5 Ways to Save on Your Utility Bill

If you work hard at your job, you want to make sure you keep as much of your pay as possible. Spending too much on your utility bill is one of the most frustrating things you can experience and it is very common.

However, you can get it lower, so you can keep more in your pockets. The following are five ways to save on your utility bill that will add up quickly:

Utilize Ceiling Fans

It may not make sense for you to use more electricity to turn on ceiling fans when you are trying to save money, but turning them on low will actually push the warm air down.

In turn, this will actually reduce the amount of energy your heating system will use and save you more money in the end.

Candlelight

Many people often install dimmer switches in their Boston homes, so they can have more romantic lighting. While dimmer switches will save you money, take it a step further and start using candlelight.

If you are having dinner, turn off the lights and light the candles. It will save you a lot of money if you do this often.

Insulate the Garage

If you have an attached garage, chances are likely that you are losing a lot of heat through the shared walls and ceiling. Insulating the ceiling and the walls in your garage can quickly lower your utility bills. You will also want to insulate your garage door and weatherize it to make sure the cold air is not getting in and the heat is not escaping.

Open and Close the Shades

In the winter, you are losing out on a lot of potential heat from the sun if you keep your shades closed. Opening them will provide your Boston home with some extra heat, which will cut back on your heating costs. In the summer, close the shades during the day to keep your home cooler and cut back on the energy that your air conditioner is using.

Check the Time

Your electric company may have a time set up for customers to reduce their usage. Using energy during these peak hours may cost you more money. By checking the time and doing chores, such as running the dishwasher and doing laundry, during the non-peak hours, you may find that you get a discount. Over time, this discount will add up to great savings for you.

Try to save during this holiday season on your Boston, MA home utility bill. Call Atlantic Heating & Air Conditioning at (617) 566-6990, for any questions or further assistance.

Burning Furnace Smell

Take Precautions Right Away

Even if you’ve had burning smells coming from your Boston furnace in the past, it’s best to take precautions and be very careful when you get the smell again after turning on the unit.

If you haven’t used the furnace in months, then there can be many reasons why there is a burning smell, especially if you haven’t taken the time to get a professional out to maintain and clean the unit.

If necessary, it may be best to turn off the furnace until you can determine what the burning smell is, and if you can’t determine where the smell is coming from, be prepared to call a professional.

Possible Reasons Why The Furnace Has A Burning Smell

1. A furnace can have burning smells for many reasons, but one reason, in particular, is the blower. The blower is necessary for a furnace to send warm air into the home, and without it, the furnace is pretty much useless.

Even though this blower should be working properly when it’s on, it’s possible that it can break down, especially if it’s not well-maintained. A blower that isn’t working correctly can cause overheating in the furnace, which not only will result in the burning smell, but this can also pose a fire hazard as well.

2. Although most people choose to change their furnace filter when they turn it on again after leaving it off for so long, not everyone does this.

Those who choose to turn on the furnace with the same old dirty filter inside may be smelling something burning because the filter itself may have caught on fire, or it’s possible that the dust from the filter is burning up, which is then causing the smell. Always make sure to change a furnace’s filter before turning it back on.

3. Although this goes without saying, nothing that can catch fire should be anywhere near a furnace. Many tend to leave toys, shoes, clothes or other objects around a furnace, and this is a fire hazard and extremely dangerous.

Keep the furnace clear of any debris to make sure this won’t cause any burning smells.

I Can’t Find The Cause

If you’re unsure about what’s causing the burning smell, then simply call the HVAC professional that services your Boston unit, and have the service person come over as soon as possible. In the meantime, keep the furnace off until the source of the burning smell can be determined.

Is your furnace in smelling up your Boston, MA home? Call Atlantic Heating & Air Conditioning today at (617) 566-6990, and get that foul odor out of your home.

Keep Airborne Viruses Under Control

The flu is coming and this season in your Boston area it has been particularly harsh on regular seasonal allergy sufferers. You have to stay on top of these types of things and prepare for them in advance.

That is truthfully the only way to make it out ahead of the flu and hopefully have the kind of Winter season that is at the very least manageable. 

What is the Humidity Level?

Everyone should first ask themselves what the humidity level is like in the building that they spend a lot of time in. This could be a Boston home or an office building or truthfully any building at all.

If the humidity level is too low or too high, the viruses that cause one to get the flu will thrive. Studies suggest that keeping the humidity level between 40% and 60% is ideal for getting just the right amount of humidity in the air to combat these viruses.

Use UV Lights to Kill Germs

For serious cases of the flu spreading, it is sometimes recommended that people use UV lights to help kill the germs before they start to spread too far.

This may sound like an extreme example, but there are many who swear by it and say that they would not have it any other way. They want to keep the UV lights on because they understand how effective they are at killing the germs.

