When you think about insulating your attic, you are likely thinking about keeping your home warm in the winter.
And attic insulation does that. But that’s not where its benefits end. Properly insulating your attic can also help make your home’s cooling system more efficient, meaning you’ll spend less on energy this summer, too! Adding the insulation you need to your attic can save you $600 or maybe even more on your energy bills each year.
More savings = more ice cream this summer!
Adding insulation to your attic not only makes your home more energy-efficient, it’s also a great investment as you may recoup 80% (or more!) of your investment when it comes to adding to your home’s value.
But before you jump in the car and go to the home improvement store, there is some homework you need to do.
While the fiberglass insulation that comes in rolls at the home improvement store is likely what most of us think of when it comes to insulation, there are many different kinds. Those include rigid foam, loose blown-in insulation, spray foam, and structural insulated panels. Some may be a DIY installation, others may need to be professionally done. Check out this guide from the U.S. Department of Energy for more details.
The R-value of your insulation measures the resistance of heat flow through the insulation; the higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation is. The R-value you need depends on where you live. Check out this map from the Department of Energy for more details. Here in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, we are in Zone 6. That means if your attic is uninsulated, the insulation you install needs to have an R-value of R49 to R60. If you have an existing 3 to 4 inches of insulation, you need to add insulation with an R-value of R38 to R49.
Wesco Oil can help with your home’s energy efficiency by installing and maintaining your heating, cooling, and water heating equipment. Contact us today to learn more!
Are you sniffling and sneezing a lot this spring?
It might not only be seasonal allergies like those caused by tree, grass, and weed pollen. The cause may not lie outside your home, but inside.
Dust may be circulating around your home through your HVAC system. That means irritants are anywhere you are in your home. And since you’re likely spending more time at home lately because of the COVID-19 outbreak, there’s not much escape from them.
What to do about the dust? We have some solutions that can help you breathe easier. At least until you go outside where the pollen is.
Change the HVAC filter. You should let no more than three months go by before replacing your filters. If you have pets, or people living in your home have respiratory conditions like allergies, asthma, emphysema, or COPD, you may have to change the filters once a month. This also helps your HVAC system run more efficiently and reduces wear on your HVAC equipment.
Get your ductwork professionally cleaned. In addition to dust, there can be dirt, pollen and even mold inside your ductwork. All of the can be being blown into your living spaces right now.
Clean registers and vents. First vacuum, then use a damp cloth and thoroughly dry. All that dust, dirt, etc., on them? Will no longer be blowing into your rooms.
Clean exhaust fans. Turn off the power. Remove the covers and wash them. Dry them thoroughly before putting them back. They’ll work more efficiently.
Get out the vacuum. Now is not the time to do a quick vacuuming. Use the vacuum to suck away cobwebs, clear out the crevices and between cushions of upholstered furniture, and get dust out of draperies if you’re not taking them to be cleaned.
Clean all surfaces. Dust and wash walls, windows, trim and blinds.
Declutter. All that paper piled up and all your other clutter are collecting dust as you avoid dealing with them.
Contact us to learn more about our HVAC equipment services!
Are you spending more time at home lately, perhaps working from home?
That means you need your home to be as comfortable as possible. With the coming summer forecast here in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts to be hotter than normal, making sure you can keep your home cool so you can focus on your work or relaxing is essential.
If you don’t have central air conditioning in your home, you’re not alone. Sometimes, it’s because the home is heated with a boiler and thus there’s no ductwork for central air conditioning. Installing ductwork can add thousands of dollars to the cost of adding central air conditioning, which costs on average about $5,600.
For a long time, those without central A/C thought their only option for cooling was window A/C units. But before you get out your window units and get on the ladder to install them, there is an alternative that can save you that work, and some money on energy costs: ductless mini-split air conditioners!
Wesco Oil’s trained and experienced service technicians can safely install ductless mini-splits in your home so you can enjoy cool comfort all summer long.
The big one is long-term savings. While ductless mini-splits cost more up-front between equipment and installation, you get that back in the long run.
Energy efficiency is the first way. Ductless mini-splits can use about 40% less energy than a window A/C unit. So you’ll save on energy costs right out of the gate.
