We’d like to declare this month as “No Drano November.” Actually, we urge you to avoid using Drano or similar “drain opening” products at any time of the year.
Because of advertising, Drano is a household name. Most people think of it as the first line of defense whenever they run into a clog.
Halloween is almost here, and those little ghouls and goblins will be knocking at your door soon enough declaring “Trick or Treat!”
But did you know that something scary is most likely lurking in your home? Something scary enough to cause expensive havoc on your HVAC system?
St. Patty’s Day is just around the corner and you know what that means…
SPRING is just around the corner!
We can’t wait! The flowers will start blooming. The trees will begin to bud. New grass will spring to life.
Most of the time, the kitchen is referred to as the heart of the home.
For many, it’s considered the home’s hub because it’s the place where families congregate for purposes besides food prep.
Being a homeowner is a liberating feeling. So much better than renting. You’re able to decorate how you want. You can expand and remodel to your heart’s content.
Your house is a welcoming refuge from the outside world. It isn’t just a place where you simply hang your hat. No! It’s much more than that. It’s a home full of sentimental value as you create memories with your family. It’s also an investment in your future.
But for as awesome as home ownership is, it’s not without its challenges. You know, those unexpected challenges of the water heater going on the fritz or the kitchen faucet springing a leak. Or, the dreaded feeling knowing you’ll have to replace the furnace way sooner than you’d hoped.
As Christmas Day draws near, our thoughts drift to joyful family and friend gatherings. Sitting warm and toasty on the couch and gazing at the twinkling lights of our Christmas tree, we can’t help but think how appreciative we are of everyone in our lives.
As winter has arrived in full force, we have been blessed to help many
wonderful neighbors by fixing their heating units or checking their systems to
make sure things were in working order before our first snow storm arrives. The
very resources we use for comfort in the winter season can also be dangerous.
Your safety and well-being are always on our minds. When we are on a service
call, it is important for us to check for carbon monoxide levels.
Carbon monoxide has long been known as the ͞”silent killer” because of it being so difficult for humans to detect. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, tasteless, and poisonous. Because symptoms of the onset of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to a common cold or the flu, you may not
Carbon monoxide can accumulate in your home from a faulty or damaged
The seven most common sources of carbon monoxide poising are:
Most smoke detectors now have a built-in carbon monoxide detector. They start around $40 and is definitely worth the investment. If you already have detectors, make sure they have fresh batteries installed.
Running extra heaters, keeping the fireplace going, and buttoning up our homes for winter shouldn’t keep you scared of carbon monoxide poisoning. Instead, you should be motivated to having your systems checked and regularly maintained. Schedule regular inspections and maintenance of your appliances, furnaces, water heaters, vents, flues, and chimney.
We all want to be warm and cozy all winter long, but not at the expense of becoming ill or poisoned. For your peace of mind, we would be happy to
We appreciate your business over the years. One of the real joys of the holiday season is this opportunity to say Thank You and to wish you happiness in the coming year.
With winter right around the corner, our schedule has been full of cleaning and system checks. We’ve been busy helping our valued customers, like you, prepare their homes to be nice and toasty. During our cleaning and system checks, fire safety is at the top of our minds.
November is often a time when we light extra candles for the holidays, bring out our space heaters for that extra boost of warmth, and start using our fireplaces more. We want to remind you of some life-saving fire safety tips to keep you and your family safe.
Time is of the essence when talking about residential fires. A smoke alarm can give you an advanced warning, gaining you valuable extra minutes, especially if you are sleeping if a fire occurs. Carbon monoxide is odorless, so if something with your furnace went awry, having a detector is life-saving.
Make sure to test yours frequently and change the batteries at least twice a year. A good time to change them at Daylight Savings Time. If you haven’t checked your detector’s batteries yet this season, do us a favor, and put in fresh batteries today. If ever you are in doubt, call us, we will gladly help you out.
Keep at least one fire extinguisher in your home. Since grease fires are a common reason houses burn, your kitchen is a great place to keep it. Make sure everyone in your household knows where it is and how to use it. A fire extinguisher does have a shelf life, so if it has been years since you’ve purchased yours, pull it out and see if it is still good. If it’s too old, you may want to buy a new one. Our feeling is that it’s best to have one on hand to be safe and hope to never have to use it.
Have a clear plan of action in case of a fire. This is extremely important if you have children or elderly in your home. They need to have a clear plan of what to do and where to go. Rehearse your plan twice a year to keep it fresh in everyone’s minds. Be prepared, not scared.
Once outside, stay outside. Teach everyone in your household to never go back in to get something. Have a designated spot to meet if ever there is a fire, go there, and stay.
If you have a second story in your home, check into window ladders at your local home goods store. They are affordable and could save your life.
If you live in a rural area, make sure your fire dues are up to date and you know which fire department is coming to your home.
