HVAC System Efficiency Analysis

In today’s economical environment, every homeowner is looking for ways to reduce the costs associated with owning their home.  While certain expenses, such as the mortgage payments and taxes, are fixed and cannot be reduced, other things such as utility expenses can possibly be reduced, if all of the mechanical systems within a home are working properly and efficiently.  Inefficient HVAC systems can be causing a homeowner to overspend a significant amount of money each month on electricity and natural gas.  The cost can be very significant when you look at the total cost over 5 or 10 years.  One way to determine if the HVAC system is causing a homeowner to throw money away on utility bills is to have a professional HVAC contractor perform an HVAC system efficiency analysis

As part of this analysis the HVAC contractor will perform a detailed analysis of the cost of ownership and the operating costs.  During the site visit, the HVAC contractor will perform a detailed equipment inventory, while performing an energy consumption analysis.  In addition, the contractor will identify potential safety issues, such as carbon dioxide leaks and in many cases be in a position to proceed with the necessary repairs immediately.  The goal of the analysis is to identify possible improvements to the HVAC system that will reduce monthly utility bills through increased efficiency, while maximizing comfort! 

An HVAC system efficiency analysis is very economical to perform and can be easily scheduled with a professional HVAC contractor with a dedicated service department.  Protect your investment, as well as your hard earned money and schedule an inspection as soon as possible and take the first step towards lower utility bills!

How to Save Money and Energy on Your Heating Bill

In the winter, many people worry about how to lower their heating bills. There are plenty of ways to save energy and cut down on those costs. Here are some good options.

  1. Set your thermostat on a reasonable temperature. In the winter, a good temperature to set the thermostat on is 72. This will warm your home, but you will not have to worry about the heating cost going up from constant use
  2. Close the vents to any unused rooms. If the room is not being used, it is cheaper to close the vents and door to the room than to than to continue heating it.
  3. Use insulated draperies on your windows.
  4. Make sure that there are no gaps around doors or windows. Gaps will allow warm air to leak out and cold air to get in. Install new weather stripping where gaps are found.
  5. Get a thermostat that is programmable. This will allow you to set it to turn the heat down when you are not home or when you are sleeping. This can drastically lower a bill, because it will keep the heat from running unnecessarily. 
  6. Change your filter. If the filter is dirty, it will make the furnace work harder and that will cost you more money.

By following these few simple tips, you will find that there is less energy and money being required to keep your home warm. You don’t need to sacrifice dollars to stay comfortable in your home if you learn to operate your heating system efficiently.

Install a Programmable Thermostat to Save on Your Energy Bills

If you are still reeling from your electricity bills for your summer air conditioning, you are probably not looking forward to the onset of winter and the associated heating bills.  One great way to save money on your energy bills throughout the year while doing your part for the environment is to install a programmable thermostat.

A programmable thermostat can reduce your energy usage for heating and cooling while increasing your comfort level. Less energy used means fewer fossil fuels burned to create electricity and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

A programmable thermostat can be programmed to adjust the heat or cool setting in your home depending on your lifestyle.  In the winter, the thermostat can be programmed to turn down the temperature after you go to bed and turn it back up in the morning before your alarm goes off.  It can do the same thing while you are at work during the day.

In the summer the thermostat is programmed to keep your home cooler while you are awake and at home.  Most of these thermostats allow for a separate program to handle weekends

You can achieve similar results by turning the thermostat up or down manually, but a programmable thermostat frees you from having to remember to adjust the thermostat every time you wake up, go to bed, go to work, and arrive at home.  In addition, the thermostat can be set to adjust the temperature before you get out of bed or home from work and after you go to bed or leave the house for the day.  No more waiting for the house to cool down or heat up to a comfortable temperature.

A reputable HVAC contractor who sells and installs HVAC accessories and optional components can help you choose a programmable thermostat that’s right for you.

Advantages Of Programmable Thermostats

With the cold winter weather hard upon us in most of the country, many consumers are looking for ways to increase their comfort level while reducing their heating costs.  An HVAC accessory that is perfect for the job is a programmable thermostat.  Proper use of a programmable thermostat is one of the easiest ways to reduce your home heating costs while increasing your comfort level. 

A standard manual thermostat is set to maintain a constant temperature in your home.  You can save on heating costs by lowering the temperature at night and during the day while you and your family are away from home.  The problem is that if you forget to lower the setting at night or in the morning when you leave home, your furnace will keep your home at the warmer temperature.

Another disadvantage of a manual thermostat is that you have to turn up the thermostat in the morning and your home does not really warm up until it is time to head off to work or school for the day.  The same is true when you arrive at home in the evening.

A programmable thermostat takes care of these concerns.  It can be set to automatically lower the temperature setting at bedtime, and to raise the temperature in the morning shortly before you wake.  When you get up in the morning, your home is already warm!  The programmable thermostat will later lower the temperature after everyone has left home for the day, and again increase the setting to warm up your home before your family returns. 

With a programmable thermostat, you don’t have to remember to change the temperature settings.  Once programmed, the thermostat takes care of it automatically.