One of the benefits of using propane that you will often hear repeated is that it is a clean-burning fuel. But is that really true? It’s one thing for a piece of information to be repeated often – it’s another thing for that point to be proven correct. This article will be examining whether propane is actually a clean burning fuel and if you should consider using it for your energy needs.

If you’ve been trying to search for a “propane supplier near me” with little luck, turn to Berico for help. Berico is a great pick to fill a propane tank in Greensboro, Burlington, Eden and many other locations in the area.

A Deserved Reputation

You have heard that propane is a clean-burning fuel because it is just that – burning propane is considered to be an excellent alternative to other fuels that produce pollutants as part of the ignition process. When you burn propane, you’ll have your energy needs met without some of the harmful side effects that can come along with other fuels.

Also, beyond the clean-burning nature of the fuel, it’s also safer to work with in terms of spills. While you never want to intentionally spill fuel, of course, no damage will be done to the environment if a spill does occur. You can feel good about using propane heat in your home because of both the way the fuel burns clean and because of the performance it offers.

Many Other Reasons to Choose Propane

You might be motivated at first to choose propane because of its clean-burning nature, but that’s actually just one of many motivations to pick this form of fuel. Some of the other advantages of propane include:

• Storage tank. For convenience, and perhaps cost savings, you can have a large propane tank installed on your property that you can use to heat your home for an extended period. Propane tanks can even be buried underground, so you can have a large tank on your property without having it take up space or even be visible.
• Save money. While energy prices will vary from time to time and place to place, you might find that you spend less overall to heat your home with propane than you would have to spend for an energy source like electricity. This is particularly true if you partner with a company like Berico that will offer meaningful discounts for recurring propane deliveries.
• Lasting performance. Using propane HVAC equipment will often lead to a longer lifespan than what you would get from other types of equipment. That’s yet another way to save money, as you might be able to move the replacement of your HVAC equipment out further into the future.
• Use for other purposes. You don’t have to just run a furnace on the propane that you are having delivered to your property – you can choose to run other appliances, such water heater, dryer, gas stove, gas logs, in your home on this same power source to make things convenient and more affordable.

By burning clean and offering a long list of performance advantages, propane makes itself an excellent pick for countless homeowners. Reach out to Berico today to find out about using propane in your home.

There is never a bad time to save money. Whether the economy is going strong or in a recession, it’s always smart to cut back where you can in order to leave more money in the bank at the end of each month. This article will look at some simple steps you can take to cut back on utility spending for your home. Even modest savings can add up in a big way by the end of the year.

If you need reliable AC service in Greensboro, turn to Berico for help. As one of the leading HVAC companies in the area, Berico can provide HVAC installation, AC repair, regular maintenance, and much more.

1 – Consistently Change Your Air Filter

This is one of those cases where you need to spend a little bit of money to save more money in the long run. It’s important to regularly change the air filter in your HVAC system because a fresh filter allows your system to perform at its optimal level. When the filter gets dirty, airflow through the system is reduced, and it does not perform as well. In other words, the HVAC system winds up using more energy than necessary to achieve the desired level of heating or cooling. Keep up with changing out the filter and you’ll keep your system running as cost effectively as possible.

2 – Smart Programming

It’s important to set the program that controls your HVAC system so that it accurately mirrors the realities of your life. If the thermostat is set to cool the home down in the summer when you are at work, you might want to consider having it run a little less cool when you know no one will be home. Check on the timing of your program each time the seasons change to make sure your current plan makes sense for your lifestyle and the schedule of everyone in the home.

3- Replace Old Appliances

Our “test-everything-and-record-the-results” friends at Consumer Reports have the data that shows that replacing your old appliances with newer more efficient ones is a great way to lower your utility bills. And there is an added bonus that it can also reduce greenhouse gases.

For Example; Newer Energy Star washing machines use 25 percent less energy and up to 75 percent less water than machines that are just 20 years old according to Consumer Reports.  And while we are on the topic of replacing appliances, your HVAC system is your largest appliance and if it has some age on it, replacing it might reduce your energy consumption considerably. If you want to have it evaluated

4 – Be flexible with a little higher and lower temperature

You might be tempted to crank your thermostat way down into the 60s on a scorching hot summer day, but that’s just asking to spend a ton of money on energy. As a good rule of thumb, don’t ask your air conditioner to bring the indoor temperature down more than 20 degrees lower than the temperature outside. So, if it’s going to be 95* outside, set your thermostat in the mid-70s and you should still be quite comfortable.

