Selecting the right heating or cooling equipment for your home can be a bit confusing. Beware of dealers that may try to sell you more capacity than you need. Even though more capacity sounds like a good thing, a system that's too big for your home will heat or cool too quickly. This short cycling can lead to wear and tear, inadequate dehumidification and a reduced product life.

As your Northern Home Comfort representative will explain, choosing the right equipment depends on three key variables:

1. the number of heating or cooling hours required
2. the size and thermal efficiency of your home
3. the cost of fuel in your area

Based on these variables, your Northern Home Comfort representative will analyze your comfort needs and recommend the optimum equipment to give you the best performance, efficiency and return on your investment.

Heating and cooling equipment is something most people don't think about until soemthing goes wrong. Then what? The big question is usually whether to repair or replace the broken equipment. Here are some issues to explore when gathering the information you need in order to make a decision:

• -Repair cost vs. replacement cost
• Age and efficiency of old unit vs. new unit
• Warranty coverage on old unit
• Number of years you expect to live in present home

Your Northern Home Comfort representative can answer any questions you have and also provide valuable information on efficiency ratings, heating and cooling costs and payback periods. We are also available to give you estimates on both repair and replacement costs.

With proper maintenance, you can extend the life and performance of your heating and cooling equipment. Here are a few simple ways to get the most from your system:

• Change your filters every three months
• Use a programmable thermostat
• Don't jiggle the thermostat
• Don't turn the air conditioner on and off
• Close the vents in rooms that are not used
• Avoid blocking vents with furniture or drapery
• Have your professional HVAC dealer perform regular equipment inspections