10 quick and easy ways to make your home more energy efficient Is your home costing you more than it should? You might be throwing your money away if you haven’t made your home energy efficient. Wasted energy from basic inefficiencies can cost you a lot in utility bills. The good news is little changes can be simple and inexpen-sive. Big changes may seem daunting and costly, but over time they can pay for themselves. Below are some tips that can save you money now, and some that will pay off later, both in utility costs and by increasing the value of your home. 1. Change your light bulbs! The next time you need light bulbs, buy Halogen Energy-saving Incandescent Bulbs. They may cost a little more than traditional bulbs, but they last up to 3 times longer! Or, try CFL bulbs. CFL bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than traditional bulbs. If you’re new to buying energy-saving incandescent bulbs, you need to know that they aren’t labeled by watts, they are now labeled with the amount of light they put out, known as Lumens. A traditional bulb might be a “60 Watt” bulb, but an equally bright energy efficient bulb would be an “800 Lumens” bulb. 2. Seal Drafts If there are drafts around your doors or windows, your money is floating out, right through those cracks. Inexpensive sealants include weather stripping and caulking. Even if you have sealed drafts around the frames of your windows, you might still notice a chill at the window pane. Drapes and blinds can reduce that chill, helping you cut back on turning up the heat. If you have a fireplace, make sure the damper is shut when you’re not using it. Just as smoke floats up the chimney when there’s a fire, cold air comes down when it’s not being used. So make sure it is closed up after the fire is out,. You can also get an inflatable chimney balloon. This is an easy to use device that blocks air flow. It self-deflates upon contact with hot air, so don’t worry if you forget to take it out before you start your fire. 3. Turn off...
Read MoreA new air conditioning system is a big investment so you have to consider several important factors before making your final decision. To help you make a smart choice, we’ve got seven tips on buying a new air conditioner for your home. Buying a new air conditioner for your home 1. Choose an EXPERT that you can trust Of course, no one wants to be taken advantage of so finding someone you can trust is important. Spend time and do some research before choosing a contractor. Watch out if someone you talk to says that the size of your unit should be based solely on your home’s floor area. That’s a red flag. Experts should calculate how much cooling a home needs according to proper industry (or manufacturer) guidelines. An expert should go around your house, take measurements in each room and ask you questions. An air conditioning expert will measure the floors, ceilings, and walls—including all the windows—and check insulation in the attic, walls, and crawlspaces. Also, take note of other factors that go into the cooling load formula: indoor and outdoor temperatures, number of occupants, shading, and roof color. Also consider where the contractor wants to place the unit. Ideally the unit should be on the north or east side of your home, away from direct sunlight. 2. Ask your contractor for a copy of the cooling load calculations Why do you need this info? Because you can use this to compare bids from other contractors. Question the contractor if the calculations don’t include all the items I mentioned above. Remember, it’s important to compare apples to apples. Don’t hesitate to ask about anything that you don’t understand. You’ll be using your new air conditioning system for years to come so you want to be cautious and choose wisely. 3. Consider heat-load calculation Heat-load calculation is important in determining the right size of your air conditioning system. Ask the contractor to size the air conditioner based on the latent cooling load (which considers the humidity of the air) as well as the sensible cooling load (which considers the temperature of the air) for your home. Stay away from contractors who suggest increasing tons because of warmer areas...
Read MoreMore than half of our home’s energy consumption goes toward heating or cooling our home. Here in Cleveland, it’s unlikely that you’re using solar or wind power to heat and cool your home. This means you are spending some serious bucks to stay comfortable throughout the summer. Since we are all about saving money, here are four tips you can use to run a more efficient air conditioner this summer. 1. Change your air filter. Check the filter every month. If it appears dirty, change it. A clogged air filter actually makes your unit work harder to pull air through the system. And this requires more energy and lowers your central air conditioner’s efficiency. 2. Call a heating and cooling technician to check and tune your air conditioner. The best time to do this mid-April to early May before you’ll start using your air conditioner regularly. This’ll ensure that all the parts of the unit are in good condition. A properly working air conditioner runs more efficiently than one that needs repairs. An expert can diagnose any inefficiencies that can lead to costly heating and cooling bills. 3. Check your ducts. If cold air escapes through leaks in your duct work, you’re A/C will have to run longer to cool your home. Make sure your ducts are leak-free with this simple test: hold a candle near exposed duct joints while the unit is running. If the flame flickers, then there is a leak. Fix this by calling a professional, or you can re-seal the joints yourself using the appropriate duct tape (not duct tape!) 4. Keep your house and your unit clean. Between kids, pets and daily living, we track a lot of dirt into our homes. As dirt, dust and pollen build-up in our homes and in the duct work, your air conditioner starts to lose efficiency. Make sure you dust regularly and clean around your unit. It’s also a good ideas to have your duct work cleaned periodically. For more information in air conditioning efficiency, give us a call at...
