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Fall Plumbing and Heating Newsletter | JJ McLellan and Son Mount Forest

JJ McLellan and Son – Fall

The Home Comfort People

Its time for your fall heating check up!

The cool fall evenings are here!
If you haven’t turned on your furnace yet, it will be very soon.
A couple things you can do before you turn your heat on
1. Clean or replace your filter, and
2. Vacuum all registers and cold air returns. This includes taking them off or pulling them up and vacuuming down into the duct as well – you may be surprised how much dust and dirt can get trapped down there!
Why is a fall heating check up important?
Having your equipment cleaned and serviced is preventative maintenance and can catch a problem before it even begins. This is especially important for the overall operation of the appliance, to ensure it is working as it is designed to. The benefits to having your system serviced is when it is clean the appliance works much more efficient – thus saving you money on your utilities!

Some helpful tips for this fall !

  • Headings away on holidays? Save energy by adjusting your thermostat 2-3 degrees.
  • On sunny days keep your curtains or blinds open to take advantage of the “free” heat.
  • Replace or clean your furnace filter.
  • Ensure your outside exhaust vents are free from debris such as bushes, trees, leaves.
  • Find your comfort zone within your home, set your thermostat and always keep it within 1-2 degrees of this temperature (unless going away on holidays) this helps your home maintain a constant comfort level and does not cause the system to over work from each day.
  • Have your unit serviced yearly by a professional.
  • Check doors and windows for any air leaks and caulk if necessary.
  • Clean your dryer vents – including the lint trap and vaccuum very well.
  • Cover your Air Conditioner for the winter.

Please remember that unless you are trained and licensed to work with fuels it is very important that under no circumstances should you tamper with your heating system or any other fuel appliance. If you need to locate a Qualified Heating Contractor in your area please check www.tssa.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Plumbing Tips From The Pro’s

  • Check all outdoor faucets for any leaks and have them repaired before the temperature drops. 

  • Shut off the water supply to your outside taps from inside and then open the taps outside to ensure the water has properly drained.

  • Check around the base of each toilet for moisture – over time the seal can breakdown and may need replacing

  • Check your tub and shower for any caulking that may need to be replaced to prevent water leaking down behind your walls

  • Have any toilets that are running checked – one toilet can waste gallons of water!

  • Check water connections and drains under your kitchen and bathroom sinks – if your pipes froze last year install insulation against the outside wall to help keep the heat in.

  • Check your washing machine water connections – many are hidden behind the machine and out of sight

  • If you have a septic – when was the last time it was pumped? If it has been a while the ideal time to pump is in the Spring, Summer and Fall. Schedule your service before the snow flies!

  • Ensure your eavestrough drains away from your home.

  • Have you been experiencing any slow drains? Gurgling toilets? Saturated lawn (by your septic)? Best to have the pro’s check it out before winter arrives!

Plumbing Preventative Maintenance is not as common as HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning), however just as important.

When is it important to have your home or business plumbing system checked?

  • What is the age of the home or building?
    Many older homes have old piping, over the years the pipes build up and your water pressure will slowly decrease. You may notice small particles in the water which could be from the pipes.

  • Are You Buying A New Home or Building… Did you just move in?
    Having a professional walk through to check the plumbing system before moving in or closing on a purchase could save you $!

  • What is the age of the equipment? Ex. Water Heater, Pump, Pressure Tank, Water Softener, Expansion Tank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you in the market for a new water heater?

We now offer a very affordable option to purchase a water heater and be covered with a 10 year parts and labour warranty for the same or less than it would cost you to rent!

Natural Gas Water Heaters – Buying and Renting Tips from Union Gas

VIEW OUR NEWSLETTER ONLINE

Is your house ready for fall?

