Two Ways You’re Losing Money Without Knowing

Do you feel like your utility bills are unusually high? Some of your money may be going to higher utilities because of poor habits, like leaving lights and fans on by accident. But there could be other reasons your utilities are high that you don’t even know about. Become aware of the ways you’re using energy to save money and cut off these issues at their source.

Vampire Energy

No, this isn’t the blood sucking kind of vampire. This vampire is out for your energy. Whenever you leave small appliances or electronics plugged in, even if they’re technically turned off, they are still sapping power. These are things like TVs, game consoles, hair tools, microwaves and toasters. Avoid paying for energy you aren’t really using by unplugging these when not in use or to make it easier, use a power strip that you can switch off every time you aren’t using the item.

Air Leaks

Leaks cause air from inside your home to escape, while it allows warm summer air inside. This reduces efficiency and increases utility costs. If there is dirt on the floor and windowsills, there is probably a leak. You can seal doors with weather-stripping and windows with caulk.

Leaks can also form in your duct system, which means that every time air passes through your HVAC system you are losing some of it. W.G. Speeks offers duct-sealing services to fix this problem.

Ensure you’re staying aware of these potential energy losses and get them fixed early on. This will help you save money in the long run. To further cut utility costs and raise the efficiency of your HVAC system, call us today at 804.276.2800 and see why we’ve been the reliable  heating and air conditioning experts in Richmond, VA since 1943.

Reference : Two Ways You’re Losing Money Without Knowing

Signs and Symptoms of a Bad AC Compressor

Richmond, VA summers can get hot, and it’s not uncommon for us to get calls from panicking homeowners saying their AC unit has broken down during the summer months.

 

One of the most common causes for this is a failing AC compressor, a part that generally gives signs and symptoms of failure before breaking down completely. Unfortunately many homeowners don’t call until their entire unit stops working, which is why it’s helpful to know how to tell if your home AC compressor is bad. Taking action before the compressor completely goes out can save you from suffering through summer heat and the avoidable cost of fixing a broken HVAC system.