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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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Look out!  On Saturday, June 19-it is supposed to be 91 Degrees with Thunderstorms in the Detroit area according to The Weather Channel .  This could mean power outages.  Oftentimes, a loss of power simply means using some candles and flashlights for a little while.  Perhaps it is even a little relaxing.  However, did you realize that if your power outage goes longer than just “a little while” it could end up being very expensive? This is why you may want to contact us for generator services. Here are some examples of how much it could cost you without a generator:

• Food (estimated loss: $500-$800).  If you have  a stocked refrigerator or freezer, perhaps even two– you could lose all of your food as well as the money you spent on it if it spoils (Imagine milk sitting for a day or more in 80 to 90 degrees…yech).
• Water (estimated loss: up to $50 or more). According to the CDC, tap water during a power outage could be contiminated since water purification plants may be unable to operate.  Therefore they recommend that you use bottled water for drinking, brushing your teeth, washing your hands etc….
• Computer (estimated loss: around $1,000 and hours of your time). A power outage could cause you to lose data and documents on your computer.  These could be vital to your job, or they could be the product of hours of hard work.  Also, a power surge can occur when the power comes back on and these can fry out your computer.
• Flooding (estimated loss: $500- $3,000 and memories) If your basement is prone to flooding, you probably have a Sump Pump, but if that fails due to a power outage during a storm, you may have problem-especially if your sump pump does not have a battery back-up.  A basement flood could ruin furniture, pictures, laundry appliances, televisions, stereos, pool tables etc….
• Misc… batteries, candles (estimated loss: $30) During a power outage, you will likely be using lots of batteries and candles that will eventually need to be replaced.

Total Loss:  $4,880

As you can see, a power outage can be a very costly thing.  Though chances are you will not lose almost $5,000, it is still a possibility.  One way to avoid this is by investing in an Automatic Stand-by Generator.  These are installed right near your house, and automatically switch on just a few seconds after the power goes out.  These can help save you all the economic loss and distress mentioned above as well as give you peace of mind.  Another plus?  These generators run very quietly.

Contact Flame for more Information about our Generators and Generator Services!

Some information obtained from “Sump Pump” and “Power Outage” at Wikipedia:  The Free Encyclopedia,  The CDC “What You Need to Know When the Power Goes Out Unexpectedly” Image found- at Invention, New Scientist Blogs

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Though Journey may sing the lyrics “when the lights go down in the city…” romantically or nostalgically, in reality, when lights go out in the city, it is always not a happy occasion.  Storms (like the ones you know we’ve been having in Michigan lately) are a large cause of power outages.  Not only are these inconvenient, they can also cause you to pay large amounts of money to replace spoiling food in the refrigerator and also important files could be lost on your computer from a swift shut down of power.

A back-up generator is an excellent way to combat the effects of these summer storms that Michigan can have.  An Automatic Generator like one from Bryant offers an owner many “pros.”  First of all, having a back up generator gives one peace of mind and I know that from experience.  Moving from one house with a generator to a new one without one yet has made me a lot more nervous during storms when the lights starts to flicker (…especially if I am in the middle of the newest episode of Glee).

Why does a generator provide such great peace?  Because it is installed right outside your home and within 30 seconds of the power going out, it will automatically turn your lights right back on!  I know that if the power does go out, I will not have to start searching around in the dark for flashlights or candles (and I would most likely trip over my dog in the process).  I simply have to wait for the power to come back on and resume my previous activity.

What else does this automatic generator offer you?  It is incredibly useful and easy because you do not have to lug it out of the garage and try to set it all up in the middle of a thunderstorm.  You get to stay inside, high and dry.

Storms are great for popping popcorn and watching movies.  Unfortunately power outages can disrupt that (among many other serious things such as computers) but with an automatic generator, you can know that you can just stay inside and enjoy the lightning show.

Contact Flame for more Information about Generators!

Image found: http://waterbutterwine.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/by-zeus/

Title-”when the lights go down in the city” lyrics by Journey

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You may have known about the Flame Gold Plan for your furnace and air conditioner, but did you know that you could also get a service package for your generator?  If you have a generator, then you know it’s a great investment (especially when everybody else’s power goes out and you can watch the last 60 seconds of a play-off hockey game).  So it is important to take care of your generator.  Here is what the Service Package encompasses: (All this happens during the 1-time annual visit)

1. Change the engine oil.
2. Replace the engine oil filter.
3. Replace the engine air filter.
4. Check the air inlets and outlets. Clean as necessary.
5. Check the battery posts cables and charger for loose connections, corrosion and proper operation. Correct as necessary.
6. Check the unit wiring for loose connections, corrosion and damage. Correct as necessary.
7. Check the engine spark plugs. Clean and re-gap or replace as necessary.
8. Check the engine thermal protection level. Correct as necessary.
9. Check the engine fan belts for wear, weather cracking and damage. Replace as necessary.
10. Test the engine and transfer switch safety devices. Correct/adjust as necessary.
11. Visually inspect unit for leaks, wear or damage, loose connection or abnormal operating conditions. Correct as necessary.
12. Start and exercise the unit looking for leaks, loose connections or components, and abnormal operating conditions. Correct as necessary. Initiate an automatic start and transfer the load if desired by customer.
13. Return the unit to stand-by setup for operation when required.

Contact Flame to sign up for one now-and Go Wings!

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High winds are hitting Michigan!  These could result in fallen branches, fallen wreaths and even fallen power lines.  As the temperatures are dropping this is not when you want your electricity going out.  Keep in mind that a whole house generator can prevent problems that power outages can cause.

During this time of year, cold temperatures are not the only problem!  You may be baking and cooking in preparation for the holidays or you may have lots of family and guests staying with you.  Zero electricity and half baked cookies and grandparents does not always make the best combination.  There are various sizes of whole home generators that  can power a variety of appliances and these generators come with an automatic transfer switch.  This means that when the power goes out the generator automatically turns on-you do not even have to worry!

