Green Home Improvement and Heating Air Conditioning Articles from Ameri-Serv, Inc.

Homeowners can prevent Air Conditioning System Failures

2011-08-05T19:22:00.001-07:00

The best insurance against a broken air conditioning system is regular maintenance and while many of the parts in your air conditioning system are technical there are some things that a homeowner can do to make sure that they stay cool all summer long.

1. Make sure to clear the area around the condenser, the condenser is the outdoor unit and it circulates air through itself by pulling air through the coil and blowing out the top. Bushes and any other obstructions must be kept clear of the condenser so that the air can flow properly.

2. The coil in the condenser also must be kept clean, occasionally rinse the coil with the garden hose to clean any dirt and debris off and your air conditioner will run cooler and save you energy.

3. Change your air filters regularly, a clean air filter is even more important in the cooling season than in the heating season. A dirty filter can restrict air flow possibly allowing the indoor evaporator coil to freeze. A frozen indoor evaporator coil will stop air flow and can easily lead to damage of your cooling equipment which can result in expensive repairs.

4. Keep your condensate drains clear, as moisture condenses on the cold indoor evaporator coil it is collected in a pan under the coil and flows out a drain that typically is made of white PVC piping. It's important to make sure this drain flows freely to prevent water damage and possible build up of any mold growth.

5. Periodically check to be sure that the condenser fan runs when the air conditioning is running, this fan acts just like your car's radiator fan and if it stops working the air conditioning system overheats and this causes damage that can lead to expensive repairs.

Count on Ameri-Serv Heating and Cooling for your air conditioning maintenance and air conditioning repairs

Ameri-Serv, Inc.
ASI Heating and Cooling
ASI Facilities Services
13601 W. Mc Millan Rd. S/102-120
Boise, Idaho 83713

Ada County (208) 342 4328
Canyon County (208) 467-2665
http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/
http://www.asihvacr.com

Serving the Treasure Valley with Honest and Dependable Services at Consistently Affordable Prices for all your heating and cooling needs. 100% Satisfaction always Guaranteed. Residential and Commercial Sales Installation, Repairs and Services on all brands and system types. Gas, Oil, Electric Furnaces - Heat Pumps – Air Conditioning – Dual Fuel Green Hybrid Systems – Geo Thermal Systems – Indoor Air Quality – Building Automation

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What should I consider when buying a new Air Conditioner?

2011-08-05T19:20:00.001-07:00

What should I consider when buying a new Air Conditioner?
There has been a lot of improvement in air conditioning systems efficiency and performance over the last 5 or 10 years. If your system was installed prior to 1996 the SEER rating of your air conditioning condenser unit when it was new was likely around an 8 or 10 SEER. What is SEER, that stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and it is similar to miles per gallon on your car and like your car the higher the SEER the lower your utility bill will be and currently there are systems that have a SEER rating as high as 20 SEER with savings as high as 50%.

There are three main ways to determine the SEER of air conditioning equipment:
1. Find the model numbers of your present air conditioner and contact Ameri-Serv for an answer.
2. You can also check the energy efficiency label on your outdoor unit if it was manufactured after 1989.
3. Here are some history basics, if your home air conditioning system is….

Pre 1980 Your air conditioner SEER Rating is 6 or less
1980 – 1985 Your air conditioner SEER Rating is 7 or less
1986 – 1991 Your air conditioner SEER Rating is 8 or less
1991 – 2004 Your air conditioner SEER Rating is 10 – 12 or less

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Ameri-Serv, Inc.
ASI Heating and Cooling
13601 W. Mc Millan Rd. S/102-120
Boise, Idaho 83713

Ada County (208) 342 4328
Canyon County (208) 467-2665
http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/
http://www.asihvacr.com

Posted via email from Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

Having problems with your air conditioning? A/C Repairs in Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell from Ameri-Serv

2011-05-29T08:42:00.001-07:00

If you are ready for air conditioning system services just give Ameri-Serv a call or contact us right here online and we will schedule an appointment that is convenient for you, once we arrive we will quickly diagnose your Air Conditioning system and provide you with honest upfront options for any possible repair to your system.

When you call Ameri-Serv you will have confidence in our repair pricing every time with our open book pricing policy, our technicians will show you our up front air conditioning systems pricing manual for any repair at any time because we want to earn your trust.

ASI's HVAC and Home Improvement Articles

HVAC Contractor Air Conditioning Refrigerant Rip Off
One of the more common things we see are air conditioning systems that have been overcharged with refrigerant. This common rip off is usually done when you call for a simple maintenance service and they...

HVAC Heating Air Conditioning Capacitor Rip Off
Another common practice by dishonest contractors is to replace a simple small part that many times is not necessary. The capacitor is one of those parts that is relatively inexpensive...

The Geo-Thermal System Explained in a Nut ShellGeothermal is by far the highest efficiency heating and cooling system available today. While the systems require up to three times more investment upfront than a conventional heating and cooling system...

Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling News

Ameri-Serv Inc Helping the Treasure Valley CommunityAmeri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling has successfully helped dozens of Treasure Valley Families with thousands of dollars worth of free maintenance services and repairs through this holiday...

Ameri-Serv, Inc.

Heating and Cooling
Facilities Services
13601 W. Mc Millan Rd. S/102-120
Boise, Idaho 83713

Ada County (208) 342 4328
Canyon County (208) 467-2665
http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/
http://www.asihvacr.com

Posted via email from Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

FAQ's for Air Conditioning Systems Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell

2011-05-29T08:39:00.001-07:00

Why is there water dripping from the copper pipe on my AC unit?Water dripping from the refrigerant line set (copper pipe or tubing) is an indication of an improperly charged air conditioning system with our without insulation. The refrigerant levels in your air conditioning system is critical to proper operation and efficiency, both too little and too much refrigerant will cause poor operation, lack of capacity and lower operating efficiency. A properly trimmed refrigerant charge will not cause water to form (condense) on the copper refrigerant line set and if you see this you should call a qualified air conditioning repair company to first determine if the charge is low or high and if it is low you should have them inspect for leaks, if it is high do not use the last HVAC company that added refrigerant in the first place.

Should there be ice on my Air Conditioning unit refrigerant pipe?
Absolutely not. You should never have ice forming anywhere on your air conditioning unit or it's refrigerant line set (copper pipe or tubes) as this is an indication of an improperly charged air conditioning system. This is usually a symptom of a low refrigerant charge but also can be attributed to a possible clog in the refrigerant line set itself. Either way this requires immediate attention and repair or damage to your system could be the result. Call any qualified air conditioning repair contractor to have this issue diagnosed and repaired.

Ameri-Serv, Inc.
Heating and Cooling
Facilities Services
13601 W. Mc Millan Rd. S/102-120
Boise, Idaho 83713

Ada County (208) 342 4328
Canyon County (208) 467-2665
http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/
http://www.asihvacr.com

Posted via email from Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

Green Heating and Air Conditioning Energy Saving Tips

2011-05-27T14:45:00.001-07:00

* Seal your windows and doorways with caulk or weather strips.
* Install or replace door sweeps at the bottom of your doors.
* During all seasons do not block any supply air outlets or return registers with furniture or other objects.
* Look for a high-efficiency model when shopping for a new gas heating furnace, the latest models can give you up to 98% efficiency and if you have an old furnace this can really add up into big savings.
* During the air conditioning season simple measures such as cleaning and replacing you air filters can reduce cooling costs by up to 10%.
* An annual maintenance service will both extend the life of your expensive air conditioning system and increases efficiency which saves you even more energy.
* When running your air conditioning check your air filter every month during the cooling season and replace when it is dirty.
* Your systems duct work could be costing you. Leaking joints, elbows and connections can increase energy consumption up to 20 or 30%. Don't use duct tape, it's strange yes but that stuff does not work well on ducts. * When running the air conditioning close your drapes or blinds to help keep the heat outside.
* Install window tint, there are some brands that can reduce the radiated heat by up to 70%
* Best place for your outdoor air conditioning unit is the north side of your home, you can also just shade your air conditioner from any direct sunlight with shruds but make sure to keep them clear of the unit to allow for proper air flow.
* During the Air Conditioning Season you can adjust your thermostat up, for every degree above 72 you can save up to 3% more.
* Don't cool Mother nature... Close your windows, doors and even your chimney dampers when using your air conditioner. Any unused rooms should be closed off to cut cooling costs but keep in mind do not close more the just two or three supply registers as the reduced air flow has an impact on efficiency of the system.
* Look for a high-efficiency model when shopping for a new air conditioner, the latest models can give you up to 50% in savings over your old clunker.
Ameri-Serv, Inc.
Heating and Cooling
Facilities Services
13601 W. Mc Millan Rd. S/102-120
Boise, Idaho 83713

Ada County (208) 342 4328
Canyon County (208) 467-2665
http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/
http://www.asihvacr.com

Posted via email from Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

Do I have to replace the indoor evaporatort cooling coil with a new Air Conditioning Condensing Unit?

