Simple Things You Can Do to Save Energy at Home

Monday, January 27th, 2014

Simple Things You Can Do to Save Energy at Home

It is many homeowners’ goal to save energy in their homes and minimize their electric bills. Undoubtedly, electricity is the most basic service we need at home because we simply cannot function well without it. However, a lot of new appliances and gadgets are now operating without the use of electricity, which lowers our dependence on it. There are also things you can do around the house to help save energy and cut down on your electricity costs each month.

Here are a few effective home energy saving tips that will help you in increasing your savings:

  1. Make it a habit to turn off the lights when you leave a room. This is the simplest way to save energy. Also unplug all appliances when they are not in use because they still use a small amount of energy even when they are idle if they are plugged in.
  2. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs are more expensive, but they use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. Aside from that, they also last up to 10 times longer.
  3. Install outlet and light switch foam gaskets on your exterior walls. Electrical boxes that have switches and outlets extend into the wall cavity and can allow outside air infiltration. The insulate your hot water heater installed beneath the outlet and switch covers will minimize drafts.
  4. If your water heater is located in an area of the house that is unheated, insulate your hot water heater. Surrounding it with a water heater blanket can decrease stand-by heat loss by 25-40%.
  5. Be familiar with refrigerator cooling or condenser coils. The coils can be found by removing the cover panel located at the bottom of the front side of the refrigerator. The coils are more efficient when clean and dust-free. Use a vacuum nozzle to remove the dust once a year.
  6. Check your refrigerator temperature settings. Always inspect the door latch and seals of your fridge. To ensure an air tight fit and seal, replace old adhesive seals.  Frost accumulation is inefficient, so defrost your freezer once in a while.
  7. During warmer weather, open all your windows to allow fresh air to come in rather than using your air-conditioning unit.

Source: Heather & Alan Davis

Information that is being provide is for Educational Purpose, Any electric work that is needing to be done, should be done by a Licensed Electrician.

Simple energy efficiency upgrades can lead to major savings

Monday, January 20th, 2014

(NC) As the chill of the fall and winter seasons set in Canadians seek warmth – turning on the furnace and turning up the thermostat. Unfortunately this often results in higher energy bills.

Dave Walton, Director of Home Ideas at Direct Energy, has worked with thousands of homeowners to combat this challenge, providing energy-saving tips and advice about when to implement efficiency upgrades.

Here are some of the most effective ways Dave suggests for saving money on your energy bills this season:

• Furnace maintenance – Clean or replace your furnace filter every three months to save as much as five per cent off your heating bill. Also, most homeowners might not realize that if you own an older, conventional burning furnace, it operates at 60 per cent efficiency. That means that 40 cents of every dollar you spend heating your home goes right up the chimney. If your furnace is 17 years or older, consider upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace that could save as much as $565 per year on heating costs.

• Invest in a programmable thermostat – Knocking the temperature down and leaving it around 20 degrees at night and during the day when nobody is home can save as much as three to five per cent on heating bills.

• Sealing leaks – Up to 20 per cent of the heating and cooling costs in a home can be lost through poorly fitted windows and doors. Caulking and weather stripping around existing openings or installing new energy-efficient windows can save home owners as much as $150 a year on their energy bills.

More information is available online at www.davescorner.ca.

Source; www.newscanada.com

Information that is being provide is for Educational Purpose, Any electric work that is needing to be done, should be done by a Licensed Electrician.

Snow Blower not working this Winter – Tired of Shoveling the Snow

Monday, January 20th, 2014

Willie_Fix_It_Shop_logo

Winter is just around the corner, do not get stuck shoveling your snow as your snow blower watches you

Time for a TUNE_UP

We offer outstanding service where we repair all makes and models of small engine equipment.

Call us at 204-229-7030

Our Business is located in South Winnipeg

Snow-Blower

TUNE-UP

$74.99

Labour charge

Labour includes carburetor, ignition and 12 point check.

