Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Mon, May 03, 2010
Inquire About Heating and Cooling Costs When Buying a New Home
When buying a home in Lorain County, most people focus on the sale price and cost of monthly mortgage payments. First-time home buyers, particularly those who have been renting and are used to utility costs being rolled into their rent payments, may be unaware that the cost of heating and cooling the home they purchase can make or break their budget. Experienced homeowners have learned the importance heating and cooling costs play in the ultimate cost of owning and maintaining a home.
A Home With an Energy Efficient Furnace and Air Conditioner Can Save You Money
In buying a home, it is important to assess the present condition and any potential problems with the home’s heating and cooling systems. A furnace or air conditioner that has been poorly maintained or that is nearing the end of its functional life can cost thousands of dollars to replace, adding an unexpected and significant burden to your household budget. On the other hand, a home with a energy efficient furnace and air conditioner can save you hundreds in monthly utility bills.
Ask to review the home seller’s furnace and air conditioner maintenance and repair records. Look for annual furnace and air conditioner inspections, a sign of proactive maintenance. Read the inspection reports to make certain necessary repairs were made as problems were discovered. Ask an experienced Lorain County heating and cooling professional to inspect the home’s comfort systems before you buy. His inspection should reveal any obvious problems you may want to address with the seller. He should also be able to give you some idea of the age of the system and potential problems you should watch for in the future.
Request Monthly Utility Records to Estimate the Monthly Costs to Heat and Air Condition the Home
Home buyers should also ask sellers for monthly utility records so they can get an idea of the probable monthly cost to heat and air condition the home. While personal comfort practices vary, the current owner’s monthly utility bills will provide a reasonable estimate of coming costs.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Mon, Jan 25, 2010
Reduce Your Heating Bills up to 70% by Installing a Geothermal Heat Pump
Geothermal heat pumps tap into the power of nature to heat and cool your Lorain County home efficiently. Geothermal heat pumps provide comfortable even temperatures throughout your home in both winter and summer, With the Federal Stimulus Tax Credit providing up to a 30% income tax credit on the cost of installing geothermal heat pumps, this is an excellent time to have your Lorain County heating and cooling professional install a heat pump in your home. In Lorain County, energy-efficient geothermal heat pumps can cut your heating bills by 50% to 70% and air conditioning bills by 40%. If you add a hot water assist to your heat pump system, you can recycle hot water created during system operation and enjoy virtually free hot water all summer long.
Their superior efficiency and reliability has made geothermal heat pumps the heat pump system of choice in Lorain County and throughout the country. Geothermal heat pumps tap into the ability of ground water to absorb and retain heat at a constant temperature. At a depth of 30 feet, ground water maintains a constant temperature that varies by less than a single degree throughout the year. Geothermal heat pumps reticulate water via a sealed, non-polluting water system that is never exposed to the atmosphere.
Rather than creating heat like furnaces, heat pumps transfer heat between the ground water and your home. In the winter they pull heat absorbed and stored in ground water into your home. In the summer they pump heat collecting inside your home out into ground water. The fairly constant and more temperate temperature of ground water throughout the year allows geothermal heat pumps to work efficiently all year round.
Find out how you can qualify for the federal stimulus tax credit!
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Jan 22, 2010
Improve the Performance of your Furnace with a Heating Performance Check
Auto repair experts say the single most important thing you can do to improve the performance and reliability of your car is to get the oil checked regularly. It’s a simple, inexpensive maintenance chore that can add years of life to your vehicle and save you thousands of dollars in repair bills down the line. That’s the same reason home heating professionals recommend you schedule an annual Heating Performance Check with a licensed Lorain County heating professional.
Save Money on Your Heating Bill with a Heating Perfomance Check
An annual furnace inspection can pinpoint potential problems before they become tragic disasters. Not only does an annual Heating Performance Check ensure that your home furnace is working at peak efficiency, but an experienced heating professional will also check for gas or carbon monoxide leaks to ensure the safety of your family. Tragically, deadly carbon monoxide fumes from improperly working furnaces kill families in their sleep every year. The best way to protect your family against this odorless silent killer is to have your furnace inspected by a licensed heating professional every year.
A properly running furnace burns less fuel, saving you money on your heating bill. And with Lorain County temperatures regularly dropping into the double and single digits during the winter, an annual Heating Performance Check will protect your family from a chilly middle-of-the-night breakdown. Annual furnace inspections catch small problems while they’re easy and inexpensive to fix.
