• The grass has been thatched. It looks great and I can assure you that once a year is enough for this job. It is tough, but worth it.
• The lawn had a few areas where bugs had killed the grass. The bugs have been removed by digging out the areas, and after a quick trip to the hardware store, the spots have been filled in with grass seed.
• Cleaned out two closets. Reorganized them and took things to Goodwill.
• Hung several pictures and rearranged a few others to give my office and the TV room a fresh look.
• My closet has some bright colors in it now! The black clothes of winter are now at the back and the fresh, bright colors have been moved up front. I can’t even tell you how much I am enjoying wearing brighter colors again!
• The tickets to attend the Yves Saint Laurent show at the Denver Art Museum have been purchased. It is going to be a wonderful day with friends.

There are still some things lingering on my “to-do” list however, but it feels great to see the progress that I have made. What have you done?

Take a moment and go to: www.horizonmechanical.com to link to our Facebook page. Celebrate your accomplishments. Photos are encouraged!

Let’s start with “who” Horizon Mechanical is, then we can delve into how you can apply this benchmark to companies in your area. Horizon Mechancial is a boutique heating and air conditioning service provider. The word boutique is descriptive of our style and level of expertise. We specialize in truly, one of a kind installation using state of the art equipment and installation practices.  It is our focus on integrity and taking care of our customers that sets us apart and creates a boutique style business. At Horizon Mechanical we have NATE Certified Technicians on staff to install the air conditioner at your home. They have been trained to take the time during the installation to perform the manufacturer’s recommended start up. Because of our high quality installation and proper commissioning of the system, you will get what you purchased; a system that performs to manufacture specifications, is reliable and operates at the lowest possible decibel level. At Horizon Mechanical our service technicians receive 50+ hours of training every year.

When you purchase a system from Horizon Mechanical you are not exposed to any risk as to whether or not you will get a well designed and installed system. The Trane Company sends out a survey to every homeowner after we have performed a service call or an installation. The survey asks about all aspects of their encounter with Horizon Mechanical. They ask questions regarding their experience from the time the first call is placed to our office, through the work, the follow up, our respect for our customer’s home, the price of the work performed and their overall impression of the service people, the work and the company. Horizon Mechanical is the only company on the web site within a 5 state region with 100% satisfaction rating from our customers! That means that EVERY customer was satisfied with the service, the installation and the people at Horizon Mechanical.

You may be wondering if a boutique service provider has elite pricing searching for financially elite homeowners. The answer is no we are not. Our prices are competitive; it is our workmanship that is in the elite category. We tend to attract homeowners who are looking for a company they can trust to do a great job, every time they call us. Our customers want a company that will do a complete job from start to finish while showing the utmost respect for their home, family and pets.

Now the question is what kind of a buyer are you? Do you like to have the job done completely and well the first time? Are you looking for comprehensive service or do you tend to shop for the lowest price and expect quality service? Do you trust your gut? Do you think you can trust the person in your home making a presentation because they seem like they know what they are doing and they seem trustworthy to you? Are you working under the assumption that you can look at proposals and compare “apples to apples”?

The best way to learn about a company is to ask your friends what company they used. It is also a good idea to call previous customer’s and get their opinions. We can provide you with names and phone numbers. Have a list of questions before you call them. Ask questions regarding:

1. Their evaluation of the overall job
2. Their satisfaction with temperature in their home
3. The cleanliness of the work
4. The respect shown for their home, family, pets etc
5. The permit and inspection process
6. Would they use them again?

If you are in the market to replace an air conditioner or add one to your home, we offer free on-site estimates. We will do a complete heat gain calculation as well as gather information regarding the ductwork in your home. To complete a heat gain calculation we measure every window in your home, measure exterior wall space and height of ceiling. This information will assist us in determining how much heat your home takes in during a hot summer day and what size air conditioning we need to install to overcome the heat entering your home. We will clearly communicate what you can expect the system to achieve and how best to use it. Our goal is that you will select us for the installation and then become a customer for as long as you live in the Denver area. Give us a try. There is no risk.

