by Arpi’s

If you’re looking for a way to alleviate the dry winter air in your Calgary home, a humidification system can help. There are two types to choose from: a whole-house humidification system and a portable unit — and each one has its advantages and disadvantages.

Dry winter air can be problematic. It can cause sinus and respiratory problems; it can also damage wood products in your home, like floors. Both whole-house and portable systems will send moisture into the air, and help to remedy dry air conditions. Adding moisture to the air can also help you with energy savings, because moist air feels warmer than dry air, so you can lower your thermostat.

Whole-house humidification

A whole-house system is ideal for homeowners seeking convenience and savings. This type of system is installed alongside heating equipment and connects to your home’s water supply, so as conditioned air is sent through the ductwork, the humidifier will add moisture as well. In that way, the air throughout your entire home will be more comfortable. With all of the spaces in your home able to benefit from humidification, you can go anywhere and avoid dry air. Finally, once the system is installed, there is very little maintenance required, besides an annual check-up.

Portable humidification

Portable humidifiers can be beneficial as well; however, they are limited in the amount of humidification they can provide. Typically, these devices are positioned in a room and deliver moisture into that specific space — so you won’t get whole-house humidification unless you take the device with you as you move through your home. These systems also require quite a bit of maintenance. You’ll need to fill the water tank every day, and clean out the tank every couple of days. Their main advantage, though, is that they are inexpensive to purchase.

Think your home could benefit from a whole-house humidification system? Contact Arpi’s Industries today, and let our experts help you explore your options and find the best fit for your home. We’ve been serving homeowners in Greater Calgary for almost 50 years.

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Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about humidifiers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Arpi’s services Calgary, Alberta. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

by Arpi’s

Are you in need of some effective energy-saving tips? To stay comfortable through a Southern Alberta winter, with its harsh winds and frigid temperatures, homeowners have to use their heating systems a lot. And while higher energy bills are a reality for homeowners in our region, you can control heating costs, at least to some degree, by incorporating the energy-saving measures below throughout your home.

§ Set your home temperature lower. According to the government of Alberta, each degree you setback your thermostat will translate into a 2 percent savings on your utility bills. Over the long winter, saving 2 percent (or more) on your energy bills will add up to significant savings.

§ Ensure that your heating system operates efficiently. This action involves two steps. First, you should change your system’s air filters regularly. A clean filter improves airflow, and adequate airflow is the key to efficient operations. Second, scheduling fall maintenance (or scheduling maintenance now if you missed it) keeps your system clean, and experts agree that regular service is the primary factor that will guarantee efficiency.

§ Avoid unnecessary energy consumption by dialing back your water heater’s temperature. Most manufacturers preset water heaters higher than necessary. Forty-nine degrees is an energy-saving setting, and you won’t notice a difference in the temperature when you use hot water to shower. However, some home appliances, like dishwashers, require a higher temperature setting, so consult your user guide or talk with an HVAC expert to explore your options.

§ Seal air leaks throughout the home. A tight home that doesn’t allow outside air in, or inside air out, is a low-cost measure that greatly enhances home efficiency.

§ Upgrade equipment. While high-efficiency heating equipment is a significant investment, it translates into bigger energy savings, and that’s savings you’ll reap over the life of the equipment.

Need more energy-saving tips? Arpi‘s Industries leads the way in saving Calgary-area homeowners money, reducing their energy bills while maintaining comfort. So call the best in the business: Our experience is backed up by more 48 years in the HVAC industry.

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Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about energy efficiency and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Arpi’s services Calgary, Alberta. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

by Arpi’s

Most of the time, your home will sail through the seasons without as much as a hiccup. It’s helpful to know, however, when a situation requires an HVAC contractor and who to call. If you see evidence of any of the problems below, you should call an expert as soon as possible:

Attic problems

Having the right insulation levels and efficiency is critical in your attic. Without it, you not only lose valuable heated air through the attic, but the potential for ice damming increases. Since it’s common to experience Chinooks in Calgary, those warm days can melt the snow on your roof, which leaks down to your eaves and gutters, and freezes when the temperatures dip again. The best defense against ice damming is to have effective attic insulation.

Additionally, if your home exhaust systems are directed into the attic space, it’s more likely to experience problems, as excess moisture can lead to wood rot and wet, ineffective insulation.

