How Can I Tell That My Furnace Filter Needs to be Changed?

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Article Found on HVAC.com

Signs your furnace filter needs changing:

  • The filter is noticeably gray in color, and you can see dirt and dust built up on the filter media.
  • Your home is dustier than usual.
  • Your heating or cooling system is cycling longer than it usually does.
  • Your current filter has been in use longer than the manufacturer’s recommendation (anywhere from one to six months, depending on your filter). Read more

How to Increase the Energy Efficiency of a Fireplace

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Article Found on Modernize

Fireplaces generate a lot of heat—as long as you’re standing right in front of them. Otherwise, they can suck all the heat right out of a room and send it up your chimney with a lot of smoke. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here’s how you can increase the energy efficiency of your fireplace so it’s worth burning all that wood. Read more

THE BATTLE OF THE HOME ENERGY SOURCES: GAS VS. ELECTRIC

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Article Found on BuilderOnline, written by Lydia Lee

Troon Pacific, a San Francisco–based developer of high-end residences, just put its latest project on the market: a $45 million, 9,500-square-foot house in the city’s Russian Hill neighborhood. The kitchen of this LEED Platinum-certified home has not one, but two cooktops: a 36-inch Gaggenau gas cooktop and a 15-inch Gaggenau electric induction cooktop. “Induction is the most sought after by chefs, because the heat can be so well controlled,” says Greg Malin, CEO of Troon Pacific. “But the market in the U.S. hasn’t quite broken out yet, so we have both, to let people choose how they want to cook and expand in the directions they want to. Read more

Warning: Learn These Home Heating Fire Hazards

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Article Found on Modernize

Heating your home with poorly maintained equipment is like playing with fire—sometimes quite literally! Even if you don’t have a fireplace with an open flame, you could be putting the safety of your home and family at risk. Especially if you slack off on monitoring the condition and performance of your heating systems. Read more

How Often Should You Have a Furnace Inspection?

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Article Found on AngiesList

Before the cold weather hits, experts recommend having a professional service your furnace to keep it in good running order and prevent it from conking out when you need it most.

HVAC experts say an annual furnace inspection and service will prolong the life of the system, save energy and decrease health risks.

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Savings DIY Project: How to Seal Air Leaks with Caulk

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Article Found on Energy.gov

Air leaks can waste a lot of your energy dollars. Whether leaks are letting hot air inside during the warmer months or letting in drafts during the cooler season, one of the quickest energy- and money-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal and weather strip all cracks and large openings to the outside. Air takes the path of least resistance, so you should aim to seal the big holes first. We’ve laid out some simple instructions for sealing most of these air leakage pathways — but if you’re sealing heating and cooling ducts, we suggest contacting contractor that’s familiar with the different air sealing methods often best done with ductwork.

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