Blogs from April, 2022

2. Familiarize Yourself with the A/C Unit & Switches

Be sure you know your way around your air conditioning unit. You can easily troubleshoot some of the more common air conditioner issues as long as you understand your HVAC system. The secret to prolonging your HVAC system’s years is knowing the way to practice regular maintenance. Learning the basics of the system will help you as well. For example, many homeowners don’t know that their air conditioner has on and off switches. Occasionally, the unit’s power switch located within the air handler will be found in the off position. You may just need to turn it on again. Also, an emergency shut-off switch is sometimes located just beside an outside air conditioner. Someone could have accidentally shut off the switch and forgotten to turn it back on.

3. Inspect Your HVAC Air Filter

Air conditioner filters require replacement every 60 to 90 days. However, there are certain homes that even require more frequent air filter replacement. It depends on the location of the home, if there are pets, and other things. This is an essential task if you want to maintain the efficiency and lifespan of your HVAC system.

Filters are indispensable for preventing the buildup of dust and debris in the system, which usually ends up causing more problems. The longer those filters remain on, the more likely it is that they will get clogged and create issues.

Once the filters are clogged, your air conditioning unit will consume more power to maintain cooler temperatures in your home. It is likely to spike your energy bill higher than you like to see it if you do not quickly address the issue. Even worse, it may cause the air conditioner to quit working completely and need replacing.

Keep an account of when you last replaced your filter. Some homeowners record the date right on the filter then they set a calendar prompt to check the filter condition at the start of each month. Swap your filter before it gets clogged to extend the life of the unit.

Try to prevent your cooling system from consuming more energy than is required to keep your home comfortable. Over time, forcing a system to utilize excessive power might cause a complete breakdown. Remember that replacing an entire air conditioning system is a lot more costly so don’t neglect regular replacement of its HVAC filters.

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4. Inspect the Air Conditioner Drain Pan & The Condensate Lines

When you call on an HVAC contractor, be sure to ask them the best way to check the air conditioner drain pan for yourself. When that drain pan is full, it will activate a float switch that prevents your unit from starting.

As your air conditioner begins functioning, it will create condensation. This is removed from your home through the drain line. Your drain line may get clogged and this can prompt your system to turn itself off.

Emptying your drain pan and as well as clearing any clogs in the drain line often solves any issue. However, this is a job for a professional. You should call a technician if you have any trouble with blockage in your drain line.

5. Check The Evaporator Coils

A system’s evaporator coils should always be clean. This simple HVAC maintenance task is fundamental to your system and must not be neglected.

Cleaning evaporator coils is critical, as is changing your filters with regularity. This task is going to decrease your risk of damage to the system. If your air conditioner does not turn on, it may be due to the evaporator coils being too dirty. Think about the last time you scheduled an air conditioner tune-up. Remember, air conditioners need to be cleaned at least one time every year for maintenance.

Be certain to call on an air conditioner repair company to clean the coils. You should also request air conditioner tune-ups at least once yearly to avoid air conditioner issues during the hottest days of summer. Have your unit serviced regularly, maintained scrupulously, and cleaned as often as needed by a licensed technician.

Final Words

If your air conditioning unit does not turn on, the issue could be a simple electrical problem. Sometimes, the circuit breaker has been shut off, or your unit is disconnected from the power source. Maybe it’s as simple as a plug is loose. Most homeowners are capable of fixing these simple things. It’s also likely you can fix the problem yourself if the culprit is a drain pan that is full. That’s a matter of emptying a pan. However, it’s wisest to call a professional technician if the problem is anything more than the basic ones listed here. Also, be sure to have regular HVAC maintenance service at least once yearly.

Call Townsend Energy For Your HVAC Service Requirements

Townsend Energy provides extraordinary heating and cooling service for residents in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. Our top-notch certified technicians are able to provide you with quality services like HVAC tune-ups and repairs, new system installations, and whole unit replacements. Every one of our techs is skilled with the knowledge, experience, and ability to service your HVAC system properly.

The best prices for the services in this area are found with Townsend Energy. Our maintenance service will increase your comfort, improve energy efficiency and also reduce your home’s bills with lower heating and cooling costs. If you require HVAC repair or are looking for a replacement system, let us recommend the best solution for your home, while working within your budget. We guarantee our work to ensure your satisfaction. If you would like to schedule a service appointment today, please give Townsend Energy a call. Ask about our free, in-home estimates.

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Apr 25, 2022 Air Conditioner Won't Turn On? Call Townsend Energy

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The best thing about using renewable resources like Bioheat® fuel is their ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a wide margin. By adding Bioheat® fuels to traditional home heating oil to create blended fuels, it reduces the overall use and consumption of fossil fuels, which is certainly friendly to the environment.

