Don't Get Caught in Pricing Games...

Don't Get Caught in Pricing Games...

September is the unofficial start of our busy season as homeowners start calling to secure their fuel for the upcoming winter. With hundreds of companies out there trying to win your business, many companies will throw low-ball prices out to try to entice customers to switch, and that’s when the pricing game begins…

Don’t get sucked into a deal that seems too good to be true, because it probably is! Here are some things to look out for:

At Gault, we don’t play games.

In fact, we want to be as transparent as possible and educate our customers so they can make informed decisions. You won’t see a low-ball price offer from us but our customers know that our service is unmatched and our prices are fair; that’s why many of you have been with us for not just years, but decades!

If you have any questions, concerns or need help selecting the right pricing program for the upcoming season, our Customer Care team is here to help at 203.227.5181.

13 Summer HVAC Tips

13 Summer HVAC Tips for YOU!

The hottest time of the year is finally here which means enjoying the warm weather, having fun outdoors, and wanting to return to a cool home. Here are 13 ways to ensure your HVAC system is running efficiently and cost effectively:

1. Change your filters

Your AC system collects dirt, dust, and other matter which can reduce efficiency, decrease your indoor air quality, and deteriorate your system. It is important to check, clean, and change your air filters for your system to work to the best of its ability.

2.  Inspect your ducts and vents

Dirty vents and ducts can lower the quality of the air circulating through your home and reduce your equipment efficiency. We recommend keeping your vents wide open for optimal airflow and having your ductwork professionally cleaned. 

3.  Clean the outdoor areas

Your exterior AC condenser needs a good once over; clear at least a 2-foot perimeter from leaves, branches, and other debris that may impede on the unit’s ability to perform.

4.  Improve your cooling power

Programmable thermostats allow you to have more control over the temperature inside your home and a smart thermostat can be managed from your smartphone.

5. Shop energy efficient

Invest in energy-efficient accessories like window coverings and appliances so your cooling equipment doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your home cool.

6. Check the electrical

Every AC system has a wiring system that needs to be checked occasionally. Ensure that the wiring has no scorching and if it does, you should set up an appointment with one of our technicians ASAP!

7.  Clean Condenser Coils

Cleaning your condenser coils is another way to make sure that your AC system is running smoothly. All you have to do is turn off the power and spray the coils with water to remove any dirt and debris!

8. Listen for noise

As your AC unit is running, do you hear any grinding, hissing, rapid vibration, or other strange noises? If you hear any unusual noises, give us a call to schedule a technician to come find out the cause!

9. Check for leaks

Visually check the drain lines from your AC system and ductwork for any leaks, holes, or tears. If you see any cause for concern, call us right away to send a technician out.

10. Consider an upgrade

If you have an older unit (greater than 15 years old or an R22 unit), you are at risk for a break down that won’t be fun in the middle of summer. Upgraded systems are more energy efficient and will help you save money in the long run!

11. Maximize air flow with fans

Positioning fans like ceiling fans, tabletop fans, and floor fans throughout your home can make a huge difference in your overall comfort while helping your AC system not work so hard on hot days.

12. Reduce Heat from other appliances

Avoid using heat from large appliances; for example, instead of using your oven consider using your grill or move your clothes outside to dry on a line rather than the dryer.

13. Schedule a professional tune up

Give your AC system some TLC to make sure your home stays cool all summer long.

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WE’RE HERE FOR YOU!

Please contact us at 203-227-5181 or info@gaultenergy.com if you’d like to schedule an appointment with one of our Technicians or Comfort Specialists.

Let Propane Power Your Spring

Let Propane Power Your Spring

Birds are chirping, days are getting longer, and we’re more than ready to get back outside. Now’s the perfect time to tackle your spring-cleaning checklist. And make sure you include your propane amenities on that list!

Remove debris around your propane tank

When doing your spring yard clean up, anything that might damage the tank during a storm or may burn within a 10ft radius of the tank should be removed.

