Technically it’s winter here in San Diego, but don’t be fooled, colder, wetter weather will come and we’ll all be reaching for our thermostats to take the chill off. When we do we might notice our heating just doesn’t cut it or it runs all of the time. We might wonder where all of that heat goes? In our latest infographic we show how and where heat loss occurs and what you can do about it to save money on your heating bills!
Some of these ideas require little more than lifting your finger. Who knew saving money could be so easy? If you care about the little things adding up to big savings, check out these 10 easy ways to fatten your wallet.
When you have a small job to complete at home, look into renting the tools you will need instead of buying them all new. Some tools are smart investments, like hammers, screwdrivers, and levels. But when it comes to power tools or those that are specific to a certain job, it’s less expensive to just rent them, especially if you only plan to use them once.
This cost-free energy saving idea just makes good sense. When closet doors are open, you are paying to cool or heat the square footage inside them. Make a conscious effort to keep them closed in order to save money on your energy bills.
This is one of the simplest and least expensive ways to keep your air conditioning unit in top working order, yet it is often neglected. A good rule of thumb is to go ahead and change your air conditioning filter the same day of the month each month. This will keep your air conditioning unit running at top capacity and prevent expensive repairs down the road.
Call your electric and water companies and find out if either offers special rates for using electricity or water during off-peak times. Do the bulk of your high-energy tasks like laundry, showering, or watering the lawn during a cheaper time of day.
Did you know that power cords are still using energy, even when they aren’t in use? The cord for your laptop, tablet and cell phone still racks up energy costs when it is not actually charging anything but is plugged into the wall.
When possible, wait and buy household items when they are technically off-season. This could mean buying gardening equipment in late summer/early fall to keep for the following spring, or holiday decorations when they go on sale directly after the season.
This may seem like a good way to spend more energy, but it can actually help you conserve it by allowing you to run your air conditioner or furnace less. The ceiling fans helps to circulate and maximize the cool or hot air, keeping your rooms temperature controlled more quickly and easily.
The best way to prevent costly repairs on your air conditioning and heating systems is by maintaining them with regular professional tune-ups. Have one just before the summer season starts and have one before the fall season.
Take the time to research the large and small household purchases you make, from light bulbs to wood flooring, and find the best value. This doesn’t mean to always go with the cheapest option, but it means to take the time to find out which items are of the highest quality for the smallest price.
This is perhaps a little more expensive than some of the other items on this list, but it will end up saving you money in the long run—through efficiency and tax credits from the federal and state government. The money you will save on fuel over time also makes either of these upgrades, installed by a professional, a great investment.
You probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the heating and cooling systems in your home, despite the fact that they account for up to 54 percent of total utility costs. When these systems are working well, you don’t need to pay attention to them, but if you ignore them completely, you could be asking for a ton of trouble down the road and some unexpected expenses, too.
Let’s take a look at some basic no-nos when it comes to furnace installation, maintenance, and repair that every homeowner should keep in mind.
Like most expensive investments, furnaces work best when they are properly maintained. Something as simple as changing a filter on a monthly basis can make a huge impact on the overall efficiency and health of your furnace over time. Basic furnace filters last about a month, while high-efficiency models will last closer to three months, but always check the packaging for instructions. Set a recurring alarm on your phone, tie a string around your finger, or write it on your family calendar for the entire year so that you never forget.
It is normal for furnaces to make noise as part of their normal operations, but if you notice that those sounds are getting louder, it may be time to call a professional for an inspection. Some specific warning sounds to heed include scraping metal, whining or squealing, and a distinct bang or pop when the furnace starts up. These signs point to loose, broken, or worn-out parts that will need to be replaced to help your furnace operate correctly. Ignoring these noises could result in even more damage and costly repairs. As a good rule of thumb, if a noise is noticeable to you, it is probably worth getting checked out.
