Tip for Saving Your AC Equipment

   
     What can you do for your central air conditioning equipment that will make it stay healthy longer? Give it a rain coat for the winter! A waterproof protective cover fits over your outdoor condenser and protects it from the wet debris and frost that can corrode equipment all winter long.

      Now that the weather has turned decidedly cold it is time to dress your outdoor air conditioning compressor for the winter. You will be using your furnace in Los Angeles for the next several months so an equipment cover will save your outdoor compressor from the destructive effects of the winter weather.

Furnace Replacement

Replace Your Furnace

Is your furnace old and in need of frequent repairs? A new furnace may be more affordable than you think!

A wise investment
What will dramatically reduce your energy costs, be safer than your old furnace, and make your home significantly more comfortable? A new Furnace! If you are concerned about safety, efficiency and comfort,  replacing your outdated furnace is a good decision. 

Replacing your furnace pays you back
Is your existing furnace a gas guzzler? If your furnace is 12 years old or older, your utility bills are probably 40% higher than they could be with a new high-efficiency furnace. New furnaces have better safety features and they’ll make your home significantly more comfortable. You may also be eligible for rebates and tax credits when you install a new heating system. Start saving today with a new furnace.

Call the people you can trust for your furnace replacement
You must use a reliable licensed HVAC contractor. Mining the energy bill savings of an energystar  furnace requires more than just replacement. To ensure energy savings the correct heating equipment must be professionally installed.

Professional furnace replacement
Remember, a properly installed furnace eliminates emergency repairs later on.

8 Furnace Warning Signs

Discover 8 fast and easy ways to know when to replace your gas furnace before it costs you money or becomes unsafe.

A comfortable and healthy home environment requires an efficient and sound heating system. Such a system heats the home without using large amounts of energy and it does not endanger the indoor air quality by overtaxing the supply of oxygen needed for combustion.

It is important to know the 8 warning signs that your furnace may need replacing. It is especially important not to wait until a crisis occurs.  A cold night in January, with the furnace faltering or failed, is not the time to assess your heating system. Do it now.

Information is the key to making a wise decision. This report will teach you what the 8 warning signs that your furnace may need replacing.

This report is based on research undertaken by the federal Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. It also draws on the training resources of heating and cooling manufacturers, trade associations, and field service personnel.

1. How old is your furnace?
A good place to start is to compare your furnaces age to the national average. The average life expectancy of furnaces in homes today is between 16 and 20 years. If your furnace is close to this age or older, you should begin shopping. Shopping for a replacement furnace in an emergency does not allow time to make your best decision. Most people prefer to replace their furnace as a planned home improvement rather than a panic replacement when your furnace is faltering or failed. For starters, look at your furnace to see if you have a pilot light. If you do, it is almost certain to be over 25 years old!

2. Gas & Electric Bills Going Up?
Rising gas and electric prices are not the only reason for high bills. Furnaces often lose their efficiency as they age especially if they have not been properly maintained. As a result your furnace may run longer to provide the same amount of heat. This will cause your gas & electric bills to go up. The money you pay the gas & electric company every month could be used to pay for new furnace.

3. Any Furnace Repairs in the last 2 years?
Furnaces are like cars. As they age, you can replace one part only to have to replace another part next year. It doesn't take long to spend $500 just to keep the old furnace running. Furnaces incur the most breakdowns in the last 2 years of their lives. Another repair sign is whether you had to wait to get parts replaced. As a furnace ages, it gets harder to get replacement parts. This waiting can really be cold on a below zero night.

4. Does your thermostat keep you comfortable?
Do you feel that some rooms are too cold while others are too hot? Or are you always trying to adjust your thermostat to make your home more comfortable? This is a sign that your furnace lacks the ability to properly distribute the air to keep you comfortable in your home.

