BCS offers newest technologies and innovations

By Micki Brown
Special Sections Editor

BCS Building Comfort Solutions has been in business in the High Desert since 1968 and is the area's leader in heating, air conditioning and plumbing systems. They provide everything from servicing an evaporative cooler to designing quality high-tech HVAC and plumbing systems. They pride themselves in using the newest technologies and methods to create the most innovative and efficient home heating and cooling systems.

BCS Building Comfort Solutions has a wide range of diagnostic equipment used to diagnose whether a system is running efficiently. On top of this, the company offers the full spectrum of residential and commercial services. This includes heating, air conditioning, evaporative cooling, plumbing and water systems, zone control, humidity control, indoor air quality and energy management systems.

What's new at BCS? -- AirAdvice(R) IAQ monitoring and Aeroseal(R) duct sealing and leakage diagnosis. The AirAdvice IAQ test evaluates your homes indoor air and pinpoints air quality problems that can affect your family's heath, as well as their comfort and safety. BCS places an AirAdvice IAQ monitor in your home for a few days where it measures temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and air-borne particle and transmits the data via the phone line to AirAdvice for analysis. AirAdvice uses the data to generate reports about your home's indoor air quality. You'll receive a seven to nine page report that contains large easy to read graphs about your home's pollutant levels.

The patented Aeroseal diagnostic air duct system sealing process is the most effective, affordable and viable method for sealing the central heating and cooling ductwork in your home. Call BCS for a qualified diagnosis of your air duct, central heating and cooling systems -- sealing the air duct system in your entire home only take four to eight hours, and you'll immediately receive energy savings and a noticeable improvement in home comfort.

Another new technology offered by BCS are Takagi tankless water heating systems. Water is heated as it is used, without the need for a holding tank to waste energy. These amazing systems work when the hot water tap is opened -- the water enters the heater, a water flow sensor detects the water flow, the computer automatically ignites the burner, water circulates through the heat exchanger, which instantly heats the water to a designated temperature. The advantages are that the heater provides endless hot water -- no more running out of hot water, and when the tap is turned off, the unit shuts down automatically -- saving energy and money by not reheating the same water over and over again.

Hard water and poor drinking water quality are problems for most residents of the High Desert. To address this situation, BCS is the exclusive dealer for Kinetico(R) water conditioning systems in the High Desert. Kinetico non-electric, high-performance equipment is head and shoulders above other systems for convenience, reduced maintenance and efficiency, plus they offer free water quality testing.

It seems many heating and air-conditioning systems function inefficiently or are inefficiently installed. And the fact of the matter is, unless an efficient furnace or air conditioner is installed properly, it could be leaking harmful chemicals or debris into the home, or eating up much more energy than is necessary. According to Solutions Manager for BCS Building Comfort Solutions B.J. De Waal, selecting the right products is only half of the equation -- choosing the right installers matters most.

BCS Building Comfort Solutions technicians work as consultants rather than as sales persons, allowing them to offer accurate information and solutions so that clients can make informed decisions about their specific heating and cooling needs. BCS technicians live and work in the High Desert, so they know what the conditions are. With a new computer and radio dispatch system, the technicians can be located and respond quickly to customers' needs. This faster coordination cuts down on service time and the savings are passed to the consumer.

Equipment with the Energy Star label can help to save money in two ways.

First, by reducing energy costs by up to 40 percent per year. Second, by making your home more attractive to prospective buyers and increasing resale value.

Energy usage can be reduced by installing variable speed heating/cooling units. These "smart" systems allow the units to start slowly, speed up for comfort, and then slow down to maintain the selected comfort level. The heated or cooled air is delivered efficiently and quietly while temperatures stay consistent with the desired setting.

Many times, two-story homes can be uncomfortable due to temperature swings -- the downstairs portion may be cool, while the upstairs is sweltering.

Zoning systems can be installed to correct the imbalances and make your entire home comfortable.

Using an evaporative cooling system as the primary system and air conditioning as a backup during warm weather can reduce cooling costs by up to 90 percent, said De Waal. The MasterCool Contractor's Choice evaporative cooler is up to 90 percent more efficient than air conditioning, and is thermostatically controlled, ducted, quiet and economical.

UV lights with a filtration system can be installed on heating/air-conditioning systems to eliminate mold that accumulates in the coils and ducting -- delivering clean pure air. According to De Waal, this can greatly reduce allergens in your home.

Whole house humidifiers, which maintain the home's humidity around the recommended 35 percent level, can be installed on heating systems. The cost to install one of these systems is considerably lower than purchasing multiple room-size humidifiers. Maintaining a 35 percent humidity level can reduce the dry, itchy skin and nose bleeds associated with dry winters, said De Waal.

De Waal said heating and cooling systems in homes should be serviced twice a year, every year. In businesses, they should be serviced as often as six times a year. One reason is because most ducting is made of plastic, which breaks down in the typical heat of an attic. This breakdown can occur within three years, and in 10 years, the taping is dried out and gone. Systems in homes over 10-years old should be inspected to make sure they are operating safely and properly. BCS recommends its $165 per year maintenance program for your heating and air conditioning system, which are performed by factory trained and NATE certified technicians.

BCS Building Comfort Solutions offers free inspections of attic furnaces, and performs free energy audits in customers' homes where a utility bill totals more than $100 a month, free in-home estimates for adding and replacing equipment, as well as free water testing. An energy audit involves an Aeroseal inspection of the ducting system (a $285 value), which uses a computer and other high-tech tools to determine the amount of air loss.

De Waal encourages clients to take advantage of rebates and special financing offers that are available from companies such as Carrier, Lennox, MasterCool and Southern California Edison for installing high-efficiency heating and/or cooling systems.

BCS Building Comfort Solutions is locally owned and operated, and has factory-trained service engineers located throughout the High Desert.
BCS Building Comfort Solutions invites visitors to its facility at 2180 E. Main St., Barstow. For more information call (760) 948-4436 or 252-2600.

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