Posts made in August 2021

Ways to Reduce Stress on Your AC System

The weather has a significant impact on your HVAC system’s performance. When the weather in your neighborhood is humid and hot, it will stress your air conditioning system. Furthermore, the energy consumption and utility expenses will also increase from this stress. If you do not solve the problem in time your system will fail. Taking precautionary measures and routine checkups can extend the life expectancy of your cooling system. Here are some ways to reduce stress on your AC system:

1. Have the System Inspected Twice a Year

You can enhance the performance and improve the life of your HVAC system through routine maintenance. Hire a professional team twice a year for a complete inspection. The team will also clean the coils and air filters to improve the efficiency of the system. When your system is in optimal condition, you can reduce energy consumption and utility expenses.

2. Replace the Air Filter Often

Clogged filters can cause many problems to your system and indoor air quality. Therefore, it is essential to check the air filters every month. If you notice dust particles clogging the filters, you need to immediately replace them. Clogged filters will decrease the lifespan of your HVAC system and reduce efficiency. You also have to check the outdoor condenser for debris and accumulation of leaves. By cleaning the outdoor unit along with the filters, you will notice that the system will run smoothly.

3. Seal and Insulate the Air Ducts

Your AC system will consume more energy if the duct system is not properly insulated or sealed. You can consult a professional team to inspect the air duct and find the leaks. They will insulate and seal the ductwork reducing energy consumption. After the maintenance, you will notice that the system will work efficiently.

4. Install a Programmable Thermostat

You can also reduce stress from your AC system by increasing the temperature a bit especially when you are not home. As a result, you can reduce a significant amount on your utility bills and decrease stress. You can also install an automated thermostat that maintains the temperature according to the condition.

5. Minimize Heat Gain

Solar energy can increase the heat in your home stressing the system. When your curtains are open, sunlight will directly enter your home, making it warm. When this happens, the cooling system will stress due to overheating. You can close the shades or blinds during the daytime. Also, avoid heat-generating activities such as bathing, cooking, washing clothes or dishes when the sun is up. You can perform these activities at night when the temperature is naturally cooler.

Conclusion

You can hire a professional team to guide your methods of reducing stress over your AC system. At Cape Cod Solutions we have a team of experts in your neighborhood who will diagnose your HVAC system. They will advise you on the optimal solution to increase the longevity of the system. So, contact us now and let the professionals take care of your cooling system.

How to Make Your HVAC System Run More Efficiently?

Department of Energy reported that an HVAC system could consume about half of the energy on your utility expenses. This indicates that heating and cooling system is the largest consumption of energy in a U.S. home. But, you can improve the efficiency of the system and reduce the utility expense. In this article, we will share some pointers to help you reduce your energy consumption and make your HVAC system run more efficiently. So, let’s begin with our tips:

1. Clean Your Outdoor Condenser Unit

With time your outdoor consumption accumulates debris and dust. The build-up will reduce the performance of your HVAC unit. You can improve the efficiency by properly cleaning the unit. But, keep in mind that you will need a professional service provider for in-depth cleaning of the unit.

2. Vacuum Indoor Vents

Dust and debris do not target your outdoor unit, but it also builds up in the indoor supply vent. You can use a vacuum cleaner to remove the debris and dust from the vent. This will maintain the airflow passing through the system. Also, avoid blocking the vents with toys, furniture, and blinds. This will negatively influence the air quality.

3. Change the Temperature

You can save plenty of money by reducing temperature up to few degrees. During the winter season, you need to turn down the temperature to five to eight degrees. However, when the weather is hot can turn up the temperature. Adjusting the settings on the HVAC system will help reduce the energy and expense. You can install a programmable thermostat to automatically change the temperature.

4. Keep Heat Producing Products Away from Thermostat

When you keep the heat-producing appliances near the thermostat, it will miscalculate the room temperature. A programmable thermostat will automatically adjust the temperature. That way, the system will run longer and harder. Therefore, you need to change the position of heat-producing objects such as a lamp.

5. Clear the Drain Line

Your indoor cooling coil contains a drain line that drains water from the basement. When the drain line is clogged, the water will flood in your basement. You can add a cup of chlorine bleach to the air conditioning drain. Now add water and thoroughly rinse the drain line. Make sure that the drain line is clean during summer.

Conclusion

Your central air conditioning system won’t cost more with proper maintenance. But, for that, you need to understand the different parts and problems of the HVAC system. When you understand the complete mechanism of the system identifying the faulty component becomes easier. You can hire a professional HVAC cleaning and maintenance service once a year to keep your equipment run more efficiently. You can give us a call and consult with our experienced team. Our technicians will identify and solve the problems caused by the HVAC system. This will exponentially reduce your utility bills as well as increase the system’s longevity.

