ACI Northwest Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Hayden’

How Can Geothermal Improve My Heating System?

Monday, February 17th, 2014

If you’ve heard of geothermal heating, you might think that it’s out of your reach as an option for your home. But there’s a good chance that your house is in an ideal location for geothermal installation, and in the hands of trained technicians the process is not burdensome all. It’s definitely an alternative to consider if you want to upgrade to a new heating system.

And make no mistake, geothermal heating can be a major improvement over your current heater. If you already have a heat pump, a geothermal model will offer some impressive benefits. The benefits are ever greater if you plan to switch from a standard furnace.

Here are some way geothermal can improve your heating system in Hayden, ID. Call our geothermal experts at ACI Northwest to learn more.

Geothermal offers reliable heating

Standard air-source heat pumps can have trouble returning high levels of warmth when the temperature drops too far and extracting heat from the outside air becomes difficult. But a geothermal heat pump (a ground-source heat pump) uses the stable temperature of the earth so it never will encounter an outdoor temperature too cold for it.

Geothermal reduces energy bills

There are few heating systems available today that run with such high energy efficiency as geothermal ones. Although some homeowners shy away from the cost of installation, the U.S. EPA has found that most geothermal systems will pay for themselves with energy savings in 5–10 years… and they will last much longer than that.

Geothermal helps the environment

Where furnaces produce a large amount of exhaust and emissions, a geothermal heat pump produces almost none at all. If you want to “go green” with your home, a geothermal system is one of the best ways to achieve it.

Geothermal is quiet

Since much of the work in geothermal systems occurs underground, they run with almost no noise pollution.

Geothermal is safe

Going hand-in-hand in the lower emissions, geothermal systems pose almost no safety risks due to burning fuel or potential fire hazards.

There are a few drawbacks to geothermal systems, and the main one is that they will not work with every property. If you are interested in having a geothermal heat pump installed for your heating in Hayden, ID, you should contact specialists and have them look over your home and property to determine if geothermal is the ideal choice. You should also have these specialists handle the installation if you do decide on geothermal; trust us, this is an immense task, and you’ll be glad to have experts handling it.

Contact ACI Northwest today, and we’ll find out what kind of geothermal system will benefit you, and will make sure you have a great installation.

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Should My Boiler Have Rust on It?

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Boilers are systems where water is in constant contact with metal. Usually, this mean that rust developing is inevitable. So if rust appears on a boiler, that’s just a natural process, right?

No, it isn’t… your boiler shouldn’t have any rust on it, as we’ll explain. If you do notice rust along parts of your boiler, you need to have professional boiler repair technicians examine it and find out what needs to be done. For excellent heating repair services in Hayden, ID, call ACI Northwest.

Rust and your boiler

Boilers have safety devices installed to prevent rust. The most important is an anode rod at the top of the tank, which is sometimes called a “sacrificial rod” because its job is to rust away first before the rust can enter into the boiler tank—hence, sacrificing itself. If the anode rod rusts completely, which it eventually will, then rust will start to afflict the rest of the boiler. This is a reason why you need to enroll in regular maintenance; technicians will routinely replace the anode rod before it stops functioning.

So why is rust such a problem for a boiler? The first reason is that rust weakens metal. Any corrosion that affects metal will start to break it apart until it flakes and crumbles away. Weakened metal in the boiler tank will mean leaks; the pressure inside the tank will start breaking through the rusted sections. The rust will start affecting the connectors to the tank and cause leaks to start there as well. If the spread of the rust isn’t stopped, the whole boiler tank may need to be replaced because of leaking that can’t be repaired.

Another problem that rust causes boilers is that it imbalances the temperature inside the tank. Rust is an insulator, and if it starts to enter the inside of the tank, it will trap additional heat, causing the boiler to overheat. Overheating will trigger numerous problems throughout the boiler, including creating more leaks.

If caught soon enough, rust can usually be removed with professional attention. The boiler repair technicians will also track down the reason the rust started so they can stop it from returning. Rust will spread if left alone, so act immediately when you notice any corrosion on your boiler tank or other part of your heating system. The technicians at ACI Northwest are NATE-certified and have the proper training to take care of your heating repair in Hayden, ID so you’ll have a healthy boiler once more.

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Can Hard Water Affect My Boiler?

Monday, November 11th, 2013

Hard water refers to water than contains high amounts of minerals, usually calcium and magnesium. Here in Hayden, ID, our water treatment system is very good, but it still lets traces of hard water through sometimes. If you live outside the city proper or get your water from a private source, the chances of hard water increase considerably. That can affect more than just your drinking water, to the point of interfering with certain appliances in the house. The boiler you use to heat your home, in particular, can be vulnerable. “Can hard water affect my boiler?” you ask. The short answer is “absolutely.”

