National Tradesman Day 2012

This blog will be short and sweet.

This Friday, September 21, is National Tradesman Day.

To borrow from Irwin Tools' website -

We invite the nation to honor "The real working hands that built and continue to build America and keep it running strong"

We just want to say THANKS...

To the men and women...

who put it all back together again...

who keep the world running when the things we depend on break down...

who keep us warm...

who give us a place to call home...

who keep our water flowing...

who make sure our lights stay on...

who keep us moving...

who give our kids a place to learn...

This Friday, find a tradesman, and say, "Thank you!"

If Your Eyes are Bigger than Your Stomach, You Could Be Impacting Our Water Supply

Two events this week contributed to this week's blog.  First, this week is World Water Week, which is a global event with a weeklong conference in Stockholm, Sweden addressing some of our planet's water needs and issues.  The second event was a dinner over the weekend at a local restaurant with my wife.  How do these two events come together in a blog?  Read on...

Sunday night my wife and I went to a local restaurant for dinner and ordered two items off the menu.   My food arrived on a plate, which was really a platter, and was piled about 4-5 inches high.  My wife's plate/platter was similar in size.  The food was fantastic and we eventually took home two large "to-go" boxes and had a great lunch on Monday with the leftovers.  But as we were walking out of the restaurant, I noticed many patrons had not finished their meals and were not taking the leftovers home.

I got to the office on Monday and got an email reminding me that this week was World Water Week.  The email started with a simple question:  What is the biggest water waster in both our country and the world?  A number of answers started going through my head:  bathing, laundry, watering your lawn too much, water balloon fights, who knows!  I wasn't even close.

In the U.S., almost half the food supply worth over $48.3 billion is lost each year, which amounts to wasting 10.5 trillion gallons of water—. The average American family of four discards 112 lbs. of food each month.enough to meet the water needs of 500 million people.

Below is a quick link to great article explaining our struggles with this issue and some staggering numbers that go along with it.

Wasted Food = Wasted Water!

So next time you are at the grocery store or at a restaurant, consider how you can make a difference and not waste food and ultimately help one of our greatest resources.

Plumley

"Do You Like Green Frogs and Blogs?"

Good news, bad news.  The bad news is that my laptop had some serious issues last week, and it made for a lot of headaches and long days.  The good news is it was an excuse to buy myself a new one and replace my four year-old MacBook Pro.

In transferring EVERYTHING from the old Mac to the new one, I stumbled on a couple of articles/messages/tidbits of information that I hadn't seen in awhile.  Below is one of those priceless nuggets that has been buried under spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations for years.  Take a minute or two to read these simple life lessons from the great Dr. Seuss.  It is amazing how powerful a sentence made up entirely of words catered to 7 year-olds can be.

Dr. Seuss Quotes to Change Your Life

My three favorites are 11, 14 and 25.  In my opinion, the greatest thing about these quotes is that they relate to so many things.  You can relate them to your life, or your work, or your children.  Do me a favor and share your favorite quote from this list with someone after you read this.

Well that is my blog for the week.  I am glad it is finally done, because as Dr. Seuss says, "Everything stinks until it is finished."

Plumley

Like Classic Cars? Like to Find a Cure for Blood Cancers? We have Just the Solution...

Nearly 1 million Americans are living with a blood cancer. Every 5 minutes, there is a new diagnosis and every 10 minutes, someone loses the fight. At RooterPLUS, we are working to help change those statistics … and you can help. On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), I am honored to invite you to help us Stick It 2 Cancer by supporting our “Cruise In for A Cure” event.  All proceeds will be donated to LLS to aid in their mission of finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkins disease, and myeloma. 

On September 16, 2012 we will hold the first annual “Cruise In for a Cure” and invite car enthusiasts to showcase their cars for an amazing cause.  The event will be co-hosted by Team JTech and will be held in the Pizzeria Azzurri Parking Lot (3560 Brown’s Bridge Rd, Cumming) at 1pm.  Awards will be presented at 4pm.  Pizzeria Azzurri will also be donating 20% of the day’s sales to LLS. 

