You probably already know that insulation is an important part of every home. It keeps your home warm in the winter and cools in the summer, whether your furnace or your AC is running. If your energy bill has been high, you may have insufficient insulation, or you could be in need of Greensboro AC repair. 

Wondering if insulation, or lack of sufficient insulation, maybe the culprit? Here are 7 ways your home’s insulation can affect your energy bill. 

Insufficient Insulation can Lower Energy-Efficiency

If any area of your home is not sufficiently insulated, outside air can seep in and inside air (the conditioned air you don’t want to lose) can seep out. These are the most common areas where the air is getting in or out, causing energy loss. 

 

• Attic. The attic is one of the most common areas of the home where sufficient insulation is very important. Many attics are ventilated in order to protect the roof, meaning outside air flows freely in and out. Insulation is installed between the attic floor and the ceiling below to prevent the outside air from seeping into the living areas of the home and to prevent loss of conditioned air. 

• Walls. Insufficient insulation in exterior walls can allow air to seep in and out, making it difficult for your furnace or AC to maintain the desired indoor temperature. This causes your HVAC system to use more energy, making your bill higher. 

• Floor. Whether your home is on a slab, crawlspace, or basement foundation, a lot of warmth can be lost through the floor and a lot of cold can seep in. Insulation in the floor is just as important as the other areas of your home. 

• Crawlspace. Even if your floor is well insulated, a lot of air can get in or out through the crawlspace. Consider having your crawlspace sealed and well insulated to save energy and lower your monthly bill. 

• Doors and Windows. Weatherstripping around doors is another type of insulation to keep air from seeping in and out through cracks between your door and the frame. Double-pane insulated windows prevent cold and heat from getting in through the glass. Properly insulated windows and doors can noticeably lower your energy bill. 

• Basement. A basement is often cooler because it’s below ground level. The cold is good in the summer, but not so much in the winter. Sufficient insulation and basement sealing can keep both cold and moisture out of your basement, which in turn keeps it from rising up into the main level of your home. 

• Ductwork. Leaky or poorly insulated ductwork can have a significant effect on the efficiency of your HVAC system. When the air is heated or cooled it is then blown through the ducts and out through the vents into your home. If the ducts are leaky or the insulation is weak you could be losing a lot of conditioned air and getting a lot of unwanted outside air blown into your home. Your HVAC system then has to work harder to achieve a comfortable indoor temperature, essentially fighting a losing battle. Greensboro AC repair services can inspect your ductwork and make any necessary corrections. 

 

Get a Free Home Energy Audit from Berico Heating and Air

If you feel that your energy bills are abnormally high, you are an ideal candidate for a free energy audit. Berico can inspect your home’s insulation and HVAC system to identify areas that could be more energy-efficient. Greensboro AC repair and some insulation upgrades may be all you need to lower your bills and have more money each month. Call Berico today to schedule your free energy audit: (336) 273-8663.

Spring is a season of fresh starts. Many people perform a spring cleaning regiment both inside and outside of their home. Whether or not you do any spring cleaning, it’s important to clean your propane appliances each year, and spring is an ideal time to do it. Greensboro propane supplier, Berico, suggests these spring cleaning tips for your propane appliances.

Your Furnace Needs Yearly Cleaning and Maintenance

It may seem counter-productive to clean you propane furnace at the end of the heating season, but there’s actually a good reason to do so. After a long, cold winter your furnace has worked hard to keep your home warm and cozy for the past few months. Soot, dust, and dirt have likely built up in your furnace, filters, and ducts. When that stuff sits in your system during the hot, humid months it can cause rusting and other damage to your furnace. For thorough cleaning, call Berico and schedule a tune-up. The experts know just what to do to clean up your furnace at the end of the cold season.

