Household Heating Costs Predicted to be Lower in 2016
Good news for homeowners here in Kansas City and across the country – heating costs are expected to drop compared to the past two winters. In most regions, the decline can be attributed to the combination of warmer weather and lower fuel prices. This doesn’t necessarily give you the license to run your furnace on high all winter, but it will definitely help you save a few bucks this winter, and we all know every penny saved helps. Lancaster Brothers Heating & Cooling outlines everything you need to know about this good news.
How Much You Can Expect to Save on Your Heating Bills
Most regions of the country are expected to have warmer weather this winter. The Midwest is predicted to be about 11% warmer than last winter. This huge jump in temperatures paired with dropping fuel costs makes for some big savings for homeowners this winter.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Winter Fuels Outlook, average household expenditures for homes heating primarily with natural gas will total $578 this winter. That’s about $64 less than last winter. Homes primarily using propane are expected to spend $1,437 this winter ($322 less). Homes heating primarily with heating oil are expected to spend $1,392 ($459 less).
Homes heating primarily with electric heat are expected to spend $930 ($30 less). While the price tag seems much more bearable than last winter, individual fuel expenditures are highly dependent on the size and energy efficiency of individual homes and their heating equipment, and thermostat settings.
Related Read: Space Heater Safety Tips
How to Maximize Heat Savings
Luckily, nearly every homeowner in the Kansas City area will see savings, but why not maximize yours? Implement these smart heating practices to see the biggest jump in energy savings this winter. Here’s what we recommend:
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Use a programmable thermostat that automatically lowers the temperature in your home during times you’re away at work or school.
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Make sure your furnace filter is clean so your system can work as efficiently as possible.
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Make sure you had a furnace tune-up. If you skipped your fall tune-up, it’s not too late to reap the benefits of a winter tune-up.
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Make sure to seal up any cracks or leaks in windows or doors. Caulking is a cheap and easy way to do it yourself.
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Make sure the flue to your fireplace is closed when not in use to prevent warm air from escaping.
If you’re experiencing high heating bills despite the normal trend, you may have a broken furnace system. If this sounds like you, call the heating experts at Lancaster Brothers Heating & Cooling today at 913-837-2000. We have options available to either repair your furnace or install a new, high-efficiency Lennox system.
Chris Lancaster January 8th, 2016
Posted In: Heating
Space Heater Safety Tips
When your home gets cold, it can be tempting to do whatever it takes to warm up! Space heaters can be a great option when your primary heating system just isn’t cutting it, but in the rush to kick up the heat, sometimes, we forget about safety. Heating equipment is the second largest cause of home fires, so be smart about your heating habits. Lancaster Brothers Heating & Cooling has put together a list of safety tips to make sure you’re using your space heater the right way.
Before the Warm Up
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If any part of your space heater is in less than tiptop shape, don’t use it. That includes the cord!
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Check your space heater for labels indicating it has been tested for safety by a recognized, third party lab.
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Take a moment and read the manufacturer’s instructions. Not all space heaters are the same, and it’s worth reading through your heater’s instruction manual to make sure you’re staying safe.
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Consider whether or not a space heater is the right choice. Space heaters offer supplemental heat for your home – they’re not towel warmers or cooking appliances.
Related Read: Heating Facts and Costly Fiction
Give Your Space Heater Space
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Keep space heaters out of walkways, where they could trip or burn passersby.
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Heaters must be kept at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including papers, clothing and rugs.
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Plug any space heater into its own wall outlet – not an extension cord, which might overheat and cause a fire.
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When you’re not using your space heater, store it safely until the temperature drops again. Storing it properly will help ensure it’s still in working order next year.
Be Prepared
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Never leave your space heater unattended – turn it off before you leave or go to sleep.
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Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home, especially near sleeping areas. Make a habit of testing these detectors once a month. Find out more about the indoor air quality in your home.
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Show everyone in your home how to properly use the space heater and remind everyone to keep flammable objects away.
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Sit down with everyone in the household and discuss a fire evacuation plan in case of an emergency. Better safe than sorry!
Heating your home correctly can be tricky, but it must always be done with safety in mind. If you’re ready to ditch the space heater, call Lancaster Brothers Heating & Cooling at (913) 837-2000 to upgrade your heating system, so next year, you won’t have to worry about space heater safety!
Chris Lancaster December 21st, 2015
Posted In: Heating
What Your 5 Senses Can Tell You about Your Furnace’s Health
Our technicians are trained to diagnose and fix malfunctioning heating and cooling appliances – but they only know there’s a problem when you call in! Fortunately, you don’t need a special tool kit to tell when your furnace is acting up. Your five senses are enough to let you know when you have a problem, and this guide from Lancaster Brothers Heating & Cooling can help you figure out how to fix your furnace woes, and when to call in backup.
Smell
It’s not uncommon for a perfectly healthy furnace to emit a musty odor when you first fire it up, as the furnace burns off dust that has collected since last season. However, persistent smells could be cause for concern. If you smell something like burning dirt, your filter might be clogged and in need of replacement. If your filter is clear, but the smoky odor continues, other parts of your heating system, like your air ducts, may need to be cleaned. However, if the smell is more akin to burning plastic or gas, turn off your furnace immediately and call a trained heating and cooling professional to address the problem. If at all possible, leave your home until your technician gives you the all clear.
