Tag: winter

The ultimate guide to eco-friendly and efficient use of heating appliances in your home

Posted on by info@techreach.io

The passing of winter makes heating necessary and frequently used appliances in many homes, and with it concerns on how to best use it. There are a few tips that can help to get the most in terms of cost and heat from your equipment.

Your home can have any of the appliances or heating systems: 

  • Furnace
  • Central heating radiators
  • Fireplace 
  • Electric space heaters 
  • Heat pumping mini-splits 
  • Wood burning furnace 
  • Oil Radiator Heater
  • Furnace Gas Heater
  • Boiler Heater
  • Unvented Gas Heater
  • Water heart (with a tank or tankless) 

All of these even though different can be used more efficiently by just accepting a few changes and habits. 

So, what can you do to be cozy while not overusing your heating appliances? 

Use the sun 

Take advantage of natural warmth as much as possible, that means:

  • Opening drapes during sunny hours 
  • If possible opening windows as well 
  • When you are working from home try to follow the sun when it’s out, that way you are always at the natural warmers room always and can avoid turning on the heating system

Repair your heating appliances 

Making sure that your heating appliances and systems are working properly by having professionals assess them is key, why?

  • You avoid wasting energy on a system that is not working 
  • Prevent further damage to the appliance 
  • Saves you time and money 

The importance of windows and doors 

Windows and doors are the biggest culprits of heat loss in any home because they literary let the warmth of your home escape. How to prevent this loss?

  • Check your window and door frames for possible heat loss cracks to fill and insulate them 
  • Use clear covers or tape on the inside of your windows for more insulations 
  • Replace windows with more durable frames and glass options 

Control the thermostat

Having control over the thermostat is a privilñege and huge responsibility, this little factor determines smooch of how much and how well you spend energy heating your home. Here’s what you can do to master the thermostat use.

  • Use the timer so that it turns off or on fter a certain time. You can have a warmer home in the morning and prevent excess energy waste when you are tucked in at night. 
  • Turn it off when you are not home. 
  • Activate app control if you can. This way you can control from wherever you are. 
  • If you have a heat pump system or no thermostat control then just set a timer for it to turn off after a few hours, the heat will remain and you will be saving on your spending.

For homes with fireplaces: 

  • Read up on how to use your damper for maximizing the efficiency of the heat 
  • Use quality wood 
  • Keep an eye on your fire
If you are still having cold feet over all of these just check in with the pros at Maydone for more advice and appliance help.

The Pro’s and Con’s of Choosing a Wood-burning Based Heating System

Posted on by info@techreach.io

Burning wood is the oldest know home heating system. Used first by cavemen and in every generation of humans, including now. It’s still widely popular and seen in homes all over the world. But how good is a wood-burning heating system, what is the drawback to having one? Both of these questions are answered below. 

Pro’s of burning wood for heat 

  • Wood is a cheaper resource to extract and transport, so it’s cheaper for the consumer as well. Making it a great choice for those that want to save money on their heating. 
  • The fuel used to heat (wood) is more readily available. You might even be able to cut it down and collect it yourself. 
  • The price of wood is stable and not subject to high spikes. 
  • An option like a pellet stove, that burns pellets made from compressed wood biomass. Can be a non-polluting heating choice if that is what you are looking for a more eco-friendly option. 
  • If engineer by a professional all wood-burning system is greener. Emitting less pollution than coal and oil. 
  • In the long run biomass, fuel like wood becomes carbon-neutral
  • Using wood that comes from forest waste actually helps keep the woods healthier. Reducing the risks of first fires. 
  • They are a very beautiful addition to any home and bring a lot of character to homes. 

Con’s of having a wood-burning heating system  

  • Because you are using biomass fuel you need to get a constant supply in order to keep your house warm. This might entail cutting and collecting the wood or going to buy it regularly during the cold months. 
  • You’ll need to have or create storage space for keeping the wood. 
  • Some systems like most stove pellets and sealed fireplaces require electricity to run fans for circulations. 
  • The ash waste created by wood-burning requires propper, safe disposal 
  • Costs are high for building a good wood-burning heating system. You’ll require professional help to complete it. 
  • Equipment to cut the wood for fuel and other accessories you might need can be very expensive as well. 

How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Home

Posted on by info@techreach.io

Are you aware of the carbon footprint that comes from using your appliances at home? Here are some tips on how you can decrease your energy consumption in your household.

When we’re talking about climate change, we all have one question lined up: How can we contribute to saving the planet from a climate catastrophe?

