Heating Your Home or Business - THE CHOICE SHOULD BE YOURS - Click here to read more.
Summer is on its way to Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. You want to have an AC system that can keep you and your family cool and comfortable no matter how hot it gets. Now is a good time to familiarize yourself with some of the cooling system options that are available to you.
Whichever cooling option you choose, Brideau has trained, licensed HVAC technicians on staff to install it.
Let’s take a look at mini-split AC systems and what makes them ideal.
What is a mini-split? It’s a type of cooling and heating system that doesn’t require the ductwork needed for a central air conditioning system. Installation of a mini-split only requires a hole somewhere in your wall to accommodate the wiring and refrigerant line. You may also hear a mini-split referred to as a ductless or mounted cooling system.
How does a mini-split work? A mini-split is usually made up of one outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit (the number of indoor units will be determined by how many zones or areas the unit is designed to cool/heat). The outdoor and indoor units are connected by refrigerant tubing and electrical wiring. The indoor unit is most commonly mounted on a wall and delivers heated or cooled air directly into the living space without the need of ductwork or vents.
There are a number of reasons a mini-split AC system might be right for your home. One of the primary advantages is that they don’t require ductwork, and that makes them adaptable to any home. Here are some additional advantages:
You should consider a mini-split air conditioner for your home if…
Brideau Energy sells and installs high-efficiency, ultra-quiet air conditioning systems. That includes mini-split installation as well as central air conditioner installation. Not sure which system is right for you? One of our cooling experts will evaluate your needs and design the best system for your home so that you’ll always be cool—even on the hottest days.
At Brideau Energy, the comfort of your home is our priority. We have served the residents of Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire since 1987. Whether you need an AC installed, repaired, or tuned-up, you can count on us.
Contact Brideau Energy today to learn more. We’ll keep you cool!
As a family-owned business, Brideau cares about your family and your business. We work hard to contribute to the comfort and safety of your living and work environment.
Whether you’re in Central Massachusetts or Southern New Hampshire home, you can rest assured you’ll get quality and dependability when you call on Brideau. And we offer a variety of services, from domestic heating oil and propane delivery to commercial fueling to water heaters, air conditioners, boilers, furnaces, heating oil tanks and plumbing. And whatever service we provide, we’ll complete all our work to the highest safety standards in the industry. And we’ll guarantee our work will be done correctly and in a timely fashion.
Brideau offers a wide variety of plumbing services for your home. And each project or installation qualifies for a free in-home estimate.
Here are just some of the plumbing service offerings our master plumbers are on hand to take care of for you:
Let’s take a closer look at water quality and what a water quality check entails.
According to the EPA , whether or not you should test your water depends on a number of factors such as whether you receive your water from a public water system versus a household well, if there is a pregnant woman or new baby in the home, whether you suspect there could be lead or other problematic materials in any of your home’s plumbing materials or water source lines, the proximity of your water well to a septic system, or if you’re considering installing a home water treatment unit. Additionally, contaminants in your water can cause illness and less serious but still undesirable issues such as poor taste, odors, and stains on your clothing or water fixtures.
What does a water quality check entail? It is very much what it sounds like. After collecting samples, we test the quality of the water being supplied to your home and determine if it’s perfectly safe, or what, if any dangerous or undesirable contaminants are contained in it and how to proceed in the case of the latter scenario to address the problem.
