Safety first.

Turning on your furnace for the first time after months of inactivity is often a shock. It can literally be a shock to your heating system, and it might even be a shocking experience when you get your first heating bill! But there are a few common sense things you can do to get your heating system ready for winter. And, take it from a Grass Valley heating tech who visits a variety of homes every day, most people do not adequately prepare their home for the peak winter months. Here is some advice to consider before the winter sets in.

It’s highly recommended to have a fire extinguisher next to your furnace, fireplace or heating system at all times, especially when turning on the system for the first time.

Turn your furnace on now.

Got it switched on? Good. Now stop and immediately check your common senses.

1. Smell: Does it smell like something is burning? If so, first check to be sure there is not an actual fire or smoke coming from the heating system. If there is, turn the system off immediately (you have that fire extinguisher, right?) Put out any flames or get out and call 911. If there’s not a fire, wait and see if the burning smell subsides. If not, this is a sign that the system needs to be tuned-up. Call ABT and we’ll be right out 530-272-9120

2. Listen: Does it sound like the system is struggling? Is the noise level or airflow excessive? This is also a sign that the furnace needs to be tuned-up.

3. Feel: Feel the ducts and walls. Are there any vibration? Do you feel any air moving like an air leak from the ducts? If so, I recommend a performance inspection/tune up to identify the cause.

4. Look: Check your carbon monoxide detectors readings. You do have a carbon monoxide detector, don’t you? If the carbon monoxide alarm goes off or if the reading is above 30, turn the heating system off immediately and call ABT for a furnace Performance Inspection. This is a sign that there could be a potentially hazardous condition. Open all the windows to air out the house and do not turn the heat on again until it is checked by a professional heating technician. You should also exit the home until the reading falls below 30.

5. Look again: Have you replaced the air filter lately? Your filter should be replaced monthly to help keep your indoor air healthy and clean but also it will save you money on your heating bill. A clogged air filter can cost you some serious money on your energy bill.
After you’ve tested your heating system and followed your common senses, you should have a pretty good idea if the system is working normally. By design, any appliance or equipment that heats up can be a potential hazard, so always put safety first when it comes to your furnace. Checking your heating system early in the heating season not only helps you know if there are problems now or on the horizon, but will save you money in the long run. Most all equipment manufactures recommend having your furnace checked by a qualified technician at least yearly. So after your basic check give ABT a call for a full inspection of your heating system. We’re offering an early bird tune-up special for only $79.00 from now until November 30^th, regularly $149.00.

Call us today 530-272-9120

ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heating & Air Conditioning serves:

       Nevada County, Placer County, Grass Valley, Ca. Alta Sierra, Ca. Nevada City, Ca. Penn Valley, Ca. Rough and Ready, Ca. Lake Wildwood, Ca. Smartsville, Ca. Colfax, Auburn, Ca. Lake of the Pines, Ca. Meadow Vista, Ca. Newcastle, Ca. and all places in-between.

1) Turn down the heat

Electricity consumption differs dramatically in households around the world, but energy efficiency is universal. Figures from Greenpeace state that the average household in Europe consumes 4,667 kWh, in Japan 5,945 kWh per year, whereas the typical American household consumes 11,209 kWh.

According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, by turning your home’s heating down by 2 degrees in the winter and up by 2 degrees in the summer you can save around 450 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

2) Unplug un-used appliance

You might get a small 21st-century thrill sitting in your Grass Valley home with the lights off watching all the red stand-by lights of your gadgets and appliances glowing in the dark, but they’re really little red warming lights that electricity is being wasted. Even when devices are off and those little red lights aren’t glowing, they still use electricity.

Fact: According to the University of Strathclyde in the UK, the average household will use 525 kilowatts per year to keep equipment in stand-by mode.

3) Buy energy efficient products

From fridges and ovens to computers and light bulbs, some energy efficient appliances may be more expensive to buy, but will generally save in energy use and bills in the long run. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use four times less energy, and last eight times longer than incandescent light bulbs.

Extra tip: Research your products before you buy them. Do the manufacturers have an environmental policy; do they try and avoid toxic chemicals where they can? Greenpeace’s guide to “greener electronics.” is a good place to start.

Learn more: All about electronic waste

4) Insulate your home properly

Yes it’s dull, but proper attic insulation and duct wrap can make a great difference to reducing wasted heat in homes and the amount of energy needed to heat them. Weather-sealed windows are also important, just as much for homes that need air-conditioning as heating.

