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Heating Contractor Grand Rapids MI

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:16:03 +0000

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.

Air conditioning contractors in Grand Rapids, Michigan

admin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:08:39 +0000

With each summer comes heat; and when it’s hot, all you can think about is cooling down. People from the south may not think that Grand Rapids, Michigan gets hot in the summer, but 90 degree weather and above in Michigan, can be extreme with the humidity that comes from being surrounded by five of the greatest inland lakes of the world.

If you are in need of an air conditioning contractor in the Grand Rapids area, then look no further than West Shore Heating and Air Conditioning. The name is a mouthful, but rest assured that you will remember WSHAC after they leave your place of business. WSHAC has been in business for years and guarantees all of their work. They only use high quality ac units and parts as a compliment to their high quality service.

WSHAC specializes in emergency ac repair service. A business that services the public without AC in the summer can expect very dissatisfied customers. The only thing that your shoppers should be thinking about in your store or facility is buying your products or services. Not how hot the place is. If you own a store with food items and the Air Conditioning unit quit working, then your inventory may be at risk as well. Melted candy bars are never as pleasing as the way they were made with all that shaped chocolate goodness. Additionally, the coolers and freezers in a store will work harder if your room temperature is higher. All the more reason to call WSHAC.

Contacting West Shore Heating and Air Conditioning is easy. Simply click on the “Contact Us” link for location, phone and email information. A friendly service representative would love to help you with all your heating and cooling needs in the Grand Rapids and surrounding area.

Call WSHAC today for more information at no cost to you.

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Buying An Appliance in Grand Rapids MI

admin — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:05:42 +0000

For many, purchasing an appliance is considered to be a major decision that needs careful consideration. You have to admit appliances require a considerable amount of investment and we want to buy those that will last for more years to come. Buying an Appliance in Grand Rapids Michigan may not be much different than anywhere else in the US, but when buying one from a contractor, it is important that you choose the right contractor in the Grand Rapids area to help you choose the right one, and install it properly.

West Shore Heating and Air Conditioning is here to help you. Call us for assistance. We service all of west Michigan and will come right to the customer. Call (616) 837-8088 for assistance or email us.

Although certain appliances may not require a significant amount of cash to be spent, if you accumulate all the expenses you may have incurred for all your household appliances you will be surprised at the amount. In fact, when you try to think about it if you are planning to renovate your kitchen and is thinking of replacing your old appliances you are expected to spend around $4000 or more for appliances alone.

An important consideration in purchasing any appliance for that matter would be the appliance’s energy efficiency. You are given the option of either gas or electric for certain appliances, although it is expected for gas to be the cheaper alternative for those involving heating.

Size is also an important consideration for certain appliances like an air conditioner. It is expected that you will save on energy costs if you purchase one with a size and cooling capacity proportionate to the room size to enable it to cool the entire room.

It is essential that we select appliance brands and models that are durable and of good quality for we do not want to encounter problems in the future and end up spending precious dollars on repair and maintenance. You can check out product reviews on appliances to gauge the appliance’s quality and durability. Feedbacks and comments from relatives and friends who may have utilized the same unit are also valuable and would be a big help.

Select appliances with features that you think are important for you. It is expected that the more features an appliance has, the more costly the price. If you find a feature to be not of use to you, then select one of a lesser value without that feature. Also, if you do buy an appliance with several features, have the sales individual teach you how to use them to maximize their utility.

For some people the style and appearance of the appliance is important. They would want them to be in a color or design that would match the interiors of the house. Although you may not care much about the aesthetic aspect, bear in mind that if you plan to sell your house someday it would definitely look nice and appealing.

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Tips For Buying A Furnace

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:44:05 +0000

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.

Size

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.

Efficiency

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.

Cost

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.

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Air Conditioners Types

admin — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:05:36 +0000

Nothing comforts one more than the chilly breeze from the vent of an air conditioner on a hot summer afternoon in West Michigan. With an air conditioner you can beat the heat and there is absolutely no need to worry about the warm weather outside. More efficient models of air conditioners are coming into the market everyday that is energy saving and user friendly.

