Do You Have an AC Refrigerant Leak? An AC refrigerant leak can cause serious problems for your home air conditioning system, your wallet, and your comfort. Systems that are chronically overdue on maintenance or neglected often develop refrigerant leaks, but even a well-maintained AC system will eventually leak when it reaches the … Continued
Rising fuel costs and inflation are on every homeowner’s mind these days. How can they not be? The winter of 2021-2022 saw fuel costs for households heating with natural gas rise by 30% and electricity rise by 6%, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The price of heating oil in many New Hampshire towns … Continued
Did you know that the average homeowner uses warm water up to 20 times per day? Or that home heating systems often break down when you need them most: at the coldest times of the year when they’re working the hardest? This is especially true for older systems because they’re reaching the end of … Continued
Have you noticed particles in your indoor breathing air? Motes of dust hanging in a beam of sunlight or collecting on surfaces? Contaminants are floating around us everywhere. Poor indoor air quality is often most apparent during the winter and the summer when your home is sealed up tight to conserve energy and fresh air … Continued
No one likes finding of their dream home and then having that dream shattered when they realize the furnace is 35 years old, has had no maintenance, and is going to cost thousands to replace. Unfortunately, it does happen. Not knowing the current condition of an HVAC system during the home buying process … Continued
HVAC systems are almost always the most expensive appliances in a home, so if you’re going through the home buying process, doing your homework now may save you a costly headache later. It’s a mistake to underestimate the importance of your home heating and cooling systems. Not only do you want to … Continued
You’ve found the perfect home and made an offer. You’re nervous and excited about the next step: getting a home inspection to ensure that your investment is protected. The last thing you want is a surprise that could disrupt the home buying process. Home inspections are great for revealing large, noticeable issues that may cause … Continued
Would you buy a pickup truck when what you need is a commuter car? Conversely, would you buy a commuter car when you need to haul large items? Neither vehicle matches the job at hand, and if you’re not careful, the same can go for your heating and cooling equipment. An oversized or undersized HVAC … Continued
Spring is finally here and you know what that means! Backyard barbeques, fun with friends and family, and lots of sunshine. It also means hot summer temperatures are just around the corner, so we thought we’d bring you three quick tips to help get your AC ready for the next heat wave. Preparing your … Continued
The ban on using ozone-depleting refrigerant in older air conditioning systems has officially begun, which means the cost of servicing and maintaining these systems is going to rise for homeowners. If your AC system is more than ten years old, then this article is for you! A Brief History of the R-22 … Continued
Every winter, some homeowners cover their outdoor air conditioning units with tarps or plastic to winterize them, and every spring, we get a lot of business when their units don’t turn on. Why? Because when homeowners cover their units to protect them, what they’re usually doing is creating a mouse hotel. Tarps and … Continued
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) sets the maximum recommended exposure to carbon monoxide at as little as 9 PPM (parts per million), while OSHA sets its level at 50 PPM over an eight-hour workday. However, there is no safe level of exposure to Carbon Monoxide (CO). “Every … Continued
Would you drive your car without ever changing the oil? Probably not. Just like your car, home heating systems such as furnaces, boilers, water heaters, heat pumps, and on-demand units require annual preventative maintenance to deliver the comfort and safety you deserve. There are several reasons to have annual preventative maintenance performed by a licensed … Continued
Furnace maintenance keeps you and your home safe, comfortable, and efficient, and it’s something homeowners ought to have done by a professional every year. Professional maintenance ensures clean indoor breathing air, extends equipment life, reduces energy bills, and keeps homeowners safe from noxious gasses such as carbon monoxide, also known as the “Silent Killer.” Learn … Continued
Are You Breathing Bad Air? Did you know that the biggest reasons for poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), high energy bills, and uneven room temperatures in your home is often leaky duct work? According to Sam Rashkin, chief architect of the Building Technologies Office in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency … Continued
The dog days of summer are coming, and that means your air conditioning system is going to be working overtime, but did you ever stop to consider how clean all that comfy air blowing into your home might be? The truth is that your indoor breathing air is often considerably dirtier than … Continued
Your air ducts shouldn’t cost you money, but they do! Consider these findings from studies by the Department of Energy: On average, 30 cents of every $1 spent on heating and cooling a home disappears into thin air due to leaky ducts. 25% to 60% of heated and cooled air doesn’t make it to its … Continued
Should you replace your AC and furnace at the same time, or should you just replace the unit that broke down? This is a common problem for many homeowners, and deciding whether to replace one or both of your heating or air conditioning systems can be a real dilemma. It may seem cost-effective to just … Continued
Updated March 17, 2020 Why should you pay attention to the heating and cooling systems in your home? Because it’s highly likely they’re affecting your health, comfort and utility costs. New homes are being sealed tighter and tighter for energy efficiency, and existing homes are being improved for the same reason. This is great for … Continued
