HVAC

Whether you want to reduce the greenhouse gases your home produces or lower the cost of your utilities, a heat pump might seem like a good idea. Here are some important factors to consider before you make a purchase.

IT’S A HEATER AND AN AIR CONDITIONER

The most commonly installed are air-source heat pumps, which resemble air conditioner units that sit outside your house. During winter, a liquid refrigerant in a copper coil extracts heat from the atmosphere as warm air ...

Power outages are frustrating enough. Add in a generator catastrophe, and, well ... boom.

Portable generators provide a convenient backup supply of electricity when the grid goes down. But use one incorrectly, and the hazards are high. Among them are carbon monoxide poisoning, electrical shocks and electrocution, and fires.

Any one of these can lead to death. But carbon monoxide exposure may be your biggest enemy. According to data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, ...

You may have heard of ductless mini-split air conditioners or heat pumps recently. They're one of the more recent developments in HVAC technology. But is one right for your home?

Ductless mini-splits do exactly what the name implies: They provide heating and cooling without requiring large metal ducts to snake through the entire house, and without requiring intrusive window units. Small ductless units install directly in the rooms they're servicing, connected ...

September is an excellent time to take stock of your HVAC system before the cool season begins in earnest. If nothing else, you should change your filters and hire a pro to inspect and tune up your system, at a cost of around $80 to $100, before turning your heater on.

However, if you're ready to make a big investment, this is also a good time to think about upgrading your system with zoned, multistage or smart systems. These improvements make a big difference in energy efficiency and ...

Colder weather has arrived, bringing higher energy costs for many homeowners. The good news is that a smart thermostat can help keep these costs in check.

A smart thermostat replaces your traditional thermostat and enables you to program your home's heating system (and cooling in warmer months) to turn down automatically when you're asleep or away.

Each degree you adjust the temperature equals a 2 percent annual energy savings. For the average homeowner, that works out ...

As winter approaches, you may be dreading the increased energy bills that come along with the need for heat. But you can follow some tips to keep your house warm and save energy at the same time.

MAKE SOME BASIC CHANGES

Some of the most effective methods for warming up your house are the simplest. For example, open your blinds in the morning to let in both light and heat during winter. Close them at night to prevent a chill from cold windows. Switch your ceiling fan so ...