Value of our service agreements

To derive the greatest possible value from your home heating and cooling systems, consider the many advantages of an annual service agreement. You know the saying, “nothing lasts forever.” Well, that might have been written to describe your current heating and central air conditioning systems. Because no matter what the brand, or how many “bells and whistles” it’s got going for it, sooner or later it’s going to stop doing its thing. Average lifespan? About 15 years. Of course, it’s not like it just all of a sudden “goes.” That’s too simple. Instead, your home comfort systems lose comfort-ability and energy efficiency a little at a time…sort of like a helium balloon, but not as much fun. Is that a situation totally out of your control? Of course not, and hence the point of this report. With an annual service agreement from Aux Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, and Electrical, you’ll get an annual system inspection every year you stay with the plan. That allows us to keep your system in top running order, and to spot little problems before they become big, expensive repairs. In the meantime, you’ll enjoy the best your system has to offer…both in terms of heating and/or cooling efficiency while enjoying the maximum in energy savings. Plus, at Aux Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, and Electrical our annual service agreement customers receive priority attention for the emergency service you might need after hours, weekends…even in the wee small hours of the morning. Call or visit our web site to learn more. Or simply use the coupon below to save $25 off an annual service agreement today…it’s a plan we’ll custom design to give you exactly the kind of coverage that makes the most sense for you and your family

Heating Efficiency

Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Mo, Catch a Boiler by the Toe! Time to replace your old, worn out, energy-inefficient heating system? Now, some words of advice to help you make an informed decision on what’s best for your family and your budget! Reduced to its most fundamental level, a heating system has three component parts: • The heating plant – your furnace, boiler or heat pump; • The distribution system – your ducts or pipes; • The control system – namely, your thermostat. And now, for the good stuff, as in…two types of heating systems we often recommend when “only new will do.” Gas furnaces & boilers Gas furnace technology has progressed by leaps and bounds during the past decade. Heating efficiencies have jumped from about 65% to as high as 95%. Gas furnaces are also called “forced air” heating systems, where air is heated and then supplied through your duct work or baseboard units. If your home is equipped with radiators, then you’ll want a gas boiler which heats water instead of air. Plus, with a gas boiler, you can eliminate one home comfort appliance with a combined gas boiler and water heater system. Electric heat pumps An electric heat pump produces 2-3x more heat per kWh than an electric furnace. There are two main types of heat pump: air-to-air, and ground source (also known as “geothermal”). Air-to-air heat pumps work fine in warmer climates, but once the outside temperature falls below 35.5°F, they rapidly lose efficiency. In colder climates, georthermal systems work better since heat is extracted from deep within the ground where the temperature remains constant all year long. Air-to-air or geothermal, you can heat and cool your home with a heat pump system. That’s right: central air and central heat, all within a single, highly efficient system. So….. Is a new heating system in your family’s future? Then allow the experts at Aux Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, and Electrical to recommend what’s best for you

Value of a Heating Tune-up

A “Fine Tune” for the Winter Months Ahead. Fact: your heating system will last longer and conserve precious energy with regular system maintenance. Here’s how and why. On average, American families spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars every year to heat and cool their homes. That’s the bad news. The good news is that it’s relatively easy to cut those energy costs, and keeping your heating system finely tuned is a great place to start. Before we even get to your heating system, however, a word to the wise: don’t wait for the real cold stuff before you check your window caulking. Beefing up your insulation and upgrading your windows will help cut energy costs even more. During a heating system tune up, these are just a few the measures we take to ensure added comfort, safety, and energy efficiency to help make winter a warmer experience: • Inspect the heater and vent pipe; • Clean or replace the filter; • Check for ignition or flame failure; • Check the motor and fan bearings; • Check burners and controls • Check safety controls • Check thermostat • Perform Combustion Analysis • And much more. While we’re at it, we may be able to suggest certain “efficiency modifications” that help to generate more heat with less energy. These include: • Reducing the nozzle (oil) or orifice (gas) size; • Installing a new burner and motorized flue damper (oil); or, • Replacing the pilot light with an electronic spark ignition (gas). Here are few energy-saving measures you can employ during your normal house-keeping routine: • Clean or change your filter monthly; • Seal and insulate your air ducts… heat loss from leaky, uninsulated ducts—especially those in unheated attics and basements—can reduce the efficiency of your heating system by as much as 30%. • Vacuum the cobwebs out of your registers; • Vacuum the fins on baseboard heaters. At Aux Mechanical, we offer an affordable and comprehensive service plan that includes an annual inspection at no extra charge…your best guarantee of a well-maintained, energy efficient system. And now, you can save $25 on a custom-designed service plan of your own with the attached coupon.

