YOUR HAMPTON ROADS COMFORT EXPERTS
KEEPING SOUTHEASTERN FAMILIES COMFORTABLE SINCE 1995
Why Tell ’em Kellam?
❝ To provide home comfort delivered with compassionate and trustworthy customer service value every time.❞
Kellam Mechanical was also honored as the 2016 National Contractor of the Year by the PHCC Association and we are still delivering award winning services to local businesses and residences in Coastal Virginia’s Southeast Tidewater area!
We are a family owned heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical company proudly serving the communities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk and Portsmouth, Virginia!
We are also insured, bonded, and operate under a Contractors A license (2705 039134A).
Rule #1: We Respect Your Property with our Red Carpet Treatment!
We are honored to be welcomed into your property as a contractor you can trust. Before entering, our techs lie down a red carpet and cover their shoes with booties to protect your floors and carpets from dirt and debris.
Rule #1: Respect your property.
To learn more about Kellam Mechanical’s commitment to our clients, click here!
Combat COVID-19 With Healthy Indoor Air
Combat COVID-19 With Healthy Indoor Air
COVID-19 has put everyone on alert to protect their health. Social distancing, sheltering in place, quarantine and isolation orders have altered our normal routines. Spending more time indoors has created new personal and remote work lifestyles. Practicing healthy choices like selecting immune boosting foods and exercising is just as important as considering your home’s indoor air quality. According to the EPA, indoor air concentrations often contain 2 to 5 times higher pollutants than typical outdoor concentrations.
UV Photomax Kills Viruses
Combat COVID-19 and other unwanted viruses in your home or business environment. Focusing on improving indoor air quality is a healthy and proactive solution. Maximizing clean air circulating throughout your home is achievable. The UV Photomax is an advanced oxidation air purification product that has proven effectiveness. Ultravation kills airborne viruses as they pass through your ductwork. The UV Photomax also reduces odors, mildew, and allergens. Installation is cost effective. HVAC experts and even medical doctors endorse this product stating that it kills viruses on household surfaces. Kellam Mechanical customers have reported that family member’s allergies, asthmatic episodes, colds and flus in their households have decreased since installation.
Annual Comfort System Maintenance
Another way to optimize your indoor air quality is to schedule your annual heating and cooling equipment maintenance appointment. Routine cleaning techniques that trained technicians perform reduce pollutants from circulating indoors and reduces system failure rates. It also increases efficiency, which reduces your energy bill costs. Ask your HVAC technician to assess your indoor humidity levels for healthy results. Consider proper operation of your HVAC system as part of personal health maintenance. When the humidity is too low, your natural defenses start to breakdown. Your skin, throat and nasal passages can get dry. Lacking normal moisture can break down your immune system.
Strategies To Optimize Your Health
- Follow CDC recommendations, such as washing hands frequently and wear a face mask in public to reduce spreading and contracting viruses.
- Schedule a UV Photomax installation to optimize your indoor air quality.
- Schedule your annual heating and cooling equipment maintenance appointment.
- Make sure your indoor humidity is optimal.
For the safety of every one, Kellam Mechanical technicians are supplied with cleaning supplies in their vans as well as masks, gloves and shoe booties to preserve good health. Customers are not required to sign tablets at this time. Know someone on the southside of Tidewater, Virginia who wants healthier indoor air quality? Tell ’em Kellam! 757-430-0358
R-22 Supply and Demand Will Affect Your Comfort
What is R-22?
R-22 is a type of refrigerant used in air conditioners and heat pumps. Refrigerant is also referred to as Freon. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulations regarding R-22 may affect your wallet and comfort. If you are not sure what type of refrigerant your air conditioner uses, an EPA certified HVAC technician can determine that for you. Most air conditioning units and heat pumps that were manufactured and installed prior to 2010 were built to use R-22.
EPA Action
R-22 was introduced in the 1950’s. Based on research, the EPA reported it to be an ozone-depleting substance when leaked into the atmosphere. In effort to support environmental preservation, the phase out of R-22 was launched several years ago. The EPA limited production on R-22 causing the prices to increase due to the lack of supply. The phase-out project is expected to be completed by 2020, which is fast approaching. If your equipment experiences a refrigerant leak, due to reduced supply, the cost to have it repaired will likely be doubled or tripled compared to past repairs. As of 2020 no more R-22 will be manufactured.