If you are spending more time fiddling with your thermostat and moving from room to room to stay warm, you should call a furnace professional to inspect your unit. The problem could be as simple as a malfunctioning thermostat, which is definitely not worth being uncomfortable over. You pay a lot to keep your family warm and comfortable, so make sure your furnace is working properly to live up to that monthly investment.
Changing your filters is a good start, but there are other maintenance details of furnaces that deserve attention, too. In lieu of obtaining your own furnace repair license, research and retain a professional contractor or company to make scheduled visits to your home to perform a checkup on your unit. The best part: these companies take the guesswork out of scheduled maintenance for you by calling or emailing you reminders when it is time to have them back. These professionals will also give you a heads up for likely repairs in the future and a timeline so you can prepare financially.
The basic lifespan of a furnace is 16 to 20 years, but you should be pricing them out well in advance. If you wait to look for a replacement when your furnace finally quits, you will be in a hurry and may not end up with the right model for your home’s needs. Shopping early also gives you some time to save up for the upfront funds that go into purchasing an energy efficient model, saving you a lot in utility costs over its lifespan. When given the opportunity to shop around for a home or car, you certainly take advantage of it. Apply the same concept to a new furnace.
The furnaces that tend to last the longest, offer the best efficiency, and need the fewest repairs are usually installed by professionals. These experts know how to position and hook up furnaces so that they will operate optimally while also providing safety and reliability for your family There are really too many hazards associated with DIY furnace installation to list, but they include everything from disconnecting the old one, performing some heavy lifting, and hooking up the vents incorrectly. Save yourself the money and some peace of mind by calling a furnace installation expert to do the job for you.
Homeowners today often take the basic systems of their houses for granted, heating and cooling included. Having a temperature-controlled home is a basic right of homeownership today but should be treated as a privilege. Proper care and maintenance along with guidance from a trusted furnace professional like Bob Jenson Air Conditioning and Heating will keep your furnace running safely and smoothly for the duration of its lifespan.
There is no shortage of do-it-yourself home improvement suggestions online. A study from home remodeling site Houzz found that 53 percent of respondents feel that now is a good time to remodel. Of people who take on home improvement projects, 70 percent practice some form of DIY along with help from friends and family.
From painting to plumbing to furnace maintenance and repair, every home improvement project you want to take on has some information online. However, if you are not experienced in the upgrades you want, you may end up causing more damage to your home. You have to weigh your options carefully before taking on any DIY projects, especially when it comes to vital elements of your home’s operations.
One of the most expensive pieces of equipment in your home is your furnace. When the furnace is working properly, you don’t think much about it, but a failure can be both expensive and dangerous. That’s why furnace replacement and installation should always be done by a professional. Having a furnace properly installed is the first step toward safe, efficient heating for many years to come. Let’s take a look at some of the specific ways a proper furnace installation will benefit you, your home, and your bank account.
As homeowners know, equipment in the home tends to break or give out at the worst possible moment. When a furnace stops working during cold weather, the lack of heat can be dangerous, especially if children or elderly people live in the home. It may not be an expense you are expecting, but a non-working furnace is something that simply cannot wait a few weeks, or even days, to fix. Calling a professional to examine the furnace may mean the difference between replacing the whole unit and simply getting by with new parts. If a new furnace installation is necessary, a professional will handle all the heavy lifting and follow all building and fire codes to ensure that your heating system is safe. A professional can also get rid of your old furnace in a safe and regulated way.
A professional also knows how to test different parts of the heater to ensure their proper function and your overall safety. For example, if the heat exchanger is not working properly or fails, carbon monoxide could pump through the ductwork into the home. Don’t take any chances with your family’s health.
When you are shelling out the initial cost of a furnace, you’ll groan at the financial stress. If you go with an energy-efficient furnace, you could actually be saving yourself a lot of money in the long run. Condensing furnace models recycle the condensation on the outside of the heater and use it for energy, offering an annual fuel utilization efficiency of up to 98 percent.
