Save Energy, Save Money, Live Better!
Cost: $8 and up Estimated Effort: 10 minutes Approximate Savings: 10% or more If your furnace is located in an unheated area like an unfinished basement, you might already have guessed that a lot of heat can potentially be lost in the ducts themselves. Between the furnace itself and the vents, even with no holes […]
Cost: $60 – $200 Estimated Effort: 30 minutes Approximate Savings: 10% – 15% or more Installing a “smart” thermostat is not hard at all, and typically takes less than 30 minutes to accomplish, even for novice users. When buying your new thermostat, just remember – you get what you pay for. If you want more […]
The filter takes out a lot of dander, hair, pollen, etc from the air as it is fed into the furnace. If the filter is dirty, less air is fed into the heating system, which means…yep, you guessed it. The furnace has to work harder by staying on longer to heat the available air. And […]
Basically, make sure the thermostat location isn’t too hot, or too drafty. The thermostat measures the temperature and locating it in either location can throw off the reading. The effects can be disastrous for your utility bill. The area might be warm, so the thermostat will be tricked into thinking the heat has done its […]
The most common complaint in the cold winter months about older doors is they are drafty, or don’t insulate well anymore. In fact, a door is usually one of the first places you tend to notice energy issues. The reason is because it is opened and closed and used so often. Add to this the […]
One of the most challenging problems for homeowners is with the placement of a heat register, radiator or other heat source under or near a window. The problem is compounded with every degree the temperature plummets outside. Understanding the problem To figure out how to fix the problems, we have to understand what is going […]
Here’s a little secret for those of you who may be looking for a home and are energy conscious. Newer, high efficiency furnaces do not have an exhaust pipe that rises vertically (up through the roof of the house). The exhaust is actually sent out usually through a PVC pipe at an angle towards a […]
There’s a few things to consider here. On the surface, and as a general rule, you should avoid turning up the thermostat. The reason is relatively simple – you will be pumping natural gas (or whatever your fuel) into a unit that consumes a relatively large amount of fuel to heat a large area. If […]
Oh, what time savers these little guys are. The mailman delivers your mail through a slot in your door. No more walking out to the mailbox in the rain or snow or any other weather to get the mail. There’s one problem. Usually, these mail slots are very poorly insulated. Even if they are better […]
This one puzzles the heck out of me. We’ve talked about how a lot of heat escapes through the windows. Heat vents blow heat into a room. Why then, would anyone place a heat vent directly under a window? Argh! A lot of heat will be wasted, and the room will always feel colder than […]