Monday, December 28, 2009

Spring Is Coming, is your HVAC unit ready?

Well its that time of year again. That breath of fresh Spring air. You know what I am talking about.
That seemingly necessary desire to visit your local home improvement store and purchase some new garden tools, patio furniture, or maybe a shiny new riding lawn mower. I think you get the point. Cabin fever has finally taken its toll. It happens to all of us. Spring fever is contagious and seems to have a positive effect on everyone that comes in contact with it. One thing that a lot of homeowners don’t think about until it is too late is their air conditioner for the home. It is one of the most important components in the building block of your house. It controls the comfort level. It won’t be long until it is time to fire it up for the season. Here is the big question—Will it start up when I need it or will huff and puff and just fizzle out. I think at some point in time we all have taken the old air conditioner for granted.

Most people just don’t realize how hard it works to keep us cool. Did you know that an air conditioner works harder than your automobile does? If properly maintained it will outlast many automobiles. Most of us don’t really want to know exactly how that cool air comes into the house, just so it is there when we need it. I would like to give you a little bit of information that you may find helpful.

Most of us spend about 90% of the day indoors, whether it is in our home, our office, or school. According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tests, the level of pollutants are 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. Wow, what a wake up call. This makes us wonder about the quality of the air in our homes. Your air conditioner controls temperature and humidity. So you see why it is so important to be concerned about the condition of your equipment.

I have been in the heating and air conditioning business for 35 years and one of the leading causes in air conditioning failure is improper or lack of proper maintenance. Think about this for a moment, what would happen to you if you did not take your automobile in for service when it is time? You would probably be left stranded somewhere on the side of the road with a very expensive repair ahead of you. Automobile manufacturers want you to get the expected life out of your vehicle, that’s why they remind you with the little “service engine soon” light.

The same applies to your air conditioner. Remember it works harder than your automobile. Normally 2 times a year is what most manufacturers recommend for maintenance. Once for the fall / winter season and once for the spring / summer season.

One important topic of discussion that has really come alive over the past couple of years is indoor air quality (IAQ). More and more of our customers are calling with questions on types of air filtration, mildew and mold issues. There are so many adverse things that can occur due to a dirty or non-maintained air conditioning system.

Most systems are sealed and customers have no idea what might be going behind that closed door. For instance, an evaporator coil is the component of the system that draws the moisture out of the air that flows across it. It is a component that is covered up and you can’t see what is happening behind the service panel unless you remove it. If the condensate drain pipe gets clogged and backs up water into the pan for an extended period of time, bacterial can form and provide a breeding ground for organisms that can cause Legionnaires Disease. Drains must be flushed annually. Another potential problem with a clogged drain is ceiling damage if the unit is in the attic space.

Air filtration is a very important part of the equation. We do have a lot of questions about what type of filtration do you recommend. Did you know that most houses generate about 40 pounds of dust for every 1,500 feet of space. One of the most common allergens is the dust mite. Some filters out perform others in their ablility to filter out smaller particles. The clean air delivery rate (CADR) is recognized by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a fair an objective measure of various air cleaner technologies. The higher the CADR number the more efficient it is. Look at this fact chart:

Typical Ionic-Type device = 10 CADR

Standard 1” filter from hardware store = 12 CADR

Typical room HEPA Appliance = 150 CADR

Whole House 5” media = 240 CADR

Whole House Electronic Air Cleaner = 660 CADR

Trane Clean Effects = 1200 CADR

The Trane Clean Effects air filtration unit can remove up to 99.98% of allergens from the filtered air. For more information on this unit please visit www.trane.com. Dirty filters can create a compound problem. The particles that make it through the filter can accumulate on the evaporator coil and may cause it to freeze. I am sure a lot of homeowners don’t even know that there is a coil in their system. This is why it is so important that the system be serviced by an experienced technician.

