Cool Care Heating & Air | 803.772.7715 | CoolCareHVAC.com

U.S. Home Heating Bills Expected to

Surge This Winter

Article Taken from Reuters.com

U.S. consumers can expect to pay up to 28% more to heat their homes this winter than last year due to surging fuel costs and slightly colder weather, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projected in its winter fuels outlook [last] Wednesday.

Nearly half of U.S. households rely on natural gas for heat, with the average winter heating cost expected to rise to $931, up by 28% from last year, EIA said. The average cost to heat a home with gas last winter was $724, far cheaper than other major sources of heat. U.S. gas prices at the Henry Hub benchmark were up about 75% this year as soaring global prices feed demand for U.S. exports due to supply disruptions and sanctions linked to Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.

Electricity is the primary heating source for about 40% of homes. It is more expensive than gas at an estimated $1,359 per household this winter - but that is just a 10% increase from last winter.

Less than 12 million homes rely on heating oil or propane - about 9% of the roughly 130 million U.S. households - but those fuels will remain the most expensive sources of heat this winter with cost increases of 27% to $2,354 for heating oil and 5% to $1,668 for propane. Homes that rely on heating oil are concentrated in the Northeast, while the biggest propane users are in the Midwest.

EIA said residential costs will rise to $15.95 per thousand cubic feet (mcf) for gas, $2.32-$3.45 per gallon for propane, 14.8 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity and $4.54 per gallon for heating oil.

That compares with last winter's residential costs of $13.02/mcf for gas, $2.30-3.33 per gallon for propane, 14.0 cents per kWh of electricity and $3.90 per gallon for heating oil.

How Do You Combat Soaring Heating Costs?

Preventive Maintenance is the answer! This is why making sure your unit is working at full capacity, coils are cleaned and filters are changed monthly are all ways to assist your unit from overworking.

Another way to help is to have Cool Care perform an energy audit on your whole home! We can check for leakages around your doors and windows to make sure your heat - and air- isn't escaping.

Know the Signs of a Natural Gas Leak

With lows this week feeling like winter, this may be the first time you turn on your heat this season. Many of you use gas for your heat source, so we wanted to share this pertinent information from Dominion Energy.

Signs of a Gas Leak

Natural gas is a colorless, odorless, non-toxic yet flammable substance. An odor is added to help you detect a potential gas leak.

Signs of a possible natural gas leak are:

A rotten egg odor
Discolored or dead vegetation over or near the pipeline
A hissing, whistling or roaring sound near a gas appliance or the pipeline
Dirt or debris being blown into the air
Persistent bubbles in streams, ponds or wet areas
Flames if a leak has ignited

What to Do if a Leak Occurs

If you suspect a gas leak:

Leave the area immediately
Warn others to stay away
From a safe place, call 911 or Dominion Energy at 1.800.815.0083

Remember These Additional Safety Tips When You Smell Gas:

Do not attempt to turn natural gas valves on or off
Do not turn on or off any electric switch; this could cause a spark and ignite the gas
Do not use your telephone, cell phone, garage door opener or a flashlight
Do not smoke, use a lighter or strike a match
Do not start or stop nearby vehicles or other machinery

Click here for more information about natural gas safety.

It's Time to Schedule Your Winter HVAC Maintenance!

With the lows going down into the high 30s this week, you're going to want to make sure your unit is working properly. See below why you should schedule your preventive maintenance service today.

Benefits of Preventive Maintenance Plans

Air conditioners should be serviced every spring and heat pumps should be serviced every fall. Annual HVAC preventive maintenance will prime these units to perform efficiently as the seasons change. When you schedule heat pump and AC maintenance before the hot or cold weather kicks in, you can take care of any problems that might have developed since last year, prepare the units to perform optimally during the months ahead, and get the peace of mind that comes from knowing your HVAC is ready to deliver reliable indoor comfort for the duration.