2011-05-08T06:45:00.001-07:00

Honestly no, but this depends on the age of the system. If you are considering replacing your unit more than likely it is an older generation with a lower SEER rating than those built today. Even with older air conditioning systems you do not have to replace the indoor evaporator coil. But, you would be making a mistake and wasting your money if you choose to keep the old indoor evaporator coil. The two components, the outdoor air conditioning condensing unit and the indoor evaporator coil should be a matched set as far as SEER ratings are concerned in order to obtain the rated efficiency. When running a 13 SEER air conditioning condenser unit with a 10 SEER or lower indoor coil you will more than likely gain very little in efficiency above the rating of the indoor coil. It is also recommended that if you do use your old indoor coil that you have a thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) installed on the indoor coil to properly regulate the refrigerant flow. The other issue today is the change in refrigerants from R22 to R410A, this creates another issue in that the old oil used with R22 is not compatible with the new R410A refrigerant and both the line set (copper tubes) and the indoor coil must be internally cleaned or replaced prior to installing the new refrigerant in order to prevent damage to the new air conditioning condensing unit.

See more frequently asked questions on our website here: http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/Air_Conditioning_FAQ.html

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Why does my Air Conditioning run all day in hot weather?

2011-05-08T06:28:00.001-07:00

Why does my Air Conditioning run all day in hot weather?Assuming this is not a new symptom... this is a common complaint and can be attributed to two possible things. The first is that your system may have been designed correctly to meet the latest energy codes to perform at the highest efficiency. The other possibility is that it was not designed at all or was not sized properly in the first place. During real hot weather this can unfortunately be normal due to how air conditioning systems are designed for maximum efficiency. Air conditioning systems are designed to basically an averaged mean high temperature in your particular area, many areas are designed for say about 90 Deg F outdoor temperature and at that point they are generally at their maximum efficiency and should continue to cycle on and off with generally the run time matching the off time. The air conditioners efficiency drops when the temperature goes above this point and the system must run longer to meet the set point... common thought on this is that you will not see that many days at the higher temperature and it is worth the loss in comfort to have the maximum efficiency during the mean average outside air temperature as that temperature occurs more often. Increasing the efficiency of the air conditioning condensing unit itself (Higher SEER Rating) along with the indoor coil, while maintaining the size, will usually overcome this problem and still maintain your system at maximum designed efficiency. If your system runs all day or for extended periods during this mean average for your area then more than likely you either have a design issue such as incorrect duct sizes or the air conditioner was not sized properly in the first place.

Find more frequently asked questions here; http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/Air_Conditioning_FAQ.html

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Duct Work Maintenance Tips

2011-04-17T06:17:00.001-07:00

Duct work is a common source of wasted energy and proper maintenance is needed to ensure the highest efficiency possible from your system.

Common Duct Work Leaks must be repaired first Before you can perform any maintenance of your duct work you must first repair any and all leaks in your duct work, these tips are for systems that have been installed or repaired correctly and have no leaks.

Duct work should be inspected annually for common issues and repairs completed. While you may expect duct work to be the same every year in many cases issues do crop up that need attention. In most cases the initial inspection requires several repairs and each subsequent inspection usually requires minimal effort.
Repair torn and damaged insulation Flexible duct work in attic and crawl spaces tends to move ever so slightly over time which creates issues with kinked flexible insulated duct work and sagging flex duct work. The flexible duct should be secured to prevent sagging and prevent kinks.
Flexible duct work in many cases is found to be laying on the floor of the attic or crawl space causing kinks and in some cases rodent infestation and or water intrusion. Duct work should be secure off the floor as much as is possible.

Posted via email from Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

Air Conditioning Condenser Water Misters

2011-04-10T05:56:00.003-07:00

Air Conditioning Condenser Water Misters

There are several products on the market that use different methods of applying water to the surface of the condensing coil on an air conditioning unit and the bottom line on energy savings is that they will save energy by increasing the efficiency of the refrigerant condensing or heat removal process. However, there are a couple of draw backs from using one of these devices. First lets try and explain just how these things work and then we can go over some of the draw backs.

Normally you would buy one of these in a kit but it is also very easy for you to make your own custom system and possibly even improve on the idea a little.

Basically the system consist of what you see at the left, a paddle designed to activate a small water valve when the condenser fan is on. Tubing to connect this to your outside water faucet or other point of connection and either several water miters heads to place around the outsider of the condensing unit next to the condenser coil or some sort of drip devices on the tubing that would drip water on the outside of the condenser around the top.

Posted via email from Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

Male dogs and Air Conditioners... Say What?

2011-04-10T05:56:00.001-07:00

Male dogs and Air Conditioners... Say What?

Yup, you heard it right, male dogs and air conditioners are a real bad mix... believe it or not!

It is truly amazing to see the damage done to outdoor air conditioning units by male dogs, it is not that the dogs are attacking the unit, scratching or biting, it's not that they are chewing the wires to the air conditioner... that is another story by itself and is fairly obvious.

What we are talking about here is not so pleasant.... Urine!

Yes, pee, dog pee. As it turns out the acid in the urine can literally eat away at your air conditioner. The aluminum fins that you see that make up the condenser coil will disappear fairly quickly if your dog happens to like that particular spot to well, take a piss.

Granted I have heard of female dogs that think they are males and lift the leg so I would think in that case the female would be guilty also how ever rare that may be.

The urine will ruin your air conditioning condenser unit as sure as I sit here and write this and it is far more common than anyone may think is possible. So if you have a male dog, if I were you, I would make sure the dog stays away from the outdoor air conditioning unit.

The choice is yours but a new air conditioner these days is not cheap by any means.

Truly one of those "believe it or not" subjects but very true.

Posted via email from Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

Did You Know That Americans Spend 22 Billion Dollars Each Year To Cool Their Homes With Air Conditioning!

2011-03-15T14:38:00.001-07:00

Did You Know That Americans Spend 22 Billion Dollars Each Year To Cool Their Homes With Air Conditioning!

Here In Idaho, A Homeowner with a 2,800 square foot home, Could Easily Spend $2,000 Over A Six Month Period Using A Central Air Conditioner To Cool Their Home! Compare this to the Savings with a Whole House Fan. A Whole House Fan's Operating Cost Is 1/10th The Co st Of Yo ur A/C Usage...

Yes, during the same six month period, if the homeowner who spent $2,000 on air conditioning used a whole house fan instead, they could have saved more than 50% or $1,000 off their energy bill

Read more of this and other great articles at http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/Whole_House_Fan.html

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General HVAC Frequently Asked Questions

2011-03-15T14:36:00.001-07:00

How often should I change my air filters?

Will a programmable thermostat really save me money?

How does a maintenance service save me money?

Will fixing leaks and insulating my duct work save me money?

How do I really know if I should fix it or replace it?

How much money will a high efficiency furnace save me?

How much money will a high efficiency air conditioner save me?

Posted via email from Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

Gas Burner Ignition Sequence

2011-03-15T14:34:00.001-07:00

To understand how the ignition sequence works we must first break it down into the types of systems. The first is the hot surface igniter type system (HSI) which is essentially a small electric heating element somewhat like an electric oven heating element.

The other common types are either an intermittent pilot where the pilot is lit when needed or a standing pilot where the pilot stays lit much like on a standard gas water heater. There is also one other type that is not very common on gas furnaces but is standard on most oil furnaces and that is the spark ignition.

Intermittent Spark or Standing Pilot Ignition

Intermittent Spark ignition Pilot Light Assembly For the Intermittent Pilot Ignition type, after the control board has confirmed that the inducer fan is in fact running or in the case with no inducer fan upon a call for heating the heating system will open the pilot gas valve which is part of the main gas valve assembly and send high voltage to the spark igniter.

Read more of this and other great articles at http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/About_GasBurner_Ignition.html

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Learn About Air Conditioning System Condenser Unit Water Misting Systems

2011-03-13T07:13:00.001-07:00

Air Conditioning Condenser Water Misters

Normally you would buy one of these in a kit but it is also very easy for you to make your own custom system and possibly even improve on the idea a little.

Read more of this and other great articles here https://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/Air_Conditioning_Misters.html

Ameri-Serv, Inc.

Heating and Cooling

Facilities Services

13601 W. Mc Millan Rd. S/102-120

Boise, Idaho 83713

Ada County (208) 342 4328

Canyon County (208) 467-2665

http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/

http://www.asihvacr.com

Posted via email from Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

Just a few Air Conditioning System Maintenance Tips

2011-03-12T06:01:00.001-08:00

Just a few Air Conditioning System Maintenance Tips

Things you can do to maintain your air conditioning system
You can keep the outdoor air conditioner clean. You can vacuum out the inside of the unit and get all those leaves and stuff out. On most units you can gain access through the service panel. Be sure the power is off before opening the panel. Be careful not to knock off any wires and do not hit the coil as you will cause permanent damage.

Dirty Air Conditioner Condenser Coil. Next, after you close the access panel and secure it with the screws and with the power still off, you can rinse off the condenser coil with the garden hose. Never use any chemicals or cleaners on your coil, always allow a trained technician clean your coil if it requires a chemical cleaning. Granted, this should be done every year at a minimum, if you condenser coil has never been cleaned then it is strongly recommended that you have a qualified technician come and clean your condenser coil with an appropriate chemical. After it is clean if you rinse it every year and get the dust out your coil should stay in great condition.
Always trim any bushes or trees around your condensing unit as part of your air conditioning maintenance routine (outdoor air conditioning unit) and maintain a couple feet of clearance all around the unit. Most importantly keep any male dogs away from your air conditioner as the male dog has a tendency to make a mess of your air conditioning and can cause permanent damage.

Read more of this article and other great articles at http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/AC_Maintenance_Tips.html

Ameri-Serv, Inc.

