2015

Three Low Consumption Options To Heat Your Home With Biomass

Many different energy resources can be used to heat your home, including gas, electricity, solar and geothermal. Biomass is a carbon neutral energy resource that can be used to heat your home for less than conventional fuels. There are also many different options for systems that use biomass as fuel. Here are some of the biomass systems you may want to consider for heating in your home: 1. Using A Biomass Stove To Supplement Conventional Heating


What Does That Energy Star Logo Really Mean?

If you value efficiency when it comes to home appliances like furnaces and air conditioners (and who doesn’t), then you are probably familiar with the Energy Star logo. It’s a logo with a lightbulb in the center that can be seen on appliances that use less energy. But how much do you really know about this logo? Do you know what organization determines which products deserve it, or how they decide which appliances are Energy Star qualified?


Hot Dog! Keeping Pets Cool When The Air Conditioning Goes Out

Your pets have a standard temperature, just like your human family has a standard temperature. When external temperatures deviate and your pets overheat, they can get sick or even suffer heat stroke. If not in a temperature regulated area, your pets can die of heat exhaustion or heat stroke just like a human being. If your AC has gone out, here are some tips on keeping your four-legged family cool while you look into air conditioning repair or air conditioning installation.


What Is A Greywater Plumbing System?

Greywater is a term used to describe all previously used water in the home, and includes water used in the shower, kitchen sink, washing machine and many other household sources. It does not include water tainted with sewage, like water that comes from the toilet. While greywater is generally disposed of as waste, this water can actually be reused or recycled in the home in a surprising variety of ways. Read on to learn how greywater plumbing systems work and to determine if these systems are a good fit for your family.


3 Troubleshooting Steps For A Frozen Air Conditioner

Does your air conditioner have ice accumulating on the outside of it? That’s probably a very confusing sight, especially in the middle of the summer. It’s actually not an uncommon problem. It’s usually caused by insufficient airflow. Your air conditioner pulls warm air out of your house and then cools it down before returning it into your home. However, if your air conditioner’s air flow is clogged, that cool air could build up around the coil, causing the unit to freeze.


5 Questions You Should Ask A Professional When Considering An HVAC Unit Replacement

Central heat and air may not have always been a part of home life, but if you live in a modern house, there is a good chance you have an HVAC unit. It is incredibly convenient to be able to control both the heat and cold in your home with just one piece of equipment. However, when something goes wrong and you have to have a replacement, it can feel like an overwhelming process to try and find the best unit for your home.


How Dual-Fuel Heat Pumps Work

Many people start the process of selecting a home heating or cooling system by settling on a single fuel source, such as heating oil, natural gas or electricity. If you’re looking for a new heating or cooling system you may be surprised to learn that choosing fuel for your system doesn’t have to be an either/or decision; dual-fuel heat pumps are designed to burn both heating oil or electricity, switching seamlessly between the two to maximize efficiency and comfort while keeping energy costs at a minimum.


4 Ways To Beat The Heat Without Air Conditioning

There’s nothing like air conditioning to keep your home cool and comfortable, but all that cool air comes at a price; in fact, heating and cooling account for around 48 percent of the energy used in the average home, so finding ways to reduce your dependence on air conditioning can save you money. These AC-free techniques can help you put off cranking up the air conditioner in the spring or fall, or may help you survive an air conditioner breakdown while you wait for the repairman to arrive:


Four Things You Will Want To Know About Combining Geothermal And Solar For Your HVAC Needs

If you want to have a more efficient HVAC system, there are many things that you can do. You may be considering technologies like geothermal or solar collectors for the heating in your home. You can combine these systems for more efficient HVAC systems. This can be done by combining thermal storage and using the solar water heaters for more than just heating. Here are some things that you will want to know about combining geothermal and solar energy for your home mechanical systems:


Cleaning Your Central Air Conditioning Unit

Summer is right around the corner and that means the return of air conditioning to keep you cool during times of higher temperatures. Now is the time to get your central air conditioning serviced if there are problems that need addressing before warmer weather settles in. Here are some routine cleaning steps to do in preparation of air conditioning use. Clean Out The Condenser When your air conditioning is in use, debris will build up inside the condenser.


Three Ways To Minimize The Cost Of Running Your Air Conditioner

It’s nice to walk into a cool home after spending a significant amount of time outside in the sun. However, running your air conditioner constantly can be costly. So, before the summer heat is in full swing, learn what you can do to make your air conditioner more efficient so that you save money. Change the Filter Changing your air conditioner’s filter – or cleaning the filter if you have reusable filters – each month during the cooling season improves the unit’s efficiency.


3 Ways to Finance a New AC System for Your Home

Your old air conditioning unit finally bit the bullet, and now you find yourself in a bit of a financial struggle. After all, new air conditioning systems aren’t cheap, and if you don’t have a large enough emergency fund set aside, you may have no choice but to finance the cost of the new unit and installation. Fortunately, there are quite a few simple ways to go about financing your new AC, assuming your current one is beyond repair.


4 Tips For Saving Money On Delivery Fees When Purchasing Home Heating Oil

If you use heating oil to heat your home during the cold winter months, you probably spend a lot more on it than you would like to. Even if you purchase your oil from the most affordably-priced oil company in town, the costs can still add up. Not only do you have to worry about the cost of the oil itself, but you probably also pay for delivery of your oil.


Three Signs Your Air Conditioning Unit May Have A Freon Leak

When your air conditioning unit is low on Freon, it will not produce cool air as efficiently as possible. There are many reasons why your air conditioner may be low on Freon, including a leak or theft. Burglars have started stealing Freon from air conditioning units and selling it to teens and young adults to huff. The teens huff the Freon in an effort to get high. It is important to be able to know how to spot if your air conditioner is low on Freon.


Three Reasons Why Your Washer May Be Doing "The Wobble"

Is your washer doing “The Wobble” and you don’t know how to make it stop? Wobbling could be a sign of a serious problem or just a sign that you need to be loading your washer differently. Learn three reasons for your washing machine wobbles with the guide that follows. Overfilling the Drum If you overfill your washer, the drum inside of it will not be able to support the weight.