If we look at the working of an air conditioner, it is very simple. When warm air passes through the coils of an air conditioner, the moisture from the warm air will be removed and this in turn reduces the humidity of the place and makes it cool. The moisture that is separated condenses on the cold coils and is drained out of the air conditioner.

There are various types of air conditioners such as portable, through the wall, window, packaged terminal, ductless or mini-split and central air-conditioning. The through- the-wall and window types work in an analogous manner, but the position of the air conditioner in the room differs. The window type is installed in the room window whereas the through the wall type is fitted by making a gap in the wall. The portable type provides more flexibility as it can be moved from place to place. In the Ductless type, the air handler is kept inside the room and the compressor is kept outside. Packaged terminal air conditioners enclose cooling and heating units and are set up through the wall. Central air conditioning units are the best bet as it not only cools the air, it also dehumidify and filters the air.

West Shore Heating And Air Conditioning is a company here in the West Michigan with a couple locations to serve local residents with their Air Conditioning needs. Call us at (616) 837-8088 or email us for more information.

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Tips To Save Electricity

admin — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:27:23 +0000

One of the major concerns in the world today is depletion of energy. As concerned citizens all of us must make a concerted effort to be conscious citizens and save electricity. Electricity has become integral to life but imagine having to live without power.

Conservation of electricity benefits you personally as you will pay lower bills. Consider:

1. Doing an energy audit. This will tell you how and when you use energy and where the wastage lies. You will be able to make an “energy savings plan” by pinpointing exactly how you can cut back on energy consumption. Some ideas may be as simple as don’t leave the coffee machine on at all times.

2. Think about resetting the thermostat ten degrees lower during the night. If you can do this for say approximately eight hours a day you will save 10% on electricity without sacrificing comfort. Insulate the home in winter by drawing shut the drapes.

3. Check all insulation in the house. If you increase attic insulation to around 12 inches the electricity consumption will reduce by 20 percent.

4. Plant more trees around the house these will cool the house in summer and insulate the house in winter. Studies show that a green cover benefits in many ways.

5. Have all electricity wires and outlets checked for leakage. Check all fuses and appliances.

6. Fluorescent or CFL light bulbs are energy efficient. They use 75% less energy than ordinary light bulbs. These have a longer life and contribute to great savings.

7. Use energy efficient appliances. These use less energy and believe it or not a high efficiency refrigerator uses less electricity than a light bulb.

8. When you are away even for a few hours or days you should turn off and unplug all electrical appliances and turn settings on the thermostat, water heater, and refrigerator to the lowest setting.

9. Ensure that you use a water-saving shower head. Water heating costs for a family can be lowered by at least US$ 250 a year.

10. Weatherize your home. This helps reduce heating bills by 20% and cooling by at least 10 percent. Even when building a home or decorating it use weather friendly materials—those that are not good conductors of heat and cold. Install windows and glass panes in the roof in such away that you use sunlight to light up the rooms during day light hours. Make an effort to switch off lights and fans when leaving a room. Ensure that the filters in air conditioners and heaters are always cleaned and free of clog and dust.

If you live an energy efficient lifestyle you will see the numbers on the energy bill actually reducing. The power to cut energy costs is well within your control. It is as simple as only washing full loads and that to in cold water. Use the hot wash option only for very dirty clothes. Cook food only just before you are ready to eat that way you can save reheating costs as well as refrigerating costs of storing the food. Turn the thermostat of the refrigerator to minimum in cold or cool weather. Switch off freezers if they are not in use. Small contributions can all add up to significant amounts of power saved. And, power saved means money in the bank.

For more information on how we can help you reduce your energy bills, call us for inspection, maintenance, or new installation services for all your heating and cooling needs.

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How to Lower Home Energy Bills

admin — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:58:10 +0000

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 >>

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Cutting Heating Costs In Michigan

admin — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:47:35 +0000

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.

Michigan Furnace Repair

admin — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 05:09:30 +0000

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.