So, you’ve worked hard all day. You can’t wait to pull your shoes off, sit down and relax.  You come home expecting to relax in a cool home.  But as you enter your home, you are met with a blast of hot air.

You call your heating/ac company. The technician shows up and after working on your system, he tells you your unit is dead.

So, do you buy a new air conditioner or a new heat pump?

The answer to that question depends on where you live.  Basically, the primary difference is that a heat pump can both heat and cool.

Air Conditioning Unit:  If you live in a warmer climate where you don’t need to heat your home, just an air conditioning unit would be your best option. You will want to get a air conditioner with a high season energy efficiency ratio (SEER) so that it is the most energy efficient.

Heat Pump: If you live in a climate that has a moderate spring and fall with hot summers, then a heat pump would be a good choice.  It basically transfer the heat from one place to another. A heat pump heats best down to about 40 degrees and is rather inexpensive to run especially if you get one that has an Energy Star seal.

One thing you need to look out before you buy a heat pump is it’s HSFP  (look for rating of 8 to 10) and SEER rating (look for rating between 14 & 18).

HSFP is Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. This calculates the ratio of energy pumped indoors for heating to energy used for heating.  This is important to know if you heat your home more during the year than you cool it.

SEER is Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating.  It is the ratio of how much energy is pumped outside in cooling mode divided by the electricity used for cooling.

Having high HSFP and SEER rating will show a higher efficient system.

If you have any more questions, please call our office.

Here is a video on how an air conditioner is made.

kenjisama / Cat Photos / CC BY-NC-ND

Most Americans have more than three appliances in their home. We expect our refrigerator to keep our food cold, our stove to heat our food and our faucets to put water where we want it.

The truth is, everything has a life expectancy.  Of course, that life expectancy depends on several things, like the level of maintenance, the quality of the product and the quality of installation, intensity of use, weather and climate.

Here are a few numbers from the National Association of Home Builders/Bank of America Home Equity Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components. This is based on first-time buyers and the amount of time it is used.  Some appliances are used more than others. Keep in mind these numbers are general numbers.:

http://www.nachi.org/life-expectancy.htm

Here is a video that shows how an air conditioner Works

Nothing means “It’s summertime!” more than a backyard BBQ. Invite your close friends, neighbors, or family over this weekend for a mouth-watering dinner. YOU can be the best grill master anyone has ever met while throwing a thoughtful and stylish party.

Adam Melancon / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Here are some safety tips to make sure you or your guests are not one of the more than 300 people who end up in emergency room because of carbon monoxide poisoning or burns.

Propane Grills:

• Check to make sure the hose from the propane tank to the grill is not brittle or damaged in any way. You can do a bubble test on the hose to make sure there are no cracks or holes.  Just apply a light soap/water solution to the hose. If you see bubbles, that means you have a leak.  DON’T use the grill until you replace the hose.  About 20 people  a year are injured because of grill fires and explosions. If you  SMELL gas while cooking  get away from the grill  and call the fire department.  Do not move the grill.
• Check the tubes leading into the burner for any blockage like food, grease,  or insects. You can clean them with a wire or pipe cleaner.
• Only use propane and charcoal grills outside.
• Keep the grill away from the house, railing, overhanging branches and eaves. More than 500 fires occur a year because of grill fires and explosions.
• Keep your grill clean. Grease can build up under trays.
• Always open your grill lid before lighting it.
• Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from grill
• Never leave the grill unattended.
• If the flame goes out, turn off gas, wait 15 minutes before trying to relight.

Charcoal Grills:

•  Only use outside. Charcoal produces carbon monoxide (CO) and burning  it inside a confined space  could cause carbon monoxide poisoning. According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are  more than 300 emergency room treated injuries and  about 20 deaths from Co poisoning from charcoal grills each year.
  
