Cooling   Gustafson Heating installs Rheem and Carrier A/C's.  We've all heard it; "you don't need A/C in Colorado."  Perhaps you don't need a state of the art A/C, but cooling will provide comfort and clean air in your home all summer long! Here are some ways to maximize your cooling dollar:     Thermostat: Find a temperature that is comfortable, set it and forget it!  Allowing your home to heat up before turning on your A/C will result in frustration.  It may take hours for a properly sized system to achieve a couple degrees cooling once your home and everything in it is heated! System Design: On a good hot day, a properly designed system should not short cycle.  Energy magazine states: "the efficiency of a typical air-conditioner increases the longer it runs." Manual J, which outlines sizing procedures, states: "it is important that the air-conditioner be sized to achieve the longest run times as possible to achieve optimum efficiency." Registers & Grills: Your system has inlets and outlets for air.  It is important to arrange furniture in such a way as to provide unobstructed flow.  Be sure registers are fully open where most needed and partially or fully closed in rooms used infrequently or where little flow is needed. Window Treatments: Windows are the single greatest source of heat gain into your home; as much as 60% - 70%.  Effective window coverings should be assumed on most windows when properly sizing an A/C per Manual J loss/gain calculations.  Keep the sun out and you'll be much happier with your A/C! Fan Settings:  Switching the fan to the 'on' position at the thermostat helps maximize cooling in your home.  This will constantly mix and circulate air, providing more even cooling (and heating) especially in 2-story houses served by one system in the basement.  Energy costs of running the fan are offset by more efficient and effective heating and cooling! Regular Maintenance:  Change your filter often.  A dirty filter will rob your system of its efficiency and effectiveness.  It can cause even more serious problems like icing at the indoor coil.  The outdoor unit should also be cleaned periodically.  Dirt, weed seeds, pet hair and grass clippings can severely restrict airflow across the outdoor coil.  Contact us for information on the Gustafson Home Comfort Maintenance Program to provide worry free upkeep on your system!