Heating and Cooling

Facilities Services

13601 W. Mc Millan Rd. S/102-120

Boise, Idaho 83713

Ada County (208) 342 4328

Canyon County (208) 467-2665

http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com

http://www.asihvacr.com

Posted via email from Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

Heating and Air Conditioning Systems Efficiency Ratings Explained...

2011-03-12T05:55:00.001-08:00

Heating and Air Conditioning Systems Efficiency Ratings Explained...

In the simplest terms The higher efficiency of your heating or air conditioning equipment, the lower your long-term energy costs.

Air Conditioners

For air conditioning the higher the "SEER" number the greater the efficiency and of course the greater your energy savings. At this time United States regulatory agencies require all new air conditioning products to have minimum of a 13 SEER rating. You will find that many equipment manufacturers carry lines of air conditioners with SEER ratings from 13 up to as high as 21.

Please see our Air Conditioning Should You Repair or Replace article for more information on SEER ratings and to find out what the SEER rating of your air conditioner may be right now.

Cost Savings: If you have an older air conditioner you could be save up to 50% off your air conditioning bills by replacing it with a newer high efficiency 18 SEER model. See our Air Conditioning Operating Cost Comparison article for more information.

Gas Furnaces

Gas and Oil furnaces are rated based on the "AFUE" or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, which is the standard measurement of efficiency for gas and oil-fired furnaces.

Given in a percent of efficiency, this number tells you exactly how much of your fuel is actually used to heat your home and how much fuel is wasted up the flue. The higher the AFUE rating percentage the greater the efficiency.

Cost Savings: If you have a 10 year or older furnace which generally has an AFUE of approximately 60% to 75%, you could save up to 40% on your heating bills by replacing it with a new high efficiency 95% plus furnace. See our Heating Systems Operating Cost Comparison article for more information.

Please see our Heating Should You Repair or Replace article for more information on AFUE Ratings and to find out what AFUE Rating your furnace may be right now.

Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling
13601 W. Mc Millan Rd. S/102-120
Boise, Idaho 83713

Ada County (208) 342 4328
Canyon County (208) 467-2665
http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/
http://www.asihvacr.com

Posted via email from Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

Green Technologies Geo Thermal Earth Tubes

2011-03-12T05:45:00.001-08:00

Green Technologies Geo Thermal Earth Tubes

Many innovative ideas and inventions are being developed thanks to the green revolution and there are also many techniques, technologies and design concepts that have been used successfully for centuries all over the globe. From passive heating and cooling to green walls we are increasingly becoming more aware of these smart designs through the use of LEED® or Green Building guidelines in America.

One interesting design is called the earth tube and while it is very simple and effective it can be a challenge to incorporate into any design or retrofit. The concept is based on the fact that the earth under your feet stays at a very stable temperature all year around, basically the earth at just a few feet down will mimic the average annual temperature for any particular area.

The idea is to simply lay thin wall pipes buried in the ground and circulate air through these pipes to either gain heat from or lose heat to the earth around the pipes. Pretty simple and effective but not very easy to implement and there are some concerns for possible condensation collecting in the pipes resulting in mold growth.

Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

Ada County (208) 342 4328

Canyon County (208) 467-2665

http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/

http://www.asihvacr.com

Posted via email from Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

Green HVAC Heating and Cooling Solar Technologies

2011-03-06T05:02:00.001-08:00

Solar Heating and Cooling systems have been around for a long time, their use in Europe and other countries is wide spread in comparison to the United States. The U.S. has taken a long time to adopt these technologies but the trends are on the increase.
Solar heating and cooling systems have a relatively high initial cost when compared to more conventional methods so it makes sense to take whatever measures available to reduce the size of the solar requirements. Insulation and weatherization of the home or building must be as effective as possible and meet the highest energy efficiency standards possible. This will reduce the overall load that must be accounted for when designing the solar system and reduce it’s size considerably.
Logically the sun has limits for when it can actually produce the energy so almost any solar system is basically an auxiliary or supplemental system only. Unless you have an extensive amount of storage space for the heat that is gathered, in the form of water tanks usually but this can also be concrete, rocks and anything that absorbs and holds onto heat or even batteries, you will not be able to count on that system continuously.
There are basically four uses or sources of energy for solar technology and two types;
Obviously there is electricity through solar cells or solar voltaic panels also known as photovoltaic, this energy can be used directly or stored to heat or cool any facility as well as provide power. Batteries are used to store the energy and are limited in their capacity so normally you would not want to place a high load such as heating or cooling on this storage method. The panels can also be set up to back feed to the utility and depending on the agreement credits or even rebates can be gained. The cost of photovoltaic technologies is slowly catching up with demand but the payback is still fairly high and in some cases can extend as far as 30 to 50 years or more.
Of the remaining three uses two are highly viable alternatives and the third is usually the least cost effective...

Find the full article at http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/Green_HVAC_Solar_Tech.html

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Residential Thermostat Calling or Switching for Heating

2011-02-21T16:46:00.001-08:00

The first thing that must happen is that the control thermostat must provide a voltage signal to the furnace heating unit. The thermostat can be most understood as simply a switch that turns a low voltage 24 volt power on and off to the respective terminals.

In the case of the thermostat calling for heat the thermostat switches on the power from the “R” or in some cases the “RH” terminal which is the 24 volt power source to the “W” terminal on the thermostat which is in essence the call for heat. These terminals are located on the back or on the wall mounted face plate of the thermostat.

All the wires connected to the thermostat will usually always go directly to the furnace and if wired correctly the specific terminals that the wires are connected to will match at both the thermostat and at the furnace. For instance the wire connected to the “W” terminal should be the same wire at both the thermostat and the furnace heating system.

To learn more just go to our website for more information http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/About_T-Stat_Call_Heat.html

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Common Electric Heater Troubleshooting

2011-02-20T19:45:00.001-08:00

Baseboard Electric Heat, Electric Radiant Heat, Basic Heating Elements

Basic Understanding of Heating Elements

* Household Electric Heat is generally produced using 220 Volt power, much like any electric stove the heating elements heat up when the electrical power is applied on both legs of the 220 Volt double pole circuit. Basic electrical requires that the electrical circuit be closed, in other words the circuit must be continuous with no breaks such as a switch, thermostat, broken wire and/or control or safety limit device.
* This is all that is generally required for any electric heating element to function. So if your electric heat is not functioning then you will need to check for continuity or confirm the resistance of the circuit. If you are unsure how to do this it is strongly recommended that you contact a qualified heating company to repair your electric heat.
* The resistance of the circuit is very important and simple math can tell you if it is correct or not. The electric heat is generally rated in kilowatts (kw) and the resistance must match this rating, too high and the heating element will draw too much power and cause safety limits to shut off the power to the heating element.
* These are the most common sources of problems, a broken circuit or open circuit caused by a broken wire, thermostat, control device or safety limit or too high of a resistance causes the circuit to shut off intermittently.

Read more about electric heating at our website http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/Electric_Heater_Trblsht.html

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Learn about how it works Two Stage Gas Heat Furnace Heating

2011-02-20T04:21:00.001-08:00

Check out this website I found at asi-heating-airconditioning.com

Posted via email from Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

Common Heat Pump Troubleshooting Tips

2011-02-19T18:25:00.001-08:00

Checking your Heat Pump Control Thermostat

* Is the thermostat's system selector switch in the "heat" position?

Checking your Power or Electrical

* Your heat pump system may have a power switch at the indoor unit

Checking your outdoor unit

* If you have a heat pump and you can hear the outdoor unit running

Back Up Emergency Heat

* Most heat pump systems have back up or emergency heat, this back up heat

Get more tips about your heat pump on our website

http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/Heat_Pump_Troubleshoot.html

Posted via email from Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

Green HVAC Future Technologies

2011-01-15T08:00:00.001-08:00

Green HVAC Technologies of the futureThere are many changes taking place in heating and air conditioning technologies that many people are not aware of. Advances and cost reductions in green technologies have slowly been entering into both the commercial and residential markets and today the choices are staggering. As with many other technologies the costs for the latest and greatest gadget reduces as technologies catch up and as a result of competition in the marketplace. Some of these technologies today include variable speed air handlers and furnaces and while the term variable speed is used loosely in this author's opinion, the cost savings are real and the added comfort from less noise and drafts is also very real. While two stage gas and modulating gas valves have been around for awhile the concept has advantages for comfort and not so much for energy savings because it still takes the same amount of heat to heat a space no matter what you do to the heat source itself. Read more at our website asi-heating-airconditioning.com

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Low Cost HVAC Energy Saving Measures

2010-12-29T05:38:00.001-08:00

•Clean furnace filters monthly. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy use. Keep the furnace clean, lubricated and properly adjusted to save up to 5% of heating costs. Have your heating and cooling system professionally maintained by Ameri-Serv, Inc.

•Install an ENERGY STAR programmable thermostat away from natural cool and hot spots. An ENERGY STAR thermostat can save as much as $115 per year, provide more flexibility than standard models and perform one or more of the following functions: Save and repeat multiple daily settings, which you can change when needed without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program; store four or more temperature settings a day; and adjust heating or air conditioning turn-on times as the outside temperature changes.

•Have you ducts checked for leaks and improper insulation, this can save hundreds per year on your utility bills and is well worth having your home's system inspected by Ameri-Serv, Inc. to make sure you're not heating or cooling your crawl space or attic.

