As the temperatures heat up and residents of New Orleans and surrounding areas turn their attention to cooling down, taking steps to ensure that your home cooling system is energy efficient is important. Father and son John and Jason Burkhardt and Chad Gremillon, all of Burkhardt Air Conditioning, Heating Electrical & Generators, outline the basics for getting the best return on your investment.
First and foremost, Team Burkhardt recommends regular DIY and professional maintenance. Homeowners should check their AC filters monthly and change them when necessary. The working life of a filter depends on the type of filter and on factors such as whether there are pets in the home or a lot of foot traffic. Routine professional maintenance generally means an annual appointment for cleaning, checking that the system is working correctly and inspecting the ductwork. If there are issues with your air conditioning, your AC service company can do a more in-depth evaluation of the system and handle repairs and improvements.
Improvements run the gamut from rebalancing air flow and sealing leaks in your existing system to upgrading your equipment. Team Burkhardt recommends AC grills with adjustable louvers so “you can move air where you want it to go.” Another easy fix for clients who want to cool a particular area of the house without adding another unit is a ductless mini-split HVAC unit. A ductless unit is efficient due to its ability to operate independently from the home’s main system to cool or heat certain spaces at different temperatures.
“Ductless units are good for garages, bonus rooms, and master bedrooms,” said Team Burkhardt.
Adding an additional return air duct and grill can also help an AC system work more efficiently. Newer state of the art systems deliver energy efficiency, convenience and add to the value of your home.
“If you have a 12- to 15-year old system, you may want to think about upgrades,” said Team Burkhardt.
Options include Wi-Fi thermostats, which can be programmed on a schedule and operated from your phone. The ability to raise the temperature when you leave and cool the house before returning is both a comfort feature and a money-saving perk. Two-stage systems and dehumidifiers are also energy savers. A two-stage AC system can run in a low stage most of the time and only goes into the second full capacity stage when necessary. And a whole house dehumidifier lowers the humidity in the air, which makes the air feel crisper and cooler and enables you to raise your thermostat to a higher setting while still maintaining your comfort level.
“A clean, properly operating system with a sealed duct system is the key to efficiency,” said Team Burkhardt.
About the Expert
Burkhardt Air Conditioning, Heating, Electrical & Generators is a family owned and operated business serving the North and South Shores. Started by John and Kathy Burkhardt 35 years ago, Burkhardt AC today includes the Burkhardts’ two sons Jason and Joshua.
