spring is the best time to insulate
as you cleaned the snow off your car this morning, the last thing you probably thought was that spring is on its way. however, many of you have probably already compiled a list of house correction jobs and upgrades that need to be taken care of come springtime. well, spring is just a couple months away, and we have one house upgrade that should defiantly be added to your to-do list. adding insulation to your loft is one of the most coin saving house upgrades that you can make to your house, and spring is one of the best times to finally get this project done!
turn the heating down!
all of the extra strain that was placed on your heating this winter most likely drove up your energy bills. at this point, you are probably looking for any way to use the heating less often, and when spring arrives you will get your chance. however, if your house is poorly insulated, you may find yourself relying on the heating more than you would like to.
how insulation can save you coin
when your house is lacking insulation, heat from your heating is lost to the outdoors. as a result, the temperature in your house is lower and the thermostat will call for heat more frequently. when there is a nice thick layer of insulation in your house, this doesn’t happen. the heat insulation created by the insulation will hold the heat created by the heating indoors. this will help the inside of your house stay warm, and keep the chill of spring out. your heating will run less frequently and you will save coin on your energy bills because of it.
insulating in the spring will get you ready for annually round savings, so while you are doing your spring maintenance of have a seasoned and trained correction technician help you improve the levels of insulation in your house. the sooner you act, the sooner you start saving.
24 hour furance also recommends this great site: Home owner help
Home Star Rebates Look Promising
On June 7, 2010 The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Home Star Energy Act. The purpose of the bill is to not only help job growth but also to reduce our consumption of energy. The rebates if passed by Congress would give consumers significant money back on purchases of air conditioners, furnaces boilers and more.
The eligible products would have to be energy efficient and provide significant energy savings. The Home Star program has been compared to the “Cash for Clunkers” program in which consumers would replace existing air conditioners, furnaces and boilers for more energy efficient models. The rebates would go directly to the homeowner to offset the purchase price. In addition to the bonus that the rebates provide consumers should also benefit from long-term savings related to reduced energy bills every month.
For more information visit the Four Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning website and the Four Seasons news blog.
Proper Installation of Heating and Cooling System
Replacing your old heating and cooling system with new, energy-efficient central heating and air conditioning system is a great start. But to make sure that you get the best performance, the new equipment must be properly installed. This is no gimmick, an improper installed system can reduce system efficiency by up to 30 percent, costing you more on your utility bills and possibly shortening the equipment’s life.
This article is not intended to scare you, just help you learn more so you can make sure your getting the most for your money!
3 Important Things to Look for with Your New Installation
Proper Sizing of Equipment
Installing the right size equipment for the home is essential to getting the best performance and comfort. Many homeowners believe that bigger the better when buying new heating and cooling equipment. In reality, a system that is too large will not keep your home comfortable.
With over sized system there is a tenancy to frequently turn on and then off. This rapid cycling is also known as Short Cycling. This rapid cycling of the system is from the machine over shooting the adjustments in temperature for your home which leads to decreases in efficiency of the system.
Incorrect sizing can also put stress on system components and shorten the equipment’s life as they are exposed to more frequent rapid changes in temperature.
To ensure proper sizing your contractor should measure your house and perform a Load Calculation to determine the proper size. If the contractor does not measure your home and perform a load calculation, then I would not have this contractor install or service your heating and cooling equipment
Proper Refrigerant Charge
A properly charged system will operate more efficiently and help prolong the life of the heating and cooling system. To ensure the system has the correct amount of refrigerant a contractor must test and confirm that the system is properly charged. If the system is not properly charged the contractor should make the appropriate adjustment by adding or removing refrigerant.
Optimizing Air Flow
If air flow in your heating and cooling system is too high or too low, you may confront problems and higher utility bills very similar to the rapid cycling issue already discussed. A contractor should test air flow and make any needed adjustments for optimal performance. This can be done by slowing down the blower itself, or by putting dampeners on vents through out your home.
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cracked heat exchanger clues
you have heard the warnings about heat exchanger crevises, and maybe you have taken extra good care of the heating system in an effort to prevent these leaks. but, would you even be able to recognize the symptoms of a leak in the first place? if not, you are in luck, because they are rather easy to detect:
- soot accumulation: black soot will begin to build up on the heat exchanger and on other components inside the heating when there is a problem with set on fire. a crack in the heat exchanger is a very common cause of this soot accumulation, and if you notice this in your heating unit you should contact an heating, ventalation, and cooling serviceman immediately to solve the problem.
- abnormal flame: the flame inside your heating should be burning bright blue and steady. if the flame jumps around the burners or is orange or red in color, you may have a cracked heat exchanger. this problem could be caused by a number of things in the heating, but no matter the cause the system needs to be inspected skilled.
- carbon monoxide (co) detection: every house should have carbon monoxide (co) monitors implemented close to the ground on every floor of the house and within 10 feet of every sleeping region. if these monitors begin to beep, evacuate the house and call the fire department. when the heating is the source of the leak, it is often due to a crack in the heat exchanger.
