Home Energy Tip: Small Heating Upgrades

November 26th, 2012

If you are looking for some small, easy steps can to maximize your heating system’s efficiency, call the Hayden, ID home energy experts at ACI Northwest. We can help you by providing a few tips and guidelines about energy savings. Here are a few tips to get you started.

The Environmental Protection Agency states that close to 50%of home energy waste can be erased just by making small upgrades and reducing certain energy usage. A first step can be taken by purchasing Energy Star appliances. Purchasing Energy Star heating products along with adding insulation to your house are major steps, but there are smaller steps that are just as effective at improving your heating system’s performance.

Candle Test for Air Leaks

An easy way for homeowners to do their own energy efficiency check is to perform a candle test to locate drafts. Simply light a candle and position it near doors and windows. If you see the flame flickering that indicates those openings have a draft. Fixing those problem areas and reducing drafts will help warm the house more efficiently.

Programmable Thermostat

An easy, yet effective way to improve your heating system is to install a programmable thermostat in your home. Depending on the model you purchase, this is an upgrade that won’t cost you a lot of money. You do want to make sure that the model you buy is compatible with your heating system.  Certain types of programmable thermostats are manufactured to function with multiple-stage heat pumps; others are designed to work only with single stage furnaces. If you aren’t certain which programmable thermostat suits for your home, call a professional to help you decide what is best for you. Also consider installing ceiling fans and reversing their direction in the winter to help distribute the warm air.

Further steps

Another cost effective way to maximize your heating system’s output is to get an energy audit.  An energy audit can reveal places that energy is being wasted, which can then be improved. With the government and private industry working together to encourage homeowners to buy green, energy heating sources, newer, simpler heating products and incentives to upgrade may be available, as well.  Your local utility company can assist you to find out what incentives are in place to help you lessen your bill, with small, easy changes or upgrades.

Any upgrade to your heating system, large or small, the Hayden, ID heating specialists at ACI Northwest Inc. can help you with the improvements. Contact ACI Northwest Inc. today!

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Heating Tip: Why an Oversized Furnace Will Not Perform Better

November 19th, 2012

Are you considering a new furnace for your Spokane area home? Call ACI Northwest Inc. to help you select the right size and install it for you. Many contractors will try to sell you an oversized furnace and tell you that it will heat your home better; however, the opposite will occur for many reasons. Not only will you not get better performance, but you could also damage the system or make it less efficient, which means you won’t get the most out of your new investment.

Here are some reasons why an oversized furnace will not perform better than one that is the appropriate size for your home and heating needs.

First, a furnace that produces more BTUs than what you need to heat your home will use up more energy to heat a space that is too small for the output. Secondly, if your ductwork isn’t large enough to deliver the heat with the right amount of airflow, it can set off the limit switch. Constantly tripping the limit switch will needlessly shut down the furnace, and can shorten the life of the system. Lastly, you may need to replace the heat exchanger sooner than is necessary, and this is not a minor cost in the grand scheme of furnace repair or replacement needs.

If you aren’t sure what size furnace you need, call a heating contractor you can trust to help determine how many BTUs you need to properly heat your home. This will depend on the size of your home, where it is located, how much sunlight you get in the winter, and many other factors, including the condition of your ductwork and other components.

The heating experts at ACI Northwest can help you choose the correct size furnace for your heating needs and your particular home. We have many years of experience in this business, and we want to help all of our customers get the best solutions to all their heating needs. Call us any time if you have questions about furnace size and output.

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Efficiently Heating Your Home

November 12th, 2012

If you live in Hayden, your heater may get quite the workout over the year, that means that a dependable home heating system is important. Even if you do not use your heater regularly it is important that you take all the steps you can to heat your home efficiently. It will improve your comfort, reduce heating bills, and is better for the environment. Here are some tips from ACI Northwest on how you can heat your home more efficiently.

To begin with, you should have your heater professionally inspected and maintained before each heating season begins. This is the only way to ensure that your heater is in the condition it needs to be in in order to heat your home efficiently and effectively. Don’t wait for a chilly night to realize that you heater is not up to the task of keeping you warm. Running a damaged or otherwise compromised heater puts your comfort and the integrity of that heater at risk.

