Total Energy News and Insights

What does 1/8 of a tank mean and how long will it last? For those of you that use a COD company or a full service company and are on Will Call, do you know how much oil is actually in your tank and how long it will last.  A frequent problem that arises with COD and Will Callers is running out of fuel or having to keep track of their fuel use.  While for some this isn't an issue at all, for others running out of fuel and having to frantically call around to get fuel is a big problem. So how can this be avoided? The best way is to familiarize yourself with your tank. First is to understand how much oil is in your tank, luckily there is a gauge on the top of the tank that shows you how oil is in the tank.  There are variants to this but for the most part they all look like the image below. While some look different than this they all show the amount of Oil in the tank in variables of fourths or eighths.   An oil tank if filled from top to bottom will hold 275...

Boilers use Water while Furnaces use Air to Heat Homes. When the cold air hits and the familiar sound of the heating system isn't heard, it's time to have your heating system looked at and possibly replaced.  A common issue that comes about is what kind of heating system do I have, a boiler or a furnaces and what is the difference? Well there is a big difference between the two, first is the efficiency and how the each equipment heats the home. Boilers use water or steam, while furnaces use air to heat the home. This is where the terms forced hot air or forced hot water come from, as the system will force heated water through base boards or radiators or heated air through duct work. Boilers traditionally are more energy efficient than furnaces due to the delivery of the heated source.  There is a lower amount of energy loss from piping involved with a boiler than the duct work that is required for a furnace.  The energy energy rating fo...

The cost of comfort isn't as easy to find as opening your energy bill. Whether you heat your home from a COD company, a full service company with a cap or without a cap, Mass Save, or any of the other money saving programs, what does it all translate to. When it comes to picking a heating company or a source it isn't just about the cost of fuel, there is an entire system of people that depending on the company can make or break your experience. When you have a winter like we had last year the price of heating your home became a very important aspect.  This was due to many people taking an additional filling for heating oil and the price of propane rising due to supply and demand.  This lead many customers to look away from Oil and Propane and make the move to Natural Gas or leave their full service company for a COD company.  In some cases these choices were helpful, in others they did more harm than help. Let's look at making the switch to Natural Ga...

Propane can be used for more than grilling When it comes to grilling there are two popular ways to do it, propane or charcoal. If you've ever watched King of the Hill, Hank swears by propane as the way to go for grilling.  Propane isn't just for grilling, it can be used for whole home comfort. Most of the top heating equipment companies offer boilers or furnaces heated by propane in a similar way to Oil.  Propane at the home requires a tank, just like a gas grill, but tanks for home heat are much larger.  The tanks can be vertical or horizontal and come in sizes that vary from  100 gallons to over 250.  Propane set ups can feature multiple tanks and tank above or below ground.  Below ground set ups are more common in new home constructions but can be added to older homes, keep in mind that your yard will be dug up as a result. Once the tanks are set, what can be fueled with propane other than a grill? Your boiler/furnace, dryer, pool heater, g...

Do you fear the power going out during a weather storm? New England experiences a wide array of weather, from ice storms and Nor'easters  to thunderstorms, hurricanes, and the occasional tornado.  The snow storm of 2011, the ice storm this past year, hurricane Sandy, numerous thunderstorms, all of these have resulted in a lost of power.  What if you didn't have to worry about losing power during these weather events? Automatic standby generators offer a constant back up encase the main supply is lost.  In the winter time a generator will help to keep the heat in your home running and the flow of hot water in your pipes going.  While in the summer time you won't have to worry about losing the food in your fridge or freezer if the power is out for an extended period of time. For homeowners with a sump pump, backup generators will keep power to the pump, keeping your basement from flooding during a thunderstorm. Automatic standby gene...

Summer sun and Air Conditioning  Summer means beaches,  barbecues, and hot summer days. While us New Englanders can't wait for the brutally cold winters to come to an end and the warm summer air. That summer sun means turning on the AC and fearing the electric bill. How do you beat the heat without breaking the bank? Heading to the beach for a swim and a day by the beach is always an option. Pools are great for cooling off but the pump and a heater will also increase your electric use. Here are some tips for saving energy this summer without increasing your electricity demand too much. First when you should and shouldn't use a standing or ceiling fan. Fans can circulate the air out of a room, fans will only cool people. The cooling effect that is felt from a fan is from the wind chill that is created. You should only use a fan while someone is in the room.  Those of you that are lucky to have central air throughout the home or have mini-split air condi...

Why Would you Risk your Family's Safety We bet that you have a handy man or woman in your home or family that can always fix a leaky faucet, tighten this or that, and fix whatever is broken. The last thing they would think to do is call a professional, I can do it is there first response.  This is the last thing that should cross a DIYer's mind when it comes to installing gas products, but it isn't. In a new ad campaign from the Propane Education & Research Council or PERC addresses the aftermath of a gas fire from a DIY project gone wrong.  The ad campaign shows a home that has extensive fire damage, a disappointed wife and insurance agent, and a husband that thought he could do it.   We all think that we can do it until we can't. When it comes to gas unless you have the proper knowledge to set pressures, properly connect equipment, or know where to place equipment, there should never be a time when you think you can do it. Gas, when properly installed...