Amish Miracle Heater?

High heat bills are something everyone hates. Well Sears has picked up a new product manufactured by a company called Heat Surge, it is apparently hand built by Amish folks using real wood, not particle board, right here in the U.S.A., as they claim. It is advertised as using "Hybrid-Thermic" heat technology, which I have yet to actually read a description of what that means. It's completely electric, just plug it in and you can run it for a full 12 hour day or night for just about a buck. Again, this is what Heat Surge claims, not us here at Environmental.

It measures in at just 25" tall, 18" wide, and 12" deep, which is not that big at all.  It claims to have the ambiance of a real fireplace, but it has no real flames and is supposed to be completely safe to the touch. They boast an overwhelming Consumer 'Best Buy'.  Although upon looking up overall reviews on the internet, it averages anywhere from mixed to positive.  I just thought that this was an interesting new product to inform people about, in no way was this meant to be an endorsement by Environmental Heating & Air.  If you have purchased one or know someone who has purchased one, we would love to hear your input and/or reviews.  Just comment below, thank you!

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

Great Time To Buy

At certain times of the year, the price of purchasing a new heating and air conditioning unit is at it's absolute lowest.  Those times take place most often at the end of the year and also when supply/demand dictates.  For example, right now!  It has been unseasonably warm this winter and in an effort to keep products moving along, manufacturers are forced to lower their prices on new systems.  Which in turn is very beneficial to the customer, that kinda goes without saying.

Not only during these times does the cost of a new system go down, but also the interest rate that goes along with financing that new system!  It's a well known fact that the economy is bad right now and couple that with the above mentioned weather, and you've got yourself a perfect time to purchase that new system that you've had in the back of your mind that you know will need purchasing soon.  So I'm just trying to help you folks out by filling you in on the best times of the year to get that new system!  Trust me, you don't want to wait until the weather changes and demand goes back up, because so will the prices and interest rates!  At Environmental, we offer free quotes on system replacements with no pressure or hassle.  Our quotes are good for 30 days, so if you're even thinking you might need a new system before too long, strike now while the iron is hot!  Give us a call!

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

Revolutionary Duct Cleaning

 
Duct cleaning is a very important part of the heating and air system(s) in your home, and it's an area that up until this point we here at Environmental had not branched into yet.  Well we are pleased to announce that we will now be accepting appointments to have the ducts in your home cleaned with a revolutionary, top of the line duct cleaning system!

Using the RamAir Clearview Duct Cleaning System, getting ducts the cleanest they have ever been is now easier than ever before!  The RamAir System harnesses the powerful 1,500-2,500 CFM generated by the furnace/AC fan in order to provide the “Push” necessary for the traditional “Push-Pull” method of cleaning ducts.  The agitation is provided by a “Skipper ball,” which blasts the debris from the duct walls, and due to it’s 45 degree angle design, helps propel the dust and debris toward the duct opening. At the opening, the clear vacuum box is illuminated by twelve white LED lights which provide an impressive visual of the debris as it is removed from the system by the vacuum unit.  The result is the most effective, most cost efficient, visually impressive system ever designed for the duct cleaning industry!

It's obvious how important air quality is to our everyday health, you wouldn’t accept working in an office full of car fumes, or going to a cinema full of cigarette smoke!  Everyone can testify to the benefit of climbing a large hill or mountain and the effect the clean air has on our well being.  However, daily we sit in work places and homes ventilated by forced air systems which can become clogged with mold or bacteria spores.  This is the routine air we breathe on a daily basis.  So we hope you will take into consideration the importance of getting your ducts cleaned, yet another service Environmental Heating & Air PLUS Plumbing is proud to take on to make things better and easier for our valued customers!

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

What To Do About R-22

For more than four decades R-22 has been the refrigerant of choice by all the major heating and air companies in the U.S.A.  But with the discovery of the harmful effects of this refrigerant on our environment coupled with the implementation of  the Clean Air Act, the heating and air industry has been going through some major changes.  Most recently being this weeks announcement that the price of R-22 has skyrocketed.

What this means for the customer is that they should hope that their R-22 system doesn't start leaking any time soon!  One important thing a homeowner can do for the environment, regardless of the refrigerant used, is to select a reputable dealer that employs technicians who are EPA certified and are skilled in the handling and reclaiming of refrigerants.  Here at Environmental, all of our technicians are EPA certified at the very minimum.  A homeowner should start planning for the future by getting a quote on what it would cost to replace their current R-22 heating and air system with a new more environmentally friendly R-410A system.  All air conditioning units produced after December 31st, 2010 come factory charged with R-410A refrigerant instead of R-22.  The somewhat new R-410A refrigerant is much cleaner and runs at a much higher pressure than R-22, unfortunately making it impossible for the two refrigerants to be interchangeable.  R-22 is only going to become increasingly more expensive due to the cutbacks in production and eventual complete production stoppage by January1st, 2020.