The amount of carbon content in the heating oil depends on the particular level of blend. Common biofuel blends include B5, which is a 5% blend of biodiesel. B20 is a 20% blend of biodiesel. B50 is a 50% biodiesel blend and B100 is a 100% blended fuel.

The level of carbon content reduction depends on the specific blend. Right now, homeowners can typically and effectively use B20 to reduce their carbon emissions and lower greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 20% quite effectively.

As time passes and these blends improve, homeowners will eventually be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions even further as biofuel blends improve in the future.

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Heating Equipment – No Modifications Needed!

Heating a home with BioPure™ (a.k.a. Bioheat® oil) is incredibly exciting. Even better, homeowners can use these effective renewable resources without modifying their current home heating equipment.

Unfortunately, too many homeowners believe they need to alter their entire heating system and spend thousands of dollars in upgrades in order to use BioPure™. Nothing could be further from the truth and it’s an important distinction.

In fact, homeowners do not need to alter their storage tanks or heating system in any manner whatsoever in order to use this renewable energy source. Nothing needs to change at all starting with the first time they use it or the 100th time they use it.

Many believe that this renewable alternative to conventional heating oil is the future of home heating. This is great because homeowners can begin using it right away without making any modifications to their heating system of any kind.

Conventional Home Heating Oil

Diesel fuel and heating oil for homes are products called distillates. They are fuel sources made of petroleum. This type of oil is used to heat homes and office buildings and it’s typically sold for use in furnaces and boilers as well as hot water heaters.

Conventional heating oil comes from imports from other countries as well as domestic oil refineries. More recently, suppliers of heating oil are now blending biofuels into petroleum distillate to minimize the negative greenhouse gases and create a more renewable fuel. Heating oil is transported directly to consumers after being stored in storage terminals owned by Townsend Energy and other energy suppliers.

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Ultra Low Sulfur Heating Oil

Also known as ULSHO, ultra low sulfur heating oil is a fuel source with substantially less sulfur content than the usual 500 ppm. This fuel has a positive impact on the environment because it limits the sulfur content to less than 1% and reduces greenhouse gas emissions while improving the overall environment.

The less sulfur content in your fuel, the less sulfur dioxide emissions. This contributes to less unnecessary haze and acid rain. It can even help reduce the number of unnecessary lung and hard related diseases

As an industry, we have committed to obtaining a 100% carbon neutral solution by the year 2050. This can be accomplished by replacing ULSHO with 100% biofuel. Our goal is to have BioPure™ reach 100% carbon-free emissions prior to the industry-mandated 2050 deadline.

BioPure™ & Bioheat® Fuel – Standards Towards Reducing Emissions Today

196 countries decided to work together to reduce rising temperatures in a show of unprecedented unity called the Paris Agreement. Right now, they are attempting to prevent the average temperature from rising 2°C, with the overall goal to keep it from rising below 1.5°C.

To make this happen, our goal is to reduce and eventually eliminate greenhouse gases through the use of our BioPure™ heating oil solution. Currently, our customers reduce their heating-related carbon emissions by 20% year over year and that will only get better over time as our BioPure™ oil becomes more environmentally friendly.

Please contact Townsend Energy to order BioPure™ and learn more about how we can help you reduce your carbon footprint.

Call Townsend Energy To Schedule A BioPure™ Heating Oil Delivery

Townsend Energy is offering consumers throughout Northeastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, and Maine a cleaner, greener solution with BioPure™ heating oil. This ULSHO is blended with pure biodiesel.

You don’t need to make any costly modifications to your current furnace when switching to BioPure™ heating oil and can experience all of the benefits of using a cleaner-burning fuel. Give Townsend Energy a call today and let’s discuss how BioPure™ heating oil can get you started in living greener and healthier.

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Apr 18, 2022 Bioheat® Fuel & BioPure™ Heating Oil

How Do I Select the Best Home Propane Tank Size?

As mentioned above, home propane tanks come in a variety of sizes. This article discusses some of the factors to consider when making your decision.

1. Home Size

The size of the home is an important factor to consider when deciding on the size of the propane tank. A propane tank that is too small may not be able to provide enough heating for a large home. You would have to schedule propane deliveries far too frequently. A larger tank would enable you to buy your propane in bulk. However, this means you would pay more per delivery, although the cost will offset itself down the road. Regardless, a good rule of thumb is to calculate the size of the tank based on the square footage of the home. A home that is 2,500 square feet in size will usually require a 500-gallon tank, while a home that is 5,000 square feet in size will require a 1,000-gallon tank.