5 – Annual Maintenance Matters

Here is another point where it’s important to spend some money to help your system work well and run efficiently. Call in a team like Berico for an annual maintenance visit to keep your equipment running properly and avoid the kind of inefficiency that can lead to mounting utility bills. Also, keeping up with annual maintenance should help your equipment last longer, which is another way to save money in the long run.

6 – Manage Your Vents

Whether you are running the cooling system in the summer or the heat in the winter, pay attention to the position of your vents to avoid wasting air on rooms that aren’t being used. For instance, if you have an extra bedroom or two in your house that are not regularly used, close the vents and don’t bother cooling them day after day. This will allow your system to conserve energy while still properly serving the parts of the house that are actively used.  You generally don’t want to shut off the vents to more than one or two rooms because it can create problems for the system if too many vents are closed.  So while shutting off one or two is OK, closing more than that is not recommended.

When you think of putting a log on the fire, you probably think first about a piece of wood that you burn up with a natural flame. That’s one option, but more and more homeowners are preferring propane or natural gas over burning wood. If you are going to go with a gas fireplace, or if you already have one that you’d like to update, finding the right gas logs is an essential step.

To order gas logs in Greensboro, look no further than Berico. As a trusted HVAC contractor with a long history of great service throughout the area, Berico will always exceed your expectations.

What Do Gas Logs Do?

In this application, the word “log” is a bit of a misnomer – these aren’t actually logs in the traditional sense. Instead, they are products that have been designed to look like logs and allow gas to flow through them and out of designed openings. When the gas fire is lit, the flames will come out of those openings and closely replicate the look of an actual wood fire. Quality gas logs will allow you to enjoy a beautiful fire day after day with impressive durability and minimal loss in performance over the years.

Some Key Considerations

So, when picking out gas logs for a fireplace, what should you be looking for? The final choice is up to you, but here are some important considerations to keep in mind.

• Some people like to have a rather full fireplace, with plenty of flames and plenty of logs for aesthetic effect. But that’s not the only option – you could also choose to have a limited number of logs in the fireplace, favoring a clean, minimalist look. It’s up to you but think about what will fit your style best before deciding what set of logs to purchase.
• While all of the logs you can pick from are going to imitate the look of natural wood in some way, there are varied shades available. You might opt for a lighter wood tone, or you may favor something darker, with plenty of faux bark showing on the front. Again here, there is no right answer, so just think about what will look best with your décor and what will match your tastes.
• How much flame you want to show. The layout of some log sets will obscure quite a bit of the flame, while other log arrangements are more open and allow for easy viewing of the flame. Yet again, it’s a matter of personal preference for how you want it to be set up.

Getting the Right Help

Once you have picked out the appropriate gas logs for your fireplace, the last step will be having them installed so you can get the fireplace up and running right away. For that, you’ll want to turn to the professional help of a team like the one at Berico. This is a job that isn’t well-suited to the average homeowner, as mistakes made in the installation could lead to a safety hazard. Trust the Berico team and know you’ll have many cozy nights in front of the gas fireplace ahead of you.

When you talk about HVAC service with some contractors, it can seem like they are speaking an entirely different language. Whether you need furnace repair, AC repair, or something else entirely, it’s important to know what your technician is talking about, so you can make an informed decision.

Berico makes it a point to talk to customers in plain language, but it’s still helpful to familiarize yourself with some of the commonly used terms in this industry. The definitions below should be a big help.

Ductwork
Starting with an easy one, ductwork is the metal conduits, usually square, that carry heated or cooled air through your home. If you have damage to your HVAC ducts, the air won’t circulate as efficiently, and you’ll be using more energy than necessary to get the results you desire.

BTUs
The acronym “BTU” stands for British Thermal Units, and this is a measurement used to quantify what a piece of HVAC equipment is capable of producing. A single BTU is the amount of energy required to boost the temperature of a pound of water by a single degree. If you are in the market for new HVAC equipment, you’ll likely see BTU ratings listed for various models.

