There are a number of people who are extremely important to your life that you probably never think about, until you do. Wake up one morning and realize there is steam coming from your mouth and the first thing you want to is to call your heating and air conditioning contractor. We’re entering the time of the year when everyone is starting to turn on their heaters, or stoke up their fire places.
One of the prime heating and air contractors locally is Advanced Energy Systems of Chehalis. Owner Chuck Dillon and his partner and brother, Pat, have been in business for nearly four decades, offering Trane and Honeywell products, as well as Mitsubishi ductless air conditioners.
There is nothing more uncomfortable than a cold house. Well, that’s not exactly true. High-energy bills can even prove to be more uncomfortable. So how does one stay warm this winter and keep the cost reasonable?
Here are some tips from the veteran heating and air professional:
Invest in a new heat pump.
Heating and air conditioning equipment have come a long way in the past 10 or 15 years. Costly energy bills can be slashed by hundreds of dollars a month with the right equipment upgrade. Dillon grew up in Cleveland, a much colder climate in winter. Heat pumps there are marginal, compared with the old-fashioned gas systems. But they are ideal for Western Washington.
“In our kind of weather, the heat pump is the ideal way to either heat or cool your house or your office,” Dillon says. “The new technology is really good and getting better.”
Humidifiers help all electric heater users.
Many people, who have only electric heaters to warm up their spaces during the winter months should consider buying a humidifier to make rooms more comfortable. Heat is dry and can make the winter months painful or irritating for many individuals. Humidifiers are not expensive additions, but they will make a difference in comfort level.
“If you get the humidity level to around 40 or 50 percent, you will be warm and breathing and feeling better,” Dillon explained.
Change those air filters.
Dillon says many in the business advise home and business owners to make sure the cracks around windows are sealed tight. That’s an urban myth, for the most part.
“That’s not a bad thing to do,” Dillon says, “but there are many more other ways you can lose heat. It escapes through places you can’t even see.”
Remember, heat travels up. Therefore, the cracks around light fixtures are much more important than windows. Many people will never even think about losing heat this way.
Check your insulation.
Perhaps the biggest reason for high heating bills is poor insulation. Some older houses used poor insulation or simply not enough. And since heat travels up, it only stands to reason that what’s in the attic — or inside the walls — becomes very important. It’s like putting on another jacket, holding in the body heat. In this case, it is the heat of the house or office that is being held in.
Blower door testing
If you really want to know about losing heat and the relationship to your heating bill, order a blower door test. It will measure the amount of leakage in a home, using a calibrated fan, a mounting system and a manometer that measures pressure. The test shows exactly where the leaks are and how bad they are. The test generally costs about $450, but it can save that much in a typical heating bill over a two- or three-month period.
“There are a lot of things you can do,” Dillon explains. “But these are the most important ways to save on heating bills and be comfortable.”
Dillon learned his craft in Cleveland and worked for other companies along the way. He moved to the area in 1981 and started his company the following year. Advanced Energy grew, but once his brother, Pat, came on board in 1986, the business really took off.
“I don’t like to brag, but I think we are the best installing contractor in Western Washington,” he says. “If you are working for yourself and deeply involved in problem solving, it isn’t work. I really like to solve problems.”
Advanced Energy Systems
2022 Jackson Highway
Chehalis, WA 98532
360-748-1817
