Install a carbon monoxide detector to warn of harmful gases that may be entering your home because of a blocked or damaged chimney or faulty heating system.
CO Detector
read more
HVAC
Low-E Coating
Double-pane windows with low-e coating on the glass reflect heat back into the room during the winter months.
Air Conditioner Size
Two major decisions should guide your purchase of a room air conditioner. Buy a correctly sized unit. Buy an energy-efficient unit. If the room is very sunny, increase capacity by 10%. If the unit is for a kitchen, increase the capacity by 4,000 Btu per hour.
Chimney Flashing
Have your chimney flashing (the seal between the chimney and the roof) inspected and maintained. Flashing prevents rain water and snow melt from entering your home and causing costly damage to your walls and ceilings.
Bathroom Ventilation
For bathrooms, ASHRAE 62.99 recommends that you exhaust 25 cubic feet per minute (cfm) with a continuously operating fan, or 50 cfm with a fan that you turn on and off as needed. Note that you might incorporate a bath fan into your overall ventilation strategy.
Workshop Ventilation
Make sure that you have an adequate way to remove dust and fumes from your workshop. If your workshop has two windows that face each other, open one and put a fan that blows outward in the other. If not, an exhaust fan should be installed.
Ceiling Fan Benefits
Running a ceiling fan in the summer can make you feel 4 degrees cooler, even without air conditioning. Remember to run your ceiling fan counter-clockwise in the summer and clockwise in the winter.
Chimney Safety
Most fires involving either masonry or prefabricated metal chimneys occur because of improper installation, use or maintenance. Here are a few of the most common causes: chimney installation too close to wood framing; thermal insulation too close to the chimney; and, passing the stovepipe or chimney through a ceiling or wall, causing ignition of wood framing. Also, always operate your appliance within the manufacturer’s recommended temperature limits. Too low a temperature increases creosote buildup, and too high a temperature may eventually cause damage to the chimney and result in a fire.
Chimney Breath
Do you have a smelly fireplace? “Chimney Breath” is most often caused by moisture, rain, or high humidity. Have your chimney cleaned early in the spring to make the humid summer days less odiforous.
HVAC Shopping
Shop during the off-season. Many heating and cooling manufacturers offer significant rebates during seasonal sales promotions, and dealers may charge less for installation.