•Limit the amount of time that you run bathroom exhaust fans and kitchen hood exhaust fans as these fans remove the work already performed by your heating and cooling system. On restroom exhaust fans it helps to install timed switches or occupancy sensor switches on these circuits so that the fans automatically turn back off.

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Homeowners learn about a Common Cause of Furnace Failure

2010-12-29T05:27:00.001-08:00

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How to tips Gas Oil Furnace Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

via asi-heating-airconditioning.com

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Green Energy Saving Tips

2010-12-11T16:57:00.001-08:00

* In the heating season adjust your thermostat while you are not at home or at night while you are asleep. For each degree you lower your thermostat, you can save approximately 3% on energy consumption. * Close your drapes or blinds at night to keep the heat inside your premises. * During the cold weather heating season, seal all openings such as window air conditioners and chimney dampers. * During all seasons do not block any supply air outlets or return registers with furniture or other objects. * Look for a high-efficiency model when shopping for a new gas heating furnace, the latest models can give you up to 98% efficiency and if you have an old furnace this can really add up into big savings.

Check out the Ameri-Serv Heating and Cooling Consumer Information website for more great energy savings tips at asi-heating-airconditioning.com

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How do I know if my furnace is leaking carbon monoxide?

2010-12-04T05:16:00.001-08:00

How do I know if my furnace is leaking carbon monoxide?

If you are even remotely concerned about carbon monoxide in your home then the smartest thing you can do is to go and buy a carbon monoxide detector from a big box store and plug it in any electrical outlet, one on each level of your home. These devices cost a little more than a cheap smoke detector and are well worth the expense for any home because just like smoke detectors, they save lives. most reputable HVAC contractors have carbon monoxide meters and almost all gas companies have them as well, they can come to your home and measure the carbon monoxide levels in your home. Having said that you should also have your furnace inspected by a qualified HVAC contractor if you even suspect your furnace is leaking and all manufacturers recommend that the furnace be inspected and serviced annually.

Find more frequently asked questions about heating and air conditioning at http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com brought to you by Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling

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Gas Furnace Safety Devices explained

2010-11-08T08:14:00.001-08:00

There are several safety devices that are active once the gas heating furnace has the main burners lit and there are several different types or brands for each device type. Typically most gas furnaces have what is called the spill switch or limit switch. This is a device that can detect heat or flame outside the burner tubes within the gas burner cabinet.

Normally mounted on the gas burner manifold itself this device will shut off the main gas valve if it senses any heat or flame and will usually lock out the furnace. On newer furnaces this will produce an error code that can be read on the heating system control board based on the number of flashes or sequence of flashes from the status LED.

Several spill switches also come with a manual reset button. This is usually a little red button on the top of the safety device. If the spill switch has for some reason tripped this button must be pushed to reset this safety device before the heating system control board is reset.

Another common safety device is the high limit switch or Plenum Thermostat which usually can be found above the main gas burners mounted to the back wall of the gas burner cabinet. This device senses the temperature inside the air stream of the furnace at or near the heat exchanger. Each one is usually specific to the furnace and requires a specific temperature range. Upon sensing too high of a temperature this device will shut off the main gas burner of the heating system.

These safety devices are normally a self reset type but some may also have a little red reset button. The most common cause of high temperature from a furnace is a clogged air filter because with less air flow more heat is transferred to the air and it will get hotter. After several trips or shut downs these devices usually will fail and require replacing to function correctly.

Learn more about gas furnace devices http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/About_Gas_Furnace_Safety.html

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How do I know if my furnace is leaking carbon monoxide?

2010-10-30T07:07:00.001-07:00

If you are even remotely concerned about carbon monoxide in your home then the smartest thing you can do is to go and buy a carbon monoxide detector from a big box store and plug it in any electrical outlet, one on each level of your home. These devices cost a little more than a cheap smoke detector and are well worth the expense for any home because just like smoke detectors, they save lives. most reputable HVAC contractors have carbon monoxide meters and almost all gas companies have them as well, they can come to your home and measure the carbon monoxide levels in your home. Having said that you should also have your furnace inspected by a qualified HVAC contractor if you even suspect your furnace is leaking and all manufacturers recommend that the furnace be inspected and serviced annually.

Find more great information on our website asi-heating-airconditioning.com

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How to tips Gas Oil Furnace Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

2010-10-30T07:00:00.001-07:00

Why is the LED light flashing on my furnace? If your furnace status LED is blinking a steady single blink this usually means the system is either in stand by mode or is receiving a call for heating or cooling. If the LED light is blinking rapidly more than once and then pauses and does more this usually indicates the furnace has an issue and some sort of failure or a safety device has tripped. The codes can be difficult to read unless you read them all the time but they normally refer to two specific numbers that correspond to a troubleshooting chart in the manufacturer manual or sometimes right on a sticker on the furnace door. Each code usually tells the technician what to look for on the system and in most cases there can be more than one thing to check. Find more frequently asked questions on our wesite asi-heating-airconditioning.com

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Gas Furnace Flue is for the Birds

2010-10-09T06:04:00.001-07:00

Well this one is much more common than most people would believe but it is true and it does happen with regularity. Normally the bird is long dead before the service technician gets to your home but in this case the bird was heard and safely released to find a better place to roost.

Yes Folks This Bird is Very Much Alive and Well and flew away moments later

The issue usually starts with an old or broken flue cap assembly, normally it is very difficult for a bird to get into the gas furnace flue but it happens all the time and most often it is not noticed until late in the fall when it is time to start up the heat. At that point yes, you usually have a petrified bird in your flue. The birds will always fall all the way into the inducer motor and can be removed by removing the flue pipe at the furnace inducer motor.

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VARIABLE SPEED BLOWER SYSTEMS

2010-10-01T04:54:00.001-07:00

The term "variable speed" is in reference to the air handler or furnace fan motor or blower motor and while they are variable speed motors they are not variable speed in the true sense. Residential models are designed to use the variable speed to run at several pre-set speeds somewhat just like any other air handler or furnace. The difference is both in the motor and in how it gets up to that speed and how it slows back down or stops.

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Learn About two stage gas heat furnace heating

2010-10-01T04:49:00.001-07:00

Check out this website I found at asi-heating-airconditioning.com

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Maintaining your gas heating furnace system

2010-09-24T06:13:00.001-07:00

There are several things that can be done to make sure your system stays clean and all the compartments or cabinets should be cleaned at least once per year. Using a vacuum cleaner or compressed air to remove dirt and other debris is important to maintain not only the system but also to maintain the air in your home. Care must be taken to make sure the power is off before performing any heating unit cleaning.

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Green Radiant Barriers

2010-09-19T14:30:00.001-07:00

One of the latest green concepts is very controversial and many people have different opinions about the advantages and disadvantages. While the energy savings it can provide are very good the down side is that it could lead to problems. Radiant barriers are quickly becoming the next wave in the green revolution; the barriers are installed on the underside of your roof and prevent the heat from the sun from radiating into your attic. Most attics can reach well above 120 Deg in the summer and some with black shingles can get much hotter. The concept is to install some sort of materials to block the radiant heat from getting into the attic, it also blocks heat losses in the winter. There are several different methods circulating around and each has it’s own pros and cons. Read More... asi-heating-airconditioning.com

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Green Living Wall Green Facade

2010-09-18T05:21:00.001-07:00

Check out this website I found at asi-heating-airconditioning.com

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The Heat is on in Boise Idaho

2010-07-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

For all your Air Conditioning repairs and new replacement equipment you can count on Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling for honest ethical business practices. Do not get scammed, check out our website for information on your air conditioning system, troubleshooting tips and other great valuable information for the homeowner. Our website at http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com was designed for homeowners to get informed fast so they understand what is really going on with their system and can determine what an HVAC technician tells them is really what is going on.

Saves you money, saves you from common scams in the industry. All brought to you by the company that stands behind their services, Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Idaho (208) 342-HEAT or 467-COOL

HVAC Heating Air Conditioning Capacitor Rip Off

2010-04-11T06:11:00.000-07:00

Another common practice by some dishonest contractors is to replace a simple small part that many times is not necessary. The capacitor is one of those parts that is relatively inexpensive but when added to a service call the cost adds up fast. Many times these are contractors that instruct their technicians to replace a part, any part on every service call regardless if it is needed or not.

The capacitor is generally a small tin can looking thing with wire terminals on the top, they are generally either round and about 4 inches tall or a wide oval in shape like the one on the left and about the same height. What they do in essence is act like a battery, they store energy and discharge this energy to assist the motor or compressor in your heating or air conditioning system to start and run.

Every capacitor has an energy capacity rating and when the capacitor is greater than 10% low on capacity this is when it should be replaced to prevent the motor or compressor from working too hard to start and/or run. A capacitors capacity is measured in micro-farads and every capacitor has the proper reading usually listed right on it and as part of the part number in many cases.

Homeowners should ask what the capacitor is rated for and they should also ask the technician to document the measurement right on their work order as most will not want to document the rip off scam in writing, be sure to watch and see the measurement yourself. If for example a 100 microfarad capacitor measure 92 micro-farads then this capacitor is perfectly good and does not need replacing. If the same 100 microfarad capacitor measures 90 or below (10% percent rule) then it is time to replace it.

All capacitors must be replaced with the exact same size or capacity as is being replaced, never allow a different size capacitor unless some form of documentation indicates the incorrect size was installed on a previous date.