There are many ways you can help with this event:

    Our team has committed to raising $10,000 this year through several special events including our Cruise In, and by asking our family, friends, and customers to participate in the Light the Night Walk on September 22, 2012 at the Cumming Fairgrounds. This is actually the easiest way to help reach our goal of smashing cancer. The details to donate or join our team are here: 

      RooterPLUS Light the Night Homepage

    Share this event with your family, friends, and co-workers who may have a “cool” car or truck. All vehicle types are welcome! Ask them to participate in this event by showcasing their pride and joy at the Cruise In. Registration is a $25 donation per vehicle and 100% goes to LLS.

      

     Join us and bring lots of family and friends to the “Cruise In for a Cure” event on September 16^th. While there, eat lunch or dinner with us at Pizzeria Azzurri, as they are donating 20% of all sales that day directly to LLS on our behalf. By simply eating, you will help us raise money towards finding a cure for cancer.

    Lastly, we are looking for larger corporate sponsors to help with awards, gift bags for everyone who brings an automobile, and other family-friendly event donations like a bounce house for the kids. If this is a place where you can help, please share this email accordingly. The sponsorship information is below.

Thank you in advance for your support!

There are 3 levels of sponsorship available:

4 Cylinder – These sponsors will donate at least $100 worth of coupons, door prizes, or cash to our event. They will be recognized on our event Facebook site and throughout the event. The Stick it 2 Cancer Facebook site reaches thousands of local residents and business owners in the greater Forsyth area.

6 Cylinder – These sponsors have donated at least $250 worth of coupons, door prizes, or cash to our event. They will be recognized on our event Facebook site and throughout the event. The Stick it 2 Cancer Facebook site reaches thousands of local residents and business owners in the greater Forsyth area. Sponsors at this level and higher are invited to “pitch a tent” at the Cruise In and actively participate in the days’ events.

8 Cylinder – These sponsors have donated at least $500 worth of coupons, door prizes, or cash to our event. They will be recognized on our event Facebook site and throughout the event. The Stick it 2 Cancer Facebook site reaches thousands of local residents and business owners in the greater Forsyth area. Sponsors at this level and higher are invited to “pitch a tent” at the Cruise In and actively participate in the days’ events. These sponsors will also be recognized on our first ever “Cruise In for a Cure” t-shirt. They are also eligible to award special prizes to our Cruise In attendees including our Survivor Award and several others.

We will also welcome donations of items to raffle as well as donations of any amount.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Dawn Thomas or Jay Ryerse at
770-889-8181 or call Tabitha Bowen at 770-888-1931.

No matter how you choose to help, your donation will have a direct impact in making our event a great success and bringing us closer to a cure for all cancers!  If you are unable to participate in this event, you can make a donation or join our team by clicking here:

http://pages.lightthenight.org/ga/nmetro12/jtechfriendsofsi2c

www.facebook.com/stickit2cancer

www.jtechnetworks.com

LLS is a registered 501(C)3 non-profit organization with a tax ID# of 13-5644916.

Thanks for all the continued support.  We hope to see you on September 16th.  Please pass the info for this event to anyone you think might be interested in attending, helping contribute or preferably both!

Plumley

RooterPLUS Says "Thumbs Up" for Cancer Research

We understand that there are many options in the Metro Atlanta area for plumbing, septic, and heating and air companies.  We are so thankful that thousands every month choose RooterPLUS! as their premiere choice for service in their home or business.  We are committed to providing all of our customers the best professional service in the industry.


Thanks to all of our faithful customers, we as a company have the ability to give back to our community and get involved with causes that are dear to us.  For the last three years, we have teamed up with Stick it 2 Cancer in support of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in the fight against blood cancer.  This fundraising effort culminates in the Light the Night Walk on September 22, 2012.


You can help.  It is very simple and will not cost you a penny.  If you have had a RooterPLUS technician to your house or business, please take a moment and click on the link below and fill out an online review.  