This is not going to be a techy article, nor is it going to be a lesson in engineering. It is going to walk you through the steps on how best to use your air conditioner and what you can do to help it perform to the best of its ability. The goal is that by the time you have digested this information you will be having a love affair with your air conditioning system! Cool, right?

Let’ start with what is outside. The big box on the side of your home is the condenser. It houses the compressor. What do you need to know about this area? Well the compressor is the most expensive component in the air conditioning system, so it is important to treat it well.  One way for you to do that is to make sure that the condenser has at least 2 feet of space all around it and 4 feet above it in order to move air. The condenser needs to expel the heat from your home, so it is important to make sure that it is not crowded by plants, shrubs, etc. Go out today and look at the condenser. Is it level? Look inside from the top, do you see leaves and debris inside? If so, then protect your investment and guarantee that you will be cool this summer by booking to have the system maintained by your favorite heating and air conditioning service provider, (did I hear you say, Horizon Mechanical).

Next, let’s go inside your home. Do you know what a return air grille is? In most homes it is the vent that is located in the wall. It can be low on the wall or high. The most important thing you can do to help the air system in your home to perform well is to make sure that there is clear access to the return air vents. If the return air grille is blocked by a couch, hutch, dresser or some other piece of solid furniture, it cannot draw the warm air from your home into the duct system cool it and deliver it through the supply vents. The return air grilles are very important. Some homeowners try and manipulate the system to make it draw more air through a return air grille(s) on the second level of their home. They try and do this by blocking a return on the main floor. Please, don’t do this. It is hard enough to get the volume of air needed to go through the duct system. This type of manipulation often causes more harm than good.

Supply vents can usually be found in the floor. A supply air vent typically has louvers and you can adjust the opening and direction. The direction of the air should be straight up the wall. The cool air blowing through the vent is designed to bathe the outside wall and window with cool air. It absorbs the warm air coming in. It creates a protective barrier, reduces heat gain and keeps you comfortable. Air conditioning systems need maximum air flow. Keep all supply vents open, even in rooms that you don’t use often. It is also recommended to keep the doors open to all the rooms. If you have a powder room or laundry room that is getting too much cool air you can damper down the supply vent, not close it.

If you already read this newsletter monthly, then you have learned about the importance of changing the filter. Filters should be replaced in the spring and then once-a-month during the air conditioning season.  A dirty filter wreaks havoc on an air conditioning system. If you would like a tutorial on filters, how to change them, what type to use, etc., please go to our YouTube video channel. You will find our step-by-step information there. The important knowledge to take away from the information about return air grilles, supply vents and the filter is the understanding that the goal is to help the system to move as much air as possible.

Now, since we have gone over the mechanics of the system and talked about the duct system, let’s move on to “how-to” use your air conditioner. An air conditioner is designed to avoid heat gain, not extract it. That means for an air conditioner to be used as designed by the engineers, you need to turn it on during the day. Don’t wait until you get home from work or until you “feel” hot, to turn the system on. By then it is too late. It takes hours and hours to remove heat from everything in your home. Imagine the thermostat reads 84 degrees indoors. That means every piece of furniture, article of clothing, all the dishes, the walls, the beds, the books, every single item in your home is holding that heat. Now you turn on the air conditioner and you want it to instantly bring the temperature down. It can’t do that! The way to use your air conditioner is to program the thermostat and let it do its job.

Many thermostats offer a 4-times-a-day for programming to monitor time and temperature. Think about and write down the schedule you want to program before heading to the thermostat. Once you have a plan it is easier to concentrate on how to program the thermostat. Here is an idea for a program.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Wake: 7am
Temperature: 75 (Personally, my preference is that the a/c doesn’t run when I am showering)

Leave: 10am (I select this time as this is when the sun starts to warm up in the summer)
Temperature: 72

Return: 4pm
Temperature 72 (If you don’t know what temperature you are comfortable with, select a temperature and then if you are cold raise it one degree and try that for a day. If that is not comfortable, then move it up one more degree the next day. You will find your comfort number doing it this way)

Sleep: 10pm
Temperature: 72 (If you would rather open the windows at night, program to 78 degrees and the system won’t turn on unless it is really warm that night)

If you are programing a workday schedule, you can raise the temperature approximately 4-5 degrees while you are at work. The benchmark is 8 hours. If you are going to be away from the house 8 hours or longer, it is ok to raise the temperature. If you are not going to be away for 8+ hours, it is better to leave the temperature consistent.

