Tag Archives: Money-Saving

Does Your Home Have A Heat Loss Problem?

Does Your Home Have A Heat Loss ProblemDuring cold winter months, you are perfectly aware that heating costs make up the bulk of your electricity or gas bill.

Consequently you want your HVAC system to work as efficiently and as effortlessly as possible, so you can enjoy the warmth it produces without worrying yourself to death about how rapidly the dial on your energy meter is spinning.

Unfortunately, wintertime heat loss is a common source of waste in most homes. Even well-constructed buildings are far from airtight and it is amazing how much heat can escape into the open air if sources of leakage go unnoticed.

As winter has progressed have you noticed your energy costs rising? Do your bills seem out-of-proportion in comparison to friends and neighbors? Do you notice your furnace kicking on and off more frequently than in the past? Are there certain rooms in your home that seem noticeably colder than others?

All of these indicate you have a heat loss problem and that it is significant enough to be having a measurable impact.

Learn the sources of heat loss problems.

Identifying The Sources Of Heat Loss Trouble

HeatAir leaks in homes can happen just about anywhere. The best way to detect them is to contact your local energy company and ask them to send a consultant to your home to perform a heat loss audit (this service may be offered for free). If they can’t or won’t send someone you can always hire a private home energy auditor, who will most likely do it for a relatively small fee.

In the meantime, you can look around on your own to see what you can spot. Here are a few things to check for:

Doors And Windows

Cracks and spaces here are fairly easy to find. Just stand on the other side, feel around the perimeter of your doors and windows and see if streams of warm air are escaping (or cool air is coming in). It can usually be fairly easy to fix door and window gaps with caulk or weather stripping that you can buy and apply yourself.

Other locations where gaps may be causing air leakage include electrical outlets, plumbing cuts beneath sinks and dryer vents on outside walls. All can be plugged with caulk or foam sealers (just make sure to remove the foam sealer before using your dryer).

Filters And Vents

HVAC units won’t move air properly if filters are clogged or vents plugged or blocked. It’s fairly easy to check for this and to take action to combat it, either by cleaning where you can or buying a replacement air filter when it’s dirty.

Attic Heat Loss

This can be traced to inadequate insulation, unsealed wall partitions that channel heat from below or even poor attic ventilation.

Insulation

For the most part you won’t be able to tell if the insulation in your walls, floors and ceilings is adequate or has somehow been compromised. Bad insulation is a big source of leakage, however, and it is one problem a home heat loss audit can help you uncover.

Heat Loss Is Your Loss

Heat loss will make you colder, cost you money and put undue stress on your furnace to the point where its life span may be reduced.

If You’ve Noticed Heat Loss, Call The Heating Experts

Have you noticed heat loss in your home or problems with your heater? Contact the heating and cooling experts at Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating. Our licensed and professional technicians will thoroughly inspect your heater and home and provide a viable solution to your problem.

Trust the industry experts and call us today! And don’t forget to “Follow Us” for future Post and Information

What Is An Energy Management System?

Energy Management SystemThe term “energy management system” refers to the process of monitoring energy usage and improving energy savings in businesses and homes. To put it simply, business and home owners can observe how much energy is being used on site and then implement strategies to decrease this usage.

There are many benefits to saving energy, including lowering monthly electrical costs and reducing dependency on fossil fuels.

Learn what’s involved in implementing an energy management system.

Factors Involved In An Energy Management System

Monitoring Energy

Energy usage can come from such things as appliances, lights and equipment.

The first step in managing energy is to be aware of how much is being used. You can check your meters weekly or monthly to obtain data regarding your energy usage. This process is rather laborious, however, so a better option is to use interval-metering systems.

These systems automatically record energy usage at specific intervals, such as every 15 or 30 minutes. This data lets you know how much energy is being used at certain times of the day and certain days of the week, which makes it much easier to determine how you can best find ways to save energy.

Controlling Energy

Once you’ve gotten a handle on how much energy is being used and when, you can begin to make changes. You may need to replace old appliances or install time-controlled light switches.

An easy way to lessen energy in an office building is to get employees in the habit of turning off electronics after the workday is completed. You can also install better lighting systems, and replace outdated insulation.

An important way to control energy from heating and cooling systems is to make sure that an empty building isn’t being heated or cooled after workers have gone home, or over the weekend if the offices are closed.

Optimizing Energy

Naturally, when energy is controlled, it is also optimized. However, energy management systems are a process that is ever evolving. It’s important not just to implement measures to lessen energy usage, but also to revisit your usage on a regular basis in order to ensure that nothing has changed.

For instance, sometimes during power failures, heating, cooling and lighting that is on any kind of automated track can reset back to the default. In these instances, you would need to manually reset the system to the desired schedule.

Commercial And Residential Heating And Cooling Solutions

At Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating, we offer solutions for both commercial and residential clients, including greater efficiency heating and cooling systems, programmable thermostats and more. Call us now to learn more about the options we have to save you money while keeping you comfortable!

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How Can I Reduce My Energy Costs In The Winter?

How Can I Reduce My Energy Costs In The WinterWhen winter sets in and temperatures start to drop, you can expect your heating bill will go up

However, there are various ways you can reduce the cost of electricity without necessarily having to sacrifice on comfort.

Make sure to follow these tips to help you and your family reduce energy costs in the winter.

Ways To Reduce Energy Costs In The Winter

Here are some effective ways you can control your winter energy costs.

Unplug Electronics When Not In Use

For instance, turning off electronics when they are not in use will ensure less electricity goes to waste. You should need to note that even when these items are turned off, they still drain electricity. Idle gadgets will still slowly suck electricity, increasing energy bills. A good way to go about this would be to unplug gadgets such as computers and TV sets from their outlets to ensure no electricity goes to waste.

