Winter heating Tip:

In an effort to save you money before calling for a "No Heat Service Call", there are a few things you can check:
Check to see if someone moved the thermostat switch from "Heat" to "Cool".
Check to see if the switch on the side of the furnace was accidentally left off.
Make sure the electrical breaker is ON.
Make sure there is not a problem with the gas service coming into the house.
Make sure the return air filter is clean.
Check the flue exhaust cap for obstructions; bird nests, snow build up, etc…
The above list of items occurs more often than you might think and by checking them ahead of time, could save you money ... although we would be more than happy to come out for a service call :-)

Seasonal Tips for Clean, Safe Air

Following a few seasonal maintenance tips around the house can improve the air quality in your home and enhance your family's health and safety.

Click below to view the full article:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-home/clean-and-safe-home-air.aspx

What is a Tank-less water heater?

A tankless water heater is an energy-efficient water heating system that heats water only when it's needed. These space-savings water heaters can supply endless streams of clean, hot water to multiple appliances simultaneously, without any fluctuation in temperature.

Click on the link below for more information:
http://www.wmmastersinc.com/tankless_water_heaters.html

Power Outages

After yesterday afternoon's explosions at the GE electrical substation, a Generac whole house standby generator might just be the way to go.

Another satisfied customer:

Below is a copy of an email our Comfort Specialist, Deron received from Tim Hunt - Thanks Tim for your kind words!

Dear Deron,

Thanks for sharing your expertise and your insights this morning.  Susan and I always appreciate the way you identify all the variables involved in projects we're considering.

I gave Susan a quick sketch of the Rheem high efficiency electric you were suggesting as an alternative to consider.  That option and the tankless that kicks in at a lower flow rate seem to be the either/or for us.

Thanks, also, for fitting us into your schedule so quickly.

Hope the rest of your day is aces.  One thing I know is that no matter how pleased your other clients are to be working with you, they're not as pleased as we are.

Best,

Tim

Air Conditioning Tip of the Week:

When replacing your old air conditioning system make sure to look at all your energy savings equipment options - what you might save on "up front", could cost you in the "long run"!

See what the US Department of Energy recommends by clicking on the link below:

http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12310

Air Conditioning Tip of the Week:

Your air conditioner's evaporator coil (the ‘inside’ portion) and condenser coil (the ‘outside’ portion) collect dirt over their months and years of service. A clean filter helps prevent the evaporator coil from soiling quickly, however in time, the evaporator coil will still collect dirt. This dirt reduces air flow and insulates the coil, reducing its ability to absorb heat, thereby decreasing the efficiency of your unit and causing it to work harder than it was designed for.  To avoid this problem, check your evaporator coil every year and clean it as necessary.

Outdoor condenser coils can also become very dirty if the outdoor environment is dusty or if there is foliage nearby. You can easily see the condenser coil and notice if dirt is collecting on its fins and/or spines.

You should minimize dirt and debris near the condenser unit. Your dryer vents, falling leaves, and lawn mower are all potential sources of dirt and debris. Cleaning the area around the coil, removing any debris, and trimming foliage back at least 2 feet allows for adequate air flow around the condenser unit.

The aluminum fins on evaporator and condenser coils are easily bent and can block air flow through the coil causing all kinds of problems with the unit.  If bent, try to straighten these fins back into nearly original condition (they don’t have to be “perfect”, just open them up to air flow again).

Air Conditioning Tip of the Week:

Especially during extreme hot and humid conditions, it's best to run your furnace blower in the "ON" position on your thermostat rather than the "AUTO" position. This will help to keep the air "mixed" within all parts of the house, helping to eliminate hot and cold spots (it will also extract more "cooling" from the evaporator coil that is normally left when the indoor blower shuts off).
A great example of the effects of 'blower air', is to observe a bottle of vinegar and oil salad dressing. When the bottle has set for a period of time the ingredients separate, when you shake the bottle up the ingredients are mixed fairly evenly within the bottle - very similar to the air in your home!

Air Conditioning Tip of the Week:

Now that the heat and humidity is causing plants and landscaping to grow very quickly, it is important to check to make sure there is nothing blocking the sides or top of your air conditioner; restriction of air flow around the air conditioner unit can cause increased utility bills and possibly cause failures to occur because of overheating!

Out with the old, in with the new.

Here are a few pics of customers getting ready for a hot 4th of July by replacing their old furnace and air conditioner systems, with Trane high efficiency units.

Avoiding power outages.

During a utility power outage, an automatic standby generator provides numerous advantages over a portable generator:

• The American Red Cross recommends permanently installed standby generators as a safer way to provide backup power to a home than a portable generator.
• With an automatic standby generator properly installed outside, your home is protected from deadly carbon monoxide poisoning that is a much greater risk with portable generators.
• Running on the home's natural gas or LP fuel supply, it is less expensive to run than gasoline and does not need to be refilled.
• They start automatically within seconds of a power outage, and eliminate the need to haul a portable generator outside or run extension cords throughout your home.
• They provide protection 24/7, whether you're home or away, and they turn themselves off when utility power returns, so there is no need to monitor the unit during an outage.

Air Conditioning 'Tip of the Week'

Airflow in your duct system is extremely critical in the operation of your air conditioning system. Check air registers to make sure they are not blocked. Also, placing furniture on top or in front of your air registers can dramatically decrease the effectiveness and performance of your system.