Online Review


If our company has earned "thumbs up," we will donate $10 to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for cancer research.  It is that easy.  This will help us get to our goal of $10,000 this year.  


If you would like to help even further towards this great cause, please click the link below to our Light the Night Team Page.  A donation of $25 provides patients and their loved ones with FREE booklets that contain up-to-date information on their disease and help them make informed decisions about their treatment options.

• A donation of $50 makes possible a Family Support group with a trained facilitator where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family members.
• A donation of $100 helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.
• A donation of $1,000 makes possible one- on-one conversations with health care specialists who provide patients with information about their disease, treatment options, and helps prepare them with questions for their health care team.

RooterPLUS Team Homepage

Thanks in advance for all of your support.

Plumley

Even RooterPLUS is Guilty!!

Last week I walked into my office first thing in the morning and noticed some sort of bill and a note that someone had placed right on the middle of my desk.  I immediately recognized the handwriting and knew it came from Susan, our accountant and also the person that takes care of paying all the bills.  So, I knew right away that the information on my desk had to do with money in some way or another.  I was correct.

On my desk was our latest water bill for the office.  There was a handwritten note from Susan on the envelope that read, "We need a plumber!"  Our water bill had doubled from our previous pay period.  I mentioned in passing to a couple of our employees who spend a lot of time in the yard if they were aware of any leaks that we may have had that would have contributed to the higher bill.  One of them mentioned that he thought there was a certain spot in the yard that seemed to be wet more often than not.  He said that he had mentioned it to our mechanic who said there was not a leak, it was merely a low point in the yard that accumulated the excess water when we wash the trucks in the yard.  Wrongo!!!

Luckily for me and RooterPLUS' reputation, no one involved in the "possible water leak mystery" was a plumber, but it did bring to light how a small oversight can cost you hundreds of dollars.

There is a quick and simple way to know if you have a leak at your property.  First, you need to shut off the water to the house.  Then you need to find your water meter and see if it is spinning.  If the water to the property is off, the meter should not be moving, as no water is being delivered from the street to the residence.  If there is a leak somewhere outside the house, the meter will spin and it is time to call a plumber.

Remember, as simple as this sounds, we missed it.  RooterPLUS, a company that deals with water leaks all the time, missed it.  Even though the employees who either missed the signs, or didn't know what to check for, aren't plumbers, had they known a couple simple steps in identifying a leak we could have saved some money.

Moral of the story...

Most licensed plumbers really do know what they are doing.

I Would Like to Get Your Input

Two days ago, my wife and I had a contractor out to the house to quote some work on our deck.  It was the first time in awhile that a company other than RooterPLUS had been to the house to do anything.  The contractor was very professional and represented his company very well.  


But... I found that most of the time he was explaining what he was going to do and the process that they would use, my mind was wandering.  I was constantly thinking of how well our technicians at RooterPLUS are connecting with the homeowners.  I was wondering if we are saying the right things and telling the customers things that are important to them.  I know that what is important to me, may not be important to the next homeowner.


As those of you that have used our company know, we make "happy calls" the day after a service call to make sure that our customers are satisfied with the work that was done.  This is a brief conversation and we don't ask the customers specific questions about what the technician did or didn't do or did or didn't say.  


So that is why I developed this survey.  It is to help me better understand what people want and need out of a service company or home contractor.  This is a very brief, 10 question survey that should take no longer than 3 minutes.  I know the sample group that takes the survey may not be in the hundreds, but it will still help us as a company determine what is or isn't important and what we can do to get better.  Just click on the link below to take the survey.


Customer Survey


Thanks in advance for your participation.  Your answers will allow us to continually strive towards our mission statement:

To be the premier provider of residential and commercial plumbing, septic, heating and air service for customers in Metro Atlanta providing quality workmanship and professionalism on every job.

Have a great week...

Plumley 

July 4th - Are you smarter than an 8th grader?

When I think of July 4th, I think of fireworks, friends, sunshine, red, white and blue, the flag, grilling and just good old fashioned fun.  I rarely stop to think about the reason we celebrate or the things our great country has accomplished in the past 200+ years.  


