Thinking of doing a home renovation? Whether it’s just one room or your entire home, you can prepare to save money by keeping energy efficiency at the forefront of your project. Most houses, especially older homes, could benefit from new technology. Major advancements have been made in the manufacturing of appliances, insulation, plumbing, and more that allow homeowners to use significantly less energy. While you’re renovating, you might as well save yourself some money now and in the future by making some energy saving improvements such as a new heating and air system.

Before you start your remodeling project, it helps to have a professional energy audit performed on your home to uncover any energy drains that could be costing you extra each month. Berico offers free energy audits for anyone who wants to reduce their household energy usage.

Potential Areas that are Energy Drains in Your Home

• Appliances
• Ducts
• Lights
• Plumbing
• Electronics
• Air conditioners
• Furnaces
• Windows
• Doors
• Insulation
• Basements
• Attics

Outdated appliances or leaky ductwork can waste a lot of energy in your home. Places where cold air leaks in during the winter or where hot air gets in over the summer cause your HVAC system to work much harder and run more often to heat or cool your home. Older appliances waste a lot of energy when compared to newer appliances. Even the type of lightbulbs you use can make a difference. Remodeling gives you the opportunity to reevaluate your home and make energy efficient upgrades.

Install a New Heating and Air System for the Biggest Energy Savings

If you really want to see a noticeable difference in your energy bill, start by replacing your biggest appliances like your HVAC system. Heating and cooling account for at least half of the energy usage in the average American home. Advances in technology have brought us high-efficiency HVAC systems that use a fraction of what older systems require. An air conditioner that is even 8 years old is significantly less efficient than a newer model. Furnaces tend to last longer and therefore get replaced much less often than air conditioners, which means there’s a good chance you have an old, inefficient heating system right now. If you are remodeling, especially if you’re adding onto your home, it’s a great time to consider a new home comfort system. Adding significant square footage to your home most likely means you will need a bigger HVAC system that can handle the additional space.

Of course the biggest reward comes from the biggest investment. You may find that HVAC replacement pays for itself in the long run in the form of lower monthly bills. Save money by watching for specials, discounts, and rebates on energy efficient systems from your HVAC company. Many offer discounts to new customers as well as loyal customers on AC and furnace replacement.

Next Stop for Major Energy Savings: The Kitchen

If you’re renovating your kitchen, upgrading appliances is a basically a must. Refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, and microwaves all use a significant amount of your household energy budget. Upgrading to energy efficient appliances will help keep your monthly utility bills lower, from electricity to water. Besides, new appliances will go a long way toward helping you achieve a fresh look for your kitchen and add significant resale value to your home. Lighting is another aspect of any kitchen remodel that provides an opportunity to save energy. The use of fluorescent, halogen, or LED bulbs require less energy, give off more light, and emanate less heat, thus saving energy in multiple ways.

Bathroom Renovation: Conserve Both Water and Energy for Double the Savings

Remodeling your bathroom offers many opportunities to save money. Start by installing a low flow showerhead in your new shower or tub. Try to avoid the temptation to install multiple showerheads. It may be luxurious, but it doubles, if not triples, the amount of water used when you shower. You can also conserve water with a low flow toilet and reduce your water usage by 500 gallons a year simply by installing an efficient sink faucet. This also allows your water heater to produce less hot water, which saves significant energy. Consider a tankless water heater for the optimum energy savings. It may cost more up front, but the advantages outweigh the costs. A tankless water heater heats water on demand, eliminating the need for a tank and ensuring that there is a limitless supply of hot water in your home.

High efficiency exhaust fans, lighting, and alternate heating elements are some ways to save electricity in the bathroom. Radiant floor heating is much more efficient and feels warmer for bathrooms than forced air heat. Fluorescent, LED, and halogen bulbs work well in bathrooms where a lot of light is required. Installing a high efficiency bathroom fan and using it sparingly can also help use less electricity and regulate indoor temperature.

