Blog

How Does Your Attic’s Ventilation Affect Your Energy Bill?

June 28, 2017

Attic ventilation plays an important role in maintaining a comfortable environment in the home. In fact, problems like mold and mildew and hot attic temperatures in summer can all be offset by adequate attic ventilation. In winter, for instance, attic vents help to remove moisture from the home. This ensures problems like mold and mildew are avoided. Yet, in summer, the attic ventilation helps to keep attic temperatures down. And that can result in real energy cost savings. Here’s why: The summer sun beats down on the roof of your home,

3 Ways to Make Sure Pests Don’t Enter Through Your HVAC

June 21, 2017

Pests enter your home through numerous pathways. Some are obvious like leaky windows or doors. Yet, one that’s often overlooked is your home’s HVAC system. Gaps and holes in your HVAC system offer convenient access for pests like stink bugs, silverfish, and rodents. But what can you do to ensure your HVAC is protected? Fortunately, pest-proofing your HVAC system doesn’t require costly investments. A few minor maintenance tasks, regular inspections, cleaning, and occasional pest prevention will help you avoid a full-blown infestation. HVAC Pests: Why Prevention Is Best From foul odors to costly

The Best Time for Pennsylvania Residents to Replace Their Home Insulation

January 16, 2017

Proper home insulation is critical for comfort and even room temperatures during Pennsylvania’s long, cold winters. Yet, a more comfortable home isn’t the only benefit of high-performance insulation. New insulation can save you money. According to ENERGY STAR estimates, updating aging insulation can reduce a home’s heating/cooling needs by 20 percent. Is your home in need of new insulation? Properly installed insulation can last a lifetime, but there are instances when it needs to be replaced. They include: Water or mildew damage Under insulation Uneven room temperatures Old, decayed

Geothermal Tax Credits | The Ultimate Guide

January 4, 2017

Geothermal heat pumps, which utilize renewable energy, are a long-used heating source for homes in the U.S. In fact, since the 1940s, geothermal heat pumps have offered a greener alternative to electric- and gas-powered heating/cooling systems for homeowners. These systems use a pipe-loop buried vertically underneath the ground beside the home. This earth pipe-loop gathers the energy held below the earth’s surface and transfers that energy into the home that provides heating and or air conditioning. There are two types of geothermal heat pumps: water-to-water systems and water-to-air systems. Water-to-water systems are used to power hydronic radiant

Furnace and HVAC Issues – Snow

October 19, 2016

There are two main considerations to think about when it comes to the snow’s effect on your heater. First, that the snow and cold weather can cause excessive cycling of the system. This obviously drives up utility bills and increases the need for air filters to be changed more frequently while causing the components to wear quicker. The second major source of concern, since snow builds up outside of the home, is ventilation. How a Furnace Uses Ventilation A majority of our customers heat their homes via a gas furnace. A pilot light ignites

How To Move A Thermostat

July 5, 2016

Our customers often ask about thermostats, and many of them want to know if it’s possible to move a thermostat on their own. They’re interested in how they should approach moving their thermostat and the potential benefits of moving one. Fortunately, in many cases, moving a thermostat is a DIY job that requires a few basic tools. In fact, if you’re moving the thermostat to an adjacent wall or replacing the interface, the project may last just an hour or less. In some cases, though, an HVAC specialist may be required for advanced wiring and thermostat installation.

My Central A/C Fan is Not Working, What Do I Do?

April 1, 2016

A central air-conditioner is an elaborate system that involves parts such as an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, fans, and refrigerant to run through the unit. Like many household appliances, each of these components does their job both independently, but also in unison with the connecting parts and when one section of the system goes down, the entire performance falters. This article outlines what to do if your AC unit is malfunctioning. While each component in a central air-conditioner is critical, quite simply the unit will not work if the fan is not running. Fans in

Why is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?

January 18, 2016

There’s nothing quite like the bone-aching struggle to clear the snow off your sidewalk while facing a 30 mph cross-wind blowing directly into your eye. After the task is done and you limp through your home in your frozen pants like a combination robot/scarecrow, the warmth of the furnace encompassing your whole body is starting to become a reality. You hear the rumble in the blower motor and the hot air working its way through the ducts only to deliver an arctic blast of cold air into your face…. “Furnace, you had one job.”

Geothermal Energy vs. Solar Panels: Which Has Better Value?

June 26, 2015

“Going Green” is no longer just for progressive thinking homeowners or those looking to live in a commune and proverbially go off the grid. Instead, having an energy-efficient property is now an integral part of being a responsible homeowner, not only to lower utility bills but also as a crucial way of limiting a carbon footprint against an increasingly unpredictable environment. The best way we can lower our impact on the environment (and save some money in the process) is by harnessing the Earth’s resources to heat and cool our homes and businesses. The two main ways

Geothermal Heat Pumps vs. Traditional Heat Pumps

June 22, 2015

The main concept of geothermal energy is one that’s relatively easy to grasp. For example, the Earth has a constant core of 50°-60°F at all times no matter the temperatures above ground. It makes sense then that we can harness that energy and use it to heat or cool our homes, but here’s where the process gets a little murky – not so much a matter of why, but how? The two main components of geothermal energy are the multiple tubes/pipes that run underground in the Earth to absorb that 50°-60°F temperature (ground loops) and

24/7 Emergency Services