How Charlotte Home Heating Contractors Can Help You Save Energy and Money!
Although many people assume that all parts of the South have a relatively warm climate year-round, Southerners know that winters can bring cold weather, ice, and snow. And with cold winter weather comes high heating bills.
Fortunately there are several ways that Charlotte residents can improve energy efficiency, lighten the load on HVAC systems, lower their heating bills, and still remain comfortable in their homes during wintertime. Continue reading to learn how Charlotte home heating contractors can transform your home into an efficient space that saves both energy and money!
1. Ensure Sufficient Insulation
While some people believe that homes in warmer climates do not need a lot of insulation, that's simply not the case. Even homes in hot climates like Florida and Texas need insulation to slow the transfer of heat during both winter and summer months. Unfortunately, most homes don't have adequate insulation according to current Dept. of Energy recommendations. Without sufficient insulation, a home is susceptible to whatever Mother Nature throws at it, ultimately causing the living space to be uncomfortable.
A Charlotte heating contractor can visit your home to determine if it has sufficient insulation in the attic, basement, walls, floors, garage, and crawl space. He or she can determine the insulation R-value (i.e. its ability to resist heat flow), and recommend additional insulation materials, if necessary. These may include spray foam insulation, rigid foam insulation, or a radiant barrier. A certified Charlotte heating contractor will point out and fix areas that need to be sealed or weatherized as well.
2. Repair Ductwork
A well-sealed ductwork system is extremely important in making a home more energy-efficient. This is true during both heating and air-conditioning seasons. A typical ductwork system consists of straight duct sections, takeoffs or junction fittings, flexible duct runs, and boots that are connected to the registers visible throughout the living space. With so many connection joints, different materials and fittings, it's no surprise that duct leakage is a common ailment that compromises the performance of the HVAC system. Leaky ductwork can lose up to 40% of a home's heated or cooled air before it reaches bedrooms, living rooms, or any room in the house. Do you want to pay top dollar for heat or air conditioning that you'll never even feel? Of course you don't!
A Charlotte heating contractor can inspect your ductwork, detect leaks and then make proper repairs to ensure that airflow is both efficient and effective. Doing so will not only increase the comfort level of the home; it will also reduce energy usage and drastically lower home heating bills.
3. Inspect the Furnace or Boiler
A house uses and loses energy in numerous ways. For this reason, Charlotte heating contractors take a whole-house approach to energy savings, making sure to consider all energy-saving opportunities. Even the best insulation and ductwork, for example, will not be 100% effective if the home's furnace or boiler is outdated and inefficient.
To determine the efficiency and effectiveness of your home's furnace or boiler, a Charlotte heating contractor will perform different tests and inspections to assess the system's BTU output, AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating, configuration, and combustion safety. He or she will then advise the homeowner if retro-fitting or replacement is recommended for energy and monetary savings.
Did you know that heating and cooling account for nearly 50% of the average Charlotte home's energy expenses? That's why it's important to have an efficient HVAC system, sufficient insulation, and well-sealed ductwork. Completing one or all of these energy-saving repairs can reduce your heating and cooling costs by hundreds -- even thousands -- of dollars a year. So why wait? To use less energy and lower your winter heating bills, contact a Charlotte home heating contractor today!
Fortunately there are several ways that Charlotte residents can improve energy efficiency, lighten the load on HVAC systems, lower their heating bills, and still remain comfortable in their homes during wintertime. Continue reading to learn how Charlotte home heating contractors can transform your home into an efficient space that saves both energy and money!
1. Ensure Sufficient Insulation
While some people believe that homes in warmer climates do not need a lot of insulation, that's simply not the case. Even homes in hot climates like Florida and Texas need insulation to slow the transfer of heat during both winter and summer months. Unfortunately, most homes don't have adequate insulation according to current Dept. of Energy recommendations. Without sufficient insulation, a home is susceptible to whatever Mother Nature throws at it, ultimately causing the living space to be uncomfortable.
A Charlotte heating contractor can visit your home to determine if it has sufficient insulation in the attic, basement, walls, floors, garage, and crawl space. He or she can determine the insulation R-value (i.e. its ability to resist heat flow), and recommend additional insulation materials, if necessary. These may include spray foam insulation, rigid foam insulation, or a radiant barrier. A certified Charlotte heating contractor will point out and fix areas that need to be sealed or weatherized as well.
2. Repair Ductwork
A well-sealed ductwork system is extremely important in making a home more energy-efficient. This is true during both heating and air-conditioning seasons. A typical ductwork system consists of straight duct sections, takeoffs or junction fittings, flexible duct runs, and boots that are connected to the registers visible throughout the living space. With so many connection joints, different materials and fittings, it's no surprise that duct leakage is a common ailment that compromises the performance of the HVAC system. Leaky ductwork can lose up to 40% of a home's heated or cooled air before it reaches bedrooms, living rooms, or any room in the house. Do you want to pay top dollar for heat or air conditioning that you'll never even feel? Of course you don't!
A Charlotte heating contractor can inspect your ductwork, detect leaks and then make proper repairs to ensure that airflow is both efficient and effective. Doing so will not only increase the comfort level of the home; it will also reduce energy usage and drastically lower home heating bills.
3. Inspect the Furnace or Boiler
A house uses and loses energy in numerous ways. For this reason, Charlotte heating contractors take a whole-house approach to energy savings, making sure to consider all energy-saving opportunities. Even the best insulation and ductwork, for example, will not be 100% effective if the home's furnace or boiler is outdated and inefficient.
To determine the efficiency and effectiveness of your home's furnace or boiler, a Charlotte heating contractor will perform different tests and inspections to assess the system's BTU output, AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating, configuration, and combustion safety. He or she will then advise the homeowner if retro-fitting or replacement is recommended for energy and monetary savings.
Did you know that heating and cooling account for nearly 50% of the average Charlotte home's energy expenses? That's why it's important to have an efficient HVAC system, sufficient insulation, and well-sealed ductwork. Completing one or all of these energy-saving repairs can reduce your heating and cooling costs by hundreds -- even thousands -- of dollars a year. So why wait? To use less energy and lower your winter heating bills, contact a Charlotte home heating contractor today!
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