5. Is your burner flame yellow instead of blue?
A yellow or flickering flame may be a sign that poisonous carbon monoxide could be created by your furnace. Other possible signs of carbon monoxide are: Streaks of soot around furnace; Absence of an upward draft in your chimney; Excess moisture found on windows, walls, or other cold surfaces; Excessive rusting on flue pipes, other pipe connections, or appliance jacks; Small amount of water leaking from the base of the chimney, vent, or flue pipe; Rust on the portion of the vent pipe visible from the outside.

6. Is your furnace making strange noises?
Old furnaces often start to make some strange noises as they get toward the end of their life. Have you heard any banging, popping, rattling, or squealing noises coming from your furnace? Another noise is when you hear the furnace blower running excessively. Does your blower turn on & off frequently or does it blow cold air sometimes? If so, this is a sign that your furnace may need to be replaced.

7. How have you & your family been feeling?
Furnaces as they age run the risk of developing cracks in the heat exchanger inside your furnace. Carbon monoxide, if present, could leak into your home undetected. Signs of this may be frequent headaches, a burning feeling in nose or eyes, nausea, disorientation, flu-like symptoms. Should you experience any of these, air out your house, open a window to the furnace room and immediately call a gas service technician. Cracks in the heat exchanger can occur undetected which is why no one advises waiting until they occur. 

8. Is your house dry or dusty?
Old furnaces often lack the ability to moisturize and clean the air in your home. Your house air may feel stuffy or stale. Does anyone in your family suffer from allergies to airborne dust, mold, pollen, viruses or dander? Or does anyone suffer from dry nose, dry throat, or dry skin? Other signs may be frequent dust accumulation, static shocks, drooping plants, furniture cracking and musical instruments that do not stay in tune. These signs all suggest that your old furnace is not capable of providing you with the comfort you and your family may want.

Home Maintenance Checklist

On a monthly basis:

• Clean or replace the HVAC filters [typically located at your fresh air return]. If you have an energy recovery system (air exchange system), remember that these filters also need to be cleaned or replaced.
• Inspect, clean or replace kitchen vent hood filters (non-charcoal filters).
• Flush all toilets and run water through all sinks, especially in bathrooms that are not used on a regular basis.

It's easy to find filters for your HVAC system. This is the selection at Target.

On a quarterly basis:

• Check the exterior drainage conditions to ensure that nothing is causing water to stand in puddles for more than 24 hours and that water from any source is not draining toward your foundation.
• Check your GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters) for proper operations by tripping the circuit interrupter buttons and then resetting them. If they will not trip and reset, contact your Customer Care Department for service or information on what to do.
• Inspect, lubricate and clean all of your exterior vents. Make sure that air flows freely and that each has an operable damper to prevent back flow of outside air and to keep small animals from entering your home.
• Lubricate all overhead garage door hinges with white lithium spray.
• Inspect and clean all weep holes for water drainage (windows).

On a seasonal basis:

• Every six months, inspect and service your heating and air conditioning system.
• Twice a year, you should inspect and repair the following caulked areas, as necessary.
• Kitchen and bath wet areas. Ensure that the caulked areas are not cracked and separating. If they are you will need to re-seal those areas.
• Bathroom/commode areas. Check the sealant where the stool meets the floor to insure the sealant is intact.
• Window and door seals.
• Around all penetrations (hose, faucets, duct work from vents, fireplace and chimney vents).
• Vinyl, aluminum or wood siding.
• Stucco or mortar cracks.
• Interior settling or shrinkage sheetrock cracks.
• If you have a basement and it has a sump pump, check to make sure it is operating properly, clean the pump screen and remove any soil buildup from the well.
• Clean and repair gutters. Make sure gutters are free of material that could prevent free flow of water. Make sure you have splash deflectors at the base of the downspout to deflect water away from the home.
• Inspect and adjust sprinkler systems. Set your timers for the proper season to ensure enough, but not too much water per station.

