Showing posts with label heating bills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heating bills. Show all posts
Friday, January 15, 2010
Nifty Tips for Maintaining Your Home Heating System
Just as tuning up your car on a regular basis is essential to keep it running efficiently and dependably, regular care and maintenance is just as important for your home heating system. Heating system manufacturers recommend that you have your furnace and heating equipment completely cleaned and tuned every year, and there are good reasons for this. Yearly furnace tune-ups can reduce your heating bills as much as 10%. They also help spot and correct problems and prevent them from causing breakdowns; and they even help extend the life of your equipment.It's usually best to perform your furnace tune-up just before the winter season kicks in. You'll have the confidence of knowing that your heating system is in tip-top shape for the winter ahead. You'll also beat the winter rush of tune-up procrastinators and those who need to schedule service because their heating systems have broken down.
In addition to getting annual tune-ups, here’s a list of simple things you can do year-round that will help keep your home heating system running smoothly.
- Install a Programmable Thermostat: A programmable thermostat can help you reduce unnecessary load, wear and tear on your furnace...as well as reduce your energy consumption. You can set your thermostat so that your heating system only runs when you're at home. It will automatically turn on or off at pre-determined times. You can also set temperatures to automatically adjust at different times of the day or night. Most programmable thermostats go for about $150...but they can pay for themselves in no time!
- Be a Frequent Filterer: Check your furnace filters every month or two during the heating season, and if need be, replace them. Your Horizon heating service technician can show you how to do this.
- Check for Smoke Signals: Be alert to trouble signals such as black smoke rising from the chimney, soot collecting at the burner, strange odors, or surging water in a boiler. These may indicate malfunction or improper adjustment, and you should get professional help.
- Achieve Balance: If you have hot and cold spots in your home, or if one area of your home is getting more heat than it needs, your heating system probably needs to be balanced. A heating technician can do this for you.
- Plug Those Leaks: Once a year, inspect your heating ducts to look for air leaks. You can repair them with quality duct tape. Also inspect windows and doorways for drafts -- seal with caulk or install draft guards.
- Insulate Yourself: Heating ducts and water or steam pipes that pass through unheated areas, such as attics, crawl spaces and basements should be covered with duct insulation or unfaced R-11 insulating batts or blankets. This adds up to energy saved for you.
- Be a Dust Buster: If you have radiators, convectors, or baseboard heating units, vacuum them regularly. Dust acts as insulation and wastes heat. Also, clean your furnace's fan blades at least once a year and keep the area around the furnace free of dust, lint and litter.
- Let it Bleed: Once a year, you should bleed the air from hot-water radiators, because air in the lines inhibits circulation. Just open each radiator valve, hold a cup under it and keep it there until water begins to come out. This gets rid of the air.
- Use the Right Paint: For the best performance, paint radiators with special radiator paint. Your hardware store can provide this for you. A quality oil-based paint is recommended; it is more heat-resistant and durable than latex paints. Also, if you paint your radiator black, it will generate more heat than if you paint it white or a neutral color.
- Don't Block the Flow: Don’t block air inlets and outlets, including radiators, with furniture, drapes or clothing.
Related Information:
Monday, January 11, 2010
A Home Energy Audit Can Help You Go Green and Save Green
"Going green" is an inescapable buzz-phrase these days, and we’re all looking for ways to reduce our impact on the environment. And in today's economic climate, "saving green" -- ie. cash -- is just as important. When it comes to energy usage and savings in your home, "waste not, want not" should be your mantra. Thus, it's imperative that you become aware of those items, areas and behaviors that are causing you to needlessly waste energy.The key to becoming aware of your energy usage is to perform an energy audit or assessment of your home to help you figure out how much you’re using and where you can make changes to become more energy efficient. An energy audit will also identify areas that could be costing you money and pin-point things you can do to help you save on utility costs.
