Fall 2011

The Benefits of Tuning Up Your Heating System

The sun is setting earlier, the temperatures have started to fall and depending on where you live, you may have even seen flakes of snow start to fly. That means that winter is very nearly upon us, and heating season is about to begin – if it hasn’t already.

That also means that if you have not gotten an annual tune up of your heating system, time is running short to get it done. In case you need some reminders about why that is so important, read on to learn more.

The Tune Up

When a professional comes to your home to do annual maintenance on your HVAC system, you may wonder just what he is up to. Usually, it is just routine tasks. He will do a general inspection, tighten connections, check lines to make sure they are moving freely, lubricate any moving parts and clean the parts that get dirty easily, like filters, fans and vents.

Also, if there are any parts that need to be replaced during this time, he will take care of that as well.

The Benefits

That all seems simple enough, so why is it so important? There are several reasons, such as:

• Replacing worn parts early prevents major breakdowns later, such as in the middle of winter. Being without heat in the chilly midst of January while you wait for a repairman to make it through the snow is no fun.
• Tightening, lubricating and cleaning the various components of your heating system helps keep the whole system running smoothly and efficiently. This means your home is as warm as it can be, and your family is comfortable and happy.
• Routine maintenance extends the life of your heating system, so you can avoid dropping big money on a replacement as long as possible.
• You save money, not only on the replacement costs we just mentioned, but also on monthly bills and future repair costs.

When you look at all those benefits together, it only seems natural to have your heating system inspected and tuned up. The sooner, the better, so give a call to local professional today.

That way, you can be warm all winter long and rest easy knowing that your heating system is in great shape.

 

Top 15 Tips to Prepare For the Winter Holidays

The sun may still be holding on, but rest assured that the daylight hours are getting shorter and winter is just around the corner. Of course, that means holiday season, filled with family, festivities, fun and food! It also means snow, slush and soaring heating costs.

Don’t worry, though. We have tips aplenty to help you prepare ahead of time, so you can enjoy the holidays with your loved ones in peace.

Winterizing

The first step is to make sure your home is ready when the snow flies. Here are a few routine checks you can do, a few minutes at a time, to keep your home warm and cozy:

1. Check around doors and windows for leaky caulking or weather stripping.
2. Anywhere there is a wire, duct or pipe going through a wall, check the seal around it.
3. Put foam gaskets around your wall outlets and switches to prevent drafts.
4. Have your ductwork inspected for leaks.
5. Replace any worn weather stripping and insulation around the house, especially in the attic.
6. Replace your furnace filter.
7. Reverse the settings on your ceiling fans.
8. Clean heating vents.
9. Sweep your chimney.
10. Remove leaves from gutters to prevent ice damming.

With those little tidbits out of the way, your home is much more prepared for winter. Next, let’s look at some ways you can save energy during the holiday season.

Celebrate and Save Energy

From the extra cooking to all the lights and keeping the house warm, the holiday season can cause you to burn through a ton of energy. Here a few tips to help you conserve, so you have more in your budget for giving gifts:

1. Don’t preheat the oven for that holiday turkey. The bird is going to cook slowly over the course of several hours anyway, so there is no real reason to preheat the oven. Many recipes call for this step, but it’s not necessary and wastes energy.
2. Use glass or ceramic pans in the oven. Because these materials retain heat better than metal, you can lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees safely.
3. Keep those leftovers! Not only are turkey sandwiches delicious the next day, but a full fridge operates more efficiently than a bare one.
4. Use LED bulbs in your twinkly lights. The use less energy than traditional bulbs and look just as great.
5. Unplug holiday lights at night. This not only saves energy, but reduces the risk of a fire.

With just a few simple trick and tips, you can be well on your way to an affordable, comfortable and happy holiday season!