INSULATION CRUCIAL FOR MAINTAINING HEAT IN YOUR HOME

Energy effectiveness is crucial to reducing your energy expense nowadays, particularly in the winter season when you have to run your heating system. With the insulation choices nowadays, you should have no issue keeping the heat in your house to decrease your dependency on energy options. Insulation’s main function is to decrease the heat flowing into and out of your house. In the summertime, insulation keeps the outdoor heat from creeping inside while in the winter season, it traps heat inside the home to prevent it from leaving.

Choosing the ideal type of insulation and knowing just how much to use is essential. You need to know how it should be installed in the attic, walls, and ceilings as well as the foundation and floors of your home. When you can guarantee there are no air leaks in your home and add proper insulation, you can significantly minimize your energy bill and reliance on nonrenewable fuel sources.

Four Basic Kinds of Insulation

4 standard kinds of insulation exist: liquid foam, loose fill, stiff foam, and rolls or bats (blankets). The blanketed and loose fill is most often used in homes, especially in attics, in between flooring joists, in the walls, and in between rafters in the roof. Liquid foam is mainly utilized in walls as it is the best product to seal any potential air leakages and create an airtight home. Rigid foam resembles sheets of foam and is typically utilized in the out walls of a home and other outside applications.

When you choose the insulation for your house, there are several elements you must consider. First, will the insulation position any danger to your household? Is it made up of products that are hazardous to the environment, particularly your house? Think about the long-term efficiency your insulation will offer. You want its insulating residential or commercial properties to last for several years.

If you already have insulation however you are replacing it or including more, you must learn just how much is already there. Step the density of the insulation already present so that you can get an R-value from the house improvement store and choose whether you need to include more insulation and how much. The R-value varies depending upon where you live as well as exactly what heat pump you use: gas or electrical. Your goal is to strive for a greater R-value than what is needed by your location to guarantee optimum insulating properties.

You will notice in your insulation shopping that there is a range of products to choose from. Fiberglass is without a doubt the most popular in the rolls of insulation that you lay out but it is tough to deal with since the glass-like fibers can enter your skin. Special protective equipment is used when working with fiberglass. Cellulose, cotton, mineral wool, lamb’s wool, and recycled paper and material are also utilized as insulation.

Each type of insulation material has a different R-value so you must keep that in perspective when looking for not just the type of insulation but the product it is made from. Obviously, where you are utilizing the insulation is another mitigating factor in your choice. Call a heating contractor for more information on the most suitable insulation for your home.

In addition to checking your insulation, now is a good time of year to have your heat pump serviced for maximum efficiency. Call North Myrtle Beach Heating & Air today to schedule a time for one of our technicians to come out to your home and check out your heating system.

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North Myrtle Beach Heating & Air
1001 2nd Ave N
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
843-399-3237
https://www.northmyrtlebeachheatingandair.com/

WINTER HEATING HACKS FOR A WARMER HOUSE

Your home should be warm and cozy in winter. While raising your thermostat can make your home warmer, it can also increase your energy bills. But there are ways you can heat your home without increasing your heating costs. These winter heating hacks will help you keep the cool out and warmth in your home:

1. Install a programmable thermostat

Programmable thermostats allow you to control the temperature of your home throughout the day. They can be set to adjust at any time, so it doesn’t need to stay at 68°F all the time. The thermostat can be programmed to lower the temperature at night or when there is no one home, so you can keep your house warm while you are awake. You can set the thermostat to return to normal when you get up, or when you return home from work so that you don’t step into a cold house.

2. Check that heating vents remain open and not blocked

It is a myth that closing vents will make your home more efficient by not heating unoccupied rooms. The HVAC system in your home was designed to produce the same amount of hot air regardless of how many vents you have open. Vents that are too tightly closed can cause the system to work harder, which will lead to higher energy bills and more damage. Vents can be partially closed to help push air into the right places, but you should leave at least 25% of them open.

