Taking off for a summer vacation is a great way to get away from the hassles of everyday life, but it also presents a perfect opportunity for energy savings. Take these steps to reduce energy consumption in your Portland area home while you’re away.

1. Cut cooling costs. If you’re concerned about heat damage in your home, you can leave your air conditioner (A/C) on, but set the thermostat at 85 degrees so it only kicks on when it becomes really hot. If you’re not concerned about the heat getting that high, you can unplug your A/C altogether until you get back. Additionally, if you have a programmable thermostat, set it to 85 degrees or higher, and then program it to reduce the temperature setting shortly before you expect to arrive home.
2. Adjust your lighting. There’s no need to leave all the lights in your house blazing 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while you’re gone. However, some homeowners prefer to leave some lights on for security purposes. To deter potential break-ins, simply select a few lights — including your porch light — and hook them up to a timer or motion sensor.
3. Set your refrigerator for savings. Refrigerators eat up a lot of energy, but you can significantly reduce this expense during vacation. If you’re planning to be away for a month or more, you can empty out the fridge and unplug it. Be sure to prop the door open to deter mold. For a shorter vacation, you can simply get rid of highly perishable items, and set the refrigerator on its highest temperature setting.
4. Unplug electronics. Many appliances and electronic devices use energy just by being plugged in, so anything that doesn’t need to run should be unplugged, such as your TV, gaming consoles, computers, printers, and even larger appliances, such as your washer and dryer.
5. Reduce hot-water costs. Hot water is the second largest energy expense in most homes, after heating and cooling. You can save energy by turning your water heater off at the fuse box or circuit-breaker panel.
6. Time your pool pump. Running the pool pump keeps your swimming pool fresh while you’re away on vacation, but it doesn’t need to run more than six hours a day.

To learn more about how you can save energy and money while you’re on summer vacation, contact Roth Home & Cooling at (503) 673-6394. We’ve been serving residential and commercial customers in Portland and the surrounding area since 1976. Ask about our Precision Tune-up, and we’ll make sure that your heating and cooling system gets the TLC it needs to run efficiently and optimally all summer long.

If you’re in the market for a new, energy-efficient air conditioner, keep your eye out for the yellow EnergyGuide label that all models are supposed to have. You can take advantage of this label to learn a lot about the efficiency of an air conditioner, and make the best choice for your needs.

Here’s how to read the EnergyGuide label that the U.S. government requires be present on all heating and cooling equipment, along with many other major home appliances:

• Look in the upper left corner to see the appliance’s key features. These features will be found on many similar models in a specific cost range, which is shown in the middle of the EnergyGuide label.
• Glance at the upper-right corner for details about the maker, model number and size of the appliance.
• Check out the middle of the EnergyGuide label for the dollar amount (which is the estimated yearly operating cost) marked on a scale, which measures the cost range of similar models. The smaller the number is in relation to the scale, the more efficient the appliance is. For example, if the scale ranges from $130 to $210, and the air conditioner that you are examining has an estimated yearly operating cost of $135, it is among the most efficient systems compared to models with similar features, price, and cooling capacities.
• Look near the bottom of the EnergyGuide label to see the estimated yearly electricity use in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Multiply this number by our local current electricity rate to get a more accurate yearly operating cost. The dollar amount in the middle of the EnergyGuide label ($135 in this example) is less accurate because the figure is determined based on the national average cost of electricity.
• If you spot the Energy Star logo in the bottom right corner of the EnergyGuide label, you have found a product that exceeds government minimums and uses less electricity than standard models. The initial cost may be higher, but the operating costs during the unit’s lifetime should be significantly lower.

To learn more about choosing the right air conditioner or other HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) appliance, please contact Roth Home & Cooling in Portland today. We proudly serve residential and commercial customers.

Just like any other piece of heating and cooling equipment, heat pumps need regular tune-ups to operate well. That’s why every season, heat pump maintenance should be your number one concern. And here’s why.

Heat pump maintenance will:

• Keep the system operating at peak efficiency
• Turn that peak efficiency into monthly energy savings
• Help your system last longer
• Help your contractor find small problems before they turn into larger, costly problems that require a repair

But in order to lock in these benefits, you’ll need to make sure that you schedule heat pump maintenance every spring for cooling service and every fall for heating service.

There are maintenance tasks that a homeowner can and should do. Your seasonal heat pump maintenance checklist should include the following:

• Check your air filter. Keeping this component clean is important, as it is your system’s first line of defense against dirt build-up. When you start to use your A/C or furnace on a regular basis, check the filter every month and change it as needed.
• Clean the coils. The outdoor unit’s coils are prone to dirt build-up due to climate factors. You can clean them by gently spraying them with a garden hose or carefully wiping them with a soft cloth.
• Clear the area. Plants and leaves tend to gather around the outdoor unit, which can block air flow into the system, and it will lead to dirtier coils, too.

