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Indoor Air Quality,  it almost seems like a snobby term.  Somebody needs things so perfect, they need to even worry about their air quality.  However, why should we not worry about our indoor air quality?  It’s what we breathe everyday, and for most of us, we spend the majority of hours inside, especially in the colder months.  Doesn’t it make sense to improve your indoor air quality?  It’s better to take a little extra time concerning our air quality, than to spend days sick from extra allergens or bacteria in our air.  Here are some simple easy things you can do to improve your indoor air quality:

• Are you allergic to ragweed?  It is one of the largest allergens, and can be very frustrating.  Therefore, keep your windows closed during heavy ragweed season!  This can also be done for other airborne allergens that may bother you.
• Using a UV Germicidal light in your ducts, will help to eradicate many things that you do not want floating around your home like bacteria, mold, viruses and dust.
• High quality air purifiers are also a good idea like the Bryant Perfect Air Purifier that will catch and eliminate irritants, dust, mold, etc… in your ducts before it can get out into your home
• Keep your air at the proper humidity- too dry can be irritating for your skin, and too damp could encourage the growth of mold.  A good humidity is around 45-65% according to the EPA
• Ventilation is great, so use your exhaust fans!

Flame FAQs

Contact Flame for any more information about how to improve your  Indoor Air Quality!

Some info found at:  Wikipedia:  The Free Encyclopedia, Ragweed

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I don’t know about you, but I really dislike chemistry.  I appreciate all that it has done for me, and I really enjoyed the “Fire Fridays” we had in my high school chemistry class, but chemistry was not and is not my thing.  Perhaps that’s why I have never quite understood refrigerants in air conditioning. No not refrigerators, but refrigerants.  I feel as if there is someone out there like me who probably does not quite get it either.  So, I did some research and I am going to try to give you just a little information about it.

Freon or Chlorofluorcarbon (CFC) is a refrigerant that was invented in 1928 and has been used for refrigerators, air conditioners, aerosols etc….  Freon was great at the beginning of the 20th century, because it was non-toxic and non-flammable.  It wasn’t until later that it was discovered that it harmed the ozone.

If a freon leak is detected, the good news is that as it is non-toxic, it is not that dangerous.  However, if you have heart problems you should be more concerned.  If you notice a leak, it is best to get it fixed as soon as possible and to open windows and move to an area with fresh air while you wait.

As I mentioned, Freon or R-22 is one of the items that is working on depleting the ozone.  Therefore, it is being slowly and gradually phased out and replaced by other, safer, refrigerants such as R-410A (Puron).  Unlike Freon, Puron is not harmful to the ozone and that is not the only reason that it is swiftly becoming the best choice of refrigerant for new systems.  R-22 is being limited and so most likely its price will raise continuously.  As of this year, 2010, no new equipment can be produced that uses R-22.

Refrigerants are needed for your air conditioner.  If you are concerned that you are low, or if you have detected a leak, contact Flame.  Also, feel free to contact Flame if you are interested in a new Puron using system.  For more info:  Flame FAQs

Works Cited: www.puron.com Wikipedia:  The Free Encyclopedia, Chlorofluorocarbon Environment, Health and Safety Online:  Freon Exposure and Your Health and About.com:  Inventors, Freon

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Air Conditioners, shmair conditioners.  Back in my day we didn’t even have air conditioning.  At least that’s what my parents have often said.  But the reality is that most homes have some form of air conditioning and central air conditioning is becoming commonplace.  We have come to expect cool air when we walk inside a building, and we expect that it will continuously be there when we want it to.  So what factors should you consider when you are thinking of buying an air conditioner. Purchasing an air conditioner is a big deal, not only due to the expense but also because it is expected to keep you, your family and your home at comfortable temperatures even on the hottest of days.

Due to the fact that this purchase is such as “big deal,” I’ve come up with a few factors that you should consider when looking into an air conditioner.

Company

It is important to choose the right heating and cooling company for your new air conditioner and its installation because they are the people who will be with you every step of the way.  Most heating and cooling companies only carry certain brands of air conditioner or furnaces, therefore you may want to look into what brands that the company sells and whether or not those are good makes.  Also, see if you can find reviews about the company you are working with or ask around and see if anybody you know has used them to find out whether or not they are a good, reputable company.  It is good to see how qualified a company’s technicians are. If somebody is installing a large unit inside and outside your home, you want to make sure that they know what they are doing.  You could ask how long a technician has been doing this type of work or you could see what kinds of certifications they hold.  NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is one of the highest certifications an HVAC technician can hold.  Along these lines, it is good to know about all a company’s employees. When buying an air conditioner you will be working with more than just the installer.  You will speak on the phone with somebody to set up an appointment and you will meet with a consultant to decide what kind of air conditioner would be right for you.  When interacting with these employees, see if they are polite and courteous and you can always ask and see whether or not all of the employees are drug tested.