Simple Solution
Be proactive and mindful of our environment. . If you have equipment with R-22, start planning for the replacement. Newer manufactured equipment is commonly built to use R410, a gas that is safer for our environment. R410 is in ample supply and less expensive. Upgrading your equipment will save you money. Buying new will give you a return on your investment based on new equipment technology providing higher efficiency. System replacement quotes are free when you schedule an appointment with a Kellam Mechanical Comfort Consultant.
http://kellammechanical.com/new-heating-cooling-system-quote-request/
AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING SYSTEM ONLINE SHOPPING
Technology has launched the shopping experience into a new level of convenience. Household internet shopping can include stocking up on toilet paper, baby food, light bulbs, cereal, clothes, kitchen sinks and even air conditioners or furnaces; these items can be delivered to your home with the touch of a button. Buying household basics online makes sense and frees up your around town errand time, which is valuable. However, purchasing HVAC equipment or parts online is not as cost effective as it seems. Air conditioning and heating system online shopping could cost 3x more money than purchasing the parts or equipment and labor directly through a contractor.
If you buy online and have a tradesman install it, the tradesman is not going to warranty a part he did not provide. After installation, if the part or equipment fails, there are more costs involved to diagnose and repair. Your choices are to pay the tradesman again to repair it or replace it with his or her stocked part at an additional fee. Or pay the tradesman to remove it so you can send it back to the supplier, wait for the new part to arrive, then call the tradesman back to repair it and pay him again. During this wait, you are likely inconvenienced and uncomfortable. When a contractor supplies parts and equipment, a warranty is included to cover potential failures for labor and parts. Contractors have established relationships with local suppliers for access to parts for a variety of manufacturers. Some parts and equipment installations require permits and inspections. Repairs and installations involve specialized tools for proper wiring, certifications, gas piping or proper refrigerant pressure readings, which should be followed with safety measures and city code compliance. There are pros and cons when purchasing online when you do not possess the skillset to install:
Cons: Pros:
-Does not include installation -Initial savings on product
-Does not include warranty
-Does not include code compliance
-Does not include EPA compliance
-Does not include safety measures
-Does not include guarantee right product was purchased
-No direct relationship with the supplier
-If part fails, have to remove it, return it, pay tradesman again
A $13 air conditioning capacitor online is not as simple as ordering a light bulb and screwing it into the fixture. The correct size of the capacitor needs to be obtained, correct installation and proper benchmark readings should be achieved for it to work properly. Mini-split heat pumps can be found online for $1,300.00 including shipping. Now what? Did you get a load calculation, order the right equipment size, line sets or permits? A skilled professional may charge $130 for a capacitor repair. A tradesman may charge $4,200 to install a mini-split system. It is not just about the value of the equipment or part online, it is the value of the skilled professional, city code compliance, inspections, EPA regulations, warranty, proper installation, achieving safe benchmark readings, convenience of his/her office on wheels, stocked parts and carrying a business license and insurance.
Skill is a developed ability. Tradesmen deliver comfort with their repairs and installations based on their training and have earned respect for their knowledge and education. For those DIY readers, be proud of your skill. It is valuable to be able to repair, manage and maintain your own household projects. If you do not possess the skills, the value of a skilled tradesman outweighs online shopping. When doing air conditioning and heating system online shopping, click on a local contractor website instead of the big box stores. If you need a skilled tradesman, schedule here:
Why won’t my air conditioner cool below 80?
It is so hot outside, why won’t my air conditioner cool below 80 degrees when I need it to? Hot days drive home owners directly to the thermostat to punch that “cool me down” button from 75 degrees to 70 degrees. After an hour or so, with no noticeable improvement, back to the thermostat, to discover the temperature has not changed comfort levels inside. On hot days that reach close to 100 degrees, you may discover warmer indoor temperatures. Generally systems are designed to perform up to 20 degrees below outdoor temperature readings. Extremely hot days will also run your air conditioner for long periods of time. Dropping the thermostat way down dramatically may not be the solution.
Here are some tips to keep your home more comfortable and efficient in hot summertime Virginia coastal communities:
Change your filters monthly for better airflow and fewer failures
Have system annual maintenance to keep coils clean and system operating efficiently
Make sure outdoor equipment is free from debris
Close window, doors and blinds
Dry clothes during cooler times of day
Avoid running dishwasher on dry cycle, suggest air dry
Minimize stove/oven use
It could take 4-6 hours for your system to satisfy the thermostat setting on extremely hot days or post repairs. If your home does not cool down over night, call to schedule a qualified HVAC technician to troubleshoot the system. There are many potential parts that could fail after your system has been running many hours consistently.
