One of the least understood concepts about air conditioning is how these systems actually work. With so many different types of AC systems on the market, it’s easy to get lost in all the information, and even easier to ignore how complex these systems actually are. Once you have an idea of how a ductless air conditioning system works, you’ll understand why routine maintenance and repair are both so important.
ACI Northwest Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Spokane Valley’
How Does Ductless Air Conditioning Work?
Monday, May 9th, 2016Watch Out for These Common Air Conditioner Problems
Monday, April 4th, 2016There is no worse time to experience air conditioner problems than in the summertime. With warmer weather right around the corner, it’s important to remember that the heat of summer truly tests the operation and working condition of cooling systems. Avoiding small problems now could result in a system failure when you need your air conditioner the most. To prevent this, keep reading below for common air conditioner problems you should watch out for.
Why Does the Furnace Keep Tripping the Circuit Breaker?
Monday, February 15th, 2016If your heating system trips the circuit breaker, it’s typically a pretty easy fix. All you have to do is find the breaker that leads to that area and reset it. In an older fuse box, you’ll have to replace the fuse. And you may want to label the various parts so that you know exactly where each one leads, which you can find out by testing each one individually.
Here’s How Your Furnace Really Works
Monday, January 11th, 2016Many people don’t realize that furnaces have undergone quite a few changes over the last few decades. Because some people hold on to their furnaces for much longer than is recommended, they often believe that you must light the pilot light before making use of a furnace for the winter. While this may be true of furnaces and wall units that are decades old, modern-day furnaces do not have this kind of pilot light, which means they are much more efficient.
Haven’t Had Commercial Heating Maintenance Yet? Call Today!
Monday, December 7th, 2015We often recommend that homeowners and business owners alike schedule a heating maintenance visit every year before the heating system begins. We’ll go over the details of a maintenance visit in this guide, and what makes one so beneficial to your home and your budget. But for now, what’s important to know is that it’s not too late to have a professional maintain your commercial heating system for the well-being of your employees, your clientele, and your business!
Programming Your Home Thermostat for Heating Efficiency
Monday, October 26th, 2015A programmable thermostat can help you to save a lot of money over the heating season—but only if you’re using it right. Don’t know how to program your thermostat for maximum efficiency? Check out our guide, and try to locate your thermostat manual for information about how to use the controls. You may even be able to find a copy of the manual online, or you can call a friendly heating and air conditioning technician for more information.
Signs You Need Electrical Service to Upgrade Your Outlets
Friday, August 22nd, 2014Older outlets can become a source of irritation or even danger. As the electrical demands in your house increase with each year (think about how many more powered appliances you have competing for plug space now compared to only 10 years ago), the outlets will become more out of date and unable to handle the demands placed on them. This can lead to power outages, broken outlets, and even electrical fires and the risk of electrocution.
If you have aging and faulty outlets, you need to call for electricians to upgrade them, and possibly upgrade other parts of your electrical system as well. Look out for the following signs that you need electrical service in Spokane Valley, WA to upgrade your home’s outlets. Contact ACI Northwest for outlet installation and any other services you need for the electrical system in your home. Our years of experience will make sure you receive the best work possible.
Indicators you need outlet upgrades
- Sparking or warm outlets: One of the major dangers from older outlets is the chance of electrical fires starting because of faulty wiring. A warning that this is happening is when outlets start to feel warm to the touch or spark whenever you plug anything in to them. Also watch for marks of charring on the outside of outlets, which will warn that an electrical fire has already occurred behind the outlet plate.
- Tripped circuit breakers: If you plug in an appliance to an outlet, and it immediately causes a circuit breaker to trip (or a fuse to blow if you have an older fuse box), then there may be something wrong with the outlet, the electrical system, or both. If this continues to occur, call for repairs right away to see where the problem is.
- They aren’t GFCI outlets: GFCI outlets (ground fault circuit interrupters) are outlets that have two buttons located between the outlet sets, marked RESET and TEST. If you do not have this type of outlet in your home (or you don’t even have three-pronged grounded outlets) you should schedule an upgrade. GFCI outlets can determine if electricity is flowing through a person and cut off the voltage before causing a severe electrical shock. They are an excellent way to protect the people in your house from receiving high voltage shocks from the outlets or any appliance connected to them.
Please do not attempt to replace outlets on your own! This is potentially hazardous work for non-professionals, and you can risk damaging your electrical system. Call for licensed electricians for all your needs for electrical service in Spokane, WA. ACI Northwest is here to help you upgrade your home’s electrical system, whether you need new outlets, a circuit breaker panel to replace a fuse box, or new wiring.
