DUCT CLEANING – WHY DO IT?

Everybody gets carpets cleaned, and many people do this several times a year.  But most people don’t think about cleaning ducts. The same kind of debris found in carpets gets into ducts.  When the furnace blows air it forces microscopic particles spiraling out of the registers, right back into the room.  If you see dust a few days after dusting, check the ducts.  When ducts are dirty, any mold spores, lint or other microbes get blown onto floors, shelves, and tables, even on your food!

One way to check your ducts is use a digital camera, remove the register, reach in as far as possible and take a picture, or if you are afraid to put your arm in, it may be time to just clean them.  It is amazing the amount of debris you can find inside ductwork.  At SERVCO, we have cameras we can send in to see what is there.  We have found insects, rodents, drywall dust, candy wrappers, big balls of cat hair, lost toys from 1995, and the list goes on.  We usually find a layer of dirt on the bottom, cobwebs on the top and a fog of particulates floating in the air. 

We recommend having ducts cleaned after any remodeling project especially if the duct system was not isolated during the project. Many times the furnace or air circulation is used to help dry paint or decrease humidity, so the contractor will open the registers during the project.  If you have severe allergies, duct cleaning will help prevent redistributing allergens.  Anyone moving into a home should have the ducts cleaned to remove particulates left by previous residents or pets. Even new homes may have debris in the ductwork, have it checked out to be sure.  If you install a new heating system, clean the ducts to prevent contamination by debris from the old unit.

There are some duct companies that use an elaborate portable vacuum system.  If you choose one of these companies, make sure the duct brushes and air hoses actually reach to the end of all your ducts and get the debris out.  Make sure the employees doing the work are trained properly; ask to see their certification. These types of companies are not our competitors. We do not process debris through a vacuum set up inside the house.  Here at SERVCO, we use a duct truck, we call it our V-8 Vacuum.  We evaluate the whole system for climate control and indoor air quality.  When we are done, we replace your furnace filters, and all the debris from your duct work and the furnace has been sucked out of your house and it leaves with the truck. 

Visit our website at www.servcoinc.net and print out your coupon for duct cleaning services.

How to Shut the Water off Fast on Fixtures

We get calls many times at SERVCO for a plumber and we are happy to come quickly. Many times we find the major damage could be prevented and costs lessened when just turning off the water would have helped so much!

So we thought this would be a great blog.

When the Toilet or the sink starts to over flow and you need to shut the water fast and for one reason or another the faucet level or the toilet flapper isn't working you will need to have another way to stop the water.

The good news is that there is another way to shut off the water using something called the angle stops that are on the bottom of the sink or if you have a cabinet they will be inside the cabinet.

The angle stops are usually gold, chrome or rough brass in color and what you will need to do is to shut off the angle stops by turning the valves as fast as you can to the right (clockwise) to get the water to stop instantly.

Once and a while there will be a valve that will be "frozen" or stuck and will not be able to be shut off and this is when you will have to find the water main to the house and shut off all the water to the entire house and then have to call SERVCO and we’ll send a plumber to replace the valve as well as fix the original plumbing problem you had from the start.

SERVCO is a locally owned, family oriented company with long term employees. SERVCO is ready to serve you with 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICES gas, electric, geothermal, propane, oil installation, service, & repair, licensed, insured, & bonded residential & commercial, CCB# 40395 HVAC, plumbing, drain cleaning, rooter, clogged drain, instant hot water, water heater, commercial refrigeration, duct cleaning, tankless water heater, mini-split, ductless, heat pump, programmable thermostat, Call us today 541-451-5090 or visit our website www.servcoinc.net

Water Heater Bombs?

Do you realize every home has a piece of equipment used daily, and if not properly maintained, it could become a bomb? 

Unfortunately, at SERVCO, we see situations where the economy has forced people to pick and choose which household needs take priority and occasionally someone takes it too far. Everyone is trying to make funds stretch a little longer, but there are some things that just shouldn’t wait.

