Category: Energy Efficiency

Updating Your Home Heating Equipment? Learn About the Types of Heating Systems.

Posted on by Reidy Heating & Cooling

mother and child snuggle under blanket on couch while readingWith the return of chilly weather, many homeowners are thinking about ways they can improve their home comfort. If they have old, outdated heating equipment in their home, they may be considering replacing it with newer equipment. There are many reasons why replacing older equipment might be a good idea.

When heating equipment ages, it loses some of its ability to adequately keep your home warm. It may use more energy than it should. Often, people add to their homes without updating their heating equipment, and that can make equipment work harder than it should and wear out more quickly. And, the older your heating equipment gets, the more likely it is to need larger, more expensive repairs. If you’ve noticed any of these concerns with your current heating system, keep reading to learn about the different types of heating available for your home.

5 Types of Residential Heating Systems

Below, learn more about the five types of heating systems offered by Reidy Heating & Cooling, Inc. – how they work to heat your home, and how they can improve your energy consumption and home comfort.

  1. Furnaces: Many homeowners use furnaces to keep their homes warm when the temperatures dip down. Most furnaces use gas or oil for home heating. Furnaces usually require a system of ductwork to deliver heated air throughout the home, commonly known as forced-air heating. Today’s furnaces are much more efficient than their predecessors, with some achieving efficiencies as high as 98.5%.
  2. Boilers: Boilers generally use oil or gas, and operate by sending heated water or steam through pipes throughout the home. The hot water or steam is distributed throughout the home via baseboard radiators or radiant floor systems. Boilers tend to last a long time, but that can mean an older boiler in your home may be using more energy than a modern, high-efficiency boiler system.
  3. Heat Pumps: Heat pumps are ultra-efficient, and in recent years have been engineered to function even in colder climates. Heat pumps use the heat from the air or ground to heat your home, and they do not need fossil fuel in order to operate. Instead, they’re able to extract heat and pump it into your home. As an added benefit, many models are able to reverse the process in the summer, effectively cooling your home as well.
  4. Ductless Heating: Ductless heating is a perfect choice for homes without ductwork, or for additions or converted spaces that don’t have access to the home’s central duct system. Most ductless systems use heat pump technology to heat homes, and, like centralized heat pump systems, are often able to cool the home during warmer weather. Ductless systems are installed as separate units throughout your home, and are easily controlled via remote.
  5. Baseboard Heating: Baseboard heating can be a component of a boiler system, or can operate independently from room to room using electricity to generate the heat. Electrical baseboard heat offers targeted comfort, and is usually controlled via thermostat on a room-to-room or zoned basis.

I’d like to learn more about upgrading my heating system. Can Reidy help?

At Reidy, we provide complete heating services to our customers, including new installation of quality heating equipment. We will be more than happy to talk to you about your current heating system, and help you find an upgrade that meets your lifestyle needs as well as your budget. Call us today at (413) 534-3749 to find out how we can help you with your home heating needs.

What Choices Do I Have for Home Air Conditioning?

Posted on by Reidy Heating & Cooling

couple on laptop enjoying comfort of homeDuring the summer months, people often enjoy fun in the great outdoors. There are so many things to do once the weather turns warm, from relaxing at the beach or pool to enjoying an outdoor barbecue with friends and family. Many people also like to be able to seek refuge from the heat in a cool, comfortable air-conditioned home. If you’ve been thinking about replacing an old air conditioning system, or newly installing AC in your home, you have options.

Today, virtually any homeowner can get air conditioning for their home that is both effective and energy efficient. Modern systems not only cool using less energy than their older counterparts; there are also numerous configurations available that can make any home a comfortable haven away from the summer heat. In this article, we’ll describe the three main types of air conditioning systems and tell you what types of situations in which each works best. Keep reading to learn more!

Three Types of Air Conditioning Systems

Most people know that air conditioning provides cool comfort, but it can also be beneficial in other ways. For instance, most air conditioning systems help to cut down on the humidity in your home, helping to eliminate moisture concerns and keeping you and your family from that clammy feeling that often accompanies humid days. It can also help to improve your indoor air quality by filtering out dust, dander, and other particulates. Below, we’ll talk about the three types of systems Reidy Heating & Cooling, Inc. installs, so you can get a better idea which would be best for your home.

  1. Central Air Conditioning: When people think about air conditioning, they most often think of traditional central air conditioning systems. This type of air conditioning system is best for homes that have a forced-air heating system, such as a furnace. Using the same ductwork as your furnace system, a central air conditioning system moves cool air throughout your entire home. This type of AC is very durable, and modern systems are both more energy efficient and use a more environmentally-friendly type of refrigerant than older systems. So, if you have an existing central air conditioning system you’re thinking about replacing, or if your home has ductwork, central air may likely be your best option.
  2. Ductless Air Conditioning Systems: More and more people are turning to ductless AC as a way to keep their homes cool in the summer weather. Unlike a central air conditioning system, which uses a home’s ductwork, a ductless system is comprised of individual units installed in various rooms or zones around your home, without the need for ductwork. That makes these systems ideal for homes that rely on radiant types of heat, such as electric baseboard or boiler heating systems. Because they don’t require ductwork, they can also replace window AC, which can be loud, inefficient, and can obstruct your view. As an added bonus, ductless systems that provide heating during the winter are also available, making them an ideal choice when it comes time to replace an older baseboard heating system.
  3. Heat Pump Systems: Many people don’t know that a heat pump system not only provides heating during the winter, but also air conditioning in the summer. Heat pump systems are available in both ductless and ducted configurations, and are built for durability. Modern heat pump systems have been engineered to provide heating even in colder climates, making them a good replacement for an older, less-efficient HVAC system. Heat pumps are also environmentally sound, using less energy than traditional AC systems. And that can translate to lower utility bills in the long run.