So here is a fun link to a quiz that will test your knowledge on some American history and government.  Many of the questions are used on the test to grant U.S. Citizenship.  It is 30 questions and it won't take long.  Click on the link below to take the quiz.


Independence Day Quiz


I will post a comment under this blog and let you know how I did (not very well by the way).  I encourage you to do the same, but not if it is embarrassing.  I am also planning on having my 15 year-old son and 18 year-old daughter take the quiz as well.  Let's see what these kids are learning!


Have fun with the quiz.  Have a safe 4th of July and try to spend some quality time with family and friends.


Oh, by the way, don't forget that RooterPLUS is open 365 days a year, so if you have an emergency and need our help, just call us at 770 888 1931.  Remember, no extra charge for holidays.

Holy Heat Batman!!!

Friday, June 29 - 101 degrees
Saturday, June 30 - 102 degrees
Sunday, July 1 - 101 degrees


Oh, did I mention that the lows will be in the mid 70's?


Obviously the summer has hit us with a bang.  There are a number of things that we all need to be aware of during these extremely hot days.  The first being our health.  There are numerous websites that can give tips on how to stay cool and protect yourself during these heat spells.  Our pets are also a big concern.  We cannot fail to acknowledge the effects the heat has on our pets as well.


That being said, the purpose of the blog today is about.... money.  We cannot control what Mother Nature has in store for us.  All we can do is educate ourselves as to how during these periods we can save literally hundreds of dollars each month on our energy bills.  Some of these things you have heard before (but I still think they bear repeating) and others are a little more subtle but still equally as important.  


RooterPLUS! money saving tips to dealing with heat:

• Set the thermostat at 78 degrees - For every degree below this setting, you can expect an additional 5% increase on the cooling portion of your monthly bill.

• When doing laundry, use cold water for washing most clothes... always use cold water rinse.

• Use ceiling fans to circulate air instead of lowering the thermostat for your air conditioner.  Remember, your AC can account for approximately 45% of your summer usage.

• Wash dishes with cold water and air dry.  Only use the dishwasher when it is full.

• Caulk and apply weatherstripping where needed.  Check all your windows and doors.  

• Use natural lighting and compact fluorescent light bulbs. Ninety percent of the energy used by an incandescent bulb makes heat.

• Open the refrigerator and freezer doors only when necessary.  It takes about 30 minutes for a refrigerator to "cool down" after being opened for just 30 seconds.

• Use a microwave oven or cook outside instead of using the stove or oven.

• Turn off lights when leaving a room.

• Close blinds and curtains on hot days.

To put a lid on your household energy costs, it's important to make energy savings a family affair.  Remember it is never too early for kids (often the largest energy users in the family) to develop energy-saving habits.  Turning off electronics when not in use is a good start.

Don't forget, changing your filter and maintaining your AC system can be a huge energy saver as well. Please refer to my May 2 blog post if you need a reminder.

To all our friends, customers, family and employees, please be safe with the heat and drink lots of water.

Stay cool Atlanta!!

Chemical Drain Cleaners...PLEASE Be Careful!!

Just last week one of our RooterPLUS! drain cleaning specialists was sent to a clogged bathroom sink in Atlanta.  Our technician arrived and smelled what he thought was some sort of chemical drain cleaning product.  When he asked the homeowner if she had attempted to clear the blockage herself, she said, "No."  Our technician proceeded to diagnose the blockage and remove the trap under the sink.  Upon doing so, he was inhaling what turned out later to be about two full bottles of two different chemical drain cleaning products that had been used in the past 4 hours by her husband.  He then spent the next 30 minutes vomiting in the street by his truck.  So... the message here is there is inherent danger in using chemical drain cleaners and knowledge is power.  