On an annual basis:

• Drain and refill your hot water heater(s). This may be necessary on a more frequent basis if you live in an area with extremely hard water.
• Inspect and test your hot water heater safety valve (T&P Valve typically located on the top or near the top part of the water heater).
• Inspect your garage door(s), rails and lock system; adjust and lubricate, as necessary. Consider changing your garage door opener code as a security precaution.
• Service your lawn mower and yard equipment (blowers, edgers and trimmers).
• Clean your faucet aerators and inspect your plumbing for leaks (includes all p-traps [waste line at sinks] and angle stops [shut-offs at commodes and sinks]).
• Clean and sharpen your garbage disposal by running a tray of ice cubes and depositing a cleaning (foaming) product into the disposal.
• Inspect or have tested your home fire extinguishers.
• Replace smoke alarm batteries.

Heating Savings

 
Cash-strapped consumers can save hundreds (and possibly thousands) of dollars a year by cutting everyday expenses in ways that might seem obvious in retrospect.

• Home Heating and Electric Utilities

Problem: The cost of electricity for the average U.S. residence has risen by nearly 47% over 20 years, while prices for heating oil and propane rose even more dramatically. People are often unaware that many electronic devices still draw power even when they're turned off, diverting precious dollars from family budgets.

Solution: Stay Afloat: When Energy Costs are on the rise we recommend that consumers become aware of how much energy various appliances use, and to fully turn them off when they're not in use. Other tips include taking shorter showers, cooking more food at once, and paying utility bills with credit cards that provide cash back and other rewards.

• Buying or Repairing HVAC Equipment and Appliances

Problem: When shopping for refrigerators, microwave ovens, dishwashers, air conditioners or furnaces in Los Angeles many people base their decisions on superficial considerations such as upfront costs and product features. Without thinking about long-term costs - including financing, operating and potential repair costs - consumers can easily spend much more than they anticipated.

Solution: For financing Home Heating we suggest that you forgo repairs on AC and furnaces that are more than 50 percent through their expected lives when repairs will cost over 50 percent of a new appliance's price. The energy savings are that substantial with new units. There are excellent rebate programs active right now.  Furnaces typically come with a 10 year manufacturers warranty.

Lower That Whoppin' DWP Bill!

The average family spends $2,200 a year on energy bills, nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling. In addition to saving money, reducing energy use at home can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help fight climate change.

ENERGY STAR offers the following tips to keep your home comfortable while saving money on heating bills and protecting the environment:

• Maintain heating equipment. Dirt and neglect are the number one causes of heating system failure, so be sure to service your furnace and air conditioning equipment. Now is a good time to schedule a pre-season checkup of your heating equipment with a licensed contractor to make sure your system is operating at peak performance. Check your system's air filter every month. When it is dirty, change it. At a minimum change it every 3 months.
• Use a programmable thermostat. Regulate your home's temperature while you're away or asleep by using one of the convenient pre-programmed settings on a programmable thermostat. When used properly, programmable thermostats can save you up to $180 every year in energy costs.
• Seal air leaks in your home. As much as 20 percent of the air moving through your home's duct system is lost due to leaks and poor connections. Sealing air leaks with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping will have a significant impact on improving your comfort and reducing energy bills. If you are adding insulation to your home, be sure to seal air leaks first, to ensure you get the best performance from your insulation. Seal duct work using mastic sealant or metal tape and insulate all the ducts that you can access (such as those in attics, crawlspaces, unfinished basements, and garages). Also, make sure that connections at vents and registers are well-sealed where they meet floors, walls, and ceilings. These are common locations to find leaks and disconnected ductwork.
• Look for ENERGY STAR qualified products. Whether you are replacing light bulbs or appliances in your home, ENERGY STAR qualified products can help you save energy and reduce energy bills. The label can be found on more than 60 types of products ranging from heating and cooling equipment to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Also, look to EPA's ENERGY STAR program for advice on other ways you can save at home such as using power strips as a central ‘turn-off’ point for electronics and office equipment, making sure computers and monitors are “powered down” when not in use and reversing the blade rotation on ceiling fans to help spread warm air around a room.