Test your detectors

Safety first! Change the batteries and test all the various detectors in your home: propane leak, carbon monoxide, and smoke/fire

Clean your outdoor grill

With over 25% of all grill fires in the U.S. caused by improper grill cleaning*, it’s time to put a little elbow grease into getting it ready for lots of use.

clear your propane clothes dryer

Use a dryer brush to clean your clothes dryer’s exhaust fan and vent to improve airflow, reduce dry time, lower bills and reduce the risk of sparking a fire.

schedule your heating system tune up

Visit Gault Online at GaultEnergy.com/MyAccount to make your appointment so you’ll be confident your equipment will be ready to go next heating season

open your pool

It’s almost time to jump in! Make sure you schedule your pool opening and notify us of the date you plan to turn your heater on so we can provide uninterrupted propane deliveries all season long. Visit GaultEnergy.com/Pool-Open

prep for a storm

Now’s the time to think about hurricane season and prepare. Visit our Storm Center at GaultEnergy.com/Storm to learn important propane safety tips such as how to check the level of propane in your tank and how to turn your tank off in an emergency.

For more homeowner tips and additional guidance, our FAQs page GaultEnergy.com/FAQS is a great resource for insight on your home’s systems and fuel use!

*National Fire Prevention Agency

Get To Know Your Home

Get to Know Your Home

If you’re one of the many that moved into a new home over the last year, whether a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, it is always important to get acquainted with the systems in your home. Here are some of the basics.:

Is my heating system a furnace or a boiler?

Well, boilers use hot water (think boiling water) to heat your home through radiant flooring or radiators. Furnaces, on the other hand, use warm air or ‘forced air’ that is blown through duct work and vents to heat the home. Then, there is hydro-air which is a boiler that converts hot water to warm air.

Do I need to know how to turn my heating system off?

Yes! In case of emergency… locate your Emergency Switch, main water shut-off valve, and electrical panel. The emergency switch is usually located as you enter the basement and should have a red switch plate. This switch shuts off the burner in your heating system, the component that houses the unit’s combustion. Watch our how-to video here!

What are the important components of my propane tank?

Make sure you locate your propane gauge and shut off valve under the top cover of your tank. The gauge is read as a percentage of volume you have in your tank. Remember, since propane is stored as a liquid under pressure, a tank reading of 80% is considered full to ensure the propane has room to expand as temperatures fluctuate throughout the day. Watch our how-to video here!

It’s my first time in an oil heated home, help!

We know an oil heated home can sometimes seem intimidating, but it’s really pretty easy. We deliver fuel from the exterior of your home through a fill pipe connected directly into your oil tank. To make it even easier, our computer system calculates when you need a delivery based on a weather metric (degree days) and the efficiency of your heating system.

How does my central AC work?

There are two main components of your central AC system. The outside condenser unit(s) takes heat from inside the home, transfers it through a refrigerant and deposits it outside, leaving the inside cool. The air handler(s), located inside the home, is what circulates the cool air through your home. The air handler also houses your air filter.

Don't Get Blown Away This Storm Season!

Don’t Get Blown Away This Storm Season!

A busy storm season can make for a frightening summer!

A little preparation now can save a lot of stress before, during and after a hurricane.

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Before: Create a hurricane action plan to prepare your family, pets and home for a storm. Include spare batteries, extra medication, a list of important numbers, and related insurance paperwork in your emergency kit.

Gault Tip!

Becoming familiar with your propane tank - know how to turn your tank off in an emergency and how to read the gauge in order to report your usage during a storm. Watch our How-To video on the Gault Storm Center.

During: Safety is a top priority - stay inside unless directed to evacuate, avoid contact with floodwaters inside or out, hunker down with flashlights, and keep pets indoors.

Gault Tip!

Even if you have a whole home generator, unplugging small appliances and other electronics that won’t be used during the storm can help avoid damage from power surges.

After: Once it is safe to do so, inspect your home and yard for damage, immediately report any loose or down power lines and use caution when cleaning up areas impacted by the storm.

Gault Tip!

Once your power has been restored, let us know via the Gault Storm Center so we can resume regular deliveries and services to your home.

