Electronic Zoning for Your Home

Have you ever noticed that certain rooms in your home are usually too hot or too cold in relation to the rest of your house? This happens, of course, for the simple reason that heat rises, so rooms on higher floors will generally be warmer than those on lower floors. The sun can also play a factor on parts of your home that get the majority of its heat throughout the day. Not only can this be annoying for the people living in the home, but it can also cause your heating and cooling bills to be higher than they should be, depending on where your thermostat is located, because it is constantly trying to heat up a room that is perpetually colder than the rest of your house. A solution to this problem is electronic zoning, which is where you set up a system of thermostats in your home that control dampers within your ductwork, adjusting the temperature in each area respectively. Systems like these tend to be expensive at first to install, but the home comfort and energy efficiency you will receive, if used properly, is well worth the investment.

Home Comfort

As was said earlier, the existence of overly warm and cold areas in your home can be quite annoying for you and your family. By installing an electronic zoning system, you will have the ability to even out the temperature throughout your home by denying heat to the rooms that do not need it, while supplying more to those that do. But that is not that only way electronic zoning systems can bring you more home comfort. Most people have different temperatures they prefer to exist in. This is especially noticeable when you have a large family. An electronic zoning system can allow individual members maintain their personal spaces at the temperature most comfortable for them, allowing them to sleep better at night and work more comfortably during the day, increasing their health and efficiency. 

Costs

The one thing that makes most home owners turn away from electronic zoning systems is the cost of the system and the installation, which can be more than some wish to pay. But there are ways to plan the installation, so it is more cost efficient. If possible, you should try to install the electronic zoning system at the same time as you are replacing your current ductwork. This will minimize the extra costs of unnecessarily tearing out ductwork, because you will be doing two jobs at once. If you are planning on building a new home, it is also a good time to consider installing such a system. But no matter what, you will save more money on energy bills that will eventually pay for the cost of the system.

Energy Efficiency

The wonderful thing about electronic zoning systems is that you do not have to heat areas that are going unused, such as basements or spare bedrooms, so your heater will only need to work enough to heat the remainder of your home. As long as you are taking advantage of this feature, electronic zoning systems can save you up to thirty percent on your heating and cooling bills. The savings and the included home comfort will be well worth the cost of the initial installation.

Staying Warm During Winter

Winter is well under way, and it's highly likely that the weather will only get colder during the next few months. Hopefully most people will have already booked their fall furnace tune up, and are sitting at home, safe in the knowledge that everything is working as it should be. However for those people who are running a little behind schedule, it's never too late to book a furnace service. It is all too easy to put off this type of maintenance, especially if your furnace seems to be running smoothly as it might seem like a waste of money.

Advantages of Having Regular Servicing

This point of view couldn't be further from the truth, as having a regular furnace service could save you money in the long run. Most of us get used to our furnaces little foibles, and accept them as being normal. However there is often a lot that can be done to help improve home comfort without the need to spend a fortune. It could simply be that the thermostat needs changing, or that your home could benefit from electronic zoning to help make the heating system more efficient. Just something as simple as having a filter changed can make a real difference to the efficiency of a furnace. In addition, that full furnace tune up could even save your life, as it’s highly likely to include a carbon monoxide leak detection service.

If You’re Keen on Hobbies, Now Is Time to Get a Garage Heater

One part of the home that is often overlooked in terms of keeping it warm and comfortable is the garage. However, many people have hobbies and would benefit greatly from the installation of garage heaters. There are quite a few things to consider when choosing the best garage heater for your needs, as this includes the energy source, and the size of the garage. Garage heaters can be bought to run on a huge variety of fuels, including kerosene, propane, natural gas, coal, electricity, fire wood and wood pellets. The choice largely depends on which energy source is easiest to obtain, and the amount of time you intend to spend in your garage.

Choosing the Best Garage Heaters for Your Needs

Many people like an infrared garage heater, as it is economical and efficient. Infrared heaters are designed just to heat up objects and people, and provided you have it positioned correctly, you'll probably keep toasty and warm. This might be especially good for anyone who is fairly stationary when pursuing their hobbies. It might not be so good if you need to move around the garage quite a lot. Some people find a hot water radiant system to be the most efficient choice, and this is especially true if you live in a house that already has a hot water radiant system as it is relatively simple to install a hot water garage heater. Electric garage heaters are cheap to buy and very easy to operate. They also tend to be pretty good in terms of maintenance, and are often the best choice when other types of garage heaters are too impractical or expensive to install.