What to do: Contact Kellam Mechanical to schedule a skilled technician to properly and thoroughly diagnose your failure to present professional solutions. http://kellammechanical.com/heating-cooling-maintenance-appointment/
757-430-0358
Plumbing Drain Clog Resolve
Plumbing clogs are a nuisance. Imagine all of the things that can contribute to a clog. Hair, food, dirt, paper, toothpaste clumps (kids love to squeeze the tube), floss, and grease are all potential items that can contribute to a clogged drain. Occasionally we experience a stubborn clog that needs more attention than just verbally begging your standing water to drain. Then when you hear it gurgle back at you in response, it is time to take action.
Practice Safe Solutions
Discontinue using the sink to avoid the clog worsening and potentially damaging your household pipes. Avoid messy and damaging flooding. The first thing that might enter your mind is to pour drain cleaners down your pipes. However, that is not an ideal solution. Household cleaners contain harmful chemicals that can cause chemical burns to your skin and eyes and have the potential to cause inflammation to your respiratory system as well and corrode your plumbing pipes. If splashed in your home, they can also cause damage to your paint or wood floors or trim. If you do store or use household chemicals, keep them secured so they are inaccessible to children and pets.
Call a Plumber
An experienced professional is the quickest and safest solution. Schedule an appointment for peace of mind that your property will be restored safely. Remove the task from your chore list and be done in 1 call. Kellam Mechanical plumbers are armed with the right tools and skillset to resolve the clog. Kellam plumbers are trained to handle simple drain clogs as well as more challenging clogs, such as sewer drain clogs, which can cause a health hazard when sewage backs up into household plumbing. In that case, your emergency is our emergency. Proper water flow is the goal, so click to schedule your appointment to return your household to clear pipes. http://kellammechanical.com/plumbing-service-request/
Plumbing Leaks are Wasteful
BREAKING NEWS LEAKED!
Ignoring the sound of the drip, drip, drip leaky faucet or pipe is costing you money and practicing wastefulness. Some plumbing leak locations are unnoticeable until damage is already setting in on ceiling plaster or seeping through your floors from a leaky sink, toilet or shower, for example. Consider just 1 faucet leaking at the rate of 30 drips per minute. That equals 43,200 drips daily, 2.85 gallons daily and 1,041 gallons annually! Do the math on the additional faucets in your home leaking and you will discover unnecessary wastefulness. There are additional problems that accompany a leaky faucet:
- Discoloration in your sink or tub
- Wasted energy on leaky hot water taps
- Potential water damage to walls, ceilings, floors leading to costly repairs
ACT ON IT:
Time flies, so your faulty plumbing has probably been lingering longer than you think. Tuning it out is not the answer. Tune back in to get those drips and get it fixed. It is likely you have other plumbing issues to address, so for the purpose of conservation and efficiency, schedule a qualified plumber to get all of your repairs done at the same visit. Kellam Mechanical now offers residential plumbing services to save you money, so when you see water damage or hear water dripping, act on it. When you have a drain clog or broken garbage disposal, act on it. After you scream in the shower when only cold water hits your skin, act on it. Call an experienced plumber. Call Kellam Mechanical to get your Plumbing Savings Agreement, which includes an inspection of all sinks, toilets, showers, tubs, drains, gas piping, garbage disposals, ice makers and vent piping as well as water heater flush. Repairs and replacements can be resolved with 1 phone call: 757-430-0358. Appointments at the click of a button!
AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSTE DRAIN LINE CLOGS
Air Conditioning condensate clogged drain lines are common in our humid Tidewater region and can cause costly water damage. It is important to keep your air conditioner regularly maintained to avoid this inconvenience. Drain lines clog when dust, dirt, algae, insects, grime, rust or insulation settles in the drain pipe. This causes water to back up at your indoor air handler equipment which overflows the drip pan and potentially leak through your ceilings, floors or walls. It can also allow for bacteria, mold and mildew to grow, circulating spores through your ductwork, affecting your breathing space. It is advised to turn your system off, then call a professional to clear the drain to prevent further home damage and system failure.
Consider preventing this inconvenience:
- Invest in an annual HVAC maintenance program. Kellam Mechanical loves the annual maintenance program since it pays for itself through energy savings, program benefits and discounts. Drain lines are inspected at each visit and cleared when there are signs of clogs.
- Schedule a professional technician install a float switch and EZ trap to automatically shut your system off when water is detected backing up.
Are you a DIY nut? Attach a wet/dry vacuum to the ¾ PVC primary drain line that exits the exterior of your house located close to ground level near your outdoor air conditioning or heat pump equipment. Ensure your vacuum has a good seal for effectiveness. Power up for 3-5 minutes. Examine the contents that were obstructing the drain line. You might be surprised with the lovely remnants. However, if you are DIY nut, the leftovers probably won’t faze you. Now your breathing air is cleaner and your system is in better operating status. If no junk has been extracted and you still have system failure symptoms, you may need further trouble shooting from a qualified technician.