If you don’t want to sacrifice the convenience of having your gadgets ready to go when you need them, then you can always invest in power switches which will give better control over your electronics.

Seal House Leaks

Sealing gaps around window’s, door’s and duct’s to prevent heat loss is a common winter fix that helps lower energy bills.

Lower Usage During Peak Hours It is very common for most electric companies to raise prices by up to 60% during peak hours, which is usually between 3 and 7pm and/or 6am and 10am. Limiting usage of electronics during these hours can help you control electric bills. For example, doing your laundry or operating the oven during off-peak hours helps you save. Note, that different electric companies have varying definitions of peak hours and it would be best to find this out from the company itself.

Invest In Energy-Saving Devices

Energy-saving gadgets such as Energy Star appliances will not only help you keep electric bills low, but can also qualify you for rebates, saving you even more money.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways you can lower the cost of electricity during winter. All you need to do is look around your home or business and determine what changes need to be done.

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3 Energy Efficiency Tips For Your HVAC System

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3 Energy Efficiency Tips For Your HVAC System-Bruce’s ACNo one likes paying a hefty energy bill. However, you do require heating in the winter and cooling in the summer for you and your family to be comfortable.

According to the Energy Star Corporation, more than 45% of your energy bill is due to your heating and cooling system.

There are ways however to save money on your energy bill when it comes to your HVAC system.

3 Energy Efficiency Tips For Your HVAC

Here are 3 energy efficiency tips you can implement:

1. Seal Leaks In The Home

You might not know it but every home has leaks where cool and warm air escapes and enters the house. It’s important to check your home for these leaks and seal up any that you may find. Inspect doors and windows and use caulk or weather stripping. Once the leaks are better sealed, your HVAC won’t have to work as hard to maintain an average internal temperature within your home and you’ll save money.

2. Install A Digital, Programmable Thermostat

Instead of utilizing a regular digital thermostat, install a programmable thermostat. With this type of thermostat, you can program it to your desired temperature to keep you and your family comfortable while home and program it to auto-adjust when at work, school, running errands or on vacation. Your HVAC won’t have to unnecessarily run as much when no one is there, thus saving on energy and money.

3. Use A Ceiling Or Portable Fan

Ceiling fans move air in a funnel which results in a ‘wind chill’ effect. Even though using a ceiling or portable fan won’t actually lower the room temperature, it can allow you to feel cooler, since it helps evaporate sweat. This allows you to possibly turn up the air conditioning by a degree or two.

These are just a few efficient energy tips. Follow and like us to receive more useful heating and cooling tips!

Check Out Another Informative Post: 5 Common Air Conditioning Myths

Air Conditioning & Heating Experts!

If you have any questions on any of your heating or cooling equipment, give the experts at Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating a call. We offer 100% satisfaction guaranteed and 24/7 emergency service!

We Are Here For You And Your Family – Call Now!

5 Common Air Conditioning Myths

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5 Common Air Conditioning Myths-www.BrucesAC.comAlthough modern air conditioners are designed for efficiency, there are certain false beliefs many people still adhere to when it comes to their energy bill and air conditioning.

Learn 5 common air conditioning myths from Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating, that will help you debunk hearsay and may actually help increase your energy savings.

5 Air Conditioning Myths

Myth #1: Setting The Thermostat At The Lowest Level Makes Cooling Faster

At first thought, this makes sense. After all, an air conditioning unit set at the lowest temperature only means that the air in the room will cool more quickly, right? However, air conditioners are designed to cool air at the same rate regardless of the setting on the thermostat.

There is an exception, though. Individual room or window air conditioners that come with high, medium and low settings work differently. If you choose the “high” setting, the air conditioner will cool the room more quickly than either the “low” or “medium” settings. Simply turn the setting on “medium” or “low” once the desired room temperature is reached to conserve energy.

Myth #2: Keep The AC Running To Save Money

Air conditioners consume electricity. The longer they are kept on, the more energy they use. If you will be gone for several hours, turn off the air conditioner or set the thermostat at a higher temperature. If you have a programmable thermostat, use the timer and program the unit to cool the room about 30 minutes before you arrive. This will bring down the room temperature at a suitably comfortable level.

Myth #3: Energy-Efficient Air Conditioners Will Save Money

High-efficiency air conditioners can potentially bring down energy cost but size also matters. If the AC is too small, it will work harder than it should and produce dry air; if it is too big, it won’t stay on long enough to properly decrease humidity levels yet it consume more energy.

Myth #4: Using A Ceiling Fan With The AC Will Cool The Room More Efficiently

Fans do not actually lower the temperature in a room. They cause the air to move, hence the feeling that the immediate surrounding is cooler. The room temperature, however, remains essentially the same.

Myth #5: When It Comes To Air Conditioning, Location Doesn’t Matter

This is one of the air conditioning myths that can drill a serious hole in your pocket if you are not careful. Air conditioners are best installed on the side of the house that does not receive direct sunlight since this will affect its efficiency. The air vents on the unit should also allow air to flow freely.

Air Conditioning And Heating Repair – 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

We at Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Repair are your leading heating and air conditioning services company in Chandler, Phoenix and surrounding. We offer 100% satisfaction guaranteed and focus on great service on work done right at the right price! Our experienced and licensed technicians can provide you peace of mind with our NATE certification and over 40 years of experience.

To Learn More Or Quickly Set Up An Appointment –
Call Us Now At 480-968-5652!

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