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mount forest

Welcome Spring – With Snow & Showers

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Its been an interesting start to 2023 Spring, however Im sure all would agree this is a “normal” Ontario Spring where we are teased with some gorgeous summer like weather and then are hit with the snow again 😉

As we are eagerly awaiting the return of our spring weather here are some tips and hints to make the most of your own property!

  • Pump your septic – the spring is a great time to get your septic cleaned out so that you are confident you will be flushing great all year long! We pump out BOTH sides of the septic tank – the liquid and solid. Our driver is extremely knowledgeable and can also pick up on any potential issues for you! A royal flush is better than a full house!
  • Clean and Service HVAC System – this is for your Furnace/Boiler, Air Conditioner, Water Heater, HRV etc. They work hard for us and are able to last even longer when cared for with maintenance! Preventative maintenance can also pick up on issues before they get bad – like the furnace quitting in the middle of the winter!
  • Turn on your outside taps – we highly recommend turning the water supply off to your outside taps during the winter to prevent any freezing or possible water damage. The frost free faucets are much better, however its still good to turn off. Also if you possibly forgot this fall, its a good thing to remove your hose before the winter also, they can hold water and potentially cause issues!
  • Keeping in mind, being friendly to nature, “they” say its not good to do yard or garden clean up too soon, the bee’s also appreciate the dandelions as their first feed so if you can stand a bit of yellow, let it mellow for a bit 😉
  • Clean up around outside vents – ensure they are clear from any debris (especially plastic) and any plant material.

The spring is a great time to begin any projects you were thinking of over the winter

Give us a call today at 519-323-2000 or Email us to book your appointment today!

Preparing and Prepping for the Winter

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After a brief slow down back in the Spring of 2020, the trades recovered and ramped up quite quickly with so many people spending more time within their homes. Naturally, people began investing within their home space to make improvements but also spending more time at home, our systems have truly been put to the test!

I understand being in the office of our HVAC and Plumbing office, as well as at the time, I myself was in the midst of our own major renovations on our own home! Trust me when I say patience is a virtue! 

With so many trades with full schedules it is now a great time to ensure you, and your loved ones are prepared in your home. Please ensure you check in on your loved ones living on their own too! Especially the seniors in our lives.

  • Check and change smoke detector and co-detector batteries 
  • If you are on a septic – do you know where your septic tank is? Locate the lids and it is recommended to check and pump as needed every 3-5 years – depending on how many people are living in your home.
  • Whether on septic or town sewers – any packaging that states it is “safe to flush” – please ONLY flush toilet paper and human waste. These “flushable wipes” have caused SO many issues including backups so please beware!
  • Change the furnace filter at least 3-4 times a year
  • Locate your furnace shut off Switch. If your power goes out, sometimes the power needs to be reset, this switch can do that. 
  • Ensure you have a back up source of heat. Permanent examples would be a fireplace on each level of your home. The nice thing about a gas fireplace is they will work when the power is out, except for the fan. Another great and very affordable option is little household space heaters that can be plugged in and moved where needed. If you are comfortable with wood, that is also an option too. 
  • Be sure you know where your main water shut off is located in your home. Along with any other plumbing equipment. 
  • Ensure you have a back up supply of water, in case you are without power or your pump stops working. Even if just for 24-48 hours.

If this past year has taught us anything (I can say this personally),  it’s also that our mental health is a key factor in everyone’s lives. As much as we truly would love to help everyone, we must be realistic and ensure we are able to support our loyal customers while also ensuring to avoid burnout! This is a good reminder for all, and not just those of us in the trades!

So, hopefully these tips will help you feel confident if you find yourself with a furnace, water or plumbing issue that you could handle it to a certain extent before your professional can attend in the morning or next business day. 

Its Back To School Time! | For The Parents

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As a mom myself, this time of year can be quite hectic with two busy kids in school! Every year I promise myself Im going to be more organized. So far we are off to a great start 😉

I found some of these links on Facebook and Pinterest that I thought were well worth a blog post to share some of these hints or tips to help parents, like me, with making the transition back to school a little bit easier!

If you haven’t already this year, or did in the early spring, take a walk around your house with two bags or boxes. One is garbage the other is donate. You will be shocked at how many things you will find! Especially as the kids grow!

There is a great store in town (Stumbled Upon) that takes pre-loved clothing and kids things! We are also lucky to have the Cancer Patient Services Thrift Store in Mount Forest. You can donate anything here (as long as its still in good condition) and they will sell it with the profits going to the local Cancer Patient Services. Win – Win!

STORAGE! With back to school literally around the corner… many parents may find this quite useful from HGTV for extra storage!