If you have not thought about your comfort equipment maintenance in a while, now is the time! All mechanical equipment needs regular maintenance, so spending the money to maintain it is saving more than repair costs! Know someone who needs equipment maintenance? Tell ‘em Kellam!
AIR CONDITIONING REFRIGERANT LEAKS
As the summer heat progresses, homeowners discover their air conditioners are working longer and harder, which can lead to failures. The harder and longer their equipment runs, the more likely it will demand attention to be maintained. A common cause of failure is refrigerant leakage. Temperatures higher in your home incapable of satisfying the thermostat setting is a probable symptom related to refrigerant leaking. Properly trained and certified technicians can diagnose this issue quickly and simply add more refrigerant based on the measurement their gauges determine. This may just be a temporary fix, so it is advised to perform a leak test using bubble soap solutions or an electronic leak detector to pinpoint the leak location. Leak tests can be time consuming dependent on the leak location and size. We recommended performing the repair in addition to recharging the system with the proper level of refrigerant per the manufacturer’s specifications. It is important that the technician is EPA certified to ensure refrigerant is properly handled and complying with regulations. There are several causes for refrigerant leaking:
- Mother Nature: Coastal environments can contribute to advanced coil damage with sand and salt water corrosion. Storms are not friendly with air conditions or heat pumps delivering debris in the outdoor units, causing airflow restrictions and corrosion. Living on or the near coastal regions can expedite equipment aging and shorten the equipment life. Virginia Beach resort area, Croatan and Sandbridge specifically have seen equipment last only 5-7 years when not regularly maintained or coil coated. Air conditioners and heat pumps inland should experience a life span of 10-12 years. Copper coils are also subject to microscopic cracks from nature’s affects of formicary corrosion.
- Installation: Brazing joints incorrectly can create pinhole leaks that could likely cause slow leaks, taking several years to notice the uncomfortable affects.
- Manufacturer Processing: improper welding, packing or shipping may create holes as well.
- Inadvertent Damage: Nails through the line set in the wall when hanging wall décor, outdoor project mishaps: weed eating too close to equipment damaging lines, standing on equipment attempting to work on exterior improvements or materials/tools falling in unit causes damage, outdoor kids activities, power washing or animals/pets digging or clawing at equipment. Even an animal’s urine can corrode the components.
- Huffing: It has been reported from enforcement agents that teens have been caught huffing refrigerant to get high. This is dangerous and can cause brain damage, lung damage or even death. Refrigerant locking caps are a great solution to prevent refrigerant theft and save lives.
The cost of refrigerant has fluctuated tremendously over the past several years for R-22. We have seen R-22 rise to approximately $190 per pound for the consumer in the past 4 years. R-22 operated equipment is no longer manufactured, so there is a limited supply controlled by the EPA, so costs have risen. More efficient equipment has been designed in recent years requiring R-410 which is a more environmentally friendly product and in ample supply.
Best solutions to prevent discomfort and inconvenience due to air conditioning failures:
- Invest in an annual maintenance agreements with a qualified HVAC contractor. Research shows that annual maintenance reduces failure rates and saves you up to 30% on heating and cooling energy bills annually.
2. Change your filters monthly. Dirty filters can restrict airflow and cause system failure.
GO GEOTHERMAL
Geothermal technology delivers incredibly high efficient comfort; up to 80% more efficient than a conventional system. It uses the earth’s constant temperatures using wells 6 feet below the surface to heat and cool your space. These highly efficient systems use electricity to move air, not to produce it. According to the Environmental Protection Agency geothermal systems are “the most energy efficient, environmentally clean, and cost effective space conditioning system available today.” Geothermal systems do not use fossil fuels, so there are no combustible gas emissions, which reduces your carbon footprint and eliminates harmful health effects. Statistics also prove that Geothermal equipment has a lower failure rate than heat pumps, gas package units, air conditioners or furnaces. Installing a geothermal heating and cooling system in your home or business has many benefits.
1. It has a life span twice that of a conventional system.
2. It is less expensive to install and operate than 2 conventional systems replacements.
3. It is the highest efficient equipment, saving bucket loads on energy usage.
4. It is earth friendly.
5. Increases your property value.
6. Fewer repairs.
When considering replacing your Geothermal system or converting to Geothermal, call a qualified contractor. Kellam Mechanical employs technicians that are certified through Geothermal specific training classes to install, repair and maintain Geothermal equipment. Converting to Geothermal is a smart choice. Kellam Mechanical offers free quotes. Now is the best time to live greener and benefit from a time sensitive tax credit of 30% that expires 12/31/16.