- rust accumulation: if the heating is very old or if it was exposed to water, rust may begin to build up on the metal parts of the system. the heat exchanger is also metal, and since rust is so fragile, it could lead to a crack in the heat exchanger. a skilled technician will be able to determine for sure whether or not your rust problem has caused an issue with the heat exchanger.
if your unit is showing these symptoms, have your local heating, ventalation, and cooling correction technician have a look. crevises in the heat exchanger are very dangerous, and in this case, it is much better to be safe than sorry. become a proactive property owner and review your heating or boiler today!
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get your humidity in balance with your hvac
as this winter comes to a close, ask yourself a question. have you noticed any new squeaks in your difficult wood floors? if the answer is yes, you most likely have a humidity imbalance in your houtilize . you may say that you don’t even notice the squeaks in your floors, but let this hitch to continue and selling your houtilize may become very difficult. taking actions nowadays to prevent further damage is easy and affordable. not taking action will leave you with a costly repair on your hands once the hitch gets out of hand.
keeping humidity in balance isn’t easy
keeping humidity and temperature in balance is not as easy as you may think. the warmther dries out the air in the houtilize during the winter, and sometimes the cooling system cannot keep up with high humidity that occurs during the summer. your hvac system requirements a bit assist. when the air is leted to dry out, the wood in your floors also dry out and shrink. the excess moisture in the summer will cautilize the wood to swell and over the years the wood will become brittle and warped. keeping the humidity between 35 and 55 % and the temperature in the houtilize between 60 and 80 degrees will prevent this from occur ing.
backup for your hvac system
a whole houtilize humidifier and dehumidifier are needed to achieve this. they will keep the houtilize in balance while your warmther and cooling system take care of controlling the temperature. in the end your floors are sheltered and you avoid the cost of squeak repair down the line.
people gas customers may qualify for energy efficient warmther loan
chicago warmther repair has found a different method to assist create affording a new energy efficient warmther easier than ever before! where additional companies may create you jump through loops in order to buy and put in a new machine, four seasons has streamlined the process of buying and put ining a new warmther. if you are a peoples gas customer, we have great news for you! you may qualify for a special energy efficiency loan program!
how does the energy efficiency loan program work?
peoples gas has teamed up with afc first financial corporation to offer customers a very low interest loan that takes some of the sting out of investing cash in a new energy efficient warmther. this loan doesn’t require any sort of down payment and has affordable monthly payments. as an added bonus, using this loan won’t generate a different bill your have to pay. instead, your warmther payment will appear on your monthly gas bill. no additional checks to write and no additional fuss. four seasons thinks that this is a very easy method to remember to create your payments on time, and with these affordable options, there is very little standing in the method of your and a new energy efficient warmther from chicago warmther repair.
apply online and begin saving!
wondering if you qualify? go online and apply! the four seasons website has a link to the application process and you can locate out fast if you are eligible for these attractive financing options. while you create your payments on the new warmther, you will also notice your regular gas payment shrinking. this is an easy method to track the savings your new warmther will provide, and four seasons can assist you get begined nowadays!
people gas customers may qualify for energy efficient warmther loan is a post from: warmthing and cooling warmther repair
paying for your warmther is nowadays easy and affordable!
chicago warmther repair is almethod s searching for method s to simplify the process of purchasing and put ining a new hvac system. that is why when we heard about the peoples gas energy efficiency loan program we jumped on the opportmachiney to get involved. on top of rebates offered by peoples gas, you could also qualify for this attractive loan program, and getting that warmther of your dreams for the most affordable price possible.
what’s so special about the energy efficiency loan program?
the energy efficiency loan program isn’t your typical run of the mill loan program. if accepted, the houtilize owner will get attractively low interest rates and will not be required to create a down payment on their new warmther. the monthly payments are extremely affordable, and peoples gas found a method to create remembering to pay your bill even easier. instead of having a different piece of paper you have to mail in with a check, the payment is included on your monthly gas bill statement. we like this idea since as you pay off your warmther you can compare the savings you will begin to notice as the months go by.
rebates and attractive terms
your new energy efficient warmther will be well worth the investment, and while you take advantage of this program, you could also get up to $400 bucks back just for purchasing a energy efficient machine. the rebate program and the special loan terms will create that new warmther extremely affordable, and four seasons can get you begined right now. simply call to apply or go online to see if you qualify for the energy efficiency loan program!
preventing and containing burst pipes
during the winter, many families take vacations to get a break from the cold, and while they are away, many shut down the heating system until they return house. though their intention may be to save some coin on the next heating bill, these families usually end up with a much more costly problem on their hands. the problem is that the weather in local region and the surrounding areas is very unpredictable. the weather man may promise you mild winter weather, but all of that can change within a matter of hours. if you are away from the house and the weather drops below freezing, you may end up with a burst pipe or two on your hands when you return. luckily your local correction technician is here to lend a hand both before and after a pipe freezes in your house.
preventing a frozen pipe:
- call your local correction technician: here at your local correction technician, we have experts who can help you locate the “at risk” pipes in your house. these are usually located in areas that are unconditioned or under conditioned like the basement, loft, garage, under cabinets, radiators and in poorly insulated walls. our home service technician will help you protect these pipes from freezing by insulating the at risk areas of the house.