Replacing a furnace is an obvious way to save when the older model is outdated. Hiring a professional to do it may not be quite as obvious when it comes to savings, but it has a lot of potential for reduced costs. If you make a mistake or are unable to complete the installation, you may end up paying more than you would to have it correctly replaced. A properly installed furnace also offers greater efficiency over the life of the heater, regardless of the model.
Did you know that the average worker spends 45 minutes less time with his family every day than he did 20 years ago? With everything going on in your life, paying a professional to handle any home repair or improvement is often worth the price. It takes much of the pressure off of you to get the work completed and also ensures that it will be done properly. You need to find the right contractors, of course, and take your time researching them for the best savings, but once you find a dependable contractor—for furnace repair, plumbing fixes, landscaping projects, and more—you can relax knowing that your home is in the best hands. You won’t have to act outside your area of expertise, and you get more time with your family—something that really is priceless.
The cost of homeownership can take its toll, but cutting corners when installing something as vital as your furnace is not the right way to save money. Your family’s safety is worth the due diligence of finding the right contractor, which can save you some money over time anyway. A great way to make sure you have someone ready in an emergency is to retain a furnace company for annual maintenance and furnace tune-ups. When something does go wrong, you don’t have to settle for the first contractor you find. You will already have someone you know and trust on hand.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 170 people die in the U.S. every year from non-automotive-related carbon monoxide poisoning. These deaths are attributed to products and equipment in homes and workplaces that are silently emitting the odorless, colorless, invisible poisonous gas. Though awareness of the gas has certainly led to safer conditions and monitoring, the fact remains that carbon monoxide is still deadly. Homeowners should be aware of the potential sources of carbon monoxide and the dangers associated with the items that emit this all-too-common toxin.
Carbon monoxide is an invisible, deadly gas that is created when fuels are not burned completely. These gases include propane, natural gas, oil, kerosene, and coal. Exposure to carbon monoxide in small doses can lead to general sickness, nausea, vomiting, headaches, disorientation, and other flu-like symptoms. Carbon monoxide exposure that persists and is not treated can lead to death.
Anything that uses fuel to run can be a potential source of carbon monoxide. Some specific examples include lawn mowers, furnaces, water heaters, generators, fireplaces, gas stoves, and power washers. People who smoke cigarettes or pipes in the home also release carbon monoxide into the air. A quick inventory of your home should reveal several potential sources of carbon monoxide, including items you may not have ever considered dangerous in the past.
There are many symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning that are often easily attributed to other ailments. These symptoms include:
More pronounced symptoms include:
You may not immediately realize that your strange behavior or discomfort is the result of carbon monoxide poisoning, but you should consult your doctor if you notice any symptoms that seem to have no other explanation (and even some that do).
This gas is virtually untraceable. Carbon monoxide detectors are the best way to know if there are any leaks in your home, but there are other signs, too. These signs include:
As mentioned above, a carbon monoxide detector or alarm is the best way to know if your home is at risk. Make sure these alarms are up to the current safety codes (UL 2034). If they are outdated, throw them away and invest in new detectors, some like the Nest Protect have advanced features. Install a carbon monoxide alarm in or near every sleeping area of the home. People should also install carbon monoxide alarms in their boats and recreational vehicles. Carbon monoxide detectors should be tested every month, and the batteries should be changed every six months, whether the alarm responds to testing or not.
Some other ways to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning:
Thankfully, the resources exist to protect every homeowner from deadly, untraceable carbon monoxide. However, don’t rely on any single method to protect you and your family. For example, several weeks may have passed since a carbon monoxide detector has been tested, and in the meantime, the batteries may have died. If you think there is any chance of a leak in the home, test the detector again and call in the help of a professional if it sounds or you are unsure if it is working.
Comfort means everything when you’re at home. A big part of that quality of life is a temperature-controlled home that provides heat in the cold months and cool air in the summer. A properly functioning furnace is a necessity to the health, happiness, and well-being of your family.
