Heating and cooling
I want to upgrade my heating system, but how do I pick a contractor who knows what they’re doing?
Getting the most out
of gas-heated homes
My home is heated with natural gas and I’d like to save some energy.
Are there any programs available?
Ductless heat pump is
a powerful idea
I’m ready to invest in a new heating system to replace the old wall
heaters in my home. What do you suggest?
Pellets burn cleaner,
hotter than wood
I’m considering buying a wood stove to help heat the house, but am not
sure I want the hassle of wood. How good are pellet stoves?
Ductless heat pump
program to gauge savings
Last year you wrote about ductless heat pumps and that we could be a
test market for them. Did that happen and would my house be a good
candidate? I have electric wall heaters.
Turn up the
savings by installing heat pump
I am going to replace my 16-year-old gas furnace. What are the benefits
if I add a heat pump and how much will that increase the initial
cost?
Ductless
heat pump heating-cooling solution
My home has electric wall heaters. I’ve remodeled so much of the house
that I really don’t want to move, but would like to save on my heating
bill. In addition, the house gets hot in summer so I run two window air
conditioners that use even more energy. Is there anything I can
do?
Pellet stoves require cleaning
I read your recent article on heating with pellet stoves. Is it true
they require a lot of maintenance?
Tuneup of heat system saves money
My furnace is about seven years old. Is there anything special I need
to do to it before winter?
Prepare your heat
pump for cold weather
I just moved into a house with a heat pump. What do I need to do to get
it ready for winter?
Damper may hold down heat
My two-story house has registers in the ceilings of three upstairs
bedrooms. When I turn on the furnace, hardly any air comes out. I’ve
tried closing registers on the first floor, but that doesn’t seem to
force more heat and air upstairs.
Time to maintain, check
heating
I’m not very diligent about home maintenance. Are there things I need
to do to my furnace? It seems to run OK.
Air flow is
critical to heating systems
My furnace seems to be running a lot. Is there anything I can do to
make it use less energy?
Watt is
watt when using space heaters
I’d like to buy a space heater to use in my workshop. I’ve been seeing
ads about a new kind that’s more efficient. What type of heater would
you suggest?
You recently recommended programmable thermostats for heat pumps. What about other heating systems such as an electric furnace?
Faulty thermostats waste
money
When should I replace my thermostat and do those programmable ones
really save money?
Cooling
Research up in the air on attic
fans
Is it worth investing in an attic fan in order to save on
air-conditioning costs?
Ductless heat pumps
can help cool you
I’ve heard about ductless heat pumps for home air conditioning. Are
they as good as I’ve read?
Look for Energy Star on window air conditioners
I just moved into an upstairs apartment. I want to put an air
conditioner in the bedroom, but what should I look for?
Plan now for the coming summer
heat
My house doesn’t have air conditioning. Assuming we will eventually get
some hot weather, how can I stay cool without spending a bunch of
money?
Keeping cool needn’t
make costs heat up
I have central air conditioning, which is really nice when it’s hot.
However, it really increases my electric bill. What can I do to save
this summer?
Portable AC units can be cool
solution
I need an air conditioner for my apartment. What do you think about a
portable unit?
Keeping your cool,
affordably
I have electric baseboard heat and no air conditioning. Are there any
inexpensive things I can do to cool my house?
Room air
conditioners can be a cool option
I rent a townhouse with upstairs bedrooms that get really warm and
uncomfortable. I’m thinking it’s time to buy an air conditioner. What I
should look for when shopping?
Keeping
house cool without AC
I don’t want to live through another sweltering summer. Our house faces
east, but our family room is on the back of the house, so the living
area gets really hot. We have an air conditioner in the master bedroom,
so at least sleeping is bearable. Unfortunately I can’t afford to put
in a heat pump or air conditioning. Is there anything I can do to make
the rest of the house more comfortable?
Landscaping
can keep home cool, bills down
The house faces east, which means our living area in the back of the
house gets hot in summer, even though I close the blinds. What kind of
landscaping do you suggest that could help cool the house?