It's Not too Late to have a Heating Performance Check
In Lorain County, the best time of year to schedule your annual Heating Performance Check is in late summer before you fire up your furnace in the fall. However, it’s never too late in the season to make sure your furnace is operating safely. It’s also important to schedule your annual Heating Performance Check with a licensed Lorain County heating professional with the knowledge and experience to recognize potential problems and fix them before they cause disaster.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Jan 08, 2010
It was recently reported that there have been significant finds of natural gas in shale deposits. Due to advances in drilling technology it’s now easier to remove these natural gas deposits, and it’s speculated that they could provide gas supply for the next 90 years.
While this discovery definitely effects the current energy debate throughout the nation – there’s another, equally important question about our energy use.
Will the U.S. Conserve Natural Gas or are we Energy Gluttons?
Americans are 5% of the global population, but consume 25% of the resources. Gas prices are the lowest they have been in seven years. Why upgrade to high efficiency heating equipment when you are saving 40% over last year without the investment in new equipment? In fact, crank up the thermostat! You can keep your house warmer and still pay less then you did last year – this is the U.S. mindset.
The U.S. population will not conserve energy when energy is cheap.
The 90-year supply will dwindle down as more industry; electric generation and homeowners consume gas like the quarter-pounder value-meals they line up for at lunch. When the costs start to rise because of dwindling supply they will call a foul and ask the government for help in curbing their energy consuming bellies.
The power companies aren’t waiting for Washington to “jump on the gas bandwagon” as it were. Moreover, with the impending energy legislation, calculating cost has changed dramatically, “coal may still be cheaper, but natural gas emits half as much carbon” – so what? We need to curb the national energy appetites before we switch to a ‘low-carb’ plan.
What’s the best way for you to lower your energy usage today?
For more information on natural gas prices and energy conservation click here.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Mon, Dec 28, 2009
Save 15% on Home Heating Costs with a Programmable Thermostat
Now that the holiday is over, buy yourself a practical gift that you will truly enjoy and actually use. A programmable thermostat will allow you to automatically control the temperature in your home and you will be thrilled when you get your next fuel bill. Programmable thermostats have been shown to dramatically increase the energy efficient use of heating and cooling systems and decrease fuel use. Properly programmed, programmable thermostats can save Lorain County homeowners as much as 15% on their home heating costs.
Programmable thermostats allow you to easily pre-program temperature settings to match your Lorain County home heating needs. Program the thermostat for a slightly higher temperature to ensure comfortable warmth during the day, then set it for a cooler temperature while you’re sleeping under your toasty blankets at night. Most programmable thermostats allow for four or more timed temperature settings per day and different settings for weekdays and weekends. This allows you to adjust your home’s temperature up or down automatically to coincide with your daily activities. For example, program the thermostat for 70 degrees about a half hour before you wake up so your home is nice and toasty while you’re getting dressed. Set the temperature for 65 degrees while you’re at work, then back up to 70 about a half hour before you typically arrive home. Lower the temperature again at night while you’re asleep. By heating your home only when you need to, you decrease fuel use which saves you money.
Your Lorain County heating and cooling professional can help you choose a programmable thermostat and install it in your home.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Dec 16, 2009
Natural Gas Heating Costs Decreasing
Good news for Lorain County residents who heat their homes with natural gas, gas rates are expected to be lower this winter than last year. Significant declines in the cost of natural gas are expected to lower Lorain County household gas heating costs by 11% this winter, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The agency says people who heat their homes with gas furnaces can expect heating bills to average $792 this winter. Naturally, the more energy-efficient your gas furnace is, the lower your heating bill. New Energy-Star gas furnaces can provide energy savings of up to 96.6%.
Find the Lowest Natural Gas Rate
Lorain County residents can maximize their gas savings by shopping for the lowest available natural gas rates. Ohio allows Lorain County residents to choose their natural gas supplier. Some suppliers offer flat rates guaranteeing the cost of natural gas for a year or more. Other natural gas suppliers adjust their rates monthly to reflect their actual costs. Click here to find the lowest available natural gas rate for your Lorain County home.
Heating Oil Costs Increasing
In contrast to decreasing natural gas prices, higher crude oil prices are driving up the cost of heating oil which is expected to increase by 4% this winter. Lorain County residents who heat their homes with heating oil can expect an average winter heating bill of $1,940, more than twice the cost of natural gas. Considering the average 20-year life expectancy of new energy-efficient gas furnaces, Lorain County residents with access to natural gas could reap considerable savings over the life of their furnace by making the switch from heating oil to an energy-efficient natural gas furnace this winter. Installing an energy-efficient gas furnace that qualifies for the government’s energy-efficient appliance tax credit could save you up to $1500 on your 2009 or 2010 taxes. Click here for more information on the Federal Stimulus Tax Credit.