Our HVAC Preventive Maintenance Plan can detect minor problems before they become large problems, saving you money, time and discomfort. With this plan, you’ll receive:

Priority Service
No Overtime Rates
Discounts on Parts and Labor
Higher Efficiency – Save Money on Electric Bills
Semi-Annual Cleaning and Tune-Up of Your Air Conditioning and/or Heating Equipment

Preventive Maintenance Plans

Cool Care Heating & Air offers affordable heating and air conditioning preventive maintenance plans that will always save money over time. Providing annual maintenance on your heating and cooling systems can extend its lifespan for many years, and well-maintained HVAC equipment lowers utility bills by operating more efficiently.

Our NATE-Certified technicians can provide thorough AC, air duct and heat pump maintenance that will keep these systems in tip-top condition and performing at peak capacity. Our HVAC maintenance services include:

Condenser Coil Cleaning
Refrigerant Charge Check
Condensate Drain Inspection and Cleaning
Complete Safety and Performance Inspections
Blower Wheel Inspections
Seasonal Preparation

HVAC Maintenance Tips

As a homeowner, you can help your air conditioning and heater run smoothly by doing a few easy things:

Keep the Air Filters Clean
Change your filters monthly. If you have fur babies, check the filters often as pet fur can clog an air filter very quickly.

Keep the Outdoor Unit Clean
Rinse your system with a garden hose periodically, clear the area of debris, and keep any foliage trimmed back at least two feet. Dust and vacuum your air vents monthly.

Howl-O-Scream of a Deal!

$300 OFF

New HVAC System Installation

Only one coupon per service address. Coupon must be presented at the time of service.

May not be combined with other offers. Offer Expires November 30th, 2022.

Take the 💀FRIGHT out of Remodeling

HVAC Considerations When Renovating

Renovating and remodeling can be stressful and expensive but what’s more stressful is discovering that all your hard work has caused more problems. For your HVAC system, this means that something like adding a window can affect its performance. Here are four ways your HVAC system is affected by modifications to your home.

Heat Gain and Loss

As mentioned above, adding a window will affect your HVAC system, specifically its ability to meet the heat gain and heat loss caused by this new window. Removing or blocking off windows or changing the wall construction in any way will affect the amount of heat your furnace has to add to keep the space comfortable. Even if you’re not adding floor space, consult with a professional to determine whether your system needs to be modified to handle extra energy loads.

Air Distribution

Once you remove or add walls to a space, you need to consider how much air is going where. It’s not just a matter of having a grille throwing air into a space. It needs to be the right amount and in the right location to serve that space. Otherwise, you risk hot and cold spots or areas with stagnant, stuffy air. Even if your heating and cooling loads remain the same, you need to look at your home’s modified layout to see if any changes need to be made to the air distribution system. This also applies to hydronic based systems where you may need to add, or relocate radiators to maintain comfort in your space.

Ventilation

Modifications to your home’s layout or changes to a room’s purpose may require modification to your home’s ventilation system. It’s obvious that a new bathroom will need an exhaust fan but did you know that a storage room should also have its own ventilation? Depending on what you plan to use a space for, you may need to install an exhaust fan, remove existing ones or have an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) put in.

Combustion Air

If your remodeling includes any work to your furnace room or just outside (like an addition), you need to ensure that there is still enough combustion air available for your furnace. Otherwise, you run the risk of incomplete combustion, which produces carbon monoxide, putting you and your family at risk. Tightening up construction around your furnace can also cause this problem so talk to a professional if you’re working in this area.

If you’re planning to remodel your home, give us a call at 803.772.7715, and we can help you make sure your HVAC system

is ready to go so you can enjoy your changes.

Our 12th Annual Food Drive Is Back!

Help us feed the Midlands by donating canned goods and non-perishable items when you have service! Just give your items to your technician, or drop them off at our office located at 3102 Bronx Road, Columbia, SC 29204 M-F 9am-5pm. We'll be taking collections now through December 22nd.

Happy Halloween from "Boo"-llou!

Cool Care Heating & Air

803.772.7715 | CoolCareHVAC.com