Boiler Tips: What You Should Know About Operating Your Boiler System
Monday, December 3rd, 2012If you have a boiler system in your home, let the heating experts take care of routine tune-ups and repairs. You can help maintain your boiler by knowing how to safely operate the equipment. Even if you schedule routine maintenance visits with us, there are some things you can do to maintain the boiler system in your home.
While a professional technician should handle tasks like measuring the pressure and sediment removal, you can check the pressure gauge every so often to make sure the levels are okay. Call the heating experts at ACI Northwest if you aren’t sure how to do this or what the proper levels are for your particular boiler model.
You can help ensure that your boiler is efficient by keeping a record of your heating bills. Other tasks for gas boilers include, making sure your carbon monoxide detectors are working. Carbon monoxide intrusion is a serious concern. You can also check the pilot light. Call a professional heating technician if your pilot light is not consistently a blue color. Yellow or orange could indicate a problem.
We recommend that you have your boiler checked by a Spokane Valley heating professional annually. This will help ensure that your boiler is running safely and efficiently. Always feel free to call the friendly heating experts at ACI Northwest if you have any questions about how to help maintain or operate your boiler. Contact ACI Northwest Inc. today for heating services you can trust.
Heating Question: Can My Generator Power My Heating System in an Outage?
Monday, October 1st, 2012Back-up generators come in many types and sizes. There are many that are perfectly capable of powering a heating system during a power outage, but you’ll need to know how much energy your heating system needs, as well as how much energy you’ll be using for other appliances like your refrigerator, television, lights and microwave.
Calculating Your Wattage Use
You’ll have to check your heating system and other appliances to find out exactly how much energy they each use. But just to get a general idea of what this total will be like, we can use some common numbers from current energy star models. On average, a furnace fan takes 400-600 watts to keep running, a refrigerator uses about 200 watts and a microwave consumes about 1,200 watts when in operation.
These numbers don’t tell the whole story, though, because they don’t take into account the fact that most of these appliances take much more energy to start than they do to keep running. For instance, that same furnace fan requires about 1,600 watts to start and the refrigerator likely needs another 1,600. Of course, you don’t need to turn all of these appliances on at once, so if you’re careful and creative with when and in what order you use them, you can get by with much less available wattage.
Generator Types
Both portable and stationary generators are available in a wide variety of sizes, although stationary systems are generally much more powerful than their portable counterparts. If you plan on powering your home for a long period of time or you have a lot of powerful appliances you want to keep on, a stationary generator may be necessary.
For more information about installing a generator in your home, give ACI Northwest a call!
Heating Guide: How to Get Your Furnace Ready For Winter
Monday, September 10th, 2012As the weather gets cold outside we need to warm the inside of our Coeur d’Alene homes. So for a warm inside we need to a well-maintained furnace. Here are a few tips to maintain your furnace so that it can keep your house warm and comfortable all winter long.
Guideline #1: Clean or replace the filter
The flow of heated air from the furnace is restricted by clogging in the filter, which makes your furnace work harder and release less heat. Simply cleaning this on a regular basis can greatly increase the effectiveness and energy efficiency of your furnace.
Guideline #2: Blower motor and blower belt
The operating time of a furnace may be increased due to loose belts, which lead to less heat being produced. Thus, replacing broken or frayed belts and oiling the motor with a few drops of lubricant will smoothen it and make it work more efficiently.
Guideline #3: Blower doors replacement
The replacement of the blower doors must be done properly to ensure healthy circulation of air in the house. These doors help keep the harmful gases such as carbon monoxide from entering the air circulation in your house.
Guideline #4: Check the vents of the house
The air in the house should be circulated well and easily through the vents. The furnace may not work properly if the flow of hot air is blocked by anything from furniture to debris.
Guideline #5: The flue
Check the flue cap that is located near the furnace and carefully examine the outside with the help of the flue cap. Make sure the flue cap is replaced properly. If the furnace is in a closet, there should be enough ventilation, preferably in the form of direct vents to the outside to allow for efficient combustion.
Guideline #6: All flammable objects to be kept away from furnace
Flammable objects should not be placed near the furnace or water heater. Boxes, clothes, paints, gasoline, aerosols and similar items are most likely to catch fire if kept near furnace.
The above mentioned guidelines will definitely help you keep your furnace clean and in good working condition so you shouldn’t face a problem in the winter months ahead.
To schedule a heating maintenance visit in Coeur d’Alene today, give ACI Northwest a call!