Size

Size is incredibly important when investing in an air conditioner.  They only reason that I’d say that the company is a little more important is because it is the company who will help you discover the correct size and you want to be sure that you are dealing with people you can trust when it comes to the size of your air conditioner.  Why is size so important?  Well, think of Goldilocks, she wasn’t happy until she found something that was “just right” and not too big or small.  An air conditioner that is too big for your home is wasteful, because you do not need to be cooling enough air for a 8 bedroom house, when yours is 4 bedrooms.  If you are a bit frugal, you may be tempted to purchase a smaller air conditioner (lower bills, and my kids don’t need cool air in their bedrooms, right?) but don’t be fooled.  A small air conditioner could actually end up costing you more and wasting energy because it may still try to work to cool down your whole home, but it will have to work much harder and expend more energy than one that is meant for your size of home.

Efficiency

This is the age of green living, organic foods and energy efficiency.  It is time to jump on that band wagon with your air conditioner because not only is it better for the earth, it is also better for you.  You can find the efficiency level of an air conditioner by looking at their SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) number.  A higher number means that it is more efficient.  20 is one of the highest SEER ratings, and the US government now requires that air conditioners be manufactured with a SEER rating of 13 or above.  Unfortunately, oftentimes, the higher the SEER number, the higher the price of the air conditioner.  However, you will save much more money on your utility bills.

I know that during a heat wave, I sure count on my air conditioner and the cool air and comfort that it delivers me.  Even though our grandparents may scoff at us for how much it is used nowadays, it typically is a part of our lives (at least every once in a while) and hence, you should not take the buying of one lightly.  I hope that these tips have helped you and happy hunting!

If you have any questions or want more information about various air conditioners or the process of buying one, feel free to contact or schedule an appointment with Flame Heating, Cooling and Electrical and we will be more than happy to help you.

Some Information found at:

Wikipedia:  The Free Encyclopedia:  Seasonal energy efficiency ratio

Bryant:  Central Air Conditioners

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Heating & Cooling and water sports may not seem to go together, but this summer they do!  Flame Heating, Cooling & Electrical is a proud sponsor of two of Michigan’s favorite water races this summer, the Jarvis Restoration Gold Cup Hydroplane Races and the Pure Michigan Bayview Mackinac Sailboat Race.   Though the Gold Cup Races have already passed with the Spirit of Qatar winning this 2010 Gold Cup, the Mackinac race is still on the horizon for Flame.

The Port Huron to Mackinac race was started in 1925 and it runs from Port Huron, Michigan, just north of the Blue Water Bridge up to Mackinac Island.  It is considered to be one of the longest races that takes place on fresh water.  This over 80 year tradition in Michigan is enjoyed by many, and boat sizes can range from smaller (under 30 feet) to much bigger (80 feet).  This year’s Mackinac race is starting on Saturday July 17th.  There are celebrations held at Port Huron the night before the start of the race and on Mackinac Island when all the boats arrive. 

If you’re free, come join Flame Heating, Cooling and Electrical and many others at Pure Michigan’s Bayview Mackinac race this year!  Contact Flame if you have any questions about our participation in the Mackinac race and the Gold Cup Races. 

Information found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Huron_to_Mackinac_Boat_Race andhttp://www.byc.com/mack/  Image found at:  Pure Michigan Connect

Want to learn more about the race?  Check out this insider’s opinion

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“t’s July, I got my air conditioner inspected and it’s working fine, so now what?”

It may seem like right now you are in a type of  “HVAC Stalemate.”  Yet, there are some things that you can keep doing to keep your home at its optimum heating, cooling and air quality level.

E3 Energy Efficiency Evaluation:

We all know that bills can stink, especially energy ones.  Even though your air conditioner may be running just fine in this hot weather, that does not change the fact that it is still costing you money.  An E3 evaluation will give you various exams and inspections to show you where your house is leaking and how you are losing hot/cold air as well as money.  If you ask me, this evaluation sounds pretty cool.  You will get to see for yourself where your house’s “leaky spots” are and a trained consultant will give you suggestions to fix it, almost like a report card for your home.  This is great to do in the summer to keep your house up to date and help with this cooling bills and come fall, those heating bills. (Flame Perk- these are only $95 until July 31 at Flame)

Generator:

There is no bad time to purchase a generator.  Why?  Because there’s never really a good time for your power to go out (except perhaps when it’s 75 & sunny and it only goes out for 20 minutes or so during the afternoon).  More often than not, the power goes out right when you’ve run out of batteries, when it is 93 degrees and humid, after the sun has set and in the middle of your favorite TV show.  As we’ve mentioned, your air conditioner is in good shape-so now perhaps it is time to have peace of mind in other ways.  

