Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Feb 05, 2010
Install Ventilators to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Back when energy was cheap, many U.S. homes were not insulated or weatherized. Homeowners didn’t need to worry about indoor/outdoor air exchange. Plenty of fresh air seeped into older homes through unsealed windows, doors, chimneys and roofs. Back then, homeowners didn’t have to worry about stale air, humidity buildup or sick homes. And when the house felt cold and drafty, homeowners just cranked the furnace up another notch.
Over the last few decades, as energy costs climbed steadily, the need for more energy-efficient homes drove development of products and building techniques designed to prevent heat loss. Insulation products and weatherization practices allowed builders to create homes that were so well insulated that indoor/outdoor air exchange was practically zero. It wasn’t until families started getting sick that people realized a certain amount of air exchange is healthy for humans – and houses.
Not only did super-weatherized homes trap cold and flu germs inside where they could infect and reinfect families, these well-sealed homes didn’t allow the safe dissipation of chemical vapors emitted by building materials, household cleaners and other things we use everyday. In homes with little air exchange, these vapors could build to unhealthy levels. Another unexpected consequence was the build-up of excess humidity, promoting mold and bacteria growth. Sweating windows also rotted window frames and played havoc with paint and wallpaper. Families feared they were sacrificing their health for energy efficiency.
Ventilators Draw Fresh Air In, Then Distribute Air Through The Home
The solution was simple. Heating and cooling professionals started installing ventilators to draw fresh air into homes and expel stale air and excess humidity. Ventilators draw fresh air in through a filter, heat or cool the air, then distribute it through the home. Indoor air stays fresh and warm or cool while stale, humid air is expelled. Homeowners now enjoy the best of both worlds. Safe, fresh, well-ventilated air and energy-efficient homes.
Are you worried about the air you breathe in your home? Find out if your home's air is polluted with a simple diagnostic test called the AirAdvice™ Indoor Air Analysis. Register with us online today!
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Feb 04, 2010
This winter’s bizarre weather patterns are enough to confuse any weather forecaster, even the four-legged furry kind. Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil and Ohio’s favorite groundhog, Buckeye Chuck, couldn’t agree on when this winter’s cold, snowy weather would end. Apparently, nature’s pros are having as much trouble as our local Lorain County weather forecasters predicting this winter’s erratic weather patterns.
Six More Weeks of Winter. Stay Warm With an Energy Efficient Gas Furnace
Famed weather seer Punxsutawney Phil reportedly saw his shadow Tuesday, dooming us to six more weeks of winter. Surrounded by the press and hundreds of fans, Phil gibbered his forecast to his handlers in the traditional dawn ceremony on Gobbler’s Knob. Though not as nationally famous as Phil, Ohio’s own Buckeye Chuck is the hometown favorite when it comes to Groundhog Day weather predictions. When Chuck stuck his nose out of his Marion, Ohio burrow, all he saw were gray, overcast skies and falling snow. With no shadow in sight, Chuck predicted an early spring before burrowing back down into his cozy den.
While German tradition holds that we’ll have six more weeks of winter if a groundhog sees his shadow on February 2, who are you going to believe when the pros disagree? Since most Lorain County homeowners are getting tired of wielding the old snow shovel, we’re siding with Buckeye Chuck. When in doubt, always go with the hometown favorite.
Whether spring comes early to Lorain County or we’re forced to slog through six more weeks of cold weather, an energy efficient gas furnace will keep your Lorain County home warm and toasty. Purchase and installation of a new Energy Star rated energy efficient furnace can earn you a nice tax credit on your federal income taxes. Buy a top-rated energy efficient Carrier Infinity gas furnace during February and you’ll receive a free Puron air conditioner with Raymond’s Go Green This Winter promotion.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Feb 03, 2010
As temperatures dip below freezing, homeowners can practically hear their utility meters clicking off the dollars. Studies show that saving money is the primary motivator for saving energy. Decreasing environmental impact is important, but keeping expenses low is the biggest reason people turn down the thermostat and buy energy efficient appliances.