I am personally in an organization and declutter mood here at our house. Thankful we do not have plans this weekend so we can get things organized and cleaned up and complete the purge I started a couple weeks ago! I did a search online for “organizing your home” and found a fabulous website I had to share… especially for all those moms, who like me are still adjusting to the kiddos being back in school and getting into routine again, all while working and taking care of things at home. Perhaps I should mention hubby does help out quite a bit, but I’m sure those moms out there can relate we have a million home, work, kid etc things running through our heads 😉

The website is http://organizedhome.com/seasonal-spin/fall-cleaning-chore-checklist . and they have some awesome Fall tips to help get started… my real reason for searching, really where do I start…

Fall Cleaning Chore Checklist
Clean House Cleaning Checklists
By Cynthia Ewer
Editor, Organized Home

It’s Autumn.

Pumpkins glow in golden fields. Shorter days, crisp mornings signal winter’s approach.
Can the holidays be far behind?
Use Autumn’s brisk and breezy days to conquer deep-cleaning chores for a clean and comfortable winter home, and wrap up summer’s outdoor areas.

Our Fall Cleaning Chore Checklist will help you prepare home and hearth for the coming of winter:

Outside The House
Summer’s come and gone–and left its mark on outside the house.
Time to come inside for winter! Outside the house tend to these autumn chores:

Clean and store patio furniture, umbrellas, children’s summer toys.
Touch up paint on trim, railings and decks. Use a wire brush to remove flaking paint; prime bare wood first.
Check caulk around windows and doors. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations to re-caulk if needed.
Inspect external doors and garage doors. Do they close tightly? Install weather-stripping, door thresholds if needed.
Wash exterior windows.
Drain and store garden hoses. Install insulating covers on exterior spigots. In hard-freeze areas, have sprinkler systems blown free of water.
Check gutters and downspouts. Clear of debris if necessary. In cold-weather areas, consider installing heating cable to prevent ice dams.
Have chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned if necessary.

The Inside Story
Autumn’s the time for “spring cleaning”. Deep clean now to take advantage of good weather, and face the coming of winter and the approaching holidays with a clean and comfortable home.
Learn how to clean efficiently! Check out the Clean House Guide for more information on how to clean fast and furious.

Focus on public rooms: living room, family room, entryway, guest bath.

Clean from top to bottom. Vacuum drapes and window treatments. Clean window sills and window wells. Vacuum baseboards andcorners.
Vacuum upholstered furniture, or have professionally cleaned if needed. Move furniture and vacuum beneath and behind it.
Wash interior windows.
Turn mattresses front-to-back and end-to-end to equalize wear.
Launder or clean all bedding: mattress pads, pillows, duvets, blankets, comforters. Tuck the family into a warm and cozy winter bed.
Schedule professional carpet cleaning early this month! Warm October afternoons speed carpet drying. Carpet cleaning firms get busy by the end of October, so schedule now for best service.
Prepare the kitchen for holiday cooking. Clean and organized kitchen cabinets, paying particular attention to baking supplies, pans and equipment.
Clear kitchen counters of all appliances not used within the last week. Clear counters look cleaner–and provide more room for holiday cooking.
Pull refrigerator away from the wall, and vacuum the condenser coils. For bottom-mounted coils, use a long, narrow brush to clean coils of dust and debris.
Wash light-diffusing bowls from light fixtures.
Inspect each appliance. Does it need supplies? Stock up on softener salt now, and avoid staggering over icy sidewalks with heavy bags.
Check and empty the central vacuum’s collection area.
Clean electronic air cleaner elements monthly for most efficient operation. Wash them in an empty dishwasher (consult manual for specific product recommendations).
Clean or replace humidifier elements before the heating season begins.
Inspect washer hoses for bulges, cracks or splits. Replace them every other year.
Check dryer exhaust tube and vent for built-up lint, debris or birds’ nests! Make sure the exterior vent door closes tightly when not in use.
Schedule fall furnace inspections now. Don’t wait for the first cold night!
Buy a winter’s supply of furnace filters. Change filters monthly for maximum energy savings and indoor comfort. When the right filter is on hand, it’s an easy job!
Drain sediment from hot water heaters

Don’t forget to give me a call at our office to book your fall cleaning and servicing or take advantage of the fall promotions and save up to $2025 on a new system purchase AND do not pay for 3 months!!! oac

Lennox – Comfort Matters Fall 2011

View the Comfort Matters – Fall 2011 Newsletter by clicking this link.

