Do your monthly energy bills seem out of your control? Are your family members uncomfortable even when the air conditioning and heating system is running? Does it seem like you have to run the AC or heater for hours before the house finally cools down or heats up? If so, your HVAC system, your family members, and your wallet can benefit from a home energy audit in Pittsburgh from Boehmer Heating & Cooling. A comprehensive energy audit involves tests and inspections which help you to learn where your home is losing the most energy.

• Leaks around windows and doors – A blower door test can help technicians to learn whether there are areas of your home through which air can leak in or out. Even a few minor cracks can really add up, and a technician may recommend replacing the doors or windows.
• Duct leaks – The ducts are a common source of energy loss. Since most ducts are hidden from your view, you have no way of knowing when there are cracks and holes that allow air to leak out into unoccupied spaces like attics or crawlspaces. This forces your AC to work harder and may increase your cooling and heating costs by 30%.
• Inadequate insulation – Insulation is a barrier of sorts, involving layers of material which keep heat from moving in or out, to an extent. This is important in both the winter and the summertime, and even if you already have insulation in parts of your home, this may not be enough. A technician will inspect your attic and perform tests that help to determine where insulation is lacking, where it needs replacement, and how much insulation is necessary to keep you comfortable and limit your air conditioning and heating usage.
• Faulty HVAC equipment – During an energy audit, technicians look over your furnace, boiler, air conditioner, heat pump, and/or water heater, inspecting each component to look for any areas that could use a tune up or a repair, since worn down parts contribute greatly to excessive energy use.

A home energy audit can bring these items to your attention, as well as any filtration issues that may affect the quality of the air in your home. Call the professional HVAC and energy-efficiency experts at Boehmer Heating & Cooling to schedule a thorough energy audit in Pittsburgh today.

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Posted in Home Energy Solutions | Comments Off on Where Your Home May Be Losing Energy

Looking to save some money on your monthly bills? The first step to take towards a more efficient home is scheduling a home energy audit.

A home energy audit is used to determine which parts of the home are responsible for lost energy. When you run your heating or air conditioning system, heat may escape or enter through the walls, causing your unit to work much harder than it needs to and using a lot of energy in the process. Not only does this hurt your wallet; it also makes the people in your home feel far less comfortable.

Most homes have small holes and cracks in various areas, which may only seem to be a small issue. However, if you were to put all of these holes together, it could create a gaping opening the size of a hula hoop. Furthermore, many homes are poorly insulated, meaning that heat can easily move through the walls and ceilings. In the summer, this means that too much heat enters your home, and in the winter, the heat created by your furnace or radiant system can effortlessly escape.

A home energy audit is used to determine which components of your home are responsible for energy loss and a whole host of other problems. A technician will examine various parts of your home with a series of tests and inspections to determine what parts of the house contribute to energy loss, allergies, illness, poor HVAC performance, stuffiness, humidity, and more. After inspection, the technician will let you know what type of service will help alleviate the issues in your house. They may recommend that you schedule any of the following services:

• Air Sealing
• Insulation Services
• Duct Sealing
• Ventilation
• New HVAC Replacement or Repair
• Mold Remediation
• Indoor Air Quality Installation

It’s important to know about the state of your home, not only for your utility bills but also for your health. Faulty gas furnaces and stuffy garages can allow poisonous gases to leak into your home. Or, a musty and humid room may give way to mold development, causing family members with asthma and allergies to suffer and sometimes leading to sudden illness.

Our audit includes a visual inspection, utility bill analysis, HVAC inspection, infrared scanning, a blower door test and more, so that you can rest easy knowing you’re saving as much money as possible and that your family remains comfortable and safe.

Call Boehmer Heating & Cooling for a comprehensive energy audit in Pittsburgh.

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Posted in Home Energy Solutions | Comments Off on What Is an Energy Audit?

