Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Jul 22, 2009
You already know that central A/C is cooler than you think because it protects your home, improves air quality and saves you money.
Do you know all of this would not be possible without duct work?
Most air conditioning and heating systems require some form of duct work to channel the air to places in your home where the conditioned air is needed.
With the help of air ducts, cool or warm air can be channeled and evenly dispersed among zones in your home, reducing your cost.
Make sure it’s installed properly, by licensed technicians. Improper installation results in poor performance, bad air flow, leaky duct work systems, and higher utility bills.
Duct cleaning should be a part of your maintenance schedule.
When it comes time for cleaning (and it always comes too soon), the National Air Duct Cleaner Association (NADCA) recommends you follow these steps:
- Check the joints for leaks. If leaks exist, seal them.
- Make sure there is no moisture in your vent system. If there is, try to locate the source so that you can prevent future moisture.
- Clean HVAC registers & filters. Empty drain pans.
- Loosen contaminants in ducts by thoroughly cleansing/scrubbing ducts.
- Use a high powered vacuum to eliminate contaminants from duct system
- Use biocide to prevent bacteria from growing
Ductwork cleaning is not there to make the metal shine. By having your ducts cleaned you rid human and pet hair, dust, construction debris, human and pet dander, dust particles, and the occasional coins, marbles and toy that children find fascinating to throw down the registers. Do you want to think of these particulates blowing into the air you breath or the places you rest and sleep? Keeping your duct system clean will keep your system operating efficiently and effectively.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Tue, Jul 21, 2009
Nowadays it’s not uncommon to review your utility bills and wonder, “What can I do to lower this cost? I can’t continue to pay this amount.” There’s no need to ask professionals or financial assistants for help. The answer is simple. It’s been beaming you in the face all along.
Many people turn their head when they hear the words “solar water heating,”especially in Ohio. Due to the Buckeye State’s lack of sunny days, many doubt that solar water heating would even work, but perhaps they should turn back around and listen. Solar water heating systems are dependable, flexible and pollution free.
Currently there are over 1.5 million homes in North America using solar energy for their hot water heating. Solar water heating systems can heat much of your home’s interior space and water by using renewable energy from the sun.
There are two types of solar water heating systems, a pre heat solar tank system and a solar combo tank system. The pre heat solar tank system's job is to supplement warm water to an existing tank. This system uses a stratification theory meaning that the water tank is heated using a very slow pump. The top layers of water are always the hottest and this water is used first. This system can supply a daily demand for water easily. This system can also be adapted to tank-less water heaters as well.
The other system is a solar combo tank system. This is a combination system using a solar pre heat tank with an electric back up heater in one single unit. It uses an internal heat exchange at the bottom. There is a solar loop that heats the water. The electric heater element is located at the top of the tank and can heat up water quickly and is useful when there are days with no sun.
A big question many people ask is can we count on solar heating systems to supply power even when the sun is not shining? Technologies allow heat to accumulate during the day and then set aside that heat energy for later consumption. Homes can generate electricity even when the sun isn’t shining; at night or on a cloudy day. Solar water heating is to be used as a supplement to the existing heating system.
Another question that often comes up is, solar heating expensive? The answer is yes, but there are many incentives and tax breaks. With a 30% Federal Tax Credit and the state of Ohio utility incentives, now is the time to purchase the equipment. Not to mention homeowners will be saving money on their monthly utility bills. You can view them in more detail here at, Solar Estimate.
At Raymond Plumbing we are here to help you better understand tax credits, deductions, incentives and rates that may be available to you.
Stay Tuned: In our upcoming blog, could solar heating help Northeast Ohio, part 2 we will be discussing whether the design and structure of your home matters if installing a solar water heating system.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Jul 16, 2009
To our valued customers,
Raymond Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning has done a great deal of research on the best available rates for natural gas and have just completed a special arrangement with a company called Consumer Choice Marketing (CCM).
CCM specializes in getting low rates for both residential and commercial users of natural gas.
Currently if you were to compare rates with your neighbors, you would find a variety of gas rates being charged by various suppliers. Now as an added benefit for our valued customers, you are eligible for the lowest rates that we have found.
In order to lower your gas bill, just call our energy consultant, Bill Gibb at 440-986-2655 or e-mail a copy of your bill to billgibb@hotmail.com and he will contact you with the potential savings and take care of the entire change over for you.
The change is easy, your utility company will continue to bill you, read your meter and service your account. By making this change you are only changing the supplier of the actual gas, which is what makes the savings possible. There is no hook up fee, no contract to sign and no risk. If at any point you are unsatisfied with the savings you can change at no cost at any time with a 30-day notice.
Raymond Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning is working to help our customers save money in these challenging times!
If you have any questions about this opportunity please feel free to contact Bill Gibb, this CCM Energy Consultant at (440) 225-9266 or email him at billgibb@hotmail.com.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Jul 16, 2009
Nowadays we need to become more active in saving as much money as possible, so why not take heed to these simple water conservation tips to lower the cost of your water bill?
1. Check for leaks! This is the most important tip on preventing high water bills. According to the National Sanitation Foundation, a leaky toilet can waste as much as 500 gallons of water per day!