Furnace problems

A dirty furnace filter can lead to an inefficient furnace. It’s important that you change the filter regularly to ensure proper airflow for the furnace, as well as to keep pollutants out of your home’s air. Leaks in the ductwork can contribute to energy losses. If you haven’t had the ductwork evaluated recently, it’s important to do so now to ensure that they don’t waste energy all winter long.

Crawl space problems

The main contributors to problems in the crawl space are moisture and a lack of insulation. If the space is musty, you most likely have moisture problems. If it’s not insulated, you’re likely to lose a lot of heat over the winter.

While problematic situations in your home can often cause financial stress and discomfort, using a highly reputable and knowledgeable HVAC contractor can offer peace of mind.

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About the Contributor

Arpi’s Industries has served the Calgary area since 1963, and we know how to solve home problems unique to Alberta’s climate, while saving homeowners money in the process and creating more energy-efficient homes. Call Arpi’s Industrieswhen you want the best of the best.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about contractors and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Arpi’s services Calgary, Alberta. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

by Arpi’s

by Arpi’s

Does the idea of pollutants lurking around inside your home bother you? Does their presence trigger health-related issues, such as allergies or asthma? If so, you can do something about it by installing Ultraviolet (UV) lights in your HVAC system to boost the quality of your home’s air and enhance your health all year long.

UV lights have long been used in health-related settings to purify air. In hospitals, clean air is critical not only for the patients, but also for health workers who are exposed to viruses and bacteria. These systems are now available for residential use and accomplish the same goal: purified air.

UV lights target a specific class of pollutants, ones that your HVAC system’s air filter cannot: organic matter like mould, viruses and bacteria. If left unchecked, these pollutants pose risks for even healthy individuals, and cause significant problems for people with compromised immune systems or respiratory issues.

UV light is a form of safe radiation, and its short waves hit organic matter at the heart of each cell, thereby rendering the cell ineffective at reproducing. Once the cell is hit with the UV light, the DNA of the cell is changed: UV-light rays essentially kill off contaminants by taking away their ability to reproduce.

When UV lights are combined with your HVAC system, you get targeted, effective air-purifying technology that can keep all of the air in your home clean. Your home’s HVAC and duct system is designed to circulate the air throughout every corner of your home. As the air is drawn into the system, it is either heated or cooled, depending on the season. The furnace blower then pushes that air back into your home through supply registers, and the return registers pull it back into the system to start the process all over again. When UV lights are installed upstream of the HVAC system, each time the air passes through it, it’s purified again and again.

Keep your home’s air at top-notch quality with a UV light system.

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This article was provided by Arpi’s. For help selecting a system, or to ask questions, contact the experts at Arpi’s Industries today! Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Arpi’s services Calgary, Alberta. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

by Service Experts

How To Know If You Need A New Furnace

We understand not everyone may need a new furnace right now, but it’s important to learn the keys that would impact your decision when you do need to buy a new one. The first important consideration is repair frequency.

Heating Repair Frequency
Like any type of appliance, as furnaces age, the potential for frequent heating repairs increase. If your furnace is over 15 years old, you might start to experience relatively expensive repairs. More common and costly repairs include blower motor failures, ignition control failures and heat exchanger failures.

Operational Cost
The efficiency of gas furnaces in homes today can vary widely and has a direct correlation to the amount of money you pay your utility company each month. Furnaces older than 15 years can be very inefficient, wasting up to 40% of the dollars you spend to heat your home. Even newer furnaces can waste up to 20%.

System Maintenance
A properly maintained furnace will operate more efficiently, reduce the likelihood of expensive repairs and most importantly ensure your safety. After all, these are gas-fired appliances. Another important point is a properly maintained furnace will last longer before replacement is needed.

We get a lot of questions concerning what actually can be done to tune-up or maintain a furnace and there are actually many important checks and calibrations in the process:

• Tune-up Checks
• Gas Pressure and gas valve calibration
• Cleaning and checking safety switches
• Cleaning the heat exchanger
• Inspecting the heat exchanger for dangerous conditions
• Cleaning the blower system
• Cleaning and replacement of worn ignition sensors
• And many others…

HVAC Maintenance Interval
Heating equipment simply must be maintained annually by a certified professional who has the knowledge, skills and experience to perform a tune-up. Simply put, without routine maintenance, frequent repairs combined with old equipment are some of the more obvious indicators of a need to replace your furnace.

Excessive energy costs and the need to reduce energy consumption are also strong reasons to consider replacement of your furnace. In fact, an independent study by Decision Analyst shows nearly 20% of homeowners who recently replaced their furnace specifically did so to lower their utility bills.

