Chas Roberts Helps Phoenix Homeowners Save on Summer Air Conditioning Costs

Phoenix, Ariz. (May 3, 2009) – Summer is here to stay, as 100 degree days are quickly becoming routine. With current economic conditions as challenging as they are, saving money on home cooling costs is now more important than ever for Phoenix and Tucson area homeowners.

“At Chas Roberts, we get asked by people all the time – “Is there anything I can do to cut my cooling costs during the hot Arizona summers?’” says CEO Roberta Roberts Shank. Before Phoenix and Tucson area homeowners crank up the air conditioning, Shank shares five tips to help reduce home cooling costs:

1. Clean air conditioner filters – The most important thing a homeowner can do is clean and replace a/c filters frequently. For optimum efficiency and filtration, replace disposable filters at least once a month.

2. Give the air conditioning unit a check-up – Before summer requires heavy use of the unit, have the system checked by a trained technician. Regular air conditioner maintenance is the most effective way to ensure a unit is running efficiently, safely, and offers the best opportunity for extending its life to save money.

3. Every degree counts – Set the air conditioner’s thermostat one or two degrees higher in the summer to save on energy costs. How big a savings is this? For every degree warmer, the homeowner will save two to three percent on the air conditioning bill. (source: http://www.aps.com/aps_services/residential/waystosave/ResWaystoSave_2.html)

4. Only use the air conditioning system when it’s needed – Raising the thermostat when no one is at home and at night can help reduce cooling bills. Avoid raising it more than five degrees so the system doesn’t have to work so hard to return to the desired setting. A programmable thermostat can make it easy.

5. Energy efficiency pays – If it’s almost time for a new air conditioning unit, homeowners should consider replacing now with a more energy-efficient unit. The recently passed federal stimulus bill (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) offers a tax credit for 30% of the installation costs (up to $1500) to homeowners who install qualified energy-efficient central air conditioning units January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010. Not only will homeowners save on the installation costs, but an energy-efficient unit will also lower your monthly cooling bills (source: http://hvactaxcredits.com/2009_energystar.asp)

Chas Roberts creates comfortable living environments for Arizona homeowners by providing quality installations and service of heating & air conditioning systems at competitive prices. Chas and Alice Roberts founded Chas Roberts Air Conditioning in 1942 and the business has been family owned and operated since day one. Today the company is the largest HVAC provider in the state with eight locations including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Queen Creek, Litchfield, Avondale, Sun City and Tucson, passes along its buying power to homeowners and backs its service with highly trained personnel and on-line scheduling capabilities. For more information, visit www.ChasRoberts.com.