City Heating & Air Conditioning
3111 Northwest Park Drive
Knoxville, TN 37921
Phone: 865-938-1005
mdavis@cityheatandair.com

Office Hours
Monday - Friday
7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

“According to the U.S. Department of Energy, some people who have weatherized their home have saved an average of $300 in annual utility cost while adding an estimated $1,000 to the value of their home” (TDHC Energy Assistance Page)

Apply An Effective Coating To Your Roof

Did you know that about a third of the unwanted heat that builds up in your comes in through the roof?

• Apply a reflective coating to your existing roof. Standard roofing coatings are available at your local hardware store. Purchase one that has both waterproof and reflective properties. These are marked primarily for mobile homes and recreational vehicles, but can be applied over many common roofing materials.
• Plant tall, fast-growth trees on the south side of your house. Eventually they will help to shade your roof from the sun.

The Answer Is Blowing In The Fan

Do you remember your science teacher telling you that hot air rises?

Check The Direction Of Your Ceiling Fans

• In the winter, set fans to turn counterclockwise. The blades will force the warm air downwards.
• In the summer, set fans to turn clockwise. The fans will not only keep the rooms more comfortable by circulating the air but will draw warm air upwards towards the ceiling.

Close Fire Place Dampers

Going up the chimney with a bound may serve as a dramatic exit for Santa, but don’t allow your cooled or heated air to use the same escape hatch.

• When your fireplace is not in use, keep your dampers or glass doors closed.

Insulate Your Attic

Did you know that an uninsulated attic can raise your heating and cooling cost?

• Install minimum R-30 insulation in your attic.

Keep Your Utility Expenditures Out of Hot Water

• Unless you are depending on your dishwasher to sterilize baby bottles, consider setting your water heater to 120º.
• Add an insulation blanket to your water heater. (Check the manufacturer’s label for important information.)
• Add insulation to water pipes to reduce heat loss in route from your water heater to your showers, tubs, and faucets.
• Use conservation showerheads to eliminate hot water waste

Upgrade Your Appliances

Is your star on the horizon?

• Consider replacing old appliances with new energy efficient models. Look for the EnergyStar label. Many such upgrades will pay for themselves over time through saving on your utility bills.

Watch Where You Put That

• Take care not to position rugs over heating vents or furniture directly in front of return air vents. Efficient cooling and heating depends on free air flow.

Weatherstrip Windows And Exterior Doors

Are you throwing money out the window?

• You are if air is leaking out your windows and doorways. Roughly 40% of the unwanted heat build up in your home comes through windows.
  Weatherstripping the perimeter of exterior doors can keep heated and cooled air conditioned air from escaping. It also reduces the risk of visits from unwanted guests such as snakes and spiders.

Ventilate Your Attic

Did you know that a ventilated attic stays about 30ºF cooler than an unventilated one?

• Ventilating your attic greatly reduces the amount of accumulated heat, which eventually works its way into the main part of your house. Properly sized and placed louvers and roof vents help prevent moisture buildup and overheating in your attic.

Don’t Cool Or Heat An Empty House

Are you paying to heat or cool an empty building?

• In the summer, raise the temperature a few degrees when you plan to be away for several hours at a time. (Do not shut off your air condition or raise the temperature too high as heat and humidity can encourage the growth of mold and mildew in your carpet, drapes, furnishings, and cloths.)
• In the winter, reverse the process and lower the temperature on your thermostat before you leave home. According to Consumer Energy Information, it requires a lot less fuel for a furnace to warm a cold house back to a comfortable temperature than it requires maintaining a comfortable temperature while the house is sitting empty.
• If your home is regularly empty during thee day, invest in an automatic setback or programmable thermostat. These thermostats are also recommended for business facilities which sit empty at night or on the weekends.

Maintain Your Air Condition And Heater

Did you know that the biggest users of energy in your home are your heating and cooling systems?

• You wouldn’t drive your car year after year without changing its oil or taking it in for a tune-up. Yet many people run their air conditioners and heaters for years without having them serviced. The results are unnecessarily high energy costs and a reduced life span for their heating and cooling systems.
• If you use the standard filters, change them monthly. If you use an electrostatic filter, remember to clean it with a hose regularly.
• Make sure your heating and/or cooling equipment is properly sized for your home. Operating a unit that is too small or too large is highly inefficient. A unit that can’t quite keep up on the hottest afternoons or on the coldest nights, may well be a unit that’s too small for your home or place of business. A City Heating & Air Conditioning technician can determine the best-sized unit for your residence or business facility.
• Install ceiling fans to boost the efficiency of your air conditioner in the summer and to circulate warm air away from the ceiling in the winter
• If you have a large home, consider the installation of a zoning system This system regulates airflow and temperature so that you only have to cool or heat the area of your home that you are using.
• When purchasing a new air conditioner or heat pump, check SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) rating. This tells you how efficiently a unit uses electricity. The higher the number, the greater the efficiency.
• When you are thinking of buying a new air conditioner, consider selecting a split system.
• If there is a need for your central heat and air to be replaced, make sure that the outdoor and indoor units match.
• When it comes that time to replace your old or get a new, consider the purchase of a American Standard, or one of our many other models.

Financial Benefits

• If your air-conditioning system is more than 10 years old, energy savings (not to mention savings on repairs) can pay for a brand-new, energy efficient system.