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From Eric Kjelshus Energy

Energy Savings Tips

With the warmer weather on the horizon, Spring is the perfect time to incorporate energy saving tips into your life. Some of the tips below are free. Others are simple and inexpensive actions you can take to ensure maximum savings through the Spring and Summer months. Lighting Tips One of the easiest ways to reduce...

What is an Energy Audit?

Energy audit companies, such as Eric Kjelshus Energy Heating and Cooling, provide energy assessments to determine your building’s energy efficiency. These assessments are a great tool homeowners and businesses can use to formulate a plan to minimize energy use and lower their power bill. One of our registered energy advisors will conduct a detailed commercial...

HVAC Duct Design and the Importance of Return Air

Return air is an often overlooked part of great duct design. Air return duct systems can be configured in two ways: Each room can have a return duct that sends air back to the heating and cooling equipment. This is the ideal configuration. Return grills can be located in central locations on each floor. Air...

Why You Always Test for Chimney Gas Leaks

Who would have thought that this unsightly chimney provided clues to the source of a hidden gas leak? On a recent call to replace an aging gas boiler, the owners reported a persistent gas smell. The gas company had previously inspected the building and didn’t find a gas leak using their detectors. Yet the smell...

Chimney Fundamentals: The Science of Venting Flue Gases – Part 1

Established in 1926, The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration NEWS is the HVACR contractor’s weekly newsmagazine and is the industry’s most trusted and utilized direct communications link to the HVACR buyer. How to Keep Your Customers Safe as Well as Comfortable By Eric Kjelshus This multiple-part article series will discuss the basics, codes and standards,...

Do we need a Carbon Monoxide detector in our home?

Carbon Monoxide or CO is very dangerous. It can’t be seen or smelled and without a carbon monoxide detector. Eric Kjelshus Energy Heating and Cooling installs and services the National Safety Institute’s Low Level Carbon Monoxide Monitor to help our customers combat the silent killer – CO.   Consider these facts about Carbon Monoxide: Carbon...

Glossary of HVAC terms

AFUE – Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency; A measure of a gas furnace’s efficiency in converting fuel to energy. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. For example: A rating of 90 means that approximately 90% of the fuel is used to provide warmth to your home, while the remaining 10% escapes as exhaust....

What Are We Breathing?

Air pollution is a common contributor to lung disease. Diseases such as asthma, respiratory tract infections and lung cancer claim over a quarter of a million lives every year. While some forms of air pollution are uncontrollable. The indoor air quality of your home or office is something that can be controlled. Poor indoor air...

Tips for Selecting a Contractor

Check credentials- Before making your selection, call the Better Business Bureau to make sure the contractor is reputable. Also, find out if the contractor is a member of a local or national association such as the Air Conditioning Contractors Association of America. Make sure the contractor is affiliated with a nationally known manufacturer. Contractors should...

Home Heating & Cooling Equipment Tax Credits

On August 8, 2005, President Bush signed a bill that established tax credits direct to the consumer for the installation of high-efficiency furnaces. For furnaces installed between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008, taxpayers will receive a $150.00 tax creditif their new furnace has an energy efficiency level of no less than 95% AFUE....

Mold- Construction & Remodeling

If you are building a new home, or just doing some remodeling, you may have concerns about mold and its possible health effects. Besides expensive damage to your property, mold growth can contribute to poor indoor air quality in your home, potentially resulting in dangerous health problems. Mold concerns have been getting a lot of...

How do I properly maintain my heating and cooling equipment?

Your home comfort system is in the background, running all day long, on and off, for most of the year. It keeps you comfortable, catches your dust, and zaps those nasty cold viruses. It needs to be properly cleaned and maintained. If it isn’t, it can get clogged, parts will stop working and there will...