With the cost of gas, refrigerant, and utilities proper maintenance can save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars. I have some customers with 30 year old systems that are still running because they have had proper service performed over the years per manufacturer recommendations. A little money spent up front is easier than a lot of money spent that could have been prevented. When is the last time that you had your unit serviced? Last season I hope. If not don’t you think it is time. What better way to start the season knowing that you are ready for the heat. Bring It On!



Tony Blinson is the President of Blinson Service Company, Inc. located at 7228 Becky Circle, Raleigh. For more information please call @ 919-881-0915 or visit their website at www.bschvac.com

How to Choose the Right Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor

I hope you are enjoying this holiday season. As I write this article I look out my office window and I am just in awe over the beautiful colors of fall. I can’t think of a more wonderful place to live than right here in good ole North Carolina. So here we are with another year ahead of us. I can’t believe how time flies. This is the time of year when many of us make our New Year’s resolutions. We all have the best intentions, but here comes reality and well; you know the rest of that story. That’s what makes life interesting I guess. As a homeowner myself, my resolution is to finish last year’s resolutions. Anyone else out there feel the pain besides me? We just need more hours in the day.

I recently attended a business seminar and the speaker said something that really hit home with me. He said “Never start a new project or task until you finish the one you are working on.” I highlighted that phrase and I have committed to it. Since returning from that seminar I have finished several projects and it feels GREAT! How about you? Have you got those “Honey Do” lists that keep growing and growing? Don’t feel bad, we all have them. Remember, it’s a new year so Let’s Get To It!

Are you concerned as much as I am about the high energy cost to heat and cool your home? It seems like every time we open our utility bills there is a big surprise waiting for us inside. I want to help you save as much as possible on your next bill.

As you may already know from my previous articles with The Heritage Magazine, I am a licensed mechanical contractor located right here in Raleigh, North Carolina. Many times when we visit a customer for the first time, there are problems with their heating and cooling equipment and the customer didn’t even realize it. “It came on when it was supposed to, it seemed to heat OK, but my gas bills seem very high.” We hear that all the time. When our technicians open up the unit and show the rust, dirt, and grime inside their equipment, all of the sudden the light comes on. A furnace or air conditioner that has not been properly serviced and cleaned can cost you up to 50% of energy savings. If you haven’t had your system serviced yet, don’t wait any longer. Save those operating dollars! If your equipment is 8-10 years or older you may want to consider a more energy efficient system. Here is the big question… Who do I Call? Can I trust them? Are they looking out for my best interests or theirs? Believe me, I understand your line of questioning. Just the thought of dealing with the sales process can be a turn off. Let’s face it, how many of us have come home from buying a new car and made the statement “What a wonderful experience, I can’t wait to do it again.” Not Me! I told my wife after our last experience with buying our car that if we ever buy another car; she would have to do it solo. The sales person would just not listen to us. That’s not the way the sales process should work.

OK, back to the original question. Who do I call? After 35 years in the heating and air conditioning business I have listened to the many concerns from homeowners. Let me share a few tips on selecting the RIGHT company for you.

You definitely want a company that has experience in the HVAC industry. This is a skilled trade that requires knowledge in electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and refrigeration. Don’t be afraid to ask how many years they have been in the business. Check their credentials. Call or go on-line to the Better Business Bureau. See how many, if any, complaints have been filed against them and if the complaint was addressed and satisfied the plaintiff. Ask if they are NATE certified. (North American Technician Excellence) This is the leading certification program for technicians in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industry and is the only test that is supported by the entire industry. I call it “Top Gun.” You want to make sure that the contractor is licensed by the state in which they operate. Believe it or not, there are individuals out there that will sell you a system at an unbelievably low price. There is normally a reason for that low price, Such as no general liability insurance and no license. You know what I say… RUN! Your must protect your investment as well as your life. A non-licensed contractor cannot get a permit which means no inspection which means Accident Waiting To Happen! A licensed contractor knows that a permit is required on every job. This will also give you peace of mind that everything has been properly installed and is safe to operate. If a contractor says a permit is not necessary, there is your “red flag.” Don’t go any further because he or she is wasting your valuable time at this point.