Most boiler water needs to be filtered before it can be used, and boiler feedwater requires different characteristics than potable drinking water. That’s a fancy way of saying that hard water isn’t something to just casually dismiss when it comes to your boiler. The mineral deposits in the water will coalesce on the interior surface of the boiler, causing scaling and build up throughout your heating system. That results in innumerable problems. The boiler could suffer from corrosion on the sides. The build-up could interfere with flow through the pipes, retarding the heating process considerably. In some cases, it can also serve as unwanted insulation against the heating, forcing your boiler to work harder in order to heat the water to the temperature it needs to be.

You can prevent this by ensuring that the water you use has been purified and adheres to the standards your boiler requires. You can contact a trained technician to deal with any existing deposits and to help ensure that no hard water is used in your system. At ACI Northwest, we can remove the deposits created by hard water and ensure that the problem doesn’t recur in the future.  Our service area includes Hayden, ID, heating repair is a specialty of ours, and we conduct all our operations with your complete satisfaction in mind. If you’re asking “can hard water affect my boiler?” give our Hayden, ID heating repair technicians call to set up an appointment today. You’ll be glad that you did.

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Common Electrical Problems with Your Heater

Monday, November 4th, 2013

Although contemporary homes can depend on a variety of energy sources—natural gas, propane, and geothermal—electricity is an essential you’ll find almost everywhere. Because of electricity’s importance in running your home, it will probably have some connection to your heater, even if it is only to power the thermostat. Heaters can develop a number of problems due to electrical failures, most of which will require the work of a trained HVAC technician to repair.

Here are some common electrical problems your heater may encounter. If you need help with repairs for your heating in Hayden, ID, make sure you call professionals; don’t try to do the work yourself or rely on a friend or relative with some basic knowledge of electricity. Contact experts like those at ACI Northwest. We are on-call to assist you, 24 hours a day.

Common electrical problems in heaters

Failed heating elements: This applies to electrical furnaces and boilers, both of which use heating elements—sets of coils that burn hot as current passes through them—to raise the temperature of air (furnaces) or water (boilers). They can fail like any electrical system, which will reduce your heating ability. Furnaces and boilers contain more than one heating element, so if one fails you probably won’t lose your heat entirely, but the heater will no longer be able to match its target temperature. Have an HVAC expert open up your heater, removed the failed element, and replace it.

Capacitor issues: If you have a heat pump, this is the most common electrical trouble you may encounter. Capacitors are cylindrical devices about the size of soda cans that are responsible for sending electrical charges to the motors to start and keep them running. Capacitors can burn out or suffer from wiring problems, and this will cause the heat pump to “hard start” (draining power) or quit operating entirely. A technician will have to replace the damaged capacitors.

Thermostat wiring problems: Even if your heating system runs off natural gas, oil, propane, or geothermal power, it almost certainly has an electrical thermostat controlling it. Thermostats with faulty wiring will start to malfunction, often incorrectly registering your home’s temperature or failing to accurately set the heater. If you notice your heater is unable to reach its target temperature despite showing no other signs of malfunctioning, thermostat may be to blame.

Electrical problems pose a serious danger to anyone who works with them and lacks experience. Avoid the risk of a high voltage shock, or causing additional electrical problems through haphazard tinkering. Get the job done safely and correctly with a professional Hayden, ID heating technician. ACI Northwest will deliver the service you need to solve your heating problems in Hayden, ID —electrical or any other type.

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Benefits of Furnace Maintenance

Tuesday, October 15th, 2013

Hayden is one of the most beautiful locations in Idaho. However, this far north in the state, Hayden can get deep cold spells, with average winter temperatures in the 20s. You need a powerful and reliable heater, like a furnace. working for you all through these months, because an unexpected breakdown can mean some unpleasant days.

Don’t jeopardize your home heating. The best way to fend off serious trouble with your furnace is to get a regular check-up and tune-up from a Hayden, ID heating maintenance professional. At ACI Northwest, we advise our clients to arrange for annual maintenance on their heater during the fall, when our technicians have less crowded schedules before the deep cold strikes.

Avoiding repairs and a breakdown are only two of the benefits you get from regular furnace maintenance. Here are three others to consider:

Increased lifespan: Machines wear down and eventually stop working—it’s unavoidable. What you can avoid, however, is having them wear down and stop working before their time. Because furnaces contain many moving parts, they are susceptible to wear and tear if not serviced at least once a year so the components can be cleaned or replaced. That one annual visit can add years onto the life of your furnace.