When looking at a generator-you have a choice between either a portable generator or a stand-by generator.  The stand-by generator is permanently located outside of your home, and it has an automatic transfer switch that will turn the generator on as soon as the power goes out.As one can tell by the name, portable generators are not permanent.  Unlike the stand-by generator, they must be hooked up and turned on when the power goes out.  However, because they are portable, they can be used for other things like camping.  Stand-by generators are typically more expensive, but they can often power more than portable ones and you don’t have to worry about turning it on when the lightsgo out.

Look Ahead:

Unfortunately, fall is not that far away and so it is not too soon (maybe a little soon) to start thinking about colder weather and furnaces.  Schedule your furnace inspection early so that places do not get too booked up.  Also start thinking and considering whether or not you are going to need a new furnace or air conditioner.  Are they around 15 years old?  Then the answer is probably “yes”.

As you may be able to tell, there is always something you can do to help your home.  If you have any questions about any of these things, feel free to contact Flame!

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4th of July is a time for watermelon and water balloons, fireworks and bonfires, as well as hot dogs and dog walks.  No matter what your plans are this holiday weekend, whether you are going out of town or entertaining at your home, here are some simple ideas to stay cool and save money.

• Keep doors and windows closed.  If you have your air conditioner running full blast (which it might be, since it is going to be in the 90’s in Southeastern, Michigan), you want to make sure to keep the cool air inside and the hot air outside.  This may be difficult to accomplish if you have many friends and family over, so perhaps try to disuade people from going inside at all or put a sign on the doors, reminding people to close them.
• Jump in the Pool. If you have a pool in your backyard, or one that you can use, now is the time to make use of it!  Stop worrying about your hair and start to appreciate the cannon ball splashes.  Fresh water will feel great on a 90 degree day with sun beating down on you.  Also, while you are drying off, the evaporating water will cool you down.
• Ice, ice, ice. This is obvious and self explanatory, but cooling down your drink with ice will help to make you feel cool while you drink it.  Also popsicles and ice cream are always good, tasty, cold treats for anyone and everyone.
• Barbeque! Barbequing is a staple on 4th of July!  This can help to keep your home cool, by keeping the warm cooking air OUTSIDE of the house.  (Just hope that you aren’t the one standing there and flipping burgers)
• Go down below.  If the heat outside becomes too unbearable, go hang out in the basement!  That is most likely the coolest area of your house (besides the freezer) and you can hang out in cool air, without having to turn down the temperature on your thermostat too far.

If you are leaving your house for the weekend, make sure to turn the thermostat up–so your air conditioner is not wasting money and energy by cooling an empty house all weekend long.  Good luck staying cool and have a great weekend!

Contact Flame for More Information!

image found at: http://folbot.wordpress.com/2009/07/page/2/

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4th of July is a time for watermelon and water balloons, fireworks and bonfires, as well as hot dogs and dog walks.  No matter what your plans are this holiday weekend, whether you are going out of town or entertaining at your home, here are some simple ideas to stay cool and save money.

• Keep doors and windows closed.  If you have your air conditioner running full blast (which it might be, since it is going to be in the 90’s in Southeastern, Michigan), you want to make sure to keep the cool air inside and the hot air outside.  This may be difficult to accomplish if you have many friends and family over, so perhaps try to disuade people from going inside at all or put a sign on the doors, reminding people to close them.
• Jump in the Pool. If you have a pool in your backyard, or one that you can use, now is the time to make use of it!  Stop worrying about your hair and start to appreciate the cannon ball splashes.  Fresh water will feel great on a 90 degree day with sun beating down on you.  Also, while you are drying off, the evaporating water will cool you down.
• Ice, ice, ice. This is obvious and self explanatory, but cooling down your drink with ice will help to make you feel cool while you drink it.  Also popsicles and ice cream are always good, tasty, cold treats for anyone and everyone.
• Barbeque! Barbequing is a staple on 4th of July!  This can help to keep your home cool, by keeping the warm cooking air OUTSIDE of the house.  (Just hope that you aren’t the one standing there and flipping burgers)
• Go down below.  If the heat outside becomes too unbearable, go hang out in the basement!  That is most likely the coolest area of your house (besides the freezer) and you can hang out in cool air, without having to turn down the temperature on your thermostat too far.