So if you really want to buy yourself and family a great Christmas present, invest in a generator that can help you keep your cool during the Christmas season!  Contact Flame for more information.

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One of the big”pros” to investing in a generator is you can have peace of mind all the time. When it storms or if ice knocks down a power line, you do not have to worry about your power going out or the food in your fridge going bad-you are covered!  However, if you really want this peace of mind (which I assume you do), consider the Generator service package.  Like the gold plan, this is a maintenance plan for your generator (6 kW-12kW natural gas or LP Fueled Generators) that includes an annual inspection.

Here is what you can expect with your generator “check-up:”

1. Change the engine oil.
2. Replace the engine oil filter.
3. Replace the engine air filter.
4. Check the air inlets and outlets. Clean as necessary.
5. Check the battery posts cables and charger for loose connections, corrosion and proper operation. Correct as necessary.
6. Check the unit wiring for loose connections, corrosion and damage. Correct as necessary.
7. Check the engine spark plugs. Clean and re-gap or replace as necessary.
8. Check the engine thermal protection level. Correct as necessary.
9. Check the engine fan belts for wear, weather cracking and damage. Replace as necessary.
10. Test the engine and transfer switch safety devices. Correct/adjust as necessary.
11. Visually inspect unit for leaks, wear or damage, loose connection or abnormal operating conditions. Correct as necessary.
12. Start and exercise the unit looking for leaks, loose connections or components, and abnormal operating conditions. Correct as necessary. Initiate an automatic start and transfer the load if desired by customer.
13. Return the unit to stand-by setup for operation when required.

If you want your generator to work optimally when you need it, it is important to make sure that it is inspected every so often and that oil is changed among other things.  Why not let Flame do this for you?  And then you know that you are covered!  Contact Flame for more information!

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My family has a generator at our home and my dad loves it.  He gets very excited when it comes on when the power goes out.  This joy could be yours if you invested in an automatic stand by generator.  However, it is perfectly fine if you do not feel the same exhilaration about a generator as my father.  There are many other reasons to purchase a generator besides that.  Such as:

• Can bring you comfort and peace of mind when the power goes out.  When your neighbors are sitting at home in the dark-you can weather the storm in your lit house while watching a movie!
• It can save you money in the long run.  Just from a power outage you could lose around $5,000 in your home (spoiled food, flooded basement etc…) Imagine what you could do with the money that you do not lose because of your generator!
• Generators can also save you money at work as well as home.  If the power will be out for a lengthy period of time, a generator will allow your business or place of work to operate normally instead of not at all.
• Financing is available for generators-which means that even if you think you cannot afford one, you probably can.

If you have any more questions about generators- contact Flame and someone will be able to help you.  Also, if you are interested in more information about generators from the Flame Blog, check out these articles!:

• Stand-by Generators vs. Portable Generators
• Changing Your Generator Oil
• Do Not Freeze When You Lose Power in the Winter

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A complicated explanation involving principles of physics is normally not what someone wants to hear when asking how something works.  Unfortunately, that is what you often get when asking about products such as an electrical stand by generator.  This blog is going to attempt to explain the inner workings of a generator while trying to limit the use of words such as “potential energy” and “kinetic energy.” 

Basically a generator takes mechanical energy and turns it into electrical energy.   In order to help visualize mechanical energy, think of pedaling a bike.  (Some generators can be powered this way, but most likely if you invest in one for your home you will probably find and choose one that does not have to be man powered).  A generator that will be used in your home will probably be an engine generator which is more often referred to as simply generator.  An engine generator uses an engine to start the generator.

Not all generators are equipped with these, but most standby generators in private homes come with automatic transfer switches.  These are switches that can automatically sense when the power goes out in your home and they connect the power from the generator right to your home.  You don’t even have to do anything!  Unfortunately, there still is a couple second delay before that happens-so your clocks will be probably still blink “12:00.” 

If you want more in depth information about generators, feel free to pick the brains of those at Flame Heating, Cooling and Electrical (Contact Flame).  I hope this blog wasn’t too painful for those of you that do not enjoy science!   

Other Interesting Blogs:

• Stand-by Generators vs. Portable Generators
• Central Air Conditioning Information
• Forced-Air Furnaces

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Winter is starting to slow down and warm up a little bit.  In fact some summer qualities are even coming early.  For example, the other night there were thunderstorm watches in Michigan, a tornado warning in Columbus, Ohio and a tornado even struck in Oklahoma! One precaution you may want to think about before summer begins, and the real storms start, is that you probably need a generator.  

These are helpful for both your home and business, and they can save you lots of money if the power goes out, along with making life much more convenient.  Also, if you feel that it is too early to start thinking about a generator for the summer, you should know that they are useful in the Winter too.  Winter storms and ice can turn the power off in your home, just like a Summer storm can.

Therefore, as you start longing for the days when you can pull the shorts out of the attic, consider looking into a generator right away. By doing so a lengthy power outage will not ruin your summer, and you’ll be good to go for the next seasons ahead, and whatever they may bring.

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Your generator can be extremely helpful and useful when the power goes out. However, you can not forget to help out your generator.  If the power has been out for a couple of days and your generator is running, it is good to have your oil changed!

 Some sources suggest 50 hour intervals between change, and that sounds appropriate if your generator has been running for that period of time.  Also, oil filters need to be changed, though not necessarily as frequently as the oil. You can also check your generator’s manual, and follow its guidelines when dealing with changing your oil on a regular basis, not just when it is running. 

Flame technicians are available to answer any questions and to perform generator oil changes when you need it, so do not hesitate as we are happy to help.

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