Rebate Programs for Connecticut Home Improvements

If you’ve ever thought about renovating your home but you’re conscious about the planet, it’s worth making sure you’re up to speed on some of the rebates and incentives offered by EnergizeCT. As conscientious consumers, making smart decisions about your home remodeling while doing good for the planet is always a great idea. Here are some of the programs available this summer:

• Heat Pump: there are big savings for people looking to upgrade their heat and air conditioning. Work with a qualified contractor for your equipment and installation and you can get up to $15,000 in combined incentives.

• Pool Pumps: a summer of swimming is always fun but maintenance? Not so much. If you’re in the market for a new pool pump, Eversource customers can get a rebate of up to $100. The offer says you can save up to $290 a year in energy costs since the new ones use up to 18 percent less energy than a standard pump.

• Air Purifiers: these became a hot item after COVID and they continue to be popular amongst homeowners. You can snag $40 off a qualifying unit through the program and save money long-term too. ENERGY STAR® certified air purifiers are more than 25% more energy-efficient than standard models

• Dehumidifiers: during the summer months, I dump my basement dehumidifier twice a day. Excess moisture is a real problem in many homes and it can lead to mold and mildew if not dealt with. The average dehumidifier costs about $300 but you can get up to $25 off per qualifying unit with this incentive program

• Insulation: If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know how important having enough insulation is in the home. In addition to warmer winters and cooler summers, insulation is also a valuable improvement upon resale. You can get up to $1.70 per square foot for your insulation project which includes both batts and blown fiberglass. 

• Boilers and Furnaces: both of these essential appliances have a 20-year lifespan so if you’re coming to the end of yours, taking advantage of the rebate is a good idea. You can get up to $750 back if you choose an energy-efficient model and there is financing available too. 

• Thermostats: I love being able to set and adjust the temperature of my house from anywhere and it’s great for the planet too. Choose a Smart thermostat like Google Nest and get an $85 instant rebate. Plus they estimate energy savings of up to $180 on electric and $565 on gas.

As with any program or incentive, it’s always smart to read the fine print to ensure you qualify for the rebates. Head to energizect.com for the latest list of offerings and availability and happy home improvement shopping!

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Summer Humidity Can Cause Problems in the Home

It won’t be long before summer weather is in full swing.

With New England's heat also comes humidity, a potential problem that every homeowner needs to keep in check. While we can’t control the weather outside, moisture in the house can be a major problem, contributing to mold, mildew, and overall dampness, especially in the attic and basement. 

 Many homeowners combat humidity by using air conditioners in their houses, and while they can reduce the moisture in the air to some degree, this is by no means their primary function. An air conditioner works by sucking the air from your home, cooling it, and blowing it back into the house. That process does reduce the humidity slightly, but pairing your air conditioner with a dehumidifier is a much smarter option.

 A dehumidifier works by pulling the moisture out of the air and storing the excess water in a holding tank. Many people keep dehumidifiers in their basements all year long to control the dampness that can often be felt in these underground areas. This is a great idea because controlling the humidity in the part of your home that holds the most water will very likely help to regulate the rest of the house.  

One way to know if your house is holding a lot of moisture is to purchase a simple five-dollar humidity gauge from the local hardware store. Ideally, you want the humidity to be under 50 percent. If it’s higher, you might want to consider using a dehumidifier in the main part of your home, especially on hot summer days and in areas where you spend the most time. 

In addition to cooling the air and decreasing moisture, running a dehumidifier during the hottest parts of the hottest days can also prevent mold and mildew growth, eliminate musty odors in the home, and prevent old pipes from sweating. Plus, you can use the water collected in the tank to give your plants a good drink. 

If you’re thinking that a dehumidifier might be a good solution for you, they come in different sizes and can be used for residential or commercial purposes. Generally, a unit will come in 25, 30, and 40-pint models, and on average a 25-pint unit will be sufficient to operate in a 1,000-square-foot area.

Dehumidifiers generally run on about half the energy of an air conditioning unit, so as long as you don’t run them all day, using one shouldn’t affect your energy bill. Just be sure to keep windows and doors closed when you run your unit, and only switch the power on during the most humid time of the day, or when the air is above 50 percent humidity. Also, be aware that dehumidifiers by nature are drying, so try not to run them while you’re occupying the room over a long period of time, like when you’re sleeping at night.

Finally, if you have a dehumidifier, be sure to keep the filter clean. Dust, dirt, and debris can build up, preventing air from flowing freely and potentially circulating mold spores throughout the home. A simple wipe-down with a damp cloth and spray bottle filled with a cleaning solution will do the trick to keep you breathing freely and ensure a longer life for your appliance.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Home Maintenance To Tackle Before Winter

With the forecast settling into the 40s, it’s time to talk about getting our homes ready for the cold before the thermometer drops below freezing. After all, there is nothing worse than not being ready when the first proper snowfall comes our way. So without further ado, here are my top five tips for pre-winter preparation at home:

Take a picture of your roof.

We’ll start with an easy one. Go outside and snap a photo of your roof from each direction. Wondering why? When we get a massive snowfall, I usually recommend that people get their roofs shoveled. Removing the snow helps to reduce the risk of leaks and other damage to your home. But when the snow is very deep, it’s impossible to see the pipes, skylights, and other parts and pieces that stick up out of the roof. Keeping a picture of the clean surface is a great way to minimize the probability of an accident when you’re trying to prevent damage in the first place.

Stake the driveway.

Speaking of damage prevention, stop by the local hardware store and get some property markers. They are generally made of wood or metal and are sometimes painted in a fluorescent color. Use the markers to create an outline around your driveway. Just like your roof, when a blanket of snow hits, it’s impossible for a removalist to see where the driveway ends and where your lawn begins. Creating that parameter will help the plow truck driver know where to go, which should assist in keeping your curbs and grass intact.

Check your heat and air sources.

Don’t wait until you really need heat to make sure that everything is in working order. Clean or replace your HVAC filters and check the temperature gauge to make sure you can power up and down with no problems. If you haven’t already, now is definitely the time to remove those window A/C units and check and clean those filters too. While you’re at it, make sure your carbon monoxide detectors are working and change the batteries if necessary.

Seal up leaks.

I get calls all winter long from people who are wondering why their house is so drafty. If you have an attic hatch, install an insulated box to prevent the cold air from coming down into your living space. Check all your windows and doors for gaps and use weatherstripping, foam, or insulation to seal them tight. If you have a fireplace that you don’t use, get that covered too. Any passageways from the inside to the outside can act as wind tunnels when the frigid winter air comes calling.

Clean those gutters.

If your gutters are full of autumn leaves and debris, it will prevent winter water from flowing off the roof and down away from the foundation. If water has nowhere to go, it will refreeze in your gutters and at the base of your roof, resulting in dangerous ice dams and potential leaks. If you don’t want to do this dirty job yourself, schedule a pro to handle it for you. It will be worth it.

If you do just these five things, you’ll be in much better shape when the wicked weather decides to settle in. Plus it’s much more pleasant to get these jobs out of the way before it’s too cold and snowy to bother. Good luck and as always, don’t be afraid to reach out if you need help or advice. Happy Thanksgiving!

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.