When your furnace starts acting up, you may not have to completely replace it. A professional technician can take a look at your furnace and let you know what simple repairs will get it back in top operating shape. To get an idea of what you might be up against, take a look at these times you may need simple repair work and the times you will likely need to replace the entire furnace unit.
Thermostat malfunction: Sometimes a furnace may appear to be working improperly, but all it really needs is an adjustment to the thermostat itself. No heat, a malfunctioning fan, or temperature discomfort are all signs that your thermostat needs to be tested and potentially repaired. A professional can quickly diagnose the problem and replace the thermostat if necessary.
Pilot or ignition failure: Your furnace will simply not heat your home without a proper flame—a pilot light in gas furnaces and an ignition in electric furnaces. Both of these parts can be replaced by a professional easily, putting your furnace back in working order without impacting the rest of the unit.
Clogged filter: We recommend that you replace typical furnace filters once a month during the peak season. High-efficiency filters cost a little more but only need to be replaced once every three months, some even up to a year! Properly maintaining and changing your furnace filter will keep dirt, dust, and debris from clogging the furnace, allowing it to work properly without any incident. This is perhaps the easiest, most inexpensive way to maintain your furnace, so make yourself a monthly or tri-monthly reminder to change your filters.
Broken fan motors, bearings, or belts: If you are having difficulties with air flow or temperature control, you may need to replace a basic furnace part, like a fan motor, belt, or bearings. This is relatively simple for a professional to repair but too complicated for inexperienced homeowners to accomplish on their own.
Old age: The average furnace should last 16 to 20 years with proper maintenance. If your furnace is giving you problems and is getting up there in years, it is probably in your family’s best interest to replace it. If you are unsure of when the furnace was installed, you can find the manufacture date printed on the unit itself to give you a general idea.
Frequent repairs: If you notice that the times your furnace repair calls are becoming more frequent, your furnace is likely on its last leg. Like a car, most repairs in a furnace occur in the last two to three years of its life. Instead of paying for costly repair after costly repair, go ahead and upgrade your furnace.
Thermostat inconsistency: If you find that your home is simply not as comfortable at your preferred temperature as usual or that you are constantly adjusting your thermostat, it may be time to think about a full furnace replacement. Constant meddling with temperature controls and differences in temperature from one room to the next are signs that your furnace is no longer able to heat your home adequately or efficiently.
Lack of moisture in the air: As furnaces age, their ability to moisturize and clean the air wavers. Signs of this may be subtle, like more static electricity, musical instruments out of tune, or house plants with limp leaves. More obvious signs may be increased allergy symptoms in the home or more instances of sore/dry throats.
Yellow burner flame: The pilot light of a gas furnace should always be blue. If you notice that yours has a yellow hue instead, it means that carbon monoxide may be creeping into your home. There are other signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, too, including excess moisture on walls and windows, soot around the furnace, and rust on the vent pipe or pipe connections.
Decline in family health: When the heat exchanger in a furnace goes bad, carbon monoxide risks seeping into the home through the ductwork. If family members are feeling tired, nauseous, or disoriented, you should have your furnace checked immediately by a professional as these are symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Installing carbon monoxide detectors is another important way to keep your family safe from this silent, odorless gas.
There are many variables and working parts that go into a safe, efficient, and properly running furnace. It is important to pay attention to your furnace and the signs that it may be in need of repair. A simple repair can turn into an expensive one without professional assistance. The safety and comfort of your family is too important to ignore, so take care of your heating system and have a trusted furnace professional like Bob Jenson ready to answer your maintenance or emergency calls.
With winter in full swing and temperatures reaching record lows on a seemingly daily basis, people are struggling to stay warm. While heaters are the main line of defense for most, high energy bills, carbon dioxide emissions, and a negative impact on the environment aren’t anyone’s cup of tea. That doesn’t mean you need to freeze your tail off. With a little creativity and some professional help, you can stay warm without breaking the bank.
One of the best and cheapest ways to keep your home warm and energy efficient is to rethink your attic insulation. Insulating your attic helps you fight against heat’s natural movement toward coolness.