If you are leaving your house for the weekend, make sure to turn the thermostat up–so your air conditioner is not wasting money and energy by cooling an empty house all weekend long.  Good luck staying cool and have a great weekend!

Contact Flame for More Information!

image found at: http://folbot.wordpress.com/2009/07/page/2/

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Dogs are man’s best friend.  In fact they can even be woman’s and children’s best friends as well.  Let’s face it, often the family dog is the most loved member of the family.  At Flame we know that your dog or cat is very precious to you, which is why we are joining with the Michigan Humane Society to collect donations of dog and cat food from July 1 through August 31.

You can drop off donations to the following locations:

• Flame Heating, Cooling & Electrical, 2200 E. 11 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48091
•  Flame Heating, Cooling & Electrical, Riverview Showroom, 11781 Longsdorf Rd., Riverview, MI 48192
• Michigan Humane Society, Detroit Center for Animal Care, 7401 Chysler Drive, Detroit, MI 48211
• Michigan Humane Society, Rochester Hills Center for Animal Care, 3600 W. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48309
• Michigan Humane Society, Berman Center for Animal Care, 900 N. Newburgh Road, Westland, MI 48185

Flame and the Michigan Humane Society also want you to know some important information about keeping your pet happy, healthy and safe in the summer.  First of all, you should keep your pets away from the outside air conditioner unit.  If there is a problem with the unit, it could leak coolant, which is dangerous for your pet.  Also, shade and water are very important in these hot months.  You should also make sure to not leave your pet in a parked car while it is hot out.

We hope you and your “best friend” have a great summer together, and that you can help to feed other potential “best friends!”

Questions?  Contact Flame!

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Dogs are man’s best friend.  In fact they can even be woman’s and children’s best friends as well.  Let’s face it, often the family dog is the most loved member of the family.  At Flame we know that your dog or cat is very precious to you, which is why we are joining with the Michigan Humane Society to collect donations of dog and cat food from July 1 through August 31.

You can drop off donations to the following locations:

Flame Heating, Cooling & Electrical                                                                                                                 2200 East 11 Mile Road                                                                                                                                Warren, MI 48091-1088

 Flame Heating, Cooling & Electrical                                                                                                          Riverview Showroom                                                                                                                                           11781 Longsdorf Road                                                                                                                              Riverview, MI 48192

 Michigan Humane Society                                                                                                                            Detroit Center for Animal Care                                                                                                                7401 Chrysler Drive                                                                                                                                       Detroit, MI 48211

 Michigan Humane Society                                                                                                               Rochester Hills Center for Animal Care                                                                                                3600 W Auburn Road                                                                                                                             Rochester Hills, MI 48309

 Michigan Humane Society                                                                                                                                Berman Center for Animal Care                                                                                                                  900 N Newburgh Road                                                                                                                        Westland, MI 48185

 Flame and the Michigan Humane Society also want you to know some important information about keeping your pet happy, healthy and safe in the summer.  First of all, you should keep your pets away from the outside air conditioner unit.  If there is a problem with the unit, it could leak coolant, which is dangerous for your pet.  Also, shade and water are very important in these hot months.  You should also make sure to not leave your pet in a parked car while it is hot out.

We hope you and your “best friend” have a great summer together, and that you can help to feed other potential “best friends!”

Questions?  Contact Flame!

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Gold Plans, Gold Plans-you are probably sick of hearing all about them on either this blog, the website, Facebook or Twitter.  Yet, there is a reason we keep screaming about them.  They are a good investment.  It is simply a matter of numbers:

• Flame has a $98 diagnostic fee for a technician to simply come out to your home, whether he stays there 5 minutes or 5 hours.  This is used to cover labor, time, gas, truck where and the excellent service Flame provides.
• On top of the $98 diagnostic fee, you may also have to purchase parts which could be over $100.
• An annual inspection for your furnace or air conditioner costs $129.50.  These are very important to maintaining your unit and making sure it has a long life.

98+100+129.50=$327.50

1 Gold Plan for 1 Unit = $161

With a Gold Plan your diagnostic fee is waived, and you receive a free annual inspection plus 10%  discount on parts, service, electrical work and duct cleanings. Which adds up to….

10% of $100 (for parts) is $10

$161 + $10 = $171

If in one year you get an inspection, have just 1 service call and only buy 1 or 2 parts… it would cost you $327.50 without a Gold Plan and only $171 with one!

With the Gold Plan you will also receive discounts on generators, water heaters and home comfort systems as well as you will have priority on emergency calls.  Now do you see why we talk so much about it?  It’s really the best deal since sliced bread.

Sign up for a Gold Plan

Contact Flame for More Information

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