As we all know, there are many ways of reducing our carbon footprint. For example, we can try to avoid traveling by plane and take the train as often as possible. Furthermore, we can eat less meat and try to buy regional and seasonal groceries. But how can we decrease our carbon footprint in the household?

As we are living in the 21st, we all have appliances at home that consume energy. As helpful as they are, these appliances leave a carbon footprint as well. But we have some tips for you on how you can decrease their energy usage easily.

1. Make Your Heater More Efficient

Did you know that the oil and gas industry is the biggest emitter in Canada when it comes to carbon emissions? Of course, you can blame big companies for that and ask them to adapt to more sustainable fuel options. But it might be easier to start at your home first as also small changes in your own household can make a change  We already have put together some tips for you on how you can make your heater more efficient.

If you are noticing that your heating system uses a lot of energy, you can always contact one of our technicians. You’ll find the contact details here.

2. Turn Your Appliances Off to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

To reduce the carbon footprint of your appliances, you should make sure that all your appliances are completely turned off when they are not in use. This goes for TVs, stereos, and computers. It’s also important to unplug your appliances, such as mobile phones or laptops, once they are fully charged as they will otherwise waste energy.

Need help with the installation of a new washing machine? Our technicians are happy to help!

3. Switch to A Renewable Energy Provider

Around 17 % of Canada’s total primary energy supply comes from renewable energy sources. You can support green electricity and natural gas companies by switching the provider in your home. As this might be a bit pricier for your home than it was before, you could start by doing one thing at a time, for example by only purchasing green electricity at first.

4. Replace Old Appliances for a Lower Carbon Footprint

If you are a proud owner of a vintage washing machine, your time to say goodbye to your appliance might have come. Old appliances use a lot of energy and should, therefore, be replaced if you want to reduce your carbon footprint. A new washing machine can use 25 percent less energy up to 75 percent less water compared to your 20-year-old washing machine. Furthermore, by increasing appliance efficiency standards, you’ll not only save energy but also money on your utility bill.

5. Install Smart Home Technology

If your devices and appliances can connect to the internet, they are called smart technology. On the one hand, it can be convenient for you to have such things. On the other hand, they can help you with saving energy at home by monitoring the usage. Click here if you want to know more about it.  

5 Ways to Make Your Heater More Efficient

Posted on by info@techreach.io

A Heater is essential to keep apartments and houses warm during the colder months. With average temperatures between 36°F and 48°F in November, you’ll need this appliance to work well. Here are five tips on how to get the most out of your appliance!

 

There are different kinds of people out there. The ones that love winter and everything that comes with it, such as snow, Christmas or skiing. The others that just want the summer to return as quickly as possible. If you belong to the second group, your heater must be an essential appliance in your household – so at least the temperature in your home reminds you of brighter days.

 

But how often do you really think about your heater? Well, we don’t often notice them when they are working properly, we definitely start thinking about them as soon as the heater is broken. If you are experiencing something like that and you don’t know what to do about it, you can get in touch with our technicians, who are happy to help you. Click here to get in touch through online or call us: +1 (289) 801-7857 or +1 (888) 513 0052.

 

Anyhow, if your heater is working properly, you’re probably curios how you can use it without wasting energy. That’s why we have collected five tips for that will help keeping your apartment warm and cosy.

 

1.     Don’t Turn the Heater Thermostat Up to The Highest Temperature

 

When coming home to a cold apartment, it seems tempting to just turn up the thermostat to the highest level. You might think that will heat the apartment quicker. However, that is not true. The only thing that will go up quicker by doing that is your fuel bill.

 

2.     Adjust the Temperature of The Heater

 

Many people think that it makes sense to keep the temperature at a steady level throughout the day. But, if you want to save energy, it is recommended to adjust the temperature. For example: You could turn it down in the evening before you go to bed.

 

3.     Don’t Close the Vent

 

You would assume that you will use less energy when closing vents in unused rooms. Unfortunately, that is not true. As your heater will produce as much air as before, it is more effective to keep the vents open.

 

4.     The Heat Should be Able to Flow Freely

 

Most people know that they shouldn’t cover their heater to keep them working effectively. But even big furniture such as a sofa can stop the heat from flowing around freely. Consider rearranging some furniture to ensure a warm apartment and an efficient heating system.

 

5.     Lower the Temperature

 

The most effective way to save energy is to get used to a lower temperature at your home. If you are used to temperatures between 60°F and 70°F, you can save 2 % of your electricity costs with every degree you turn the temperature down. So, we consider that is worth putting on an extra sweater, right?