Your home leaves behind tracks that reveal its unique energy footprint. In any house, the ways to conserve more energy run the gamut from simple DIY tasks to major efficiency upgrades. When it comes to heating and cooling, the good news is that reducing your energy consumption is often accompanied by increased indoor comfort and lower operating costs.
Easy Ways to Reduce Your Home’s Energy Footprint
December 23rd, 2014Is Your Electric Water Heater on the Blink? Some Reasons for the Malfunction
December 18th, 2014
An electric water heater has distinct advantages over its gas counterparts, including being more efficient, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have problems. Unlike gas-fueled water heaters, an electric water heater has an upper and lower heating element that heats your water. A gas unit uses a single gas burner at the bottom of the tank to keep water hot.
Considering Solar Heating? Here’s What You Should Know Before You Buy
December 16th, 2014
You may have noticed in recent years that more homes have solar collectors on them for solar heating purposes. This type of system can supplement a forced-air HVAC system using clean energy to warm the interior of a home.
Is Your System Airflow Balanced As It Should Be?
December 11th, 2014
Having your HVAC system’s airflow balanced means heating and cooling airflow to every room into the house is consistent with the size of the room and balanced with the amount of air removed from of the room by the return airflow. This results in a condition of neutral air balance, considered optimum for effective and efficient heating. When airflow is out of balance, a range of performance and energy-efficiency shortfalls will affect your HVAC system, household comfort and indoor air quality.
Maintaining a Comfortable Temperature This Winter in Your Home
December 9th, 2014Learn About VOCs and How They Hurt Your Indoor Air Quality
December 4th, 2014
With cooler weather approaching, it’s important to think about the quality of your indoor air. Your indoor air can be many times more toxic than the air we breathe outside. This is partly because of chemicals that are emitted from materials such as paint or lacquer, solvent, home cleaning solutions, and even foam padding under our carpets. These are known as VOCs or “volatile organic compounds.” VOCs may be defined as gases or particles released by carbon-based materials in your home. A good ventilation system should work to remove these chemical irritants from your house, and it should also pull fresh air inside. This dilutes the concentration of these gases, making the indoor air healthier to breathe. VOCs can came from:
Furnace Types That You Can Consider — Single-Stage, 2- Stage or Variable Speed
December 2nd, 2014
When you’re considering replacing your existing heating system, it can be difficult to determine what you need. Aside from efficiency levels and heating capacity, furnaces come in different types with regard to how the gas valve and blower motor operates. Knowing your options and understanding the difference between furnace types will help you in making your decision. Before speaking to an HVAC specialist to determine the best fit for your home, you should understand the differences between single-stage, two-stage and variable-speed furnaces.
Do You Understand AFUE? Here’s Why You Should
November 27th, 2014
Furnace efficiency is measured by AFUE, short for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. It’s a simple percentage that gives consumers a basis to compare energy efficiency among similar makes and models of furnaces at a glance. AFUE isn’t the only element that impacts your efficiency and operating costs. Other factors include the airtightness of your home, the amount of insulation, and how many hours a day you typically run the furnace.
An Oversized Furnace Causes 2 Major Problems
November 25th, 2014
To ensure comfort and optimal efficiency, your home’s furnace must be sized accurately just like the air conditioner. Instead of using a rule of thumb to estimate the size, an HVAC contractor should perform a load calculation and consider key factors such as the home’s square footage, orientation, insulation level, windows and ductwork system.
The Types of Insulation That Can Help You Keep Warm or Cool
November 20th, 2014
Winter is approaching quickly, which means things are cooling off in the Jan Joaquin Valley. Many of us live here to enjoy the milder climate and to escape the harsh winters of the Midwest and Northeast, but many homeowners forget that proper sealing is still a necessity, even in a warmer region. Insulation is extremely important whether you’re using the furnace or the A/C, as both will run more efficiently in a properly-insulated home. Plus, the house will stay more comfortable in any season with added insulation.