Red Carpet Plan- Regular HVAC maintenance in Grand Rapids, MI!

It's easy to forget about your furnace, safely tucked away in the corner of the basement.  It's easy to do, but remember this: it provides you heat in the winter months. Think about what impact it would have on your family if you lost heat on the coldest day of the year or a holiday!  The HVAC system is the heart of your home so it would make sense that it should be properly maintained. Regular maintenance on your home extends the useful life of your equipment and makes sure it is operating at it's peak efficiency.  Regular maintenance also allows us to catch failing parts to prevent untimely break downs. There are many other benefits to being a member of our Red Carpet plan.

• Discount- Our preferred maintenance client receives a 15% discount on repairs and supplies
• Special rates-Receive half-off diagnostic charge and enjoy no overtime anytime 
• Special treatment-Receive fast priority service with our agreement 
• 90 day warranty- We guarantee our service for 90 days.  Most parts are guaranteed for at least a year. 
• Flexible payment plan- Pay by the year or pay monthly for an even bigger discount!* to receive discount payments can automatically be drawn from checking/savings or credit card.  Maintenance is done every six months depending on coverage. 
• 10% OFF Duct cleaning- Get 10% off the entire duct cleaning service just for being a valued red carpet member! 
• FREE Air Filter- A standard 1" filter is included for each visit 
• Service at your convenience- We automatically notify you when you are due for service so we can schedule the maintenance at your convenience 
• Certified experts you can trust- Our trained, skilled and NATE certified technicians know their business and your equipment.  Rely on them and our reputation to give you fast, dependable and honest service.
• Lower operating costs- Studies prove that regular maintenance can significantly reduce operating costs and improve effectiveness.  It's like purchasing a new car. It's an investment and you maintain it because you want it to run well and last as long as possible.  HVAC equipment is the same way.  It's a sizable investment and needs maintenance.  Even though it's in the basement, often forgotten about, your furnace is a very important part of your life! Imagine what you would do with an unreliable furnace that breaks when you need heat in the middle of the winter? 
• Coverage- Pick the equipment you want to cover! We offer coverage for a furnace, boiler, central air conditioner, air handler, water heaters, generators and much more!  

6 signs you may need a new furnace

Do you wonder when you should replace your furnace? Sometimes it's best to replace your furnace before it breaks in the middle of winter so you don't have to pay after hour fees or get cold. Here are 6 signs that it might be time to replace your furnace.

• Furnace makes strange noises 
• Burner flame is yellow instead of blue 
• Your furnace is more than 15 years old 
• Furnace has been repaired frequently in the last two years 
• Heating bills have increased 
• Thermostat settings don't keep you comfortable 

It is usually better to be on the preventative side of things with your HVAC system. The furnace can be easily forgotten tucked away in the basement, but when it doesn't work it has a major impact on your comfort.  Recent models of furnaces are very efficient which helps you save money and the options on furnaces are better then they ever have been. We offer free in home estimates on HVAC equipment and we like to consider ourselves the experts. We have been serving the greater Grand Rapids area for over 105 years.  

Bryant Introduces Extreme V Heat Pump

Schaafsma Heating and Cooling Offers New Evolution V Heat Pump

Schaafsma Heating and Cooling is now offering the new Evolution V Heat Pump, the latest innovative option for heating in Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas. The Evolution V Heat Pump not only guarantees maximum warmth and comfort, but may also help save money with it's energy-efficient operations.

HVAC consumers throughout Michigan now have more options for heating! Grand Rapids company, Schaafsma Heating and Cooling, recently added the Evolution V Heat Pump to their extensive list of available HVAC products.

HVAC contractors Schaafsma Heating and Cooling are now providing the highly innovative Bryant-manufactured Evolution V Heat Pump for clients throughout Grand Rapids and the surrounding communities. Consumers gearing up for the upcoming winter months may consider taking advantage of the variable-speed heat pump highly recommended for heating in homes outside the city limits of Grand Rapids.