If you have questions regarding the use of your air conditioner, please call us at 303-346-3466 or contact us through www.horizonmechanical.com, or our Facebook page.

It is our pleasure to assist you.  We want you to be cool and comfortable this summer.

There will be free gourmet food ,wine tasting, drinks, prize drawings, networking, shopping and fun!

Click here to RSVP! or to find out more information about this event – click here!

For the first time since writing a monthly newsletter, I find myself at a loss for ideas. What do people want to hear about? What do I want to write about? Hmmm. Thinking, thinking, thinking. Nothing is coming. As I fight through this writer’s block I realize the challenge is that we are in what I refer to as “bumper season”. Who needs heating or air conditioning in the springtime? Spring 2012 has been amazing. Beautiful temperatures most of the time with low temperatures sporadically intermixed. No real need to heat or cool our homes.

Yesterday I spent a portion of the day talking about summer and the need to schedule time to do the things that interest me. I want to hike my first 14,000 foot peak and take several other hikes. I also want to go to the Denver Art Museum to see the Yves Saint Laurent exhibit. What else is on the list? I want to: take a jewelry making class, learn how to throw a clay pot and plan some special quiet times with my boyfriend. My family and his family are important too so we want to make sure and have something planned with each of them. As I think about everything I want to do this summer, I realize that this “bumper season” is a great time to get things done so I have free time this summer. It may be difficult to think about completing projects and taking advantage of this time, but it is the best way to clear the time for summer fun!

Here are some of the things that I am going to do over the next several weekends. I urge you to go and get a piece of paper and pen so that you can write your own list:

1. Bring color back into my wardrobe. Put the black clothes to the back of the closet and put the color up front.
2. Look at each room in my house. What can I do to make the room look springy and bright? Light color pillows on the couch and maybe a few new indoor plants.
3. Outside, the lawn needs seeding and it appears a bug has taken up residence. The lawn and garden center will be on the list of places to go to get answers and buy the necessary products.
4. One side of the driveway has a strip of grass. This season, I want to remove the grass and replace it with some rock and plants. Can’t think of a better time to do this than “bumper season”.
5. Change the filter in my furnace to prepare for air conditioning season
6. Schedule to have my air conditioner spring maintenance done. This summer I want to “know” that when I get home from my fun adventures the house will be cool and comfortable

Quite honestly now that I have some direction, have my list of things to do and why I want to complete the list, I feel rejuvenated. This summer is coming fast and I want to enjoy it! I urge you to write your list, right now! Let’s get things done and create the opening in our time to enjoy friends and family and special times this summer.

Let me know what is on your to-do list. Go to our Facebook page. Please post before and after picture of your projects. I will post mine too.

Did you know that when it comes to air conditioning, bigger is not better? It is even worse than selecting a piece of equipment that is too small. For maximizing your comfort, the reliability of the equipment and ensuring the lowest possible operational cost, we do a complete heat gain calculation, a ductwork calculation and an equipment verification to ensure that the size we install is correct. The work does not stop there because until the equipment is installed, and adjusted to some very specific requirements, you do not get the efficiency that you are paying for. You can over pay by thousands of dollars in utilities over the life of the equipment due to issues with duct leakage, improper airflow settings, and inadequate refrigerant charge . These situations also have an effect on the reliability and the durability of the equipment. So with all of this said, does Horizon go beyond our competition, with our installation processes and procedures? Absolutely!

