Water Heater Timer

If you have an electric water heater, you can save an additional 5%–12% of energy by installing a timer that turns it off at night when you don't use hot water.  Contact your utility provider to see if a demand management program is available.  Some utilities offer "time of use" electricity rates that vary according to the demand on their system. They charge higher rates during "on-peak" times and lower rates during "off-peak" times. You may be charged a different rate according to the month as well.  Some even offer incentives to customers who allow them to install control devices that shut off electric water heaters during peak demand periods.

Go Green! HVAC

As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort.  When it comes to your HVAC system, there are many steps you can take to ensure efficiency and a greener, healthier lifestyle.  Read on to learn more.

Install a High Efficiency HVAC System

In January 2006, the Department of Energy increased the minimum SEER from 10 to 13. SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) indicates the efficiencies of different types of equipment. The majority of systems installed before 1992 are 10 SEER or below and will continue to drop in efficiency as the systems age.  Offering Bryant and Trane high efficiency equipment, we have helped many consumers achieve their highest comfort expectations, while maintaining lower energy bills.     Not only do Trane systems meet the government standard; in many cases, they exceed it.   For instance, replacing your 8 SEER system with a higher efficiency Trane matched system, can provide up to a 59% savings.  The Bryant ultra-high efficient, reliable Evolution® Heat Pump offers 18 SEER cooling and heating efficiency, plus 2-stage operation for energy-saving comfort. Its year-round value has earned it a Consumer Digest Best Buy recommendation.  Offering high efficiency equipment is one way we can help our customers live greener and healthier.  Comfort Care also offers the availability of 12 months deferred financing on all of our products.  This is especially helpful in cases of system failures.

Note: In cooperation with the Montreal Protocol to protect the Ozone Layer, R22 (the older refrigerant) equipment as of the beginning of 2010, will be obsolete.  The manufacturers will NOT be able to make the equipment.

Change that Filter!

Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter /summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month or so, change it.  Minimally, you should change the filter every 3 months.  A dirty filter will slow down the air flow which makes the system work harder to keep you warm or cool, resulting in wasted energy.  Clean filters also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system, which leads to expensive maintenance and can lead to a shorter lifespan for your system.

Get a Tune up!

Find a contractor that offers regular system preventive maintenance on at least an annual basis.  At Comfort Care, we offer bi-annual preventive maintenance contracts for our customers, with a reminder system to help ensure the systems we service are running smoothly and efficiently all year round.  Your car gets a regular tune-up to improve gas mileage.  A preventive maintenance will do the same for your HVAC system.

Breathe Clean Air

A lot of things in the air affect our health.  Pollen is not only outside, but we carry it inside on our clothes.  Over 28 million Americans suffer from hay fever and allergies.  Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 compounds that coat your home’s interior with a harmful residue that can aggravate allergies and asthma.  Those who suffer from asthma know how important it is to control environmental conditions inside their homes.  Hot, cold, dusty or dry air can trigger an attack.  Loving our pets, doesn’t mean we have to love the dander they bring into our homes.  Even previous occupants who had pets can leave behind polluted air.  No matter how we dust, it’s just still there.  In fact, the average home generates 40 pounds of dust annually, for every 1500 sq ft.  Our furniture and carpeting can affect the quality of the air we breathe.  Aside from harboring dust, smoke, and allergens, they can also release harmful pollutants from the processes used to manufacture them.  Humid air, or air that is too moist for too long, can allow harmful bacteria, mildew, and other organic irritants to grow.  On the contrary, air that is too dry for too long can be detrimental as well.  Dry air brings about dry skin, and allows dust and other particulate matter to circulate more easily around the home.  Irregular heating or cooling keeps the air from being as comfortable and clean as possible.   We are pleased to offer the Trane CleanEffects Clean Air System for clean air throughout your entire home.  Trane CleanEffects utilizes patented, breakthrough air cleaning technology to remove up to an astounding 99.98% of airborne allergens from the air that passes through the filter, making it 8 times more effective than even the best HEPA room filters and up to 100 times more effective than a standard 1" filter.

Other Go Green! Tips for Energy Saving and Healthy Living