For example, if your water heater leaks, fix it immediately!  One customer had a water heater with a slow minor leak at the top of the tank.  They knew it should be replaced, but for the time being, they used a towel to absorb the extra water. By the time they called for a replacement, the water heater was “super-heating” meaning that the temperature was high enough to cause the T&P valve to release. When our plumber arrived, he realized the danger and shut off the power and evacuated the residents from the house. This customer had no idea they were moments away from a potential disaster.  Upon inspection, he found the water heater leak from the top was inside the insulation and outside the tank. The leak soaked the insulation around the thermostats and caused one of them to short out so it would no longer shut off.  Fortunately correct installation and properly functioning safety valves had allowed the pressure to be released before the water heater exploded.

Another example occurred when recent water main maintenance created a significant amount of sediment in one neighborhood and everyone had been told to run the water until it ran clean. However, water heater design lets sediment pool in the bottom, and this older water heater had so much sediment that the bottom thermostat was completely covered. This prevented the temperature sensor from correctly sensing the real water temperature. The sensor continued to send heat signals even though the water was well above safe temperatures.  When the customer called with water too hot, we advised her to shut off the water heater and we had a plumber out within the hour. Our plumber was able to simply resolve the problem with a water heater maintenance in which we drain the tank, flush out the sediment, check the thermostats and the safety valve and then refill the tank and turn it back on.

If you have a water heater that leaks, do not wait! Move it to the top of your priority list and get it fixed! If you don’t have a plumber in the family, call SERVCO.  Spend your money wisely; use a licensed, bonded contractor.  If you have any doubts about the damage a “super-heating” water heater can do, check out the Mythbusters exploding water heater video on youtube.com or the Discovery channel. This myth was Confirmed.

Made in the United States

Here at Servco, we have been subscribing to the “buy local product – save local jobs” concept since the business opened.  We strive to select quality products for our customers, and we buy those products locally when possible. We hire local people who live in the community and have their families here.

Amana Heating and Air Conditioning systems are all manufactured in one of five manufacturing plants they have in the United States.  Amana has no manufacturing plants located outside of the United States.  Although all the manufacturing is done in the United States, it is almost impossible to use all American made components with technology. But Amana/Goodman searches to find quality products as locally as possible. And all the research, development and manufacturing for the Amana/Goodman units are all done in the USA. Their families live in the United States, and spend the money they earn in their local communities.  By comparison, Trane has manufacturing plants located in the United States along with England, China, Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil, France and Taiwan.  Lennox also has plants internationally.

We believe Bradford White provides the highest quality American made water heaters available. We offer our own warrantee on our water heaters to be defect free and must choose the best quality available.  Our Bradford White water heaters are not the same as the ones made for “big-box” stores. Our water heaters offer a 6yr or 12yr warranty. The way to make sure your plumber is choosing a high-grade water heater and not lesser quality version for your installation is to check the Model Number. 

Servco gets almost all of its supplies and services from local vendors. Our plumbing supplies come from Albany. Our heating and air conditioning supplies come from Eugene or Salem. Our subcontractors own businesses here in Linn County. We have had long-term good relationships with these vendors and plan to continue serving our community for a good many years into the future. Our company mission has always been to provide our customers with affordable quality products and service for their plumbing and heating/air-conditioning installations and repairs.  Call SERVCO at 541-451-5090 and let us offer you a Free In Home Energy Evaluation.  We will assess your heating system, your ducting system and your plumbing system to see what can be done to reduce your energy costs.

All Natural Waste Water Treatment & Drain Cleaner

In Nature, all dead vegetable and animal matter, from a fly to a fir tree; is broken down and recycled into plant food by enzymes and bacteria.  This same biological action is used to break down animal and vegetable waste in our septic systems. 

Septic systems are very sensitive environments and homeowners are entirely responsible for making sure nothing that goes down the drain is bad for the biological activity. Septic system users must be diligent about choosing products compatible with their system. Beware that a product that states it will not harm the septic tank may not harm the tank itself, but it may kill all the enzymes inside the tank! Read the labels closely. And remember products that are bad for a septic system are also bad for your local waste water treatment plant.