Read MoreWhether we are in the height of summer or the dead of winter, our homes use a lot of energy to keep us comfortable. Sure, our heating and cooling systems are a big part of that expense, but there are other parts of our home that can affect its efficiency. If you’ve replaced your furnace or air conditioner recently, you may have received an energy audit that showed areas of your home that could use improvement. If not, we’ve got a few tips that you can use to ‘go green,’ save energy and feel better about protecting the environment. Reduce the temperate on your water heater Most people have their hot water heater set at a higher temperature than what’s needed. This means you are constantly heating the water in the tank and wasting energy when you’re not using it. Make sure the temperature is set no higher than 120 degrees. When you are on vacation, you can turn down the heat so you’re not wasting energy. We’ve even heard of homeowners who turn the temperature down at night, and then increase it again in the morning just before they shower. That seems like a lot of work, but if it saves money, it might be worth it! Install a programmable thermostat Most of us go to work for eight to 10 hours a day so there’s no point in keeping your air conditioner or furnace blasting while you aren’t home. So instead of wasting energy and money, install a programmable thermostat that will automatically adjust the temperature at certain times of the day. Set the thermostat to pump out some cold air 20 minutes before you arrive home. Your wallet will be happy. Replace furnace and air conditioner filters Air filters get dirty with dust, pollutants and pet hair. When they get clogged, the system won’t run as efficiently as it could – plus it’s sending all that dust back through your home. When your system isn’t running efficiently, you pay the price with increased heating or cooling costs. Every system is different, so check the manufacturer’s specifications for how often you should change your filter. Schedule regular maintenance Your heating and cooling system is just like a...
Read MoreWouldn’t it be great if our air conditioners could pump out cold air forever? Unfortunately, technology has a long way to go before that becomes a reality. In the meantime, homeowners should actively maintain their air conditioning units so they can last as long as possible. Yearly tune-ups will go a long way toward increasing the longevity of your unit. Since air conditioners don’t last forever, there are some key signs you should watch for that indicate it’s time to replace the unit. 1. The age of the unit: A typical air conditioner will last about 10 years depending on how much you use it and how well you maintain it. If your unit is approaching 10 years old, it might be time to start planning for its replacement. 2. Higher energy bills: If you’ve noticed your energy bills slowly creeping up, you could be nearing the end of the unit’s life. As the unit reaches the end of its life, it becomes more inefficient. Look for signs like increased time to cool down your home or if it doesn’t feel like it’s providing the same amount of comfort that it used to. 3. Additional noise from the unit: If you started to notice additional noise when the air conditioner kicks on, or generally noisy air flow, that could be another indication it’s time for a replacement. 4. Frequent repairs: If you start needing frequent (and sometimes expensive) repairs on your unit, you’ll need to start weighing your options. Just like a car, you’ll need to decide if it’s worth putting money into the current system, or if it’s time to get a new, more efficient unit. New air conditioning systems can be expensive, but the units manufactured today are very efficient and can save you money on heating and cooling costs. If you’re central air conditioning systems is getting older, give us a call at 216.663.6462 so we can start to discuss your...
Read MoreA new furnace and air conditioning unit is one of the most expensive appliances you’ll purchase. Combined, they account for nearly 80% of the energy consumption in your home. But much like the car you drive to work every day, they need regular maintenance. A new air conditioner should last up to 15 years, and could potentially last even longer if you take care of it regularly. Here are some tips you can do to extend the life of your A/C unit. Clean the Unit. Periodically clean off the outside air compressor with water. A garden hose or damp towel will work. Remove Clutter. The compressor needs a free flow of air, so be sure not to keep clutter around it. It might be tempting to keep yard debris or tools tucked out of the way near the unit, but don’t do it! Change the Filter. A dirty filter is one of the main reasons we get repair phone calls. It’s also one of the easiest tasks for a homeowner to do themselves! Change your filter every four to six weeks (or as often as the manufacturer recommends.) While you can implement these easy maintenance tips yourself, there are a few things that should be left to a professional Rheem Team contractor. During annual maintenance, we’ll check hose connections for leaks or cracks and make sure the condensate tube is able to drain properly. We can also check your ductwork and periodically clean it (every few years) to help improve the air quality within your home and help eliminate dust. If you have any questions about ways to keep your air conditioning unit running efficiently, give us a call at...
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