With the cost of living soaring, it can be stressful to cover everyday items and pay our bills. Simple tips can help you winterize your home and potentially save money.
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Home Checklist
It is still unknown how much energy bills will increase this winter. But there are a few things you can do now to be proactive to winterizing your home. These tips can potentially offset the high energy prices we may see this winter.
All homes have leaks and lose heat. We recommend walking around to see if you feel drafts. It is a great way to find leaks.
Ask yourself the following question do you know how old your windows and doors are? The reason it is important is because most heat that is lost in a home happens from poor seals around doors and windows. The seals around your doors and windows if worn-out need to be replaced.
Air leaks are also caused by poor insulation in the walls.
Red Deer — Home Repair and Energy Rebates
Seniors may qualify for Alberta’s SHARP program for eligible home repairs and adaptations. Red Deer residents can also apply for the Smart Thermostat Rebate, offering $50 toward a qualifying thermostat purchase and installation, subject to eligibility and available funding. Find additional programs through the Clean Energy Improvement Program Alberta.
Two ways furnace filters cost you more money:
We recommend replacing the furnace filter every 30 days, especially during the winter. Homes with lots of people and/or pets need to change it more often too.
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.
We recommend that furnaces be checked annually before the first snowfall.
During annual servicing, we often detect issues before they become major problems.
Our team often sees an increase in the number of emergency calls (and our competitors) on the coldest days of the year. Similarly, tire shops have requests on the first snowy day; with customers wanting snow tires, you can anticipate longer wait times.
Book your Furnace cleaning and tune-up with The Gentlemen Pros today.
Is your furnace blowing cold air, constantly running or do you have furnace questions?
We’re in this together. We are just a phone call away and are available 24/7 for emergencies.
Our energy bills are constantly going up, and is making an energy-efficient heating system even more critical in our homes.
The federal and provincial Canadian governments offer rebates and/or loans to make energy-efficient furnaces more affordable for low-income families and seniors.
Worn-out components on an old furnace often struggle to keep up with the cold. They often break down or provide uneven heat in areas of your home.
The industry standard for the 1990s and 2000s is known as Standard efficiency which is less than 75%. (Furnaces lose efficiency as they age).
Most of the furnaces before the 2000s into the mid 2000s are classified as “low efficiency”, less efficient than 75%.
Most common in the late 2000s to 2009 were Mid-efficiency furnaces that operate at 75% to 85% efficiency. (Unfortunately, all furnaces lose efficiency over time.)
High-efficiency furnaces became popular after 2009.
Regulations changed in July 2019; any furnace manufactured must be ultra-high efficiency to be sold in Canada.
Currently, Ultra-high-efficiency furnaces have safety features that commonly detect system overloads, dangerous gas leaks, blocked venting, and even high carbon monoxide levels.
Upgrading to a new furnace now may potentially save you money later.
Read more about how your furnace works.
Read more about the laws and standards of efficiency for a new furnace purchased in Canada.
A complimentary one-year “The Gentlemen Pros Promise” membership is given to you when you buy a new furnace.
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 with a membership, customers get an inspection of the plumbing in the home and a camera inspection of the sewer line.
Please contact a “Pro” at The Gentlemen Pros if you are interested in upgrading to an Ultra-Efficiency furnace. Contact us: The Gentlemen Pros today.
Some new home builders have opted to install electric furnaces over the last 20 years.
Electric furnaces still need maintenance but operate differently.
You can expect there to be differences between gas and electric furnaces.
In Red Deer, we often run our furnace all year. Unnoticed habits in your home could be driving up your utility bills.
Set a temperature and leave it and forget about it.
You could save money potentially by turning down the heat by 2-3°C when you leave the house or go to bed.
When you feel the cold, do you crank the thermostat up by a few degrees?
It typically forces your furnace to run at its maximum power for longer and costs more money.
The furnace should remain at the same speed so the temperature during waking hours remains consistent, and the furnace doesn’t have to work overtime with fluctuations.
Consider what the outdoor temperature is, and adjust the thermostat temperature accordingly.
A smart thermostat can help regulate your temperature and possibly save you money.
Lowering your temperature by 2-3 degrees will typically reduce your energy costs and save you money. Red Deer offers a rebate of $50.00 when you buy and install a smart thermostat.
A humidistat can save you money. It controls the moisture levels in your home. You can typically lower your furnace thermostat a few degrees without feeling cold.
Set the humidity level for winter.
Gentlemen Pro Tip
Please check your humidifier pad. It should be cleaned and/or replaced once per heating season.
A wall-mounted humidistat places controls directly in your living space. This makes it generally easier to monitor.
Humidifiers need to be maintained. This is due to Red Deer’s hard water.
The Gentlemen Pros can service and inspect your furnace humidifier.
New Ceiling fans usually have a winter mode switch.
Now is a good time to switch your ceiling fan to winter mode.
How the winter mode switch works it reverses the rotation of the blades to spin clockwise pushing the warm air down to where you can enjoy it.
This potentially can help to reduce energy bills by keeping your home warmer using air that has already been heated.
Yes they can potentially save you money. With rising energy costs, it may be the perfect time to get one.
Smart thermostats help eliminate wasteful heating and cooling. They are programmable so they eliminate wasteful heating when your home sits empty. Remember to only reduce the heat by 2-3 degrees to avoid freezing your pipes.
Thinking of getting a smart thermostat? Now may be a great time, as the city of Red Deer offers its homeowners a rebate of $50.00 if you purchase and install a smart thermostat.
Thinking of getting a smart thermostat? Book an appointment today with our Gentlemen Pros technicians.
TRENDING NEWS
A standard furnace typically has a lifespan of 15-20 years if it is maintained annually. An aging furnace will still operate and produce warm air, but too often your aging furnace is not operating safely or at optimal efficiency. This guide will review the risks and warning signs of having an older furnace in your home.
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