There are certain things you can’t ignore as a homeowner — among them heating and air conditioning, as well as plumbing. Luckily, many companies now offer HVAC services alongside plumbing services, which makes it a lot easier for you to get all your fixes completed in one go. There are also financial benefits to working with one company rather than several — and overall, it’s simply much more convenient. Convenience is key when it comes to plumbing and HVAC services, because the fact is that an issue could happen at any point in time. There could be a problem with your hearting boiler, or perhaps your water pipes. It could happen in the middle of the night — or for that matter, in the dead of winter. The last thing you want is to go without heating and cooling or plumbing during the middle of a cold snap or heat wave. The best thing to do to prevent this from happening to keep up with proper maintenance. Many of us don’t know how old our appliances and units are when we first move in — and thus we run our homes on subpar systems for years before realizing that there is an issue. Proper maintenance and efficiency can save you a lot of money in the long term — as well as a lot of stress. Below, we’ll get into how you can maintain certain parts of your home to the best of your ability.
From Heating Boilers To Tankless Water Heaters
Did you know that heating water can account for up to 30% of your home’s energy budget? But it’s not like we can go without hot water. Hot water is something that most of us simply expect, but some systems work better than others in this regard. A heating boiler does exactly what it sounds like it would — it heats the water through a boiler system, and provides both hot water and steam. The heating boiler will typically distribute this hot water through pipes and steam radiators, as well as radiators, radiant systems, and coils. Tankless water heaters are also popular, and can provide hot water at a range of two to five gallons per minute. They can be about 24% to 34% more energy efficient than water heaters that come with tanks for homes that use 41 gallons of water or less per day. Typically, they also have a life expectant of about 20 years. Many older homes still have traditional water heaters and heating boilers — but if it’s time to switch a tankless water heater could be for you.
Furnaces And Furnace Repair
Next to your water heater, the biggest thing that you will likely rely upon for heat is your furnace. Furnaces are often older than you might think when you first move into a home, and therefore less efficient. They last for a bit less time than tankless water heaters — around 15 to 18 years. Once a furnace hits the age of 10, it’s probably best to have it inspected annually — because the last thing you want is your furnace breaking unexpectedly. Newer furnaces are usually much more efficient than older models, with the law stipulated that the lowest level of efficiency for new furnaces is 78%, with newer models achieving 97% efficiency — this to say, near-total efficiency.
Air Conditioners
Most Americans rely on air conditioning, especially during the hot summer months. It’s estimated that in total, about two-thirds of all American homes have air conditioners. But not all systems work as they should. Many are inefficient, and thus can make energy bills rise to the extreme. By switching to an energy-efficient air conditioner and taking some other minor measures to keep your home cool, you could reduce your energy use for air conditioning by as much as 20% to 50% — and thus save a lot of money. For that matter, an energy-efficient air conditioner also circulates less dust and allergens.