Not only that, mini-splits are powerful enough to cool multiple rooms and larger spaces, while most window units can’t and would use even more energy to try and do so.
With mini-splits, you can zone your cooling and use a smart thermostat to do so, controlling your home’s cooling from your smart phone! No more coming home to a sweltering house and having to crank the window units up to high to make things cooler. That’s another way mini-splits are more efficient.
Contact us to find out more about ductless mini-splits!
While many of us have been staying at home much of the time lately because of the COVID-19 outbreak, spring weather has arrived here in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.
Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to summer, is just around the corner. And with that comes warmer weather that will have us turning on our central air conditioning. And the Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting that this summer will be hotter than normal.
You may now be wondering if your current air conditioning system will be up to the job, and if it’s best to repair it or replace it. We have three things to think about so you can make the call that’s right for you.
Once an air conditioning system is 10 years old, replacing it becomes more sensible then repairing it, especially if you’re facing a big repair bill. Because an older A/C system has more wear and tear, and more repairs will likely be coming soon.
If your air conditioning system is less than 10 years old, it depends. Our experienced, trained air conditioning service technicians can discuss the options with you. Generally, if a repair costs 50% or more of the replacement cost, it’s probably best to upgrade now.
The saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” has endured for this long because it’s true. A home cooling system that gets regular, professional maintenance last longer and needs fewer repairs. But nothing lasts forever, even a well-maintained A/C system. Upgrading will get you better efficiency and reliability.
The up-front purchase and installation costs of a new central air conditioning system may be scary. But don’t let that drive you to settle for another repair that will only work in the short term. Wesco Oil can help you get rebates that can lower the cost of a new air conditioning system. And, don’t forget, today’s A/C systems are much more energy efficient, so you’ll be getting a return on your investment right away with lower energy costs!
This is a great time to add air conditioning to your home. And if you think you can’t have it and have to settle for inefficient window A/C units because you don’t have ductwork in your home, Wesco Oil also installs ductless mini-split air conditioning for efficient, zoned comfort!
A reminder: Our services may be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Check our COVID-19 page for more information and follow us on Facebook for the latest updates.
Trust Wesco Oil to help keep your home cool! Contact us to set up your annual air conditioning tune-up or to find out more about our air conditioning installation and service.
If your home here in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts doesn’t have air conditioning, you may be dreading the prospect of a hot, stuffy home.
We have some bad news: The Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a hotter than normal summer for us.
But there’s also good news: We have some tips to help keep your home cool without air conditioning!
No matter what the size or age of your home, there are ways you can help it stay cool when the summer weather sizzles.
Keep the heat out. Close blinds or curtains during the day in south- and west-facing windows. North- and east-facing windows can stay open to let in natural light.
Be smart with fans. Fans don’t cool the air, like air conditioning does. But by moving the air around your home, they can help you keep cool. Make sure ceiling fans are turned counterclockwise to draw hot air up away from you. If you have upper stories on your home, use fans in windows to draw hot air out of your home.
Sleep cooler. The best way to keep cool when sleeping is to use all-cotton sheets. Cotton breathes, which helps pull heated air from you and wicks sweat. Polyester, cotton-polyester blends, and other fabrics trap heat and sweat next to your body.
Turn off the lights. During the day, keep as few lights on as possible, as electric lights give off heat. Also, switch to energy-efficient lights bulbs like compact fluorescent and LED, which give off less heat than incandescent bulbs.
Plan meals around keeping cool. Your range can generate a lot of heat. So don’t use it during the hottest parts of the day. Use your outdoor grill, slow cooker, multicooker and toaster oven as alternatives to the stove.
Skip laundry during the day. Dryers also add a lot of heat to your home. Plan doing laundry in the morning and after the sun goes down. Your home will stay cooler and you’ll put less stress on your local electric grid.
There’s more than one possible reason you don’t have air conditioning in your home.
Your home may be heated with a boiler, so it doesn’t have the ductwork needed for central air conditioning.
If that’s the case, you may have thought window units were your only way to have air conditioning. But there is another choice: ductless mini-splits installed by Wesco Oil!