You know those ceiling fans that you have running in your home all summer long? Don’t shut them off when the cool weather arrives. Ceiling fans actually have two setting on them, and switching your fans over to the winter setting can help you heat your home more efficiently. Keep the blades spinning clockwise in the cold months to push warm air that has risen to the ceiling back down to the ground. This also helps promote even, comfortable heating throughout your home.

Be sure that you understand how to use your thermostat properly, and then be sure to use it! It is not true that the most efficient way to heat your home is by leaving the thermostat in one place. Using the programmable settings on your thermostat allows you to shape its operation to your particular lifestyle and boosts energy efficiency.

If you follow these simple tips you can start heating your Hayden home in a more affordable, efficient way. Call ACI Northwest to get started today. We have the products and services you need to comfortable all year round.

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Tip: Do You Need Custom Ductwork?

November 5th, 2012

The installation of a new home comfort system, such as a central heating and air conditioning system should not be a stressful experience. Unfortunately, as we all know, things don’t always go according to plan. Some homes may seem like a great candidate for a central heating and cooling system, but as the system is being designed someone realizes that there are spots where standard ductwork simply cannot fit. Don’t let this get you down, though. When you work with the custom ductwork experts at ACI Northwest you’ll find the ductwork solutions you need provided by professional ductwork service providers in the Coeur d’Alene area.

Ductwork generally comes in rectangular and circular shaped pieces. This is not always going to work for every home, though, and in that case you will need to enlist the help of a professional to design and fabricate some custom ductwork for your heating and air conditioning installation project. It is very important that this custom ductwork is provided by a qualified professional. Just because a piece of ductwork is made for you does not mean that it is a quality piece of work.

If you allow an unqualified service provider design your heating and air conditioning ductwork system you may experience any of a number of different issues. Poor ductwork design can lead to inefficient heating and air conditioning performance, resulting in utility bills that are higher than necessary. Your heating and air conditioning system will have to work harder than it should to push the air through the poorly designed or fabricated ductwork system and using more energy than it otherwise would.

While increase operational costs may seem bad enough, this harder work that your system is being forced to do can actually degrade the system over time, making it less and less efficient until it finally is damaged or breaks down altogether. Well designed and fabricated custom ductwork can help you avoid this and other problems.

If you already have existing ductwork in your home keep an eye out for indicators that your ductwork is not working efficiently and effectively. Unusually high heating and air conditioning bills are one warning sign to look out for. Uneven heating and the development of hot or cold spots throughout your home is another. You may want to go around your home and compare the output of different registers. If any seem to be underperforming it is possible that you need some custom ductwork to fix the problem.

For more information about custom ductwork, call the experts at ACI Northwest. We can help you improve the performance of the comfort systems in your Coeur d’Alene home. Let us know what we can do for you.

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Tip: Why Install Outdoor Lighting

October 29th, 2012

If you’re a homeowner in Spokane you’ve probably thought about outdoor lighting for your front or back yard. Even if you don’t have any kind of landscape, like if you live in a condo or apartment, you probably notice if the light in front of your door doesn’t come on when it’s dark. If you’ve never thought about outdoor lighting for your home you should start. There are a number of important benefits that it can have for your property. In this blog post, we’re going to discuss some of the benefits that outdoor lighting can have for your property.

Aesthetics

Whenever they show a spooky old house in horror movies it’s always lit very dimly with only a couple light sources tossing shadows across the yard or the front of the house in a menacing way. You probably don’t want to light your house like that, but it goes to show you how lighting can affect the way that your house is perceived. By strategically placing lights around your yard, trees, bushes, steps or porch, you can create a very specific, attractive and inviting atmosphere.

Curb Appeal

This ties in with aesthetics. One of the easiest ways to set your house apart from your neighbors is with some awesome outdoor lighting. As people come home from work, your house will stand out as a warm and polished home.

Security

We all like to walk down well-lit streets as opposed to a dark alley. Light can be great natural deterrent to crime. When you install lights in your front yard it has the potential to increase the security of your property.

Safety

Have you ever walked up to a house with poor outdoor lighting and hit your head on a branch or tripped over a garden gnome you couldn’t see? That’s not a good first impression. With proper outdoor lighting your guests will be able to see any steps or branches or lawn ornaments that could pose a safety hazard to them in the dark.

