Maitland Mechanical

02/14/2026

So you're not alone, between rate hikes and temps colder longer than weve had in last several years. Yes hearing 400 to 1,000 heating bills for January. Windows, attic and crawl insulation are probably more important than your unit. Dont just blame the unit investigate your thermal envelope. Cold encroachment with humidity loss in winter with heat loss and humidity encroachment with heat gain can in summer make it impossible to be economical in extreme weather. An inadequate v***r barrier in the crawl, boom high humidity summers. Falling insulation in crawl multiple issue. Leaking seals in double and triple pane window , no good.

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Utility customers are reporting dramatically higher bills this month, with some saying their costs doubled or tripled compared to typical amounts >> https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/02/13/almost-much-my-rent-dominion-customers-shocked-by-surging-energy-bill/

01/22/2026

As we all get ready for the great unknown this weekend remember if you have a heat pump to keep the unit clean and free of snow and ice to work. The normal defrost cycle cannot clean off extra ice and snow. My actual recommendation with heavy ice and sunday night getting to single digits is to put the thermostat on emergency heat and cover the unit until precipitation is done. With high efficiency furnaces that are condensing furnaces know where your drain exits the house. If the drain covers over and freezes the furnace cannot run.
With low teens and single digits with water lines on exterior walls its best to open vanities under the sink to keep warmer and put hot and cold on a pretty good drip. We dont offer plumbing services anymore but common sense goes a long way. This goes for showers and tubs as well. When faucets and diverters are on an exterior wall its not worth the risk to not use " the drip".
If roads are not passable we will not come out until safe. 4 wheel drive means nothing on ice.