You can conduct a simple do-it-yourself energy audit or hire a professional for a more thorough inspection. Both options should give you a comprehensive picture of your energy consumption and provide solutions for saving money and improving efficiency.
If you choose to do your own energy audit, the government-sponsored Energy Star program has a fantastic tool called the Home Energy Yardstick. You’ll need to collect your utility bills from the past 12 months and know your home’s primary energy source (e.g. gas, electricity, oil, propane) You’ll also need to know the square footage of your house and the year it was built. If you can’t locate bills from the past year, you can request a 12 month utility summary from your energy provider. The website will help you calculate and compare your home’s energy efficiency with similar homes in your area and around the country. It will also give you tips for making improvements. The best part is it only takes about five minutes to complete.
Professional energy auditors use a variety of equipment to perform tests on all different aspects of energy efficiency and can give you very specific recommendations for implementing changes. Some of the tests a professional auditor might run include using blower doors that check for leaks and drafts, and infrared cameras that can detect problems with insulation. Some utility companies offer incentives or special discounts for customers who participate. To locate a professional energy auditor near you, ask for a referral from your utility company, search your local yellow pages under ‘Energy’ or use Energy Star’s partner locator.
You can conduct a simple do-it-yourself energy audit or hire a professional for a more thorough inspection. Both options should give you a comprehensive picture of your energy consumption and provide solutions for saving money and improving efficiency.
If you choose to do your own energy audit, the government-sponsored Energy Star program has a fantastic tool called the Home Energy Yardstick. You’ll need to collect your utility bills from the past 12 months and know your home’s primary energy source (e.g. gas, electricity, oil, propane) You’ll also need to know the square footage of your house and the year it was built. If you can’t locate bills from the past year, you can request a 12 month utility summary from your energy provider. The website will help you calculate and compare your home’s energy efficiency with similar homes in your area and around the country. It will also give you tips for making improvements. The best part is it only takes about five minutes to complete.
Professional energy auditors use a variety of equipment to perform tests on all different aspects of energy efficiency and can give you very specific recommendations for implementing changes. Some of the tests a professional auditor might run include using blower doors that check for leaks and drafts, and infrared cameras that can detect problems with insulation. Some utility companies offer incentives or special discounts for customers who participate. To locate a professional energy auditor near you, ask for a referral from your utility company, search your local yellow pages under ‘Energy’ or use Energy Star’s partner locator.
If you live in Delaware, Pennsylvania or Maryland, your local utility company has many online tools that can help you perform a home energy audit:
Some of the most common recommendations that result from energy audits are really simple changes you can make almost immediately that can have a significant impact on your home’s energy consumption.
- Inspect lamps and light fixtures. Consider using traditional bulbs with lower wattage or switching to compact florescent bulbs. These last longer than regular light bulbs and can save more than 3% on your electric bill.
- Take a look at your heating and cooling equipment regularly. Look for problem areas, replace filters often, repair tears in ductwork right away, and have units professionally cleaned at least once a year. It’s also a good idea to thoroughly insulate pipes that pass exposed through unheated places.
- In older homes, inspect insulation levels in basements, attics and walls. Check for any signs of deterioration, animal activity, gapping, or moisture accumulation. Damaged or insufficient insulation can increase your energy usage and cost you money.
Horizon Can Help You With Your Energy Audit Needs!
Contact Horizon Services to schedule a FREE, no-obligation In-Home Energy Analysis and Consultation. An experienced Horizon Comfort Advisor will come to your home to discuss with you your energy-saving needs. He/she will inspect and measure your home, assess your current heating and air conditioning system (including ductwork) and review heating and cooling options that will use energy more efficiently and can save up to 35% off your utility bills!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Warning: Alternative Heating Sources Can Be Deadly!