Chemical Drain Cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners use extremely corrosive chemicals to clean drains. These chemicals "eat" through materials such as hair, soap, grease, etc. These drain cleaners can be harmful and require careful handling and storage. Some ingredients commonly found in these drain cleaners include sulfuric acid and lye. The chemical reaction caused by these chemical drain cleaners dissolves the materials that clog pipes and hinder proper drainage. These chemicals can be dangerous as they are generally skin irritants and can cause serious burns or blindness. The toxic vapors from some of these chemical drain cleaners can also be harmful.

Chemical drain cleaners when used regularly can corrode or damage the plumbing connected to the drains. Additionally, chemical drain cleaners in high enough concentrations can harm the microbial bacteria necessary to help maintain septic systems.

Further, the use of chemical drain cleaners can be harmful to the environment as these toxic chemicals are flushed through the drainage system and eventually into the ground or well water.

Chemical Drain Cleaner Precautions

A chemical drain cleaner, if used without caution, can be hazardous to the operator. Handling a chemical drain cleaner with safety in mind will guarantee you can complete your task without getting hurt.

When using the drain cleaner make sure you never come in physical contact with the chemicals. It is highly suggested the user wear a pair of rubber gloves and protective goggles in case any chemicals splash out of the drain. After the operation, be sure to avoid the drain area as chemicals are likely to bubble up, which releases harmful fumes and liquids.

You should never use a chemical drain cleaner on a garbage disposal. The chemicals can linger in the garbage disposal after the work was done on the drain. If someone decided to turn on the disposal, chemicals could splash and cause bodily harm.

While operating with chemical drain cleaners, be sure to avoid using a plunger. Plungers have the potential to pull up the used chemicals which could spill on the operator. This applies both during and after using chemical drain cleaner.

It is very important not to mix different types of drain cleaner. Mixing chemicals can be a dangerous concoction especially if you mix an alkali cleaner and an acid cleaner together. The mixture has the potential to be explosive.

Do not use chemical drain cleaner on a completely clogged drain. The chemicals will remain on top of the clog and further increase the difficulty of removing the clog.

In conclusion, chemical drain cleaners can, if used properly and safely, clear some partial blockages.  For all other problems, or if you would just rather have a professional do the job the right way, call us at RooterPLUS!, 770-888-1931, and we will take care of the problem for you. 

Plumbing Emergency!! Oh No... What Do I Do?

I had a friend call me last week who unfortunately had a hot water line to his washing machine break.  He knew what to do and immediately turned off his water and called us.  He asked me on the phone if all of our customers know what to do in case of an emergency like this.  Bam!!!  Blog topic...

What to do in case of a water pipe burst?

Though we hope that a water line burst never happens at your home, you can never predict such incidents and should always have this information handy. It is quite scary but if you are prepared and have an understanding on what can be done immediately, it makes the experience less frightening.
Since the water supply pipe is pressurized, it leads to a sudden gush of water pouring out in event of a burst. There is no indication or warning in this case, unlike the sewer main backup, wherein the water starts to drain only slowly.
It is crucial to understand the most important thing if the water pipe bursts and there is a plumbing emergency – Water needs to be turned off completely from the source. This can be done in either of the ways:


* You will need to turn off the main shutoff valve, which could be located at the front of the house. In case it is a ball valve, the level will have to be turned one quarter in order to turn off the water supply. However, in case of the older gate valve, you will need to move the handle clockwise. An easy way to remember is “Righty tighty – Lefty loosy”.


* You could alternatively turn off the water at the meter. To know where it is located, you will need to recall where the local utility company representative goes to read the meter each month to check on your water consumption. You will require the right tools since this procedure cannot be done easily without the appropriate equipment.

* It is therefore advisable to purchase a meter key from your nearest hardware store and have the peace of mind that you will be able to manage and bring the situation under control at a short notice. Even though you will not be able to repair the plumbing damage and will require professional help in replacing the pipe etc, it will save you quite a lot of clean-up if you act on time and have the right tool handy.


Once the water supply is turned off from the mains, you should also do one more thing.


The hose faucets located outside the house should be opened up, so that the residual water from the water pipes gets drained outside rather than inside.


After you have taken these handy steps, give us at RooterPLUS a call at 770-888-1931. We will be right out, get the leak fixed and get your water back on.