Ameri-Serv Heating and Cooling - Honesty in services you can count on. Air conditioning systems services, installations in Boise Idaho

HVAC Contractor Air Conditioning Systems Refrigerant Rip Off

2010-04-11T05:29:00.000-07:00

One of the more common things we see are air conditioning systems that have been overcharged with refrigerant. This common rip off is usually done when you call for a simple maintenance service and they are adding refrigerant to make money off you. I suspect that many times the homeowner complains that it just is not getting cold enough and many times this is caused by other issues such as dirty air filters, dirty outdoor condenser coil, dirty indoor blower and dirty indoor evaporator coils.

The added refrigerant above what is required simply reduces the capacity and performance of the system, homeowners should watch what the technician does and what they check, if they do not first go to the filter and check that I would kick them out of my house right then and there. They should always first check and change your filter before doing anything else as the dirty filter reduces air flow which can effect the pressure readings measured on your outdoor condensing unit. They should always check and clean your outdoor condenser coil if it is dirty and they should check to make sure your indoor system is clean.

After these basic measures are taken then the system can be evaluated for proper refrigerant levels. While it is difficult to provide you with what pressure readings you should see because each system and every outdoor air and indoor air condition/temperature has an effect on the readings as well as the fact that there are two common refrigerants in the market, R22 and R410a. The question to ask a technician is to document right on the work order what the pressure readings are and ask to see the gauges when they write this down, this calls them to the table and makes them be honest as you can easily see if incorrect numbers are written down and these readings can be checked by other technicians and companies. Make sure they also write down the numbers after they add refrigerant, and stick around and watch them. No smart technician trying to rip you off is going to document the rip off in action.

The other important thing to note is that no reputable company should add refrigerant without first looking for a leak, this can be accomplished using things as complex as an electronic sniffer or as simple as soap bubbles, they should also be looking for signs of refrigerant leaks such as oil and dirt where there should not be any oil or dirt. The important thing is that they make sure there are no leaks before they add refrigerant.

Count on Ameri-Serv for honest and reliable services for all your heating and cooling needs. Heating and Air Conditioning Services and Repairs in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Idaho

Heating and Air Conditioning Frequently Asked Questions brought to you by Ameri-Serv

2010-03-05T05:58:00.001-08:00

How often should I change my air filters?
Will a programmable thermostat really save me money?
How does a maintenance service save me money?
Will fixing leaks and insulating my duct work save me money?
How do I really know if I should fix it or replace it?

How much money will a high efficiency furnace save me?
How much money will a high efficiency air conditioner save me?

Ameri-Serv, Inc.
Heating and Cooling
Facilities Services
13601 W. Mc Millan Rd. S/102-120
Boise, Idaho 83713

Ada County (208) 342 4328
Canyon County (208) 467-2665
http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/
http://www.asihvacr.com

Serving the Treasure Valley with Honest and Dependable Services at Consistently Affordable Prices for all your heating and cooling needs. 100% Satisfaction always Guaranteed. Residential and Commercial Sales Installation, Repairs and Services on all brands and system types. Gas, Oil, Electric Furnaces - Heat Pumps – Air Conditioning – Dual Fuel Green Hybrid Systems – Geo Thermal Systems – Indoor Air Quality – Building Automation

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Maintaining your gas heating furnace system

2010-03-04T11:57:00.001-08:00

Maintaining your gas heating furnace system is important both to help make the system last longer and to help keep the operating costs as low as possible. All furnaces should be cleaned and inspected annually and there are some things you can do yourself to save money but everyone should call a qualified technician to inspect the system every fall as well as to make any necessary repairs. Read more http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/Furnace_Maintenance_Tips.html
Ameri-Serv, Inc.
Heating and Cooling
Facilities Services
13601 W. Mc Millan Rd. S/102-120
Boise, Idaho 83713

Ada County (208) 342 4328
Canyon County (208) 467-2665
http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/
http://www.asihvacr.com

Serving the Treasure Valley with Honest and Dependable Services at Consistently Affordable Prices for all your heating and cooling needs. 100% Satisfaction always Guaranteed. Residential and Commercial Sales Installation, Repairs and Services on all brands and system types. Gas, Oil, Electric Furnaces - Heat Pumps – Air Conditioning – Dual Fuel Green Hybrid Systems – Geo Thermal Systems – Indoor Air Quality – Building Automation

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The Geothermal System Explained in a nut shell.

2009-12-12T06:49:00.000-08:00

Geothermal is by far the highest efficiency heating and cooling system available today. While the systems require up to three times more investment upfront than a conventional heating and cooling system the payback rate can be as much as three times faster when compared against the least efficient types of systems available today.

Geothermal works by tapping into very large low temperature heat sources such as the earth itself or water from a well, pond or other large sources. The earth under our feet and large volumes of water constantly maintain their temperature and measure from 40F to50F in most Northern U.S. Climates, the temperature of the ground at a depth of 30 feet or deeper remains very stable and the same holds true for well water sources as they too are very deep. As you approach the surface of the ground the temperatures will decrease in stability, the closer to the surface the greater the range, at 6 feet deep you can expect up to a 20 degree range in temperature. Other factors such as soil type and moisture saturation levels also effect the capacity of the soil to transfer that heat so these things also need to considered when designing a system.

The mechanics of the systems are relatively simple as they are essentially just a heat pump, a heat pump is an air conditioner that reverses itself. In other words a conventional A/C unit absorbs the heat from the home using the low pressure side of the refrigerant and releases that heat outside at the condensing unit or A/C unit using the high pressure side of the refrigerant. A heat pump just reverses the flow of the refrigerant so that the heat is absorbed from outside and released inside the home. The difference with geothermal is that instead of using the outside air it uses circulating water to either absorb or release the heat to or from the ground or the well water.

Ameri-Serv, Inc, Heating and Cooling sells Climate Master GeoThermal Systems and we can service and repair all brands and system types.

The systems take this circulated water and pump it through the geothermal unit at a specified flow rate depending upon the water temperature, this water flows through a heat exchanger which is normally two coiled pipes, one inside the other with the refrigerant flowing in the inner pipe and the water flowing through the outer pipe. The flow rate is crucial to the proper operation of the system and the temperature of the water can change the required flow rates. Most systems are set at one flow rate for all conditions and others self regulate this flow rate for changing conditions.

The well water systems typically will pump well water through the unit and inject it back into another well a sufficient distance away. The ground source system uses one of two methods, the first is by far the best choice and consists of deep bore holes, up to 300 feet or more, with either coiled or looped pipes extending down into the bore hole, these are the best because the temperatures are more stable the deeper you go and the water saturation levels are usually higher. The other type requires a lot of surface area and consists of trenches, 6 to 10 feet deep with the pipes looped in the trenches.

Both systems require the pipers to be filled with water and antifreeze and the amount of pipe or length depends on both the type of ground system used (bore holes or trenches), the soil temperature and conditions as well as the size of the geothermal system required to heat and cool the home. This ranges from 200 to 300 feet of pipe per ton of energy (1 ton = 12,000 btu's) and a typical home at around 1800 square feet takes about 3 to 4 tons of energy to properly heat and cool the home depending on the home's efficiency.

When considering a ground source system it is very important to place a lot of consideration into who installs the system, or more importantly, who designs the system. A qualified contractor will be able to tell you all the things discussed above and accurately estimate what it will take to make the system work. Most complaints about geothermal systems stem from improperly sized and installed systems. While sizing a system to the home is fairly easy the ground source side of the system is where the mistakes are usually made.

Count on ASI Heating and Cooling for all your HVAC systems repairs in Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell Idaho Central Air Conditioning Repairs in Boise Idaho, Heat Pump Repairs in Boise Idaho, Hybrid Dual Fuel Systems Sales and Services in Boise Idaho, Geo Thermal Heat Pump Sales and Services in Boise Idaho

R-22 Refrigerant and Equipment Shortage Looms

2009-10-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

According to chemical manufacturer DuPont, the main refrigerant used in residential air conditioning systems may be in short supply as soon as 2010.

“The recent Montreal Protocol changes and an updated look at supply-demand scenarios reveal that supplies in 2010 may be much tighter than originally anticipated, including the possibility that virgin R-22 supplies may be short; therefore, it is apparent that the indus-try must dramatically increase recovery of HCFCs in order to compensate for the short-fall expected as early as 2010,” claims Kevin P. O’Shea, the North American marketing manager for DuPont Refrigerants.

It’s All About The Ozone
The Montreal Protocol that O’Shea references is an international treaty enacted in 1987 and amended several times afterwards. It specifies the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are ozone depleting refrigerants. In 1996, the Montreal Protocol was amended to include hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which are less damaging to the ozone, but still contain chlorine. R-22, the main refrigerant used in residential air conditioning systems, is an HCFC. After 2009, residential air conditioning manufacturers will only be able to use pre-existing supplies of R-22 in new equipment.

Manufacturers are no longer allowed to produce R-22 Equipment and Systems but R22 is still available for servicing existing systems, but the production quantities will be dramatically reduced. This year, the production will be limited to 25% of the 1996 production levels.

It was projected that the existing stock of R-22, combined with limited production would be sufficient for servicing existing systems. This assumed that contractors were diligent about recovering, reclaiming, and recycling refrigerant.

In years past, R-22 was so inexpensive, that technicians simply vented it to the atmosphere when servicing equip-ment and replaced it with new refrigerant. Not only is that expensive today, it’s illegal. There are steep fines for venting R-22.

