As the heating season starts to ramp up, it’s inevitable that heated air will flow from your home to the cold outdoors. Some indoor-to-outdoor heat exchange is necessary and healthy, but too much is simply a waste of energy and money. You can take proactive preventive measures to stop conditioned air from leaving your home:
Check the gaskets and weatherstripping around your doors and windows. Simply opening doors and windows and observing their edges can reveal tears, gaps and deterioration in the rubber or other weatherproofing material.
If weatherstripping doesn’t exist on doors and windows, install it. Weatherstripping is inexpensive and easy to install. Few energy-saving measures give as much ‘bang for the buck’ as weather-stripping.
Don’t forget the caulk. The technology used to create caulking materials and packaging has increased exponentially in recent years, so you don’t need a caulking gun or extra tools anymore to quickly seal openings in your home’s exterior envelope. If you have children, you can even make a game out of finding spots where cold air is coming in.
Homes have many vents to the outside, but some are designed to close when not venting. Debris or a rusty hinge can prevent proper vent closure. Are your vents closing properly when they’re not in use? If not, you’ll feel cold air coming through the vent. Don’t forget the outside of the vent, either (where the vent goes through the roof, ceiling, or wall). WARNING: Do not seal a vent or vent door unless you’re sure it’s supposed to close - some vents are supposed to remain open, and it can be dangerous to tamper with them.
Note: This special expires on August 26, 2011. Get more information here.
This special Lennox promotion allows your local Lennox dealer, Schaible's Plumbing & Heating, to customize a heating and air conditioning system – a Lennox Home Comfort System – based on your specific needs and your home's requirements. We'll create your Home Comfort System from a full range of qualifying Lennox products – including air quality systems, packaged units, solar-ready products & more. A properly designed Home Comfort System will keep you and your family more comfortable, healthier and safer, while saving you on energy costs.
Receive up to $1,850 in Rebates* with the purchase of a qualifying Lennox Home Comfort System & up to $500 in Federal Tax Credits** – OR – Receive Special Financing***
*Rebate offer is valid June 20, 2011 through August 26, 2011 with the purchase of qualifying Lennox products. Contact us for complete details.
**Please consult your tax expert on any tax credit to which you may be entitled. Tax credits are available only on eligible products purchased in 2011.
***Contact us for details on special financing offer
Replacing your old hot water heater with a new unit can save money on your energy bills and bring you more hot water, faster. Gas water heaters are expected to last 8 to 12 years, electric models can last about 10 to 15 years. Don't wait until you have a flood in your basement or an ice cold shower at 6 a.m. to replace your unit. Take advantage of this offer now! Not sure what type of hot water system to install? We'll be happy to go over your options and help you decide on the best unit for your needs.
We're currently offering 10% off preferred customer pricing when we replace your domestic hot water heater. This offer expires on Sept. 30, 2011. You can get more information on this special (and others) here.
The high mineral content in the water in our area causes sediment to build in up your hot water heater. This reduces the amount your water heater holds, creates noises, can clog your drain valve, and reduces the overall efficiency of your heater. Flushing out your hot water heater helps prevent these problems and extends the life of your unit.
We're currently running a special (which expires Sept. 30, 2011). This includes:
Flush out your domestic hot water heater
Check your tank controls
Check overall unit efficiency
You can get more information on this special (and others) here.
One of the easiest ways to save electricity is to install a programmable thermostat. Air conditioning temperatures automatically adjust to use less energy during the times when you’re not home and at night. The efficiency continues during the colder months when your heating system also adjusts to save energy.
If you have a water softener, check to be sure you're not sending conditioned water to your garden. It wastes sodium or potassium, and the conditioned water balance is fine for people but not for plants. If you're not sure what type of water is going to your outside hoses, call us for help.
Leaky ductwork wastes energy and money by sending conditioned air into the walls instead of into living space. Identify and seal leaks in your ductwork.
Air conditioning also goes where you don't want it if you have uninsulated ductwork. Insulation increases efficiency by directing more conditioned air into living spaces instead of losing some to unconditioned space, such as crawl spaces and unheated basements or garages. Insulate all visible ductwork.
Replace the filters in all ventilation systems as they become dirty. This includes air conditioning system filters, dehumidifier filters, and range hood filters.
There are two sides to environmentally friendly water practices:
1. Conserving the amount of water we use; and
2. Conserving the amount of energy it takes to heat the water we use.
Fortunately, saving on water use can be cheap and easy. Start with inexpensive aerators on faucets. Step it up by installing water-saving shower heads - in most homes, showers are the leading consumers of hot water, so this easy step saves energy as well. Water softeners discharge water as part of the softening process, so if you have a water softener, check that it’s not sending soft water to any outside pipes or spigots. There are also effortless and free ways to conserve water, such as washing clothes in cold water. Car washes use less water than washing your car at home, so consider that option as well.
