Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Sep 25, 2009
News of melting polar ice caps, warming seas, and rising temperatures has everyone thinking about climate change and what they can do to reduce their carbon footprint. Reducing home energy consumption is an excellent first step toward increasing your personal commitment to protecting the environment. Here's a handy link to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Household Emissions Calculator. Follow the instructions and answer the questions to get a rough estimate of the greenhouse gas emissions you and your family produce.
Figuring out how you use energy is the first step toward reducing your personal energy consumption. Many simple measures like increasing recycling, replacing cracked caulk around windows, adding weather strips to doors, and wrapping your water heater in an insulated cover can help increase energy efficiency in your home and reduce energy use. The bonus, of course, is that by reducing energy use, you not only protect the environment, you save money. Arranging for an annual inspection of your home’s heating/cooling system by a qualified HVAC professional will keep your furnace and air conditioner operating at peak performance, reducing unnecessary energy expenditures and decreasing monthly operating costs.
Installing energy-efficient Energy Star furnaces, air conditioners, hot water tanks and other appliances in your home can also have a considerable impact on energy use. A joint effort of the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Star products and practices helped Americans save $19 billion on their utility bills in 2008 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of 29 million cars. By choosing energy efficient products, the average family can reduce utility bills and their carbon footprint by a third. And in 2009 and 2010, many Energy Star products may qualify for special Federal tax credits.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Aug 14, 2009
When it's time for a new water heater, calling a professional may be the smartest thing you could ever do. There are 30 reasons why we believe every customer should hire a professional to install a new water heater. Here they are:
- We believe in the best for you - Professionals know how well water heaters can work and how safe they can be when properly installed. We also know the downfalls and dangers of bad installations.
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The rules have changed -The design of water heaters has changed and they must comply with new standards. A professional installer knows what meets these requirements.
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A growing family needs more hot water -When your family grows or when you add a large tub, shower or an entire bathroom, your demand for hot water increases. A professional can help you select a model specifically built for these types of changes.
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The safest water heaters are installed by professionals -You will have a peace of mind if a professional installs your water heater.
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A professional stands behind his work - A professional is there to back up his work.
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Troubleshooting is for the professional - It’s best to do the right thing first. Call a professional.
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One call does it all - When you call a professional to install your new water heater; you’ll get a complete job well done the first time.
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A professional does a full service job -When you hire a professional, you’ll get delivery and careful handling of your new water heater, proper installation and removal of the old water heater from your home.
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Your choices and options are varied - A professional can show you water heater options with improved features and higher operating efficiencies.
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Avoid installation mishaps - An inexperienced installer could inadvertently damage delicate parts, cross-thread gas connections or forget to elevate the water heater. A professional will complete the job well the first time.
- A professional understands proper sizing- Professional’s calculate the demands from multiple bathrooms, dishwashers, clothes washers and any other point-of-use.
- A professional understands the importance of proper venting- It is critical to vent the unit. Improper vent size or total length can lead to a dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide inside the home.
- Installing the proper T&P valve- The temperature and pressure relief valve opens to relieve pressure. Improper installation can damage to the water heater.
- Working safely with a gas fuel source- Oil and gas fired water heaters require knowledge of the gas or oil fuel source and an understanding of gas connections supply lines and start up. A professional has this experience and knowledge.
- Using the correct materials- The choice of materials, water pipes and electric feed lines is best left to a professional.
- The job is done right the first time- When you have a professional install you new water heater, you get the most for your money as well as the satisfaction of knowing the job was completed with expertise you can trust.
- A professional will help you- Water heaters are factory-set at a certain temperature for you safety. Your professional will explain the settings and the dangers of improper use of the water heater’s thermostat.
- A simple water heater….isn’t- Today’s water heaters are more complicated than ever. Proper installation and service require that water heater manufacturers provide training and education. This valuable knowledge is only available to a professional installer.
- Proper drainage is a must- A water heater could leak or expel water due to pressure build-up. This could cause damage to floor coverings and other items. A professional will install a drain pan and pipe it properly to a drain.
- Getting the right gas water heater for your home- Making the wrong choice can be a serious hazard. Gas valves are designed to handle a specific type of fuel. Some gas-fired water heaters are designed for certain types of homes.
- Knowledge of electricity and it uses - Installation of electric water heaters requires knowledge of the properly rated materials as well as knowledge of the home's electrical capacity. An adequate electrical service is a requirement.
- A professional understands thermal expansion - do you have an open or closed water system? Closed systems are subject to thermal expansion and pressure build-up. Open systems can become closed when check valves, water softeners or water meters are added. A professional will add an expansion tank to avoid problems.
- Pressure build-up is a serious matter - even if your water heater tank doesn't rupture from thermal expansion, pressure inside the tank can cause a constriction of the flue tube. This, in turn, can cause a back up of combustion gases and carbon monoxide inside the home.
- Multi –purpose water heaters may be the answer - dual-purpose models can be used for space heating and snow melting when properly connected to a hydronic piping system. A professional knows where to find these special models.
- Many special water heaters aren’t sold to consumers - Some water heaters cannot be purchased by the public. There are thousands of models with important variables and safety features that you'll never know about unless you call a professional.
- It may be time for a trade-in - Even if you water heater is functioning adequately you may not be getting as much hot water as needed. A professional can give you guidance and explain your options.
- Getting a proper diagnosis of the problem - If your water heater looks fine but it just won't make hot water, a professional can diagnose what may be a simple problem. You may just need an inexpensive replacement part.
- A professional has the education and experience it takes - When a plumber comes into your home, he/she knows exactly what to do.
- A professional is on top of new technology - Professionals know when more efficient models or technology changes are available.
- Laws governing installation - In many parts of the country, there are laws and codes governing the installation of water heaters. These laws state that a water heater must be installed by a licensed professional.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Jun 18, 2009
With the summer quickly approaching there are many innovative air conditioning products that are ready to launch.
Carrier is introducing their new 52V Vertical Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner. This product can deliver conditioned air from a single unit to one or multiple rooms. This is a good economical choice for new construction or as a replacement unit.
Carrier also introduced the 48P Weathermaster which is a single-package high-efficiency gas heating/electric cooling rooftop unit. Carrier P Series rooftop units are pre-wired and factory tested in both cooling and heating modes, making this product a two-for-one deal. Units are available in dedicated vertical supply/return airflow models as well as a wide variety of gas heating options.
The AquaSmart, from R.W. Beckett Corporation, is an advanced boiler temperature control designed for use on light commercial and residential boiler systems. This product is simple to use and technologically advanced. It will be available in fall 2009.
Also, the new product, SolarHot, reduces energy consumption and saves you money with simple but highly efficient system. This system can be integrated into a hydronic heating system and can provide up to 80% of domestic hot water needs. The SolarHot system was rated #1 in its class by The Solar Rating and Certification Corporation.
Another new product that will keep you cool this summer is NewAir’s sleek AC-10000E portable air conditioner. This product features an ultra compact design and self-evaporative technology.
Another big feature of the AC-10000E is elimination of excess moisture. It also has a purifying air filter that eliminates airborne particles.
At Raymond Plumbing, we believe in going green – trying to be as eco-friendly as possible within our realm of expertise. Let us know if we can provide you with further information about the above air conditioning systems.
Contact us today for a FREE estimate on how we can reduce your cooling costs this summer.
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