Connecticut's Energy Evolution

Connecticut's Energy Evolution

No one can deny the many regulatory and consumer changes we’ve seen after over 100 years in the energy sector. Our focus has always been on taking advantage of new technologies, fuels and methodologies in order to keep us at the forefront of our industry and thus provide the best service to our customers. Here are a few energy hot topics that are just as important for you as they are for us as a business:

Electrification in CT

States across New England, including Connecticut, have their eye on electrification as the solution to meeting federal greenhouse gas mandates in the coming years. They want to incentivize homeowners to replace their oil or gas heating systems with electric heat pumps in order to achieve the ultimate goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. While on the surface, this plan seems straightforward, however there are many reasons for homeowners to be wary:

1. Electric Heat Pumps:

While electric heat pumps have become fairly common as a supplemental heat source over the past decade, they become problematic and extremely inefficient when the temperatures drop below freezing – a frequent occurrence during a New England winter!

2. Electricity Generation:

Currently only 5% of CT’s electricity is generated by renewable energy sources. Increasing this percentage by any substantial amount (80% is the current target being discussed) would not only be extremely costly to ratepayers but risky. There is no guaranteed output from wind and solar. Places like Texas and Germany learned the hard way this winter when they experienced frozen turbines and snow-covered solar panels. It will be many years before electricity can make a valid claim to being truly renewable, causing this shift to be vastly premature.

3. Electric Grid:

It will be no surprise to CT residents that we have the highest average electricity retail price among the lower 48 states. And after most of us were left in the dark for over 8 days last August, there isn’t much faith in the condition of the grid. Putting all of our eggs in the electric basket could be costly and inconvenient for many years to come.

The Strength of BioHeat®

As an industry, we have been working for the past two decades to forge our own path to net-zero emissions. The fuel we deliver today is called BioHeat®, a blend of ultra-low sulfur heating oil with biodiesel, a domestic, sustainable and renewable energy source. Currently, we deliver a 5 to 7% biodiesel blend to your homes. As an industry, we have committed to increasing that blend to 20% by 2023, 50% by 2030 and to have a net-zero carbon footprint by 2050!

To further this goal, a coalition of US energy fuel dealers and Midwest farmers have established Project Carbon Freedom to support the mission of advancing liquid biofuels as a solution to quickly, safely and affordably transition the country to a carbon-free way of life.

The economics of moving towards a 100% biodiesel blend have a long reach for many sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, service and transportation. Today, the biodiesel industry supports over 62,000 domestic jobs and billions in paid wages; as biodiesel consumption continues to ramp up, so will the economic benefits.

For consumers, the benefits are two-fold: a transition to higher biodiesel blends can occur with little to no impact on the consumer, and it will not only reduce their carbon footprint but higher levels of biodiesel have been proven to reduce service-related issues in heating equipment.

To learn more about electrification, Project Carbon Freedom and BioHeat®, visit ProjectCarbonFreedom.com

Is your home ready for Fall months and the cold winter months ahead?

Is your home ready for Fall months and the cold winter months ahead?

Not only will your home be prepared, you might even see long term savings on your home expenses!

• Inspect your home heating system for age and needed maintenance

  • Newer and more efficient boilers and heating systems can save up to 40% of your annual fuel consumption. Reach out to Gault Energy & Home Solutions to evaluate and service your current system.

• Check and clean gutters to ensure proper water drainage away from your roof and foundation

• Install a smart thermostat to customize your heating and cooling use and understand your biggest energy drains in your home

  • Speak with one of our Gault Energy & Home Solutions technicians before purchasing to ensure you have the right model for your home along with proper installation.

• Drain all hoses, outdoor faucets, and sprinkler systems before fall’s first freeze

• Winterize your yard and outdoor accessories before planning for spring

  • Consult with Gault Stone & Landscape Supplies to expand your livable space outside with cozy fire pits, versatile patios, and more! Visit gaultstone.com for inspiration and to get started!

• Check windows, doorframes, and insulation to prevent heat loss