Small Changes Can Lead to Greater Energy Savings this winter

Apparently the average household in North America spends more than $2,200 every year on energy and around half this money is spent on heating and cooling the property. However there are several things most homeowners can do to help improve the efficiency of their furnace or boiler, which should lead to energy savings. This has to be a worthwhile consideration, especially as energy prices are currently quite high, and most people simply don't have the money to waste in this way. So how can you stay warmer this winter for less money? The first thing to consider is whether or not your heating system is adequately maintained. If you neglected to book your fall furnace tune up this year as a way of saving money, then just pause and think for a moment as this decision could end up costing you more.

Maintaining Heat Pumps, Furnaces and Boilers

A neglected and dirty home heating system is far more likely to be inefficient and to fail, as all heating systems need regular routine maintenance. This includes regular filter changes, as a clean filter will prevent dirt and dust from building up in the system. Most filters need to be checked on a monthly basis, especially during the winter months when more heating is required. This is obviously something you can do yourself, and it does pay to get into a regular routine.

Getting a Proper Maintenance Check from a Qualified HVAC Technician

However, having a proper maintenance check from a qualified technician is one of the most important things you can do to keep your system in tip top condition. They'll be able to check if your thermostat settings are correct, and that the heating turns on and off at the preprogrammed temperatures. They'll also be looking to ensure all the electrical connections are tight, and will measure the voltage and current on motors to ensure they are operating properly and safely. Your technician will lubricate the moving parts, as lack of lubrication will create excess friction, causing equipment to fail much earlier. They’ll also inspect any condensation drains and will make sure they aren’t blocked as this could affect the humidity levels in the home. If neglected this could lead to bacteria and mold developing. 

Additional Maintenance for Your HVAC System

Additional maintenance for your HVAC system can include things such as checking that the ducts are clear and free from dirt and dust, and arranging for duct cleaning if necessary. Your technician will also be able to check to make sure the ducts don't have any leaks or holes, and that they are properly connected. A poorly maintained or leaky duct system can lead to higher energy bills, and it's often more difficult to keep the home comfortable no matter how hard the heating system is working. There are ducts often concealed in walls and ceilings and access to them can be quite tricky, so it's something that is often left to professionals. It may also pay to look at the thermostats of your system and to replace them if necessary with programmable thermostats. It is estimated that a properly programmed thermostat could give around $180 every year in energy savings.

Choosing the Best Thermostats for Your Home this Winter

Thermostats are one of those things that are often overlooked when planning a home heating system, but a correctly programmed thermostat could offer considerable energy savings, especially if your house is empty for specific times each week. There are several different types of models available, and you need to take into consideration your schedule, and whether or not you are away from home for regular periods of time, for instance, for work or school or other activities before picking the correct make and model.

Different Types of Thermostats Available for Home Use

It is possible to purchase seven day thermostats, and this might be a good choice if you find your schedule changes daily, and that certain members of the household are home earlier on some days compared to others. A seven-day thermostat gives great flexibility and enables you to set several different temperature periods each day. Another model worth considering, if you have a more regular schedule, is one that allows you to pre-program settings for five days of the week, and to program a different setting for two days of the week to cover weekend use. This model is perhaps one of the simpler ones to use and setup. There is another possibility available, and that is a thermostat that can be programmed for five days for regular use during the week, and which then has two separate daily settings for Saturday and Sunday. This might be nice if you have regular things you do each weekend, such as sporting activities or hobbies that involve being away from the home for quite a period of time.

Getting the Most Benefit from Programmable Thermostats

It's best to keep the temperature set at an energy-saving level for those times during the day when no one is home, or for during the night, and to remember to set these programs on constant when you are away from home for a while for vacations. If you have multiple heating zones within your home then your programmable thermostat will enable you to accurately set each zone, maximizing energy savings and giving the greatest home comfort. One of the mistakes most people make is to override preprogrammed settings, and then they wonder why their energy savings aren't as great as they thought. These types of thermostats are designed to be set and left alone.

Choosing and Positioning Your Thermostat

Your thermostat needs to be installed correctly, and must be in the proper position for maximum efficiency. This is definitely something to discuss with your HVAC technician as they will be able to guide you on its positioning. In general it needs to be kept away from heating or cooling appliances, and from doorways and windows that could receive direct sunlight, or which may be in the path of drafts. One of the best positions to choose is on an inner wall. These thermostats are designed to run on batteries, so you'll need to check occasionally to see if they are running low.  If you have a heat pump you may need a different type of programmable thermostat to give the greatest energy savings, and this is something best discussed with a qualified installer.