RESOLVE TO INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Start the new year thinking about saving on household expenses by upgrading to higher efficient heating and cooling equipment. Installing a new system can be the first step to improving your comfort and reducing your monthly energy bills by making a smart investment. Equipment manufactured today is considerably more efficient than in years past. If your heat pump, package unit or air conditioner is 10 years or older or your gas furnace, geothermal system or boiler is 15 years or older, even if it is currently working, it is a good time to start preparing for a new system in the near future. It is better to plan for it and be ready than be forced into an emergency decision when the system fails. There is a lot to consider when purchasing a new comfort system.
~Understanding how equipment is rated is a factor in your investment. Boilers and furnaces have AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) ratings that measures how efficient the equipment operates on an annual basis. Heat pumps and air conditioners have SEER (seasonal energy efficient ratio) ratings that measure the efficiency of the equipment operating during a typical cooling season. The HSPF (heating seasonal performance factor) measures the efficiency of the equipment operating in the heating season. This information can help you determine what efficiency meets your needs best. The higher the efficiency, the lower your energy bills will be. Consider installing reputable Energy Star products.
~Proper equipment size is crucial in bringing the appropriate level of comfort into your home. Over sizing a comfort system can cause temperature control and humidity issues, higher energy costs and energy waste, so it is important to have a qualified contractor evaluate your home for proper comfort system design using Manual J load calculations.
~Good ductwork conditions are vital to deliver proper airflow and allow comfort systems to operate at the efficiency rating it was designed for, so have your existing ductwork evaluated when receiving equipment replacement quotes.
~Proper installations will set up the equipment for successful operation and longevity. Flawed installations can create failures and poor efficiency, so it is important to hire a qualified, licensed contractor that complies with city codes and employs NATE certified technicians.
~Some applications are perfect for geothermal or ductless comfort systems, which are both highly efficient and have fewer repair histories than other conventional equipment, which makes them excellent investment choices.
When deciding on what equipment will meet your comfort and investment level, inquire about manufacturer rebate programs. High efficient equipment is often accompanied with rebates, so take advantage of money back if promotions are active. For more information on which equipment meets your comfort level best on the south side of Tidewater, call Kellam Mechanical at 757-430-0358. We are happy to schedule a free consult.
THANKFUL FOR GREEN
November is the month to reflect on being thankful. One thing that comes to mind is being thankful for the green mindset that people in our community are adopting more and more every day to improve energy consesrvation. Educating Tidewater, Virginia residents is so important to improve our local environment. There are many ways to become a part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Everyday life can be enhanced so embrace simple changes starting in your own home to conserve energy and reduce waste. Households can be altered using better products, such as installing more efficient appliances. There are so many options to increase your household efficiency, so if all cannot be achieved at once, start planning and budgeting for smart future projects:
1. Programmable thermostats: controlling the comfort in your home with the ability to program your temperature schedule can save you up to $150 in energy costs annually according to the Environment Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.
2. System Maintenance: Schedule you annual heating and cooling system maintenance. This will maximize your comfort system efficiency, saving energy costs and reducing failures. Energy Star research found that will save about $330 annually in heating and cooling costs.
3. Tankless water heater: Installing a tankless water heater saves up to 50% on water heating costs, it is also a spacer saver, delivers endless hot water, reportedly has fewer failures and service rates and has a life expectancy of up to 20 years.
4. High efficient heating and cooling systems: Installing high efficient equipment uses less energy, saving you monthly energy costs. In efforts to reduce energy usage, The Department of Energy is requiring a minimum 14 SEER rating in Virginia effective 1/1/15 for new equipment installations.
5. Go Geothermal: This is the most efficient comfort equipment on the market, using the earth to heat and cool your home and saves up to 70% on energy usage compared to a conventional system. This technology delivers strong returns to your wallet and to the environment.
6. Vacancy sensors: Install vacancy sensor switches to automatically turn off lights as you leave the room to save on your electricity expenses.
7. Insulation: A well-insulated house prevents air leakage, which uses less energy and protects your heating and cooling equipment from being over worked.
Go Green practices on a smaller project scale should be considered:
1. Unplug appliances and electronics not in use
2. Turn the temperature down on your water heater
3. Fix leaky faucets
4. Replace incandescent bulbs with CFL’s
5. Wash clothes in cold water
6. Close your blinds to the summer sun to keep house cooler, open them to the winter sun to warm up
7. Seal around outlets, windows and doors to reduce air leakage
When researching household appliances to make an environmental difference, look for Energy Star rated products. Be thankful for earth friendly practices and products available that enter into our lifestyles to bring environmental responsibility accompanied with savings. It is time to reduce your carbon footprint. Get started, go green and save green.