'Do It Yourself" sump pump maintenance:

 

A lot of sump pump problems can be prevented by performing a small amount of maintenance.

One of the most common sump pump problems is with the float switch.

The float switch is set up so that when water reaches a certain level, the sump pump turns on, and when the water goes back down, the pump shuts off.  It is always a good idea to check the performance of the float switch on a regular basis by pushing or lifting up on the float switch arm to verify the pump activates.

Always check and make sure that the sump pit is free from debris that could have been “washed-in” from the drainage tile.

Verify the ‘check valve’ is opening properly.  The check valve is set up so that when the sump pump shuts off, no water will go back into the pit.

Some, (but not all) pumps will have a weep hole, usually between the sump pump and the check valve. You can clean this weep hole out with a small metal object, such as the end of a paper clip. Be careful not to drop anything into the weep hole.

Verify the inlet screen on the intake impeller has not become clogged-up with silt or debris.  If your sump pump has stopped running, suddenly, or has been making a whining noise, this could be the problem.

Although rare, a sump pump pit can cause an odor.  This is usually because water is trapped in the drainage pipe and stays there – this problem is usually found on a pit that does not actively get a lot of water in it. If an odor does persist, you can usually solve it by putting enough “fresh” water in the pit to operate the pump.  You can also eliminate the odor by using a bleach-water mixture. One part bleach to 5 parts water is good. Again, you can fill the pit until the sump pump turns on, this will help with eliminating the odor better than just plain water.

Another great prevention technique to ensure your sump pump operates during a power outage is to purchase an automatic standby generator. This way, if you lose power while you need your sump pump (such as a thunderstorm or blizzard), you will have a back up source of power for the sump pump. The great thing about an automatic standby generator is that you don’t have to be at home in order for your “back-up” power to come on – it’s “automatic”!  An automatic standby generator is a great way to provide you with ‘peace of mind’ when you are on vacation or on a business trip.

Sometimes, it is better to invest more money now than to have to spend more money later on flooding damages.

Air Conditioning 'Tip of the Week':

Kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans should be used sparingly during the summer. Remember, in just (1) hour, these fans can exhaust a "houseful" of costly, cooled air!

Air Conditioning "Tip of the week"

In the summer time, the air conditioner uses the blower portion of your furnace to distribute air throughout your home - Help your furnace to breath easy and work effectively by cleaning or replacing the return air filters every month! A dirty filter in the summer time can cause an air conditioner to "ice up"! A good way to remember to change the filter is to do it every time you get your electric bill.

Wm. Masters, Inc. to the rescue.

One of our customers "lost" their air conditioner unit to a failed compressor and needed a new one installed before this 90 degree weekend - we mobilized our installation team and 'got er done'.

We deliver Energy Efficiency!

Because 74% of A/C systems serviced are outside of the manufactures' specs, Wm. Masters, Inc. has invested in our installation and service technicians with the most up to date testing, measurement, and start-up tools available. 

According to a recent US EPA presentation on central A/C & air source heat pumps, 41% of the systems were undercharged & 33% were overcharged.

Wm. Masters, Inc. has purchased the most up to date tools to ensure that when we install an air conditioner rated at 16 SEER efficiency, it delivers 16 SEER efficiency to the home!

Here are some pics from our recent training seminar we conducted to familiarize

everyone with the new tools.

A really "cool" thermostat!

I guess I didn't have to make my own video about the new Trane XL950 ComfortLiNK II thermostat, because someone already did - it's a little bit dated just because it was made in March of this year, but it still shows a lot of the cool features of the unit - click on the link below:
YouTube video from the Builders Show.

Let me know if you have any questions (FYI - 'ball park' price for the thermostat with installation is around $850.00, depending on your current heating and cooling system).

Air Conditioning "Tip of the Week":

In light of the current energy concerns it is critical to make the most efficient use of your utility dollars, establish YOUR comfort temperature, set your thermostat for that temperature and forget it. As with heating, it takes less energy to cool air 4 to 5 degrees than it does to cool air 8 to 10 degrees! Also remember, the longer an air conditioner runs the more efficient it is at removing humidity from your home!

Wind, Rain, and Storms

With the wind, rain, and storms last night the sump pump calls and the back-up pump and whole house generator calls are coming in!
http://www.wmmastersinc.com/sumppumps.html

Trane XL950 thermostat

Working on a video for the Trane XL 950 LCD thermostat.

Taking the plunge into blogging.

I hope this blog finds everyone well.
Wm. Masters, Inc. is into it's 8th week of performing air conditioner tune-ups in the Bloomington/Normal, IL area.  Things have gone relativley well, although the rain has forced us to have to reschedule some appointments (for safety reasons; it's not good to have exposed electrical wires come in contact with the rain).
The rain has been good for our plumbing department; it helps to keep customers aware of routine maintenance on their sump pumps; per most manufacturer specifactions; sump pumps should be check on a regular basis to make sure the activation or float switch is in proper working condition and that the water discharge line has not become plugged or restricted and/or the check valve is working properly.
Well that's all for now - we are looking forward to a great Memorial Day weekend!
If you need any other information, don't hesitate to visit our web site at: http://www.wmmastersinc.com/