Compressor
Essential to the functioning of an air conditioner, the compressor is a piece of equipment that adds pressure to a refrigerant as it moves through the system. If the compressor in your system fails, it won’t be able to cool air until it is repaired or replaced.

Filter
Playing a critical role in HVAC equipment for either heating or cooling, a filter is used to keep airborne particles from reaching your equipment and clogging things up. Changing your filter regularly is an important task.

Refrigerant
In an air conditioning system, the refrigerant flows through a line and moves in and out of a building. When inside, the refrigerant takes up heat energy and then carries it outside where it can be transferred to the outside environment. Then, the newly cooled refrigerant flows back into the building to pick up more heat and do it all over again. Sufficient refrigerant in the system is essential to get good performance out of your air conditioner.

Thermostat
The thermostat that controls your HVAC system is the brain of the operation, so it’s important that it is in good working order. Upgrading to a newer thermostat model could go a long way towards optimizing the performance of the system throughout the year.

Zone system
Rather than treating the whole home as a single zone, a zoned HVAC system is able to deliver different levels of heating and cooling to various parts of the house. In the end, you are left with a system that is more efficient than a single-zone layout, and you’ll be more comfortable on even the hottest and coldest of days.

Heat pump
The name of this type of HVAC equipment confuses some people, but it’s actually quite simple. A heat pump can work to either heat or cool a space, depending on the time of year and the weather outside. During the winter, the heat pump can augment the performance of a furnace to get better results while using less energy. In the summer, the heat pump serves as an air conditioner, pulling heat out of the house and bringing down the temperature.

As a new homeowner, you will want to be proactive to make sure that your HVAC system is kept up and running as efficiently as possible.   Failure to do so will likely result in higher costs for HVAC repair in Burlington or worse, result in a failure of a system that might otherwise have given you years and years of great service.

A few simple steps will help you to take care of your HVAC unit so you can keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter.  Some of the tips a new homeowner should keep in mind for your HVAC system include:

Check the Filters

Replacing your filters can help the unit run efficiently while keeping the airflow in your home clean. There are a number of factors to consider when determining when to change the filters including:

• Whether you have pets in the home.
• How many people live in the home.
• The type of filter you use
• Your proximity to a busy road

Your filter will likely need to be changed a minimum of two times a year but quarterly would be even better.

Check the Outdoor Unit

Your air conditioner can keep you nice and cool in the summer, but if it obstructed or is not draining well, you may have an urgent need for a Burlington HVAC company.  Your goal is to give the AC unit at least two feet of space from anything near it and look for any debris, dirt or growth that may be inhibiting the airflow. Consider scheduling an AC checkup if you are uncertain about the condition of the air conditioner and the furnace.

Check All Drains

While you are looking at your air conditioner, take the time to look at the drain line and make sure it drains properly. Your AC system will struggle to keep the home cool in the summer if the drain is clogged up and it is a simple fix that you can likely handle.

Do a Ductwork Inspection

It is a smart idea to have your ductwork inspected once a year. If anyone in the home has asthma or allergies, a thorough duct cleaning can help everyone to breathe better and will help keep the dirt and allergens out of the system. This also helps your HVAC system work more efficiently.

Have Routine Maintenance

Both your air conditioner and furnace need to have routine maintenance. Having a routine checkup twice a year will help to keep those surprise bills for “HVAC repair” in Burlington kept to a minimum. Choose an HVAC professional who will tune-up and clean the system and can take a look at everything and provide recommendations on which parts need to be replaced or repaired before the entire system goes down and you are in need of HVAC replacement.

As a new homeowner, it is hard to know what steps it takes to maintain your heating and cooling system and keep it going for years to come. The team at Berico is committed to helping you maintain your system and keep it in the best possible condition. Whether you have a question or would like a repair done, the Berico team is here to help. Contact Berico today to schedule your HVAC repair in Burlington or to get onboard with a regular HVAC maintenance program.  To learn more about the Berico Maintenance plans click here:  https://bericoinc.com/hvac-maintenance/