Posts Tagged ‘no free lunch’

Reliable Heating & Air Summer 2011

Monday, May 16th, 2011

Dan Jape, Reliable Heating & Air

Now that warm weather has arrived, it is very important that your cooling system is checked to make sure it is operating at peak efficiency. If your system is low on refrigerant or coils are dirty, it can cost you hundreds of dollars more each year to cool your home. Make sure you do not waste your money operating a cooling system that is not operating at peak efficiency.

Most HVAC companies offer a service contract which provides two visits a year to clean and tune up your heating and cooling systems and the summer inspection should include cleaning the outdoor unit of mud and debris lodged in the outdoor coil. This cleaning helps a unit give the best efficiency possible. It is always best to sign a service agreement with your company, as it gives your priority treatment during peak times and a discount on parts. At Reliable, we offer a lifetime warranty on most parts if a service agreement is put into effect at time of repair. If that same problem or part ever fails again, we fix it for free, no questions asked.

There are some big changes in the HVAC business brought about by the passage of the new Georgia State Energy Code, which goes in effect this year. It calls for some new tough policies regarding the heating and cooling systems that are installed in new homes.

Blower door tests are now required on all new homes to check the infiltration rate of a new home. The result must be less than 7 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals .  Companies such as Reliable Heating & Air are required to have a DET certified specialist on staff to check the tightness of the duct systems and the thermal envelope of the structure. Duct leakage now has to be tested and certified to meet the new standard for tightness. Duct mastic has to be used to seal ducts to make sure they are tight and not leaking conditioned air.

Programmable thermostats are required with every system as are attic tents or covers over the attic staircases. Attic vent fans can no longer be installed in a new home unless they are solar powered.  Electric furnaces cannot be installed in any new homes after January 1, 2011. A heat pump must be installed as the primary heat source if natural gas or propane is not used.

There are many other facets of this new energy code, but these are some of the highlights that might affect your HVAC system in the future.

For over 33 years, Reliable Heating & Air has been known as the company to trust for all your heating and cooling needs, providing top quality service at affordable prices. Many times, our customers have looked to us for referrals to handle their plumbing needs also since they have always felt a high level of trust and satisfaction from conducting business with Reliable. We have searched for many years for the right plumber who gave the same great service experience we like to provide our customers and have never been able to give a recommendation without worrying about the outcome.  We are now proud to announce we have opened up a plumbing division offering the same great pricing and helpful cheerful service our customers have always had counted on for their heating and cooling needs and we guarantee 100% customer satisfaction. Call us today for any plumbing or heating and cooling needs.

Dan Jape, Owner – Reliable Heating & Air

 

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Awards, Care and Maintenance, Commercials, Dan Jape, Going Green, Heating, Plumbing, Safety, Saving Money, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Heating & Air Cooling Tax Credits will Expire Soon

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

by Dan Jape of Reliable Heating & Air

Two years ago when the tax credit program started, December 31, 2010 seemed so far down the road it would never come. Well, here we are at the end of one of the best deals we have seen and there is only a few months left to take advantage of the $1500 credit that has allowed millions of homeowners to replace old inefficient heating and cooling systems. There have been many negative reports in the media about the stimulus plan and its success or failure has been debated to death by the press and talk radio, but the positive side of this bill is the impact it has had on every average homeowner who had old worn out heating and cooling systems that needed upgraded. These people have been able to purchase top of the line super high efficiency heating and cooling systems for the same price as an entry level system. A very nice added feature to these new systems is a special thermostat that not only controls temperature but also controls and removes more humidity than a regular system. The increased moisture removal makes one feel more comfortable at higher temperatures saving cooling dollars.

There are many new models and sizes available today that earn the tax credit and they give homeowners many more choices that were not open to them just a few months ago. Another positive side of this tax credit program is that all the different manufacturers of heating and cooling systems have advanced technology and efficiency to meet the government standards and these new models will be around for years after the credit program goes away in a few months. If you have not looked into the tax credit program, you should call your heating and cooling provider and at least explore this program as it ends December 31, 2010 and there is no extension or plans to extend this program, so do not miss this opportunity to cut your utility bills in half and increase your comfort by two fold.

The cold weather is here now and it is time to get your furnace checked for proper operation and safety. A properly adjusted furnace can save hundreds of dollars in cost of operation and make sure that your heating system is in top working order. Furnaces should be cleaned of rust and soot and have the heat exchanger inspected thoroughly each year. Gas pressure should be adjusted and the gas jets cleaned to assure proper operation and efficiency. Your air filter should be changed every 2 months and the blower wheel and assembly should be kept clean and free from dirt build up.

Another nice addition to your comfort system this season would be a central humidifier that adds moisture to your homes heating system. These units prevent damage to your homes hardwood floors, cabinets and furniture. They also prevent dry skin and static electricity and reduce the heating bills as it is more comfortable at a lower temperature when the moisture is increased. This is the opposite of the summer when comfort is increased with lower humidity. Call Dan Jape of Reliable Heating & Air at 770 594-9969 for all the details about the expiration of tax credits.

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Heating, Saving Money | Comments Off

Don’t fall for “FREE”

Monday, March 23rd, 2009
don't fall for free!

I have noticed a trend in advertising and marketing of service companies to stress “FREE” goods and services. It seems like when the economy gets tough, more dishonest companies spring up to try and play on the consumers emotions and bad judgment. Everyone knows there is nothing worth having that is truly free.

Good honest consumers, who are having a tough time making ends meet desperately want this “FREE” claim to be legitimate, and their common sense is put aside. They call one of these “Free” companies and are lied to about the true cost of whatever product they want. Companies that advertise “FREE” simply use that as a come-on to get in your home then they stick it to you. They generally do not employ anyone you would ever want in your home for any reason, due to fact that any honest, hard working competent person would never want to be involved in a rip-off, scam based company. The employee of these “FREE” companies are paid on commission and the more money they can get from you, the more they make. The nature of this type of transaction is not good for the homeowner due to the fact it is hard for the employee not to pad the bill to increase their own pay.

If you think about the “FREE” offer, common sense would tell you it is not possible to send a competent employee to your home in a truck to do anything “FREE”. The cost of sending an employee to your home for the first hour is somewhere around $100. This includes gas, auto insurance, wages, unemployment benefits, social security, workers comp and overhead items related to the operation of their business. If service companies truly came to your home for “FREE” they would be out of business in a week.

DO NOT fall for this age old greed-based come-on. You will receive inferior service at an inflated price, be charged for services and repairs you do not need, and be taken advantage off by people you can’t trust. Do not let your common sense fall by the wayside. THERE IS NO FREE LUNCH. I suggest that these are times when you can least afford to be taken advantage of. Your budget is tight! Do not allow them to get the better of you and believe these dishonest companies will give you something for nothing. Read the fine print, Ask a lot of question and look out for the buzz word “FREE” and ask yourself, when was the last time you saw your employer give away your goods or services for nothing.  You will pay in the end for anything promised free.

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