Chicago Air Conditioning Service & Repair News

Do you realize just how very important it is to keep your home heating and air conditioning unit running smoothly and efficiently. No doubt you realize that by doing this you will cut your utility bills. True - but did you also realize that by keeping them running efficiently you can extend their operational life greatly — thus saving you the tremendously high cost of total replacement of these units?

HVAC Tips For Homeowners

As the oil price now at $115 per barrel, most of us are paying expensive fuel and energy compare to 1 year ago. Here are some tips to reduce your energy bill.
Heating Tips
* Time your heating to go off 30 minutes before you leave the house, and come on again 30 minutes before you are due to return.
* Turn the room thermostat down by 1?C. This can save around £30 a year.
* Make sure curtains or furniture are not in front of a radiator.
* Draw the curtains at dusk to keep heat in rooms.
Brian’s Experience: Energy Saving Tips

As the oil price now at $115 per barrel, most of us are paying expensive fuel and energy compare to 1 year ago. Here are some tips to reduce your energy bill.
Heating Tips
* Time your heating to go off 30 minutes before you leave the house, and come on again 30 minutes before you are due to return.
* Turn the room thermostat down by 1?C. This can save around £30 a year.
* Make sure curtains or furniture are not in front of a radiator.
* Draw the curtains at dusk to keep heat in rooms.
Using Electrical Appliances
* Switch off appliances such as microwaves, TVs, videos, stereos, and computers, as they use energy when they are left on standby. A staggering 85% of the energy used by the DVD player is consumed when it is not actually in use.
* Unplug equipment e.g. mobile phones, shavers and electric toothbrushes—once they are fully charged, otherwise they will keep drawing electricity.
Brian’s Experience: Energy Saving Tips

Those are some of the intriguing and yes, disturbing findings of a new survey by the National Fire Protection Agency—findings that serve as a good reminder at the start of winter to take care in heating our homes, especially if we use space heaters. According to the NFPA, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 62,200 reported home structure fires in 2005, resulting in 670 civilian deaths, 1,550 injuries and $909 million in direct property damage. Chimneys and chimney connectors accounted for the largest share of home heating fires, 36 percent in 2005, but resulted in no deaths. The chief reason for these fires was failure to clean chimneys and connectors. But space heaters continue to be the most dangerous, at least in terms of injuries and fatalities. And the major reason for space heater blazes: The heater was too close to something that could catch fire. Fire safety officials take heart in some of the report’s good news. There has been a steady decline in home heating fires since 1982 when there more than 235,000 fires resulting in 1,190 deaths and 3,480 injuries. NFPA attributes the decline to a variety of factors, including safer equipment, better building codes, wider use of smoke alarms, somewhat warmer winters and public education.
Winter warm-up: Home heating tips: Consumer Reports on Safety

Take advantage of the heat from the sun. Open shades on the southern and eastern windows during the day. Close these shades when the sun goes down to keep the heat from escaping. Don’t let heat go up the chimney. Make sure the fireplace flue is closed when you are not using it. Distribute the heat evenly. Ceiling fans set at slow speed push warm air away from the ceiling and move it around the room without creating a chilling breeze. This spreads the heat more evenly and will make you feel more comfortable. Turn off the pilot light. If your heating system has a pilot light turn it off during the summer. A pilot light typically costs $3-$5 per month to keep lit so why not turn it off when you aren’t using it. Tune up your heating system. Have your heating system tuned and inspected by a service professional. Losses from a poorly maintained system accumulate over time - sometimes at a rate of 1-2% each year.
CT Home Team Blog » Blog Archive » Heating Tips for Your Home

Homeowners can expect greater heating costs this winter, as the combination of a colder weather forecast intersects with higher energy prices. According to the most recent outlook from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration, those who heat their homes with heating oil could see heating costs rise 25.6% this winter, compared with last winter. Those who use propane could see their costs rise 20.2%, and those who use natural gas could see a 10.7% rise. Those estimates could change with the weather, said Jonathan Cogan, energy information specialist at the Energy Information Administration. A warmer than expected winter could drive costs down, while a colder one could boost them up even more. But people who aren’t willing to gamble with Mother Nature might want to consider home improvements that will help keep costs down this year as the weather gets chilly.
Home Heating Tips That Won’t Break the Bank « Rhode Island’s Real Estate Blog

Whilst finding frugal heating tips around my house to help me save on those horrible utility bills, I came across other energy saving ideas which over time would also help to reduce my expenditure. I was amazed at just how many little ways there were to make the home more economical. Here are my frugal heating tips and other energy saving suggestions to help reduce that awful feeling of dread every time you have to open your latest utility bill. New Equipment - When buying new household items such as washing machines, refrigerators and cookers always make sure that you buy energy efficient one. Usually they are graded A - E depending on how much energy they use, with A being the most efficient. They may cost a little more to buy initially than the less efficient ones but considering how long you will be using the equipment just imagine how much your savings could be over time.
Frugal Heating Tips To Save Money

Replace your furnace’s air filter before each heating season. A dirty filter will reduce airflow, making your system work harder to deliver air to the registers.
· Cover the filter slot with a piece of wide tape to keep air from getting in around with edges without passing through the filter.
· If your furnace is more than 15 years old, consider ENERGY STAR® qualified equipment to help save on energy bills. New equipment has advanced technology to deliver higher efficiency.
· If you can see the duct seams where the metal comes together, seal these joints with shiny foil tape with a UL-181 label (this label is very important) or duct mastic.
· Check the connection between your ducts and the drywall. Cover any gaps with foil tape or duct mastic to prevent heated air from escaping into the walls.
tips, trick and inspiration: Heating Tips

Here are some tips that will help you save energy and money by using natural gas water heaters and hot water wisely and efficiently. Today’s natural gas water heaters are more efficient than ever, but here are a few steps that you can take to maximize that efficiency:
* Keep the area around your water heater clean and well-ventilated.
* Water heaters are now being shipped with a recommendation of temperature settings at 120°F. This slows lime buildup and reduces the risk of hot water burns.
* Repair leaky hot water faucets and pipes.
* Install water flow restrictors in your shower heads and other faucets.
Ameri-Serv Heating and Cooling: Money Saving Water Heating Tips

Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home. It typically accounts for about 16% of your utility bill. There are four ways to cut your water heating bills: use less hot water, turn down the thermostat on your water heater, insulate your water heater, or buy a new, more efficient water heater. A family of four, each showering for 5 minutes a day, uses 700 gallons of water a week; this is enough for a 3-year supply of drinking water for one person. You can cut that amount in half simply by using low-flow aerating shower heads and faucets.
Tips to Cut Your Water Heating Costs » Money Smart Life