9 ways to stretch your storage–> http://hg.tv/1lzk7

Having designated storage spaces for children for their hats, mitts, coats, snow pants, back packs, shoes, lunch pails is essential to ensure the next morning will run smooth! Plus it doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive to be functional! Another biggie… having a place for school papers! I am SO very thankful our school sends electronic school letters home – thank you for that! We have enough paper enter our home 🙂

SLEEP! For our kids it is SO important! Being in a routine is crucial for most kids – their parents too! Did you know most school age kids (5-10) should be getting a minimum of 10-11 hours a night. For children younger or older you can check out this Today’s Parent article!

SCHOOL TEACHERS! Get to know your kids teachers. Not only get to know them be open with them. Be willing to do what you need to, to help your children be successful. I truly love that my children are in a small school.

SCHOOL LUNCHES! I know I am not the only parent who by the end of the school year was SO happy to not pack lunches anymore… yup I know I am not alone! By the time June came around I was having lunch block. Could not think of anything fun or interesting to send with them. Even they were sick of packed lunches. Much like a meal plan … have a rotating lunch menu! Heck Ive always commented on how awesome it is the daycares have their weeks planned out in advance… smart thinking!

A few other great kids lunch ideas…

Simple and Healthy
Pack Ahead Lunches
How To Pack Your Lunch

BREAKFAST! Super duper important for everyone, but especially for growing kids!
Some fav’s of my kids are granola, oatmeal, wraps with ham or peanut butter or eggs, fruit, cereal, toast with peanut butter or cheese and of course a glass of milk!

MEAL PLANNING! For the parents… something I need to get in order myself. Our household operates so much more efficient when we meal plan – saves money too on the groceries!

SHOES, UMBRELLA’S ETC! Its always the miscellaneous things that get me. So far we are doing well, shoes were all accounted for last week, boots are on order to be picked up, umbrellas are ready… we just purchased the Mabel’s Labels so we are just about ready!!!

In just a few days… the little ones will be off to school again!
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Build The Perfect Weekend! | Mount Forest Fireworks Festival 2014 #myfireworksweekend

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The fireworks festival for 2014 is simply days away! As a Top 100 Festival for over 5 years, this is one you do not want to miss!!!

Bring out your family and friends, capture great memories, explore what our festival and town have to offer!!!

Be sure to use the hastag #myfireworksweekend and you could WIN some great (local) prizes!

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Air Conditioning Mini Split Options | Home or Business

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A commercial customer was looking for the comfort of central air with the duct less option for a newly renovated office. The best of both worlds is a Mini Split Air Conditioning System.

A mini split system is much like central air as there is an outdoor and indoor unit. The difference is the indoor unit is in the room you would like it to cool.

Our customer chose to go with the Fujitsu Mini Split System. This particular unit includes this outdoor unit, which was safely mounted to the roof and indoor ceiling cassette’s. The difference between the Fujitsu units and the Lennox units is with the cassette’s Fujisu offer’s. Businesses or homes with t-bar ceiling can simply “drop” these cassette’s in where a ceiling tile would have been.

Some of the features of this Fujitsu System are:

  • Inverter Technology – now more economical to operate and quieter to run, handle greater extremes in temperature, are smoother and more stable in operation and can reach the desired temperature faster than conventional air conditioners.
  • Swing Louvers – the air flow direction is set automatically to match the operating mode.
  • Slender Fit – this design allows for the cassette’s to be installed with very limited ceiling space.
  • 4 Way Air Flow – Airflow in all directions maintains an even temperature throughout a space – perfect for in a corner or long hallways.
  • Simple Maintenance – There is a detachable and washable air intake grille and filter.
  • Humidity Control – this system features Dry Mode, which helps to control humidity levels even when cooling may not be needed.

Features of the Fujitsu Mini Split with Cassette System courtesy of the Fujitsu website.

Below is a photo of the outdoor unit for the Fujitsu system we installed.

Mini Split Outdoor Fujitsu with indoor cassette IMG_20140705_135838_edit

The Lennox Mini Split System is an excellent addition for a home or business without forced air heating (and cooling) and offers a more affordable cost than ceiling cassette’s. If your home, business or shop has infloor heating this would be a great cooling option if you didn’t want to run ducts throughout the house. Also keeping in mind if you do have infloor heating and go with a mini split system for your cooling, we do still recommend having an HRV in your home (which is less ducts than forced air) to ensure you are able to bring fresh air in and remove stale air from the home.

Below is the Lennox Mini Split Air Conditioner System.

 

2014 Mini Split Lennox_MS8C-MS8H_Mini-Split_Systems-4

The Lennox unit is recognized by AHRI Certified, HRAI and is Energy Star Approved.