Please share this information with as many people as possible...


Thanks

Did Someone Say $99 Drain Cleaning Special??

Our customers are vital to our success as a company.  We feel we provide a very professional and timely service in plumbing, septic, and heating and air to all of Metro Atlanta.  Sometimes, though, we want to do more.  That is why we give away iPads on Facebook, that is why we raise thousands of dollars each year for LLS and Stick it 2 Cancer, and that is why we have decided to run this great Spring special for all of our RooterPLUS! customers.

The $99 drain cleaning Atlanta special has been specifically created and designed to get your main sewer line unclogged, and flowing at the cheapest possible price while maintaining quality service. We will use our specially designed cable sewer machines to enter your sewer line through an accessible clean out. We will then clear out the stoppage with the cable machine. Once the line is open and flowing our drain cleaning Atlanta specialists will camera the sewer line in an effort to find what may be causing the line to clog up. If we find any trouble spots we can then show you on the camera so that you can fully understand. We will then evaluate the repairs needed (if any) and give you a written estimate to establish the full flow back to your sewer line. The details of our $99 drain cleaning service can be found on our website.  Here is a link to the page:

$99 Drain Cleaning Special

Remember to mention this special when calling our wonderful customer service representatives.  Enjoy this special while it lasts.  It is for a limited time only.

Enjoy the Best Water Possible!!!

About two years I stumbled on a movie called Tapped.  Tapped is a film that examines the role of the bottled water industry and its effects on our health, climate change, pollution, and our reliance on oil.  Click on the link below to view the trailer.  You can find the entire movie online if you are interested.

Tapped Movie Trailer

After watching the movie, it occurred to me that RooterPLUS! should be doing more to help.  We sent a couple of managers to Chicago for a two-day class on whole house water filters and their benefits.  The managers came back and expressed what a great service it could provide for our customers, and we have been selling ProSeries Whole House Water Filters ever since.  

Here is a bit of information from their website:

Thanks to the ProSeries Whole House Water Filters, getting great water is no Problem.

The ProSeries Whole House Water Filters use Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) to effectively filter impurities from your water. Its programmable computer controlled valve allows your service provider to program the backflush cycle for maximum efficiency based on your water usage. The computer in the control unit stores data that can be monitored to determine if the cycle should be altered or if the carbon needs to be replaced.

Benefits

• Effective, Efficient and Eco-Friendly
• Cleaner, better tasting water from every tap, faucet and shower
• More cost-effective and convenient than bottled water
• Increases the life of your plumbing, fixtures and water using appliances
• Reduces the chlorine or chloramine taste and odor.
• When the water tastes great, you’ll drink more water and that’s good for your health

Eco-Friendly Factors

• No more bottled water waste
• Uses 1/10 the energy required for a water cooler

How It Works

1. The filter is installed between the main water line and the interior pipes.
2. Water enters the filter where it passes through the granulated activated carbon (GAC), and impurities are reduced.
3. Water then passes out of the filter and into your home, providing clean great tasting water from every tap.
4. Based on the preset backflush cycle, the filter will clean itself of dirt, freshening the carbon bed to create more surface space for maximum effectiveness.

_________________________________________________

I personally have one in my home, and I love it.  Cooking with it makes a difference, bathing in it makes a difference and it is far and away better than any bottled water on the market.  It makes me feel good knowing that my children are brushing their teeth everyday with the cleanest, purest water available.

Call us at 770-888-1931 and schedule an appointment to have a technician out to your home.  We have test kits that can give us immediate results on the purity of your tap water, and then discuss options you may have regarding a whole house water filter.  

Do-it-Yourself Home Upgrades...

Last week, I posted a couple of videos showing some home fixits that a homeowner can do him or herself to save a couple of dollars.  This week I will show you another do-it-yourself project that can not only fix something that is broken, but that can also enhance the look of your bathroom or kitchen.


