Whether you crank up the air conditioning in the dog days or summer or turn up the heat in the bitter cold of winter, everyone loves the ability to control their home heating and cooling system.

Air conditioning is used in the United States more than all other nations combined. Eighty four percent of all homes in the United States have some sort of air conditioning. When it comes to energy use, heating and cooling account for 48 percent of the energy use in a typical home. New air conditioners also use about 50 percent less energy than they did in 1990.

But all that use of air conditioning for home cooling comes with a cost. The U.S. Department of Energy says that anywhere from 25 to 40 percent of the energy used in the heating and cooling of a home is wasted. The energy is wasted do in part to contaminants in the HVAC system, causing it to work harder.

The Heating, Venting and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is one that combines all three functions or buildings and homes. Air pollutants and contaminants like dust and dander and chemicals are pulled into an HVAC system constantly and recirculated five to seven days. As it continues, the recirculation causes a buildup in the duct work, ultimately causing harm to the residents living in a home.

Having a proper heating and cooling system in a home and can save a good deal of money for the average homeowner in two ways:

• A programmable thermostat can save up to $180 in air conditioning costs each year.
• Each degree you drop your thermostat in the winter will save a minimum of three percent on a heating bill, according to the Department of Energy.

It’s important to have HVAC system inspections twice a year. The average HVAC unit last 12 years and proper inspections are of great value to home owners and can alert homeowners to other home repairs that may be needed.

The average HVAC inspection costs a little over $300 and can run a little higher on the high end to about $475. Verifying the cost of an HVAC inspection is important and online quotes don’t always match up with the actual cost of the inspection. 
HVAC companies may vary in their process for checking a home’s HVAC system, but the inspection by mechanical contractors generally include some of the following steps:

• testing of safety controls
• testing gas pressure and piping
• inspection of blower components
• testing for correct air flow
• calibrating the thermostat
• checking the air filter
• inspecting the condition of equipment
• inspecting electrical connections
• inspecting temperate differentiations

There are many other steps that may be included in an HVAC inspection, but HVAC companies and mechanical contractors usually provide a complete report to give homeowners a detailed look at how their HVAC system is functioning.

Whether you live in Las Vegas or in the mountains of Colorado, a proper inspection of your HVAC system is paramount. Some HVAC experts estimate that as many as 75 percent of no-heat calls in the middle of winter are related to not keeping up with maintenance. The same importance can be placed on no-air conditioning issues which can prove challenging in areas with warmer temperatures.

Twice yearly inspections of HVAC systems are important as a lack of proper maintenance can cause problems in a home, result in higher utility bills and potentially cause health issues for residents. A proper inspection, done by a reputable company or reputable mechanical contractors can ensure improved home efficiency and potentially eliminate other repairs tied to a lack of HVAC maintenance. HVAC companies do a thorough inspection, checking all the parts of your HVAC system and providing you with an accurate quote.

If a HVAC inspection or HVAC repair might be in your future, HVAC.com can provide a list of HVAC service companies and mechanical contractors in your area and can also answer questions homeowners may have about an inspection. Angie’s List can also help in a search reliable mechanical contractors for all your residential HVAC needs.