Allow us to show you how we’re different. Call us at 303-346-3466 for a free on-site proposal and detailed explanation of your options, or click here for a free estimate.

A well designed human detox program can help purge your liver, colon and kidneys of toxins, boost your energy and help you safely shed pounds. This holistic approach to your health can also be applied to improving the air quality in your home. A well designed healthy home can help reduce allergy symptoms, reduce exposure to colds and flu viruses and bacteria, help you sleep better and boost your immune system. For the next month, implement one of these simple steps each week for a healthy spring cleanse that will benefit you family year round!

Air Purification

Why bother with ineffective room air purifiers? A whole house air purifier is installed on a forced air heating system. There are two excellent choices. The first is the Guardian Air REME+. It is the perfect solution for improving indoor air quality. It proactively sends ionized advanced oxidizers throughout your entire house to destroy pollutants, particulates, microbials, gases and odors in the air and on surfaces.

Another option is the PhotoHydorionization Cell. This cell is also mounted in the ductwork of a forced air heating system. It uses an Advanced Oxidation Process to reduce airborne contaminants in your home. It is far better than a UV light because in addition to reducing contaminants it is very effective on gases, vapors, odors, VOC’s (volitle , viruses and bacteria.
The air is cleansed to safe levels and the ozone level is no greater than forest air or air after a thunderstorm which will give the room fresh, clean sanitized and odor-free air.

Reduce Particulate Count (Dust)

Dust, vacuum, dust, vacuum, dust, vacuum, and at the end of the day your home is still dusty. Dust comes in through windows, doors and on our shoes and clothing. You can reduce incoming dust and clean it out of the air and off furniture and floors.

• First step: create a no show zone inside your home. Most dirt, pesticides and lead come inside on your shoes. Go barefoot or wear slippers in your home. Keep a mat by your entryway to collect residue.
• Next step: Use better filtering in the heating and cooling system. Be wary of tightly pleated filters as they may cause havoc with your air conditioning system. The choices for filters range from an Electronic Air Cleaner to High Capacity Pleated filters to the simple fiberglass filter. Better yet, ask your Heating and Air Conditioning Technician for the best choice for your system.
• Remove the dirt: A central vacuum system is the best for removing dust and dirt particles from your home. The dirt is removed from your home and disposed into a can located in the garage. A central vacuum system can be installed into a finished home. Everyone will breathe easier with less dust and dirt in the air of your home.

Filter your water

Toxins found in water can include fluoride, chlorine, pharmaceutical residues and other chemicals. Invest in a good water filter. A Whole-house Water Filtration system will remove unwanted taste, odor and debris from incoming water.

Breathe better

Once you have reduced the infiltration of dust, dirt, pollen, viruses and bacteria there are a few more things you can do to improve the air quality in your home.
Keep a leafy green plant in every room of your house to help remove toxins from the air. In place of chemical air fresheners, bring in fresh flowers or herbs like sage and rosemary.
Conventional household cleaners are filled with toxins that can increase cancer risk, lead to organ system damage and cause reproductive harm. Buy natural, toxin-free versions.

Protect your family’s health by calling us today so we can help you create the best indoor air environment possible.

Manufactures have been recommending annual maintenance on heating and cooling equipment since they have been producing these types of equipment. Yet, why are the majority of homeowners unaware of the need for this important annual check-up and tune-up? Well, this brings me to why this article is being written. As I stated before, manufacturers like Trane, Carrier, Lennox, York, American Standard, and Goodman (just to name a few) require that their equipment be maintained by a professional HVAC contractor. This goes for furnaces, as well as, air conditioners. It is stated in the warranty section of the installation, service, and maintenance manual that to keep the warranty up to date and valid, the equipment must be maintained, or the warranty will be voided. I like to use the oil change on a car analogy to explain it like this; If you purchased a brand new car and did not change the oil on the brand new engine for 15—20,000 miles, and then took it in for service because the car was having issues with the engine, the car manufacture and the dealership would not warranty the repairs because the maintenance was not performed at regular intervals.