2. Use a dishwasher. Contrary to popular belief, dishwashers actually use less water than cleaning dishes manually.
3. Take Shorter Showers. A five-minute shower averages about 10 gallons of water, whereas a 15-minute shower triples that amount. Trying to stay within the five-minute range for a shower can cut down water usage tremendously.
4. Turn off water when brushing your teeth/shaving. A simple twist of the knob prevents wasted water.
5. Install an adjustable flapper. This popular trend is catching on among many manufacturers. These adjustable flappers are convenient because they allow you to adjust your preferred flush volume, which can save up to three gallons per flush.
6. Re-wear clothes. It sounds unhygienic, but articles of clothes like pants and jackets usually don’t acquire much dirtiness after wearing them once, so why not wear your jeans twice? It’ll reduce the amount of clothes you need to wash! The same concept applies to bath towels.
7. Utilize Unwanted Water. Put your half full water bottles aside and save them for later when you need to water your garden. Other examples of “greywater” include cooking water and excess water from faucets.
8. Add Mulch! Incorporating mulch into your garden can help contain moisture for your plants, which, in effect, means your plants require less water.
9. Wash your car later. It is said that washing a car uses 100-500 gallons of water, so do yourself a favor and wash your car once a month instead of every other week. If you insist on washing your car, it is recommended to go to an actual car wash where you can save a minimum of 100 gallons of water.
10. Insulate pipes. If you hate standing next to your sink and just waiting for the water to become warmer, perhaps you should consider covering your hot water pipes with foam insulation. This will not only give you hot water quicker, but it’ll cut down water use too.
11. Appliances. Change to appliances that have earned Energy Star ratings. Qualified clothes washers and dishwashers will use 10-50% less energy and water than standard models.
These 11 tips are easy, everyday tasks that that won’t cause much trouble in your daily schedule. We hope you take note of these simple ways to benefit your pocket and the environment.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Jul 09, 2009
We received a comment a few weeks ago about the benefits of central air conditioning versus just having a window unit in a few key rooms of the house. While we can see the argument for both, we’ve decided to breakdown our top reasons for using central A/C over window units.
5 reasons to use central air conditioning in your house
- You really don’t stay in the same room all summer. When you’re in your home, you’re working from room to room, doing different things all over. You don’t necessarily want to trap all the cool air in one room and the warm air in another – as this can cause moisture in the air when they mix and can cause heat exhaustion if you do spend time in a room without a unit.
- More cost-effective. Because window units are only used when you need them – they run at a higher level and use more energy – costing you more money in the long run. If you let your central A/C stay at a constant temperature, it’ll save you money in the end.
- Reduce the noise. A few years ago I still had a window unit in my home office – try concentrating with that racket. It seems like something you’d get used to, but it’s definitely not worth the hassle.
- Clear room for the view. The compressor for central A/C is the only visible part of having it, and it’s usually placed outside in a subtle place. So no more dusting between those slates in the unit and no worries about it spitting ice chips all over your living room floor.
- Combination savings. Central air and central heating generally come together, it’s a bit soon to think about your heating needs for the winter – although someone pointed out that July in Ohio seems confused right now – but if you do central air, doing central heating is that much easier and more affordable.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Jul 03, 2009
It sure seems that way, especially during the “dog days” of summer, but what’s the reality of global warming in our region? Independent research predicts more frequent, more severe and longer lasting heat waves and droughts in the coming years.
Depending on our commitment to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions, we may see degrading air quality, a shrinking Lake Erie and declines in the health and quality of livestock and agriculture. Roll in increasing disease and economic impacts, and it seems we’re in for some tough times ahead.
What can we do about this? Voicing your concern to your state and local representatives is a good start, but there’s a lot more you can do at home and at work to help improve the situation. Most of us are aware of the benefits of energy conservation. The most obvious benefit is lower electric and gas bills!
- Replace your old incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving (compact fluorescent) light bulbs.
- Monitor you’re A/C thermostat, and keep it as close to the outside temperature as you can while still remaining comfortable.
- Unplug your recharging units for cell phones and other electronics when not in use.
- Always look for the ENERGY STAR® and EnergyGuide labels when shopping for home appliances.
- Keep your A/C and heating systems well maintained with an inspection and service every year.
But there’s more you can do, even at home, and now’s a great time to take advantage of tax incentives for home energy efficiency. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes new tax credits for home improvements designed to reduce energy consumption. You can take a tax credit for 30% of the cost of improvements up to a total of $1500 per year for great energy savers such as:
- Heating and cooling systems including energy efficient central A/C units
- Water heaters including gas, oil or propane and electric heat pumps
- Roofing and insulation including metal or asphalt shingles and high SEER home insulation
- Energy efficient windows and doors that can greatly reduce energy loss and electric bills
Check the ENERGY STAR® website for eligibility of your home improvement project, and remember to consult with a licensed professional to plan and install your upgrades. You can check the company or contractor out by going to the BBB web site and downloading free reliability reports.
Raymond Plumbing and Heating trained personnel are here to provide you with trouble-free service and installation. We install reliable and energy efficient equipment with satisfaction guaranteed. We are licensed, bonded and insured.