Our newest introduction, the Evolution V Heat Pump, is guaranteed to provide our clients a highly upgraded experience as it delivers high standards of warmth, comfort, and efficient heating Grand Rapids area residents are searching for, The Evolution V will not only provide heating, but will also cool and provide the most superior humidity control when the summer months come along. Finally, this energy-saving product can also help consumers save money in the long run, especially for people who use propane. 

Equipped with intelligent control and variable-speed operation to match performance to current conditions, the highly energy-efficient Evolution V Heat Pump offers a smooth and consistent year-round temperature control when matched with compatible indoor equipment. The Evolution V Heat Pump significantly differs from other mainstream heat pumps in its ability to run at a consistently low speed, reducing temperature swings. Additionally, consumers may use Internet Access to monitor, changes and control the system if optional remote connectivity is installed.

The Evolution V Heat Pump provides additional options for propane and fuel users to have efficient cooling and heating in Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas. 

Industry Update: FBI Issues Warning on Illegal Use of Flammable Refrigerants

From the onset, the federally mandated phase out of R-22 has been rife with controversy, and the confusion created by fluctuating prices as well as the never-ending supply and demand uncertainty has left refrigerant distributors, users, and equipment owners, extremely vulnerable.

A number of obscure companies have been selling R-22 alternative refrigerants that are marketed as “Natural Refrigerants”, and “Drop Ins”. They boast that these refrigerants are “Inexpensive”, “Do not require any certification to purchase”, and “Can be mixed with R-22”. The horrible truth is that these so called “Natural Refrigerants”, are comprised primarily of highly flammable gases such as propane and they are illegal for use in AC applications.

The FBI has recently issued a warning to be on the alert for refrigerant substitutes that have not been approved by the EPA. Reports are on the rise worldwide of explosions, fires, and severe injuries, including fatalities, as the result of these flammable refrigerants being used in unapproved HVACR applications. In 2013 the EPA took action against at least one U.S., company for selling an unapproved flammable refrigerant, yet many believe that without an increased enforcement effort, this problem will lead to even greater safety hazards and tremendous liability issues.

There are safe, and well established, non-ozone depleting refrigerants, but some HVACR product distributors, and refrigerant users, have been lured into supporting inferior products because of their cheap price. Along with the many hazards that flammable refrigerants pose to users and equipment owners, there are a few other “cheap” R-22 alternative refrigerants being misrepresented, and subsequently misapplied, that are leading to serious losses in system efficiency and compressor failures. Products like R-407C are relatively inexpensive, but are not suitable for use as a direct replacement for existing R-22 applications without changing the mineral oil to POE oil and flushing the line sets. The cost of the additional system conversion requirements make R-407C, and other products with similar requirements, the least practical option for servicing existing R-22 equipment.

The long term liabilities associated with selling and using hazardous, and or inferior R-22 replacements, are causing many to realize that cheap options are very seldom the best options.

The bottom line is, a cheaper, non-approved EPA product could end up costing more in the long run. It could cause the system to malfunction or lose efficiency. At worst, these unapproved refrigerants are very flammable and basically made of propane which can easily cause an explosion. 

Schaafsma Heating & Cooling Annouces Use of New Aeroseal Technology

Grand Rapids/Zeeland based Schaafsma Heating & Cooling, has announced the use of Aeroseal technology to seal air duct leaks, saving consumers an estimated 25 to 40 percent in utility bills.

The new technology allows Schaafsma Heating & Cooling technicians to quickly pinpoint and seal air duct leaks, providing customers inexpensive repair that means better air quality, increased room comfort, considerable energy savings, and longer HVAC system life, according to Kevin Walsh.

Schaafsma Heating & Cooling, a certified Aeroseal contractor, is the first to stress the sealing technology locally. The Aeroseal process works by isolating leaks in the air duct system and sealing them through the computer-controlled injection of safe aerosol particles.

The technology was developed at U.C. Berkeley in 1994 with funding by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, and others.