• Keep the grill away from the house, railing, overhanging branches and eaves. More than 500 fires occur a year because of grill fires and explosions.
• Clean the grill thoroughly.
• Use only charcoal starter fluid, if you use starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire.
• Keep children and pets 3 feet away from grill.  More than 500 fires occur a year because of grill fires and explosions.  In 2006-2010, more than one-quarter (28%) of the home structure fires involving grills started on a courtyard, terrace or patio, 28% started on an exterior balcony or open porch, and 6% started in the kitchen, according to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
• Never leave grill unattended.
• When you are finished grilling, let it completely cool down before removing the ashes into a metal container.  Charcoal produces carbon monoxide until the charcoal is completely extinguished.

We want everyone to have a good time cooking out and remembering these few tips, can make your cookout fun and save for everyone.

Nothing means “It’s summertime!” more than a backyard BBQ. Invite your close friends, neighbors, or family over this weekend for a mouth-watering dinner. YOU can be the best grill master anyone has ever met while throwing a thoughtful and stylish party. Here are a few of our favorite tips:

1. Hang some string of lights outside for ambiance. Provide a couple games, corn hole and horse shoes, for example, to get guests moving and interacting. Instead of just making burgers and dogs, offer a variety of food in case some guests are suffering through a diet. And speaking of food…

PetitPlat – Stephanie Kilgast / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

2. Go with an unexpected dish. Hamburgers are delicious, but have you thought of offering turkey burgers, too? Have you ever had grilled fruit? Try this grilled avocados recipe: Cut an avocado in half, sprinkle with olive oil and lime juice, and place face down on the grill for five minutes. Then, fill with salsa and sour cream, and sprinkle on a little more lime juice.

Most importantly, make sure your guests go home with laughter on their lips and a full belly. And, don’t forget about your friends at Leinbach Services! We love good food and good company!

Summer is the worst time for you to experience a breakdown air conditioner/heat pump with no money to pay for a replacement. Here are seven different places to help you keep your blood from boiling and finance a new air conditioning/ heat pump unit.

1. Ask the company who is installing the unit if they offer financing.  It’s often times a quick turn-around for an approval.  Different companies offer different services,  so never assume you already know their policy.

2. Find out if your state offers special energy efficiency loan programs. The Tennessee Valley Authority has partnered with Energy Finance Solutions to provide financing for their homeowner customers who participate in its energy right® program. Homeowners may use this loan program to finance their energy efficient air conditioning units. Visit http://www.energyfinancesolutions.com/main/homeownerstennessee/title/Tennessee. for more information and eligibility requirements.

3. Try borrowing against the equity in your home.  Talk to your bank about using your home to secure a loan with a lower interest rate.  However, this route might be time-consuming from start to finish.

4. Your city government might be a source of funds to finance your loan.  Certain cities offer qualified homeowners low-interest loans for improvement projects.  Check your city government’s website, or call your local utility company to see if they have information about home improvement loans.

5. The USDA Rural Development has programs to ensure the homeowners in rural American have access to the financial resources they need to maintain their home in livable condition. Visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/TN-Home-Repair-FAQ.html.

6. Your friend or family member might be willing to loan you money if there is a legal and noted document in place to secure their money and relationship with you. These companies offer the services you are looking for:

LendFriend

LendingKarma

Loanback

7. Look for a credit card that offers a balance transfer offer and a zero-interest loan for a year. Beware: pay off at least the bulk of the loan (if not its entirety) by the end of the interest-free rate time period to escape sky-high interest build-up.

Questions.  Do you change the oil in your car? Do you check the fluids like the transmission, brake, power steering, check your tires?  Most people check these things as least once or twice a year or they have it checked when they have their oil changed.  Why? To make sure their car is running correctly and efficiently. If your car is out of oil or transmission fluid, you’ll find yourself without a running vehicle.

It’s the same with your air conditioner/heat pump. There are moving parts in your air conditioner needs to be cleaned and inspected.

Up to 50% of your home’s energy bill is from  your heating/ air conditioning/heat pump system. If it’s not running correctly, you’re loosing money to the power company.

          Save Your Money!