The most effective way to save energy and decrease your utility bills is to have an energy-efficient furnace installed by your heating professional. Heating and cooling technology has advanced considerably in the last few years with the national focus on energy efficiency driving significant improvements in furnace and air conditioning materials and construction. Today’s energy efficient furnaces and air conditioners are 96% efficient compared to older furnaces that were only 70% efficient when they were new. New energy-efficient furnaces and air conditioners are also eligible for federal tax credits.
The best way to bring down utility bills is to use energy-efficient appliances, but there are a few simple things you can do to start saving energy – and money -- today:
- Turn your thermostat down to 68 degrees during the day and 60 to 65 degrees at night. Every degree under 70 can save you 10% on the electric portion of your heating bill.
- Turn your thermostat down whenever you leave your home. Installing an energy efficient programmable thermostat makes it easy to save energy when you’re not home.
- Use portable heaters sparingly; they’re tremendous energy guzzlers. It can cost you $149 a month to run a 1500-watt heater full time.
- Have your heating professional test your air ducts for leaks. Repairing leaky ducts can save you up to a third on heating and cooling bills.
- Turning your water heater down to 120 degrees can save you up to $85 a year. Installing an energy-efficient water heater will save you even more.
Start saving money today with energy-efficient equipment! Schedule a FREE estimate on all installation projects.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Jan 29, 2010
While some Northern Ohio furnaces run on heating oil, most U.S. homes are heated by natural gas-burning furnaces.
How Gas Furnaces Work
Here’s how gas furnaces work. Hot gases created by the burning gas pass through curved metal tubing called a heat exchanger, then exit your home through a vent pipe. At the same time, the air circulating through your home is directed over the heat exchanger where it absorbs the heat from the hot metal. This warmed air is then circulated through your home by the furnace fan.
Why does gas smell like rotting eggs? The natural gas used to run your furnace is an odorless, colorless, highly-flammable gas. Because natural gas can be highly dangerous, particularly in enclosed spaces like your home, a minute amount (less than 1%) of ethyl mercaptan is added to serve as a warning should a gas leak develop. This stinky additive creates the distinctive sulfuric smell associated with natural gas.
Natural Gas can be Dangerous to your Health
Why is gas dangerous? Natural gas is an asphyxiant that can cause suffocation and death. As natural gas leaks into the air, it displaces the air’s oxygen content. When the oxygen level drops below 19.5%, suffocation gradually occurs. Asphyxiation progresses through several stages. At first breathing and pulse rates increase. Headache, nausea and drowsiness develop. Vision problems may be experienced with dizziness and confusion. As the level of gas increases, muscle coordination fails. Muscles feel weak and develop tremors. As oxygen levels fall below 8%, unconsciousness (narcosis) occurs. Extremities become numb and turn bluish (cyanosis) from lack of oxygen in the blood. The central nervous system is permanently damaged and death follows. If oxygen levels continue to decrease below 6.5% to 3.8%, the gas ignites.
A tragic scenario and one that can be avoided with an annual Heating Performance Check by a licensed home heating professional. It is not to late to have a heating performance check. Schedule today!
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Jan 28, 2010
$1500 Income Tax Credit on Energy-Efficient Home Improvements
Lorain County residents still have time to cash in on the government’s new energy tax credit. The federal government is offering up to a $1500 income tax credit on the purchase and installation of certain energy-efficient appliances. While many Lorain County residents worried that they had missed the boat and that the program had expired at the end of last year, we want to reassure folks that’s there’s still plenty of time to take advantage of this money-saving program. Federal income tax credits on the purchase and installation of energy-efficient furnaces, central air conditioners, water heaters, heat pumps, boilers, circulating fans and other Energy Star rated appliances will continue all year long through December 31, 2010 (2016 for heat pumps). Click here to download a free information packet about the $1500 tax credit.
Save Money on your Utility Bill
While Lorain County residents have all year to take advantage of the government’s tax credit offer, there are important reasons to make the switch now. Why wait? The sooner you start using energy-efficient Energy Star appliances in your home, the sooner you start saving energy and cash on your monthly utility bills. Using Energy Star appliances in your Lorain County home can reduce your monthly utility bill by as much as 30%. The sooner you switch the more you save.