Selecting an HVAC Contractor
a contractor who is properly qualified to sell and install your furnace can be one of the most challenging aspects of the new furnace buying process. Homeowners tell us the most important selection factor is a company with a good reputation. While that may sound obvious, identifying reputable companies can be difficult. In many cases a homeowner may find it difficult to just get a hold of a live person rather than a contractors answering machine or cell phone recording. The use of certified technicians, responsiveness, timeliness and price are also key decision factors. So how do you find contractors who are responsive and have a solid reputation?

Finding Qualified Contractors
The internet has obviously become a primary source for research and finding businesses, but unlike other appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines, furnaces must actually be integrated, or installed into your home, and installed properly. Internet search results can be very limited in helping you understand just how qualified a company may be. After all, you are inviting this company into your home.

Online reviews can provide valuable insight but they can also be misleading. Focus on reliable sources such as the BBB and other independent review companies like Angie’s List, Kudzu, and Home Services Review. All are excellent sources to find reputable contractors. But even with the help of review sites you should ensure that potential contractors meet these criteria to ensure the best value for your investment:

• Secure the required building permits
• Are licensed and insured – ask to see their certificates
• Written 100% Satisfaction Guarantee – ask to see guarantee, get it in writing
• Background checks for employees
• NATE-certified Technicians – NATE is a national certification agency that ensures technicians go through rigorous training
• Economical financing options

Carries ENERGY STAR® rated products and are an official ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner
Once you are comfortable that the contractor meets the minimum criteria, don’t be afraid to demand even more. There are several key things you should insist on when working with a company to replace your furnace.

What to Expect From Your HVAC Contractor
First, when providing an estimate, a reputable company will always perform a heating and cooling load analysis (also called a manual J heat load calculation). This important and highly detailed step ensures that your home gets the right size furnace.

It’s very important for the furnace to be sized properly to of your home. No two homes are exactly alike. Even the number of windows and the direction they face, south or west, can make a big difference to determining the right furnace. Do not just accept a proposal without having this important calculation completed, and if the contractor does not perform a load calculation, ask them how they really know what size furnace is right for your home without one?

Duct System Evaluation
A truly professional company also knows how important your home’s duct system is to your overall comfort and efficiency. You will need to be sure the duct system has been inspected and is properly sized and sealed. Just like a load calculation, you should be concerned if the company you are considering does not do a detailed review of your duct system.

Professional Proposals
Expect to have your estimate for a new furnace properly detailed and described on a formal proposal. The proposal should clearly explain all the work needed, permits – if any, model numbers of the proposed equipment and their warranties. Don’t settle for a price written on the back of a business card, which unfortunately is all too common.

Home Protection
The company you choose should also show respect to you and your home. Replacement of a furnace can be messy… ensure the contractor takes the time to protect your floors and carpets by putting drop cloths down and requiring the technicians to wear shoe-covers, also known as floor-protectors or booties. Just because the mechanical work is messy doesn’t mean it should make a mess of your home. Professional contractors will take the utmost care of your property. Finally, ensure that you are given a complete walk-through on the operation and maintenance requirements of your new furnace. You should be given the installation instructions and product care manual from the new furnace package.

Next time we’ll talk about furnace efficiency and the different types and stages of furnaces, and their warranties.

This article was provided by Service Experts.

by Arpi’s Industries

Most Homeowners Probably Know That Changing Air Filters Regularly Is Important, But Do You Know Why You Should Do It?

There are two steps you can take that make a big impact on the efficiency and lifespan of your furnace system: preventive maintenance and regularly changing air filters. Maintenance should be performed by an HVAC contractor before the winter season sets in, but air filter changes should be performed by the homeowner each month. Once you know how important it is to change your air filters regularly, it should be easy to remember to do so.

The benefits include:

§ Avoiding breakdowns. It might be hard to believe, but a dirty filter, one that’s full of dirt buildup, is one of the main causes of furnace failure. Why? A filter is designed to allow a certain amount of air to flow through it and into the furnace. When it’s full, airflow is restricted. If this continues, the furnace blower has to work harder, which can lead to the motor failing.

§ Saving energy. When a dirty filter causes the air handler and motor to work harder, they consume more energy. By using a clean filter each month, you create ideal conditions for energy efficiency and fuel consumption.

