ACI Northwest Blog: Archive for January, 2013

Commercial Heating Tip: Why Schedule Commercial Boiler Maintenance

Monday, January 28th, 2013

Routine maintenance for your commercial boiler is beneficial in many ways. If you have not schedule annual maintenance yet this year, call the Deer Park commercial HVAC technicians at ACI Northwest! It’s never too late to get started with a routine maintenance plan. Contact ACI Northwest today!

Here are some reasons you should schedule maintenance on a regular basis:

1. Prevents Repair Needs

The industrial boiler in your commercial building is a complex system that needs to work properly at all times. This system keeps your entire building warm and comfortable. When it breaks down, you put tenants out or your business has to shut down temporarily while you get it fixed. Routine maintenance can help to ensure that you won’t need repairs in the future.

2. Ensures Efficiency

When you schedule routine tune-ups, the technician will test the performance to make sure your boiler is operating efficiently. This cuts down on operation costs and saves energy. Reduce your carbon footprint and lower your utility bills with routine maintenance.

3. Prevents Water Damage

Because your boiler system includes water pipes that run behind walls or above ceilings, it can cause a lot of water damage if something goes wrong. Routine maintenance will detect any issues early on. Water damage can be expensive and a hassle for you and the people in your building. If you own a commercial apartment or condo, ripping up floors and repairing dry wall is a huge inconvenience for your tenants.

Call ACI Northwest for all your boiler installation and maintenance services for commercial and residential.

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Generator FAQ: How a Generator Can Benefit Your Home

Monday, January 21st, 2013

We all worry about natural disasters and being stuck without power during a heavy thunderstorm or snow storm. Having a whole home generator offers a number of compelling benefits to homeowners who are ready to take the next step in protecting their home. At ACI Northwest we provide complete services for home generators in Deer Park —including installation, repair and maintenance for many types and brands of generators. Here are some of the benefits to having a whole home generator installed.

The Financial Benefits of a Whole Home Generator

When people start thinking about generators, they probably think about the safety that it will provide their family. While generators are a great way to protect your family, they offer some pretty enticing financial incentives.

  • Home resale – Normally, after a generator installation the value of a home will increase.
  • Sump pumps – If you have a sump pump in your basement, it’s likely there to protect against a flood. However, during flooding there may not be electricity at your home. But with a back-up generator you will still be able to protect yourself against costly flood damage.
  • Food spoiling – Another great benefit from a back-up generator is that in the event of power outage, you won’t have to throw out all of the contents of your freezer or fridge because the food spoiled.

Comfort Benefits of a Whole Home Generator

During a fierce snowstorm, you may lose power at your home. If that happens, you’ll probably be rushing around trying to keep you and your family warm. But with a back-up generator, you’ll be able to relax knowing that your heating system and your air conditioning systems are still operational. This will allow you to keep your home comfortable until the power is restored.

If you’re interested in having a whole home generator installed, contact ACI Northwest.  We also offer generator repair and generator maintenance in Deer Park.

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Geothermal FAQ: What Are the Advantages of Installing a Water Source Heat Pump

Monday, January 14th, 2013

If you have a body of water on your property and are looking to boost energy efficiency in your Spokane home with a geothermal heating and cooling system, consider installing a water-source heat pump system. Like other heat pumps, such as air-source or other geothermal models, water-source heat pumps transfer energy rather than consume fuel to create it.

Water source heat pumps pull this energy from water, and the more constant temperature at the depth they are submerged at can make them more effective than air-source models, as air is much more susceptible to temperature fluctuations. If a water source heat pump system sounds like a heating option you may be interested for your home, call the geothermal specialists at ACI Northwest today. We’ll make sure that you get the best system for your personal needs.

There are two basic types of water-source heat pumps. You can choose either an open or closed loop system. Both are effective, but the water source on your property will ultimately determine which is best for your Spokane area home. We can answer any questions you have about water-source heat pump loop systems, so don’t hesitate to call with questions.

A closed loop system is generally more expensive but does not actually use any of the water from your water source. A coil is installed beneath the water, and this closed loop acts as a heat exchanger. An antifreeze solution circulates throughout the loop system and heat is absorbed from the water. This heat can then be used in your home. When it is warm out a water-source heat pump can be reversed, dumping excess heat from your home back to the water source.

An open loop system does not make use of an antifreeze solution. Rather, the water from the source on your property is used itself to absorb and circulate heat. It is pumped through a heat exchanger and at the end of the cycle is simply dumped back to the source. There are certain requirements necessary for this type of installation, as well as a closed loop system, and permits may be required. Be sure to work with a qualified professional to ensure that everything is done according to code.

Contact ACI Northwest for all your geothermal needs!

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The Importance of Having Smoke Detectors in Your Home

Monday, January 7th, 2013

Being able to live comfortably in your home is a great feeling. At ACI Northwest, though, we believe that you can never be truly comfortable in your home unless you know that you are safe. That is why we are so passionate about promoting the use and maintenance of high quality smoke detectors in homes throughout the Spokane area.

When it comes to keeping your home and your family safe there are few devices that you must be able to depend upon as much as your smoke detectors. They are your first line of defense against the dangerous situation that a fire in your home creates. That is why they must be professionally installed, maintained and tested regularly. In the event of a fire you need to know that even in a dead sleep you will be made aware of the danger in your home.

The smoke detector that you depend on to alert you of a fire in your home must be tested every month to ensure that its battery backup is in working order. Having your smoke detectors centrally wired into batter backups will keep them operating even in the event of an electrical outage. Make sure that your home is protected no matter what else may be going on.

Many smoke detectors double as carbon monoxide detectors. If you are unsure if you have carbon monoxide detectors or if your smoke detectors also detect carbon monoxide you must find out immediately. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, and it can be deadly due to the difficulty in detecting it. The only way to know if there is a carbon monoxide leak in your home is with the help of a high quality carbon monoxide detector. Remember, a fire is not the only danger that you may face in your home. Be safe, and keep your smoke detectors and CO detectors in good working condition.

If you have any questions about the installation or maintenance of the smoke detectors in your home, contact ACI Northwest today. We can help keep you safe in Spokane. Let us keep your smoke detectors effective with our professional services.

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