No one enjoys paying higher home heating bills during an unusually cold winter or spending the extra money on increased electric bills due to the hot summer months. As expensive as monthly energy costs are for homeowners, however, they generally represent a more significant expenditure for businesses with large facilities.

If you're like most homeowners, you don't really think much about how your house is heated — until the heat stops working. And then you panic. Not only can replacing your heating system be a big expense, but these days there are so many options available to you. It's downright overwhelming.

Detecting air leaks can be an easy or difficult process, depending on where the leak is located. The signs of warm air leaking from your house are sometimes physically felt, but they often go unnoticed as you crank your heat up higher and higher. Therefore, knowing how to inspect for air leakage is important for your personal comfort, as well as for the energy efficiency of your house.

Winter is coming just as it always does. Are you ready to fight back against the cold?

For homeowners across the country, heating expenses climb as the mercury drops with the return of wintry weather. Seasonal heating expenses are largely dependent on the climate you live, the structural design of the building, your heating system's operating efficiency and what method of energy you choose to generate heat.

Come summer time, the thermometer isn’t the only thing trending upwards. The humidity levels also start to climb. While it can have an influence on your comfort level, humidity can also cause damage to your home.

Heating oil, or No. 2 oil as it is often called, continues to be a popular option for homeowners looking to heat their homes.

Buying a home is an exciting time. You often fall in love with the layout and aesthetics of the home, but it’s important to look at the mechanics of the home as well to avoid major problems. The HVAC system is an important part of keeping your home comfortable and safe. It’s an expensive system to replace, so having HVAC questions for the home seller ahead of time is a good way to find out if the system is in good shape.

For most of America, air conditioning has become the summertime standard. According to the Department of Energy, 75% of all American homes have air conditioning installed and use about 6% of all energy produced in this country at the cost of $29 billion annually.

It’s undeniable — residents of the northeastern United States love the reliability of their oil furnaces. Homes in the Northeast use around 87% of all the heating oil consumed each year across the U.S. And with the efficiency of oil furnaces, it’s understandable.