Value and Usability

Beautiful outdoor lighting can potentially add value to your house. If you have an outdoor space like a patio, a pool or a built-in barbeque, without proper outdoor lighting those spaces can only be used when there’s light. With outdoor lighting, those spots can be used for dinner parties or evening lounging.

If you’re interested in learning more about outdoor lighting and how it can benefit your property, call the experts at ACI Northwest. We have years of experience providing knowledgeable and trustworthy outdoor lighting services in Spokane.

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Ventilation Tip: How Attic Fans Improve Overall Home Efficiency

October 22nd, 2012

In addition to proper insulation in your attic, there are other improvements you can make. Adding an attic fan can increase ventilation and provide benefits all year long, not just in the summer. While a whole house fan can help to provide ventilation throughout the home, an attic fan may be more appropriate for your situation. Ask your contractor if you aren’t sure.

Call the ventilation experts at ACI Northwest for more information about how to help weatherize your home for year round comfort and efficiency. To get you started, we have included some of the main ways that attic fans can improve overall home efficiency and prevent moisture problems in the home.

Creating more fresh air circulation in your attic not only helps cool the home in the summer, but it can also prevent moisture related damages. In a home that is already well-insulated and has plenty of ventilation, an attic fan will help with overall efficiency by helping to remove the hot air from the attic. In addition to keeping the home cooler in the summer, it removes the heat that rises to the attic in the winter.

You don’t want all the heat in your home trapped in the attic during the winter because it will speed up the snow melting process. If temperatures drop quickly, the snow melt can freeze and create ice dams. Ice dams can cause damage to your roof, and when they start to melt, the water can get under the shingles and into your attic. This can ruin the insulation, wood, and even dry wall and ceilings if the leak is serious enough.

If you aren’t sure whether an attic fan is right for you, call the heating and cooling specialists at ACI Northwest. We can answer all your questions and provide our expert advice.

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Heating FAQ: How Are Furnace BTUs Measured?

October 15th, 2012

One question that we get from customers on a regular basis is how to size a furnace and how BTUs are measured to help determine the right size. Your furnace’s heating capacity is measured by a unit called a “British Thermal Unit” (BTU). A BTU unit is essentially a measurement determined by the amount of heat it would take to heat one pound of water by one degree; therefore, the BTU capacity for a furnace can help determine fuel costs by converting it into cost per 1000 BTUs.

When you are comparing furnace models, you should see a BTU number provided in the general information section. You’ll also see AC capacity measured in BTUs, but there are variations in the calculations according to whether you are purchasing a heating or cooling system.

The type of fuel will have an effect as well. For instance, natural gas is usually metered in CCF (hundreds of cubic feet) of energy consumption, so about one thousand BTUs of natural gas is provided by 1 cubic foot, so when you divide the cost of the fuel by 1000 BTUs of propane heat you can determine how cost-effective it will be to run a furnace on natural gas. Propane would require the same type of formula. Only combustible fuels are measured in BTUs. Determining the cost of an electric furnace will involve other factors.

Here are some additional factors to consider when sizing according to BTU output for a particular furnace model:

  • Location, size, and layout of the home.
  • How well the home is insulated and sealed.
  • The amount of natural light the home gets in the winter.
  • How many rooms require heating.
  • Ventilation and moisture levels.
  • Condition of all other heating components and equipment in the home.

For new home constructions, you’ll need to work with your builder to help determine square footage and the other factors mentioned above before choosing a furnace. Having the right furnace size is vital to maintaining high performance and efficiency levels.

Don’t hesitate to call the Spokane furnace experts at ACI NORTHWEST if you have any questions about selecting the right furnace for your home.

Call ACI Northwest for all your Spokane heating questions and services. Whether you want to know more about sizing a new heating system, or you would like to discuss your options for replacing your furnace, one of our friendly staff members will be glad to help you out.

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FAQ: Why Get a New Heating System in the Fall?

October 8th, 2012

At ACI Northwest, we know that saving money on heating costs in the winter is important to our Coeur d’ Alene customers. That’s why there’s no better time to think about upgrading to a new high-efficiency furnace, heat pump, boiler, or geothermal heat pump system.