But if you’re considering replacing your furnace or central air conditioner, you should definitely make your move now. Until February 28, 2019, Raymond Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning will give you a brand new, energy-efficient Puron air conditioner with the purchase and professional installation of an Energy Star Carrier Infinity high-efficiency furnace. Our Go Green this Winter is a deal that just can’t be beat. Not only do you get a top-rated energy-efficient furnace packed with top-of-the-line features, but you get a free super energy-efficient air conditioner and you can collect on the fed’s tax credit for both appliances.
You just can’t beat this offer. The time to act is now!
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Mon, Jan 25, 2010
Reduce Your Heating Bills up to 70% by Installing a Geothermal Heat Pump
Geothermal heat pumps tap into the power of nature to heat and cool your Lorain County home efficiently. Geothermal heat pumps provide comfortable even temperatures throughout your home in both winter and summer, With the Federal Stimulus Tax Credit providing up to a 30% income tax credit on the cost of installing geothermal heat pumps, this is an excellent time to have your Lorain County heating and cooling professional install a heat pump in your home. In Lorain County, energy-efficient geothermal heat pumps can cut your heating bills by 50% to 70% and air conditioning bills by 40%. If you add a hot water assist to your heat pump system, you can recycle hot water created during system operation and enjoy virtually free hot water all summer long.
Their superior efficiency and reliability has made geothermal heat pumps the heat pump system of choice in Lorain County and throughout the country. Geothermal heat pumps tap into the ability of ground water to absorb and retain heat at a constant temperature. At a depth of 30 feet, ground water maintains a constant temperature that varies by less than a single degree throughout the year. Geothermal heat pumps reticulate water via a sealed, non-polluting water system that is never exposed to the atmosphere.
Rather than creating heat like furnaces, heat pumps transfer heat between the ground water and your home. In the winter they pull heat absorbed and stored in ground water into your home. In the summer they pump heat collecting inside your home out into ground water. The fairly constant and more temperate temperature of ground water throughout the year allows geothermal heat pumps to work efficiently all year round.
Find out how you can qualify for the federal stimulus tax credit!
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Jan 22, 2010
Improve the Performance of your Furnace with a Heating Performance Check
Auto repair experts say the single most important thing you can do to improve the performance and reliability of your car is to get the oil checked regularly. It’s a simple, inexpensive maintenance chore that can add years of life to your vehicle and save you thousands of dollars in repair bills down the line. That’s the same reason home heating professionals recommend you schedule an annual Heating Performance Check with a licensed Lorain County heating professional.
Save Money on Your Heating Bill with a Heating Perfomance Check
An annual furnace inspection can pinpoint potential problems before they become tragic disasters. Not only does an annual Heating Performance Check ensure that your home furnace is working at peak efficiency, but an experienced heating professional will also check for gas or carbon monoxide leaks to ensure the safety of your family. Tragically, deadly carbon monoxide fumes from improperly working furnaces kill families in their sleep every year. The best way to protect your family against this odorless silent killer is to have your furnace inspected by a licensed heating professional every year.
A properly running furnace burns less fuel, saving you money on your heating bill. And with Lorain County temperatures regularly dropping into the double and single digits during the winter, an annual Heating Performance Check will protect your family from a chilly middle-of-the-night breakdown. Annual furnace inspections catch small problems while they’re easy and inexpensive to fix.
It's Not too Late to have a Heating Performance Check
In Lorain County, the best time of year to schedule your annual Heating Performance Check is in late summer before you fire up your furnace in the fall. However, it’s never too late in the season to make sure your furnace is operating safely. It’s also important to schedule your annual Heating Performance Check with a licensed Lorain County heating professional with the knowledge and experience to recognize potential problems and fix them before they cause disaster.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Jan 21, 2010
Prevent Frozen Water Pipes
Frozen pipes can create serious problems for Lorain County homeowners during extended cold spells. When water freezes it expands. Trapped inside a water pipe, water has nowhere to go. As frozen water continues expanding, ever-increasing pressure -- more than 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch -- builds up inside water pipes. Eventually, the force of the pressure ruptures the pipe.
When a water pipe ruptures, there’s nothing left to hold back the flow of water into your home from the main water line out in the street. Your water meter will start spinning as hundreds of gallons of water per hour start flowing into your house. Not only will the water do thousands of dollars of damage to your home and possessions, you’ll be stuck with a whopping water bill!