Aeroseal was selected as Popular Mechanic's Invention of the Year in 1996 and was named to DOE's "Top 100 Inventions" of the last 23 years.  "This is cutting-edge technology," says Kevin Walsh, President of Schaafsma Heating & Cooling, which has served the Greater Grand Rapids Area area for more than 109 years. "Aeroseal is a cost-effective way to address problems in the duct system that has been overlooked in the past, ensuring that system operation is highly efficient."   Duct sealing also protects against harmful infiltration of unconditioned air from attic or crawl spaces, and carbon monoxide backdraft. The air purification is an added benefit for allergy sufferers. In addition, many utility companies are advising customers that have high bill complaints to have their duct systems checked.

About Schaafsma Heating & Cooling

For 109 years, Schaafsma Heating & Cooling has served Greater Grand Rapids customers with trained and certified technicians, professional salesmen, and fair pricing. Schaafsma Heating & Cooling specializes in residential and light commercial HVAC systems, sheet metal fabrication, duct cleaning and preventive maintenance programs.

MERV Ratings & Your Filtration System

MERV Ratings & Your Filtration System

Every family deserves clean, fresh indoor air. But pollutants, even the ones we can't see, make their way into our homes every day. And some pollutants, like dust, pollen, pet dander, mold, viruses and bacteria can be dangerous to your family's health. The air inside your home can actually be 2 to 5 times dirtier than the air outside.

Fortunately, Schaafsma offers  a wide range of air quality solutions you can count on to deliver cleaner, better air: High quality filters to remove unwanted pollutants, humidifiers to add moisture back to dry winter air; ventilators to bring fresh air into your home; UV lamps to minimize mold and bacterial growth on your system's indoor coil; and air purifiers to eliminate up to 99.9% of the pollutants in the conditioned air in your home.

Let’s focus on the filter for now.

MERV ratings are used to rate the ability of a filter  to remove dust from the air as it passes through the filter.  MERV is a standard used to measure overall efficiency of a filter HIGHER MERV ratings mean fewer dust particles and other airborne contaminants pass through the filter.

MERV  ratings range from 1-16 and measurements are in microns.  The most efficient filters have MERV ratings of 13 to 16.  and will stop particles as small as .3 microns.  These filters are used in hospitals and other clean environments. 

We recommend the EZ Flex filter which has a MERV 10 rating and captures up to 65% of air particles 1.0 to 3.0 microns in size.

People living with Asthma or Respiratory problems  should definitely consider a high quality filter.  Also particles in the air can cause more problems for the elderly and infants.

What You Need To Know About Whole House Humidifiers

The people of West Michigan have been experiencing frigid weather the last couple of months.  Cold temperatures means there is a low amount of moisture in the air which affects your body in several different ways.  If you're experiencing Dry Skin, Static Electricity, Sore/Scratchy Throat, and Dry Eyes a low humidity level in your home could be the cause.  Luckily there is a solution and that is a Whole House Humidifier. We recommend these types of humidifiers because they work in conjunction with the furnace and provide the best results and is a whole house solution.

Steam Humidifier- These are the most efficient type of humidifiers. The ratio of moisture to water is 1:1.  In other words, it takes 1 gallon of water to make one gallon of moisture.  The humidifier creates the steam and simply blows steam into the supply duct and is distributed via the duct system in your home.  We suggest these type of humidifiers if you have wood floors, instruments, or carvings. 

Fan Powered Humidifier-  The ratio for a Fan Powered Humidifier is 3:1.  So in essence it takes 3 gallons of water to create 1 gallon of moisture.  The furnace must be running for the humidifier to work, so essentially it would have to run for 24 hours straight to make 18 gallons of moisture. These are the most popular type of humidifiers that we sell and work great.    

Bypass Humidifier-  The ratio for a Bypass is 4:1. So it takes 4 gallons of water to make one gallon of moisture. There is a 6" duct that runs from the duct to the humidifier, the air is pushed over the humidifier pad and absorbs the water. The air then goes into the duct work and is distributed into the home. These are the most economical type of Humidifier that we sell.

Whole House Humidifiers range in price depending on the features and type of the humidifier.  We offer Warranties with our installation and the job can usually be done in 3-5 hours.  We suggest having a free estimate done on these, as you are making changes to your heating and cooling system, it needs to be done professionally.

Thank you for reading our blog, our goal is to bring you informative information so you can make knowledgeable decisions when it comes the heart of your home- your HVAC system.