All About Heating and Cooling Blog

Lower temperatures across the central U.S. may mean the amount of energy needed to heat homes will be near normal levels this week. The heating degree days value across the country for the week is expected to be 165, or 28 below normal, according to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center in Camp Springs, Maryland. The value for natural gas use is 182, also 28 below normal.

Although it has been a very mild winter, many people are still looking for ways to reduce their home heating bill. You can’t control the weather, but the following tips will help keep your heating bills under control.

One of the most obvious trends from the big smart grid conference DistribuTECH last week was how much analytics and big data tools will be used to try to remake energy in 2012, from curbing energy consumption, to reducing energy loss, to adding in more clean power to the grid. Here’s 10 ways that analytics and big data will start to shape the production and consumption of energy in the world.

There's no question that lowering your thermostat in winter is a good way to save money on your heating bill. In fact, for most homeowners, it's clearly the best single way to lower heating costs. But it can be taken too far. Setting the thermostat too low or shutting off areas of the home entirely can lead to frozen water pipes, the repair for which can easily eat up several years' worth of savings, not to mention the potentially huge costs of collateral damage from flooding. Here, we'll look at ways to minimize your risk while still keeping the heat at a money-saving levels.

Air purification can greatly improve indoor air quality. Regular HVAC systems have filters that remove some dust particles from the air, but air-purification systems remove a much larger quantity of toxins.

A home that is properly insulated can be a very wise investment to a homeowner. Insulation provides savings and comfort to a home year-round. In the area of lowering energy bills, a home that is properly insulated will keep a home stay warmer in the winter months, which will result in lower heating expenses. A home that is properly insulated will also keep a home cooler in the hottest of summer months and can ease the load placed on an AC system.

A warmer winter across the country has meant some reprieve for those looking to stay ahead of utility expenses. It’s safe to assume we’ve still got some cold temperatures ahead of us, however. Frigid temperatures can mean an extra $400 or more gone each month for some families looking to stay warm. If you’d like to lower your winter heating bill by a hundred dollars or more in the months ahead, following some simple tips can help you pocket that money with just a little bit of effort.

Getting a handle on your home's energy use is an important first step to improving efficiency. You can do a simple assessment yourself using on-line tools, or have a professional energy auditor perform a more thorough audit. If you have five minutes and your last 12 months of utility bills, use the Home Energy Yardstick at ENERGY STAR to compare your home's energy use to similar homes across the country and see how your home measures up. The experts at AirPlus can help you asses your home's energy efficiency and guide you through selecting the right products to have you home heating and cooling more efficiently. Contact us today!

It’s not always advisable to follow “Fix It Yourself” material online. You may read a “Fix It Yourself or Do It Yourself” article online and think it sounds great, but you may try it and get different results.As a homeowner you might have the “If I fix it myself, I save money” mentality, but you want to also be smart. Changing your air conditioner filter is simple, (and we have a small list of other ways you can keep your systems running smoothly), but getting into anything too ‘invasive’ might complicate a problem even more. Knowing when to call in the professionals is key. Air Plus can help you with all your HVAC diagnostic and repair needs.

  If rooms in your home are not heating evenly, you might first suspect that your HVAC system is not working properly. This might not be the case, so there are some other things you should check first. First, check is the air vents in each room. If your home is not heating evenly, it can be something as simple as a vent left closed in one room. Ideally, all of your venta should be open, at least to some extent. Blockages in your vents can prevent air from circulating evenly throughout your home. Using a vacuum cleaner, clean your air vents. You might also need to remove the vent cover and clean out the interior of the duct. If your home is still not heating evenly, it might be a problem with your ductwork or in an extreme case the real problem might just be that your HVAC system is not sufficient for the job. If you have any questions, or to request a FREE estimate please contact us.