the cooling and heating unit(s) running more efficiently in both the summer and winter months. The condenser coil, which is visible from the outside of the unit, should be cleaned at least once every six months and the evaporator coil should be cleaned once a year. Not cleaning the coils can shorten the life of the unit and result in costly repairs.

Changing the return air filter and upgrading to a digital thermostat are the easiest way of making sure energy bills are lower this winter.

For those who feel their energy bills are still too high or that their units are not working the way that they should, Nevada Power offers rebates to those who install new units that are 14 SEER and higher. More than 20 area contractors participate in this program.

For more information, visit www.nevadapower.com and search for air conditioning rebates for homeowners.

Information courtesy Buenos Aires Air Conditioning & Heating