In the septic system, enzymes are short order cooks.  They prepare food for bacteria by breaking large molecules down into a size bacteria can swallow. Each enzyme works on one specific type of molecule. For example, the protease enzyme only works on protein. Lipase works only on fats.  Like all living things, bacteria must eat to survive. Fortunately, certain bacteria will “eat” grease, hair, and soap film. When digesting the waste, it is converted into water, carbon dioxide and a sand-like substance. 

Some people add yeast to septics to reinforce the bacteria that are normally present. Yeast creates a bubbly fermentation in the tank and when you look in, it looks like it’s processing, but all the bubbles are just the by-product of sugar and starch digestion because yeast enzymes do not digest hair, fat or proteins. 

Septic systems used to be exposed to very few chemicals so natural enzymes and bacteria, although slow, were still enough to process all the waste dumped down the drain. Presently, food preservatives and cleaning chemicals kill or stifle the bacteria. This is why systems need more frequent pumping to pass EPA tests.

Now, let me introduce Bio-Clean. It’s an all natural product containing a unique combination of ingredients designed to break down protein, fat, fiber, detergents, fabric softeners, sugar, starch, synthetic compounds and other wastes. Bio-Clean is a dry powder. The bacteria are dormant while in the jar. When mixed with water they come to life and they wake up hungry! Each one eats its weight of waste every minute and they never sleep. They will clean the drains in your house and clean your septic system with the same process. Call Servco at 541-451-5090 if you want any additional information about this product, or visit us on the web at www.servcoinc.net and view the video on our plumbing page.

Is Your Air Conditioner Ready For Summer?

Summer is almost here! You may be ready for it but is your air-conditioner ready? Most of us won’t be worried about the air-conditioner until its ninety degrees outside. That may not come until late June in the Willamette Valley, but it may not be the best idea to wait until then to start your air-conditioner up for the first time this year. During that time of year window a/c’s are flying off of the shelves and people are desperately trying to have that new a/c system installed. Our technicians can be booked up for weeks. Many times the only appointments available may be after hours and could become costly with overtime charges. Many people will have to make do with the windows open, the fan full blast, and the water spritzer working overtime, because they didn’t think ahead. The smart thing to do is stay ahead of the game just like we try to do with our vehicles by taking them to have the oil changed every 3000 miles. Have your a/c serviced before the heat wave comes. Servco has maintenance plans that will fit your needs and your budget. Servco will have one of our technicians make sure that your system is cleaned and running properly and with a prepaid planned service, you will have the added bonus of 10% off parts and no overtime charges should you ever need a technician after hours for an emergency. After calling us you will be ready for summer and your air-conditioner will be ready too.

Repair It Or Replace It

With the downturn in the economy that we are facing today, money is tight for everyone, and when things in our homes break down, we have to make important decisions about what would be the best thing to do “repair or replace”.  When it comes to the heating and cooling systems in your home, either way you look at it, this can become expensive.  Depending on the type of system you have and the decision you make, the bill could be in the hundreds up to the thousands of dollars.
One thing you should consider is the age of your system. If it is over 15 years old and you decide to
repair it, there may be other things that could go wrong costing you more money down the road. With this in mind, it might be more cost effective in the long run to replace the system. New systems that are more efficient will save you money on your utility bills, and higher efficiency systems could qualify for federal and state tax credits. Even some utility companies are giving rebates if you upgrade your system to a high
efficiency one. Your utility company can tell you what programs they might have.
There are things you can do to save yourself from high repair costs or having to replace your system too soon. Having your system serviced regularly will keep it running at its peak efficiency and doing this could help you avoid costly repairs in the future. Also, keeping the filter clean is an inexpensive way that you can help your system stay efficient, and this will also help your indoor air quality. Ask your local service technician to show you the things that you can do to keep your system running at its best.
The more you know about what type of system you have, how old it is, how it works, and how often you have it serviced, the more prepared you will be when it comes to making the important decision on whether to repair or replace the system.
Give Servco a call today and we will have one of our trained technicians check your system and help you decide if you should "repair it or replace it."