Cobb EMC Provides Helpful Hints To Lower Your Utility Bills

The Cobb EMC website has a number of helpful information resources for Atlanta homeowners looking to save on their utility bills by making their homes more energy efficient. These are low- cost, common sense solutions that homeowners can use to save money. One of the most important suggestions is to properly maintain your furnace and air conditioner systems. HVAC-AtlantaGA by Premier Indoor Comfort has been providing furnace tune-ups and furnace maintenance for their customers in Fulton County since 1999.

Now that Fall has arrived in Atlanta it is the perfect time to have a professional furnace tune-up by the HVAC-AtlantaGA trained furnace maintenance technicians. The HVAC-Atlanta GA Furnace maintenance Program ESP is very affordable starting at $ 149. The ESP Maintenance program includes:

- Install clean standard filter for less restriction,
- Check heat exchanger for cracks or holes
- Check and adjust incoming gas manifold pressure
- Lubricate all moving parts
- Check vent pipe for proper venting
- Check blower housing/wheel for cleanliness
- Test fan and furnace limit for safety
- Check temperature rise across heat exchanger
- Clean and adjust burners for more efficiency
- Tighten all wire connections for safety
- Test thermostat for proper anticipation setting
- Inspect thermocouple/igniter for proper burn
- Check for correct indoor blower speed
- Check for proper motor amperage
- Clean and polish furnace exterior

To schedule your furnace tune up by HVAC-AtlantaGA please call 678-391-9177 or visit their furnace tune up and maintenance website.

COBB EMC Hints To Reduce Utility Bills

Seal air leaks. Caulk around the window and door frames (non-moving parts). Add weatherstripping and door sweeps to doors, or replace weatherstripping as it wears out. Use caulk or expanding spray foam to insulate where plumbing, wiring, and ducting penetrates through walls.

Choose a programmable thermostat. Newer models have “smart” features such as pre-programmed “night” and “vacation” settings that automatically adjust the temperature. But remember a thermostat is just a tool to help you save — you still need to choose energy-efficient settings.

Schedule tune-ups for your heating and air conditioning system. Regular maintenance will help your system run more efficiently.

Install insulated draperies or other energy-saving window coverings. Be sure to close them at night.

Insert a fireplace pillow. In addition to closing the damper, you can buy a plastic, inflatable “pillow” that inserts into the chimney to stop heat from escaping up the chimney when the fireplace is not in use. Contact your local fireplace dealer or search online.

Install high-efficiency showerheads and faucet aerators. New showerheads are required to meet a 2.5 gallon per minute standard; the lower the number, the more you’ll save. For $10-$20, you can replace your showerhead and save water and energy. If you have a pre-1992 showerhead, it could be using 5.5 gallons per minute or more. That adds up to 50+ gallons when you are in the shower for more than 10 minutes! Fix leaky faucets, too.

Use lighting controls. Motion detectors, occupancy sensors, timers and dimmers can all help save on lighting. It’s also a good idea to put a timer switch on your bathroom fan; a fan can waste heated or cooled air if left running longer than necessary. About 10 minutes after your shower or cooking is done is usually sufficient.

Plant trees. It will take several years before you see the benefit, but trees planted on the east, west and south sides of a house provide natural cooling through shade, reducing the need for air conditioning. Deciduous trees will shade in summer and allow more light in winter. Trees can also form windbreaks to protect your home from chilly winter winds.

About Premier Indoor Comfort Systems: Premier Indoor Comfort Systems has been providing heating, air conditioning and indoor air quality services and products to Atlanta homeowners since 1999. The company is one of the largest Lennox Dealers in the Southeast. Premier Indoor Comfort has earned the elite status of a Dave Lennox Premier Dealer. Trained and independently evaluated on an ongoing basis, Dave Lennox Premier Dealers deliver a level of comfort and service no one else can match. As partners with the leading name in home comfort, Dave Lennox Premier Dealers offer some of the best products available in the industry, including products from the Dave Lennox Signature Collection. Recently the company has expanded their service to include Indoor Air Quality, Home Energy Services and Geo-Thermal Heating.

About Atlanta: Atlanta was founded in 1837 as the end of the Western and Atlantic railroad line (it was first named Marthasville in honor of the then-governor's daughter, nicknamed Terminus for its rail location, and then changed soon after to Atlanta, the feminine of Atlantic -- as in the railroad).  Today the fast-growing city remains a transportation hub, not just for the country but also for the world: Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport is one of the nation's busiest in daily passenger flights.  Direct flights to Europe, South America, and Asia have made metro Atlanta easily accessible to the more than 1,000 international businesses that operate here and the more than 50 countries that have representation in the city through consulates, trade offices, and chambers of commerce.  The city has emerged as a banking center and is the world headquarters for 13 Fortune 500 companies.