When you schedule professional service, your HVAC technician should perform these tasks:

• Conduct a comprehensive inspection of the entire system, including ducts
• Test the ducts for any leaks and energy losses
• Measure the system’s air flow
• Clean the entire unit, including filters, air handler, coils and compressor
• Check the unit’s refrigerant charge and test for leakage
• Test the electric terminals and controls
• Lubricate the motors
• Check that the thermostat operates correctly

Guarantee that your system will operate well for as long as possible, and schedule heat pump maintenance every spring and fall. To schedule a service appointment with metro Portland’s leading HVAC contractor, contact Roth Home & Cooling today!

Having an attic can add to the resale value of your home. It can also be the source of problems if your attic doesn’t have proper ventilation. Many homeowners never consider the ventilation of their attic until they run into costly problems. Here are three reasons why attic ventilation is important:

• Mold and mildew: An attic without proper ventilation is likely to have moisture problems. Condensation from temperature changes inside the house or from venting appliances into the attic are both sources of moisture. Weather coming in from the outside through leaks or seepage can also cause problems. Anywhere moisture collects, mold or mildew can grow. If you have any belongings stored in your attic, they can be ruined by the combination of dampness and mold or mildew. The air inside your home may also be affected by mold coming from your attic.
• Damaged wood, shingles and insulation: If moisture gets into your attic, your wood and shingles may end up warped or rotting. Not only can this result in more moisture getting in from rain or snow, but it can also lead to structural damage to your home if important roof or ceiling beams are affected. If your insulation gets wet, it will become useless and require replacement. All of these costs can add up to a significant amount.
• Higher cooling bills: Heat rises, so hot air is often trapped in an improperly ventilated attic. When you have hot air sitting over your living areas, your air conditioning unit will have to work much harder to keep your home cool. Proper attic ventilation allows the hot air to escape from your attic, making it easier for your A/C to do its job.

All of these problems can be avoided with good attic ventilation. Rafter vents, also known as baffles, and ridge vents will allow air to flow more efficiently through your attic, drying up moisture and letting heat escape.

If you have questions or concerns about heating or cooling your home in the Portland area, we’re here to help. Contact us for all your HVAC needs.

When you’re in the market for a new HVAC system, it’s tempting to start your search online because it’s fast and convenient. Researching and purchasing HVAC equipment online are two different situations, however. The Internet is a great place to learn the basics about HVAC systems, but buying what is likely to be the most complicated part of your home online can be a mistake because:

• You may not buy the right size. If you’re gauging the size of the replacement based on your existing system, you may buy something too large. Until recently, builders installed systems that were too large. Choosing a system that is too big causes it to “short cycle” (turn on and off too frequently), which costs more for you to operate and increases the wear and tear on the HVAC equipment. Short cycling does not remove as much humidity in the summer and may leave your home feeling colder in the winter.
• Finding a company to install the equipment and service it afterward may be challenging. HVAC companies work with specific manufacturers and suppliers and may be unwilling to put in a system that’s a knock-off or not a brand they support.
• The warranty is an important part of purchasing HVAC equipment. Manufacturers extend warranties to cover parts and labor anywhere from a year to 10 years. When you buy equipment online, the HVAC company who installs it for you may not be able to cover the warranty for either the parts or labor. Any savings you achieved buying online diminish when it breaks.

HVAC equipment requires expert installation. Wiring is complex, ductwork requires balanced distribution and installation of the refrigerant for heating or cooling must be done by a licensed technician. Buying HVAC equipment from an anonymous online store could result in higher installation costs and no warranty protections, which can cost you far more than any savings you realize from an online purchase.

Roth Home provides expert HVAC services in the Portland region and can help you find an HVAC system that’s right for your home and budget - call us today at (503) 673-6394!

If saving money on heating your home is one of your financial goals, consider a variable-speed furnace blower that reduces electrical consumption substantially. These blower motors use different fan settings to heat and cool your home throughout the year, providing energy and cost savings and other home-comfort benefits.

• A  variable-speed furnace blower consumes less electricity because it converts AC power to DC, a more efficient use of electricity. Engineering studies have found that these blowers can reduce heating and air conditioning costs by as much as 40 percent. A single-speed motor can use 625 watts an hour, while a variable-speed motor uses 100 watts.
• These motors start and stop slowly, so you don’t feel a cold blast of air in the winter coming from the ducts. The longer running period also exhausts all the conditioned air in the ducts, making the most of your energy dollars. The air stays comfortable longer when the blower runs longer. The variable-speed furnace blower is also able to remove more humidity from the air because it runs longer and more slowly, increasing comfort in the summer when humidity can be uncomfortable.

• The slower running speeds help clean the pollen, dust and dander from your indoor air better than fans that blow on high speed. People who suffer from allergies can set the furnace blower to run constantly, which removes many more particulates from the air, improving symptoms.

• Motors that run fast create more noise, and the slow running speed of variable-speed motors makes them the quietest of any for forced air heating systems.

A heating and cooling system that uses a variable-speed furnace blower typically receives a higher energy rating than one that has a single-speed motor. The higher the rating, the less electricity the system uses.