§ Saving money. With a clean filter, you get peak efficiency – and savings. When the furnace is allowed to operate as the designers intended, the small action of changing a filter translates into money saved.

§ Cleaner indoor air. Filters are designed to be able to trap a certain amount of particles. Once a filter is full, it can’t trap any additional particles, so if you leave a filter in the furnace system for months at a time, it will eventually stop capturing particles. Those excess particles go right into your home’s indoor air. A high level of particles in the home’s air can trigger allergies and asthma.

§ Decrease pollution. Consider changing your furnace filter as your contribution to a cleaner environment, as decreased energy consumption means a decreased carbon footprint.

Convinced of the benefits of regularly changing air filters? To take advantage of them, change your furnace filter once a month throughout winter.

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This article was provided by Arpi’s Industries. Contact Arpi’s Industries for help selecting a filter or to schedule maintenance. Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide. Arpi’s services Calgary, Alberta. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

by Service Experts

Furnaces and other types of heaters are, by their very nature, a potential fire hazard. They use either fuel combustion or electricity to heat up air in the home. Fire Prevention Month is October, a good time to emphasize fire safety and furnace maintenance in your home and with children.

About Fire Prevention Week

Fire Prevention Week was originally created to commemorate the tragedy of the Great Chicago Fire, which started around 9am on October 8th, 1871*. The Great Chicago Fire burned over 2000 acres (more than 4 square miles) in just 27 hours, killed over 300 people and left 100,000 homeless. The fire devastated 17,000 structures and left over 34 blocks of the city in ruins. Fire Prevention Week is now observed in the US and Canada during the week of October 9th each year, which is designated as Fire Service Recognition Day.

On the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (FMANA) chose to observe the tragedy so that the public could be informed about the importance of fire prevention. In 1925, then U.S. President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the first national Fire Prevention Week as October 4-10. He noted that in the previous year some 15,000 lives were lost to fire in the U.S. Coolidge’s signed proclamation stated: “This waste results from the conditions which justify a sense of shame and horror; for the greater part of it could and ought to be prevented… it is highly desirable that every effort be made to reform the conditions which have made possible so vast a destruction of the national wealth”.

Furnace Safety is Fire Safety

Furnaces typically use fuel during the combustion process to create flames. The fire then heats the air that a blower circulates throughout the home. If a furnace is improperly maintained or not operating properly, the combustion process can create Carbon Monoxide gas (CO) which is vented through a flue pipe to the home’s exterior. There are three primary dangers related to improperly maintained furnaces.

The first risk is Carbon Monoxide gas leaks. A secondary risk is the furnace not venting properly to the outside of the home. Finally there could be problems with wiring or electrical components that may lead to safety issues in older or dirty furnaces. All models of furnaces are designed to operate extremely safe, but heating equipment should have regular maintenance performed in order to help eliminate the potential for CO problems or other potential fire hazards.

Here are a few suggestions for making use of our Fire Safety Month around the house and involve your entire family.

• Put safety tips in a lesson plan. If you’re a Sunday school teacher or educator of any kind, take five of your favorite tips and turn them into a one-week family care plan. Just provide students with five of the tips, and have them write two more of their own.

• Teach children to create an emergency escape plan after reviewing the home safety video. An emergency escape plan is simply figuring out the quickest escape route to the nearest exit (door or window) from any room in the home. Having a secondary escape route from living areas like kitchens and living rooms is also a good idea to document. Then ask each child to draw a home floor plan indicating the paths to the nearest exit and put it up in their bedroom or on the refrigerator.

• Involve children in shopping for home safety items using the safety tips as a guide. Print the tips and take your children to your local department or home improvement store. While purchasing such items as rope ladders, fire extinguishers and smoke alarm batteries, explain what they are for and how to use each. When you get home, have the children put the items in their proper location.

Is Your Home Really Ready For Fire Safety Month?

The furnace is your best friend when the cold of winter sneaks up. But without proper care, that same warming companion might be a safety hazard.

Follow these helpful tips to keep your house safe:

• Go Cordless: With all our gadgets these days, extension cords are seemingly everywhere. Just make sure “everywhere” isn’t near your furnace. Placed too close to a heating unit, the cord could melt and start a fire.

• Mind the surroundings: The area around a heating device gets, well, hot. Make sure nothing flammable is around heating elements. That includes newspapers, rags, holiday decorations or clothes.