Ask for references. A customer’s testimony is worth its weight in gold, good or bad. Find out if their employees have had a proper criminal background check, been drug tested, and driving records reviewed before hiring them. Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as necessary for you to feel comfortable with whom you choose to work for you. Remember, they will be working for you.

The internet is a great resource to research a heating and air conditioning company. Take some time and visit their website. They may have links to their products and equipment for you to view. Many of our new customers have found us through our website. Our website is www.bschvac.com. Check us out!

If a sales person visits with you, there are several things that you should expect. He or she should listen to your comfort concerns. They should evaluate your existing HVAC system and ductwork. You should expect them to measure your home in order to run a proper load calculation in order to size the equipment. Sizing of equipment is not guess work. I can’t tell you how many times a customer has told me, “Oh by the way the company that was here earlier looked at my existing unit and he said it was a 3 ton unit, so that is what he would be pricing up for me.” You know what I say… RUN! As I mentioned before, this is not guess work here. A lot of work will go into the preparation of an estimate. In my business, I can tell you that I will average 4 hours of office time putting a typical proposal together, which brings me to my next point. Get it in writing! I learned this lesson the hard way. It goes way back to when I bought my first house. It was my pride and joy, even if it was a “fixer upper.” One of the first things it needed was a new roof. Well, I didn’t know anyone in the roofing business so I looked in the yellow pages. I called three roofing companies and scheduled an appointment with each one. Out of those three, only one actually came by to meet with me. He was only 2 hours late. Well he said he could replace the roof, however he would need $600 to buy the shingles and he could start the very next day. Remember now this was in 1977, I was young, and I trusted everyone. I wrote him a check. Guess what! I never saw him again. Lesson learned! Make sure you get a detailed description of the proposed equipment, scope of the work to be performed, any warrantees, and the method of payment for you to review.

Make sure that the company you choose has a service division. Believe it or not, there are companies that are “installation only” and will sub-contract out the service side of their business. That is definitely trouble waiting to happen. You know what I say… RUN!

I hope that I haven’t overwhelmed you with information and suggestions. Hopefully I have armed you with what you need when the time comes for you to replace or repair your heating and air conditioning system. The cold weather is upon us. Don’t get caught with a break down in the middle of the night, especially if it could have been avoided by a simple maintenance.

Winter weather… I Love It! Bring it on!

Tony Blinson is the president of Blinson Service Company, Inc. located at 7228 Becky Circle in Raleigh. For more information or for any HVAC needs, please call 919-881-0915 or visit www.bschvac.com.

Holidays are just around the corner. Is your heating system ready to keep you cozy?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I can’t believe that just a few months ago I was writing about “Cooling your home.” But this is why I call North Carolina my home. Our seasons last just long enough for us to appreciate them, and then we are blessed with another one to enjoy. Isn’t that great! What more could you ask for. I hope you all are as excited as I am about the fast approaching holiday season. What a wonderful time to spend with family and friends, sharing and making memories, and taking the time to give thanks for all that we have been blessed with, which brings me to the topic for this Holiday Issue of Heritage Magazine.

If you have read any of my previous articles you may remember that I am a licensed heating and air conditioning contractor. I have been in the business for 35 years. Believe it or not I am a Raleigh native and could not even think about living somewhere else. Well, I take that back, I probably could be persuaded to live at the beach if you twisted my arm (slightly).

As I mentioned previously about making memories, I must admit that there was one holiday season that I can remember that wasn’t so perfect. It goes way back to my early childhood. OK now wait a minute, it wasn’t that long ago. As a child I had a fascination with anything that was mechanical, used electricity, motors, or made noise. My dad was very mechanically inclined and I feel very fortunate to have had a dad like him. He had so much patience. He never got mad at me with all the “What’s that or how does that work “questions. I wanted to know how it all worked so what better way to learn than to take it apart and put it back together. I found out very early that electricity moves faster than my hand could. And I have to admit that sometimes I had some extra parts left over after putting things back together. I just figured that if it worked without those parts they shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Right?

