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).