Heating / Cooling

Time to Crank up the Air Conditioning

Brrrr....time to crank up the air conditioning Though it’s still freezing in many parts of the country, there’s big news when it comes to air conditioning that you should know before it’s time to crank up your home cooling system. As of Jan. 23, 2006, the U.S. Department of Energy requires manufacturers of air conditioners and heat pumps to produce equipment that has a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating of at least 13. SEER is the number that the DOE uses to measure the effici ...
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Increased Cost for New Air Conditioners

New Regulations May Increase Air Conditioners Cost The Energy Department will require that new air conditioners manufactured as of Jan. 23, 2006, be more energy-efficient. The result will be a 30 percent improvement in minimum energy efficiency. The new minimum standard will be a seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER, of 13. The current minimum is 10 SEER. SEER is to air conditioners what miles per gallon is to automobiles — the higher the number, the better the energy efficiency. ...
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Replacing an Aging Furnace May Have Advantages

Replacing an Aging Furnace May Have Advantages\ While casting about for ways to save on winter heating bills, homeowners might want to consider the long-term advantages of replacing aging furnaces. With the price of natural gas predicted to top last year's rate by 50 percent, "the urgency is there now," according to Jim Caskey, service manager at Keeley & Frank Plumbing & Heating of Franklin. "I'm amazed at how many really old heating systems there are in the area," Caskey said. " ...
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Heating Cost Lowering Projects

More Heating Cost Lowering Projects •Look for holes in your house and fill them: An electrician runs conduit for a new appliance through the siding in your home; the cable guy drills a hole in the wall to run cable into a room in your home; the plumber drills a hole in an exterior wall. These are some of the obvious examples of holes in your house that might be allowing precious energy to escape. There are other less obvious examples, such as at the base or top of walls where plumbing pipes and electrical wires make their wa ...
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How to Install a Programmable Thermostat Yourself

How to Install a Programmable Thermostat Yourself To install a new thermostat, you'll need a screwdriver, a drill with small bits for driving guide holes, some masking tape and a pen or pencil. Start by going to your electrical service panel and cutting off the power to your heating and air conditioning system. Go to the thermostat and try to turn the furnace or furnace fan on and off to check that the power is off. Pull the cover off the old thermostat and look for the electrical wires attached inside. You ...
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Home Heating Test a Sound Idea

Wisconsin is offering refunds to homeowners who have a home energy audit to help pay for the cost of the inspection.  While that only applies to those living in Wisconsin obviously there are some interesting tidbits about how little it can cost to make your home more energy efficient.  Even without the chance to get a refund a home energy audit sounds like money well spent with a typical cost going for around $250. Homeowners Get Home Heating Test “What we have found with the energy audits and evaluatio ...
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