The next time you are in Lowe's or Home Depot take a walk down the aisle with the new faucets.  I think you will be impressed with the latest products that they have to offer.  There is a great variety in finish and overall style, and a new faucet can transform an older sink and faucet into one that is shiny and new.


Once again, as I stated last week, this project is not for everybody, and RooterPLUS is always here if you would rather have a licensed professional do the installation.  But for those of you in Metro Atlanta that are up for a little home upgrade, installing a new faucet can be done with a few tools and a little patience.


New Faucet Installation


Just as a friendly reminder, PLEASE make sure that you turn off the water before removing the old faucet...


Good luck and please let us know how it goes.  

Do-it-Yourself Home Fixes Part 1

If we didn't have any customers, we would not be in business.  We cannot survive as a company if we don't get the chance to fix things and just make problems go away.  BUT... that being said, there are things that every homeowner should know.  There are certain small plumbing repairs around the house that may not warrant a call to RooterPLUS for some of you.  Don't get me wrong, if you are uncomfortable making small repairs or checking certain things, there is no job that is too small for us.


I have posted two videos today that will show you how to make these simple adjustments/repairs to your toilet and if done correctly, can save you money.


The first video shows how to test your toilet for leaks, and if a leak is detected, how to make the repair.


How To Test Your Toilet for Leaks


The second video address the problem that many face with a slow filling toilet.


How To Fix a Slow Filling Toilet


Both of these videos show very basic plumbing repairs that many can do on their own.  Some of us are more clever in using our hands in a useful way, and some of us would just rather pick up the phone and have a professional, licensed technician come to our house and make a repair that comes with a warranty.  By having this knowledge, you can decide what is best for you.


Stay tuned for more helpful tips in the coming weeks...  

The Benefits of Preventative Maintenance on Your HVAC Unit

Your air conditioner cools and filters the air inside your home, so you can enjoy worry-free cool, clean, fresh air throughout the day. In fact, it can be easy to overlook the importance of your air conditioning unit until it stops working properly. Most air conditioners require occasional preventive maintenance to keep them running smoothly throughout their lifetime. Performing preventive maintenance can ensure your unit operates at the highest efficiency without premature breakdowns. Does this sound familiar?  Changing the oil in you car, pumping your septic tank every 3 – 5 years, going to the dentist for regular cleanings…

Here are the three main reasons that everyone should schedule regular maintenance on your AC unit:

•  Reduce Energy Costs

Regular preventive maintenance as simple as cleaning can help improve the efficiency of your air conditioning unit and save money on your electric bill. A dirty air filter in an AC unit can interfere with the machine's ability to circulate cool air throughout the room. As a result, the air conditioner can run longer each day or cause you to change the temperature setting because the room feels warm even though the unit is running. High Performance HVAC indicates that dirty condenser coils can cause the air compressor to run harder, which draws more amps from your electric service and results in higher electric bills.

•  Lower Repair Costs

Preventative maintenance can save a lot of money in repair costs by catching small problems before they become bigger, more expensive problems. Not only does a dirty condenser coil typically force the air conditioner to work harder and drive up the electric bill, but also a dirty coil can also force the compressor to work much harder and can result in premature failure of the compressor. The cost to check and clean condenser coils is generally much lower than the cost of replacing the compressor. Preventive maintenance can also detect other issues such as a water leak in the system that could cause damage to the AC unit or to the building structure.  Also, if you constantly need a technician to put more Freon in your system, spend the extra money and fix the leak and repair it.  You will save money in the long run.

• Extend Equipment Life

Extend the life of your air conditioning unit by taking care of it throughout its working life. Air conditioners work best when they are regularly serviced and cleaned as needed. If one part fails to work as it was designed to, it can cause stress to the entire air conditioning system and result in a total breakdown. Keeping all parts in good working order means less stress on the equipment overall. The unit functions better over the long term and it can last much longer than a unit that has not been sufficiently maintained. 

RooterPLUS! is available 7 days a week to perform these maintenance calls.  Our two visits per year (one for your heating system and one for you AC) involve a thorough 30-point inspection and will guarantee you will stay comfortable all year!!