Insulation: How to Quit Fighting a Losing Battle

One of the biggest energy drains in your home could be lack of proper insulation. When your home was built, most likely, there was insulation installed in all the usual places like walls and ceilings. But as a home settles and endures varying temperatures and humidity, cracks can form in walls, around doors and windows, and in floors. Weather stripping around doors wears out over time as the rubber hardens and cracks. Extra caulking around window pains and door frames can help keep outdoor air where it belongs, outside. Adding or replacing weather stripping around doors goes a long way toward keeping outdoor air from leaking in. A remodeling project is an opportunity to improve on or increase insulation. If you are adding onto your home, make sure the new part is fully insulated from the beginning and you’ll save a lot of energy.

Ductwork is an often overlooked area when it comes to insulation. When you have a forced air HVAC system in place, the air travels through a series of ducts to the vents in each room of your home. If ductwork is leaky or not properly insulated, conditioned air can escape and outside air can get in, causing your furnace and air conditioner to work overtime. Be sure to have the ductwork installed by a professional in any new part of your home to be heated or cooled to ensure proper insulation and operation.

Save on your Renovation with Professional, Reliable HVAC Replacement by the Experts at Berico

Saving energy directly translates to saving money. If you want to save money, start with a free energy audit by Berico. An expert technician will evaluate your home and find your biggest energy drains, then come up with a comprehensive plan to help you fix them. From furnace replacement to ductwork installation, Berico provides solutions to save you money and make your home more comfortable. A home renovation project offers the perfect opportunity to reevaluate your household energy usage and make a positive change. Whether you’re remodeling current rooms in your home, adding on, or finishing a basement or attic space, you can plan for the future and keep energy costs low. Check out the current specials on a new heating and air system and professional installation by Berico.

Do you attempt to control the temperature in different rooms of your home by closing the registers or vents? Maybe there are certain rooms that don’t get used as much or some family members have different opinions of what the desired indoor temperature should be. You may think that this practice is helping you save energy and allowing your HVAC system to work more efficiently, but in actuality, you are likely doing more harm than good. In fact, you could be increasing your chances of needing oil furnace repair in Reidsville, NC, as a result of this practice. Here’s why.

1. HVAC systems are designed to heat and cool a certain amount of space. Furnaces and air conditioners are sized according to the total square feet to be heated or cooled. When you take even one room out of the equation, your system won’t work properly.
2. You are rendering your variable-speed motor useless. If you happen to have an HVAC system with a variable-speed motor, closing some of your vents will cause the motor to run at high speed for longer, negating the efficiency benefits.
3. It restricts air flow. With a single-speed motor, closing some of your registers will impede air flow between rooms and throughout the ductwork, which causes the rest of your home to heat or cool unevenly.
4. It may result in leaks in your ductwork. Closing some of your vents puts extra pressure on your entire system, which can cause your ducts to develop leaks. This means air can seep in and out of the ducts when it shouldn’t.
5. Your evaporator coil could freeze over. When it comes to your air conditioner, low air flow from closing registers can lead to a frozen evaporator coil, which prevents your AC from cooling your home.
6. Your compressor could break. Extra pressure on your system could lead to a broken compressor, which is the part responsible for circulating refrigerant throughout your HVAC system. No compressor equals no cool air.

If you are concerned that closing your registers has done damage to your heat or AC, contact Carolina Fuels for oil furnace repair in Reidsville, NC, as well as for repair of any other type of system from propane, to gas, to electric.

What are some alternative solutions?

Instead of closing some of your vents, consider applying a zone temperature control system in your home. This could be a separate zone and thermostat for your upstairs and your downstairs, or a separate zone for your basement. A zone system allows you to heat and cool certain areas of your home to different temperatures. The ductwork leading to certain rooms can be closed off from the rest of the ducts with a damper system. Certain HVAC models are designed to handle multi-zone households. If you are interested in upgrading to a multi-zone HVAC system, contact Carolina Fuels. Expert technicians can install a new HVAC system in your home quickly and accurately, ensuring proper operation. Carolina Fuels also offers oil furnace repair in Reidsville, NC, and a full range of home comfort services from propane delivery to annual tune-ups. Call (336) 623-9741.

Each new year is full of hope and endless possibilities. Make this the year of a happy home by taking the time to properly maintain it. Start the new year off right around the home by taking the following steps to be sure your house is ready for the year ahead.