For free quotes for comfort equipment installation for the southside, Tell ‘em Kellam!
757-430-0358
Get Your Gas Appliances Inspected for Safety
So, you love your gas appliances, because they are so efficient, but consider safety measures as we head into the heating season. If gas appliances are not properly maintained by a qualified technician, you could be at risk for carbon-monoxide poisoning through leaks or improper venting! Carbon monoxide can be found in combustion fumes, such as those produced from gas-burning stoves, dryers, furnaces, water heaters, boilers, fireplaces, lanterns, cars, as well as burning wood and charcoal. Aging equipment and gas piping can break down from corrosion and cause failures that could lead to leaks. Discovering cracked heat exchangers on furnaces is common this time of year, which is best to rectify before the heart of the heating season, in order to keep your family safe. Carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless and colorless and can create symptoms similar to the flu from exposure. Symptoms from over-exposure are: nausea, headache, dizziness, weakness, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. Pets, infants, unborn babies, elderly and people with chronic heart disease, anemia or respiratory issues are at a much higher risk. Carbon monoxide poisoning is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Annually, over 20,000 people visit the emergency room; over 4,000 are hospitalized; and an average of 400 people die from carbon-monoxide poisoning, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Can you prevent being a statistic? Can you live free of worry in a safe environment in the comfort of your own home? Yes and yes! Here is the way to reduce your risk of carbon-monoxide build-up:
1. Schedule a Kellam Mechanical Gas Safety Inspection for only $69!
2. Do not use charcoal, a barbecue grill or portable, flameless, chemical heaters indoors.
3. Never burn anything on a stove or in an unvented fireplace. Always open the flue when in use.
4. Never use a generator indoors, in the garage or near vents or windows leading indoors.
5. Install a quality carbon-monoxide detector.
Safe family: priceless.
Kellam Mechanical employs NATE-Certified technicians to perform your Gas Safety Inspection, using a high quality leak detector on your gas appliances and gas piping inside your home. This includes the inspection of proper venting applications. Technicians are also trained to locate the proper placement in your home for optimal detection, and they stock detectors approved by the National Comfort Institute (NCI). These will set off an alarm at 10 parts-per-million, compared to detectors sold on home-improvement shelves that don’t start detecting until 70 parts-per-million after 2 hours of exposure, when symptoms have begun to set in. Carbon monoxide detectors save lives; so if you have gas appliances in your home, invest in a low-level detector! Natural gas smells like rotten eggs, due to the added compound, sulfur. If you suspect a leak or your carbon-monoxide detector alarms, exit your dwelling; and call 9-1-1 to have our local, friendly fire department secure your property. Then call Kellam Kellam to perform repairs in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk, Virginia.
757-430-0358
Call today to schedule your Gas Safety Inspection, and take $25 off a carbon monoxide detector.
Know someone who needs a safe home this winter?
Tell ’em Kellam!
Airflow and Room Temperature Solutions
A few years ago I was driving my 8 year old son to his football game. It was a Saturday afternoon in the fall and it was a comfortable 64 degree day. My son was in the back seat and asked me to turn the air conditioner on. As I reached for the controls I asked why since it was already cool and he said “because my coach told the team at practice that the best conditioned team is going to win.” Clearly spoken from a heating and air conditioning contractor’s son! Imagine if children’s logic reflected reality. Our world would be a lot more interesting.
So here we are with fall setting in once again with cool, crisp nightly temperatures accompanied with football season. Just because the outdoor temperatures are fluctuating does not mean your indoor air has to change your comfort level. Consistent indoor comfort is ideal. If the room temperatures in your home vary significantly, then your system is not operating properly and you will need a service repairman to diagnose the issue. The goal is to meet room temperatures with the thermostat setting, but concern should be noted if there is a 3 degree difference from room to room. Room temperature fluctuations could be due to:
~Disconnected or poorly designed ductwork
~Thermostat location
~Poor insulation
~Window leakage
If you experience hotter temperatures upstairs in the summer and colder downstairs in the winter; or perhaps a room over the garage gets neglected from proper airflow, your comfort system may be insufficiently designed or sized. A simple load calculation can be performed by a professional to determine the proper sizing required for you space. There are effective solutions to improve your comfort such as:
~Installing a ductless mini-split system
~Installing a zoning system
~Duct redesign to improve airflow
~Install a properly sized system
Every home is different, so schedule a qualified technician to determine your best solution to overcome comfort issues. To optimize the efficiency of your comfort system and reduce failures, change your filters monthly.
