The To Do List

Posted by & filed under home comfort system, maintenance, to do list .

At my house, the to-do list seems never-ending. No sooner do I complete one task than another one appears. I know this is just life and it will always be this way, but there are days when I sure wish there was someone else to handle all the things that need to be taken care of, maybe something like a “House Manager.” I am sure there are people in this world that have them, but I am not one of them.

Fortunately, we do live in a country where just one phone call will generally have someone on their way to fix whatever problems you are having. Thank goodness for that. I cannot imagine having to be an expert in all fields and manage my to-do list on a daily basis. It would just be too much.

If your home comfort system is giving you trouble, let us help you mark one thing off your to-do list. Just call or email and let us hear from you.

I’m Glad You Asked…

Posted by & filed under furnace, hvac, routine maintenance, tune up .

“But why?” you may ask. “Why should I get my furnace tuned up when it seems to be working fine?” Well, I was hoping I’d get a chance to answer that question. It’s just something you might call “taking care of business.” There are certain things we do that may be inconvenient at the moment – but they keep us from having to take care of something much worse down the line.

It’s like going to the doctor for a checkup each year. Maybe nothing’s wrong, but if something is starting to develop, we want to find it quickly before it gets worse. Our health matters to us, so this makes sense. The same is true for going to the dentist. No one enjoys the ritual of cleanings and dental checks, but they keep our teeth “tuned up,” you could say, so we can keep enjoying our favorite foods.

Now that we’re headed into winter, our furnace or heater will matter to us even more. So we want to do a preventive checkup to make sure it’ll be in good shape on the days and nights when we’re counting on it for our comfort and safety.

Would you like to learn more? Call us – we’d be happy to answer any questions that you may have!

Sources of Air Pollution in Your Home

Posted by & filed under air filters, air pollution, allergies .

There could be a problem with the air you’re breathing. With airtight construction prodded by energy-efficient building practices over the last few decades, homes are less likely to exchange air as quickly – meaning the natural ventilation from times of old now no longer allows for the routine exchange of air between inside and outside. That means what’s inside your home stays inside your home, including the pollutants that collect over time. What’s more, because Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors, these pollutants are potentially reaching right into your family’s breathing passages.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are several common pollutants found in homes these days. They include:

Combustion Pollutants – Gases or particles that come from burning materials, major residential sources of combustion pollutants improperly vented or unvented fuel-burning appliances such as space heaters, wood stoves, gas stoves, water heaters, dryers and fireplaces. Common combustion pollutants include carbon monoxide (CO) which is a colorless, odorless gas that interferes with the delivery of oxygen throughout the body. Carbon monoxide causes headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea and even death. Additionally, nitrogen dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas that causes eye, nose and throat irritation, shortness of breath and an increased risk of respiratory infection.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – These are chemicals found in paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, varnishes and waxes, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment, moth repellents, air fresheners and dry-cleaned clothing. VOCs evaporate into the air when these products are used or sometimes even when they are stored. VOCs irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and cause headaches, nausea and damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. Some of them can cause cancer.

Asthma Triggers – These include mold, dust mites, secondhand smoke and pet dander. Asthma triggers cause symptoms including coughing, chest tightness, wheezing and breathing problems. Molds produce spores that float in the air, land on damp surfaces and grow. Inhaling or touching molds can cause hay fever-type symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin rashes. Molds can also trigger asthma attacks.

For peace of mind on any of these pollutants, contact us today for an Indoor Air Analysis. Just call or email, and we’ll take care of you.

Standing by for your call…

Posted by & filed under robin aire, routine maintenance .

If you’re old enough to remember the iconic Maytag repairman from TV commercials of days gone by, you’ll remember how bored and lonely he was because Maytag washing machines never needed repair. That whole campaign was a great idea because of how long it lasted in popular culture and what a good message it was for customers to hear: you’re not going to have a problem with our products.

In our work, we have a similar message. If we’ve tuned up your furnace for the winter season, you shouldn’t have any problem. In fact, if we tuned up every customer we served prior to winter, we might feel a little like that Maytag repairman. Still, we know the unexpected can happen. Plus, sometimes you just have questions. So, just know, we’ll always welcome your call.

One of the other great lines from infomercials of days gone by was the call to action at the end: “Operators are standing by.” That meant “call now and someone will be able to help you.” You could almost picture a whole room of desks with telephones just waiting to be answered. So think of that when you call us. We’re standing by, ready to help. Whatever home comfort issue is on your mind, just call us at (800) 361-0888 or request service through our website, and we’ll get someone to you right away.

Season of Change

Posted by & filed under fall, hvac, robin aire, season of change .

Fall is quite the season of change. The weather is cooler and the leaves are changing; it’s a sight to see. Sweaters and jackets are becoming a must and pretty soon we’ll be breaking out the scarves and gloves. Holidays are just around the corner and things are about to get busy.

During this busy season it’s easy to forget things you have to do. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was someone who could just come in and do it all for you? Do the grocery shopping, the cleaning, the yard work and anything else you can think of. While we may not be able to do all of those things for you, we can get your home comfort system ready for this weather change.

It may not even be something that crossed your mind, but it’s something that you should get checked off your list. If your system has given you trouble in the past, or you just want to get it tuned up, we want to help. Just call or email and let us know.