Yet, some contractors must be venting because the stock of recycled R-22 is below projections. For the record, Ameri-Serv Heating and Cooling technicians always recover and reclaim refrigerant. It’s irresponsible to do otherwise.

How A Shortage Impacts You
The looming shortage does not mean we will run out of refrigerant in the near term. It means that prices will increase until demand balances supply. In other words, R-22 will still be available, but it will be expensive.
This won’t affect you unless your air conditioner leaks. It shouldn’t. Air conditioning systems are closed loop systems. Absent leaks, they will not require additional refrigerant. You should not need to “fill up” the air conditioner with refrigerant every year.

Preventing Leaks
Air conditioners are mechanical systems. To operate efficiently, they require maintenance. The same maintenance will also reduce the possibility that your air conditioner will develop a refrigerant leak. If you have not had your air conditioner tuned-up this year, schedule it right away. You will save more on utilities from a well-running air conditioner than you will spend on the tune-up.

Even well maintained systems can develop leaks from time to time. These should be fixed immediately. Refrigerant leaks will not only hurt the ozone layer, they will hurt your wallet.
If the leak cannot be fixed, the air conditioner should be replaced with one of the new models that uses an alter-native refrigerant.

Alternative Refrigerants
The air conditioning industry has settled on R-410a as a replacement for R-22. It’s a good refrigerant, but is in-compatible with R-22. We cannot simply substitute it for R-22. The entire system must be replaced.
The new R-410a air conditioners operate under higher pressures, which means special training is required to install and service them (all of our technicians have received this training)
.
You might be surprised how efficient these air conditioners are. If your air conditioning system is more than 15 years old, it’s possible that we can cut your cooling costs in half with one of these new systems. Call us at 342-4328 and we’ll prepare a complimentary analysis showing how much you can save. We can also improve your indoor air quality and solve any comfort problems (e.g., one room is always too hot or cold).

Count on ASI Heating and Cooling for all your Gas Furnace, Heat Pump and Air Conditioning Services in Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell Idaho Central Air Conditioning Repairs in Boise Idaho, Gas Furnace Repairs in Boise Idaho,

Your money is literally flowing right out of your roof and crawl space!

2009-10-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

I can easily say that everyone has this problem, if you have an attic space and we all do, then you are wasting countless dollars every minute of every day. Easy Do It Yourself Energy Savings!

We all pay pretty close attention to other areas of leakage in our homes so why to do we all ignore this. Because it's sight unseen, if you can not see it then it must not be problem, right? Most of us that are concerned with energy and our utility bills will occasionally check our windows and doors to make sure they have a good seal when closed. It is only simple common sense and we all understand that leaks will cost us money.

The simple truth is that none of us think about all the holes in our ceilings and walls but we all know very well that they are there and that there are usually a bunch of these holes. All out light fixtures have an electrical box and most if not all of our electrical boxes are not sealed. This also includes the boxes in our walls as they in one form or another create a air flow path to the attic also. Even our crawl spaces have holes from inside our homes to the crawl space and cause leaks that go unseen every day.

The sad thing is that it is real cheap and only takes a little time to fix these unseen leaks in our homes. Simple rubber gaskets can be purchased and installed behind all of your electrical wall plates sealing off any air flow cheap and easy. While there are no ready made sealing gaskets for ceiling fixtures there are several methods that can be used to get these leaks under control and while many fixtures have insulation and some may even come with rubber gaskets you should still check these as the uneven surface of our ceilings can create gaps that break the seals. In many cases the only real solution may be to lower the fixture and seal the electrical box off with silicone sealant. Better make sure the power is off before starting this project as safety is always the beast first step.

Same thing can be applied to any air conditioning or heating registers, these also have gaps that allow for leaks into the attic or crawl space and it is as simple as removing the register and sealing the edges around the metal duct inside the opening. As with the electrical boxes simply run a bead of caulk around the edge of the box or duct and in many cases you will need to spread the caulk and push it into the gaps. Always use a good quality 20 or 30 year silicone caulk for best results and remember to wet your finger before you spread that caulk to help keep things clean and easy.

This would be great weekend project and well worth the effort, the savings from these improvements over time can be very surprising and nearly impossible to predict as every home is built differently.

Amer-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling can perform these improvements for you and get it all done very quickly and we will leave your home or business as clean or cleaner than we found it. We will also check your air ducts for leaks as part of this service and make sure your hard earned dollars are flowing into the house not into your crawl space or attic. The cost for these improvements can be surprisingly low so don't wait give us a call to schedule a free estimate.

Count on Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling for all your HVAC Heating and Air Conditioning Repairs in Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell Idaho Air Conditioner Repairs in Boise Idaho, Heat Pump Repairs in Boise Idaho, Gas Furnaces Sales and Services in Boise Idaho,

Green Heating and Air Conditioning Energy Saving Tips

2009-10-17T08:03:00.000-07:00

At Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling we are committed to helping our customers and providing green solutions for energy savings and information both here on the web for their home or business.

    * Seal your windows and doorways with caulk or weatherstrips.

    * Install or replace door sweeps at the bottom of your doors.

    * When running your heating system check your air filter every month during the heating season and replace when it is dirty.

    * Have your furnace cleaned, inspected and tuned annually, maintain your system efficiency and make sure your family is safe from carbon monoxide poisoning.

    * Add insulation to your uninsulated or inadequately insulated attic.

    * In the heating season adjust your thermostat while you are not at home or at night while you are asleep. For each degree you lower your thermostat, you can save approximately 3% on energy consumption.

    * Close your drapes or blinds at night to keep the heat inside your premises.

    * During the cold weather heating season, seal all openings such as window air conditioners and chimney dampers.

    * During all seasons do not block any supply air outlets or return registers with furniture or other objects.

    * Look for a high-efficiency model when shopping for a new gas heating furnace, the latest models can give you up to 98% efficiency and if you have an old furnace this can really add up into big savings.

Count on Ameri-Serv ASI Heating and Cooling for all your Air Conditioning Repairs and Servoices in Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell Idaho Hybrid Dual Fuel Systems Sales and Services in Boise Idaho, Geo Thermal Heat Pump Sales and Services in Boise Idaho

How you can realize an annual energy savings of over $500

2009-09-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

Boise, Idaho - September 11, 2009

About 40 percent of your utility bills are from your heating and cooling systems and that is where you can gain the greatest energy savings. During the winter the warm air inside your home rises and escapes into the attic through holes and gaps and it's replaced by colder exterior air that's pulled in through cracks all over the home which leads to drafts and an uncomfortable home with high energy bills, even in newer homes. In the summer this same process brings in the hot air from outdoors which increases your air conditioning costs.

Check Your HVAC Ducts, the one thing that is most overlooked by homeowners is the heating and air conditioning system duct work which typically has either no insulation or in most aces has an extensive amount of air leaks. Spending just $400 to seal your leaking or poorly insulated ducts that run through your basement, crawl space and attic can easily save you $400 per year or more. Another common issue with homes today is improperly sized ducts, many homes ducts are not large enough to allow for proper air flows, which not only costs you more money to heat and cool your home but can also damage your equipment over time.

Check Your Insulation in your attic, if it has less than twelve inches of fiberglass or less than eight inches of the blown in cellulose you will for sure save energy and money by adding more insulation. Another area often overlooked is the basement or crawlspace where typically no insulation is ever installed from day one.

Fix Those Leaks by using expandable foam sealant or silicone caulk sealant, foam board, and weather stripping to fill in any gaps or holes around your recessed lights, electrical boxes, exhaust fans and heating/AC air registers will keep the heat and the cool in your home, and please do not forget about your window and door frames also. There is one trick to locate these leaks, just turn on all of the exhaust fans in your home and then use an incense stick or smoke pen to spot any leaks.

Installing a programmable thermostat is worth every penny as it will automatically raise or lower your systems temperature set point 5 to 10 degrees at night or during the day if no one is home and can easily shave an additional twenty percent off of your heating and cooling costs.

Well sealed homes will not leak or loose as much energy and will save you money and make you much more comfortable in your home. Installing a whole house fan also has many benefits as you can use this fan in the evening and in the morning to cool your home and save even more energy. No homeowner should overlook the fact that you should have your heating and cooling equipment inspected annually as it saves additional energy and will make your system last much longer. And please do not forget to change those air filters at least every two to three months.

Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling can help you with any one of these energy saving measures for your home, our skilled technicians will evaluate your home absolutely for free and provide you with a highly competitive estimate for any improvements.

Count on Ameri-Serv Heating and Cooling in Boise Idaho for all your Heating and Air Conditioning repairs in Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell Idaho

Beware of the "Get Air Conditioning for Free" deals!

2009-08-31T07:28:00.000-07:00

Boise, Idaho - August 31, 2009

Beware of the "Get Air Conditioning for Free" deals... Sounds obvious but does anyone really think they can get something that expensive for free?

Some contractors out there in the Treasure Valley will stop at nothing to get your business and they will pull unsuspecting people in by offering free air conditioning with the purchase of a new furnace.

This is pretty common for a couple of contractors in town and I have even seen where they also say “OR get a $1500 tax credit”. People need to be very careful with these kinds of contractors, first off no one can control if you can get the Federal Tax Credits or not, it is entirely based upon what you purchase as qualifying equipment, it really is that simple. Secondly no one can provide any air conditioner for free, these are very expensive pieces of equipment and you will pay for it one way or another and more than likely pay much more than it is worth.

