Total Cost of Ownership

Your True Total Investment
The total cost of owning and operating a heating and air conditioning system is more than your Initial Investment. You must also consider...

• Operating Cost: Energy cost each year for the life of the unit
• Maintenance Cost: System care for the life of the unit
• Replacement Cost: After maximum useful life of the unit

What Affects Your Operating Cost?

• Type of system
• Energy rating
• Installation techniques
• Maintenance or system care
• Improper maintenance affects operating costs.
  

These can affect your energy bills by as much as 30% to 40% and more in cooling:

• Dirty condenser coil
• Dirty evaporator coil
• Dirty blower
• Dirty filters
• Air leakage in ductwork
• Thermostat calibration

These can affect your energy bills by as much as 10% to 50% and more in heating:

• Dirty burners
• Dirty blower
• Dirty filters
• Dirty heating coil (or cooling)
• Air leakage in ductwork
• Thermostat calibration
  

* An LSU study of five existing homes conducted before and after system cleaning showed an average savings of $32.76 per month on cooling bills.

Improper Installation

Studies show that some improperly installed heating and air conditioning systems cost over 2.1 times more to operate than properly installed heating and air conditioning systems.

How does improper installation affect operating cost and reduce equipment life?

Installing an oversized furnace and/or air conditioner causes...

• 10% to 45% in additional operating cost
• Constant expansion and contraction which reduces furnace life
• System starting and stopping which reduces compressor life
  

Installing over or undersized refrigerant lines causes...

• 8% to 28% in additional operting costs
• Excessive head pressure which reduces compressor life

Improper sizing of ductwork causes...

• 5% to 30% in additional operating cost
• Improper airflow across heat exchanger reduces its life
• Improper airflow across evaporator coil reducing compressor life

Over or undercharging the refrigerant in your system causes...

• 25% to 30% in additional operating costs
• Excessive head pressure which can reduce the life by 50% and more
• Shortened system life and replacement years earlier than needed