If you’d like more information about installing an energy-efficient heating system, contact us to learn more. We’ve been serving the Portland region, including the Bend and Salem areas, since 1976.

While producing enough renewable energy to power a home’s heating and cooling system has broad appeal for environmental reasons, it’s only been a few years since the average homeowner could afford to install a solar PV (photovoltaic) system.

Some of the questions we’re asked most frequently before and during installation have to do with solar PV system maintenance: How much? How often? And can I do it myself? With that in mind, we’ve prepared this brief list of maintenance tasks that should be a part of a regular solar PV system maintenance plan. We recommend that these tasks be completed twice a year to ensure that your system provides peak service for all your home heating and cooling needs.

• Check for shade: Over time, shading from growing vegetation can negatively impact your solar system’s productivity. Keep trees and bushes around your home trimmed to allow maximum sun exposure to the panels.
• Keep it clean: Dust and debris naturally collect on solar panels. Removing the dirt ensures that solar panels absorb as much sunlight as possible.
• Tighten connections: A safe solar panel is a secure solar panel. Make sure that nuts, bolts and electrical wires are undamaged and properly tightened.
• Inspect for leaks: Always inspect areas prone to leaks, especially where the panels attach to the roof and where the water supply pipes attach to each other. Address problems quickly to avoid big hassles down the road.
• Check system pumps: Distribution pumps and blowers should be routinely checked to ensure they are operational. Without them, the energy you produce won’t add any value.
• Change the antifreeze: Your system needs it, but it’s best handled by the professionals.

At Roth Home, we not only design and install solar PV systems, but we service them as well. Let us handle all of your solar PV system maintenance needs. Contact us today to get started.

One of the best ways you can keep your heating or cooling equipment running smoothly is to make sure it’s properly and regularly maintained. At Roth Home, we offer a Precision Tune Up that does just that. By cleaning and adjusting all of the critical components of your system, we can ensure it is operating at peak performance when you need it the most. We also make a point of performing any needed repairs during that same appointment — so smaller issues don’t grow into big problems that might impact your family’s comfort and safety.

While our Precision Tune Ups have remained popular, we’ve also had a growing demand for ongoing preventive maintenance plans. Many of our customers lead lives that make it nearly impossible to remember to schedule their regular system maintenance appointments. Others want the peace of mind that comes from knowing any problems will be handled on a priority basis.

For these and other customers, we developed our three Customer Care Plans.

Preferred Customer Program

• Our most budget-friendly plan.
• Gives you priority service over non-program members.
• Offers a 10 percent discount on all repairs.
• There’s no annual increase as long as your account remains active.

Planned Service Program

• A great way to handle service visits
• Includes two annual Precision Tune Ups for your heating or cooling system.
• Ensures priority service for program members.
• Offers 24-hour emergency service.
• Always a 20 percent discount on parts and repairs.

Platinum Service Program

• Provides a worry-free way to protect your investment in new equipment.
• Includes all of the benefits of our Planned Service Program.
• Is available for purchase any time during the first year after your new equipment has been installed..
• When renewed annually, Roth will warranty all parts and labor for 10 years.

Since 1976, Roth Home has been proudly serving customers throughout the Portland area. Let one of our preventative maintenance plans take the hassle out of maintaining your home’s heating and cooling system. Contact us today to get started.

Most Portland residents realize the importance of home insulating for energy savings. But did you know that the type of insulation you use is equally important? Each insulation type is designed to work for a specific purpose. Using the wrong kind of insulation for the job will reduce the efficiency and insulating power of your home, wasting money and energy. Avoid common insulation problems by using the correct form of insulation for your project.

• Insulating unfinished walls: The best kind of insulation for this project is insulation made from foam board, reflective system insulation, insulating concrete forms or batt insulation.
• Insulating floors and ceilings: Batt insulation is ideal for insulating floors and ceilings. You can also use blown-in insulation, such as mineral wool and vermiculite pellets. Foam board can also work in some wall and floor insulation.
• Insulating the attic: Attic insulation has a wide variety of insulation options. Fiberglass batt and loose insulation, such as mineral wool, are two of the most commonly used forms of attic insulation. You can also use spray-foam insulation on unfinished attic floors.
• Insulating existing cavities: Insulating existing cavities in walls, ceilings and floors can be somewhat difficult. The best kind of insulation to use that will produce the least amount of disruption is spray-foam insulation. You can also use loose-fill insulation in existing cavities, such as cellulose and mineral wool.
• Insulating the roof: Roof insulation is often used as an alternative to attic floor insulation, often when attics are finished. Roofs benefit the most from structural insulated panels or rigid foam board insulation.
• Insulating ducts: It is necessary to insulate ducts when they run through uninsulated areas of the home, such as in the crawlspace under the house. The best kind of insulation for ducts is rigid fiber insulation or rigid foam board.

For more information about home insulating and the benefits of each type of insulation for your Oregon home, contact us at (503) 673-6394. We provide Portland residents with year-round expert HVAC and insulation service and can answer any questions you have.