Getting Energy Ready for Winter - PART II

Check Your Heating System

1. Get a routine maintenance and inspection of your heating system each autumn to make sure it is in good working order.

2. Replace your heater's air filter as recommended by the manufacturer. Your heating system will work less hard, use less energy and last longer as a result. Most homeowners can replace filters and do such simple tasks as cleaning and removing dust from vents or along baseboard heaters.

3. If your heating system is old, you might consider updating it with one of the more efficient newer models. You can cut your natural gas use and your monthly bill!

4. Use your set-back thermostat. California houses built today must have them. If you have an older home, consider installing one. A set-back thermostat allows you to automatically turn down the heat when you're away at work or when you're sleeping at night, and then boost the temperature to a comfortable level when you need it. Remember - it takes less energy to warm a cool home than to maintain a warm temperature all day long. Properly using your set-back thermostat could cut your heating costs from 20 to 75 percent.

5. Reverse the switch on your ceiling fans so they blow upward, toward the ceiling. Ceiling fans are a great idea in the summer, when air blowing downward can improve circulation and make a room feel four degrees cooler. A cooling draft is a poor idea when it's cold, however. By reversing the fan's direction, the blades move air upward in winter. This is especially valuable in high ceiling rooms, where heat that naturally rises is forced back down into the room.

6. Make sure all hearing vents are opened and unblocked by furniture or other items. This will ensure that the air is evenly distributed through the home.

 

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Getting Energy Ready for Winter

PART I

When cold weather approaches, use this checklist of simple ways to make your home more comfortable and keep those escalating energy bills at bay.

 

Check Your Insulation

1. Insulate your attic. In an older home, that can be the most cost-efficient way to cut home heating costs. Before energy efficiency standards, homes were often built with little or no insulation. As a result, large amounts of heat can be lost through walls, floors and since heat rises, especially ceilings.
2. Weather-strip and insulate your attic hatch or door to prevent warm air from escaping out the top of your house.
3. Seal holes in the attic that lead down into the house, such as open wall tops and duct, plumbing, or electrical runs. Any hole that leads from a basement or crawlspace to an attic is a big energy waster. Cover and seal them with spray foam and rigid foam board if necessary.

COURTESY OF: http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/tips/winterize.html

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

DID YOU KNOW?????

 

Evenflow Mechanical has an additional way to finance!

For more information visit: http://www.evenflowmechanical.com/financing.asp

HVAC HOLIDAY TIPS: PART II

 

4. Turn Off Room Lights When the Tree is Lit

The lights on your Christmas tree should provide more than enough lighting to navigate around the room.

5. Decorate with Candles

Christmas lights are nice, but so are candles. Set up luminaries along your walkway and lit candles throughout your home to achieve a beautiful holiday glow, without adding to the electric bill.

6. Turn the Thermostat Down When You Have Guests

Extra bodies in the house means extra warmth at no cost to you.

Article Source: About.com

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

 

 

Thanksgiving 2014

T is for the trust the pilgrims had so many years ago
H is for the harvest the settlers learnt to grow
A is for America, the land in which we live
N is for nature and beauty which she gives
K is for kindness, gentle words, thoughtful deeds
S is for smiles, the sunshine everyone needs
G is for gratitude, our blessings big and small
I is for ideas, letting wisdom grow tall
V is for voices, singing, laughing, always caring
I is for Indians, who taught them about sharing
N is for neighbors, across the street, over the sea
G is for giving of myself to make a better me

By Judith A. Lindberg

 

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

HVAC HOLIDAY TIPS: PART I

 

 

1. Switch to LED Christmas Lights

LED Christmas lights use 90% less electricity than regular Christmas lights, and can be purchased for around $10 a strand.

2. Use Fiber Optic Decorations

Fiber optic trees and decorations are the ultimate in energy efficiency. In most cases, they use a single light bulb located in the base of the unit to light the entire decoration? Now that is energy smart and budget smart!

3. Limit the Time Lights are On

Wait until dark to turn on your Christmas lights; then, turn them off before you go to bed. Six hours or less of daily use is a good goal to aim for. Do you have trouble remembering to turn your lights on and off?  Then, set a timer, and forget about it.

Article Source: About.com

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

WHY SELECT A BBB BUSINESS?
 PT V

Honor Promises. Abide by all written agreements and verbal representations. Fulfill contracts signed and agreements reached. Honor representations by correcting mistakes as quickly as possible.

Be Responsive. Address marketplace disputes quickly, professionally and in good faith. Promptly respond to all complaints forwarded by BBB by resolving the complaint directly with the complainant and notifying BBB. Or, provide BBB with a response that addresses all of the issues raised by the complainant, including appropriate evidence and documents supporting the businesses position, and explain why any relief sought by the complainant cannot or should not be granted.