Green it: Air
In this part of the country we enjoy four seasons, but at least two of those seasons are guaranteed to use energy to heat and cool our homes. We’re likely to combine those heating and cooling processes with some method of removing excess moisture from the air when it’s hot and muggy, or returning moisture to excessively dry air in the winter. Thus, there are lots of savings to be found in conserving heating and air conditioning energy expenditures, as well as air quality equipment.
First up is a simple scheduling task: make sure you change your air filters regularly. Dirty air filters cut down on heating and cooling efficiency, as well as forcing any air quality equipment you have to work harder. Some air filter types need to be replaced more often than others, and every home has different needs as well - for example, a home with multiple large pets may need filters changed more often than a home with no pets.
Insulation is more costly but can save more money, too. Insulating your home can even lower the size of the furnace you’ll need, leading to far greater savings. Don’t forget that windows and doors are also part of your home’s insulating system. You can easily make windows and doors more airtight without replacing them. Most home improvement centers carry weatherproofing kits specifically for windows or doors, so you don’t need a list of items to buy in order to increase your home’s energy efficiency.
Keep the Green Going
Water and air within your home are the two main venues through which you can conserve energy and resources, but there are many other ways in which you can conserve, such as landscaping, lighting (indoor and outdoor), and energy efficient appliances. It’s easy to inventory ways to save energy as well. Just note the tasks you perform in daily living. The odds are good that there’s a greener way to perform any given task. The odds are even better that the greener way is the less expensive way and perhaps even the easier way.
Of course, when the time comes to replace an old HVAC product with a new energy efficient A/C system, just give us a call at 908-537-6770. At Schaible’s, we’re always there for you.
Do you feel like you’re surrounded by a desert of snow? Like a desert, winter can feel unbearably dry. No one wants to see their loved ones with parched skin, painful sinuses, or dry eyes. Fortunately, Schaible’s makes it easy to give your family a comfortable oasis in the middle of this particularly tough winter.
Moisturize Dry Air
A whole-house steam humidifier is a gift that the entire family will appreciate year after year. In fact, after a short time they’ll wonder how they lived without it. You will, too. An automatic humidity control assures that you won’t have to haul out heavy room humidifiers or water to fill them up.
Keep Them Warm
Leaving a warm bed for a blast of cold air should not be a given during the winter. A programmable thermostat is an affordable gift to your whole family. It raises the temperature at a time of your choosing so you can wake up to a warm home and come home to warmth as well. You can even select a programmable thermostat that raises the heat in selected zones at different times. Your family will appreciate the comfort of warmth in the middle of winter’s icy grip, and you’ll appreciate the savings that a programmable thermostat provides.
Remove Pollutants
Single-digit temperatures mean more than just discomfort from the cold. Your home is closed up and that means its air quality may not be as clean as it should be. Schaible’s installs electronic air cleaners for the whole house. If a family member suffers from allergies that worsen in the winter, an air cleaner is a gift that will be appreciated. February Special! Get a $100 discount coupon for air quality products here.
Pamper Them
Valentine’s Day often means a box of chocolates that is soon empty, a piece of jewelry or clothing that goes out of style, or flowers that last a week or two at best. We can help you select a gift they’ll enjoy for years to come. Call us for ideas at every price point, from a shower massager to a whirlpool tub. We’re happy to help, because Schaible’s is always there for you.
In honor of Valentine's Day, here are some ideas for gifts that pamper loved ones while protecting our environment:
An instant hot water tap in the kitchen or bar area is a thoughtful gift that will save hours of boiling water on a stove. It’s a luxury that also conserves energy.
Water-saving kitchen faucets make everyday cooking and dish washing easier, with integrated sprayers and quick shut-off features.
If you choose a new kitchen faucet, you may wish to select a sink to go with it. Many kitchen sinks have small sinks on one side for washing fruits and vegetables, or soaking small items. These small attached sinks are not only convenient; they also save water.
Don’t forget the ever-popular massaging shower head. It’s luxurious, and it saves water and energy. You can select a beautiful shower head that detaches with a handle for even more pampering and water conservation.
For the ultimate in comfort, consider dual water-saving shower heads. You can combine a detachable shower head with multiple massage settings and a fixed shower head, or any combination of shower heads. Luxury - and energy + water savings - are within your reach with Schaible's.