Wouldn’t you love to pinpoint the exact areas of your home where you are losing heating and cooling? By scheduling a professional energy audit with a Boehmer Heating & Cooling energy expert, you can. A home energy audit can help you understand where your home is losing energy, as well as how much energy your home is using. It takes training and expertise to conduct an effective home energy audit in Pittsburgh, so call the people you can trust: Boehmer Heating & Cooling.

What Is an Energy Audit?

An energy audit is a series of tests and evaluations done in your home to pinpoint areas where you are losing heating or cooling. There is some variation as to the types of tests and analyses performed, but here is a general overview of what to expect from any professional home energy audit:

• Thorough visual inspection – the specialist will conduct thorough inspections of your home’s exterior and interior to assess your home’s building envelope and potential issues inside.

• Insulation inspection – an insulation inspection helps determine if you have enough insulation throughout your home, and if you have the right type of insulation.

• Attic inspection – attic space can greatly affect your energy efficiency if it isn’t properly insulated; it can also allow for mold growth should there be issues with excess moisture. This inspection will identify any standing issues with your attic space.

• Home appliance and HVAC inspections – thorough inspection of your HVAC system, hot water heater, dryer and any other home appliance; the purpose of this inspection is to detect any developing or existing energy problems.

• Blower door test – pinpoints the exact areas of air leakage in your home.

• 12-Month analysis of energy bills – this analysis helps determine your home’s energy consumption over the last year and the costs associated with it.

Home Report

Once all of the findings have been reviewed and analyzed, you’ll be given a comprehensive report detailing the findings and recommendations on how to fix any problems that were discovered during the process.

Energy.gov estimates that a home energy audit can save you anywhere from 5-30% on your annual energy bills. If you are concerned about the energy efficiency of your home, call Boehmer Heating & Cooling today and schedule a home energy audit in Pittsburgh with one of our experts.

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Posted in Home Energy Solutions | Comments Off on How a Home Energy Audit Can Help Your Home

The amount of energy you use directly impacts your monthly finances. Approximately 40% of household budgets are used for annual energy expenses, but what if you could shrink that number? An energy audit in Pittsburgh can help you do just that. By understanding how your home heats and cools, you’ll be able to create and execute a plan that will help you save money on energy costs all year. Boehmer Heating & Cooling home energy advisers are certified and trained in all home services. If you are looking to schedule an energy audit for your home, call the best people for the job: Boehmer Heating & Cooling.

What Is an Energy Audit?

An energy audit is an assessment of how much energy your home uses and how you can improve upon its energy efficiency. During an energy audit with a Boehmer Heating & Cooling expert, you can expect the following:

• Utility Bill Analysis — effectively determines usage patterns of your home’s heating and cooling to help you look for ways to reduce your energy and gas (oil or propane) consumption
• Blower Door Test — detects the source and measures the amount of air leakage in your home
• Infrared Scan — identifies hidden defects in the house, from air and duct leaks to moisture issues and gaps in your insulation
• Visual Inspection — helps to uncover potential problems that may compromise the integrity of your home
• Insulation Inspection — determines the insulation levels in specific areas of the house
• Attic Inspection — identifies evidence of issues involving maintenance, insulation, and damage caused by moisture on the roof from the attic
• Furnace, Boiler, Air Conditioner, Heat Pump, and Hot Water Equipment Inspection — inspects the condition of your HVAC system for existing or potential issues

What Are the Benefits of an Energy Audit?

There are several important benefits to conducting an energy audit:

• Increase energy efficiency
• Reduce energy usage
• Improve indoor air quality
• Produce consistent interior temperatures
• Reduce interior drafts
• Improve humidity control & ventilation

To gain these benefits, you need to implement the recommendations listed in the energy audit report.

If you are interested in a Boehmer Heating & Cooling energy audit for your Pittsburgh home, call us today and schedule an appointment with one of our certified home energy advisors.

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Posted in Home Energy Solutions | Comments Off on Reasons to Schedule an Energy Audit in Pittsburgh