Features and Benefits – MS8C Mini Split Air Conditioner – Lennox

Energy Efficiency

  • Efficiency rating of up to 22 SEER
  • ENERGY STAR® qualified meets or exceeds EPA guidelines for energy efficiency
  • Inverter technology slowly ramps up system to full speed, delivering only the air that is needed
  • Unique design makes system safer and more efficient than traditional window units

Quiet Operation

  • Indoor sound levels as low as 26 dB
  • Outdoor sounds levels as low as 50 dB
  • Inverter technology slowly ramps up system to full speed, delivering ultra-quiet comfort

Home Comfort

  • Secure installation leave you less vulnerable to problems associated with window units, such as insects, weather elements and theft
  • Easy-to-use wireless remote control allows you to change the temperature to fit your comfort needs

Flexibility

  • Ductless design eliminates complicated installation or expensive modifications
  • Small, compact design blends into any room

Features and Benefits courtesy of the Lennox Residential Website. .

Please remember with all HVAC Equipment, regular maintenance is very important for not only the life and proper operating efficiency of the system but also for your health as well to ensure you are breathing clean air!

Its Time For Your Annual Check Up | Heating, Cooling and Ventilation Mount Forest

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Now is the time to have your Heating, Cooling and Ventilation equipment checked before the rush of back to school and the cool evenings of the fall!

Read the information below provided by HRAI of the importance of annual cleaning and servicing of your HVAC Equipment including your furnace, boiler, water heater, air conditioner, and hrv.

Did you know that many home insurance companies have annual inspections as part of your home insurance clause

Any questions feel free to give us a call. We service Mount Forest, Conn, Arthur, Alma, Drayton, Moorefield, Palmerston, Teviotdale, Rothsay, Harriston, Clifford, Ayton, Holstein, Varney and Durham.

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Cleaning and Servicing Benefits | HVAC System Mount Forest

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Did you know regular maintenance of your HVAC System is beneficial to the life and operation of your equipment!

A few other tips for year round is to make sure your heating/cooling vents and return air grilles are clear of furniture so that the air can flow smoothly around. Its a good idea to remove the grilles and vacuum them front and back to remove dirt, dust and dander. Also while the grilles are off vacuum down into the heating duct or return air to remove any cob webs (you may be surprised!) and dirt caught in them.

 

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Your Air Conditioning Options!

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Enjoying the heat? Of course we are, its been a long winter!!!

There will come that day where the words we all said we would never say this summer are going to fall out of our mouth… ITS SO HOT!!!

If your home does not have forced air heating – did you know your Air Conditioning Options include more than just the cheap little window shakers?

That’s right… you can enjoy complete home comfort with a multi unit ductless Mini Split System!

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WIN A Regency Fireplace! | Enter by May 14!

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That’s right… you can WIN a Regency Fireplace!!!

Click on the image below to be directed to the Regency Website to enter!!!

WIN A FREE FIREPLACE FFC-2012-13-Sign2

Contest only valid in the USA and Canada. One entry per customer, per draw. Duplicate entries will be discarded. Contest closes May 15, 2014. Click here for full Contest Rules.

Perfect Weather To Clear Snow | The Calm After The Storm

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What a gorgeous winter morning to wake up to, at least in our part of Ontario! The temperature a cool yet refreshing -7 with light snow flakes falling.

Please take advantage of this “warmer” winter weather to get outside and ensure the snow is properly cleared around all your vents for your home. This includes dryer vents as well as your heating appliances (furnace, boiler, fireplace) and hot water heater.

The picture below is a photo of the intake and exhaust vents for a forced air furnace. The exhaust is straight out, intake points down. If your vents are blocked they can cause the equipment to not function properly or not work altogether.

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Please also check your filters. A blocked filter will cause your furnace and HRV to work much harder than it is designed to do and possibly over heat. This can cause premature break down of the appliance and reduced life. It is recommended to have your system maintained and cleaned at least once every 2 years while changing your filters every 2-4 months, more often in the heating season.

Don’t forget your plumbing system! Is your basement currently heated? If you have forced air heating in your home having a duct run off the furnace and into your basement – even if its unfinished, will help your mechanical room stay warm and prevent pipes from freezing. Ensure all outside taps are shut off from the inside and the taps are open outside.

Remember to be safe while out driving on the roads! Ensure your windshield is cleared properly, you have a snow brush in your car, your gas tank is full or at least over half full and you are dressed for the weather! Also very helpful if you have a blanket – just in case and a cell phone (fully charged or with a charger in your vehicle).

Enjoy… a photo from yesterday morning!

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