West Shore Heating and Air Conditioning is your premium Heating Contractor for the Grand Rapids, Michigan and surrounding area. When it’s cold outside, you will want to ensure that your heating conditions are perfect in your home or business. We can provide maintenance and/or new install service for those needing a heating company in Grand Rapids, MI to help you with your heating needs.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment or to speak with someone.
A furnace is a device found in the home used for heating purposes. There are several types of furnaces available. A central heating device is found in most homes and distributes warm air throughout the house, heating it to a comfortable temperature. A stove is typically a large appliance where wood is burned to generate heat in the area. Room heaters are small, electrical appliances that provide heat to a small space. Most houses have some form of central heating and some people have a stove. Many people opt for a stove as a decorative piece but it is rare to see one nowadays for use as the prime heating source. If you are thinking of replacing a furnace or buying a new one, there are several things to consider.
The size of your home will dictate the size of the furnace needed. If the furnace is too small to accommodate your needs, it will have to work harder to heat the home. Purchasing a furnace that is too large can be inefficient and they are typically more expensive. The overall use of the furnace will increase energy costs. Request a load calculation before choosing the furnace for your home. This will help determine the proper size. If replacing a furnace, do not simply go with a model that is similar to the old one. Instead, do some research as the one that came with the house may not have been the proper size.
High efficiency furnaces can be very expensive. The payoff, though, is in the long run because they will eventually save you money on heating bills. If you live in a colder climate where the heater will be running for extended periods of time, investing in a high efficiency model may be ideal. If, however, you do not often use the system often, a less efficient model will likely save money. In order for the investment to pay off, you will have to calculate the energy savings with the additional cost of the unit. Sometimes this may take a long time to be beneficial.
After determining the size and efficiency of the unit needed, begin researching costs. Also take into consideration installation which is typically performed by a licensed HVAC contractor. Shop around for the best possible price and get several quotes for comparison. Choose the one that has the best costs with the desired features.
Buying a furnace can help reduce energy costs while keeping your home warm during cold weather. With a little research, buying a new furnace does not need to be difficult. Ensure you are buying the proper size furnace for your home. Determine the level of efficiency that will save the most money. Then, shop around and get quotes for the best price.
Call or email us for help deciding on your next furnace purchase.
We are blessed with the discovery and proper utilization of energy around us. There are several sources of energy that makes our living easier. Energy lights up our home every night, keeps us warm during cold winter, allows us to be entertained, and makes our living pleasant no matter what time of the day. And with all the other uses of energy from the moment we check our clocks in the morning to keeping us warn as we rest during the night, all of us would agree that it would be so hard to llive without it.
We can say that we have sufficient energy supply for a lifetime but that does not mean that we are not going to conserve it. After all, technology has its price. And that price is something we have to pay with cash.
And if coping with electric bill is your problem every time you see your bills, here are the ways on how to lower them:
· Provide good roof coating
A good roof coating deflects heat. And so, insuring that the roof receives a good coating would mean insuring you that your house would maintain good temperature on the inside.
· Keep your attic well ventilated.
Your attic is one of the more important parts of your house when it comes to the cooling system. The attic is your first and probably the most effective part of your house the keeps the whole house cool. But, in order for your attic to do its main purpose, make sure that it is well insulated.
Provide vents where the heat can come out during summer. Your attic door must also be sealed to ensure that the air from our house does not go through it and vice versa. The attic door can be sealed with weather strippers.
· Securing all the leaks.
Leaks contribute to high cost of home energy. Why? It is because air from your house can easily come out from these leaks. And the air from the outside can easily enter the house. Both increase the workload of your heating and cooling system.
You have to remember that air moves according to air pressure and temperature. Since the temperature of inside your house is most of the time different from the temperature outside, air moves freely from these leaks. Making sure that the leaks are sealed would mean less work on your heating and cooling system and lower electric bills.
Leaks would come from fireplaces, ducts, doors, ceilings, floors, walls, windows, plumbing penetrations, electrical outlets, fans, and vents.