Which water quality test is right for you will depend on the conditions or nearby activities that affect your home. Here are some of the scenarios and appropriate tests the EPA recommends:
| Conditions or Nearby Activities | Recommended Test(s) |
|---|---|
| Recurrent gastrointestinal illness | Coliform bacteria |
| Household plumbing contains lead | pH, lead, copper |
| Radon in indoor air or region is radon rich | Radon |
| Scaly residues, soaps don’t lather | Hardness |
| Water softener needed to treat hardness | Manganese, iron |
| Stained plumbing fixtures, laundry | Iron, copper, manganese |
| Objectionable taste or smell | Hydrogen sulfide, corrosion, metals |
| Water appears cloudy, frothy, or colored | Color, detergents |
| Corrosion of pipes, plumbing | Corrosion, pH, lead |
| Rapid wear of water treatment equipment | pH, corrosion |
| Nearby areas of intensive agriculture | Nitrate, pesticides, coliform bacteria |
| Coal or other mining operation nearby | Metals, pH, corrosion |
| Gas drilling operation nearby | Chloride, sodium, barium, strontium |
| Odor of gasoline or fuel oil, and near gas station or buried fuel tanks | Volatile organic compounds (VOC) |
| Dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, or dry-cleaning operation nearby | VOC, Total dissolved ssolids (TDS), pH, sulfate, chloride, metals |
| Salty taste and seawater, or a heavily salted roadway nearby | Chloride, TDS, sodium |
If any of the above conditions or concerns apply to you, contact Brideau and ask us to perform a water quality test. It will give you peace of mind and potentially protect the health of everyone in your household. Contact Brideau’s plumbing team today to learn more about the plumbing services we offer or to request a free in-home estimate.
Are you considering a propane conversion for your New England home? Brideau makes switching to propane easy for residents of Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.
Once you decide to make the switch to propane, your work is essentially done. Brideau Energy makes conversion as easy as possible. Simply sign your agreement and schedule your installation. We’ll order your equipment, take care of getting any necessary permits, and complete the installation.
Our installation service includes the removal of your old equipment as well as the testing and cleaning of your new equipment. Everything takes about a day. And you might even be pleasantly surprised when you find out how much it costs.
Keep in mind that by switching to propane, you’re switching to a new and more efficient system, so you’ll see a decrease in your energy bills and repair bills immediately.
It’s okay if you’re not ready to commit to the switch. Brideau can still help. Give us a call and we’ll send an equipment specialist to provide a free, no-obligation evaluation of your home. You’ll get personalized advice based on your current heating equipment and household goals. And it won’t take a lot of your time. The evaluation shouldn’t last much longer than an hour.
If you decide to move forward with switching your home to propane, Brideau’s team will review your property evaluation with you. You can also trust us to stay on top of the latest rebates and incentives. So you can count on us to let you know if there are any cost-saving offers you can take advantage of.
As you try to decide whether or not to make the switch to propane, here are some things to consider, especially if you have a heating oil system:
However, whether you use heating oil, propane, or both, Brideau Energy has you covered. As a family-owned, top-quality fuel company, we care about your comfort. And we have earned a reputation for fairness and honesty.
Contact Brideau today to learn more about switching to propane or to request a home evaluation. We’ll take care of the rest.
Brideau Energy always provides competitive pricing and reliable diesel fuel delivery to our range of commercial fuel customers in central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.
For starters, we offer onsite fleet fueling of on-road diesel for commercial truck fleets of all sizes. Most businesses request onsite fueling service for late afternoons and evenings when all trucks have returned to home base. This flexible scheduling saves your business time and money.
Our clean-burning low-sulfur on-road diesel fuel also allows you to reduce harmful greenhouse emissions from your fleet. Businesses who depend on us for this type of fuel include construction, waste haulers, bus and shuttle companies and commercial trucking.
We also deliver dyed low-sulfur off-road diesel fuel for use in such equipment as industrial heating & cooling systems, generators, pumps, agricultural and earth-moving machinery and more.
Our fleet fueling service provides your business with these five important benefits.
For hundreds of businesses in a variety of industries, diesel fuel plays such a vital role. Diesel keeps fleets of vehicles on the road, from delivery trucks to law enforcement vehicles to school buses. It can also power industrial and agricultural equipment as well as generators that provide backup and emergency power to keep essential facilities like hospitals and nursing homes up and running. Diesel is also used to protect servers and related technology from extreme temperatures, and also keeps refrigerator units running so that perishables aren’t lost.
From hospitals and nursing homes to schools and businesses, diesel fuel keeps residents and employees safe and comfortable and essential equipment up and running—protecting lives and valuable information even when the power grid fails. It also keeps vehicles on the road—whether for the military, local law enforcement, school, farm, or delivery company.