Simply being hygienic and cleaning things such as your clothing and linens on a frequent basis is enough to help eliminate a lot of the problem. Keep in mind how quickly and easily the flu bug can be spread from person to person when we are not careful.

Why would you not want to have on clean things when this is happening? It is simply common sense that could in the long run help eliminate a lot of the threat in the first place.

The Use of Air Purifiers

There are air purifiers for those who want to take out the airborne material that spreads from person to person and causes the flu. These are easy to purchase and start using right away, and many say that they have immediate and strong positive results on their lifestyle and ability to block the flu from getting out of control and impacting anything more.

Any combination of these ideas may be used this flu season to try to keep the problem to a minimum. The flu does not need to be a problem in your life if you commit to eliminating it.

Keep your Boston, MA home free from germs of the flu season. Call Atlantic Heating & Air Conditioning today at (617) 566-6990, to get tips on how to keep your home flu free.

Prevent a Furnace Disaster this Winter Season

Furnace issues can create a tremendous burden and inconvenience. Repairs are often costly and seem to be needed when HVAC professionals are busy serving winter customers.

Taking certain precautions now can help you save money in the long run and avoid unpleasant issues. Here are a few tips to help you prevent a furnace disaster this winter season.

1. Consistently Replace Air Filters

HVAC professionals can tell you horror stories of some of the incredibly dirty filters they have replaced. Air filters are fairly inexpensive and can usually be replaced with little effort.

Consistently replacing air filters every several weeks will better ensure that the air from your furnace is clean. The filters will also reduce the strain on the furnace, allowing it to operate more efficiently and effectively.

2. Clean the Furnace

Proper cleaning of the furnace and its components will help it operate effectively as intended. Cleaning prevents buildup, which can create additional problems for the system or reduce its effectiveness.

Proper cleaning will extend the working life of the furnace and improve efficiency, thereby costing you less in the long run. Cleaning will prevent deterioration and potential damages which can be expensive and inconvenient.

3. Repair Leaks

Inspecting your furnace and the ducts for leaks is an important step to ensure efficiency and prevent disaster. Leaks in the furnace connections may result in devastating fire damage.

Also, leaks in the drainage systems make result in water or mold damage. Inspection of the ducts is important to ensure that air is not leaking and is being delivered as intended throughout your Boston home.

Even small leaks can cause a tremendous loss in air being delivered, causing the furnace system increased strain to try and meet the temperature demands.

An experienced and qualified HVAC company can assist with winter preparation and maintenance for your Boston home furnace. Anyone who is unfamiliar with furnace systems should consult with an HVAC professional to ensure your safety and to prevent larger issues from developing.

An HVAC company can provide the maintenance and repairs needed to keep your furnace working effectively and efficiently during the winter months. Do not delay taking the proper steps to keep your furnace working.

Don't suffer from a furnace disaster in your Boston, MA home this season. Call Atlantic Heating & Air Conditioning at (617) 566-6990 and get assistance now.

Ways to Prepare Your Boiler for This Winter

While it's hard to imagine running your Boston home boiler during the summer, that is what heating experts recommend. Not only can it detect problems before cold weather arrives, but it also allows a service technician to conduct plenty of other inspections to ensure the boiler will be in excellent condition come time for colder temperatures.

If you are in need of having your Boston home boiler prepared for winter, here are many tips you can use to make sure all goes well during freezing weather.

Inspect the Condensate Pipe

Well before winter, it's a good idea to have the boiler's condensate pipe inspected by a technician.

Considered one of the most important parts of a boiler, the pipe's main duty is to transfer condensation that builds up in the boiler to an outside drain.

However, during winter the pipe has a tendency to freeze if not properly insulated.

Therefore, a technician can use a pipe insulation sleeve made out of Styrofoam to wrap around the pipe or decide to use heating tape that can be wrapped around the pipe to keep it insulated. If neither of these options will work, temperature-controlled heating cables can be laid on the pipe to keep it warm.

Radiator Bleeding

Almost every year, a home's radiators need to be bled in order to keep the heat from the boiler flowing at maximum efficiency. By doing this, the air trapped in the radiators can be released, allowing for much more heat to spread throughout the home.

To see if the radiators need to be bled, they should be checked at the top and bottom. If the top is cool and the bottom is warm, bleeding will be necessary.

Check Pressure Levels

If pressure levels in a boiler stay in the high range, that indicates a problem with either the pressure indicator or possibly a blockage that is not letting enough heat to escape.

A technician can run a number of tests on a boiler to check pressure levels, and the results could indicate anything from a simple repair needing to be made all the way to a new boiler needing to be installed.

In most cases, pressure buildups are attributed to blockages inside the flue or boiler outlets. Whatever the case may be, making sure pressure levels always stay in a safe range can provide peace of mind to homeowners as well as ensuring the boiler will work well.

Do you need services on your boiler in your Boston, MA home? Call Atlantic Heating & Air Conditioning at (617) 566-6990 today and get a professional on the job today.