It’s Time to Fire Up the Grill for some Backyard Barbecues—But First, Clean it

Your grill has probably been sitting outside all winter, perhaps under a cover, but still unused and exposed to the elements. Even if it’s been inside a garage or screened-in porch the dust and grime can build up inside. Scrub the grates and the inside of the grill. Empty the drip can. If your propane tank is still connected, check the connection and the condition of the tank itself. Also, check the propane level and get a refill or swap your tank if necessary. Make sure your grill is clean and free of debris before you light it for the first time.

Clean all your Indoor Propane Appliances from the Fireplace Logs to the Clothes Dryer

• Cleaning Fireplace Logs. When it comes to propane fireplace logs, yearly cleaning is important, especially for the non-vented type. Follow these step-by-step instructions for cleaning your gas fireplace logs. Or take the easier, safer route and call Berico for this service.
• Cleaning your Clothes Dryer. The biggest issue with clothing dryers is lint build up. Follow these instructions for deep cleaning your dryer. Be sure to always turn off the propane supply to your dryer before cleaning.
• Cleaning your Water Heater. Plumbers recommend flushing your water heater yearly. It could be a DIY project with experience, but it may be best to call your plumber for this service. When it comes to propane water heaters, the propane line and related parts should be inspected and cleaned by your propane supplier. Berico can handle this portion.

Berico can Clean all of your Greensboro Propane Appliances in One Maintenance Appointment

The most convenient way to spring clean all of your propane appliances is to let Berico do it for you. Call and schedule a maintenance appointment this spring and get all of your appliances cleaned and tuned up at once. Berico will also inspect your propane tank and gas line and refill it if needed. You’ll be ahead of the game way before fall when you’ll need your furnace again. Call Berico, your trusted Greensboro propane supplier and schedule an appointment today: (336) 273-8663.

HVAC systems (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) are not all the same. Choosing the right one is a very important decision. Follow these tips and get an expert recommendation from Alamance Oil before you schedule air conditioning installation in Burlington.

Bigger is Not Always Better

It’s a common myth that a bigger HVAC system will make your home more comfortable and will run more efficiently. In fact, the opposite is true. Buying a system that is too big or too small for your home will cause it to fail to achieve the desired indoor temperature and can cause other issues from constant cycling to icing over. Ask the HVAC experts to recommend the right size system for the square footage and layout of your home before you purchase any equipment.

Some Systems Boast Unrealistic SEER Ratings

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is a rating assigned to every HVAC system that suggests what kind of energy efficiency you can expect over a season of use. Similar to the gas mileage on a car, the number is not definite, but a suggestion or an estimate. Any system above a 14 SEER is considered efficient, with some systems being rated as high as 18 or 20 SEER. Some systems claim to reach a SEER of 21-25, but that is really an unrealistic rating. Those systems are also priced on the high end of the spectrum where the efficiency rarely ever makes up for the cost. It may be in your best interest to consider a system with a realistic SEER of between 14 and 18.

Online Reviews are one of the Best Sources of Information about HVAC System Quality

Take the time to research HVAC systems. Read reviews, compare brands, and see what real consumers are saying about some of the systems out there. Certain brands are known for quality and longevity, and you’ll see that some models always get the best reviews. Don’t purchase a system for which there is little or no information to be found. That should be a red flag to you that the manufacturer or model isn’t very popular, and probably for good reason.

Get a Recommendation from your Trusted HVAC Company

Alamance Oil has decades of experience repairing and installing a wide variety of HVAC systems. The best advice is likely to come from a professional heating and air conditioning specialist, who knows which systems break down often and which don’t, which systems last for 20 plus years and which ones will give you barely 10, and which are the most energy efficient.

Alamance Oil Offers more than just Air Conditioning Installation in Burlington

When you work with Alamance Oil you also get the benefit of HVAC expertise. Alamance Oil will recommend the best system for your home based on size, SEER, reviews, past performance, and any other helpful information. You can rest assured that you’ll be purchasing the right system in addition to quality air conditioning installation in Burlington. If you need a new HVAC system, call Alamance Oil first: (336) 226-9371.