Worried about other smells you’ve noticed around your home? Learn more about indoor air quality and how to improve the air in your home.
Sound
When you hear excessively loud sounds coming from your furnace, something’s probably wrong. Some furnaces will make noise when they’re in good condition, but they’re designed to work inside your home without creating too much of a ruckus. Loud popping, banging, or grinding sounds probably mean your furnace will need repairs soon. Each kind of sound indicates a different problem with your furnace – luckily, experienced technicians can speak this ‘furnace language,’ and fix your furnace.
Touch
It’s a bit of a no brainer – your furnace should be warming up your house. If your furnace is on, but you’re still feeling cold, chances are you have a problem. Check your breakers and make sure the controls on your furnace are set to where they should be. All signs are go, but still no heat? Call a professional to come check it out. The inner workings of a furnace can be tricky, and troubleshooting your furnace isn’t a good do-it-yourself project.
Related Read: Having Heating Trouble? How to Tell When It’s Time to Replace Your Furnace
Sight
Carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless, colorless, and poisonous; and it could be produced by any gas appliance. Any home with gas appliances should also have a carbon monoxide detector. If you see the alarm on your carbon monoxide detector going off, immediately turn off all gas appliances, open your windows to ventilate the house, and call for a heating and cooling professional to test all of your gas appliances – including your furnace – to ensure they’re not allowing dangerous gases to seep into your home.
Taste
Ok, we’re not suggesting you lick your furnace. However, if you’ve started stocking up on ramen noodles to make up for a sudden spike in your utility bill, your furnace might be to blame. Check your statement – if your rate is staying the same and you’re not experiencing exceptionally cold weather, your furnace may be struggling to keep up and drawing more fuel to keep putting out the same amount of heat. Review the other four senses to see if you notice any other changes, then call for an inspection.
If any of your senses are telling you it’s time for a tune-up or inspection, give Lancaster Brothers Heating & Cooling a call at (913) 837-2000. We’ll be happy to help you figure out what’s going wrong and the best way to fix it. Whether you need a simple fix or a new appliance installed, our technicians are trained to handle it.
Chris Lancaster December 9th, 2015
Posted In: Heating
Heating Facts and Costly Fiction
The Lancaster Brothers have heard it all over the years. There are lots of ideas about how and why to heat your home during the winter months. If you don’t have a background in heating, some of these misconceptions actually make a lot of sense! So, we decided to do a little myth-busting and explain away some of the heating myths that are costing you money.
Set Your Thermostat Way Higher to Warm Up a Cold Room Fast
When you walk inside and it’s freezing, the first thing most of us want to do is crank the thermostat up to 80°. Unfortunately, your heater is only on or off, there’s no in-between, and you’re just going to make yourself uncomfortably warm. Imagine your heater works like an oven, instead of a stovetop. When you’re boiling a pot of water, you turn the heat up all the way to heat the water quickly. However, when you’re baking, you set the oven temperature exactly where it needs to be. The oven will take the same amount of time to reach 300° if you set it to 300° or 400°. If you set your oven, or your thermostat, higher than it needs to be you’ll reach your desired temperature in the same amount of time, then keep rising.
Warmer Temperatures Keep You Healthy
Not quite. While you obviously want to keep your home above freezing, giving your heater a break has its benefits for your body. Bacteria thrive in warm places, and when it’s cold outside, everyone spends time together inside, in much closer proximity. This added exposure to others and their germs is the real reason more people get sick in the colder months. Sadly, the temperature of the room won’t keep a cold away. If you’re worried about those extra holiday calories, turning the heat down might actually help you! Studies have shown that lower, but still comfortable, temperatures help your body burn calories. Sleeping in a bedroom set to 66° for a month made study participants better able to process sugar.
Looking for more ways to keep your house healthy? Consider an Air Purification System.
Leaving Your Home at a Constant Temperature Will Save You Money
The idea here is that by leaving your thermostat set to the same temperature, even while you’re away at work or asleep during the night, you’re preventing your system from working harder right when you get home. However, as we discussed with the first myth, your heater is either on or off. You’re not making it work harder when you come home and set the temperature back to a more comfortable level, you’re saving it the work of running all day while you’re not home. If your heater seems to be working too hard anyway, it might be time to replace it. Remember, saving your heater work, means saving yourself some cash.
Spices Make You Hot
This one’s true – among other health benefits, ginger is known to heat up internal body temperatures. If you’ve got a love for spicy food, cooler weather is a great time to enjoy it. This tip may not change how you heat your house, but it’s a good excuse to whip up some gingerbread cookies!
As we said, the Lancaster Brothers have heard it all. If you’ve got any other questions about your heating and cooling system, call (913) 837-2000. We’ve been serving the Kansas City area for years, and we’re real pros at helping you understand, and repair, tricky heating problems.
