Tag: heating
| How Your Thermostat Can Save You Over $180 Per Year |
| 2013.05.20 12:00:00 | |
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There is an easy way to save more than $180 a year on your air conditioning and heating costs and it is probably already hanging on a wall in your home. The little box that controls your home’s temperature is key in providing efficient heating and cooling to your home. Here are three tips to help you save more than $180 a year on energy costs using only your thermostat.
Use Your Time Wisely
If you are like most of us, you are away from your home at least eight hours a day and asleep for another eight. If you are paying to heat and cool your home to the same temperature all day long, you have not taken full advantage of your programmable thermostat.
According to ENERGY STAR, you can reduce your yearly energy bill by as much as $180 every year by installing and using a programmable thermostat. To maximize your energy savings, adopt a schedule similar to the ones below:
Example Summer Schedule:
* Wake at 6:00 a.m. – temperature is set at or above 78° F.
* Leave for work at 8:00 a.m. – temperature automatically increases 7° F.
* Come home from work at 6:00 p.m. – temperature returns to or above 78° F.
* Go to sleep at 10:00 p.m. – temperature raises at least 4° F.
Example Winter Schedule
* Wake at 6:00 a.m. – temperature is set at or below 70° F.
* Leave for work at 8:00 a.m. – temperature automatically decreases 8° F.
* Come home from work at 6:00 p.m. – temperature returns to or below 70° F.
* Go to sleep at 10:00 p.m. – temperature falls at least 8° F
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Programming your thermostat similar to the schedules above will help you take full advantage of the energy savings of a programmable thermostat.
Give Your Air Conditioner and Heater a Vacation
When you go on vacation, or are away from home a day or more, give your air conditioner or heater a break, too. Programmable thermostats have a vacation setting or hold button that allows you to override its pre-programmed settings. By making sure your heater and air conditioner run only minimally while you are gone, you can increase your energy savings even more.
Get in The Zone
Many homes have zoned heating and air conditioning systems. If your home comfort system is zoned, install a programmable thermostat in each zone and enjoy the maximum amount of energy savings.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Bradbury Brothers services most of southern Montgomery County including The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Montgomery, Oak Ridge North, Pinehurst,Shenandoah as well as northern Harris county including Cypress, Klein, Spring and Tomball. Visit our website at www.BradburyBrothers.com and check out our special offers.
Tags: energy savings | programmable thermostat | Texas | Bradbury Brothers | The Woodlands | heating | air conditioning |
| Problems With Your HVAC System? Could Be Your Thermostat |
| 2013.05.06 12:00:00 | |
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Is your heating and cooling system not turning on? Does it shut off before reaching the desired temperature? Does it continuously turn on and off in short cycles? Don’t immediately blame your heater or air conditioner. The true culprit could be your thermostat. Although small, your thermostat plays a significant role in your home’s comfort and it could be the real issue is one of these three common thermostat problems.
Bad Location
By far, the most common thermostat problem is improper placement. It sounds minor, but where you place your thermostat in your home plays a large role in your comfort level and your system’s efficiency. If a thermostat is placed too close to a vent or in direct sunlight, it will give inaccurate readings or cause your heating and cooling system to work harder than it needs to.
Where to place your thermostat:
* Out of direct sunlight – If the thermostat is getting a lot of direct sun, it will register a higher temperature than the rest of your home. That means in the winter during the day your heater won’t turn on, and in the summer your air conditioner will work overtime.
* Away from vents – Thermostats that are placed too closely to vents often shut off your comfort system prematurely. For example, a thermostat may turn on your cooling system, but the vent quickly cools the area around the thermostat, causing it to turn off the air conditioner before the rest of the home is cooled.
* Near the center of your home – Ideally, your thermostat should be reading the median (average) temperature of your home. This ensures more even heating and cooling throughout your home. Hallways just outside bedrooms are usually good places. Keep it away from kitchens and any appliances that give off heat.
Accumulation of Dirt or Dust
Over time, dust and dirt accumulate on the inside of your thermostat. This can lead to inaccurate temperature readings that cause your cooling and heating system to function incorrectly. To fix this common thermostat problem, remove the housing and use a soft brush to gently clean the moving parts.
Old, Inaccurate Model
It may be that your thermostat problem is simply a result of an older thermostat that could benefit from being replaced. Older mercury-based thermostats are less accurate than today’s digital, electronic thermostats. Modern programmable thermostats regulate your temperature within one or two degrees of accuracy and help you save up to 15% on your energy bills by only running your system when you are home and awake.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Bradbury Brothers services most of southern Montgomery County including The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Montgomery, Oak Ridge North, Pinehurst, Shenandoah as well as northern Harris county including Cypress, Klein, Spring and Tomball. Visit our website at www.BradburyBrothers.com and check out our special offers.
Tags: air conditioning | The Woodlands | Bradbury Brothers | Texas | programmable thermostat | energy savings | heating |
| What’s The Best Time of Year to Get an Annual Service Check for My Cooling and Heating System? |
| 2013.02.04 12:00:00 | |
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One of the best and easiest ways to ensure consistently low heating and cooling bills — as well as adding many faithful and functional years of service from your HVAC system — is to simply make and keep bi-annual service and maintenance appointments with a reputable local HVAC technician. Bradbury Brothers offers full service for heating and cooling systems. Contact us any time, and we’ll have an expert answer any questions you have and provide any services you need. Tags: air conditioning maintenance | air conditioning repair | AC repair | air conditioning | cooling | air conditioner | furnaces | heaters | repair | tune-up | Bradbury Brothers | The Woodlands | HVAC | maintenance | heating | heater | HVAC maintenance | TX |