· Reducing the thermostat
One degree centigrade is equivalent to 5% electric bill savings. Therefore, keeping your thermostat low will save you a lot of money. A total saving would also come from switching your thermostat further low when you are not home or if you are sleeping. The ideal temperature during winter is not higher than 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
· Limiting the use of water heater
The second largest electric consumer next to your heating and cooling system is your water heater.
When you wash you clothes, you don’t need to heat the water up. Just use the water from the faucet. This will save you by as much as 90% in washing machine energy consumption.
· Use energy efficient material around your home.
There are commercially available materials that would significantly contribute to the reduction of the cost of home energy. One of these is energy efficient windows that deflect the outside temperature (whether during winter or summer) from entering your home.
· Use your appliance efficiently
It is pretty basic for all of us to turn off televisions, air conditioning, stereos and other electronic gadgets when not using them. However, most still disregard this. The reality is; we can save a lot if we only learn how to turn them off if not in use. Also, small things such as iPod chargers, cellphone chargers, digital clocks, lights and other things that seem to consume small electric current that remain plugged day in and day out contribute to your electric bill. Making sure you unplug them would certainly lower down your monthly electric consumption.
You have the details. All you have to do is to make sure you follow them all. If you are looking for heating and cooling services in Michigan, then call us up. We also offer great heating and cooling services along with this great advice. Call (616) 837-8088 or email us >>
Proper furnace care and smart purchases can help you reduce the high costs of heating your home in Michigan. That’s good news considering that energy bills-which are already historically high-are expected to continue to climb. In fact, a recent article in USA Today reported that homeowners on average will see a 25.7 percent increase in heating costs compared to a year ago. Michigan residents are taking the biggest bite ever and not only because of higer fuel prices to the Gas Companies, but also because of the many people that cannot pay their bills.It is rumor that DTE has over 80 million in unpaid customer bills. This no doubt is effecting your gas bill as you will be picking up that tab.
To reduce heating costs, experts say that the energy efficiency of your furnace is extremely important. According to Jim Miller of Amana brand furnaces, “Homeowners don’t have much control over the price of natural gas, but they can take steps to minimize the impact of home heating costs.” He offers these tips:
1. Have Your Furnace Checked regularly. “If you haven’t already done so this year, have a licensed HVAC contractor inspect your furnace now,” Miller emphasized. “He can perform a safety inspection and clean your furnace so that it runs as efficiently as possible.”
2. When Buying a New Furnace, Choose High-Efficiency. A furnace’s efficiency is indicated by its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency percentage, or “AFUE,” a measurement developed by the U.S. Department of Energy. The higher a furnace’s AFUE, the more efficient it is. “Furnaces older than 15 years operate at efficiencies of approximately 60% AFUE. This means that for every dollar spent on heating costs, only 60 cents actually helps warm your home, while the remaining 40 cents is wasted.
“If you were to replace that 60% AFUE furnace with a high-efficiency unit, such as the Amana brand AMV9 96% AFUE Variable-Speed Furnace, you would get 96 cents worth of warmth for every dollar you spend toward heating your home,” said Miller.
He added that furnaces with a variable-speed blower are even more efficient because the blowers typically require up to 75 percent less electricity than a standard motor. In addition, a furnace’s blower also works with the home’s cooling system, meaning consumers experience increased efficiency year-round.
3. Investigate Tax Credits for High-Efficiency Furnace Purchases. Thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), homeowners who purchase furnaces with an AFUE of 95% or higher in 2006 and 2007 may qualify for a tax credit of $150. And if that furnace uses a variable-speed blower, they may qualify for an additional $50 tax credit.
Call West Shore Heating & Air Conditioning to have your furnace inspected by a HVAC contractor at (616) 837-8088 or Email Us Now for more information.
When the temperature in Michigan drops, the home thermostat goes up and this is when it is usually determined whether or not, you might need your furnace repaired. Furnace repair is especially important in Michigan because the temperature can fall below freezing in the winter time, causing pipes to freeze and water damage upon thawing. You don’t want to have a plumber bill too now do you?
Here at WestShore Heating And Air Conditioning, we specialize in furnace repair for all types of furnaces. Our staff is at hand to help you in emergencies or in preventative maintenance. Located right in Comstock Park, Michigan, we service most of the lower peninsula Michigan at affordable rates. We will come to your business or home and are just a phone call away.
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