pg&e rebates for heat and air conditioners

People are apparently searching online for: pg&e rebates for heat and air conditioners.

If you are one of those people, I want to make sure you've got the right info. Here's a link to the pg&e website explaining everything you'll probably want to know about it.

And here's a link to pg&e's rebate page.

Heating and AC rebates such as this one come up on a regular basis so it's always a good idea to do a search for them before making a large purchase. Here at Comfort Professionals we'd also be happy to talk with you about possible rebates and coupons for any HVAC needs you have.

Reach us at: 703-368-6204

Reasons To Avoid Portable Electric Heaters

Danger Will Robinson, Danger!

Those who have faced shut off's from their heating company, who can't afford oil for their heating oil tank or who simply do not have a working furnace might think that the portable electric heaters are the way to go. The thing is though, these really are not the best options. They can be very expensive to run, especially if you are trying to heat your entire house or even a large section of it and they can be rather dangerous. Granted, the electric heaters are not as dangerous as the kerosene heaters, but nonetheless, there is a present element of danger.

Heating your home with an energy efficient furnace might cost you $200 a month during the coldest months of the winter. Using nothing more than electric portable heaters might cost you double that. Sure, they are inexpensive to purchase but the long term expense is very high and should be taken into consideration.

If you are having trouble paying your heating bill or you do not have a furnace that works or is safe, you might want to check with your local government assistance office to see what they can do to help you. Many states have funds set aside each winter for those in need of emergency help. Not having a sufficient source of heat is considered an emergency.

There is also the Salvation Army and your local churches that might be of some assistance to you. Make sure that you are not leaving your friends and family in the dark about your situation. They just might be able to provide you with more help than you think. The key is to try to do anything other than relying on portable electric heaters because they are expensive, inefficient and dangerous.

Why You Need To Have Your Heater Checked Twice Each Year

Regular Heater Checkups are Important

Most people already know that they should have their furnace inspected at least once a year, right before they turn it on for the colder winter months. But there are a lot of people that are completely unaware that they should have their furnace checked twice a year. Obviously, you are doing the initial check right before you turn it on for the colder season, in order to make sure that it is still safe to operate and in order to ensure that you will have your home efficiently heated.

However, it is after the end of the heating season that you will want to have your heater checked out again. This way, should there be anything that took place over the course of the winter that is an expensive repair, you will have plenty of time to address to issue before winter comes. Even though you really do not have to have your heater checked twice a year, it is a good habit to get into if you want to make sure that you are avoiding as many surprises as possible.

Since you will be paying for a furnace inspection and servicing twice a year, it is going to be extra important to make sure that you are finding the best possible company to do the job. The last thing you want to do is to find yourself spending more money than you have to. Even a little bit extra will quickly add up over time. Of course, you don't want to concentrate solely on the price either because you have to make sure that the company coming into your home is a company that you are going to be able to trust to do the job right.

Snow has arrived!

It was just a few days ago that I blogged about some pending snow, and yet here it was! This past Saturday we not only received our first flurries, but some areas north and west of Washington DC got 3-6 inches of snow!

This time around it was thick and heavy snow coming down. Boy did it put heaters to work. What's worse is that many experienced power outages because the heavy snow fell on trees (which still had some leaves on them because it's early in the season) and those trees fell more easily than they would have otherwise.

Fallen trees + power lines = power outages!

Space heaters and hvac systems don't work without power, so either families had to rush out to get power generators (which many did) or they'd have to warm their houses the old fashioned way - with a fireplace.

Although we can't help you with power outages, we CAN help your heater work to it's highest potential. Drop us a line, even if you simply have questions! We'd be happy to help.

Above all, stay safe and stay warm during these cold Northern Virginia months.

Snow is right around the corner!

It's official: snow is coming very soon. The weather folks have been flirting with the idea that it might even snow in parts of the Washington DC Metro area THIS Saturday!

Whether it snows this weekend or in a month, it's going to come. And as long as you've got a warm house and food in the fridge you'll be good to go, right? WRONG.

Your heater, like most other major appliances in your home, needs to be regularly maintained and updated. Rather than waiting for the first snow to have it checked out, have a professional inspect your heater now. Don't be one of those families that waits until the last minute (think: family that rushes to grocery story and buys out all milk and bread right before the storm hits).

The Boy Scouts mantra fits here: Always be prepared

Get Help Fixing Or Replacing Your Old Heating System

So many struggling families find that they are in need of their furnace fixed or completely replaced, yet are financially unable to do so on their own. This often times leaves these families struggling to stay warm during the cold winter months. Not only is this very uncomfortable and embarrassing, but it can be a real danger as well since the young and old can pass away due to extreme cold temperatures. And just because we are here in Northern Virginia doesn't mean there aren't families in genuine need of help.

If you are one of those families in need you should make sure that you are turning to others for help. Do not be afraid to ask your friends, family or neighbors if there is any assistance or helpful advice that they could give. Believe it or not, you might just know someone that has a spare furnace that is not being used, maybe from a remodeling job that they did, that they could give you or let you make payments on. They might even know how to properly hook it up for you.

There are also many states that have government funds for those who are about to be left in the cold. These funds allow families and individuals that fall within a certain level of poverty to quality for money to have their furnace either fixed or replaced with a brand new heater. They will try to save your furnace by fixing it but for some furnaces, it would cost too much to fix or the unit itself is too old to bother with and a new furnace is installed.

Even if you are not sure whether or not you would qualify for such assistance, check out the options available. You just never know what kind of help you might be able to receive.

And if we can be of any service here at Comfort Pros, please let us know: (703) 368-6204

Air Filters - Don't Forget!

Replace Your Air Filter

If you're reading this right now, STOP, and change your air filter. Air filters should be replaced monthly in order to keep your hvac system working efficiently and properly.

You can find cheap air filters at Lowe's, Home Depot or even Target (although they're more expensive at Target I have found).

Here's the key...
Don't buy the most expensive or the thickest, "best" filter you can find. Buy the cheapest air filter you can find. Why? Because the cheapest air filter doesn't restrict air flow to the system whereas a thicker air filter (one that boasts of "filtering allergens" or similar) will strain your heater / air conditioner.

The beauty of getting the cheaper air filters is that they shouldn't cost you more than $5 a pop. The fancier ones can cost you $15-$25 or more! Be smart: by cheap air filters and replace them once a month. Your system will thank you in the long run.

Don't Forget To Check The Heater Each Winter

Regular Heater Checks a Must

There are a lot of people out there that simply never think to have their heater checked. They will allow it to go years without being checked or serviced. While their heater might still work, it is only a matter of time until things go wrong. Just as with anything else, it is much better to maintain your heater and to address issues as they come up, instead of waiting for them to turn into something much larger and more expensive.

If checking over the heating equipment of your home is not something that you are capable of doing on your own, there are many reputable companies and contractors out there that can do it for you. You might think that such assistance would cost too much money. The thing is though, many people end up spending more than what it would cost on a nice dinner out somewhere. In order to make sure that your heater is running efficiently and that it is not endangering you or your family, you have to make sure that you are checking your heater before you turn it on for the winter.

Do make sure that whoever is coming out to check your heater is certified or licensed to do so. This is especially important with gas furnaces because one simple careless mistake could cause the entire house to blow up. You might think that this is an extreme way to think of it, but when it comes to heating your home, you are dealing with powerful systems that need to be treated carefully.