Ductless mini-splits offer a lot of advantages over window units. They’re more energy-efficient, you can zone your cooling, and they’re permanently installed so you don’t have to worry about putting them in in the spring and taking them out in the fall. Window units are also unattractive, block light, and let pollen, dust, dirt and insects into your home. Yuck!
If you have been holding off on having central air conditioning installed because you are concerned about the cost, you may be surprised at how affordable it can be. And we can help you save even more money by helping you qualify for rebates!
Contact us to find out more about our air conditioning installation, service and repairs!
Did you know that spring is a great time to have your home’s heating, cooling and comfort equipment get its annual maintenance?
Spring is usually a quiet time for equipment service departments like ours, as there is a lull between the end of heating season and when people start using their air conditioners.
While some people take advantage of this opportunity to schedule maintenance of their furnace, boiler, or air conditioning system, many overlook another piece of equipment that needs attention: their water heater.
Wesco Oil is currently offering equipment repair and maintenance during the COVID-19 outbreak. You can find out all we’re doing in regards to that on our COVID-19 page, and by following us on Facebook for the latest updates.
Think about all the things a water heater does for you and your home. It provides you with hot showers and baths. It makes sure you have hot water for washing laundry, for washing dishes both in the sink and in the dishwasher, for cleaning your home, and more.
But to make sure it is running at peak performance and efficiency, it needs annual maintenance. That maintenance may also help keep your water heater’s warranty in effect.
If you have a conventional water heater with a tank, our service technician will perform a flush of the tank to get rid of sediment buildup inside the tank, which settles on the bottom and corrodes your tank from the inside out.
The technician will also check the anode rod, which protects your water heater tank from premature corrosion and failure. If the rod has corroded, it will be replaced.
We will thoroughly inspect the water heater for leaks as well as things like blockages in the drain valve. This service gives us a chance to fix smaller problems before they get worse and cause damage that can lead to your water heater failing.
And if it turns out your water heater is ready to be replaced, our trained, experienced and certified service technicians will let you know. But our service doesn’t end there. We can help you qualify for rebates if you upgrade to a qualifying water heater!
Contact us to set up your water heater maintenance service!
So many businesses here in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts rely on commercial diesel fuel for their success.
It’s why we here at Wesco Oil are determined to provide the best, most reliable commercial fuel service to our fellow local businesses that keep our economy going.
Now more than ever, local businesses need the security that comes from knowing they’ll have the quality commercial diesel fuel they need to get the job done. That’s why so many of them turn to Wesco Oil.
At Wesco Oil, we make sure that our commercial customers only get the best commercial diesel fuel for their vehicles and equipment. So our fuel of choice is RoadForce™ Premium Diesel Fuel.
Why RoadForce™? Because it not only fuels vehicles and equipment, it protects and takes care of them. With RoadForce™, you get seasonal cold flow improvers and kerosene blending. They keep engines running at peak power no matter how cold it gets outside. RoadForce™ also contains a dispersant to remove and disperse sludge and detergents, both of which keep fuel systems clean and efficient. Pumps and injectors are protect with lubricity enhancers added to prevent friction from damaging them. A corrosion inhibitor is added to prevent rust in both fuel systems and storage tanks. And a fuel stabilizer is used so fuel stored in tanks does not develop damaging sludge.
We deliver RoadForce™ Premium Diesel Fuel for both on-road and off-road applications.
The quality of our RoadForce™ Premium Diesel Fuel is great. But we know that it doesn’t mean much without great service.
We have decades of experience providing bulk diesel delivery to businesses. We’ll work with you to set up a bulk delivery plan that meets your needs while providing fair, transparent pricing and prompt, professional and courteous service. And, since we’re based right here, we understand your business in ways a big national company just can’t. And being local means we can respond to your needs right away. You’re not just an account number to us; You’re a valued customer.
Contact us to learn more about our commercial fuel services!
As the weather here in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts starts to warm up this spring, many of us are looking forward to enjoying summer.
One of the things we enjoy about summer is relaxing in our homes in cool, air-conditioned comfort. But if the A/C conks out, that’s not happening.
You can prevent that by getting your air conditioning its annual tune-up in the spring.