OK, back to my youth. I remember one Christmas with all of my family over at our house and we were having a wonderful time together. Everything was perfect until our trusty old oil furnace decided it was time to quit working and take a break. It just so happened that my brother in law was a service technician for a heating and air conditioning company and had his truck with all his tools with him. (A good technician always has his tools close by!) Well of course he was more than willing to go down under our small crawlspace and see what the problem was. I could not wait to go explore under there with him and help. Well, it was good and it was bad. The good news is that he got it going. The bad news is I came out covered in black soot. I think at that moment I realized the importance of keeping a furnace clean. It failed because we took it for granted and thought it would run forever. It had been so reliable up until then, however it failed at the worst possible time. You’ve probably heard “If it isn’t broken don’t mess with it, or Out of sight-Out of mind”. The furnace was definitely out of sight, however at that moment it was on everyone’s mind.

Many years have passed since then and I have learned through experience that maintenance is a must on any HVAC system for proper operation and reliability. Gas furnaces and oil furnaces especially need regular maintenance because they burn fuel. In order for you to get the most efficiency out of your furnace, it needs to be cleaned and tuned up properly. Gas furnaces require a certain gas pressure at the regulator on the furnace to allow the correct amount of gas to enter the burner. If the pressure is set too low the BTU output of the furnace will be affected and differ than what the furnace specifications are. This could affect the run time of the furnace and result in higher than normal operating costs. If the pressure is set too high the furnace can experience temperatures greater than what the unit was designed for and can cause premature failure of some of the components such as the heat exchanger. One of the most common problems with heat exchangers over time is cracking or rusting. If a crack occurs the issue becomes more serious because there is the potential for carbon monoxide (CO) to leak into the airstream and into the house. I always advise my customers to purchase a good CO detector if they have any gas appliances in their house. A thorough visual inspection of the heat exchanger will normally expose any deterioration or cracks. The venting system is another important component that needs to be inspected for proper discharge of flue gases.

The design of furnaces has changed dramatically since 1973 when I started in the business. The furnaces were in the 60% efficient range. Wow! Have things improved over the years. Now we have furnaces up to 97% efficient with 2 stage heat and variable speed blower operation. Along with this new high efficiency, high tech equipment, the industry now requires a higher level of technical ability from service technicians. In the old days all you needed was around five hundred dollars to stock a service truck with tools. Now, I spend between six and eight thousand dollars for diagnostic tools for every service van. Our technicians (including myself) spend many hours in training each year to keep up with this ever changing industry. I have the highest respect for a true, certified service technician because I know what they have gone through to earn the title. They are worth their weight in gold.

My advice to you when you decide to have your system serviced is to learn a little about the company you are about to call. Visit their website, make sure they have performed criminal background checks and drug testing on their employees. Visit the Better Business Bureau to see how many, if any, complaints have been filed against them. Don’t be afraid to ask questions that concern you. Make sure you have peace of mind. My mom and dad always told to me to listen to my gut. If it did not feel right, don’t do it! What wonderful words of wisdom.

I hope that you guys have already had your furnace or heating system checked out for the season. If you haven’t you may want to call and schedule it because no one wants to be left in the cold, especially during the holiday season.

May you all enjoy the holidays! Who knows, maybe we’ll get some snow and you can have that long awaited snow ball fight or some homemade snow cream. Take a little time to reflect on the old memories and make new ones today. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Bring it on!

Tony Blinson is the president of Blinson Service Company, Inc located at 7228 Becky Circle in Raleigh. For more information or for any HVAC needs, please call 919-881-0915 or visit www.bschvac.com