Time can be an enemy to just about everything. When it comes to a furnace, both time and use can create major problems. An old furnace can cause winter problems that range from being noisy and breaking down at the worst possible time, to using far too much fuel.

Choosing a heating and air conditioning contractor to work in your home is a serious matter that can affect your family’s health. Many people have heard of the dangers of lead paint to children. The truth is that lead exposure can be dangerous to anyone, regardless of age. For this reason, the EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) has guidelines in place to limit lead exposure to the public, including adults.

One of the most interesting types of HVAC systems are geothermal systems. A geothermal heating and cooling system is a type of heat pump that exchanges heat from your home with the earth beneath your feet. It has an excellent efficiency and effectiveness, but there are many geothermal myths that steer homeowners in the direction of more popular systems.

A conventional cast iron, hot water boiler has long been a reliable choice for heating homes, apartments and offices. Most boiler last between 25 and 30 years, or even longer, as long as maintenance of the system is performed. The boiler itself can produce reliable and comfortable heat for many years.

One of the biggest concerns our customers have is the cost associated with heating and cooling their homes. While energy costs are on the rise, the good news is that there are a lot of ways that homeowners can achieve energy savings without sacrificing home comfort.

If you are a Massachusetts resident looking to upgrade your heating and cooling, make your home more comfortable or cut down on high energy bills, you should have the information you need to make an educated decision. Go to the Mass Save website, which has loads of information about government incentives and other ways to save money. (Then call Rodenhiser so we can get that equipment installed!)

Have you ever wondered if the other old homes in your neighborhood have as much trouble keeping heat inside in the winter and cool air from leaking out in the summer?  It is really hard to know unless you stack up your bills against a fellow worker, family member or neighbor. Even then, their home can have differences that can cost them more or less than you.

We have all endured a messy visit from Old Man Winter in the Framingham, Metro West and Boston area. The arctic cold and snowy landscape have played havoc with heating systems--and with our budgets.

To achieve energy savings, Metrowest Boston homeowners need to both limit their energy use and conserve the energy they have. With advice from Energy Star’s Home Advisor, you can do both. The Home Advisor is a simple online tool that uses information about your home to generate targeted tips for energy savings.

The Home Advisor’s tips for Metrowest Boston are:

Did you know that if air leaks are left untreated, they can account for a significant amount of energy loss in your Route 495/128-area home? If you haven't already done so, now may be the perfect time to schedule a home energy audit to get a handle on energy losses in your home's envelope.