WHY SELECT A BBB BUSINESS?

 PT III

Advertise Honestly. Adhere to established standards of advertising and selling. Follow federal, state and local advertising laws. Avoid misleading customers by creating the false impression of sponsorship or endorsement.

Tell the Truth.  Honestly represent products and services, including making clear and adequate disclosures of all material terms. Disclose all material facts in both written and verbal representations, and remember that misrepresentation may result not only from direct statements but by omitting or obscuring relevant facts.

Be Transparent. Clearly disclose all policies, guarantees and procedures that impact or influence a customer’s decision to buy. Clearly disclose terms of any written contract, any guarantees or warranties, any restrictions or limitations imposed, total cost of the transaction, including tax, and other related charges.

For more information visit: www.evenflowmechanical.com

WHY SELECT A BBB BUSINESS?

 PT II

BBB is taking steps to ensure that the HVAC industry self-regulates by following BBB Standards of Trust and adhering to existing laws when dealing with customers. BBB reviews customer complaints and advertising, and may notify HVAC businesses of their concerns and work with businesses to resolve patterns of complaints and problematic practices. The alternative is more regulation and litigation in the marketplace to resolve these practices.   

BBB urges all HVAC businesses to promote voluntary self-regulation and to review California laws and BBB Standards of Trust. HVAC businesses that follow BBB Standards of Trust should, in part:

Build Trust. Establish and maintain a positive track record in the marketplace. Maintain a license with the CSLB, be properly bonded, register local building permits and provide periodic updates when requested by BBB.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

How to Recognize and Respond to a Natural Gas Leak:

 

PT II

Smell

The distinctive odor of natural gas. Some people may not be able to smell the odor because they have a diminished sense of smell, olfactory fatigue (normal, temporary inability to distinguish an odor after prolonged exposure to it) or because the odor is being masked or hidden by other odors that are present, such as cooking, damp, musty or chemical odors. In addition, certain conditions in pipe and soil can cause odor fade - the loss of odorant so that it is not detectable by smell.

 

What to do if you suspect a gas leak

If you smell a natural gas odor, hear the hissing sound of gas escaping or see other signs of a leak:

REMAIN calm.

DON'T light a match, candle or cigarette.

DON'T turn electrical appliances or lights on or off or use any device that could cause a spark.

IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE the area, and from a safe location, call SoCalGas at

1-800-427-2200

24 hours a day, seven days a week; or call 911.

Use Your Senses

Use your senses of sight, hearing or smell to be alerted to the presence of a gas leak.

 

 COURTESY OF: http://www.socalgas.com/

Updated 6/2014

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Nov 2, 2014 - Daylight Saving Time Ends

Back 1 hour

More light in the morning

Sunrise and sunset will be about one hour earlier on Sunday, November 2, 2014 than the day before, so there will be more light in the morning.

When local daylight time is about to reach Sunday, November 2, 2014, 2:00:00 AM clocks are turned backward 1 hour to Sunday, November 2, 2014, 1:00:00 AM local standard time instead. Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour earlier on Nov 2, 2014 than the day before.
 

 

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

How to Recognize and Respond to a Natural Gas Leak:

 

PT I

Spotting a dry patch of grass in your yard is one of many signs of a potential gas leak. That's why you should rely on all of your senses and:

---

Look

  A damaged connection to a gas appliance

          Dirt or water being blown into the air

          Dead or dying vegetation (in an otherwise moist area) over or near pipeline areas

          A fire or explosion near a pipeline

          Exposed pipeline after an earthquake, fire, flood or other disaster

---

Listen

An unusual sound, such as a hissing, whistling or roaring sound near a gas line or appliance.

---

 COURTESY OF: http://www.socalgas.com/

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

WHY SELECT A BBB BUSINESS?

 PT I

BBB Partners with Contractors State License Board: August 25, 2014

Sacramento, Calif. - The Better Business Bureau and the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) are working together to build marketplace trust and prevent HVAC fraud. Some heating, ventilation, and air conditioning businesses have received complaints of high- pressure sales tactics and misrepresentations, which often result in unnecessary repairs or replacements. These practices create an unethical and unfair marketplace and could become more prevalent without intervention. To ensure a trustworthy HVAC industry, BBB holds businesses to BBB Standards of Trust, which help businesses comply with local, state, and federal laws through voluntary self-regulation.

