Do I have to add refrigerant to my system every year?
No, the refrigeration cycle is a sealed system. If the system is low there is a leak. The leak should be repaired for several reasons: to prevent high utility bills from excessive running, prevent extreme wear on the compressor, and to help protect our environment from the release of CFC’s.

Is it good to shut off registers to force air to other places in my house?
Typically not, shutting registers could help the comfort levels, however, it could also cause pre-mature compressor failure. The reasons for hot and cold spots are usually related to ductwork problems, consisting of leaks. Ductwork leaks dissipate roughly 30% of your heating/cooling dollars. The following examples show how ductwork loses energy: leakages of air into (return) and out (supply) of ducts, convection through the duct walls, infiltration, and imbalance in pressure cause by ducts. To seal duct leaks, larger holes should be repaired first and a quality adhesive should be used. For any assistance please give Robert B. Payne Inc. a call and you can “B” sure.

Should I turn my thermostat up or down when I leave for work or go to sleep to save energy?
You should try to maintain consistent temperature in your house as much as possible. With that being said, turning your thermostat off when you leave for the day or go to sleep at night is a mistake. The system will use up any savings you had and then some trying to come back to your desired set point. If you turn it up or down a degree or two from set point, this is OK and will save you some money if you are consistent about it. The best thing to do is purchase a programmable thermostat and have this done automatically by the thermostat program. The thermostat will also have the capability of keeping the electric heat run time to a minimum for heat pump applications.