Take advantage of Colorado State and Local Rebate Programs
A hot topic for COLORADO residents are the rebate programs that are going on and what is happening with these rebate programs. Visit our new Colorado rebates webpage for an easy reference to many websites.
It is very likely that these rebate programs have limited funding and may not go on for much longer so before you know it, they will be over. So it would be wise to take advantage of these offers and rebates while the offers are still available.
“Big ticket” items like air conditioners, boilers and furnaces are examples of where you take advantage of current rebate offers and save money. If you combine these dollars with the federal money and the Xcel rebate direct to the customer then you are talking about some serious cash. You can get up to 40 % or more in incentive dollars. That means that you can lower the cost of installation and then you can lower the energy bill from the day you start up the equipment. This is real money and that is what it is all about.
The next step of responsibility with major equipment purchases is with you, the homeowner, for the upkeep and maintenance of your equipment. From this day forward, you the owner must keep the air conditioner, furnace or boiler clean and keep the filters replaced like it says in the manual. Remember that when the burners are kept clean they burn more efficiently and the energy bills are lower and you reap the rewards. If you forget, and they get dirty and dusty you pay the price and your fuel bill rises.
When the air filters get dirty they slow down the air flow and this increases the static on the motor and shortens its life. Humidifiers get clogged up depending on the type and now you have a real mess.
To begin - clean the furnace itself. Clean the top and sides of you boiler. Clean the pump and clean the blower motor after you have turned off the electricity and waited for everything to wind down and cool off. Don’t forget that there is safety to consider and that there is low and line voltage as well. Amps and volts can hurt you just as well so make sure you have turned off all of the fuses and breakers before starting any of your cleaning.
Rebates and replacement of this equipment are great incentives if you get the job done right. How do you know you have the right job done? Ask a qualified inspector or those who have been in the trade you need to find a resource you can trust. Go to your local building department and ask them. Go to the local Chamber of Commerce and ask them. They are a great reference for reputable contractors. Ask the BBB and they will give you a list as well. This is where you start but do not stop until you are happy with the choice you have. If you want to schedule a service call or have any questions, feel free to call me, Tom D’Agostino at Kimmel Mechanical, Denver Office 303-952-8668 or our Gypsum Office at 970.328.6001. Best of luck!
New Years Resolution: Prevent catastrophic events from happening to your Colorado plumbing & heating systems
As we start the New Year in this tough economic environment, it is essential that you do all you can to prevent the unforeseen and catastrophic events from happening to the plumbing and heating systems in your home or office.
First, pay attention to any little problem that you may see or hear about because it may become bigger very quickly if ignored. Start first by looking for plumbing related problems. If you have a spot on the ceiling downstairs from the bathroom upstairs, it could be something very simple like a leaking shower door or your kids splashing water outside the tub. But it may also be something more serious such as a cracked or broken drain line. As you check around your home, make note of what you find and check it out. Ask questions of the household member to determine when the problem started or how regular the problem occurs. If you do not know what questions to ask, give me a call because the advice I give you is free for the asking (303-952-8668 or 970.328.6001 ). (This is the part of the trade that I really like.)
In my previous blogs, I gave you tips on how to prevent frozen and broken pipes as we continue with the cold Colorado winter weather. Just following these simple tips will during the extremely cold days and nights will prevent a costly catastrophe from happening in your home or office. Don’t let down your guard while these temperatures exist and remember that at night the temps will fall and cause a pipe to burst and you could return to a flooded home if the temperatures moderate while you are out during the day. If you think this may happen, be sure to turn off the main water shutoff valve before you go out and turn it on when you come back. But remember when you turn the water back on, listen for possible water running from a frozen line that has thawed and burst.
As far as your heating system is concerned, make note of cold spots in your home. Many times you can even out the temperatures in your home simply by turning on the “fan” switch on your thermostat. This is very efficient using just a small amount of electricity .The fan will move around the heated and cooler air in all parts of your home and average out the temperatures. Warm air wants to stay in the ceiling and particularly the second floor ceilings, so by leaving the fan on, you can move that warm air around your home using the heating ductwork already in your walls. Remember to keep the heat set on the normal temperature you desire and then the burners will come on when there is a call for heat. This little trick really works!
Don’t forget to change your filter halfway through the winter months. You are moving around the dirt and dust in your house and ducts and it all seems to collect in the filter at the furnace. The replacement filter should be the same size as the duct, not larger or smaller so that air does not leak out and affect the overall performance of your furnace. Remember to buy only “pleated” filters unless you have a special air filter system.
And finally, remember that a little preventative maintenance on a regular basis can prevent a big problem later or will minimize the damage at least. Keep this blog handy as a reminder of what to be aware of when it comes to your plumbing and heating systems so that disasters can be prevented. If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call to discuss plumbing, heating, air conditioning or solar questions you may have (303-952-8668 or 970.328.6001 ).
Tom D’Agostino, Service Manger, Kimmel Mechanical, Inc., Denver, Summit County and Eagle County Colorado
Why Should You Consider Solar Hot Water Heating?
With the U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen global climate debate going on, it seems appropriate to talk about solar energy.
So much has been discussed lately about reducing our carbon footprint and utilizing non-polluting fuel methods. The wise homeowner knows that it is time to explore other heating options and Solar Power meets both of these criteria and the time has come where we can reap the benefits from going solar in many ways.
One recent benefit includes tax credits. The Federal Government now offers a 30% tax credit on the entire cost of installing a solar heating, hot water or voltaic system in your home. This is great news for any homeowner who not only wants a tax break for making this important decision but also wants to reduce their home energy costs.
The first and most important step is getting the best and most correctly sized domestic hot water solar system for your home size and needs. Kimmel Mechanical has been sizing and installing solar collecting systems using evacuated tube systems and we feel that for the money, they produce the most hot water in our market.
Here is how the systems work:
First, having the optimum amount of sun is critical for the performance of any solar system. If you have a lot of trees around your home, it will reduce the effectiveness of collection of the solar energy as opposed to a home where the collectors have an unobstructed southern facing view of the sun.
Choosing the proper size is also crucial. Having a system that will handle 100% of your hot water demand all of the time is probably a system that has been oversized. While this sounds contradictory, the reason is that it is important is that you must consider important factors such as high solar months and the lower solar months when choosing the size of your system. An oversized system can produce too much energy and may result in an overheated system or too much hot water at too high of a temperature. Contractors who encourage you to go for the “biggest system that you can afford” probably will be selling you the wrong sized system for your home.
At Kimmel, we take all of these very important factors into consideration as we help design the optimal system for your needs.
So, sizing for 90% of your hot water demand for example is a good rule of thumb, and to have an electric or gas backup system in case of extreme conditions prevent optimal solar gain. Problems can develop when you have to reject a large amount of solar energy, and if you don’t have a place to dump this energy, you can cause excessive temperatures to develop.
So remember, bigger is not always better when it comes to solar systems. What is better is choosing the right sized system that will keep up with your energy needs without causing stress to the heating systems or producing too much or too little hot water.
We would be happy to discuss your options and help you decide the best system. Call Tom D’Agostino at Kimmel Mechanical, 303-952-8668 and in Summit County or Eagle County Colorado at 970-328-6001 and I will be happy to meet with you and help you choose the right system for your home.
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