Parts and Taxes extra

We do provide pick up services for your snow blower

Check us out online: http://www.williesfixitshop.com

Insulating Your Attic — Use a professional

Tuesday, January 7th, 2014

Posted by alanandheather  on November 12, 2013

Insulating Your Attic

Insulating your attic is important for keeping your home warm and cozy during the cold winter months.  Insulation is a material that contains tiny air pockets that trap heat. An insulated attic keeps the home warm during winter months and cool during hot summer months. Aside from maintaining the comfort of your home, it also helps conserve energy and save money. In addition, it also increases the value of your house because potential buyers view it as an update that will improve their daily lifestyle.

Below are a few tips will aid you in properly installing insulation in your attic:

  1. Choose attic insulation with a great R-value. R-value is the measure of insulation’s ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The insulation should be at least 9.5 to 12 inches with an R-value within the range of R-30 to R-38.
  2. The most commonly used insulation types are cellulose, fiberglass, and spray foam insulation. The R-values between cellulose and fiberglass insulation are the same, but they vary in thickness. Usually, cellulose insulation is 2-3 inches thinner than fiberglass insulation. They both provide proper insulation for your home, but they have different features.  The downside of cellulose insulation is that it causes corrosion on metal objects; however, it can wholly insulate the wall and wall studs, thus providing total protection.  Fiberglass insulation, on the other hand, does not cause corrosion, but it cannot flow around wall studs, so the insulation isn’t quite as airtight.  On the other hand, there two types of spray foam: open cell and closed cell. The major advantage of using spray insulation is that it allows you to move the building envelope, which is the boundary between conditioned and unconditioned space.
  3. Install attic vents along the entire ceiling cavity to ensure maximum air flow.
  4. Place the insulation approximately 4 to 5 inches away from lighting features because they are the main source of heat loss in a home.
  5. The insulation should not cover areas of attic ventilation like roof vents, soffit vents, and gable vents. It is important to maintain air circulation in the attic to help keep things dry and warm.

Source : Heather & Alan Davis

Information that is being provide is for Educational Purpose, Any electric work that is needing to be done, should be done by a Licensed Electrician.

Message from Wurch Electric

Needing to Insulate your home, Contact          Landville Drywall Logo

We work with insulation from the two leading manufacturers of fiberglass blow in insulation:

  • Super Pink manufactured by Owens Corning.
  • Climate Pro manufactured by Johns Mansville

 

 

Electrical safety tips for holiday decorating

Tuesday, January 7th, 2014

(NC) Every neighbourhood has at least one: a house on the street that lights up in splendour throughout the holiday season. Decorations are in abundance both indoors and out, and just seeing the house brings on a smile. But as beautiful as it might be, that home may also be a safety risk if the decorator hasn’t followed precautions, like these offered by CSA Group, a leader in public safety testing and certification:

Creativity is key but not at the cost of safety – Let your inner designer shine, but be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when arranging electrical items, such as lights or electronic decorations. Be sure to turn off the electricity to the supply outlet before working with outdoor wiring and never run an electrical cord through a doorway or under a carpet indoors.

Fakes are no laughing matter – Your next door neighbour dressed up as Santa is funny. Counterfeit decorations are not so funny. Look for the mark from an accredited certification organization (such as CSA Group) on animated displays, light strings and extension cords. Ensure decorations are marked and certified for outdoor use and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Keep the mood light but not fiery – Choose flame-resistant decorations and don’t place open flames or candles near flammable materials, such as wreathes, trees or paper decorations. Never nail or tack lighting strings to a wall as this may damage insulation and create a shock or fire hazard. Use insulated fasteners to hold light strings in place, rather than metal nails or tacks that could damage wiring.

Cozy up – Keep warm by the fireplace but be sure your gas appliances are in good working order. If the pilot light or flame goes out, turn the gas off and wait five minutes or longer (see the manufacturer’s instructions) before attempting to relight. Be alert for unusual odours or flames when your gas fireplace is on, often indicating that the fireplace is not operating properly. In such cases, contact your dealer or licensed technician for servicing.

Overload on food, not watts – Don’t overload extension cords. Use heavy duty extension cords for high wattage decorations and large electronically-animated displays.

For extreme decorators, make sure your house is capable of handling the electrical load of multiple lights and décor. If in doubt, contact a licensed professional to inspect your electrical system.

Source: www.newscanada.com

Information that is being provide is for Educational Purpose, Any electric work that is needing to be done, should be done by a Licensed Electrician.

 
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