PlanetGreen.com is one of the best sources nationally pertaining to energy conservation and sustainable living. The website recently launched 10 top home heating tips as the country continues its battle with Old Man Winter.

Among the tips, proper insulation and ventilation proved to be a major topic of discussion. As the temperature drops, it’s more and more important to have good insulation. PlanetGreen.com speaks of draftpooling, which focuses on sealing the leaks around your windows and doors to keep the cool draft outdoors. Insulation strips, door sweeps and silicone caulk tubes should help in keeping the cold weather out and the heat in.

With draftpooling come proper ventilation techniques. The last thing you want is a comfortable facility that lacks good ventilation. Condensation can grow in places like this, which can cause mold and mildew. That can lead to health issues in extreme situations. PlanetGreen.com suggests cross-ventilation (opening a window or two for several minutes in a day) to combat homes that aren’t as ventilated.

In “going green” with fighting the winter, it is suggested to purchase radiant barriers. These energy-efficient items can cut heat loss significantly while keeping you warm. Also suggested are exterior storm windows, which can increase the temperature of an inside window by as much as 30 degrees.

However you decide to battle the cold with environmentally sound tactics, let our Lewisville TX heating experts answer your questions and assist you with winterizing your home. Call our Lewisville HVAC company today, or contact us online.

At Southern Comfort Mechanical, a Lewisville Texas A/C and heating company, we realize that heat pumps are not widely understood comfort systems, yet they can effectively and efficiently serve the heating and cooling needs for many Texas residents. An air-source heat pump – the most common type of heat pump – is a single unit that uses refrigerant to both cool and heat an interior space. During the hot summer months, an air conditioner cools a home by moving the hot air from the inside of the home to the outside of the home. During the winter, the opposite happens; heat from the outside is transferred to the inside of the home.

Are heat pumps energy efficient? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, an air-source heat pump can provide anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times more heat energy to a home than electricity it consumes. Heat pumps work most efficiently in moderate temperatures. Generally speaking, efficiency and effectiveness are drastically reduced when temperatures fall below 40 degrees. In this case, auxiliary electric resistance coils are available to heat the home until the temperature climbs back up.

When should one consider using a heat pump? Some Texas homes do not have gas lines; therefore, efficient gas furnaces are not an option. In this case, heat pumps can provide a significant cost-saving alternative to standard electric heat furnaces.

Our Lewisville heat pump experts can help you determine if a heat pump is right for your home or office.