Heat Check Time

Now if you haven't done so already, it's the perfect time to flip that thermostat on over to heat and make sure your heat is going to come on properly.  The absolute WORST thing you can do is wait until the temperature dips way down only find yourself with a fault in your heating system and you're freezing your butt off waiting for the heating and air guy to get to your residence!

 
Winterizing your home

1. As mentioned in a previous post, remember to check your air filter(s) and change it if necessary.  The cleaner the filter the less work your system will have to do, thus getting peak efficiency from your system!
2. Get a carbon monoxide detector!  Even if you have a fairly new system it never hurts to have one, they are pretty cheap these days and it's a small price to pay to protect you and your family's lives!
3. This one may sound a bit ridiculous but nonetheless important, make sure all vents are opened and unblocked by furniture or other items. This will ensure that the air is evenly distributed through the home.
4. When it does actually start getting cold and you've got your heat running, try reversing the switch on your ceiling fans so they blow upward. This is especially valuable in high ceiling rooms where heat that naturally rises is forced back down into the room.
5. Finally, if your heating system is old, you might consider updating it. A pre-1977 gas furnace is probably 50 percent to 60 percent efficient today.  Modern gas furnaces, on the other hand, achieve efficiency ratings as high as 97 percent!  Replacing an old heating system can cut your natural gas use nearly in half!

I hope these tips will help you out in preparing for this up and coming winter, stay toasty my friends.

Environmental Press Release

Hey folks this a great press release written about us and how Environmental is still able to expand even in these tough economic times. 

Environmental Heating & Air (EHA) expands and adds PLUMBING despite tough economy

Enviro-nc continues to add value and service to its already winning combination with Plus Plumbing. With their saying "Confidence, Value, Environment", this company continues to grow without sacrificing quality service.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) - Aug 17, 2011 - Environmental Heating and Air of NC Inc, (EHA)
Now with Plus Plumbing

Enviro is now running a full time, full service plumbing division out of it's Cary, North Carolina office. Fully licensed, the company now holds 3 licenses. This fast expanding company has been at a steady growth rate even in this very competitive market. Enviro-nc has an informative website and maintains 24/7 service for its customers.

Speaking with the company, they feel it is going to be a great help for customers who already know them and need plumbing services. One of the most common issues is hot water heaters. Enviro has experience with preheated solar systems, tank less, high efficiency gas and electric heaters. They do it well and for cheap prices.

The experience of finding a company that’s motto is confidence, value, and evironment coupled with plumbing is a welcome addition. Located @ 210 High House Rd Cary NC 27513, you can reach them on the phone 919-535-8422, or check them out on the net htt://www.enviro-nc.com if you prefer.

 

-Nickadeemus

919-535-8422

www.enviro-nc.com

 

 

Are Faucet & Toilet Leaks Costing You Big?

You probably don't think about it much, but that dripping faucet or that running toilet could be costing you BIG in the long run. I figured I would do a quick blog on this very underrated subject to help raise awareness to all you homeowners out there, below is a table given by the American Water Works Association on estimated water loss and how much it might cost you.
 

Faucets

Most leaks result from worn washers in household faucets and shower heads. These faucets, as well as seldom-used taps in the basement or storage rooms, should be checked periodically. Faucet leaks are usually caused by worn washers or "O" rings (for washerless faucets).

Toilets
The toilet is one of the most common water wasters but its leaks tend to be less noticeable than faucet leaks. To determine if your toilet is leaking, look at the toilet bowl after the tank has stopped filling. If water is still running into the bowl, or if water can be heard running, your toilet is leaking. Most toilet leaks occur at the overflow pipe or at the plunger ball inside the tank. Although water may not be seen or heard running, your toilet may have a silent leak. To test for a silent leak, drop a little food coloring into the tank. DO NOT FLUSH. Wait for about 10 minutes. If the food coloring appears in the toilet bowl, your toilet has a silent leak. It is probably located in or around the plunger ball or flapper valve at the bottom of the tank.

Unseen or unfixed leaks can drip hundreds, even thousands of gallons wastefully down the drain. A little detective work several times a year can catch these water thieves in the act and put them out of circulation. If you think something isn't right with your plumbing and you'd like to have a professional inspect your plumbing and suggest ways to improve water conservation and savings, give Environmental a call and we'd be glad to help you out!