Increased efficiency: When a technician comes to your home to perform a regular maintenance visit, your furnace will receive tests to see that it is drawing enough air and producing the level of heat it should. A buildup of dirt and a clogged air filter can severely cut back on your furnace’s efficiency, which will result in poor heat levels, higher power bills, and probably both. Maintenance will give you better comfort in your home and a break on your bills.

Safety: Contemporary furnace manufacturers build their products with customer safety in mind, so under most circumstances furnaces do not present fire or gas leak hazards. However, if poorly maintained, the possibility of danger increases—especially with a gas-powered furnace. An important step that a technician always takes when examining a furnace is to see if it will operate safely: electrical connections secure, gas burners clean, no evident leaks. Getting maintenance on your furnace is an investment in your family’s safety.

We hope you see that maintenance is vital for getting the best heating in Hayden, ID that you can. At ACI Northwest, we want you to have a pleasant winter in this picturesque part of the state, and our maintenance plans can help you. We offer Premium Agreement and Plus Agreement packages to suit your budget. Contact us today before the temperature starts dropping.

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What You Should Know about Commercial Air Conditioning

Wednesday, July 10th, 2013

Is your business or commercial property heating up this summer? Is the indoor climate uncomfortable for your tenants and employees, not to mention your clients? You need to make sure that you have a cooling system that matches your needs so that your commercial property or business does not suffer unnecessarily during the hottest time of the year. Whether you’re in the market for a new system, a replacement for your old one, there are some things you should know about commercial air conditioning in Hayden, ID. As a leaking provider of cooling solutions in your service area, the team at ACI Northwest can help you with your commercial AC. Call us today to find out more about our services.

  • Size. Commercial AC units are built for durability and performance, and the most obvious way they are able to accommodate larger spaces is to increase the footprint of the machine itself. Bigger coils, bigger compressor, and more ductwork.
  • Packaged. When you own a commercial air conditioner, it’s the workhorse of your building or business. You need to ensure that it operates effectively at all times, but is also accessible for routine maintenance and periodic repair needs. A packaged system groups both parts of a split system together to cut down on service time.
  • Operation. Commercial air conditioners endure much more wear and tear than your average residential system. They are not only larger to accommodate a more intense schedule of cooling output, but they may also require professional attention on a more regular basis to keep them clean and well adjusted.
  • Repair. You need to make sure you have an excellent, reliable repair technician on call who can take care of your commercial AC problems, should they arise. Keep his number close to hand during the summer months.
  • Maintenance. Because of how much use and abuse they endure day-in and day-out, it’s no wonder that they may develop problems. However, with routine professional maintenance, you can significantly reduce any such issues.

ACI Northwest is the Hayden, ID air conditioning company to take care of all of your commercial HVAC needs. Call us today to learn more about what we can do for your commercial air conditioning.

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Common Air Conditioning Electrical Problems

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

Does your AC fail to start up on cue? Do you find that your AC works only intermittently? If you have a problem with your air conditioner’s electrical system, the result can be a serious lack of cooling as well as high energy bills. It’s important that you take care of any such problems immediately so that they do not continue to disrupt your home comfort. Moreover, neglecting them can allow them to fester and can result in major repairs. There are some common air conditioning electrical problems worth keeping an eye out for. Call ACI Northwest today if you suspect that you might need professional air conditioning services in Hayden, ID.

  • AC won’t turn on. This can be truly disconcerting if it happens to you during the peak summer heat. There are numerous reasons why your AC fails to start, but it could be electrical. Before calling for professional help. Make sure to check your circuit breaker or fuse box to see if your AC hasn’t tripped a circuit or blown a fuse. Alternatively, make sure that your thermostat is working properly and calling for cool air.
  • AC won’t turn off. While you may never want your AC to turn off during the cooling season, it should by no means run continuously without stopping. If your AC fails to turn off even though it has apparently reached the designed temperature setpoint, then there could be a problem with the control board, or the thermostat. This may be driving up your energy costs and can cause your compressor to overheat.
  • Intermittent start-up. If it seems as though your AC lacks the reliability and consistency of starting up every time you need it to, there could be a problem with the capacitor. This small device is responsible for making sure that your AC has enough voltage to power up immediately, without hesitation. But if it is beginning to fail, then you may have intermittent start-up.

Get in touch with a friendly Hayden, ID air conditioning specialist at ACI Northwest immediately if you think your AC has an electrical problem. Call us today.

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Electrical Tip: Benefits of Whole Home Surge Protection

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

We rely on electricity now more than ever before. We need it to eat fresh food, to listen to music, to watch our favorite movies, to check our email, and to keep ourselves clean. While mostly invisible and hidden within our walls, our electrical system is increasingly important to our well-being and the comfort of our home. It’s no wonder, then, that many homeowners are looking to protect their appliances and electronic equipment with whole home surge protection. While small portable strips come in handy sometimes, they do little to protect the whole home. In this post, we’d like to share with you some benefits of whole home surge protection. For more information, or to schedule Hayden, ID electrical services, call ACI Northwest today!