• Furnace Repair in Greensboro, NC, is one of the most important steps you can take to prepare your home for a new year. The ideal time for furnace maintenance is in the late summer or early fall, but better late than never. The coldest months in North Carolina are usually January and February, so it’s crucial that your furnace is in good condition. A heating system tune-up involves inspecting, cleaning, and repairing your furnace to prevent potential problems. Reduce your chances of furnace failure on a cold day or night by calling your HVAC company to come and service your system.
• Refill Propane and Heating Oil Tanks. If you heat your home with propane or heating oil, the new year is a good time for tank refills. Running out of fuel is very inconvenient during cold weather for a variety of reasons. One of those reasons is that you are at the mercy of the current fuel prices and possible shortages, meaning you may pay more for your fuel during the coldest months of the year. Another reason is that allowing your tank to get completely empty results in a more complicated and more expensive refill process. And the most obvious reason is that you’ll be feeling pretty chilly inside while you wait for a refill. You may even have to pay after-hours or emergency fees for night or weekend deliveries. Avoid running out of heating fuel by signing up for regular refills with your supplier.
• Replace Batteries in Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors. An important safety precaution, testing your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replacing the batteries ensures a safe year for your family. Even if the batteries are not dead, replacing them means you’ll be sure your detectors are ready to warn you if necessary. And you can avoid that annoying chirp that wakes you up in the middle of the night while you stumble around in the dark trying to figure out which one is going off. Also make sure you have a working fire extinguisher in your kitchen.

Put your Home in the Reliable Hands of Berico this Year

If you’re not already a Berico customer, you could be missing out on some real advantages. Berico is an all-in-one home comfort service, meaning every aspect of your home’s climate control can be handled by expertly trained technicians. Heating and cooling system maintenance, repair, and installation can be taken care of by Berico no matter what brand or model you have. If you require heating fuel, Berico delivers propane and heating oil when you need it or on a predetermined schedule based on usage and weather. Be sure your home is ready for the year ahead by calling Berico at (336) 273-8663.

Do you want the ambience of a fire in your fireplace without the hassle of hauling wood and shoveling ashes? Do you want to avoid the smell of wood smoke in your home? Gas logs are a cleaner, easier alternative to a traditional wood fireplace. But it is important to be just as careful with gas logs as with wood. Gas log fireplaces have a specific set of safety precautions that must be followed to keep your home and family safe. If you currently own or are considering converting to gas logs in Greensboro, NC, be sure to follow these safety tips.

1. Do not install gas logs yourself. This process should only be performed by a licensed contractor. Gas lines and electrical wires should only be handled by trained technicians who have experience with installation or conversion of gas log fireplaces.
2. Check county and city building codes. There are restrictions on gas log fireplaces in residential areas. Be sure you and your contractor look into the county and city codes regarding the installation of gas log fireplaces in your area/home before making any changes.
3. Be sure all necessary detectors are installed. Carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, and oxygen depletion sensors should all be in place to ensure safe operation of your gas logs.
4. Have your chimney swept. If you are converting from a wood fireplace to a gas log fireplace it is very important to be sure your chimney is clear of all debris and soot.
5. Schedule routine maintenance for your gas logs in Greensboro, NC. Proper and safe operation of a gas log fireplace depends on yearly maintenance by a professional. This is an important step each year that should be taken care of before your fireplace is used. Maintenance should include a thorough cleaning of the logs, accessories, fan, air circulation passages, vents, and the glass screen. Your carbon monoxide detector should be tested and the batteries replaced.
6. If you smell gas: make sure all people immediately leave the home. Call 911 from a safe distance.
7. If you notice unusual smells or a change in the appearance of the flames: call your gas log service provider or another gas log fireplace professional.
8. Be sure you know how to use your vented or unvented logs. If your gas log fireplace is vented, make sure your chimney flue is locked in the open position. If unvented be sure you limit your use to a few hours at a time to avoid excessive carbon monoxide buildup.

Have your Gas Logs Installed or Serviced by Berico for Safe Operation this Winter

Safety is of utmost importance when it comes to fireplaces of all kinds. Berico wants to make sure you and your family will be safe this winter as you heat your home. If you are thinking of converting from a wood fireplace to gas logs in Greensboro, NC, a licensed Berico technician can perform this installation and recommend the best option for your home. If you already have gas logs, Berico can service them to ensure safe and efficient operation. Call for a free estimate or to schedule service: (336) 273-8663.