Shines Energy Blog

Are heat pumps energy efficient

Are heat pumps energy efficient?

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Are Heat Pumps Energy Efficient? To make the switch, or to not? Heat pumps are becoming an increasingly popular energy-efficient alternative to conventional forms of home-heating, such as your traditional gas furnace or electric baseboards. A heat pump is heralded as a more efficient means of both heating and cooling your home, but are heat […]Read More
7 Signs You Need a New Furnace Now

7 Signs You Need a New Furnace Now

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7 Signs You Need a New Furnace Now Know When It’s Time to Let Go of Your Old Home Furnace Homeowner pop quiz: what are the signs to look for when your aging furnace has reached the end of its life? Is it obvious–like when it stops suddenly one cold winter day and no longer […]Read More

Who Needs a Protection Plan, Anyway?

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Furnace Protection Plan: What Are The Benefits We thought we would skip the furnace protection plan, my husband and I, when we purchased our first home.  We were young and poor, we thought.  What could happen, we thought? What happened, exactly, was the need to replace the most expensive part of our furnace—out of pocket. The furnace guy seemed sorry to have to […]Read More

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in the Home

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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning In the Home Why Your Older Furnace May Be a Health Risk If you suspect a carbon monoxide poisoning or a leak from your furnace, evacuate everyone from your home immediately.  Then contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency service. A technician came by my home to examine my furnace for a carbon monoxide leak. “Having a […]Read More

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) & Coronavirus Covid-19

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Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) & Coronavirus Covid-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many homeowners to re-think indoor air quality.  After all, the Covid-19 virus spreads through droplets and aerosols—and people who are indoors or in enclosed spaces close to one another, are particularly at risk. Washing hands, sanitizing surfaces, wearing face masks and keeping 2 metres apart have defined our COVID pandemic behaviour. But what happens when a […]Read More

Why Buying a Furnace Is Better Than Renting a Furnace

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Why Buying A Furnace Is Better Than Renting a Furnace To buy a furnace or to rent a furnace? A technician comes to your house and gives you the news no homeowner ever wants to hear: the furnace is on its last legs, or even worse, broken.  Once the shock sets in, you ponder that replacing that older furnace […]Read More
Everything You Need to Know About Heat Pumps and Rebates in Halifax

Everything You Need to Know About Heat Pumps & Rebates in Halifax

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Heat Pumps & Rebates BC: Everything You Need To Know Heat Pumps: A 2-in-1 Home Comfort System A perfect hybrid of cost, comfort & convenience, heat pumps offer an ideal year-round home comfort solution for houses in a moderate climate – for example, Halifax Regional Municipality & surrounding area. They are also well-suited for homeowners […]Read More

IS IT NORMAL TO SMELL GAS NEAR A FURNACE?

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IS IT NORMAL TO SMELL GAS NEAR A FURNACE? Natural gas is an efficient and clean option for heating your home. It leaves very little soot when burned and produces very little air pollution compared to other heating sources. It is also very convenient, with it being delivered through underground pipes to most buildings in […]Read More

Shines Energy’s New Home Furnace Buying Guide

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Shines Energy’s New Home Furnace Buying Guide Expert Information on Home Heating Costs, Energy Efficiency, Installation & More for Halifax Regional Municipality & surrounding area Cost | Efficiency | When to Invest & What to Look for | Installation Whether it’s from age, wear & tear, or a breakdown that’s beyond fixing, replacing your home’s […]Read More

What to Look for In a New Water Heater

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What To Look For In A New Water Heater Near the end of the average water heater’s lifespan, you might see signs that yours is on the way out. We’ve seen every stage in the life cycle in our day; Shines Energy has over 10 years of experience installing water heaters in the Halifax Regional […]Read More

How to Protect Your Home During COVID-19

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How To Protect Your Home During COVID-19 Novel coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19, has changed life as we know it for the foreseeable future. As we hunker down indoors, some of us may be wondering about how protected we are from COVID-19 and what other measures we should be taking to ensure our safety. Shines […]Read More
Gas Fireplace Safety for Children and Pets

Gas Fireplace Safety for Children & Pets

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Gas Fireplace Safety For Children & Pets As the temperature continues to drop, you and your family will be spending more time cozying around your gas fireplace. And while it’s a great way to add ambiance and warmth, a gas fireplace can also be dangerous to eager children or excitable pets. In fact, government regulations came […]Read More
Air Quality Tips for Pet Owners

Air Quality Tips for Pet Owners

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Air Quality Tips For Pet Owners How do you keep pet dander and hair under control? Do furnace filters make a difference? Shedding is one of the least convenient parts of owning a cat, dog, or a gerbil. Most pets will spread their hair or fur all over your flooring and fabrics. Even hypoallergenic dogs […]Read More
Thermostat Wars – Living with a Temperature Sensitive Person

Thermostat Wars – Living with a Temperature Sensitive Person

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Thermostat wars, where people sneakily reset the temperature, are a well-worn cliché, but many families do have one member that’s more temperature sensitive than the others. There’s a lot more to temperature sensitivity than preference, so how do you find a temperature that works for everyone? What Makes Someone Temperature Sensitive? Age, height, weight, age, […]Read More
Man fixing his AC

Air Conditioning Facts and Myths

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Another summer is upon us, and it’s time to get our ACs ready. But there are many different air conditioner myths out there. How do you sort the fact from the fiction? Central air was in more than 30% of homes in 2009, with that number believed to be much higher now. With so many homes […]Read More
What is a Non-Condensing Tankless Water Heater What is the Alternative

What is a Non-Condensing Tankless Water Heater? What is the Alternative?

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What is a Non-Condensing VS Condensing Tankless Water Heater? You just started exploring the potential of buying a tankless water heater and you stumbled on a couple terms you don’t understand: Condensing tankless water heater Non-condensing tankless water heater You probably get the tankless part. These water heaters don’t store water in a tank for you to […]Read More
How Buying Your Hot Water Tank is More Affordable than Renting

How Buying Your Hot Water Tank is More Affordable than Renting

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Hot Water Tanks: Buying Is More Affordable Than Renting If you’re like most homeowners in Vancouver and the surrounding cities and towns, you rent your water tank. It’s what your parents did. It’s what many of your colleagues do. It’s what everybody does! But it’s not the only option, and it’s not even the most affordable […]Read More
What is a Good SEER Rating for My AC

What is a Good SEER Rating for My AC?

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What Is A Good SEER Rating For My AC? If you are the kind of person who needs the best of the best, a good SEER rating for your AC is the highest on the market (at time of writing, 23 SEER). But the platinum package, highest efficiency air conditioner might not be right for everybody. In […]Read More