Proper System Installations

Once you've taken the step to have your heating and/or air conditioning unit replaced, you should be aware of some things that are essential to a proper system installation.  At Environmental Heating & Air, we are meticulous with the following items as they ensure that the customer gets the most from their new equipment.  Whether it's a new furnace, heat pump, or straight a/c, you need to know what should be covered in a professional and correct install.

• Environmental's employees are certified, highly trained professionals that undergo a thorough background-screening process.  This should be true for no matter what company you choose.
• Environmental offers the best products available from industry leading companies like Lennox, Carrier, and York.  Trustworthy companies you can rely on!
• You can be assured that the work of Environmental's technicians meets and exceeds all local safety and building codes.  It's very important that whichever company you choose for your installation, they indeed a legit company.  All proper installs require permits from their respective town or county office, along with that comes an inspection from said town or county office.
• The technicians at Environmental will ensure that the job is completed in a timely manner and that the customer is satisfied with the completion of the work.
• Environmental also offers very affordable finance options to meet your specific needs!
• The labor warranty on system installations from Environmental are 1 year standard, but can be purchased at extra cost for up to 5 years.

I've touched on the major points of any proper installation of a furnace, heat pump, or straight a/c.  Hopefully, this gives you an idea or outline to use when selecting the right company to take care of your new investment.  As always, our phone number is listed below if you have any questions and/or would like to set up an appointment for a FREE estimate on replacing your heating and a/c system.  Thanks for reading!

-Nickadeemus
www.enviro-nc.com
919-535-8422

Holidays Thank You Sale

We've had a great year here at Environmental Heating & Air of NC, and we want to send out a big THANK YOU to all of our customers who helped make that possible!  It's been a great pleasure serving the Triangle area for over 5 years now, your comfort has always been our top priority!

We wanted to thank you by offering drastically reduced prices on some of our services and common parts that you use most.  From filters all the way up to full system installations, there's something for everyone!  Here are just a few items we have on our year end appreciation sale:

• $100 off coupons for system installations
• $10 off Preventative Maintenance contracts
• $25 off Whole House filter system installations
• $30 off Air Knight and Air Oasis air purification systems
•  special reduced pricing on all air filters(various sizes and pricing)

 *prices valid only for month of December 2012

Other items are also on special, but there's too many to list on this blog!  Again, we really appreciate our customers' business and loyalty.  Please give us a call or email us to hear about more of our specials and ways we can make your home more comfortable.  You can also email questions and request brochures at sales@enviro-nc.com or nick@enviro-nc.com.  Thanks for reading and thanks for choosing Environmental Heating & Air, Happy Holidays!!

-Nickadeemus
Environmental Heating & Air of NC, Inc.
919-535-8422

Is Your Furnace Safe?

Every year it's a good idea to remind yourself about the dangers of Carbon Monoxide poisoning that could come from your furnace if not properly maintained. I bring this up every heating season here on the blog to help remind people to change the batteries in their CO detectors(if necessary) and have a professional inspect and maintain their furnace every year.

If you have a furnace in your home and it's more than a few years old, you should have a trained certified professional inspect it and provide you with an overall assessment of your heat exchanger and burners.  When a crack in a heat exchanger is found by a technician, he/she will inform you of this find and advise you what to do.

There is only really two possible options after a crack is found, 1) replace the heat exchanger, or 2) replace the entire furnace.  Depending on how old the furnace is will determine the wisest path to take.  Most major brands of furnaces have 10 year heat exchanger warranties, in which case you will only be charged labor by the company you use to replace it.  At Environmental, we always work with the customer to figure out the most sensible option based on your financial situation by offering unbeatable financing options.

Remember, a cracked heat exchanger and/or deteriorating burners are a recipe for disaster!  Carbon Monoxide is very dangerous and at the very least you should have one CO detector present per floor.  Signing up for a Preventative Maintenance Plan will catch these dangers early and also prevent them from happening in the first place, thus extending the life of your system.  Just give us a call and we would be glad to answer your questions and get you signed up today!

-Nickadeemus
www.enviro-nc.com
919-535-8422

Furnace Efficiency

With the heating season right around the corner, I figured this would be the ideal time to discuss furnace efficiency and it's impact on the environment and your wallet.  Heating is often the largest energy expense in most homes, accounting for roughly 35-50% of annual energy bills.  Especially in colder parts of the country.  Reducing your heating energy use is the single most effective way to save money and reduce your home's impact on the environment.

If your furnace is older than 20 years, it would be a wise investment to replace it with a high efficiency model with the guidance of a qualified, experienced contractor like Environmental Heating & Air.  The proper method to replacing your furnace involves setting up an appointment with said contractor, where they can come in and analyze your home and can give you a personalized report on which furnace models would be most beneficial for your needs.  The best way to do this is to go with a company that offers free estimates on replacing your heating system(like Environmental).

