HVAC Service and Repair Contractor

The State of California has decided to start flexing its muscle and start fining Service and Repair Contractors for doing work out of their scope of work. By definition a Service Contract is any repair less than $750.00 if the cost of repair goes over $750.00 the contractor and homeowner need to enter into a Home Improvement  Contract with permit and inspections. The reason I write this is that there are a lot of contractors in my area that use Telemarketers to call home owners and sell duct work cleaning over the phone, when the technician gets to the house the technician up sells new equipment or new duct work. I do not have a problem with this as long as they use the proper procedures. Just a word to the wise be careful Home owners and Contractors!

Honeywell Has an APP for that

So Honeywell has decided to keep up the pace with reality and they have an Iphone app for the new Redlink wireless thermostats. Follow my link to learn about new technology that is available to the consumer.

http://www.mytotalconnect.com/comfort/applications.php

IPOD Inventors New Thermostat

For all you Apple lovers the inventors of the Ipod have invented a smart thermostat that can be accessed by your smart phone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCJ1PnVlzIE

FYI for the Do It Yourselfer!

FYI for the DIYer

Yesterday our Customer Service Advisor was doing her job of answering customer phone calls when she received a particular phone call form a potential Client. The caller immediately asked the question, where is your business located? Our Customer Care advisor politely asked for which city, do to the fact we have more than one location and we are not in the retail business.

The caller replied that he needs some help and wants to come to our office to discuss his problem. At that point our Customer Care advisor explained to the caller that we only do in home service repairs and replacement and that we do not provide walk in help like a doctor’s office. The caller got upset and could not understand why we would not let him come to our office so he could buy parts to fix his furnace that another Service company diagnosed his problem. The Caller hung up and wrote a negative review of our company on Google. Here is my response to the angry caller.

First of all Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors are not parts houses for home owners to stop by and pick up parts like they would at a Home Improvement Store.

Secondly you need to be a Licensed Contractor to buy parts from a whole sale house.

Third you need to be a licensed Tech to work on or repair Furnaces, Heaters or Broilers.

Furnaces, Heater, Water Heaters and Broilers are dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. They can cause fire, electrical shock or explode. Older systems are also covered with asbestos which can cause cancer.

So it is not advised that a DIYer (Do it yourself person) work on any of these mentioned heat exchangers. It is the responsibility of any Contractor to inform their clients of potential or present problems with their Home Comfort Systems if they pay a nominal fee. We may also refuse service at any time; this is still America last time I checked!

All of the information I proved to you is not my opinion and can be verified by local municipality or by contacting the Manufacture of your equipment. Please use a licensed contractors for your home repairs and asked them to provided proof of Insurance and Bond.

Cash for appliances

For Immediate Release: July 28, 2010
Media Contact: Amy Morgan - 916-654-4989
MEDIA ADVISORY
Cash for Appliances Rebate Program Expands
Consumers Can Begin Saving July 29
What: Offering Californians more choices to save money and energy on new appliance purchases, the
California Energy Commission today expanded the Cash for Appliances Rebate program. The Cash for
Appliances PLUS rebate program now includes high energy efficient dishwashers, freezers, water heaters, and
heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Eligible energy efficient appliances and rebate amounts available are: refrigerators $200, clothes washers
$100, and room air conditioners up to $50. California Cash for Appliance PLUS rebates include: dishwashers
$100, freezers $50, water heaters $300-$750, and HVAC systems: $500-$1000.
Consumers still have up to 120 days from the purchase date to submit their rebate application by mail.
Choices for eligible models include 25 dishwashers, 165 freezers, 258 boilers, 2887 furnaces and more than
300 water heaters including solar. Eligible air conditioning units can be found at: www.ceedirectory.org/
Choices for current eligible models include: 273 clothes washers, 139 refrigerators, and 314 room air
conditioners. A complete list of eligible models is here: www.cash4appliances.org/products/index.html
Consumers will need to work with a licensed California contractor for the installations of water heaters and
heating and cooling units. Consumers should check with their local utility and the Contractors State License
Board (CSLB) and review How to Hire a Contractor www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/HireAContractor/
To date, the Energy Commission has received more than 78,000 applications with approximately $19 million
still available. A tracker is updated on the remaining funds available: www.cash4appliances.org
When: Beginning July 29, consumers can purchase from the new selection of appliances until funds are
exhausted. Rebates are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Why: The Energy Commission is expanding consumer choices for high energy efficient appliances due to the
continued availability of funds. The revised rebate program guidelines can be viewed here:
www.energy.ca.gov/2009publications/CEC-400-2009-025/CEC-400-2009-025-CMF-REV4.PDF.
Who: The Energy Commission has partnered with more than 80 Platinum Retail Partners and more than 50
Official Partners to assist consumers with appliance purchases, recycling their old appliances and completing
their application. A list of partners is available at: www.cash4appliances.org/partners/list.html.
How: Consumers are eligible for a rebate when they purchase a qualified high energy efficient appliance, water
heater, or heating and cooling units, properly recycle their old appliance or system, and submit a complete
application package within 120 days of the appliance purchase. Instructions on how to complete an application
for the California Cash for Appliances rebate is available here: www.cash4appliances.org/consumers/Rebate-
Form.pdf
For information on how to properly recycle an old appliance, visit:
www.cash4appliances.org/consumers/recycle.html
Additional information is also available through retailer locations across the state and consumers can call the
toll-free number for questions at: 1-888-390-4034.