Just like having a routine tune-up in the fall, installing a new system helps ensure that you will have an efficient and high performing heating system throughout the entire winter. A new heating system is also less likely to break down on you in the middle of the heating season. Depending on the type of heater you are interested in, fall is a good time to have a heating professional install it due to the weather changes.

For instance, installing a geothermal heating system will require drilling or digging trenches to install the loop fields. If you want a new system before the winter arrives, and you haven’t scheduled an appointment, set up a consultation soon. Doing so will increase the chances that we can install the underground pipes before the ground freezes. In addition, a geothermal heat pump can both heat and cool your home; therefore, in the fall, you won’t necessarily be using either your heat or AC, which means it will not affect your comfort during the installation.

By the same token, installing any type of heat pump system in the fall is a good idea due to less need for heating or air conditioning when the weather is temperate. For furnaces and boilers, you will want to ensure that they are working before you need to turn on your heating system. In addition, you may decide that it’s time to replace your heating system during the annual check-up in the fall. Our technicians will test the efficiency of your current system, and provide a full inspection to help you decide whether or not a replacement is the most cost-effective choice.

Call ACI Northwest if you are considering a new heating system. We can help you with all your Coeur d’ Alene heating needs.

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Heating Question: Can My Generator Power My Heating System in an Outage?

October 1st, 2012

Back-up generators come in many types and sizes. There are many that are perfectly capable of powering a heating system during a power outage, but you’ll need to know how much energy your heating system needs, as well as how much energy you’ll be using for other appliances like your refrigerator, television, lights and microwave.

Calculating Your Wattage Use

You’ll have to check your heating system and other appliances to find out exactly how much energy they each use. But just to get a general idea of what this total will be like, we can use some common numbers from current energy star models. On average, a furnace fan takes 400-600 watts to keep running, a refrigerator uses about 200 watts and a microwave consumes about 1,200 watts when in operation.

These numbers don’t tell the whole story, though, because they don’t take into account the fact that most of these appliances take much more energy to start than they do to keep running. For instance, that same furnace fan requires about 1,600 watts to start and the refrigerator likely needs another 1,600. Of course, you don’t need to turn all of these appliances on at once, so if you’re careful and creative with when and in what order you use them, you can get by with much less available wattage.

Generator Types

Both portable and stationary generators are available in a wide variety of sizes, although stationary systems are generally much more powerful than their portable counterparts. If you plan on powering your home for a long period of time or you have a lot of powerful appliances you want to keep on, a stationary generator may be necessary.

For more information about installing a generator in your home, give ACI Northwest a call!

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Heating Tip: Troubleshooting Boiler Problems

September 24th, 2012

If you have a boiler in your Coeur d’Alene home, whether it’s five years old or thirty-five years old, it’s important that you know how to troubleshoot common problems that might develop. These issues, when they occur persistently can represent a major issue with your system that could lead to extensive repair needs or early replacement. By noticing and responding to potential problems when they first occur, you can take action before the problem worsens.

Here are some common boiler problems and how to respond to them, whether taking action on your own or calling an ACI Northwest heating professional:

*  No Heat – This can be due to a number of problems. Start by checking your circuit breaker panel to see if a breaker is flipped. You should also check the pilot light and igniter to see if it works properly. If these are not problems and your thermostat is working properly, it may be a water or gas issue and you should call a professional.

*  Poor Performance – If your boiler is on a lot more than normal or your home simply isn’t getting comfortable, it can be due to improper water levels or a build up of minerals in the boiler. In either case, you should call a professional for an inspection.

*  Water Leak – If you notice water in or around your boiler, it can be due to a bad pump, valve or pipe connection. If it is a water pipe connection and you can find the source, call a plumber immediately. For any components related to your boiler, call an HVAC technician.

*  Radiators Not Heating – If your radiator is not getting hot, it may be because of trapped air in the line or because of air trapped in your radiator. Open the bleed valve to release excess air and see if it works. If not, it could be a bad zone valve or circulator and additional service may be needed.

The bottom line for most boiler issues is that a seemingly small problem can turn into a much large issue if not dealt with quickly. Follow the tips above and when you’re not sure or if work needs to be done on the actual boiler, call a Coeur d’Alene heating professional right away.

If you have any concerns or would like to schedule a boiler inspection, give ACI Northwest a call today!

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