These days, many homeowners are exploring alternative heating sources as a means of heating their homes and reducing heating bills during the winter months. Pellet stoves, wood stoves, fireplaces and space heaters are among the many home heating solutions that have seen a resurgence in recent years -- both as primary and supplementary heating sources -- as homeowners try to do their parts to save on heating bills.While these old-fangled heating methods can be extremely cost-effective and can give your home a special ambiance and charm, they can also be extremely dangerous if not properly installed or maintained. In fact, over the last several years, the Insurance Information Institute reports an alarming increase in the number of home fires, smoke damage and carbon monoxide poisonings traceable to the incorrect installation or use of these heating alternatives.
Alternative heating sources require special care and attention at all times. If you plan to use a wood stove or other alternative heating source in your home, Horizon Services recommends that you heed the following tips:
- Be sure that carbon monoxide detectors are installed in throughout your house
- Make sure that smoke and fire alarms are working properly
- Make sure that there is plenty of clearance bertween the stove and floors, walls and ceilings
- Keep combustible items such as books, newspapers, clothing and furniture far away from the heating source
- Make sure that your stove or heating source sits on a non-combustible, fire-resistant base
- Burn only dry-well-seasoned wood
- Dispose of ashes in a closed metal container outside of your home
- Regularly clean vents, flues and chimneys
- Check power cords frays, cracks and breakage
- Never let a fire burn unattended or overnight while you sleep
- Keep a fire extinguisher handy
Additional Information from Horizon Services:
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Efficient Home Heating Means BIG Savings!
Now that October's here, you've probably started using your furnace at least for a few hours each day. Pretty soon, though, you know you're going to be running it much longer, maybe even all day. And if you're not careful, your heating bills can go through the roof.Nearly half of all the energy used in American homes goes to powering heating and cooling systems; the annual cost of maintaining these systems is more than just about any other home utility. Residential HVAC units also emit millions of tons pollutants into the air, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. With so much at stake, both economically and environmentally, it makes sense to reconsider your home’s HVAC efficiency as the cold weather approaches.
Putting just a handful of these tips to work can save you hundreds in utility costs each year and will help reduce your carbon footprint.
- Clean or replace furnace and air filters regularly. Most filter manufacturers print a replacement schedule right on the packaging. It’s also a good idea to invest in a professional cleaning and tune-up once a year just to make sure everything is functioning as it should.
- Keep air registers, baseboard heaters, radiators and vents clean. Check for excessive dust or debris, and make sure heat outlets and returns aren’t blocked by carpeting, furniture or draperies.
- Use ventilation fans in kitchens and bathrooms only when absolutely necessary and just long enough to clear the air. It may seem like a small thing, but in just 60 minutes these fans can draw out an entire houseful of warmed air—along with your money.
- Close doors and turn the heat down—never off—in unoccupied rooms. This will lessen the load on the rest of the system significantly and can make a noticeable difference on your heating bill.
- Set your thermostat two or three degrees lower than normal. It may take some getting used to at first, but you can keep warm in the cozy new sweater you’ll be able to buy with the money you’ll save.
- Invest in a programmable thermostat and customize a heating schedule for your home. Set the thermostat lower when you know you’ll be out of the house for long periods of time, and then program it to kick on just before you return. The hour or two of chill you’ll have to put up with when you get home will be a minor nuisance when you see the eight hours’ worth of savings on your utility bill.
- Seal gaps under doors and in ductwork. Check ducts in attics, crawlspaces, unheated basements and garages for leaks or tears. Repair them using sealant or foil tape, then insulate. Use door stops to plug gaps under doors where drafts can sneak in. These simple steps can improve your heating system efficiency by more than 20%.
- Run heat-producing appliances during the warmest time of day. Dishwashers, dryers and ovens all give off heat. Using these devices at the right time can actually help heat your home and take the load off your heating system, saving you money.
- Consider purchasing an EnergyStar rated space heater. These units are great for supplementing the heat in a small area of your home, or to help keep infants, small children and the elderly comfortable without having to overheat your entire house.
Visit Horizon's Tips and Articles Library for More Useful Energy Efficiency Info!
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