Holiday safety

This week i wanted to remind everyone about safety. This week all over the country many people will begin hanging christmas lighting from their home's and tree's. Many will utilize extension cords that may be entirely too long. And most homeowner's are not equipped and not properly prepared to handle this task. So here are a few recomendations 1. Did you know that in most cases we can install weather proof plugs into the eaves of your home so you can plug lighting directly into. 2. Use a timer for lower utility cost and safety 3. If you must use an extension cord use as short as possible. The longer the cord the less efficient and less safe it becomes. 4. if you must get on the roof be sure to tie the ladder down for safety. And use a spotter if able, it's better to be safe than sorry.

First and foremost, We want to wish everyone a very happy and safe Thanksgiving. Remember to enjoy it! Having said that, It's a holiday week but never fear we are always here. If you should need us don't hesitate to call and Mention this blog and get an additional $25 off service performed. Secondly, Our new fleet. Recently went through a design change on all of our Fleet. So when you see it, don't be alarmed. It's still us, still locally owned , still locally operated!! But we would love your feedback on out fleet.

Carbon Monoxide dangers

You Can’t See it, Hear it, or Smell it…But it’s There, All Right. And the Worst Thing You Can Do is Ignore it! Every year, hundreds of people die from carbon monoxide poisoning, and thousands more become seriously ill. So here’s a quick primer on CO causes, how to minimize their effects, and why you should install a CO detector today! Carbon monoxide is a natural byproduct of appliances and power tools that burn fuels like gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal. Breathing low levels of CO can cause shortness of breath, mild nausea, and headaches. At higher levels of inhalation, CO can cause drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. At the extreme? Loss of consciousness and death. PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM CO POISONING Any tool or appliance that is not adequately vented and maintained can be a potential source of CO, including: So the idea is to prevent CO poisoning from reaching dangerous levels in the first place…and here are a few simple steps to help you accomplish just that: • Have your heating system, chimney and flue inspected and cleaned by a qualified technician every year. • Don’t operate gasoline-powered engines in confined areas. • Choose vented appliances whenever possible. • Install a carbon monoxide detector with an audible alarm in your home and garage. ABOUT CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS If you’re planning to purchase a CO detector – or even if you already own one – check to see that it carries the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) label, a long-term warranty, and that it’s easy to self-test and reset. Should your CO detector alarm suddenly go off: • Check for symptoms of poisoning. • Should you find any, get everyone out of the house and seek medical attention for those who require it. • Otherwise, ventilate your home with fresh air, turn off all potential sources of CO, including your heating system and water heater, etc. • Have a qualified technician inspect your fuel-burning appliances and chimneys to determine why the alarm sounded in the first place. Today, Aux Mechanical is pleased to offer you a $50 discount – with the coupon below -- to thoroughly inspect your home and advice you on the best way to prevent and detect unhealthy levels of CO emissions.

Home Fire Safety

After 10 Years, Trust Us: You Won’t Like the Odds. Why the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends you replace all fire detectors after no more than 10 years. Smoke detectors are one of the most important safety features in your home. Properly installed, they serve as a built-in early warning system to allow you and your family to escape fire-inflicted bodily harm. With that comforting thought comes a major responsibility. And that, simply stated, is to make sure your fire detectors are prepared to do the job they were built for…without fail. Other than routine battery checks and replacement, the NFPA recommends that you replace all smoke detectors after 10 years. Here’s why: • On average, 3% of all smoke detectors fail each year; • After 10 years, a smoke detector is 30% likely to fail; • After 15 years, the likelihood of failure are 50%; • After 30 years, studies show, it’s a virtual guarantee that a smoke detector will fail. Are you the super cautious type? Then replace your smoke detectors as often as you feel necessary But 10 years, says the NFPA, is a reasonable standard to help us live by. And we happen to agree. Just how great is the risk from fire? On a yearly basis, over 3,200 people throughout the country lose their lives from residential fires. As far as we’re concerned, that’s 3,200 too many. So here are some additional home safety tips from the professionals at Aux Plumbing, Heating, Cooling,and Electrical. • In-home safety can be enhanced by as much as 80% when you install an automatic fire sprinkler system along with smoke detectors. • Smoke detectors should be placed in all hallways leading to sleeping quarters. If your home has more than one level, install a smoke detector on each level near the stairs. • Let’s dispense with a popular myth: pressing the test button on your smoke detector is not a valid test of whether or not it’s still working. All that tells you is that the unit still has power. It’s far more important to test the smoke detector’s sensor. And to do that, we recommend you purchase SMOKE CHECK (by Some Safeguard)…it’s a non-toxic, smoke-like substance that tests the sensor, electronics and power source all at the same time. • If you even suspect there’s a fire in progress, feel the bedroom door with the back of your hand before you attempt to exit. Then, crawl out to stay below the smoke. As you can see, preventing fire – or, knowing how to respond in case of fire – is everyone’s business. Ours included! That’s why Aux Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, and Electrical is pleased to offer you a $50 discount on a fire prevention project – including smoke detector or sprinkler system installation – with the coupon below.