Too cold in one room of your house, and too hot in another? Outdoor conditions such as sun and shade, and indoor architectural designs (multi-level homes, additions, cathedral ceilings, etc.) can drastically affect room temperatures and home comfort. Learn about zoning for your home heating and cooling systems in this two-minute video, get the comfort … Continued
Do you know some of the most common signs of impending heating or cooling system failure? Homeowners really ought to be aware that the following seven symptoms can lead to water damage, deadly carbon monoxide leaks, a loss of heat or air conditioning on the most uncomfortable days, and increased expenses, just to name a … Continued
Many homeowners wait until their home heating or cooling system has permanently broken down before considering replacement. They figure they may as well get the most out of their system while they still can, and that by doing so, they’re saving money. That’s not necessarily true, and it’s often better to replace a system while … Continued
If you’re like most homeowners, you open your heating bill for the first time every winter and a feel a mild shock at how expensive it is. Your mental calculator goes to work, and you feel a grudging resignation that this—or more—is the new normal for the next several months. It’s time to keep the … Continued
So, you’re getting a new air conditioning system, and your comfort specialist has told you all about these high efficiency systems that are going to increase your comfort and drastically reduce your energy bills. Even if your air conditioner is only 10 years old, you may save 20% to 40% of your cooling energy costs … Continued
Did you know that the first air conditioning system was invented in ancient Egypt? Moistened reeds hung over windows cooled the air blowing in through the process of evaporation. It also added some humidity to the air, which was beneficial in such a dry climate. The ancient Romans circulated water from aqueducts through the walls … Continued
You don’t have to be a master carpenter or a construction whiz to enjoy significant savings in your home. Here are six easy tips that could help you keep your money where it belongs: in your bank account! Tip #1 – Electrical Outlets Electrical outlets lead right into hollow walls, which means that conditioned air … Continued
No one likes hearing that their furnace has been condemned due to safety and health concerns, and that it has to be replaced. Getting this news is stressful and inconvenient, to say the least, but unfortunately it does happen. There’s a very good reason why state law makes condemning a furnace an HVAC company’s responsibility. … Continued
My wife and I moved into our first home last spring, a modest but well-kept place with a big backyard for the kids. It was perfect for us, but when fall came and the weather got cold, it seemed a like sniffle or a cough was always circulating through the family. We have two little … Continued
In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, we explained that “Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that’s produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels, including coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas. Products and equipment powered by internal combustion engines such as portable generators, cars, lawn … Continued
Last week we talked about some pretty sobering statistics regarding Carbon Monoxide poisoning, which according to a 2012 report by the National Fire Protection Association, more than 81,100 non-fire CO incidents were reported to U.S. Fire Departments in 2011, and more than 90% occurred in homes or apartments.” Many homeowners are unaware that the retail … Continued
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is known as the “silent killer,” and according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, “every year 600 Americans die due to accidental acute Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Over 20,000 are made ill and treated” for carbon monoxide poisoning. Those are shockingly high numbers for something that’s usually preventable. Unfortunately, sometimes it … Continued
Winter is pretty and all, but I think most homeowners would agree that it belongs outside and not in the living room. Now that the cold weather is settling in, I thought we’d discuss a simple term that every homeowner really ought to know, since it can save you money and increase your comfort. AFUE … Continued
What if I told you that a simple metal rod is the single most important factor in determining the lifespan of your tanked water heater? What if I said that this rod protects the inside of your tank from rusting, and therefore leaking, and that it could prevent catastrophic failure and significant water damage? An … Continued
It’s always a scorcher around here during the summer, so we’re sharing these 13 helpful tips to help you save money on your AC bills as the heat waves hit. TIP #1: ENERGY AUDIT A home energy audit is “the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and to evaluate what measures you can … Continued
It’s no surprise that homeowners want to save money. After all, owning a home and all the upkeep that comes with it can really strain the bank account. But when it comes to purchasing HVAC systems, homeowners would do well to factor quality and professional experience into their buying decision, even over price. The one-man … Continued
UPDATED April 7, 2020 Investing in a new air conditioning system? SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is one of the most important factors to consider to ensure that you purchase an AC system that delivers the comfort you expect and deserve. But, what is SEER exactly, and why is it so important? SEER Defined SEER, … Continued
Let’s face it, your home is probably the biggest investment you’ll ever make, yet too many homeowners think of their car, their retirement fund, or next year’s trip to the Caribbean before they consider their home as the long-term investment that it is. When homes represent such a high income-to-debt ratio, it may be prudent to … Continued