3. Add a door draft stopper

Draft guards can prevent cold air from getting into your home through doors. These handy objects, often covered with fabric and weighed down with sand are placed at the front doors to stop cold air from seeping in. If you are so inclined, you can make your own. Cut a length of fabric that fits your doorway. Then, make a tube from it and fill it with whatever stuffing you prefer before closing it. While a draft stopper will not eliminate the cool breeze from entering your door when you open it, it can help keep the door closed.

4. Use bubble wrap or plastic film to insulate windows

Bubble wrap and plastic film are inexpensive and easy to use as window insulators. Window film insulation kits can be made from transparent shrink film, which creates a barrier for drafty windows. Cut the sheet of plastic to fit your window. Apply adhesive tape to the frame of the window and then seal it with a hairdryer.

5. Seal your windows

Sealing windows is another smart move. To keep drafts out and heat in your home, replace old caulking with weatherstripping. First, clean out the window frame of any caulk that has deteriorated. Next, you will need to use a caulk gun and slowly apply a thin layer of caulk along the seams of the window. Finish by smoothing the caulk using your finger. Seal the interior of your windows if you’re looking to go the extra mile. Sealing your windows prevents drafts which ultimately helps your heat pump perform better.

6. On a sunny day, open the curtains

This hack for housewarming is completely free! Check the weather before you go out for the day. Open the curtains and blinds around your house if the sun is shining. Nature will heat your home free of charge. To prevent cold air from entering your home at night, close all the curtains.

7. Turn your ceiling fan on reverse

This is a great hack that’s often overlooked. To pull cool air up, your ceiling fan should be turned clockwise in the summer. Fans can also be used in winter to heat your home.

8. Keep interior doors open

Not the exterior doors, of course. But the interior doors of your home. This might seem to contradict the idea that closing some doors will result in less heat being generated overall. Air can circulate in your home if you keep your doors open. This will regulate the temperature in the entire house.

9. Boost insulation

This step is more time-consuming, but it can save you money. It might be time to inspect your insulation if it hasn’t been inspected in a while. Insulation will regulate the temperature inside your home and prevent heat from escaping to the basement or attic. Call a North Myrtle Beach heating contractor to increase your home’s insulation.

10. Bake some delicious treats

Want to get warm quickly? To warm up your home, turn on the oven while you bake your favorite dessert. After you are done baking, close the oven door but leave it a little bit open and let it cool down.

Does your HVAC system struggle with keeping your home warm in the winter? Call North Myrtle Beach Heating & Air today! We can help you with all of your heating needs.

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North Myrtle Beach Heating & Air
1001 2nd Ave N
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
843-399-3237
https://www.northmyrtlebeachheatingandair.com/

HVAC HOLIDAY TIPS TO SAVE ON ENERGY COSTS

Now that everyone is feeling the holiday spirit, you might notice a little change in your household. Did your energy bill in the past few months look a little scarier than you anticipated? With all the festivities and exceptional food to be discovered this holiday season, it can be simple to forget that we consume a great deal of energy this time of year. You may wonder where all these came from. Well, it came from your HVAC system. To be able to lower your energy costs this holiday season, North Myrtle Beach Heating & Air has some practical tips for you.

Reputable Heating Tips for the Holidays

Are you worried that scheduling HVAC maintenance will interfere with your holiday festivities? Here’s what you can do:

1. To lower your energy use

Try to keep your energy use at 70 percent. We ensure all of the visitors and cooking will offset the heat loss, and you’ll be cutting a huge amount of energy your heating system or heat pump uses.

2. HVAC Filter Change

This part cannot be fully dictated by an HVAC contractor since it depends on the homeowner’s frequency of use. To be on the safe side, change your filter once a month for the best results. You can also upgrade to polyester filters for a service that lasts a couple of months longer.