While we’re dealing with challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak, we’ll work with you to make sure you get your air conditioning serviced as soon as possible. As a reminder, we are taking precautionary measures with both our professional equipment service technicians and fuel delivery drivers to protect you as well as them.
You can trust Wesco Oil with your central air conditioning system. Our service technicians are trained and experienced and are all certified in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
1. Your air conditioning system is more efficient
Having an annual tune-up means your central air conditioning run at peak efficiency. That means it will use less energy. You’ll save money without sacrificing a bit of comfort.
2. Maintenance helps prevent breakdowns
In addition to maintenance, an annual tune-up gives our service technicians an opportunity to thoroughly inspect all parts of your central air conditioning system. If we find something wrong, we can fix it before it becomes a bigger problem that could cause your AC system to break down and stick you with not only an uncomfortably warm home but a big repair bill to boot.
3. Tune-ups may protect your warranty
Many central air conditioning manufacturers require regular tune-ups by an HVAC professional to keep the air conditioning system’s warranty in effect. By having Wesco Oil service your central AC system, you’ll have documentation that you’ve taken good care of your air conditioning equipment.
4. Your air conditioning system last longer
Your central air conditioning system is a big investment in your home. The average cost to install a new air conditioning system is more than $5,500. An annual tune-up helps your central A/C last longer, so you get the most out of your investment.
Contact Wesco Oil to schedule your central air conditioning service!
We’re in the home stretch of heating season here in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Yay!
Soon, we’ll be turning off the heat and turning on the air conditioning. But before that happens, we have a few tips to help you protect your home’s heating system from breaking down and needing repairs while also protecting your wallet from the cost of those repairs.
Here’s an observation from the trained, experienced Wesco Oil service technicians: Most of the repair jobs they’re called out for could have been prevented if the heating systems had gotten annual maintenance tune-ups.
An annual tune-up is good for your heating system in multiple ways. It helps your heating system run at peak efficiency, which saves you money on energy costs. And it gives our technicians the opportunity to thoroughly inspect your heating system and spot any problems before they become worse and cause an expensive breakdown.
Another way an annual tune-up is good for your heating system and your wallet is that regular, professional maintenance may be required to keep your heating system’s warranty in effect.
With the current COVID-19 situation, we will be booking your annual tune-ups in advance with the hope that the situation will be safer at that time. Contact us if you have any questions.
You know what makes taking care of your heating system easier and more affordable? A Wesco Oil service plan! Not only is the annual tune-up covered by the service plan, you also get benefits like discounts on parts and labor.
When your heating system is running, keep an eye —and ear — on it. Trouble signs include strange sounds like banging, squealing and rattling. Seeing water leaks near your heating system is another warning sign. Don’t wait. Contact us right away so we can fix the problem before it gets worse.
Follow this advice, and you can go into next heating season confident your furnace or boiler will work when you need it.
Contact us to schedule your oil heating system tune-up!
We found a recent report that said 90 percent of people with programmable thermostats don’t use them.
Why? Because they don’t know how.
That left us gobsmacked. They are missing out on an opportunity to save % or more on their home’s heating and cooling costs!
We don’t want that to happen to you. That’s why we’ve put together a tutorial to help you program the thermostat in your home here in southeastern Massachusetts or Rhode Island so you can get the most energy savings possible.
If you don’t have a programmable or smart thermostat, you really should! They make managing your home’s heating and cooling as easy as pie.
Programmable thermostats are reasonably priced, and you’ll be paid back and more in the first year because of the lower energy costs. And those will continue in the years to come. They let you set temperatures for your heating and cooling systems for specific times of day, and specific days of the week.
Smart thermostats take the benefits of programmable thermostats and add today’s wireless technology to make your thermostats even more helpful. You can control your thermostat through WiFi and your smartphone or tablet. Some smart thermostats can also send notifications when your equipment is having problems or when you need to change your air filter.
Whether you have a programmable or smart thermostat, using is smartly can help you reap big energy savings. We’ve collected some tips from the United States Department of Energy for you to use.
Count on Wesco Energy for reliable heating oil delivery and equipment service. Become a customer today!
