In 1903, the New York Stock Exchange in New York City became one of the first buildings to use an air conditioning system to regulate indoor temperatures. Today, over a century later, the United States heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, industry is worth an estimated $71 billion dollars. Moreover, this industry is growing: while there are currently an estimated 85,469 heating and cooling companies located in the U.S., the industry as a whole grew an estimated 4.1% every year from 2009 to 2014. This is because the various heating and cooling services these companies offer can have a number of benefits for you, your family, and your home.

Heating and cooling contractors are trained to perform a variety of tasks that can help your home become a more comfortable, cost-effective environment, from installing the best heating and cooling systems for your home to completing air conditioner repairs. However, one of the most important services these contractors offer is one of their least prominent: heating and cooling system maintenance, which can help reduce your monthly energy bill and prevent future heating and air conditioner repairs.There are a number of basic steps any homeowner can take to help ensure that their heating and cooling units work effectively and efficiently. For example, there should be two feet of clearance around outdoor air conditioning and heating units. Likewise, ensuring that your attic is properly ventilated can reduce HVAC energy costs by as much as 12%, and installing ceiling fans, house fans, and box fans can help circulate cool air without overusing your air conditioning system. However, maintenance work, which can also help you reduce your energy costs, should only be performed by a licensed heating and cooling repair contractor. This maintenance work may include changing your HVAC air filters, which should be done at least once every 90 days to avoid damage and expensive heating and air conditioner repairs. Heating and cooling contractors can also use these visits to demonstrate important lessons about correctly using your heating and cooling system. For example, they can help you ensure that you never close more than 20% of your home's registers, which can place unnecessary strain on your HVAC unit.Heating and cooling systems have become an integral part of daily life, assuring that we are comfortable in spite of the weather or the season. However, this relatively common household system can be costly if the system is not properly maintained and correctly used. To keep your system running smoothly, contact a heating and air conditioning repair service today.