Efficiency Ratings The materials from which a building is constructed, as well as the systems and appliances installed there, can dramatically affect the amount of energy that a building will consume over its lifetime. To help customers compare the potential impact of one to another, efficiency ratings have been devised for many building components and…Read More
10 Tips for Hiring a Heating and Cooling Contractor Study up — Find out about license and insurance requirements for contractors in your state. And before you call a contractor, know the model of your current system and its maintenance history. Also, make note of any uncomfortable rooms. This will help potential contractors better understand your…Read More
Good Duct Design Increases Efficiency This Air Distribution System Design: Good Duct Design Increases Efficiency (PDF) fact sheet explains how good duct design increases the efficiency of air distribution systems for central heating and cooling. The air distribution system may reach an efficiency of 80 percent or more for little or no additional cost, resulting in homeowner…Read More
Duct Sealing In houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems, ducts are used to distribute conditioned air throughout the house. In a typical house, however, about 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts. The result is higher utility bills and difficulty…Read More
Why Good Furnaces Go Bad The Care and Keeping of Your Furnace If you, like about 20% of people who have 15+ year old furnaces, haven’t kept up with annual maintenance, your furnace probably has a precarious heat exchanger or other dangerous element. These issues usually aren’t obvious, especially visually, because they’re occurring inside the…Read More
Certain telltale signs indicate it’s time to consider replacing heating and cooling equipment, or improving the performance of your overall system. It may be time to call a professional contractor to help you make a change if: Your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old. Consider replacing with ENERGY STAR qualified…Read More
The Truths and Falsehoods, Dos and Don’ts: CO alarms can detect unacceptable levels of CO in the air TRUE CO alarms can indicate potential health concern before a person might experience symptoms TRUE CO alarms can detect smoke, propane leaks, or natural gas FALSE CO alarms can constantly monitor the carbon monoxide levels in the…Read More
Selecting a New Water Heater You have a lot to consider when selecting a new water heater for your home. You should choose a water heating system that will not only provide enough hot water but also that will do so energy efficiently, saving you money. This includes considering the different types of water heaters…Read More
Ventilation Strategies There are three basic ventilation strategies—natural ventilation, spot ventilation, and whole-house ventilation. Natural Ventilation Natural ventilation is the uncontrolled air movement in and out of the cracks and small holes in a home. In the past, this air leakage usually diluted air pollutants enough to maintain adequate indoor air quality. Today, we are…Read More
Is Your Home Making You Sick? To understand why many of today’s health problems can be caused by the home you live in, you need to look back a few years to see what caused this to happen. You see, during the energy crisis of the early 1970s, highly insulated “tight” homes became popular because of…Read More