• FACT: Dirty blowers and coils can cause your utility bill to increase by 35%.
• FACT: If you have to add refrigerant to your air conditioning system that means you have a leak. You are damaging the environment. It costs money to add refrigerant.
• FACT: Keeping your system clean can extend the life of the equipment, saving you money from replacing it.
• FACT: 80% of all compressor failures could have been avoided if a proper maintenance had been performed.

  Having a SuperTune on your air conditioning/heat pump system, which at the time may sound like a waste of money, but it will actually save you money in the long run.  By administering a preventative maintenance plan on your ac/ heat pump  system on a regular, yearly basis it allows you to be aware of your heating and cooling / heat pump system at all times.

Performing a SuperTune check on your system annually can help you identify problems such as rust, rot, frayed wires, leaks and corroded electrical contacts.  It is important to do a SuperTune on your air conditioner/ heat pump unit at a minimum of one time per year to ensure your unit is operating at peak efficiency which can save you up to 30% on your electrical bill.

Certain components within a air conditioning system require immediate attention upon irregular operation.

•         Condenser Coils can become clogged by dust, dirt, pollen and other debris. Because of clogging, the condenser coil loses its ability to pull heat from your system. In turn, it causes the compressor to pull higher amps causing a higher electric bill.

•         Dirty filters and evaporator coils which deliver conditioned air into your establishment can cause the evaporator coil to starve for air. Each evaporator coil is designed for a specific volume of air to ensure adequate operation.

 Due to the lack of maintenance and knowledge about your cooling system, things such as dirty coils and filters can mean premature failure of your heating and air conditioning/ heat pump unit’s compressor, condenser fan and other system components. In other words, a malfunction of a component within your HVAC system can over-work your unit.

Replacement of an entire heating and cooling unit can be costly. When a heating and air conditioning/ heat pump unit is replaced, it is recommended to replace the duct work in its entirety to ensure no leakage throughout your duct work system.

Choosing a SuperTune/preventative maintenance plan that best fits you and your system is the best option to avoid replacing your entire  air conditioning/ heat pump system.

CRANK UP THE AIR CONDITIONER WITH FINANCING

NOW ONLY $65 per month **                                         NO DOWN PAYMENT*

On installation of two ton, 13 seer,standard installation heat pump,air conditioner/furnace, new replacement unit at a cost of $5,153.**

*No down payment with approved credit.   Offer applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases. No interest will be charged on the promo purchase if you pay the promo purchase amount in full within 12 months. If you do not, interest will be charged on the promo purchase from the purchase date. Regular account terms apply to non-promotional purchases and, after promotion ends, to promotional balance. For new accounts: Purchase APR is 9.99%; Minimum Interest Charge is $2.

**Based on purchase amount and APR,if only minimum monthly payments are made, it will take 132 months and cost $8,605 to pay off the purchase amount.Existing cardholders should see their credit card agreement for their applicable terms. Subject to credit approval.

 Like in the insurance commercial,  not inspecting your water heater can be a hazard.  Water heaters can become like bombs if the pressure gets too high (excessive temperature combines with tank corrosion) and the temperature pressure(t/p) relief valve fails to work and doesn’t release the pressure. If the water is below 212°, the primary danger is scalding, but if the temperature is above 212°, the water turns to steam and it doesn’t have anywhere to go.

Check out this video to see what happens when the temperature relief valve fails:   MythBusters – Exploding Water Heater

Make sure you know where your…

1. Water shut off valve is
2. Electrical panel shut off switch is
3. And/or  gas valve shut off is
4. The phone number of your plumber is.

If steam without water comes from the hot water faucet your situation is dangerous.  If this happens, shut off the electricity to the electric water heater or shut off the gas valve if your water heater is a gas water heater. Call your plumber.

You can examine your water heater yourself to see if   the pressure relief valve is worn or defective. If you have any of the following, call your plumber.

1. water leaking from the drain valve
2. corrosion on the stem of the valve stem
3. Water leaking from valve stem
4. a valve that doesn’t open when the test lever is pulled without excessive force

Call Leinbach Services Inc to have a plumbing check-up.

Check out our Comfort Club Membership to save money and maybe your house.