Chris Lancaster November 12th, 2015
Posted In: Heating
Tags: heating facts, heating myths
Having Heating Trouble? How to Tell When It’s Time to Replace Your Furnace
We are headed into the heating season now, and if your heating system is acting up, now is the time to figure out if it is worth keeping throughout the winter. Most furnaces last about 12-15 years. If your system has reached this mark, you’ve likely experienced some of the telltale signs it’s about ready to go – increase in breakdowns, more frequent repairs, etc. If you’re not quite sure whether or not it’s time to take the plunge and install a new furnace, put it to the test. The heating experts at Lancaster Brothers made a checklist that helps determine how close you are to needing to replace your furnace. Put your furnace to the test and give us a call if you find yourself checking off several of these items.
Does This Sound Like Your Furnace?
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Your home is 12 years or older & you’ve never replaced your furnace: If it is, and you have not replaced your furnace yet, it’s likely your system is nearing the end of its lifespan. Most systems only operate efficiently for 12-15 years before they need to be replaced.
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You have had several furnace repairs in the last five years: Annual maintenance doesn’t count, but if you’ve had more than one major repair to your furnace system in the past five years if could be a sign of trouble.
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The warranty on your furnace is expired: Most furnace warranties only cover your system for 5-10 years. Once the warranty expires, repairs can become extremely expensive. At that point, you could be putting that money you’re spending on repairs toward a new, high efficiency furnace that will save you money on energy bills.
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You’ve noticed your utility bills spike the last few years: Your furnace and air conditioning systems are the biggest consumers of energy in your home – they account for roughly 48% of your energy costs. As your system ages and becomes less efficient, it also can hike up your energy bills.
Related Read: Patch Up & Wrap Up Air Ducts for a More Affordable Furnace Season
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Your furnace runs constantly: Older systems become less efficient over time, which means they must work harder and longer to maintain the temperature that the thermostat demands. This results in higher utility bills.
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There are hot and cold spots and uneven temperatures in your home: Older systems weren’t necessarily designed to keep every room comfortable. Two-story homes are especially difficult to keep warm and cool. The upstairs stays warm in the summer and the downstairs is always chilly in the winter. Newer systems have technology available to even out the temperature in your home.
If you found yourself agreeing with more than three of the statements above, it’s time to call a furnace expert. Take action now before you’re left in the cold this winter – literally.
Learn more about your furnace replacement options and call one of the skilled technicians at Lancaster Brothers Heating & Cooling today to help you figure out the status of your current system. You can reach us at 913-837-2000.
Chris Lancaster October 29th, 2015
Posted In: Heating
Get a Head Start: Furnace Tune-Ups Now for a More Comfortable Winter Later
It might still be summer, with days full of abundant sunshine and perfect temperatures, but the chill of late autumn isn’t as far off as it seems. The cold weather hits quickly, without warning, so make sure your furnace system is prepped and ready for the job. They say the early bird gets the worm, and that definitely rings true in this instance. Here are a few perks to servicing your furnace now rather than later.
Fewer Complications
Don’t put yourself at risk for experiencing complications with your system by forgoing furnace maintenance like tune-ups until late in the season. Scheduling an appointment now will save you the hassle of having to compete with other customers for the most desirable time and date. It will also alleviate many symptoms homeowners experience the first time they turn their furnace on in almost half a year. Skip issues like uneven temperatures, that musty burning smell, loud growling noises, and more. A furnace tune-up will fine tune your system so cold season is stress-free, cozy, and a breeze.
Skip the Wait for Service
Beat the mad rush and book now. Calling Lancaster Brothers Heating & Cooling for furnace service this early in the season will give you an advantage in scheduling service when YOU want it. Most Kansas City area homeowners wait until well into fall to schedule a furnace tune-up, and by then it’s harder for us to accommodate all of our customers’ schedules.
Fulfill Your Warranty Requirements
Skimping on maintenance can be bad news for your system warranties. Most systems come with warranties – but they come with a catch. They typically require a certain number of maintenance appointments to be fulfilled and kept up to date and valid. Regular tune-ups satisfy any warranty requirements on parts. Keeping your system well tuned can set you up to save more when your system finally does decide to stop working, too. If the parts that fail are still under warranty, you’ll probably end up getting it fixed for very little or even for free. And don’t forget safety. A furnace tune-up will also ensure that no deadly carbon monoxide gas is leaking from your furnace, keeping your family and home safe all year round.
At Lancaster Brother’s Heating & Cooling, we’re ready to help you get your furnace prepped for the cooler season. Call us today at 913-837-2000 to schedule your early season furnace tune-up now.
Chris Lancaster September 16th, 2015
Posted In: Heating
Furnace Maintenance & Safety Check
Evening temperatures this week are expected to dip into the 40’s! Have the peace of mind knowing that your equipment has been checked by a professional and that it is safe to operate.
Call us today to schedule a comprehensive check and cleaning of your furnace which includes a carbon monoxide test.
Keep your family safe & comfortable!
Chris Lancaster September 12th, 2014
Posted In: Heating, Uncategorized