Is a Backup Generator Worth the Investment?

Posted on May 8, 2023May 16, 2023 by PECO Heating & Cooling

Is a Backup Generator Worth the Investment?

Are you having trouble justifying the expense of a backup generator? You’re not alone! Many homeowners shy away from purchasing a backup generator because they view it as an unnecessary expense. While it’s true that a backup generator can be a significant investment, the benefits far outweigh the cost. If you’re still on the fence, here are some compelling reasons you should consider investing in a backup generator.

Whole-Home Backup Generators Vs. Portable Generators

Portable generators can be very convenient if you only want to power a few items, such as lights and small appliances, but they simply can’t provide enough power for essential systems, like electric heating, cooling, and water pumps. Permanent backup generators, however, are the ultimate solution for uninterrupted power to your entire home during an outage.

Portable generators also need to be set up before you can use them, which can be especially inconvenient if you’re away from home during a power outage. A backup generator is hard-wired to your home’s electrical system, so it’s always on standby and ready to take over once your main power goes out.

Powering Essential Systems

Although some consider backup generators a luxury item, they can be lifesavers in many ways, from keeping you warm and comfortable during a brutal winter storm outage to powering medical devices that are critical for your health. Backup generators can also keep the essential systems in your home running, such as sump pumps, septic lift stations and water pumps—and prevent costly damage from occurring.

Keeping You Connected and Powering Non-Essential Items

Picture this: a natural disaster strikes and the power goes out for days. Your phone’s battery is running out, the food in your fridge is spoiling, and the silence and darkness in your home are making you a little stir-crazy. This is where a backup generator comes in handy.

A backup generator can also provide a connection to the outside world by powering your electronics. You can keep up with the news, communicate with loved ones, and even watch a movie. Plus, it can keep your home security system operational. Even though many of these systems have battery backups, battery power could run out during an extended power outage.

Adding Value to Your Home

Not only will having a backup generator make your home more attractive to potential buyers, but it can also increase your property value. In fact, many real estate experts agree that homes with backup generators can sell for up to 5% more than similar homes without them—especially in areas that are prone to natural disasters like severe winter storms and hurricanes.

But the benefits don’t stop there; insurance companies also recognize the value of backup generators. Many insurers offer discounts on premiums for homes that have backup generators due to the reduced risk of damage caused by power outages.

Maintaining Your Quality of Life

When the power goes out, life can suddenly become challenging, especially for families with children, older adults, or individuals with medical conditions. However, with a backup generator, you can maintain your quality of life, whether it’s staying warm or cool, keeping your food fresh, or powering up medical equipment.

Backup generators can also help boost your morale and keep your spirits up during extended outages. You can listen to music, watch your favorite TV shows, or have enough light to play a board game with your family. Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference in stressful situations!

Expert Backup Generator Installation and Maintenance

Investing in a backup generator is a wise decision that can give you peace of mind and help you and your loved ones stay safe and comfortable during power outages. At PECO Heating & Cooling, we understand the importance of keeping your home powered, which is why we offer reliable backup generation installation and maintenance services. Don’t wait for the next outage to strike—contact us today at (864) 639-2424 to learn more or schedule an appointment!

Why is Indoor Air Quality Important?

Posted on April 10, 2023April 11, 2023 by PECO Heating & Cooling

Why is Indoor Air Quality Important?

GET A QUOTE

Many of us tend to think air pollution is only found outdoors. In fact, the air inside our homes can be as much as 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Although many people recognize the hazards posed by outdoor air pollution, there tends to be less concern over the health hazards caused by indoor air pollution—even though it often has the same effects.

What Causes Indoor Air Pollution?

Indoor air quality refers to the quality of the air in and around buildings—specifically as it relates to human health and comfort. The primary sources of indoor air pollution are items in the home that release particles or gases into the environment. If there’s not enough ventilation to disperse these pollutants, they can build up and become concentrated in the home. High temperatures and humidity levels can also increase the concentration of some pollutants.