757-430-0358
Healthier Indoor Air Solution
How important is the indoor air you breathe? Critical. There are many contaminants in your indoor air that can make their way to your lungs so take action before the fall and winter weather sets in to assure your indoor air is healthy. Take the time to consider what is circulating through your home. Floaters are in the form of germs, bacteria, viruses, pet dander, human skin cells, mold spores, paint and carpet odors, allergens, cooking and cleaning agents, household project debris, gases and dust. It makes me cough just thinking about it. Kellam Mechanical installs a proven solution called the UVPhotomax for easier breathing.
The UVPhotomax uses the same photocatalytic process that the United States Military, NASA, hospitals and airplanes do to make indoor air healthier. This product is installed in your heating and cooling system and the advanced technology oxidizes at the molecular level to kill airborne floating contaminants. The solution also prevents bio-growth from clogging the coil fins. Dirty coils restrict airflow causing the system to work harder reducing efficiency, wasting energy.
To introduce this solution to your home, schedule a qualified and licensed contractor for installation. Kellam Mechanical has NATE certified technicians that can apply adjustments to treat homes up to 6,000 square feet. For healthier indoor air, Tell ’em Kellam!
DO I BAND-AID, PREP FOR SURGERY OR TRANSPLANT?
Heating and cooling systems, like all man made products, don’t last forever, however, all homeowners wish they would. Many try the “band-aid” approach with the hopes to make it through one more summer season with their old system. This typically proves to be more costly than investing that money into a new system for the following reasons:
- Aging systems have higher rates of failure which can lead to costly repairs, especially systems with Freon leaks that use R-22. Freon supply is down causing the rate to rise significantly (up 400% since 1/1/12). Expect to pay up to $100 per pound.
- Aging systems often operate at a lower efficiency than new systems causing high monthly energy bills.
- Lost wages for time away from work to meet the technician.
Many may choose surgery on their system, digging deeper into repair deciding that a $2,000 non-warranty compressor replacement will give it another 5 years of life, however that may be more costly than investing in a new system. Three reasons to reconsider your surgical investment:
- The rest of the system is still old, not guaranteeing that an additional 30 plus other parts won’t fail.
- Compressor replacements only have a 1 year warranty compared to 10 year warranties with new heating and cooling systems.
- Lost wages for time away from work to meet the technician.
Many should consider investing in a new comfort system transplant if any of the following apply:
- If your heat pump (not including geothermal) or air conditioner is 10 years or older, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends upgrading to an Energy Star product that will deliver up to 20% more energy savings than older systems.
- If your comfort system has caused repetitive discomfort in your home due to failures, high repair costs, and/or high energy bills.
- If you experience comfort issues. Excessive humidity and/or hot and cold spots throughout your home are indicators of poorly functioning equipment or improperly designed systems.
Schedule your free Kellam Mechanical replacement quote now. It is a great start for budgeting, researching, and learning about your best options. This is a major expense to plan for and taking the stress of a failed system out of the equation makes this an easier family project.
At the time of proposal, our Kellam Mechanical comfort consultant will deliver professionalism, respectfulness and quick responsiveness. A Custom Home Comfort Survey will be performed along with a thorough inspection of your existing ductwork which includes current sizes and condition since this can greatly affect the delivery of proper airflow to ensure maximum comfort and efficiency of the new system. Your comfort consultant will also perform a Manual J load calculation to ensure that your new home comfort system is properly sized to your home. An itemized proposal with system options and indoor air quality product will be presented for your consideration. At the time of installation, Kellam Mechanical will deliver prideful workmanship by drug free, NATE certified technicians. Warranty registration will be processed for you. City permits will be obtained and inspections will be scheduled when applicable to follow city safety codes. Quality Assurance processes and client follow up on all installations are performed.
A new comfort system will pay you back in monthly energy savings, savings on repair costs as well as rebates and tax credits for qualifying equipment. Know someone who needs a new system replacement quote? Tell ‘em Kellam! 757-430-0358.
Customers Have Rights!
To show our cust
omers that we value them and we have a serious commitment to customer service, we implemented a Customer Bill of Rights. We provide this document at every visit to your home.
First, we offer a 100% Money Back Guarantee. If you are not satisfied, for any reason, within the first year after installation, we will remove the equipment and give you a full refund.
Secondly, our employees are courteous and on time. Kellam technicians are drug free and smoke free. Don’t worry about finding cigarette butts on your property, because it will not happen. We offer a Clean Home Guarantee as well as an On Time Guarantee.
Thirdly, your comfort is a priority. With our Comfort Guarantee, we promise that there will be no more than a 3 degree temperature variance between rooms. Our total comfort system air will be re-balanced if needed.
A 24 Hour Service Guarantee is also a part of our Bill of Rights. If you have a problem during the warranty period with your comfort system repair and it is not completed in 24 hours, we will pay for your night in a hotel.
Kellam Mechanical takes the service to our clients seriously. For more info or details on our Customer Bill of Rights, click here!.