What to Ask Your Energy Auditor

Energy audits are a helpful tool for both residential and commercial property owners. An energy audit is meant to examine your current energy usage and offers advice on how that energy usage can be improved. Improving the energy efficiency in your home or business is important for multiple reasons. An energy-efficient building will result in lower monthly energy costs, a lower carbon footprint, and a more comfortable space!

Will You Review My Energy Bills Before Auditing?

Reviewing recent energy bills before the audit begins will give your auditor a better idea of what your current energy usage looks like. An auditor that doesn’t seem interested in your recent energy bills is not a reliable auditor!

Will You Do a Blower Door Test?

A blower door test is a test done using a fan that mounts to an exterior door of the building. This test allows the energy auditor to check the airtightness of your home. More importantly, it makes it easier for them to pinpoint exactly where the building lacks a good seal. A building with air leaks will struggle to maintain a consistent temperature, leading to higher energy bills. Always confirm a blower door test will be a part of the energy audit before scheduling!

What’s Included in the Final Audit Report?

Your final audit report will be the written documentation of the audit findings and recommendations. Ask your auditor what that report is going to include. A good energy audit report should include a detailed list of what they found, and suggestions to improve the space’s energy efficiency. The format of the report will often depend on the software used to record the audit information and recommendations. Ensure that the report shows the estimated cost to install each energy-saving recommendation and any applicable rebates or discounts, as well as the estimated energy savings that will happen after installation. This information allows you to weigh the cost of installation versus the potential savings and determine what can fit into your budget.

Are You Licensed to Perform Energy Audits?

The Building Performance Institute is the institute that provides training and accreditation for Mass Save energy auditors. Ask your auditor if they’re Building Analysts certified through BPI. Also, all Mass Save auditing companies must have one individual in the company who is BPI Envelope certified. You will then know any installations you decide to make after the audit is complete are going to improve your home. Hiring an auditor who isn’t licensed is a big risk that isn’t worth saving a couple of bucks!

Contact Cape Cod Energy Solutions today to speak with a BPI-certified auditor and installer in your area. Our team can explain exactly what the audit process will look like, and how it can benefit your home. All Mass Save Home Energy Assessments are conducted at No-Cost to eligible primary utility account holders. Let us get you on the schedule for an energy audit before cold winter weather and high heating bills return!

Unrealistic Energy Savings Estimates

Energy audits frequently give property owners unrealistic expectations regarding potential energy savings. While it’s important to get an idea of how much energy you could save by making certain changes, overestimating the savings is harmful. If you’re expecting to save X amount of dollars for making the recommended energy savings but only end up saving a quarter of that estimate, were the changes really worth it? Energy audits should only be done using reputable sources for energy-saving calculations.

Incorrect Installation Cost Estimates

During an energy audit, you should receive a cost estimate for the installation of the recommended energy-saving changes. An incorrect installation estimate will make it impossible to budget for your upcoming energy-saving projects properly. The best way to ensure you’re getting a correct installation cost estimate is to get an energy audit performed by someone with years of industry experience. The more experienced, the easier it is to estimate what a specific project will cost since the energy auditor can use previous similar projects as a reference point.

Poor Explanations

A good energy audit will have each aspect of the inspection clearly broken down with a detailed description of energy usage and ways you could save, if applicable. An energy audit lacking detailed descriptions will be more confusing than helpful. Anything in the building that’s using energy should be included in the final audit descriptions.

Missed Energy Savings

By far the most common energy audit mistake is missed energy savings. An energy audit needs to be a comprehensive compilation of all potential areas of energy savings. This ranges from HVAC updates to lighting updates and so much more! When you have a complete list of the potential ways you could save, you can accurately decide where to invest your money. An energy audit that’s missing an area of potential savings is asking you to make a budgetary decision without all the necessary information.

If you’re in need of a reputable and experienced company for an energy audit on your property, contact Cape Cod Energy Solutions today! Our team has been educated on the common mistakes made during energy audits, combined with years of hands-on training, so you can rest easy knowing none of these mistakes will occur during your energy audit.

Posts made in August 2021

Ways to Reduce Stress on Your AC System

1. Have the System Inspected Twice a Year

2. Replace the Air Filter Often

3. Seal and Insulate the Air Ducts

4. Install a Programmable Thermostat

5. Minimize Heat Gain

Conclusion

How to Make Your HVAC System Run More Efficiently?

1. Clean Your Outdoor Condenser Unit

2. Vacuum Indoor Vents

3. Change the Temperature

4. Keep Heat Producing Products Away from Thermostat

5. Clear the Drain Line

Conclusion

What to Ask Your Energy Auditor

Will You Review My Energy Bills Before Auditing?

Will You Do a Blower Door Test?

What’s Included in the Final Audit Report?

Are You Licensed to Perform Energy Audits?

Top Energy Audit Problems You Should Know

Unrealistic Energy Savings Estimates

Incorrect Installation Cost Estimates

Poor Explanations

Missed Energy Savings

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