Some HVAC businesses take advantage of consumers through predatory practices: by making false or misleading statements or having customers waive their three-day right to cancel. These practices violate the California Legal Remedies Act, which forbids misrepresentation of service, product and advertising. In the case of an emergency, waivers for consumers in California are generally held as void and unenforceable.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Top 5 Tips for Fall HVAC Maintenance
(PT 5)

 

5. Schedule a Preventive Maintenance Check

A professional inspection and tune up will make sure your heating system is clean and that all parts are properly aligned and in good shape. This helps to ensure that your system is at maximum efficiency, that any small problems are caught before they turn into big ones, and that you remain comfortable throughout the winter.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

TRADE LESSONS: TIPS ON HOW TO HIRE AN HVAC CONTRACTOR

 Part II

 

• NATE CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS
• MONEY SAVING TROUBLESHOOTING TECHNIQUES
• CHECKLIST: DOES YOUR HVAC CONTRACTOR PROVIDE?
• EPA CERTIFICATION (ESSENTIAL IN THE HVAC INDUSTRY)
• CE COURSES: CRUCIAL TO KEEP UP WITH THE EVER CHANGING LAWS, CODES, ETC.

 

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Top 5 Tips for Fall HVAC Maintenance
(PT 4)

 4. Make Sure Airways Are Clear

If your heating system uses separate vents from your air conditioner, make sure you have not placed furniture or other items in front of intake or outflow vents during the cooling season, and also make sure vents are free of dust and pet hair. If you have radiators or baseboard heating, remember that furniture placed directly in front of the heating elements can keep heat from circulating throughout the room.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Top 5 Tips for Fall HVAC Maintenance 

(PT 3)

 

3. Inspect the Ducts

Turn the systems fan on and then head up into your attic. Listen and feel for any air escaping from your ducts that should be going into your home. Repair any holes with mastic, and schedule a professional inspection every few years because a pressure test is the only way to be sure your ducts are completely airtight.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

TRADE LESSONS: TIPS ON HOW TO HIRE AN HVAC CONTRACTOR Part I

Would you let a pharmacist perform your surgery?  Then why would you hire a plumbing firm to install your HVAC system?  Though both are professionals working in the same area of expertise, their skill sets are as different as night and day.

 

Take a look at these two diagrams and stay tuned for Part II

HVAC Install

PLUMBING Install

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Top 5 Tips for Fall HVAC Maintenance 

(PT 2)

 

2. Check the Thermostat

Place a separate thermometer next to your thermostat to make sure both have the same reading, and then raise your thermostats temperature above the current temperature to make sure it turns on when it should. Then set it to 68 degrees for the winter,  each degree higher will add at least one percent to your energy costs. Consider installing a programmable thermostat if you do not already have one to save even more energy while you are at work or sleeping.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Top 5 Tips for Fall HVAC Maintenance (PT 1)

Fall is the time to make sure your heating system is ready to go for the winter. When the first chilly weather hits, you want to be sure that your heating system will both turn on and that it will be operating efficiently so you do not blow your budget with unnecessary fuel costs. At Evenflow Mechanical, we recommend that you take the following steps before calling us to schedule a tune-up:

1. Fresh Filters

Prior to the start of heating season, install a new air filter if your system uses replaceable filters, or clean its filter if it does not. Dirty air filters can greatly reduce your systems efficiency and increase your energy costs. Mark the date for the next replacement or cleaning, 30 to 90 days depending on the filter type on your calendar. To keep yourself from procrastinating going to the store to buy replacement filters when the time comes, buy enough replacements to get you through heating season in the fall.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

A Seasonal Guide To HVAC Maintenance

Fall

As summer comes to a close and the temperature starts to drop, now is the time have an HVAC specialist come out and inspect your furnace and heating system. The same principle applies here to heating as it did to cooling: beat the rush and try to prevent problems before they start. Furnaces, like any machine, require regular tune-ups. It is also a good time to make sure you have a stock of furnace filters, they usually go on sale at DIY stores around this time of year making it all the easier.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Energy-Saving Tips

These tips are designed to help you choose effective ways to reduce your energy bills. Some measures may not be relevant depending on climate, the age of your home and appliances, and past improvements made to your home.

Fast and Free

The average home spends hundreds of dollars a year on energy costs. But you can lower your energy bills and help save the environment at the same time!

Be a speedy chef

Nothing is more energy efficient for cooking than your microwave. It uses two-thirds less energy than your stove.

Push a button to wash your dishes

Surprise! Your dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand. Then let dishes air dry to save even more!

Fill up the fridge

Having lots of food in your fridge keeps it from warming up too fast when the door is open. So your fridge doesn't have to work as hard to stay cool.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com