With Brideau Energy, you can always count on getting the best prices and most reliable on-site diesel fuel deliveries in the region.
Brideau Energy has the resources to fuel a commercial fleet of any size with our computerized metering and printout systems. If needed, we also have a card-operated system on Route 68 in Templeton that’s available 24 hours a day.
With more than 35 years of experience serving commercial fuel customers in New England, Brideau Energy understands the importance of combining reliable diesel fuel delivery service with a range of high-quality diesel fuel products.
So why not make Brideau Energy your first choice for onsite fueling of diesel fuel? We have been a family-owned enterprise since 1987, and we offer superior service and expertise. Make the most of your commercial operation by having Brideau Energy deliver your fuel.
Contact us today to become a commercial fuel customer and learn more about how we can help your business keep moving forward.
If weather trends continue, this summer should be as warm—or warmer—than last year. And you can count on humidity, too. Is it time to put replacing your AC system on your to-do list?
We get this question every spring, and the answer is always, “It depends.” Sometimes, a few repairs and a tune-up will have your air conditioning system running like new. There are a few factors to consider. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:
Even well-maintained equipment will start to fail after 10 or 15 years. Repairs will get more frequent—and more expensive, once the warranty is expired. If you have an older system that uses the phased-out R-22 refrigerant, you should definitely replace it. R-22 is hard to get—and very expensive.
The cost of a tune-up is usually worthwhile. It can prevent lots of small problems from turning into expensive repair jobs.
If you do need a repair, we recommend the $5,000 rule: Multiply the age of your system by the cost of a repair. If it’s more than $5,000, you’re better off replacing your cooling equipment. So, for example, if you have an 8-year-old system and the estimate for repairs is $1,200, you’d get $9,600—you’ll get better value from replacing your system.
Ask us for more information about our Silver Air Conditioning Preventative Maintenance Service Plan. With this plan, your annual tune-up is included, we give you priority service for no-cooling calls, and a 15% discount on all parts and labor.
Your equipment will give you plenty of signals it’s ready for a repair. Noise, including rattling, grinding and just louder operation means your equipment is working harder than it should. Be aware of these other signs of pending problems:
How did your cooling system perform last summer? Did you experience frequent breakdowns? A big increase in your energy use despite getting a tune-up is another big sign that your AC is not running as efficiently as it should be.
On the other hand, if you have spaces that don’t seem to get cool, adding a ductless mini-split can address the problem without adding an ugly window unit or replacing your whole system.
The good news is that a new AC system will run more efficiently and help you cut your cooling costs by as much as a third. Our pros can help you access your needs and talk to you about trouble spots, like hard to cool rooms.
We know every house is different—a “cookie cutter” approach doesn’t work—and the best system in the world is only as good as the installation. We’ll show you why spending extra for an ultra-high efficiency system might not be worth the cost for you, and we’ll help you navigate your options and find the best choice for your budget and your space.
If your system still has a few good years, it’s never too soon to schedule your AC system maintenance. Our technicians will perform a multi-point precision tune-up to ensure your equipment is running right. Annual maintenance is the key to getting the best performance out of your home’s cooling system.
Whatever your needs, the pros at Brideau are here to make sure your cooling equipment is ready for the season. Contact us today.
If it’s time to choose a new water heater for your home, there’s a lot to consider. Your water heater is an important part of the comfort and function of your home. It generates all the warm and hot water you and your family need to bathe, clean your clothes, wash your hands, clean your dishes, and more. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that heating water accounts for roughly 20% of your energy bills.
Whether you’re in the market for a new water heater or simply want to make sure the water heater you already have is working as efficiently as possible, call on Brideau Energy. We provide water heater installation, water heater tune-ups, and water heater repairs in Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.
Make Brideau Energy your source for all things related to water heaters. Our master plumbers are here to help you determine if it’s time to upgrade, provide annual tune-ups, perform repairs, and answer your questions. We offer free, no-obligation assessments. And we can even help you navigate the rebate and financing options available to you.