-Nickadeemus

919-535-8422

www.enviro-nc.com 
 

Tankless Water Heaters

I'm sure just about anybody out there that is a homeowner has probably heard of the Tankless Water Heater?  But do you know anything about them?  Well in this blog I'm going to give you a brief summary on what they are and what they do.

What it is and what it does:

• an electrical or gas-fired device that heats water directly without the use of a storage tank
• eliminates standby energy losses caused by regular water heaters
• no limit on amount of hot water you can use
• no waiting for a water tank to fill back up with warm water
• for homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, Tankless Water Heaters can be 24% - 34% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters
• as with anything, proper installation and maintenance of your Tankless Water Heater will ensure that you achieve maximum efficiency

Like I said, this was just a brief summary of what a Tankless Water Heater is and what it does.  Of course, there are multiple extenuating circumstances involved with installing one of these units but Environmental would be glad to explain it to you and give you the chance to ask questions.  So just give Environmental a call and set up a a free estimate with one of our professionally trained and certified plumbers!

-Nickadeemus
919-535-8422
www.enviro-nc.com 

The Heat Wave Is Coming!

What is likely to be the hottest weather we will have all year is forecasted to hit us in the southeast this coming weekend, temps in the triple digits!!  So hopefully you've been doing your part to ensure you'll stay cool by maintaining your a/c?  If not, you are likely to find yourself with a hot living space in the next month or two!  It's never too late to start, so here's a short list of simple things you can do at home to get the most for your money from your a/c:

• change your air filter(s) every 30 to 90 days. Depending on how quickly your filter(s) gets dirty
• keep shades, blinds, windows closed to keep out sunlight as much as possible during the day when you aren't home
• have a Preventative Maintenance Plan with a licensed, fully certified hvac company like Environmental
• keep all bushes, grass, and other debris clear from around your a/c unit outside.  a 2 foot minimum clearance is best
• take a quick look at your ductwork.  if it looks old and/or appears to be falling apart, have a professional take a look at it.  you would be AMAZED how much efficiency is lost because of loose and/or deteriorated ductwork

These are some of the major points that you at home can take care of in just a short amount of time. If taken care of, these things can help ensure you stay cool in the hottest of weather and achieve the longest life possible from your a/c and heating system without getting HUGE electric bills.  If you have any questions at all or would like to sign up for Environmental's Preventative Maintenance Plan, just give us a call at the number below or visit our website, thanks for reading and stay cool folks!

-Nickadeemus
919-535-8422
www.enviro-nc.com

Integrating Plumbing With HVAC

At Environmental, when the decision was made to venture into the world of plumbing, we wanted to able to offer our customers a new service from the same company they already depend on for their hvac needs.  Often while performing an hvac repair or installation, our customers would ask us if we could help them out with their hot water heater, leaky pipes, or backflow problems.  So we decided to start keeping our eyes open for a fully certified, professional plumber in the area with a great reputation.  Well it didn't take long until we found someone with the aforementioned qualifications who was also courteous and reliable.

It's hard enough to find reliable companies these days, so Environmental just made things a little easier for our customers by expanding with a new plumbing division!  So please, if you are having any issues with your plumbing or maybe you would just like to ask a question about it, give us a call!  Don't forget to check out our website!

--Nickadeemus
919-535-8422
www.enviro-nc.com

Environmental Plumbing

As of Monday, June 13th, Environmental Heating & Air has now opened up a plumbing division to further our abilities to help you, the customer, even more!  We will now be able to offer full service plumbing with a qualified, fully licensed plumber.  Also, with the first official day of summer right around the corner(June 21st), those a/c's are gonna be running full blast!  So you need to make sure your a/c is in shape to handle the summer strain!  Below I have listed some examples of services our plumber can handle for you:

• Fixture Repairs
• Back Flow Repairs
• Faucet Repairs
• Sink Repairs
• Toilet Repairs
• Water Heater Repairs & Replacement
• New Construction

.....and these are just some of the many services Environmental now offers with our full service plumbing!  If you would like to schedule an appointment or if you just have a question, feel free to give us a call. 

--Nickadeemus
919-535-8422
www.enviro-nc.com