These “deals” scare me only because we feel bad for the unsuspecting people that fall for these deals. You can always count on Ameri-Serv to tell you the truth and provide an honest quote for services because we care about our customers and we want to keep our customers for a very long time.

Count on ASI Heating and Cooling for all your Heating and Air Conditioning systems repairs in Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell Idaho

When a whole house fan pays back the most

2009-08-22T04:58:00.000-07:00

Boise, Idaho - August 22, 2009
As the seasons change in the Treasure Valley we all love the fairly consistent cool evenings and mornings with the nice warm days. It's part of what we all love about Idaho.

The only problem is that the inside of your house does not mimic these temperatures at all, unless you have a vintage home with poor insulation. We all know that our homes will stay pretty much warm unless you run that air conditioner. Which these days cost much more than it ever has.

This is the time of year when having a whole house fan will make all the difference in the world. We have all tried the box fan in the window and it may work pretty good for one room but it just does not compare to a whole house fan.

At bedtime if the outdoor temperature is less than the indoor we shut off the air conditioner and open a few windows with the whole house fan running and it cools down the house in just a few minutes at a fraction of the cost to run the air conditioning system.

In the mornings we almost always run the fan with the windows open for a couple of hours to pre-cool our home and it works great, freshens the air in the house and the best part is that when we do run the fan and shut it off before the outside temperature starts to rise the air conditioning system does not need to run for better than half the day on most days. In comparison on those days when we do not run our fan the air conditioning system begins to cycle as early as nine in the morning.

While the whole house fan does have it's limitations, such as it not being a good idea to run it when the humidity is high, it has many other advantages as well. We have all burned toast or worse yet the dreaded popcorn in the microwave... Well, nothing works better at getting that out of your house fast than the whole house fan. One last advantage is that they also pre-cool your attic space as well which just adds to the energy savings you will gain.

The best part is that whole house fans are relatively inexpensive, they are usually very simple fans that are installed in the ceiling so that they blow their air into the attic space of your home pulling the cool air from outside to cool down your house and your attic at the same time. They are sized to move a whole bunch of air all at once and can come with either two or three speeds or there are even variable speed models.

So if you are looking for ways to save money on your utility bill or maybe you just want to reduce your carbon footprint, this is a great way of getting several benefits from one simple measure. Click here to learn more

Count on ASI Heating and Cooling in Boise Idaho for all your Heating and Air Conditioning repairs and services in Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell Idaho Gas Furnaces, Oil Furnaces, Electric Furnaces, Heat Pumps, Air Conditioning, Hybrid Dual Fuel, Geo Thermal, Ductless Mini Splits,

What are you breathing everyday? VOC's

2009-08-08T04:13:00.000-07:00

Boise, Idaho -August 8, 2009
One aspect of green buildings that many people do not understand is easy to explain. Everyone knows and many like that all too familiar new car smell but what most people do not know is that the smell itself is a warning. What your are smelling is called volatile organic compounds or VOC's.

We all know that the new car smell is fleeting and disappears after several weeks, unfortunately the VOC's do not disappear as quickly and you continue to breath these compounds for quite a long time.

So, your saying.. So What, Right? Well, if you knew what chemicals you are breathing you would not say that. Many of these chemicals are known toxins and some are known to cause cancer. Funny but we really never hear much about these chemicals but in fact we are all exposed to these chemicals every day we are inside a car, an office and in our homes and there is almost nothing you can do to prevent it or fix it.

The VOC's usually come from any manufactured source, things such as carpet, paint, plastics, fabrics, foam, rubber, glue, furniture and many building materials are all known sources of these compounds. Other sources include many regularly used cleaning chemicals and aerosols.

As we all know, most newer homes and offices are pretty well sealed and these contaminants that are released within our homes and offices do not dissipate very well. Many of these compounds cause sick building syndrome and this usually leads to allergic sensitization or asthmatic symptoms from many people.

One of the goals of building green is to reduce or eliminate these compounds from the indoor environment and one of the best things to come from the "green movement" is the manufacture of countless products that are proven to have significant reductions in these nasty chemicals. While they do not completely eliminate all the possible VOC's they do reduce them considerably.

Here are just a few of the most common chemicals found in our everyday lives...
Formaldhyde
Toluene (Methylbenzene)
Xylene (para and/or meta)
Ethanol
xylene, ortho
Benzene, ethyl
Benzene, 1,2,4-trimethyl
Limonene (Dipentene; 1-Methyl-4-(1- methylethyl)cyclohexene)
Hexanal
Heptane
Cyclopentasiloxane, decamethyl
Nonane
Benzene, 1-ethyl-4-methyl (4-Ethyltoluene)
Acetone
Dodecane
2-Propanol (Isopropanol)
Cyclohexane, methyl

So next time you are looking to paint your baby's room or carpet the living room think about what your buying, many of the everyday products we all buy will "off gas" these compounds for a long time after the "new smell" goes away. Look for products that are labled as low VOC products and breath easier everyday.

Count on Ameri-Serv, Inc. ASI Heating and Cooling in Boise Idaho for all your Heating and Air Conditioning repairs and services in Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell Idaho Heating Troubleshooting Tips in Boise Idaho, Air Conditioning Troubleshooting Tips in Boise Idaho,

Do you have an extended home warranty? You need to read this!

2009-07-30T05:49:00.000-07:00

Boise, Idaho - July 30, 2009

We all know about these extended warranties for everything from your new TV or car to your entire home. These warranties have been available more recently on used cars and on your home at any time.

Unless you are one of the few that have had to make a claim you may be in the dark about how many of these warranties work and that you must do your homework and be fully prepared to deal with these companies as closely as you would deal with any insurance company when filing a claim.

Be very careful when purchasing these warranties on your heating and air conditioning equipment as the fine print will catch you off guard in many cases. In most if not all cases you must maintain the equipment because if it is found to be in need of maintenance and as a result has failed and requires repairs they may not cover the repair.

Like any insurance company, and this is really how these companies operate, you must be prepared to negotiate the claim and even argue your position with them. Like any insurance company these warranty companies will take the least costly measures each and every time.

This becomes a problem for contractors like us because we will be honest with our customers and if they have an old air conditioner that requires substantial repairs we will recommend that the entire unit be replaced because it simply makes no sense to put that much money into something that will break down again in the near future.

Well this is when the trouble usually really starts with these companies because again they want the cheapest solution each and every time and it is up to you to literally fight them because they will not let go of the money easily. This can takes days and even weeks so be fully prepared in this particular case to not have air conditioning or heating under these circumstances for much longer then you would care to put up with.

Are we suggesting that these extended warranties are no good, not really. What we are suggesting is that you really understand what you are paying for, it is really insurance against a break down and like any insurance when you do file a claim it may not be a pleasant experience.

In most cases the process does go through without much pain if the repair is fairly simple and is low in cost, it may take a few hours or just a few days to get authorization for your repair. But if the repairs are costly or the right thing to do is replace the equipment then you must be fully prepared to go through much more pain than most people are willing to put up with.

So if you have an extended warranty on older heating and air conditioning equipment that is not in very good condition and you run into the position that making another repair is just not financially a smart solution then be fully prepared to call them daily if not several times a day, be fully prepared to negotiate the final settlement on your claim, be fully prepared to get upset over the whole thing and please understand that your local HVAC contractor is stuck in the middle of the entire mess and has no control over what is done or said after they provide their recommendation or estimate to the warranty company.

Count on Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling in Boise Idaho for all your Heating and Air Conditioning Services in Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell Idaho Heating Repairs in Boise Idaho, Air Conditioning Repairs in Boise Idaho

Save Energy the Green Way with a Whole House Fan

2009-06-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

Americans Spend $22 Billion A Year To Cool Their Homes...

A 2,800 square foot home could easily spend $2,000 over a 6 Month Period Using A Central Air Conditioner To Cool Their Home! When you Compare this to the Savings running a Whole House Fan.

A Whole House Fan's Operating Cost Is 1/10th The Cost Of Your A/C Usage...

Yes, during the same six month period, if the homeowner who spent $2,000 on air conditioning used a whole house fan instead, they could have saved more than 50% or $1,000 off their energy bill!

Save energy Today, don’t wait call today! (208) 342-HEAT or (208) 467-COOL

Count on ASI Heating and Cooling in Boise Idaho for all your Heating and Air Conditioning repairs in Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell Idaho

Save Money on running your AC This Summer

2009-06-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

When temperatures begin to get higher, your energy bill will likely get higher too. You can help keep costs low and your home cool when you schedule regular maintenance tune-ups on your air conditioner. Schedule a maintenance tune-up appointment and maximize efficiency and your budget. Schedule early with Ameri-Serv and take advantage of preseason tune-up discounts.
There are a few easy steps you can do yourself to ensure your system is running more efficiently. You may be surprised to learn that in many cases 30 percent of the air in the average central air conditioning system escapes ducting in basements, crawlspaces or attics. In some cases the air from the attic or crawl space is drawing into your home, that just is not good. Loose or open duct seams allows air to seep out... or in. Just be simply sealing the ducts with Duct Mastic or sealant (I know This Sounds Funny But Do Not Use Duct Tape) to ensure the seams are keeping all of your cool air in its place. You can contact Ameri-Serv and ask for a complete analysis of your air distribution and duct system and we can fix these leaks for you saving you money for years to come.