Two of the more common types of water heaters are storage (or conventional) water heaters and tankless (or demand) water heaters. Each offers some advantages and potential disadvantages. Which is right for you will depend on which pros and cons matter most to you and your family.
Conventional or Storage Water Heaters have a reservoir of hot water waiting to be used that needs to be kept above a certain temperature. They tend to last 10 to 15 years. They cost less to purchase and install than tankless water heaters, but they’re not as efficient as tankless water heaters because of the potential for standby heat loss and the need to reheat water that falls below a certain temperature before it can be used. Additionally, when all the hot water in the tank is used, it gets replaced by cold water that needs to be heated. So members of your household might find themselves waiting for hot water to shower etc.
Tankless Water Heaters only generate hot water on demand. They tend to last 20 years. They cost more initially than storage water heaters, but they’re up to 34% more efficient than storage water heaters. They also cost less to operate than storage water heaters. And since there’s no tank, you don’t need to worry about tank corrosion, tank leaks, and all the associated damage and expenses that can plague a storage water heater. Additionally, tankless water heaters take up less space than storage water heaters.
Which type of water heater is right for you will depend on a few factors including whether it’s more important to save on the upfront costs or over the lifetime of the water heater as well as the hot water output your household needs. Storage water heaters allow for simultaneous and multiple uses of hot water (until the reservoir’s hot water supply is depleted). Tankless water heaters can handle up to 5 gallons of hot water per minute. So they’re not as well suited to multiple simultaneous demands for hot water. However, you can install multiple water heaters to meet high hot water demands.
Whatever water heater you decide on, the experts at Brideau Energy can help. We’ve served the residents of Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire since 1987. Let us put our years of experience to work for you.
Contact Brideau Energy today. We’re here to help!
This winter has already dealt New England some bitterly cold days. Those cold temps aren’t just uncomfortable, they can put your home and property at risk if you’re not sufficiently prepared. When the temps really drop, you need to worry about frozen pipes. Having frozen pipes is bad enough, but since water expands when it freezes, frozen pipes can also lead to burst pipes. And that’s an even more serious problem that could be very costly to fix.
If you live in Central Massachusetts or Southern New Hampshire and need professional plumbing services, look no further than Brideau Energy. Our master plumbers can handle just about any plumbing job or plumbing emergency, including frozen pipes.
Even though Brideau Energy is here for all your plumbing needs, frozen pipes are something we’d like to see our customers avoid. Keep reading to find out how.
You can’t stop winter in its tracks, but there are some things you can do to make it less likely that your pipes will freeze on those really cold days. Here are some tips for avoiding frozen pipes:
As a family-owned, top-quality fuel company, Brideau cares about your family’s comfort and safety. When you call us to your Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire home, we’ll complete all our work to the highest safety standards in the industry. And we’ll guarantee our work will be done correctly and in a timely fashion.
Contact Brideau’s plumbing team today to learn more about the services we offer or to request an estimate.
Propane’s versatility means it can be used in and around the home in a variety of ways. Chances are you use propane for more than one thing in and around your Central Massachusetts or Southern New Hampshire home. Because of propane’s many applications, it is also available and used in a variety of quantities. Propane can be stored in cylinders small enough to be portable for use with your grill, outdoor heater or RV. Propane is also stored in large tanks (some aboveground some underground) for residential, commercial, and even industrial uses.
Brideau Energy offers our customers a variety of propane tank services. We install propane tanks and provide tank monitoring. If you’re in the market for a new propane tank, our team of experts can help you choose the right size tank for your home’s needs. If you’d prefer to lease your tank, we can take care of that as well. You won’t have to pay a lot of money for installation, and we’ll handle the maintenance and repairs.
At Brideau Energy, we make having a propane tank as easy as possible. Keep reading to learn more about propane tanks and the propane services we offer.
Aboveground propane tanks can last 30 years or longer. How long a specific tank lasts will also be determined by the tank’s size and how well it’s maintained.
Underground propane tanks can last anywhere between 20 to 30 years. How long a specific tank lasts will also be determined by what type of soil it’s in and how well it was installed.