Hopefully, you’ll never experience a house fire. Being prepared is much better than being scared. Having a plan of action can help you and everyone in your household get out to safety. We are honored and pleased to help keep your heating systems in tip-top shape. If ever you need service, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.
We are thankful to have such wonderful customers like you! We wish you a wonderfully warm and safe Thanksgiving.
P.S. For more fire prevention and preparedness info, be sure to click here to watch some videos from the American Red Cross.
Everybody loves trees, especially in the fall when the leaves are vibrant red, orange, and yellow. In fact, Springfield is a Tree City. That means we have a good mix of trees vs. people, so we get top-notch oxygen in our city.
But trees and drain pipes don’t mix. Trees need the nutrients carried in your drain pipes. If there is the tiniest crack or slightest loose joint, tree roots will make their way in. And those roots are going to start causing problems with your sewer lines.
You certainly don’t want to remove trees unnecessarily, but you don’t want your drain pipes backing up either. What should you do?
Be aware of these early warning signs that you’ve got an underground war waging –root vs. pipe.
When you begin seeing these signs, you need to take action.
This is when you need to call a professional to route out the lines. If you delay, those tree roots will win the war and you’ll end up with much more damage and costly repairs.
Plumbers and sewer specialists want to get up close and personal with the issue. We may send a snake with a camera down the lines to know for sure what is causing the blockage. There are some signs that will let us what we are dealing with without a camera. We try to save our customers that expense, but if we have to have the camera they will use it. The camera then will allow us to see how big the problem is and how much damage has been done.
Once we know exactly what is going on, we can start to fix it. Sometimes the blocked pipe can be cleared with chemicals or a machine that chops up the roots to get things flowing again.
If the damage is beyond chemicals or chopping, the prognosis is to replace the pipes. The best option is usually choosing plastic pipes. Metal pipes are heavy and tend to have loose joints and clay pipes are susceptible to root invasion.
You can keep your trees and your drain pipes coexisting happily. Whether you have clogged drains or any other plumbing issue that comes up, give us a call at 417-866-8257.
If it feels like summer blew past with barely a nod, you’re not alone. With the end of summer and the onset of autumn, it’s time to enjoy many activities in our area, like pumpkin patches, craft fairs, hay rides, and bonfires.
There are wonderful farms close to Springfield offering fun family outings. With all the talented artists at the craft fairs, what a lovely way to find a nice gift for the upcoming holidays or a keepsake for yourself.
Check out these fall local activities:
Pumpkin Patches
Craft Fairs
With the arrival of September, it’s time to give us a call to schedule your fall systems check-up. Regular check-ups on are essential to the long life of your heating and air conditioning unit.
We conduct a thorough checkup of all your components to make sure you get through the winter comfortably! Our service includes checking:
We want to make sure you are nice and toasty all winter long. Don’t wait until the first winter cold snap, give us a call today to get on our schedule for your service maintenance.
August is a busy time especially with kids, and sometimes parents, going back to school. With back to school 
shopping and getting back into a new routine it tends to throw us for a loop for a few days.
Once we are in the routine, it all seems “normal” again though. With the coming of the new routine, summer becomes a distant, but lovely, memory and we are into Fall.
Fall is truly beautiful in Missouri, but the season also has its own special issues. Ragweed and intensified airborne mold spores are the top allergens. Seventy-five percent of people who experience spring allergies are also allergic to Ragweed.
Here are some tips to help reduce and combat the allergens this fall.
This is the time to keep an eye on that air filter in your home. If someone in your home is sensitive to allergens, it’s a good idea to change it every month during the fall season.
It’s important to check your heating and cooling coils, motor, and air handling units for dust and debris. This will help with reducing allergens and will also help with your unit’s efficiency. Clear out any grass clippings, leaf debris, etc. from under your furnace. This will discourage critters from building a nest.
Gutters are another place that can be a home for allergens. Leaf decay turns into mold. Cleaning your gutters out twice a year will help cut down on mold production. Use gloves and a mask while handling rotting leaves, the mold spores can get into the air and your lungs.
If you’re done watering flowers and your garden for the season, be sure to disconnect your hoses from your outdoor faucets and store them in your garage or shed. Making sure there’s no water collected in them to avoid mold production. This is also a good practice to avoid a busted water pipe if we experience a cold snap.
To protect your decks from mold, give them a good power wash. Some houses may be power washed, too, just be careful and make sure the strength is turned down, so you don’t make your vinyl siding look like Swiss cheese.
We hope these tips help you transition easily from summer to fall. To help reduce allergens and keep your heating unit in tip-top shape, we encourage you to give our office a call to schedule your fall cleaning check. Regular cleaning checks extends the life of your unit and helps troubleshoot any issues with your unit before the harsh cold temps of winter arrive.