IN THIS ISSUE
• Are you ready for some football?
• Warm up to seasonal comfort solutions
• Get in the zone
• Simple steps to keep heating costs low

Simple Steps To Keep Heating Costs Low

As we move from cool fall days into the winter months, you don’t have to spend a fortune on heating to keep warm! Explore ways to save with our top ten tips for a toastier home—minus the high price tag.

1. Schedule an HVAC professional to clean your home’s ducts before it’s time to turn on the furnace. Your system’s efficiency can be reduced by as much as 20% by damaged or blocked ducts.

2. Inspect your home for drafts flowing in from outside. Seal any leaks with insulation, caulking or weather stripping, and you can save up to 10% off heating and cooling costs.

3. Set your thermostat to 68°F while you’re at home, and as low as 60°F when you’re awake or asleep. For each degree the heat is lowered for at least eight hours, you’ll save as much as two percent on your heating bill.

4. Install a programmable thermostat to automatically reduce the temperature in your home while you’re at work. This simple step can reduce heating costs between 5 to 15 percent a year, depending on your climate.

5. Moisturize indoor air. The more humid the air, the warmer you feel. Adding humidity to dry, heated air in the winter helps you stay comfortable at a lower thermostat setting.

6. Change your filter once a month. Dirty filters require your home heating system to work harder, which equates to higher costs on your heating bill.

7. Upgrade your HVAC. An inefficient system can waste hundreds of dollars each year. Install a high-efficiency furnace like the SLP98V Variable-Capacity Gas Furnace from Lennox to reduce your bill dramatically.

8. Welcome sunny winter days. Opening curtains and blinds on sunny days can help to warm your home, especially on south-facing sides. Close curtains at night to reduce heat loss.

9. Cool down your shower. For every ten degrees you lower your water heater temperature, you’ll save 3-5 percent a year on the cost of warming your water.

10. Entertain a crowd. Each guest in your home is the equivalent of a 175-watt heater. The more the merrier!

Home Maintenance Checklist for Fall and Winter

Home Maintenance Checklist for Fall and Winter

These tips courtesty of Lennox.

General guidelines for keeping your home warm and efficient:

  • Have a qualified HVAC professional inspect your home’s ducts and cooling equipment.
  • Set your thermostat to 68°F when you’re at home and awake, and as low as 60°F when you’re asleep or awake.
  • Clean or replace furnace filters every month.
  • Clean chimney and check to see if your fireplace is working properly.
  • Seal air leaks in the attic, basement and crawlspace, and also around windows and doors.
  • Insulate inside of windows with heavy-duty, clear plastic sheets.
  • Check your attic for proper insulation.
  • Close curtains or shades at night and keep them open during the day
  • Clean windows on the south side of your house to maximize sunlight exposure.
  • Weather-strip doors that lead to cold or outside areas.
  • Wrap and insulate waterlines to prevent them from freezing.
  • Repair leaky faucets.

Extra steps you can take to save energy:

  • Install a programmable thermostat, so you can preset temperatures for different times of the day.
  • Insulate the water tank and first six feet of hot and cold water pipes connected to the unit.
  • Lower the temperature of your water heater to 120°F (for every 10-degree decrease in temperature, you may save 3% – 5% on your energy costs).
  • Install rubber gaskets behind outlets and use switch plates on exterior walls.
  • Install low-flow showerheads.
  • Things you can do to improve air quality and reduce potential health risks:
  • When adjusting clocks, change batteries in smoke alarms, as well as radon and carbon monoxide detectors.
  • Consider a ventilation system to increase air circulation inside and add a healthy dose of fresh air.
  • Clean water-damaged carpets and materials, or consider replacement.
    Reduce the potential for buildup of allergy-causing pollutants by keeping your house clean
  • Take special precaution when operating fuel-burning appliances to avoid leakage.
  • Store and dispose of household chemicals in a safe manner.

If you have any further questions or would like to book a fall cleaning and servicing please give us a call at 1-800-565-5513 or 519-323-2000. Interested in a new energy efficient heating, cooling and air quality system – give our Salesman Mike Johnson a call he would be happy to meet you at your home for a free no-obligation quote!