2. Propane-Dependent Appliances

Before you do anything, you need to think about how much propane you will need for everything. The initial estimate is just for heating, but make sure to add in all the other appliances that use propane, too. If you have other appliances that use propane such as your dryer, fireplace, and range, among others, then the fuel requirements will go up. So, take into consideration how much propane will be used by the entire house, and not just for heating.

3. Number Of People In The Household

The size of a family will dictate how much of a demand is put on a propane-powered appliance. A larger family will use more propane than a smaller one, as the daily needs for fuel will be greater. Things like the number of showers taken, hands washed, and meals cooked will impact how much propane is used.

4. Available Space

Homeowners need to consider how much space is available on their property before deciding to install a horizontal or vertical propane tank. A small yard may require a vertical propane tank, while a wider yard can fit a larger horizontal propane tank. It is important to consult with a reputable propane supplier to discuss your options and find the best tank for your needs.

5. Climate

Depending on your climate and proximity to a propane provider, you may need to consider getting a larger tank to ensure you have enough propane to last. Think of all sorts of possible weather scenarios and make sure your tank can handle the worse.

Why Is It Critical To Choose The Correct Propane Tank Size?

In this section, you will learn 3 key reasons why you should pick the right propane tank size.

1. You Don’t Have To Deal With The Hassle Of Getting Propane Constantly

If you have the incorrect propane tank size for your home, you will have to get propane deliveries more often and this can be difficult during bad weather. Make sure you size your propane tank correctly to avoid this problem!

2. You May Spend Too Much Money Upfront On Both Tank And Propane Fuel

The size of your propane tank is an important consideration when trying to prevent the need for frequent refills. You may want to carefully weigh the pros and cons of getting a large propane tank. While a large tank might be more expensive to purchase and install, it can save on costs in the long run because you can get propane in bulk.

3. You Need To Consider Your Area’s Safety Regulations

While propane is considered a relatively safe fuel source, local governments impose stricter regulations on the installation of tanks larger than a certain size. This is due to the potential fire hazard posed by propane tanks, as well as the dangers of gas leaks. In order to ensure the safety of both the occupants of a building and the surrounding area, it is important to consider all of the relevant regulations before installing a propane tank. Talk to a propane supplier, such as Townsend Energy, for guidance.

What Do You Need To Know About Home Propane Tank Sizes?

There are two ways to measure the size of a tank: the volume of liquid in gallons, or the weight in pounds. Keep in mind that tanks can only be used up to 80% of capacity in order to leave room for propane expansion. That means that a tank that is described as being “100 gallons” only has 80 gallons of fuel in it. The remaining 20 gallons are there in case the tank expands.

What Are The Typical Propane Tank Sizes?

• 1 LB – Easy to carry so they’re often used with camping stoves and small easy-to-carry grills. Find them at groceries and hardware stores.
• 20 LB – Great size for outdoor BBQ grills. Refill them at gas stations.
• 33 LB – Large and durable tank perfect for powering demanding applications, such as farm vehicles and forklifts, for an extended period of time. Too small for heating the home.
• 100 LB – Common size for heating small homes and power a couple of propane-dependent tools & equipment. Meant to be used occasionally.
• 200 LB – Provides fuel for a small home with a high demand for heat and hot water. Will give peace of mind to home owner despite constant use.
• 420 LB – This allows the tank to have significantly more applications such as heating a pool or keeping the fireplace burning.
• 500 Gallon – Commonly used for heating an average-sized home, cooking, and more. Does not require constant refueling because of the size, but requires a 10-foot safety clearance.
• 1,000 Gallon – Best for large properties like mansions that need more than 500 gallons of propane. Get twice as much to ensure that it will be there when you are entertaining.

When selecting a propane tank size, it is important to consider a variety of factors in order to make the most informed decision. The number of occupants in the home and the number of appliances that will be running on propane are both important considerations. Additionally, the size and location of the home must be taken into account. It is also important to consult with a reputable propane supplier in order to find the tank that will best meet the needs of the household.

Get Superior Propane Delivery Service From Townsend Energy

When you want first-rate propane delivery services in New England, get in touch with Townsend Energy. We provide high-quality propane delivery that’s affordable, friendly, and fast.

You can trust us to provide unbeatable service every time. Contact us now to learn more about our capabilities, our delivery plans, and our options in financing.

We also provide a comprehensive range of HVAC services for improved home comfort, better indoor air quality, and increased energy efficiency. Among some of our HVAC services are heating and cooling system installations, tune-ups, and repairs. Call Townsend Energy today!

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Apr 4, 2022 Propane Tank Sizes: How To Find The Best One For Your Home