SIMPLE CHECKLIST FOR ENERGY SAVINGS

Have indoor and outdoor coils cleaned before warm weather starts. A dirty coil reduces the system’s ability to cool as it decreases heat transfer and air flow.

Have your central air conditioner’s refrigerant checked and adjusted, leaky systems not only cost you money but can damage the environment.

Have blower components cleaned and adjusted to provide proper system airflow, the blower wheel gets coated with dirt and oil, the more debris the less efficient it operates which simply costs you even more money in summer and in winter.

Count on ASI Heating and Cooling in Boise Idaho for all your Heating and Air Conditioning repairs and services in Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell Idaho Gas Furnaces Sales and Services in Caldwell Idaho Oil Furnaces Sales and Services in Caldwell Idaho, Electric Furnaces Sales and Services in Caldwell Idaho, Heat Pumps Sales and Services in Caldwell Idaho, Air Conditioning Sales and Services in Caldwell Idaho

Home Owners Tax Credits

2008-11-09T08:53:00.000-08:00

Home Owners Tax Credits

Betcha didn't know that there was an Energy Policy Act of 2008, did you?

Well, you won't find any bill based on that name. The passage of last week's appropriately titled "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008" is almost a new energy bill.

The Senate prepared a nice summary of the energy-related provisions that were stuffed into the bill at the last minute to get something passed that would "RESCUE" the financial markets. In addition to the Residential Existing Homes Tax Incentives as shown below there are several other clean energy technologies included such as wind, solar, energy efficiency, hybrid vehicles, biofuels, and smart grid.

It's nice that there has been at least one small silver lining to the dark cloud of the very scary financial implosion of the past few months not to mention our present obvious recessionary predicament.

Here is the information on the incentive for existing homes. Check out the links above to learn more about everything that was included in the bill

Section 201. Extension and modification of the credit for energy-efficiency improvements to existing homes (IRC section 25C). Current law provides a 10 percent investment tax credit for purchases of advanced main air circulating fans, natural gas, propane, or oil furnaces or hot water boilers, windows and other qualified energy-efficient property. The credit applies to property placed in service prior to January 1, 2008. The bill extends the credit for one year (through December 31, 2009), and specifies that certain pellet stoves are included as qualified energy-efficient building property.

Contact Ameri-Serv, Inc. ASI Heating and Cooling for information on how to take adavantage of this opportunity.

Count on Ameri-Serv Heating and Cooling in Boise Idaho for all your Heating and Air Conditioning HVAC Services in Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell Idaho Heating Repairs in Cladwell Idaho, Air Conditioning Repairs in Caldwell Idaho, Furnace Repairs in Caldwell Idaho, Heat Pump Repairs in Caldwell Idaho

Great Energy Savings from Hybrid or Dual Fuel Systems

2008-03-08T06:18:00.000-08:00

Hybrid or Dual Fuel Systems

With the threat of energy prices increasing every year the idea of high efficiency and energy savings becomes more and more real to residents of the hydroelectric charged northwest. One approach that is very popular today is called a “dual fuel” heating system. First let’s define what a dual fuel system is. Simply stated, a dual fuel system is combining the installation of a gas or oil furnace with a heat pump.

Now heres the scoop; by combining the efficiency of a heat pump during it's peak operating period with the high efficiency of a gas furnace, oil furnace or boiler for the times when it is less efficient, a Dual Fuel System provides the maximum efficiency, payback and comfort level of both fuels and systems available. Because our electric rates here in the Northwest are far more stable than in other areas around the country and far more reasonable what we are all more concerned about is the increased we have experienced in gas and oil prices. This makes the heat pump even more attractive than normal.

Who is installing dual fuel heating systems? The first group are customers who already have furnaces and boilers in their homes and whose central air conditioners need replacing. When their air conditioner goes bad, some consumers are upgrading with a heat pump to work in conjunction with their existing furnace or boiler heating system. This gives them the advantage of a new air conditioner for better cooling comfort and a heat pump (they are the same unit), which can be used most efficiently for heating on those days when the temperature is above 32 degrees.

How do I benefit? If you have an oil or gas system, you can benefit by adding an electric system (heat pump). If you presently have an electric system (heat pump) you can still benefit by adding oil or natural gas. Dual Fuel heating enables you to add a second heating system to your current system and gives you an appealing alternative to the roller coaster pricing of fuel oil and most gas heating systems because Dual Fuel rates are most likely to remain stable year round. For more information visit our web at www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com

Count on ASI Heating and Cooling in Boise Idaho for all your HVAC Heating and Air Conditioning Repairs, Installations and Services in Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell Idaho Heating Repairs in Boise Idaho, Air Conditioning Repairs in Boise Idaho, Furnace Repairs in Boise Idaho, Heat Pump Repairs in Boise Idaho

GO GREEN REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOT PRINT!

2008-02-24T14:38:00.000-08:00

Tips on how to reduce your personal contribution to global warming.

If you use electricity to heat your home, consider installing an energy-efficient heat pump system. Heat pumps are the most efficient form of electric heating in moderate climates, providing up to three times more heating than the equivalent amount of electrical energy it consumes. A heat pump cools your home by collecting the heat inside your house and effectively pumping it outside. A heat pump can trim the amount of electricity you use for heating as much as 30 to 40%.

If your furnace is more than 15 years old, replace it with an ENERGY STAR qualified furnace, which is 15% more efficient than a conventional furnace. If you have a boiler, consider replacing it with an ENERGY STAR qualified boiler that is 10% more efficient than a new, standard model.

If your heat pump is more than 10 years old, replace it with an ENERGY STAR heat pump, which uses at least 20% less energy than a standard new model.

If your air conditioner unit is more than 10 years old, consider replacing it with an ENERGY STAR air conditioner, which uses at least 10% less energy than a standard new model. Select the unit with the highest Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) for greater savings. Ask a trained salesperson for help choosing the size that's right for your needs.

Install glass doors on fireplaces, which act as a barrier against warmed air returning up the chimney. Some models of glass doors are equipped with small vents along the bottom or sides to allow a controlled amount of combustion airflow into the fireplace. The glass allows the heat from the fire to radiate into the room. Because glass doors reduce the amount of conditioned air that is drawn up the chimney, they also reduce infiltration of outside air into the home.

Contact Ameri-Serv Heating and Cooling in Southern Idaho to learn more about what you can do to reduce your carbon foot print. Go to the web at http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com or email them at asi@asihvacr.com

Count on Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling in Boise Idaho for all your Central Heating and Central Air Conditioning repairs and services in Boise Meridian Nampa Caldwell Idaho Gas Furnaces Sales and Services in Boise Idaho, Heat Pumps Sales and Services in Boise Idaho, Air Conditioning Sales and Services in Boise Idaho, Hybrid Dual Fuel Systems Sales and Services in Boise Idaho, Geo Thermal Heat Pump Systems Sales and Services in Boise Idaho

Money Saving Water Heating Tips

2007-12-20T10:18:00.000-08:00

Water Heating Tips
Here are some tips that will help you save energy and money by using natural gas water heaters and hot water wisely and efficiently. Today's natural gas water heaters are more efficient than ever, but here are a few steps that you can take to maximize that efficiency:

Keep the area around your water heater clean and well-ventilated.
Water heaters are now being shipped with a recommendation of temperature settings at 120°F. This slows lime buildup and reduces the risk of hot water burns.
Repair leaky hot water faucets and pipes.
Install water flow restrictors in your shower heads and other faucets.
Use warm or cold water to wash clothing when possible.
Run the dishwasher only when it is full.
Take short showers rather than baths, to save water.
Never let the hot water run continuously when washing your face or shaving.
Use the cold water faucet when little water is required.
Water heaters, like heating systems, carry a federally required Energy-Guide sticker. On a water heater, the Energy Guide shows you the average annual cost for the unit and indicates the "first-hour rating" of the water heater. To estimate your annual operating cost, be sure to look at the yearly cost figure based on your current energy rates.

ASI Heating and Cooling in Idaho. is a full service Residential and Commercial HVAC Contractor. Heating Repairs, Air Conditioning Repairs, Furnace Repairs, Heat Pump Repairs

A Small Investment Can Lead to Big Returns

2007-12-17T19:14:00.000-08:00

Low Cost Energy Saving Measures

Clean furnace filters monthly. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy use. Keep the furnace clean, lubricated and properly adjusted to save up to 5% of heating costs. Have your heating and cooling system professionally maintained by Ameri-Serv, Inc.
Install an ENERGY STAR programmable thermostat away from natural cool and hot spots. An ENERGY STAR thermostat can save as much as $115 per year or up to 10% off your energy bill, provide more flexibility than standard models and perform one or more of the following functions: Save and repeat multiple daily settings, which you can change when needed without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program; store four or more temperature settings a day; and adjust heating or air conditioning turn-on times as the outside temperature changes.
Have you ducts checked for leaks and improper insulation, this can save hundreds per year on your utility bills and is well worth having your home's system inspected by Ameri-Serv, Inc. to make sure you're not heating or cooling your crawl space or attic.

For more information and tips to save you money please visit our website at http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com

Ameri-Serv Heating and Cooling in Idaho. is a full service Residential and Commercial HVAC Contractor. Heating Troubleshooting Tips, Air Conditioning Troubleshooting Tips, Furnace Troubleshooting Tips, Green Energy Saving Tips

Ameri-Serv News and Articles Table of Contents

2007-01-01T05:09:00.000-08:00