• Upfront Pricing: You should always count on knowing how much your project will cost before any work is done, when a company is committed to upfront and fair pricing. And if the company charges by the job, not by the hour, you won’t get stuck paying high hourly rates or run-around time.
• Appearance Counts: Your technician should arrive in a clean uniform with a company logo, clean-shaven, and with a company vehicle. Ask if they have a business card, as well.
• Ask for a License: Ask your technician for their contractor’s license number, as all professionals should have one and respect you for asking.
• Appointment Window: You should be given an appointment window for a period of time when your technician will arrive, so you don’t have to wait around all day for them to show up. Also, the technician’s dispatcher should call and inform you of when your technician should arrive, when they are on their way.
• Trusted Technicians: Allowing workers in your home requires trust. Check if the company does background checks or drug screening on their employees. You will never regret being safe. Also, check to see that they are at least EPA certified, if not NATE certified technicians as well.

The Consequences of Choosing the Wrong Contractor:

By selecting a qualified heating, cooling, and plumbing contractor you will avoid many of the common home improvement hazards including:

• Frequent system breakdowns
• Improper installation
• Unsafe and/or inefficient operation
• Shortened equipment life
• Lack of timely service
• Unusually high energy bills
• Voiding of factory warranties
• Theft, property damage or worse
• Building Code Infractions and penalties

Preventative maintenance may seem inconvenient and tedious at time, but as they say “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.  Just a few minutes of your time can keep your family safe and minimize costly repairs in the future.

Here are some easy home maintenance tips:

• Toilets. If you think you might have a leaky toilet there is any easy way to check.  Put a small amount of red food coloring in the tank and check the toilet bowl about 15 minutes later.  If the water has turned red, water is seeping through from the tank and you need to fix the leak.
• Washing machine. Cracked or leaky washing machine hoses are one of the leading causes for Homeowners Insurance claims.  Check your hoses periodically for leaks, and replace plastic hoses every three years.  Also make sure the drain hose is secured to the washing machine outlet box.  If not properly secured, the pressure could cause the hose to jump out of the drain outlet when the pump activates, spilling tremendous volumes of water onto your floor.
• Garbage disposal. Run plenty of cold water when using your garbage disposal.  Do not overload it or dispose of things like bones, cornhusks or fruit or vegetable peels.  Rice and pasta should be disposed of in a trash container.
• Pipes.
  • Make sure you know where your water shut-off valves are located and know the difference between the outside water shut-off and the inside water shut-off in case of an emergency.
  • When leaving your home for an extended period of time during the winter months, set your thermostat to approximately 60 degrees and leave your cabinet doors open inside.  If pipes freeze, turn up heat, open all cabinet doors, and close crawlspace vents.
  • To help prevent clogs, fit all your tubs and shower drains with a strainer that catches hair and soap chips.
  • Do not rinse fats or cooling oils down the kitchen sink.  They will solidify in your pipes and cause clogs.
  • If you can’t snake it yourself, call a professional plumber!
• Water heater. Always shut off the power or gas before doing anything to your water heater.  At least once a year, drain the water from the tank to remove sediment buildup.  At least once a year have your water heater inspected by a service technician.
• Air Conditioner. Check the condensate hose to be sure it is not blocked with algae.  Clean the outside condensing unit screen of leaves.  Listen for unusual noises and call a professional when necessary.
• Furnace. Have your furnace serviced by a service technician once a year to make sure it is running safely and at peak efficiency.  Change or check filters at least once every couple of months.