- never shut the heating down: keep the heating running even when you are away from the house! you can turn it back to 60 degrees and still save coin on your energy bills when you return. setting the thermostat too low can also allow pipes to freeze, so never leave the heating set below 55 degrees while you are away during the winter.
- let the water flow: if you have educated and trained frozen or burst pipes in your house before, you may want to let a slow trickle of water run through the pipes to prevent freezing. although this method does loose water, it is necessary in homes where pipe freezing has caused problems in the past.
- open cabinets: piping for sinks located inside cabinets along out side walls of the house are especially prone to pipe freezing. simply open the cabinet doors to allow heat from the house to access the piping and freezing should not become a problem.
frozen or burst piping
if you already have a frozen or burst pipe in your house, limiting the damage is the main goal. if you attempt to turn on a faucet and water does not flow normally or at all, you may have a partial or completely frozen pipe. the first step is to turn off the main water supply to the house. if you do not know where this is located, call your local correction technician immediately. the goal is to shut off the supply before the ice melts. if the ice melts and there is a crack in the pipe, the pipe will burst and spew gallons of water all over the house.
by turning off the water supply, you will limit the amount of water spots or leaks if the pipe does burst. your local correction technician can help you thaw the pipe and contain the damage caused by it. if the pipe has already burst, you will need our help to correction the damage. your local correction technician has got your back when you need us most, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, so keep our number handy for life’s unexpected emergencies.
24 hour furance repair also recommends this great site: Best rated heating cooling companies
understanding efficiency ratings| elk grove village, maywood, frankfort
your local correction technician heating and cooling likes to talk a lot about energy efficiency in the heating and cooling industry, but many property owners are still clueless when it comes to understanding the importance of having an energy effective heating or boiler operating in their homes. heating and boiler efficiency is measured in afue or annual fuel utilization efficiency. this is a percentage that represents the amount of gas that is actually converted into heat for your house.
for instance, an 80% afue heating uses 80% of its gas to create heat, and the other 20% is lost during the set on fire process. therefore, the higher the percentage, the less gas you will use, and the lower your energy bills will be. there are different efficiency ranges, and it is critical to understand the benefits and losses associated with owning a unit that falls within one of these ranges.
the energy efficiency spectrum
- 65% afue or lower: the general rule of thumb when determining the energy efficiency of your current heating system is: the older the unit the lower the rating. most heating system and boilers that are fifteen years old or older are at best 65% effective with the gas that they consume. this is extremely wasteful, and operating a system that is this inefficient is a loose of your hard earned coin.
- 78% afue- 81% afue: this range of efficiency is considered a “mid-range” energy efficiency rating. this is the current requirement set by our government for the minimum efficiency rating required for new units. an upgrade to this level of efficiency will give you noticeable savings on your monthly gas bills, but when you live in cold climate like chicago’s, the higher the efficiency, the better the savings.
- 90% afue-97% afue: heating system and boilers that are rated this high loose very little gas and will save you big bucks on your energy bills. they also often come with several other features that improve house enjoyable environment and offer user friendly operation to the property owner. lennox house enjoyable environment systems are at the forefront of heating, ventalation, and cooling technology, and when you purchase your new lennox system from your local correction technician, you can rest assured that you are not only receiving a top quality product but also a first class setup.
depending on the age of your heating or boiler, you may already have an idea of how inefficient your system truly is. if you are interested in learning more about the energy effective systems we offer here at your local correction technician or if you need help determining the efficiency of your current heating or boiler, give your local correction technician a call today to time line your free in-home estimate.
understanding efficiency ratings| elk grove village, maywood, frankfort is a post from: heating and cooling heating correction
A.O. Smith to Burnham,Carrier to Grundfos Pumps,Heil to Pinnacle,Ranco to Trion
your comfort hitchs may be simpler than you think
time and time again we come across customers that have had long standing comfort issues in their houtilize . the houtilize gets too hot and then gets too cool, or the temperature varies from area to area. these are very normal hitchs that often go undiagnosed or are ignored and accepted as normal for the houtilize . this is not acceptable in the eyes of four seasons. we believe that every houtilize owner deserves a comfy houtilize , and sometimes the hitch may not be as complex as you may think. let four seasons give your houtilize a quick look and solve your comfort issues right now!
a simple change may be all you need
before you create major repairs or changes to the system, let four seasons to look at your thermostat. a simple adjustment may be all that’s needed. the differential may be off by some degrees and this could be the source of your discomfort. the differential lets the thermostat to keep the warmther running up to three degrees past the temperature set and lets the thermostat to keep the warmther from turning on up to three degrees below the temperature set. this could be the cautilize of your discomfort and a four seasons tech could fix this hitch in about 5 minutes.
guaranteed comfort
if this is not the case with your houtilize , four seasons will still get to the bottom of your hitch. from over-sized and under-sized machines to insufficient circulation and duct work hitchs, chicago warmther repair will not rest until your family is satisfied with their warmthing and cooling systems and the comfort they provide.