• Be efficient: Don’t use a gas range to heat your home. It’s inefficient, ineffective and can be a huge fire safety risk. A hot, unattended burner is a sure-fire ticket to the emergency room. Especially in a house with children present. Flame first, then gas: If you have a gas heating unit, be extra careful. The gas can spread quickly, so light your pilot light first before starting the gas.

Call a pro: There are some fire safety issues you can prevent. And there are some best left to the pros. Before winter arrives, schedule a Safety Inspection with a NATE-certified Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning technician. Not only will they make sure your furnace is safe, they can also tune it up to maximize energy efficiency. For more information visit serviceexperts.com.

by Green Wood USA

As long as there has been wood to burn, man has used it to stay warm. Our ancestors who discovered fire had the edge on a renewable heating source that is not only cost-effective, but also an environmentally friendly way to heat the home.

Still, many of today’s homeowners rely primarily on oil, gas, and propane oil to heat their homes rather than looking to wood. Why? It could be because they don’t have the facts about burning wood efficiently or are unaware of today’s high-efficiency wood-fired home heating appliances.

Here is some information about using wood to heat your home that may surprise you.

1. Wood is environmentally friendly. It may seem that cutting down trees for fuel would be counterproductive to the green movement. However, trees are a renewable resource that, like other biomass, is carbon neutral. While growing, trees absorb carbon dioxide; when they die they release carbon dioxide regardless of whether they burn or decompose. Fossil fuels by comparison are a one-way street, releasing greenhouse gasses in a matter of minutes that have been captured deep in the earth over millions of years.

2. Wood can save money. When burning logs in the new generation of high efficiency hydronic heater (more commonly known as a wood furnace or wood boiler), the heat generated is more intense and little is lost up the chimney. These central-heating furnaces can be used in lieu of standard heating systems featuring gas or oil during the heating months, or as an add-on when homeowners prefer to use other heating sources as their primary method of heating. This reduced need for oil, propane and natural gas means a reduction in monthly heating bills.

3. Wood can be a clean way to provide heat. There are plenty of people who have wrestled with cords of wood to feed wood-burning stoves or fireplaces, only to find that the mess left behind in the way of bark and ashes leaves much to be desired. However, homeowners who use the next generation wood boilers, will find that there is little to no mess involved. That’s because they burn wood at such a high temperature (2000 °F) that no discernible smoke is created. What’s more, because of the high burn temperature, very little ash is generated, meaning the firebox only has to be cleaned once a month rather than once a day. Also, the furnace can be installed indoors or sheltered outside and be set up to heat the entire home, eliminating the need to transport logs through the house.

4. Wood is a safe heating method. Using a wood boiler can be just as safe as any other traditional heating source. Just as with other furnaces, proper operating procedures should be followed.

In the case of the Greenwood, safety is the company’s primary focus. It was certified for indoor use to strict UL and CSA standards and is as safe as using gas or electric appliances. Very few competing wood furnaces or boilers meet these stringent safety standards. When upgrading your home and heating system this season, make sure you consider the benefits of today’s clean, safe, efficient wood heating appliances like those offered by Greenwood Clean Energy. In fact, many homeowners using a Greenwood system have seen energy bills reduced by up to 80 percent during winter months. One of these heating appliances pays for itself in energy bill savings in just a few years. For more information on Greenwood heating appliances, please visit: www.GreenwoodUSA.com

by Guest

Warmboard recently introduced a new radiant heating panel, Warmboard‐R, which was available beginning July 15th, 2011. Warmboard‐R is a 13/16” thick structural panel that provides the same superior radiant heat performance of 1‐1/8” thick Warmboard radiant subfloor panel. This slimmer profile combined with an easier to handle panel size, is ideal for remodels and renovations where the full structural strength of 1‐1/8” Warmboard is not required.

When there are specific project limitations, such as floor height, the smaller panel dimensions and reduced thickness of Warmboard‐R allow the homeowner who is remodeling to enjoy all the superior benefits of Warmboard. And it’s an ideal ceiling panel for use in climates that make radiant cooling an option or where ceiling heating is desirable in order to preserve existing floor coverings.

News provided by Warmboard. Warmboard continuously strives to meet and exceed customers’ standards, and it is in response to customer requests that Warmboard designed Warmboard‐R with remodel applications in mind. With the release of Warmboard‐R customers can select the panel combination that best suits their needs, without sacrificing any of the quality that customers have come to expect from Warmboard Inc. when designing their dream living space.