Is your outdoor electrical system ready for the holiday season? From an electrician's perspective, there are a few simple precautions to help prevent electrical shocks and house fires. Calgary homeowners often put up lights in cold, snowy conditions, so ladder safety and outdoor-rated electrical equipment are especially important.
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The cost to heat our homes this winter is still unknown.
It is hoped that through reading this blog, you will gain insights on how to reduce your energy costs so you can save money this winter even with rising energy costs.
Homes lose heat. Walk around your home to see if you can feel any drafty areas.
How old are your windows and doors? Do they need to be replaced? Most of the home’s heat is lost through air leaks and drafty windows.
Inadequate insulation in the walls and attic can cause air leaks in your home.
Drafts around doors make the furnace work harder to maintain its temperature.
Calgary — Home Upgrades and Financing
Calgary residents can explore the Calgary Home Upgrades Program for eligible home improvements, the Residential Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) for financing energy upgrades, and Alberta’s SHARP program for eligible senior home repairs and adaptations. For more information on home upgrade initiatives, visit Alberta Ecotrust Foundation.
Eligibility, funding and application availability vary by program, so check each website for current requirements.
A dirty furnace filter can cost you extra money in 2 ways:
We recommend that your furnace filter be replaced every 30 days, ideally throughout the winter. If you have a large household or have pets, you need to change it more often.
Gentlemen Pro Tip
Set a monthly alarm on your phone to remind yourself to change the furnace filter. We all have a lot going on… this might help you remember.
Ideally, furnaces should be cleaned and serviced at least once a year. It’s important to service your furnace before the cold winter begins.
Our inspections can typically detect hidden issues before your furnace is overworked (in cold weather) and you need it the most.
As you can imagine, our phone (and our competitors) are getting the most requests for service calls on the coldest days of the year. Just like calling your tire company to install winter tires on the first snowfall, you can expect delays.
Book soon with one of The Gentlemen Pros’ Calgary furnace maintenance technicians.
If you are having issues with your furnace blowing cold air, constantly running or have any other furnace problems or questions, please call The Gentlemen Pros’ furnace repair team. Our emergency line is open to help 24/7. We are only a phone call away.
With heating bills steadily rising, a reliable furnace can be essential for your home… and increased efficiency may save money on your monthly heating costs.
Canadian federal and provincial governments have offered rebates and/or loans to help offset the cost of a new furnace. See the available rebates and loans for Calgary homeowners above.
Older furnaces typically cost more to run because worn-out components struggle to keep up, leading to frequent breakdowns as well as uneven heating throughout the home.
Furnaces from the 1990s and early 2000s were less than 75% efficient. (When furnaces become older, they become less efficient.)
Furnaces from the late 2000s to 2009 were considered mid-efficiency furnaces. They operated at 75%-85% efficiency. (The same thing applies: any furnace at any level of efficiency loses efficiency over time.)
High-Efficiency furnaces became more popular after 2009.
In 2019, the federal standard became 95% efficiency.
As of July 2019, any gas furnace manufactured after July 2019 must be ultra-high efficiency to be sold in Canada.
New furnaces now commonly have safety sensors designed to detect dangerous conditions like gas leaks, blocked venting, high carbon monoxide levels, or system overheating.
Upgrading to a new furnace provides safety features and typically saves you money. Find out more about how furnaces work. Also find out why your furnace is constantly running.
You will receive a complimentary one-year “The Gentlemen Pros Promise” membership when you buy a new furnace from us.
The Gentlemen Pros Promise membership gives you preferred service rates on repairs, a lower trip charge, and an annual system inspection.
After a full year of membership, customers receive an inspection of the plumbing in their home and a camera inspection of the sewer line.
Contact us if interested in buying an ultra-high-efficiency new furnace from The Gentlemen Pros.
In the last 20 years, some new home builders have opted for an electric furnace instead of the typical natural gas furnace in some Calgary homes.
Electric furnaces operate differently, but still need maintenance.
You will notice differences in how gas furnaces versus electric furnaces heat your home.
In Calgary, furnaces run most of the year; small, unnoticed habits in your home can potentially drive up your utility bills.
Many of us set a temperature and leave it and forget about it. (For example, are you adjusting your thermostat when a Chinook blows in?)
Turning down the heat by 2-3°C when you leave the house or go to bed could save you money.
Do you feel the cold and crank the thermostat up by a few degrees when you get cold?
This forces your furnace to run at its maximum power for longer, costing you more money. It is important to set your thermostat to a set temperature. The result is that the furnace remains working at the same speed, and therefore the temperature during waking hours remains consistent.
It’s important to also consider what the outdoor temperature is and if mild outside your thermostat should be set at a lower temperature so your furnace does not have to work overtime.
Typically, a smart thermostat may be the answer to saving you money by providing a consistent temperature night and day.
The Gentlemen Pros install smart thermostats in Calgary homes if you are interested in having one installed.
A humidistat can save you money by controlling the moisture levels, typically allowing you to lower your furnace thermostat a few degrees without feeling cold.
Make sure it’s set at the right humidity level for winter. Cold air holds less moisture. Heat holds on to humidity. So if your humidity levels are at the right level, your home typically feels warmer.
Gentlemen Pro Tip
Please check your humidifier pad. It should be cleaned or replaced once per heating season.
A wall-mounted humidistat places controls directly in your living space. This makes it generally easier to monitor.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Calgary has hard water, and it builds up on the humidifier pad. The furnace humidifier needs to be maintained to prevent water leaks and block mould growth so your home can maintain proper humidity.
The Gentlemen Pros install wall-mounted humidistats and furnace humidifiers in Calgary. Remember, proper humidity equals a more comfortable living area and can possibly reduce energy costs.
Most new ceiling fans have a winter mode switch. Now is a great time to switch your ceiling fan to the winter mode. In the winter mode, your ceiling fan rotates the blades to spin clockwise at a low speed.
This setting pushes the warm air that naturally rises back down to your living area. Potentially saving you money by bringing warm air back to your living space that has already been heated.
Many of us have been thinking about getting a smart thermostat. With the rising energy costs, it may be the perfect time to get one.
Smart thermostats help eliminate wasteful heating and cooling when your home sits empty or when people are sleeping.
A smart thermostat can typically cut monthly utility bills. Remember to only lower the temperature by 2-3 degrees. You don’t want to freeze your pipes this winter.
If you have been thinking of getting a smart thermostat, now may be a great time.
Book an appointment today with The Gentlemen Pros to have a smart thermostat installed in your Calgary home.
TRENDING NEWS
Standard furnaces have an expected lifespan of 15-20 years if maintained; they generally operate during that duration of time. A furnace that is aging can continue to produce warm air, but too often it is not functioning at its optimal level. Please note that with an older furnace, you may see an increase in your energy bills. This article breaks down the hidden risks of having an older furnace.
Plumbing, heating & electrical service
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