If you would like to read more into this subject, check out this great article by the EPA @ http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/22phaseout.html.  If you would be interested in getting a quote on a new system or if you have any additional questions, please feel free to give us a call at the number below.  Hope this info helps you out and as always, thanks for checking out the blog!

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

R-22 Refrigerant Breaking News

  
Hot off the news wire this morning, Monday, January 23rd 2012, is the price of R-22 refrigerant will be going up effective immediately!  In what is an apparent shortage in production and importing, the national cost of R-22 refrigerant has skyrocketed in the last couple of days.  Another reason to think about making the switch from an R-22 system to the more environmentally friendly R-410A system.  The phaseout schedule for R-22 seems to be getting shorter and shorter, which is only going to cause the price of R-22 to keep rising.  FYI, I have copied some of the article from Air Conditioning/Heating/Refrigeration News into this blog.  If you would like to read more into this, here is the link:  http://www.achrnews.com/articles/jan-23-2012-r22-supplies-in-question

"WASHINGTON — Production and importation of HCFC refrigerants including R-22 have been on hold since the first of the year while the industry waits for an official go-ahead from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
As of Jan. 20, the approval has not been issued although most experts in the industry expect that it is imminent. They indicated that will come in the form of a ‘non-enforcement’ letter. That means production and importation can resume without fear of enforcement action even though the issue of how much HCFC can be produced remains a bit muddled.
Complicating the issue is an EPA proposed rule issued on Dec. 30, 2011, titled HCFC-22 Production and Consumption Allocation Rights, which could speed up the phase down of HCFC production creating shortfalls earlier than had been anticipated.
On Jan. 1, 2010, a mandated reduction in the manufacturing of virgin R-22 went from 65 percent of the 1999 baseline year to 25 percent. A gradual yearly phase down was expected to continue until the spigot was totally shut off in 2030.
That ruling allocated 90 million pounds of R-22 for 2012. In this latest proposed rule, the EPA may reduce the quantity available for production and import in 2012 to as low as 55 million pounds.
The EPA is accepting comments on the proposal until Feb. 3, but may not issue a final ruling until summer.
Even when production and importation resumes, manufacturers may be more cautious in how much HCFC comes into the distribution channels while awaiting final numbers from EPA."
Publication date: 01/23/2012

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

Enviro Retail

We have started a new website here at Environmental with an emphasis on providing the customer with a simple, easy to use online store with the most common items related to their heating and air systems.  For example: air filters(any size), thermostats, UVC lights/replacement bulbs and various solar hvac products.  Our prices can compete with and beat all the big boxes!  We wanted to design a system with convenience in mind where customers can simply make their selection(s) and "add to cart" and pay for their purchase(s) right online!  Then if you want, we can have the item(s) shipped directly to your residence or if you prefer we can have them ready for you here at the office available for pick up whenever is convenient for you, M - F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Also, we have a section of the website where customers are able to sign up for Preventative Maintenance.  It's very simple, just "add to cart" like you would any other product and we will give you a call and get you scheduled up!  We also have a deal where if you purchase one of the thermostats off the website, we will send one of our certified technicians out to install your purchased thermostat for only $50*!  At Environmental, we are always coming up with new ways to make things easier and less expensive for you, the customer.  So please, have a look at our new retail site and decide for yourself!

http://enviro-nc-retail.com/

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

Loud Noise From Your Heat Pump

We get calls from customers often during the winter months asking why their heat pump is suddenly running really loudly.  What most people don't know or maybe forget, is that heat pumps come equipped with a defrost cycle that is designed to remove frost from the coil.

When a heat pump is operating in the heating mode or heat cycle, the outdoor air is relatively cool and the outdoor coil acts as an evaporator.  Under certain conditions of temperature and relative humidity, frost might form on the surface of the outdoor coil.  The layer of frost will interfere with the operation of the heat pump by making the pump work harder and, therefore, inefficiently.  The frost must be removed.  A heat pump has a cycle called a defrost cycle, which removes the frost from the outdoor coil.  A heat pump unit will defrost regularly when frost conditions occur.  The defrost cycle should be long enough to melt the ice, and short enough to be energy-efficient.  In the defrost cycle, the heat pump is automatically operated in reverse, for a moment, in the cooling cycle.  This action temporarily warms up the outdoor coil and melts the frost from the coil.  In this defrost cycle, the outdoor fan is prevented from turning on when the heat pump switches over, and the temperature rise of the outdoor coil is accelerated and increased.  The heat pump will operate in the defrost cycle until the outdoor coil temperature reaches around 57° F.  The time it takes to melt and remove accumulated frost from an outdoor coil will vary, depending on the amount of frost and the internal timing device of the system.

So next time when it gets really cold outside and you hear your heat pump sounding louder than usual, odds are it's just going into defrost mode.  Hopefully this will give you some insight into the workings of your heat pump and maybe save you some money so you won't have to pay a service technician to come out and tell you that your heat pump is fine and is just going into defrost mode.  Environmental wishes you all a happy holidays!


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