Some of the most common sources of poor indoor air quality include:

Gas appliances
Tobacco products
Building materials and furnishings, such as asbestos-based insulation, carpet, pressed-wood cabinetry, and upholstery
Household cleaning products
Personal care products
Products used for hobbies, such as paint or glue
Excess moisture
Outdoor sources, such as pesticides
Dirty or poorly maintained furnaces or air conditioners
Dust
Pet dander
Cooking

How Does Indoor Air Quality Affect Health?

Indoor air pollutants may cause health issues shortly after exposure or years later. Immediate effects tend to be short-term and go away after treatment. Some immediate effects include:

Eye, nose, and throat irritation
Headaches
Dizziness
Fatigue

Everyone’s reaction to indoor pollutants can vary depending on age, preexisting medical conditions, and individual sensitivity. Long-term health effects may show up years after exposure or after prolonged exposure to indoor air pollutants, including:

Respiratory conditions
Heart disease
Cancer

Even if there are no noticeable symptoms, it’s still recommended to take steps to improve indoor air quality to prevent potential long-term effects.

How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Although it may not be possible to completely eliminate allergens and pollutants from your home, there are several simple changes you can make to reduce them and your exposure.

Clean your home regularly to reduce dust, dust mites, animal dander, and mold. Vacuum the carpets and rugs at least once or twice a week using a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter. Clean up areas of clutter and wash bedding, drapes, and other items that attract tend to attract allergens.
Use sterile soil for indoor plants and only water them when the soil is dry to prevent mold growth.
If you have a forced air heating system, change the filters regularly and have the ducts cleaned periodically to remove trapped dust.
Invest in an air purifier to help capture indoor irritants.
Consider using a dehumidifier in damp areas of your home to prevent mold growth.
Open your windows from time to time to allow fresh air to circulate.
Use fans while cooking to remove fumes from the kitchen.

For the Best Air Quality Solutions, Contact PECO

Whether you need your HVAC filters replaced or would like to install an air purification system, PECO Heating & Cooling offers a number of air quality solutions to help you breathe easier. Contact us today at (864) 639-2424 to discuss your needs.

The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act: HVAC Federal Credit & Rebates Explained

Posted on October 19, 2022October 19, 2022 by Mark Pfeiffer

Have you been planning to upgrade your HVAC equipment? Great news—the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which was signed into law in August, may be able to help you save some money.

Investing $369 billion into the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the largest federal legislation designed to include significant rebates and tax credits for homeowners who install new energy-efficient furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, boilers, and water heaters. Here’s a breakdown of each of these incentives.

The 25C Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Tax Credit

Although this tax credit has been available for a while, the IRA increased the value of the tax credit by 20%. Instead of being limited to 10% of your project costs, it’s now up to 30%—and it’s now possible to receive a benefit each year.

The tax credit, which can only be used to offset tax liability, has an annual cap of $1,200, including:

Up to $600 for a qualified air conditioner or gas furnace
Up to $2,000 for gas and electric heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and boilers

This incentive goes into effect in 2023, and if you’re eligible, can be claimed when you file taxes in 2024. There are no income requirements and it can’t be combined with other federal programs such as HEEHR or HOMES. However, the tax credit may be able to be combined with local or utility rebates. Homeowners who had eligible equipment installed on or after January 1, 2022, may also be eligible for retroactive tax credits under this program.

The High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate (HEEHR) Program

This new $4.275 billion program covers 100% of electrification project costs for low-income households and up to 50% of project costs for moderate-income households—up to $14,000 for both income groups. Qualifying projects and maximum rebate values include:

$8,000 for electric heat pumps
$4,000 for an electric panel upgrade
$2,500 for electric wiring
$1750 for an electric heat pump water heater
$1,600 for home insulation

Project costs include both purchase costs and installation costs; rebates are given as point-of-sale discounts.

The HOMES Rebate Program

Unlike the HEEHR program, the all-new $4.3 billion Home Energy Performance-Based Whole-House (HOMES) rebate program isn’t restricted by income levels; instead, they’re based on the performance of energy efficiency and electrification improvements installed in your home. For example, homeowners who install energy-efficient appliances that allow them to cut their energy usage by at least 35% can get up to $4,000 in rebates—and that amount is doubled for low- and middle-income households.