I’m still not sure which type of AC system would be best for my home. Can Reidy help?

At Reidy Heating & Cooling, your home comfort is our number one priority. We want to make sure your air conditioning system is the best choice for your home, your family, and your lifestyle. That’s why we work with you to make sure that the system you choose is the right one. We’ll help you explore all your options to ensure that the AC system you choose keeps you and your family comfortable for years to come, and provides you with the best possible energy efficiency as well.

I think I’m ready to learn more about air conditioning for my home.

That’s great! As a full-service air conditioning contractor, Reidy provides not only expert installation of central, ductless, and heat pump systems, but we can provide expert maintenance and repair as well. When you’re ready to learn more about air conditioning for your home, we’re ready to assist you! Call us today at (413) 534-3749 to find out how we can help you with your home cooling needs.

How Can I Make My Home More Efficient This Spring?

Posted on by Reidy Heating & Cooling

Green eco house environmental backgroundOnce the spring season arrives, many homeowners start to think about getting their houses in order. From the usual indoor spring cleaning, to getting the yard, garden, pool, and deck areas ready for the warmer weather ahead, spring is definitely a good time to clean and refresh your home. For some people, it’s also a time when they start thinking about the planet, and how to become more energy-efficient in their homes.

In this article, we’ll talk about some easy ways you can help your home become more energy-efficient, both indoors and out. From simple do-it-yourself energy-saving tips, to some that may mean calling a contractor but can help you save in the long run, we hope you find these suggestions helpful. Keep reading to learn more!

10 Energy-Saving Tips for Your Home for Spring

  1. Choose energy-efficient lightbulbs. Even if you only replace the bulbs in your most frequently-used light fixtures, you can save up to $75 in energy costs when you switch to ENERGY STAR-rated bulbs.
  • Unplug electronics and small appliances when not in use. Chargers and small kitchen appliances like can openers and toasters still sap small amounts of energy when not in use – and that can add up. Unplug whatever appliances you can to help save energy.
  • Make sure your home is properly insulated. When people think about insulation, they tend to think about the job it does to help their homes stay warm in the winter. However, the same goes for helping homes stay cool in the summer! Proper insulation keeps your conditioned air where it belongs – inside – and that makes the job easier for your HVAC system.
  • Get motion sensing outdoor lights. Rather than having garage or porch lights that stay on (until someone remembers to turn them off!), you might want to opt for motion-sensing lights that can illuminate your way when you need it, and then turn off when you’re inside.
  • Wash your laundry in cold water when possible. It just stands to reason that your hot water heater has to work to warm up the water when you choose hot or warm for your wash – but there is no energy used when choosing the cold cycle. In fact, most laundry detergents today are made to work with cold water.
  • Line dry the laundry when possible. When it’s sunny and breezy, why not hang out your laundry, or at least bulkier items that can take a while in the dryer, such as towels, sheets and blankets? Not only will you save electricity, but your laundry will smell April-fresh!
  • Invest in energy-saving power strips. The Department of Energy estimates that homeowners can save up to $100 a year by plugging their electronic devices into power strips, and turning the strip off when not in use.
  • Make sure doors and windows aren’t drafty. Just like drafty doors and windows can let the frigid air inside during the winter, they can let your cooled air outside during the warmer months. This makes your air conditioning system have to work harder – and use more energy.
  • When it comes time to replace appliances, choose ENERGY STAR certified. All home appliances have ENERGY STAR-certified choices, including equipment like dishwashers, dryers, washers, ovens and more.
  1. Call your HVAC contractor and schedule annual maintenance for your AC system. Some homeowners think that getting annual maintenance is a waste of money. However, that could not be further from the truth. In fact, the Department of Energy recommends regular maintenance for energy savings and system longevity.

Reidy Heating & Cooling, Inc. Can Help You Get the Spring Maintenance You Need.

 At Reidy, our professional technicians are ready to help you get the annual air conditioning maintenance you need to rest assured that your system is operating both effectively and efficiently. We’ll check your system, make sure all the moving parts are clean and in good working order, and change or clean your air filter. And, if we find any issues, we’ll talk to you about them and make any needed repairs – before they become larger, more expensive ones.

Not to mention, when you choose annual maintenance from Reidy, you’re also helping to keep your equipment’s manufacturer warranty in place.

Save Energy & Keep Your AC Healthy with Reidy

We’re ready to help you get the spring maintenance you need for your air conditioning system. We can even provide you with a maintenance plan that provides 24-hour service, no overtime charges, and discounts on labor and materials for members. So, you’ll save energy and get the peace of mind you deserve! Just call (413) 534-3749 to learn more about how we can help you with your air conditioning maintenance needs.