Propane tanks come in a variety of sizes to accommodate a variety of uses. The knowledgeable team at Brideau can help you determine which size is best for your household.
Here’s an overview of the different tank sizes Brideau Energy offers:
With a propane tank monitor in place, you don’t have to physically go check your propane tank’s level. You can have all the information you need on your phone or tablet. Brideau Energy recommends tank monitoring for all of our customers. With a wireless tank monitor, you’ll have peace of mind and save money because there’s virtually no chance you’ll experience a run-out. Having a tank monitor also removes the guesswork from scheduling your fuel deliveries.
Tank Monitoring Benefits
Brideau Energy offers complete propane tank services, including installation and tank monitoring, in Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. We also offer both automatic and will-call propane delivery. The choice is yours.
Contact Brideau Energy today to learn more about the propane tank services we offer.
Here in New England, we know how to get through a tough winter. And this winter has already been pretty tough. Homes across the country have experienced record-breaking snowfall, freezing temperatures, and power outages. If you’re not prepared and don’t take the necessary precautions, winter can be more than challenging, it can be dangerous or even deadly. Sadly, this winter has already been all of the above. That makes this is a good time to review some of the important steps you can take to be ready for your fuel deliveries and keep your family safe this winter. You’ll be protecting your household and making it easier for the Brideau team to deliver heating oil and propane to your Central Massachusetts or Southern New Hampshire home.
Whether you receive heating oil, propane, or both from us, there are some simple things you can do this winter to help us deliver your fuel efficiently and safely. Top of your mind should be ensuring that all your walkways and driveways remain clear and accessible—even after a winter storm. To prevent a runout, you should also keep a close eye on your fuel levels. This will help you avoid a no-heat emergency.
The following checklist will help you protect your home and make it easier for the fuel delivery team at Brideau to do its job in a safe and timely manner:
As a family-owned, top-quality fuel company, Brideau cares about your family’s comfort and safety. We offer the households of Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire fair pricing, personalized service, and reliable fuel delivery.
Contact Brideau today to become a customer, request a fuel delivery, or receive service. Your comfort is our priority.
When it comes to heating your Central Massachusetts or Southern New Hampshire home this winter, you need a fuel company you can trust. Brideau Energy is the area’s premier family-owned, top-quality fuel company. We make your home comfort a priority. And you can count on us to provide easy, safe, and convenient heating oil delivery.
In addition to being a premier fuel delivery company, Brideau Energy is also committed to a carbon-neutral future. That’s why we deliver Bioheat Plus® fuel.
What is Bioheat fuel? It is a domestically produced fuel that’s the product of a blend of ultra-low-sulfur heating oil and renewable biodiesel. Renewable biodiesel is made from organic and recycled products, such as used cooking oil, inedible corn oil, soybean oil, canola, tallow, fats, and algae. There are different tiers of Bioheat Plus® fuel. The difference between each one is how much biodiesel is blended in.
One great thing about Bioheat Plus® fuel is that it doesn’t require any changes to be made to furnaces, boilers, or storage tanks. It’s perfectly compatible with the heating system you already have. And if you have one of the latest compact and highly efficient boilers or furnaces in your home, you’ll be glad to know that in addition to drastically increasing the fuel efficiency of your home and reducing consumption, it will work especially well with Bioheat Plus® fuel.
There are a lot of reasons to feel good about using Bioheat Plus® fuel in your home. First of all, it’s safe. It has been approved by ASTM International. That’s the agency that sets industry standards for fuels and lubricants. Furthermore, Bioheat Plus® fuel offers several advantages over traditional heating oil and several other fuels.
Here are some of the meaningful benefits Bioheat Plus® fuel offers over traditional heating oil and many other fuels:
Brideau cares about the future of our planet and our present central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire customers. That’s why we deliver Bioheat Plus® fuel. And that’s why we remain committed to making your home-heating experience as easy, safe, and convenient as possible.
Contact us today to learn more about Bioheat Plus® Fuel and what it can do for your home. Your comfort is our priority.