It’s important to know that you can’t participate in both the HEEHR and HOMES programs, so you’ll need to decide which program is right for your project. If you would like help deciding which program would be best, we’re always happy to help!

Should You Get Home Upgrades Now or Wait Until 2023?

Although these incentives can provide significant savings, there are several reasons why you may not want to wait until 2023 if you’ve been considering upgrading your home:

The current state and utility rebates you qualify for now may not be around in 2023—and depending on your income, the federal rebates may not be as much of an incentive. It’s not clear at this point how the federal rebates will work with existing state and utility programs; it’s possible the federal rebates will result in lower local rebates.
Inflation will likely continue (and possibly worsen) in 2023; the rise in equipment prices may offset some of the savings you would receive from the rebate programs.
Energy costs are rising, especially the cost of natural gas—and although costs are expected to stabilize, reducing your home’s energy use today is an excellent way to mitigate uncertainty about energy prices in the future.
Due to the rebate programs, there will be a higher demand for work for HVAC contractors in the future, which could delay your project. Getting ahead of the demand will ensure you have your new equipment installed in a timely manner.

In addition, you deserve comfort! If your existing equipment isn’t keeping your home comfortable, it’s not worth putting off the work for potential savings.

Contact PECO to Learn More

Regardless of when you’d like to upgrade your home, PECO Heating & Cooling is here to help! We’re happy to work with you to find the best upgrades and rebate programs to help you save money and improve your home’s energy efficiency.

If you’re interested in the 25C tax credit, all Dave Lennox Signature Collection products in the Ultimate Comfort System qualify; Lennox also offers an assortment of ENERGY STAR-certified products that are eligible for the rebate program, including the most efficient heat pump (SL25XPV), air conditioner (SL28XCV), and furnace (SLP99V) on the market. For more information on the IRA incentives contact your accountant or to schedule an installation, contact PECO today at 864-639-2424.

Program a Thermostat

Posted on February 8, 2021February 8, 2021 by PECO Heating & Cooling

Are you trying to program a thermostat? Sometimes it seems like you need a college degree just to work one! Don’t freeze or boil in your own home – make sure it is comfortable by properly programming the thermostat.

Old school thermostats can be a little confusing, but once you understand how they work, you can easily set a thermostat to make sure you have a consistently comfortable temperature in your home. This is a great resource to learn how to set some thermostats, though it is best to go to the manufacturer’s website for a specific manual for your thermostat.

Newer Thermostats

While newer thermostats are programmable so that you can efficiently manage your energy usage while keeping the house pleasantly heated/cooled – for example, setting the thermostat to drop to 67° overnight in the winter and warm to 70° during the day – not all older thermostats have this feature. If you are interested in upgrading to a newer thermostat, or even a smart thermostat like Lennox M30 Smart Thermostat, Ecobee Smart Thermostat, or Google Nest, PECO can quickly and easily complete the task.

The best way to program a thermostat that is a new model is by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Instructions came with the thermostat in the packaging and can be found directly on the manufacturer’s website. Smart thermostats can also be linked to your phone and accessed via an app, allowing you to control your HVAC system even when you’re not home. You can turn off the system to conserve energy when no one is home or turn on the system before arriving home to ensure the house is comfortable when you get there. If you have a smart thermostat, visit the manufacturer’s website directly for information on programming and tips.

Leave it to the Professionals

It is important to have a professional initially install these thermostats as they are designed for different types of equipment and it is easy to damage expensive electrical components in your system or choose the incorrect equipment on the initial set up. Any of these issues will cause the thermostat to work incorrectly.

Of course, whatever type of thermostat you have, PECO can help! We are experienced in the installation, repair, and maintenance of various types of heating and cooling systems. If you want to program a thermostat, upgrade to a smart thermostat, or have any questions about your HVAC, call us at (864)639-2424. We are a family-owned business based in Central, South Carolina, and serving the surrounding areas including Sunset, Six Mile, Clemson, Seneca, Salem, and beyond.

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Tag: Home Improvement