The best models to go with are Energy Star qualified.  The efficiency of new furnaces is measured by the annual fuel utilization efficiency(AFUE), which is a measure of seasonal performance.  Furnaces today are rated between 80% AFUE and 98% AFUE.  Above 90% AFUE, a unit is considered to be "condensing", which means it recaptures some of the heat that would be wasted in traditional systems by condensing the escaping water vapor.  80-89% AFUE furnaces are still good furnaces, they are much better and more efficient than older style furnaces and are somewhat more affordable than the 90-98% high efficiency furnaces.  However, the 80-89% furnaces do not qualify for Energy Star programs.  At Environmental, we offer great financing on all of the furnaces and systems we sell.  Which in turn can make the 90-98% Energy Star rated furnaces much more affordable.  Just give us a call or your trusted heating and air company in your area a call and take advantage of the great costs and efficiencies before the actual cold season gets here.  You will be amazed at the results you see in the form of energy savings!

-Nickadeemus
Environmental Heating & Air of NC, Inc.
919-535-8422

Fall / Winter Preparations

It's already that time of year again, well almost that time, to start preparing your home for the cold months coming up not too far in our future.  Trust me, you will thank yourself time and time again when you prepare your heating and air conditioning system for the upcoming season, whether it be hot or cold.  It never fails, the one time you don't prepare your system will be the time it decides to quit on you either on the coldest of nights in the winter or the hottest of days in the summer.  So here are some simple steps you can take to make sure you and your system are ready:

• It's always a great idea to switch over your thermostat from air conditioning mode to heat mode on one of these cooler nights in the next month or so, and make sure that your heat works and functions properly.  If it doesn't, then you'll be able to have it fixed and working right before it actually gets cold outside.
• As mentioned in a previous post, remember to check your air filter(s) and change it if necessary.  The cleaner the filter the less work your system will have to do, thus getting peak efficiency from your system!
• Get a carbon monoxide detector!  Even if you have a fairly new system it never hurts to have one, they are pretty cheap these days and it's a small price to pay to protect you and your family's lives!
• This one may sound a bit ridiculous but nonetheless important, make sure all vents are opened and unblocked by furniture or other items. This will ensure that the air is evenly distributed through the home.
• When it does actually start getting cold and you've got your heat running, try reversing the switch on your ceiling fans so they blow upward. This is especially valuable in high ceiling rooms where heat that naturally rises is forced back down into the room.
• If your heating system is old, you might consider updating it. A pre-1977 gas furnace is probably 50 to 60 percent efficient today.  Modern gas furnaces, on the other hand, achieve efficiency ratings as high as 98 +/- .04 percent!  Replacing an old heating system can cut your natural gas use nearly in half! 
• Some people that have straight air conditioners choose to put a cover over them during the winter months while they aren't being used to help protect them from the elements.  Great idea!

Hopefully these tips will help you get prepared.  If you already have a preparation plan, good for you and maybe this blog can serve as a reminder.  Until next time....

- Nickadeemus
Environmental Heating & Air of NC
919-535-8422

Critical Plumbing Inspection

Believe it or not, you can save yourself some big $$ by staying ahead of the game on your home's plumbing repairs by getting what's called a "whole house plumbing inspection."  Just like with your heating and air system, or anything you own that mechanically operates really, being proactive can greatly extend service life and cut way down on repair costs.  The plumbing service here at Environmental offers a fantastic deal on a whole house plumbing inspection which includes:

• water pressure check;  excessive water pressure is dangerous to your pipes and fixtures, anything over 80 is considered excessive and is required by code to have a pressure reducing valve installed.
• fully inspect water heater(s) for rust and leaks.  Even the smallest of leaks can rust out a water heater in not much time!
• fully inspect thermal expansion tank.  Faulty thermal expansion tanks can cause catastrophic water heater damage!
• fully inspect all fixtures and piping for leaks and wear.  Future plumbing emergencies can often be discovered and averted with these proactive inspections, saving you money and headaches!

Not to mention, if you sign up for the inspection you will receive a 1 year 10% discount if you should have to call us out for any plumbing related issues!  Just give us a call and we will set you right up with an appointment to help ease your mind at being a homeowner.

-Nickadeemus
www.enviro-nc.com
919-535-8422

Record Heat Wave

I know I've touched on this in a previous blog, but with the triple digit temperatures today and for the rest of the weekend I feel this needs to be reiterated. If you are on a maintenance plan then you are already a step ahead and good for you. If not, then cross your fingers your a/c doesn't go out! Here are just a few things you can do around the house to make sure you get the most from your a/c this summer:

• change your air filter(s) every 30 to 90 days. Depending on how quickly your filter(s) get dirty
• keep shades, blinds, windows closed to keep out sunlight as much as possible during the day when you aren't home
• have a Preventative Maintenance Plan with a licensed, fully certified hvac company like Environmental
• keep all bushes, grass, and other debris clear from around your a/c unit outside.  a 2 foot minimum clearance is best
• take a quick look at your ductwork.  if it looks old and/or appears to be falling apart, have a professional take a look at it.  you would be AMAZED how much efficiency is lost because of loose and/or deteriorated ductwork

These are some of the major points that you at home can take care of in just a short amount of time. If taken care of, these things can help ensure you stay cool in the hottest of weather and achieve the longest life possible from your a/c and heating system without getting HUGE electric bills.  If you have any questions at all or would like to sign up for Environmental's Preventative Maintenance Plan, just give us a call at the number below or visit our website, thanks for reading and stay cool folks!

-Nickadeemus
919-535-8422
www.enviro-nc.com