Bel Red Energy Blog

If you are thinking about replacing your furnace, we’ve taken steps here at Bel Red to make that as easy and quick as possible. We understand that your time is valuable, and sometimes you may not have any concerns about comfort, efficiency, or indoor air quality – you just need heat, which is why we try to make the process of quotes and estimate ...

When it comes to indoor air quality, one question typically pops into homeowners’ minds. Are my ducts clean? Almost without exception, a common HVAC system is pumping hot or cool air into the home all year round. It’s no secret – dirty ductwork can lead to dirt, dust or allergens clinging to this forced air and create big problems when it comes ...

It’s a common question that is asked by anyone who is thinking about contracting out for home improvement work. What am I paying for when I hire a professional contractor? There are many factors that go into pricing for these services, especially those of professionally trained and licensed contractors. While prices certainly can vary and should ...

If you’re reading this post, you’re probably well aware of the many different services that Bel Red Energy Solutions offers including heating, air conditioning, home energy and plumbing services. For over 26 years customers have trusted Bel Red Energy Solutions to make their homes more comfortable, energy efficient, safe and healthy. You may, ho ...

It’s that time of year. With Spring officially just around the corner, daylight savings time went back into effect this past weekend. If you didn’t remember to set your clocks ahead an hour Saturday night or Sunday morning, you probably have by now.   With these biannual time changes come some important reminders for homeowners. Cha ...

While the rest of the country has been suffering with record heat, the Seattle area has had fairly mild temperatures. With summer finally here, calls from people wanting to install air conditioning are on the rise, and they want it NOW! Bel Red Energy Solutions is here to help! While the rest of the country has been suffering with record hea ...

Due to issues with the design and construction of their home and duct system, the Damour's upstairs bedrooms were too hot in the summer. Even with duct modifications and sealing, the existing central AC system simply couldn't keep their upstairs cool. With the addition of twin boys to their family, the Damour's decided to fix the problem once-an ...

When most people think about cooling their home, they think about about air conditioning. They know that air conditioners blow cold air, and they think that this how they cool. The reality is a little more complex. Air conditioners don't actually cool your house by blowing cold air, they cool by removing heat and humidity from the air - and that ...

With our first real taste of summer weather last week, many people in the Seattle area found themselves uncomfortable in their homes for the first time in a long time. The Puget Sound area is blessed with relatively mild weather, and most people who live here do so without air conditioning. So why should we need it now? With our first real t ...

From high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, to energy audits, weatherization services, insulation, windows, and even water-, and energy-saving plumbing products, Bel Red offers high-quality, greener solutions to improve the comfort, efficiency, health and safety of our customers' homes. But do we really walk the talk? Yes we do! From h ...

There are some big efficiency changes coming to residential water heaters in the coming years. Starting in April of 2015, new efficiency standards for common water heaters will go into effect. In a decision and announcement made in 2010, the Department of Energy (DOE) released these new standards to give manufacturers, consumers and contractors ...

The regional energy standards saga continues. If you’re a Bel Red blog regular, you probably remember reading posts about the rollercoaster energy conservation litigation between the Department of Energy (DOE) and members of the energy industry, including the American Public Gas Association (APGA).   As we discussed in the first pos ...

The Zamoras of Bellevue, WA had an old furnace that needed excessive repairs. Rather than go through the costly repairs and keep the old system, they decided to replace it altogether with the help of our Bel Red installation team.  The Zamoras decided to install an extremely efficient hybrid system—a combination of a high efficiency gas fur ...

Earlier in the year, we wrote about the withdrawal of regional energy efficiency standards (mandating installation of high efficiency furnaces in Northern states) set forth by the Department of Energy (DOE). This was based on a lawsuit brought forth by some in the energy industry, including the American Public Gas Association (APGA) and Air Cond ...

Earlier this week, we posted about the Department of Energy (DOE) withdrawing portions of proposed regional energy conservation standards in a settlement resulting from a recent lawsuit set forth by the American Public Gas Association (APGA).  There have been many reactions to the news of the potential settlement.   There were ...

It may be the best-kept secret in home real estate: For a relatively small investment, a prospective buyer can add a formal energy audit to the standard inspection.  According to a story by Ken Harney in the Washington Post, "That audit might save the buyer thousands of dollars in future operating costs by pinpointing features of the house ...

In testimony last May in front of the US Senate, Mike Rowe shared an ugly truth: "Right now, American manufacturing is struggling to fill 200,000 vacant positions. There are 450,000 openings in trades, transportation and utilities. The Skills Gap is real, and it’s getting wider. In general, we’re surprised that high unemployment can exist at the ...

Sierra Club Green Home has recognized Bel Red Energy Solutions / Bel Red Home Energy as a GreenCheck Approved Contractor. Bel Red has received this distinction for making a legitimate and meaningful effort to offer products or services that are more sustainable than what is commonly available. In fact, Bel Red has excelled in the following areas ...

While the real estate market is still not healthy, signs indicate that we may finally have seen the bottom, and the market is actually starting to recover. According to an article in SBC Magazine, new home sales increased by 9.7% in November 2011 from a year earlier, after sales saw an 8.9% decline in October from the year earlier. There was als ...

Our business keeps us on the road all the time, driving to and from customers' homes to install or repair heating, cooling, plumbing or energy efficiency measures. We take a lot of steps to reduce our fuel use, including proper routing to reduce drive time, GPS tracking of vehicle speed and idling times, fleet fueling services, and regular maint ...

The Bennets, residents of Sammamish, WA, were experiencing some problems with their old furnace and heating system. They were also noticing some low indoor air quality, so they knew the time was right to call in a few members of the Bel Red team. The result – a brand new Trane XC95m furnace that will bring them improved comfort, efficiency and h ...

When the Hamilton’s, of Mercer Island heat went out, our service technician quickly made necessary repairs to get their heat back on. However, it was clear that the Hamilton’s would need a new heating system. Their furnace was quickly coming to the end of its life.     To replace their old furnace, the Hamilton’s dec ...

David & Marilyn White had been experiencing some home comfort issues, so they decided to have our Bel Red team install a Trane XV80 gas furnace.   (Existing furnace with single wall vent and old gas piping)   This model of Trane gas furnaces is great for improving comfort and indoor air quality within the home. ...

  This winter, Bel Red was pleased to install a brand new Rheem high efficiency gas furnace for Hilary Benson in Mercer island, WA. Hilary was having some issues with her old standard efficiency gas furnace, so she was ready for an upgrade. Our installers on the project, Brandon and Chad, delivered just that. You can see the original un ...

While the weather in the Pacific NW has been warmer the last week, winter is far from over, and keeping your furnace running the rest of the heating season should still be on your mind. Here is a quick guide to three of the top ways to keep your furnace running reliably and efficiently all winter long:   1. Change your filters as re ...