Heat Transfer
See, heat, which has a lot of energy, naturally likes to disperse to cooler areas where there is room for its chaotic particles to calm down—it wants to be in a state of thermodynamic equilibrium, or balance. Think of it this way: those heat particles are at a crowded punk rock concert getting beat up in the mosh pit and, naturally, they want to get outside for some space and fresh air. This migration of energy is called heat transfer and is described in the second law of thermodynamics. If your attic is properly insulated, you can prevent the heat you’re paying for to warm your home from escaping.
How Does Insulation Work?
Insulation works in the same general way as a down jacket or sleeping bag. It creates small pockets of air that combine to form a larger barrier that keeps the warm air in and the cold air out. The fluffier the insulation is, the more pockets to trap the air, which is why insulation that has been trampled is significantly less effective. This is also why you need to replace your insulation every so often as it tends to settle and flatten over time.
The key to good attic insulation is coverage. Holes or gaps in your insulation significantly reduce its effectiveness. It’s a good idea to contact a professional company, like Bob Jenson, to handle your attic insulation.
Much of the heat in your home is also lost through the cracks in your door and around your windows, for the same reasons described above. In fact, according to Energy Star, adding up all the cracks, gaps, and holes in the average home, you’d be left with a heat loss equivalent to leaving a window fully open every day of the year.
Fortunately, weather stripping your home is an easy DIY project. Weather stripping itself is available in various materials, including felt, foam, plastic, and aluminum, all designed to seal in leaks without hindering how you open and close your doors and windows.
On those cold, blustery days, nothing feels better than a warm drink. But does it matter what’s in your mug?
Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol
Coffee, tea, and other beverages containing caffeine dilate your blood vessels, increasing blood flow to your skin. This produces an initial feeling of warmth, but in reality, your body is losing heat as warm blood is being taken away from your core. What about hot toddy? Alcoholic drinks have the same effect, which can actually make you feel colder when all is said and done.
Instead, try a nice cup of hot apple cider, cocoa, or herbal tea.
To save on your energy bill, try to resist the urge to instantly turn on the heat whenever you feel a chill. We’ve become accustomed to this convenience, but it’s an expensive one that isn’t great for the environment either. Instead, bundle up, but do it the right way.
Don’t wear clothing too tight.
Your clothes will keep you warmer if they aren’t skin tight. Having some movement and empty spaces between you and your clothing allows your body heat and clothing to work together to keep you warm. If you’ve ever layered 3 pairs of tight yoga pants, for example, and found that it didn’t keep you warm, this is why.
Choose the right fabrics.
We’re just talking about staying warm and cozy while indoors—fabric needs change if you’re planning to spend a lot of time outdoors. For example, stay away from cotton if you’re heading out into the cold—rather than wicking away moisture like wool and synthetic athletic fabrics, it absorbs it and keeps cold moisture close to your body—a dangerous thing.
While hanging out at home, wear clothing made with insulating fabrics like wool and fleece—that includes your feet!
Layer logically.
If it’s especially cold in your home or you’re planning to head outside, make sure you follow the basic principles of layering.
Base layer: Your base layer should be thin, insulating, and moisture-wicking. As stated, ditch the cotton—you’ll be sweating under these layers at least a little (you’re always sweating, believe it or not!), and you want your base layer to be able to keep that sweat and moisture away from your skin.
Insulating layer: This middle layer should be warm and made of something like fleece or feather down. Think of it like the attic insulation—it should be roomy, a bit “fluffier” and have lots of insulating power.
Outer layer: The outer layer, or shell, is your coat and should be able to block wind and water while keeping the heat in.
It doesn’t take a scientist to tell you that feeling lonely is the pits, but a series of studies by researchers at the University of Toronto suggest that loneliness actually has a physical effect on your perception of temperature, making you feel even colder than it actually is.