There are several things you can do to help prevent frozen water pipes:
- If you’re traveling, it’s OK to lower the thermostat, just don’t lower it below about 50 degrees in Lorain County. Arrange for a neighbor to check on your home, particularly if the mercury dips or the power goes out.
- Pipes along outside walls are more apt to freeze. One of the biggest culprits in frozen pipe disasters is forgetting to disconnect hoses from outdoor faucets and neglecting to turn off water to those exterior faucets.
- Automatic sprinkler systems should be purged of water every fall using compressed air and the water lines shut down for the winter.
Despite precautions, extended cold weather can cause indoor water lines to freeze. Run faucets daily to promote water flow. If flow stops, turn off water into the house at the water main to minimize potential damage. Call a licensed Lorain County plumber immediately. An experienced plumber can locate and unthaw frozen pipes before they burst and damage your home.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Jan 20, 2010
Start Saving Water Now Before we are Forced to Choose Between Driking Water and Using it for Santitation
“No Loo? No I do.” is the catchy, chuckle-inducing jingle that is responsible for the construction of 1.4 million toilets in India. But a lot of young men aren’t chuckling. In rural India, new brides are refusing to walk down the aisle unless the groom promises them a toilet. “No Toilet, No Bride” is the slogan of a women’s rights campaign geared to bring indoor plumbing to rural India where half the population – nearly 665 million people – still lacks access to private toilets.
Community toilets and latrines or the open fields are often the only lavatory option in the small villages that dot India’s countryside. Lack of modern sanitary facilities is more than a lack of convenience. Poor sanitation can spread diseases like typhoid, diarrhea and malaria. Women are driving change with new-found social power. They want bathrooms with modern toilets and it looks like they’re going to get them. As one love-struck 22-year-old recently commented to The Washington Post, “I will have to work hard to afford a toilet. We won’t get any bride if we don’t have one now.”
India’s privy plight might bring a chuckle, but it should also make us appreciate what we have. Of course, climatologists warn that if we don’t start conserving our water supply, the day may come when we don’t have enough water to flush our nice, modern toilets. Last summer, severe drought in California, Georgia and the Southwest had some folks catching shower, bath and dirty dish water in buckets and using it to flush their toilets. Some fear that climate change will force us to eventually choose between drinking water and using it for sanitation. Scientists are urging people to start saving water now before we reach a crisis point.
Find out what you can do! Water conservation tips you can implement at home.
Water saving toilets qualify for the energy-efficient tax credit. Save substantially on your monthly energy bills and help the environment at the same time!
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Jan 15, 2010
Ohio’s Cash for Appliance Clunkers Rebate Program
Energy hogging appliances are about to get the Cash for Clunkers treatment. Instead of gas-guzzling autos, this time the Clunkers program will be directed at energy-wasting appliances. When the program goes into effect sometime this quarter, Lorain County residents will be eligible for money-saving rebates when they replace out-dated, energy-consuming water heaters with new, energy-efficient Energy Star water heaters. Refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers are among the other appliances included in the new Cash for Clunkers program.
Install Energy-Efficient Appliances in Your Home to Qualify
To encourage consumers to install energy-efficient appliances in their homes, last summer the U.S. Department of Energy set aside $300 million in federal stimulus money to provide rebates for the purchase of Energy Star appliances. At a news conference announcing the program, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said, “Appliances consume a huge amount of our electricity, so there’s enormous potential to both save energy and save families money every month.”
To Qualify Your Water Heater Must Carry the Energy Star Label
Ohio’s application for federal stimulus funds to finance an appliance clunkers program was approved in December. The state will receive $11 million to distribute nearly 90,000 rebates to Ohio residents who purchase qualifying energy-efficient water heaters, refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers from Ohio retailers. To qualify for a rebate, the purchased water heater or other appliance must carry an Energy Star label. Depending on the type of appliance, rebates will range from $100 to $250. Rebates will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are gone. The Ohio Department of Development is in the process of notifying water heater installers and appliance dealers about program specifics. Ohio’s Cash for Appliance Clunkers rebate program is expected to launch within the next few months.
Lorain County residents who want more information about the energy-efficient Energy Star rated water heaters that will be eligible for Ohio’s Cash for Appliance Clunkers rebate program, should contact Raymond Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.