3. Regular Cleaning

You’re most likely doing this at the moment, specifically if you’re hosting some holiday parties. While you’re at it, you can pay specific attention to vent grates and around your HVAC system. It will help you avoid fire hazards, you’ll enhance the air circulation of your heating system!

Never forget your Professional HVAC System Maintenance

Following the tips above is a great way to keep your HVAC System running smoothly. However, if you wish to get the most performance and convenience out of your system this season, ensure you schedule HVAC system maintenance. It’s simply hands-down the most essential thing to stay up to date with, especially if you do not like breakdowns and substantial heating expenses. If you missed your fall maintenance schedule, North Myrtle Beach Heating & Air can help you with this.

Energy Saving Tips

• Disconnect devices when not in use. Yes, they still utilize power; even when turned off!
• Convert to LED As much as 10 times more performance from your lights is a big offer.
• Prepare effectively. Fit as much into your oven as you can at the same time. Those things use up lots of power to run.

To be able to enjoy your holidays and still save more on your energy bill, follow the practical tips above. For HVAC Maintenance, call North Myrtle Beach Heating & Air.

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North Myrtle Beach Heating & Air
1001 2nd Ave N
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
843-399-3237

HOW A HEAT PUMP HELP YOU STAY WARM

In the North Myrtle Beach area, a heat pump is one of the crucial parts of your home’s HVAC system. The heat pump is responsible for the transference of heat and is an integral part of your air conditioning system as well. Think of it this way, without a heat pump your air conditioning unit would simply be a very expensive fan and the systems that keep your home at a comfortable temperature in the winter would fail. You would have to rely on sweaters, blankets and comforters.

Over the past few decades, North Myrtle Beach heat pump technology has come a long way. If you have a home that is more than fifteen years old, it may be time to start researching which heat pump is right for you.

Is there one type of heat pump that is the best?

Surprisingly, the answer is no. Think of your heat pump as you would any other major appliance in your home. As a consumer there are several factors you need to take into consideration and which type of heat pump technology will work best for you. Be careful to evaluate efficiency and cost preferences and to take into consideration the size of your home and your location as it relates to the local climate. In most cases, you will want to seek the advice of an HVAC specialist before making your final decision.

Here is a brief overview today’s of heat pump technology:

The major heat pump technologies can be broken into three groups: air source pumps, ground source pumps, and absorption pumps.

One of the primary advantages of the air source pump is a long-standing record for a steady performance. This technology has been around for years and works on a simple process which harnesses heat from the outdoors in the winter months and from the inside heat in the summer months. When this heat pump is properly configured, it is a high-efficiency system and can be very economical in a warmer climate like North Myrtle Beach. This solution is not suitable for those living in cooler areas.

A ground source heat pump retains its heat from the earth and thus the significance of the name. This technology is also referred to as geothermal. The ground source for the pump uses manually drilled holes that go deep into the ground for natural warmth. Although this is not the least expensive alternative, it is the most cost-effective over the long haul.
Absorption heat pumps are actually a subset of air source heat pumps. This technology is dependent on an alternative fuel source, other than electricity, to operate. Like the air source, absorption heat pumps draw the head from outdoor and indoor air sources.

Luckily, heat pumps as a general rule last a long time. If they are properly serviced, the average heat pump should last between fifteen and twenty years. When the time comes to replace your heat pump, be sure and call on your local heating and cooling specialists.

Proper maintenance is the key to saving the expense of replacing your heat pump. The fall of the year is a great time to have your heat pump checked and services. Give a reliable HVAC contractor a call to schedule your service before the winter months are in full swing.

North Myrtle Beach Heating & Air are your HVAC and heat pump experts. Call us anytime you need help with your unit.

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North Myrtle Beach Heating & Air
1001 2nd Ave N
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
843-399-3237
https://www.northmyrtlebeachheatingandair.com/

Serving: North Myrtle Beach, Barefoot Landing, Little River, Longs, Cherry Grove