In one of the studies, subjects made to feel excluded in a ball-tossing game had a greater desire for warm food after. In another study, subjects recalled a situation of social exclusion and inclusion and an estimate of the room temperature at the time. The moments of social exclusion brought up lower room temperature estimates.
So if you’re feeling extra cold at home, call some friends over. The extra company will warm you and your heart.
Cold temperatures don’t mean you or your wallet need to suffer. Good luck staying warm!
We are always curious about where stuff comes from, who invented it, and how it came to be. We go back in time and share the history of controlled heating thru the years down to our day and beyond. Enjoy this latest infographic and let us know what you think! Click on the graphic for a larger view.
If you have a home with old duct work, you are likely throwing money out the window. The California Energy Commission reports that the average duct system leaks 30 percent of the air that flows through it. Take a look at five older duct types that are common in Southern California and see if you can recognize your type in this list:
– These are round ducts made entirely from formed fiberglass. As the fiberglass is exposed to the airstream, it finds its way into the home when it deteriorates. The R-value (or the capacity of the insulating material to resist heat—the higher the R-value, the better) is medium to low and these ducts tend to have a lot of leakage at all connection points.
– These are round flexible ducts with fiberglass insulation wrapped around a spiral metal wire core. The fiberglass is often fully or partially exposed to the air stream, which can cause problems as it deteriorates. Debris gathers on the inside walls easily. R-value is medium to high, and leakage occurs due to tearing and older duct tapes that break down in attic heat.
– These are usually smaller round metal ducts that lack galvanizing and tend to rust inside. R-value is very low due to poor, thin insulation wrapped around the outside, which gets torn or falls off the ducts. This type of duct work has high leakage due to rarely sealed connection points that are often just screws or welds.
– With these types of larger round metal ducts, there is actually efficient airflow from lack of friction. However, poorly hand-wrapped insulation on the outside lowers R-value to give it medium to high air leakage depending on the type of sealing at connection points. With this system, fiberglass is not exposed to the air stream.
– These are insulated flexible round ducts found in many tract homes. They are made of a metal spiraled core with a plastic inner liner wrapped in R-4.2 fiberglass insulation and covered in a grey plastic outer jacket. The outside jacket of these early flexible ducts easily deteriorates from the UV light and allows the insulation to fall apart, finally exposing the inner plastic liner to the heat and UV elements. Ultimately, this type of system breaks apart and the result is major air leakage, along with dust and debris infiltration.
So what can homeowners do to improve air flow efficiency once they’ve identified old and outdated materials? Take a look at just a few suggestions:
– These are the newest generation of flexible ducting that features upgraded materials to protect against UV and temperature damage. They have a higher R-value and, if installed properly, can produce as little as 6% leakage.
Seal ducts. If you can avoid it, do not use duct tape or any other temporary sealing fixes. You want your duct repairs and efficiency improvements to last as long as your ducts do. If there are leaks in your ductwork that are smaller than a quarter inch, you can apply a bead of mastic. If the leaks are wider than that, apply mastic that is at least 3 inches wide and runs the entire leak length. After that, apply a coat of fiberglass mesh, at least 2 inches in width, and then put another layer of mastic on top of that. The process is not especially difficult, but if you have never watched someone do it before, it can be tedious. You might fare better to ask a professional like Bob Jenson to help you with your sealing project.
Add duct wrap. Flexible ducts and duct board generally have strong R-values, but if you have sheet-metal ducts you may want to add some extra insulation with the help of duct wrap. This does not actually fix leaks but it will keep the air from completely escaping the duct system.
Imagine the savings over time on your utility bill if you were able to prevent the cost of duct leaks. If your home features duct work that could use a checkup and update, or if you’re interested in ditching the ducts altogether in favor of a ductless system, contact a professional HVAC technician like Bob Jenson Air Conditioning and Heating.
Your central heating or furnace can comfortably heat your home and we take it for granted until it stops working. Our heating system can be a mystery as to how it works, so today we’ll pull back the curtain and reveal in this latest infographic how a simple furnace works to heat your home:
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