Fact: The average American home that has proper weather striped doorways and windows can save 375 pounds of carbon dioxide and $274 per year. (Source: stopglobalwarming.org)

5) Don’t wash dishes by hand

Finally, a good reason to avoid washing up. No need to try and avoid the chore by protesting that scouring those pans will make your hands like scaly lizard’s claws and your life as hand model will be ruined, a study by the University of Bonn, in Germany found that a fully loaded dishwasher uses only half the energy and one-sixth of the water than hand washing the identical set of dirty dishes.

Extra tip: Choose a plant-based detergent as modern dishwashers use more detergent than hand washing (Source: Friends of the Earth). Also if you can’t pronounce the ingredients in a household cleaning product, it probably isn’t good for the environment.

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6) Recycle more

We’ve been recycling for thousands of years. It was only when the industrial revolution came around that it became almost as cheap to make things new rather than reuse them. As well as reducing the need for “virgin” material

Fact: Creating a ton of aluminum cans from scratch takes five times the amount of energy as it would to produce a ton of recycled cans. (Source: Friends of the Earth)

7) Lower the Flow
Your old shower head probably delivers a lot more water than you really need. Reduce that to 2.5 gallons a minute or less with today’s standard shower head – it can make a difference in your water bill. The low flow shower heads of today work and feel a whole better than those old mister from the 70’s and 80’s. For even greater savings, replace your old toilets with today’s standard low flush models that use 1.6 gallons or less per flush. Again the new ones work a lot better than the first generation of low flow toilets. Give ABT a call we can help.

8) Reduce the Runoff
Soaker hoses and drip irrigation systems can lower your water bills by delivering water directly where you need it. By reducing or eliminating runoff, you also reduce the burden of fertilizers and pesticides on our lakes, streams, and oceans and still have a gorgeous garden or lawn.

9) Keep Your Cool
Ceiling fans can make you feel cooler while reducing air conditioning costs by as much as 40% in summer. In winter, they can save up to 10% in heating costs by circulating warm air from the ceiling to the floor where you can enjoy it. Whole house fans work great in Nevada and Placer County where it usually cools off in the evening.

10) Try Branching Out
For an all-around environmental boost, plant a tree. When properly sited, trees and other landscaping can save up to 30% in home cooling and heating costs. They also help cool your community and make your Auburn or Penn Valley home even more enjoyable.

11) Look for the Energy Star Label
Replace your old, inefficient appliances with Energy Star qualified appliances and save energy and money.

12) Something Bugging You?
Stay in control by starting with nature’s own methods to beat the bugs. Attract birds with birdhouses, feeders, and natural backyard wildlife habitats to help reduce pests. Installing a Bat house is a great addition as bats will eat millions of mosquitos a night. Bug lights, screening, citronella candles, and insecticidal soaps are other less-toxic alternatives to pesticides.

13) Clear the Air
Tune up your systems to make your family more comfortable while you save on heating and cooling costs. Upgrading and properly maintaining your home air filters is easy and helps improve indoor air quality. Vented range hoods and room exhaust fans also help remove smoke, moisture, airborne bacteria, and other indoor air pollutants.

14)  Get the Lead Out
In the U.S. and Canada, over 58 million homes built before 1978 contain lead-based paints. Houses plumbed with copper pipe before 1990 used 50% lead / 50% tin solders. To reduce lead hazards in your home and protect your family during any home renovation, ask a  Paint Department  at your local paint store for the free information sheet “Reducing Lead Hazards When Remodeling Your Home.”  To get rid of the lead solder ask one of our plumbers about alternative piping for your home. Or you may just want to filter your drinking water. We can help with that as well.

15) Make Your Own Mulch
Composting is the smart way to dispose of leaves, yard clippings, selected food scraps, and other organic wastes. Instead of burdening landfills, you’ll produce rich nutrients to fertilize your nevada City garden the natural way. And it’s free. Make it a habit to recycle your glass, cans, cardboard, and newspapers, too.

For info call ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heating and Air Conditioning at 530-272-9120

ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heating & Air Conditioning serves:

Nevada and Placer County, Grass Valley, Ca. Alta Sierra, Ca. Nevada City, Ca. Penn Valley, Ca. Rough and Ready, Ca. Lake Wildwood, Ca. Smartsville, Ca. Colfax, Auburn, Ca. Lake of the Pines, Ca. Meadow Vista, Ca. Newcastle, Ca. and all places in-between.