Contact us today or give us a call at (570) 836-3232 if you have any questions.
One of the quickest avenues through which to lose money as a homeowner is through a draft in your dwelling. In a very short length of time, drafts can easily skyrocket your heating bill. Not only do they create a cooler environment in the home than you desire, drafts also make your furnace run longer and work harder. Similarly, when the weather turns hot, the draft can cause cool air to be lost from your home.
Additionally, the constant turning on and off of your heating system and air conditioner may lead to extra repairs. For these and other reasons, locating drafts in your home is essential, particularly just prior to winter. There are several ways to find the location of such drafts and subsequently boost your home’s energy efficiency:
Finding drafts is often a challenging endeavor, especially in old dwellings. The precise location of the draft can be somewhat elusive. Your first course of action should be to simply use your senses to locate the draft. For instance, place your hand close to the areas around your home’s doors and windows. These are usually primary locations for drafts, especially if the doors and windows have poor seals or are very old. Additionally, such areas may feature little or no insulation.
String, candles, and thin swatches of fabric help detect areas through which drafts run. These methods determine the strength of each draft. Always make sure to note the direction of each draft when using this method, as well as whether or not the air is hot or cold.
In certain instances, the drafts’ locations are easily detected through the use of the flashlight. To use this method, you simply shine the flashlight at the door where you suspect a problem exists and see if someone on the other side of the door can see a shaft of light coming through from the flashlight. Also, you can place a very thin paper beneath the door when it is closed. Pull the paper out, and see if it frees itself easily. If this is the case, you have probably detected a major draft source.
Another great way to accurately detect draft locations in your home and ultimately make it more energy efficiency is to hire a professional. Such individuals have the experience and equipment to locate all of the drafts in the house and help you choose the best solution. Professionals are trained to find drafts in a variety of areas that you, as the homeowner, will overlook. For example, professionals usually begin by checking fireplaces, dryer vents, utility line inlets, windows sashes, weather stripping, baseboards, electrical outlets and switch plates.
Even well insulated homes have major drafts of which you are not aware. Therefore, make sure you deal with all problem areas simultaneously, if possible. Working with a professional to achieve a more energy-efficient home is also wise course of action. Not only will your home be more comfortable, you will also be able to save money on your energy bill. This is because even a top notch heater and cooling system cannot keep your home at an appropriate temperature if a major draft exists. It is also wise to schedule regular checkups so that your system runs in the most efficient manner possible. Professionals have the experience and training to notice problems in advance, before major repairs become necessary.
To further reduce your energy costs, try to find affordable, high-quality heating oil. The best way to accomplish this task is to comparison shop. By implementing all the aforementioned tips, you can reduce your energy costs and create a more comfortable environment for you and other residents of your home.
For a heating expert in your area, be sure to contact Ace-Robbins. We offer affordable, reliable, and trusted heater service plans, heating oil delivery services and propane delivery services. We also offer heating system installation and repairs. Contact Ace-Robbins to discuss how to resolve any of your home heating needs. Our professional and certified technicians have the experience and skills necessary. We have been in business since 1961 and since then, we have been providing excellent customer experiences.
We service Clarks Summit PA 18411, Dalton PA 18414, Factoryville PA 18419, Falls PA 18615, La Plume PA 18440, Lake Winola PA 18625, Ransom PA 18653, Taylor PA 18517, Tunkhannock PA 18657, Waverly PA 18471, and surrounding areas.
Contact us today or give us a call at (570) 836-3232 if you have any questions.
No one enjoys paying excessively large energy bills. For this reason, homeowners are always on the search to find ways or new strategies to reduce their energy consumption. Using less energy means reduced energy costs. Naturally, no one wants to compromise their comfort levels while doing so. There are so many ways that we can reduce our energy use and feel comfortable at the same time. Some tasks are quite simple. Others are more involved. However, they all make a significant impact on our energy use. In this article, we will discuss our top seven techniques that will make your energy bill more manageable this winter.
Install additional insulation. Be sure to place it in areas such as the attic and walls. This even goes for modern homes which are designed to be energy efficient. Some of the insulation materials commonly used are
The Insulation Contractors Association of America (ICAA) recommends that insulation materials with high R-values are preferred. Additionally, the R-value should be based on the standards established by the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM). Your space-heating costs are lowered by between 10-50% by the addition of insulation to your home.
Appropriate weather stripping needs to be applied to the doors, windows and other parts of your home. Be sure to address any areas where it is possible for cold air to leak indoors during the winter season. A professional should be contracted to identify areas where air leaks could occur. A comprehensive home energy audit usually is quite precise because they use tools such as infrared cameras and blower doors. The materials that can be used to seal any problem areas once identified are:
This needs to be done prior to the commencement of the winter season. Always apply weather-stripping to surfaces that are dry.
The installation of a programmable thermostat can contribute to reducing home heating costs during the winter. This is possible because this you can set it up based on your schedule. You can schedule your thermostat to reduce the temperature by 7 to 10 degrees when you leave your home. It will go back to a higher indoor temperature right before you return home. As a result, your space heating costs are lowered by as much as 10% in the winter. Your home will also feel much more comfortable.
Any fluorescent lights still being used in your home should be replaced with LED lights. LED lights are more energy efficient. Data released from the US Department of Energy indicate that LED lights are more energy efficient than traditional lights such as incandescent bulbs, by as much as 75%. LED lights are also more durable than both fluorescent and incandescent lights. Therefore, opt for LED lights that are connected to the Internet of things (loT). This means that they are controlled via a tablet or smart phone.
Review the possibility of replacing the doors and windows in your home with energy efficient alternatives. One example is doors and windows that carry the ENERGY STAR label. This label indicates that they are specifically designed to prevent heat loss. Interestingly enough, the EPA published figures showing that by installing energy-efficient doors and windows, the energy consumption in households nationally could be lowered by 12% annually.
You should contract the services of a professional HVAC company to complete a thorough tune-up of your furnace or home heating system. This would include cleaning, inspecting, or replacement of:
A professional HVAC expert determines if there are any abnormalities being emitted from various parts of your home heating system. A heating unit that is not operating efficiently will consume more energy. Consequently, this results in higher power bills during the winter season.
If your water heater is at least ten years old, then you need to replace it with a modern water heater. Newer water heaters are far more energy-efficient. An example of this kind of water heater is one which only heats on-demand. Unfortunately, many older models heat all of the water contained in the tank.
When you follow even just a few of the above steps, you will see a major difference on your energy bills. These methods work and homeowners who follow these tips can enjoy the associated savings. Tuning up your heating system is probably one of the most important aspects of reducing your energy use. Be sure to find an HVAC company that has what it takes to get your heating system at peak efficiency.
Contact Ace-Robbins for all of your home heating needs. It is not too late to schedule your annual heater tune-up. We offer repair services such as furnace repair services as well as boiler repair services on HVAC systems of all makes and models. We also deliver propane and offer heating oil delivery. Be sure to contact us for all of your home heating needs. We have been in business since 1961 and since then, we have been providing quality services at affordable prices.