  • Comprehensiveness. Because the whole home surge protection device is installed at the electrical panel, it protects not just one receptacle, or even one room, but every receptacle and wired appliance in the home. This gives it a comprehensiveness unmatched by any portable unit. While many of us use portable units to protect our computers or expensive stereo equipment from surges causes by storms or circuit imbalances within our home, only comprehensive whole home surge protection covers appliances that are directly wired and do not use standard receptacles, such as central air or a furnace.
  • Improved protection. Small power stripes cannot match the surge protection of a whole home system. Most surge damage comes not from catastrophic lightning damage close to the home, but from the slow deterioration of sensitive electronic equipment by small surges within the circuit of the home. When you use a high-powered appliance in one room, your stereo in another may be at risk of a surge, depending on the layout of your home, and the condition of the electrical system.
  • Convenience. Imagine having to use a portable surge protector on every single electrical receptacle in the home. Not only would it be tedious to ensure that every single one was working properly at all times, but it still would not provide your wired appliances with enough protection. The fact is that whole home surge protection is incredibly convenient. It allows you to feel good about plugging directly into your wall receptacles without having to deal with lots of visible and entangled wiring.

Contact ACI Northwest today to learn more about Hayden, ID electrical services, such as whole home surge protection.

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Heating FAQ: What Do I Get with an HVAC Maintenance Plan at ACI?

Monday, March 11th, 2013

At ACI Northwest, we offer Hayden ID heating and air conditioning maintenance services and maintenance plans to ensure that you get all of your new and existing equipment needs met. This week, we’ve included a rundown of all the benefits of our service plan.

New Equipment

For new heating and cooling equipment you get the following:

  • Free home comfort and energy savings analysis
  • Complete home heat loss & heat gain worksheet to ensure proper sizing of equipment
  • Multiple options to fit the needs of both the home and customer
  • On the spot financing with multiple payment options
  •  All rebate paperwork completed by sales staff to ensure maximum dollar amounts.

For repairs you get, 24/7 Emergency service on all heating, air conditioning and heat pump systems, in addition to discounts for seniors and active and retired members of the military. Repairs for tank and tankless water heaters are also covered and you get a one year warranty on all repairs, labor and parts.

Premium Agreement Benefits

  • 20% discount on repairs and priority service
  • No overtime fees and 24/7 service
  • One year guarantee on repairs and transferable agreement
  • Two scheduled tune-ups per year and inflation protection
  • $50 towards a new unit per year of agreement

Maintenance helps to maintain efficiency for heat pumps and other air conditioning systems. No matter what type of heating and air conditioning system you have, keep in mind that a clean system is an efficient one. As a homeowner, you should change air filters, vacuum out vents, clean off coils, and make sure nothing is blocking the airflow to the outdoor unit. Call Hayden ID heating experts if you aren’t sure how to properly clean your air conditioning system.

We also offer commercial maintenance services, and our Hayden ID heating technicians are on call 24/7 for any emergency heating repairs. Call ACI Northwest if you have questions or would like more information about the maintenance plans or heating repair services that we offer in Hayden, ID.

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Recognizing the Need for a Boiler Repair

Monday, February 18th, 2013

ACI Northwest Inc. offers boiler repair services in Hayden, ID and the surrounding areas, so don’t hesitate to call us if you need an urgent repair. We will send one of our Hayden ID heating technicians to your home to pinpoint the issue and take care of it. If you aren’t sure whether or not you need a repair for your boiler, you can always call for advice or tips. Here are some signs that you might need a repair service.

If your boiler simply isn’t providing enough heat for your home, there could be a few causes for this. First, make sure your thermostat is on the right settings. If it isn’t the thermostat, it could be the water level inside the boiler tank. When the levels are not correct, there’s less hot water to send to the radiators in your hydronic heating system. Sediment build-up or a broken pressure valve are two common causes of improper hot water levels, so you should call a heating repair technician if the problem persists.

Be sure that you know how to read the pressure gauge, and if it is off, one of our heating technicians will need to take a look and mostly likely flush out the boiler to remedy the issue. If you notice water leaking from the tank, this could be another cause of improper pressure levels and reduced heat.

Like hot water heaters, some boilers need a little recovery time after an extended period of high output, If your boiler takes longer to produce more heat, there could be an issue with the expansion tank, or it could be a warning sign of the system wearing down. Don’t wait until your boiler breaks down, call ACI Northwest as soon as you notice any problems. We offer Hayden boiler repair services that you can rely on.

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