The same requirements apply to air conditioning equipment. The parts sent in for replacement that are still under warranty, are randomly selected to be inspected and checked for defects by the engineers that designed them. And, they can be declined warranty, if the maintaining contractor does not provide maintenance documentation. Some people think it’s expensive to maintain and keep their equipment running properly. But in comparison to a $1000+ repair where warranty was declined—the price of maintenance sounds pretty inexpensive.

There are a couple other unseen things to consider when annual maintenance is neglected. I have taken quite a few classes to get certified, educated and licensed for my career path. A lot of the air conditioning classes I take, mention that if the refrigerant charge inside the air conditioning system is off by 10% it can hinder the efficiency of the unit by 30%. This “off charge” can mean too much refrigerant or not enough. It will turn a top of the line “20 SEER” air conditioning system into a “14 SEER” system; it could also turn your “14 SEER” system to a sub-par “10 SEER” system. To get a little technical, a system not charged correctly does not allow proper heat exchange through the refrigerant inside the lines. This could cause excessive amp draw on the compressor and ultimately lead to an uncomfortable situation throughout the home. A lot of people just want their AC to blow cold air. The air may still be cold coming out of the registers even if some of the vital parameters are off.

With that being said, the annual maintenance should be a pretty thorough inspection along with some minor cleaning to components. The inspection part of the annual maintenance is basically an evaluation of the AC system, as it provides a snapshot of every component and gives the contracting professional a basis (basis of what?). At that point, they can alert the homeowner to any discrepancies in amp draws on any motors, or temperatures and pressures throughout the system. As part of the yearly cleaning service I check to see if there is “water leaking around my AC.” If so, that is usually a clogged condensate drain or condensate drain trap. This condensate drain line should get thoroughly cleaned as part of the maintenance. Another way to help justify the cost of the AC annual maintenance is to think about the cost of water damage and water restoration. If a system is in an attic, on a second floor, or even next to a finished floor and that AC drain clogs up and leaks, it will create an unseen puddle that you may not notice for months. Imagine the cost of getting the water damage cleaned up, and getting the mildew under control. I would prefer reducing the chances and trying to prevent this from happening by just doing that annual maintenance.

I hope this helps some of the homeowners out there understand what “maintenance” is. It’s not just an inspection or cleaning. It’s not just a tune-up or preventative measure. It’s not just a filter change. It’s a skillfully planned service to keep the AC running efficiently, and promote the longevity of the system. You can rest assured, it will be money well spent.

Fertilize houseplants once a month or as directed on the fertilizer label. If you have a plant that is not doing well, try moving it to a new location. Also, if you buy a new plant for your home be sure to keep it separated from the other plants for at least a month. You want to verify the plant and the dirt are not going to spread any disease or bugs to the other plants.

Take time to prune plants in the springtime. Prune out dead wood to shape and renew the plant. Do NOT prune spring flowering plants since you will be cutting off the blooms.
Cut back late flowering plants such as Russian Sage, Blue Mist Spirea and Butterfly Bush to encourage new lush growth. These plants bloom on this year’s growth, so you are doing them a favor by cutting them back now.

Deep water all outdoor plants every 3-4 weeks when the ground is not frozen to help the plans survive if we are experiencing a dry warm spell. You can enjoy the sun while using a soaker hose to water your outdoor plants.

The fact of the matter for Denver is March is our snowiest month. It is nice to feed the birds when the snow covers up their food source. Their food source can be covered up at least a few times during this month.

Get out and enjoy the sunshine on the warm days. On the snowy days, kick back with a warm cup of tea and a book. The snow will pass soon and you will be busy enjoying the beautiful outdoors of Colorado!

Don’t be caught again thinking you don’t need to be concerned. You may live in an apartment and think the owner wouldn’t let you be exposed to CO., or you may have discounted a warning because you live in a warm area, say Boca Raton, Florida. Stop it! It is time to face the facts and make the wise decision to remove the risk of CO poisoning. You, your family, your pets, anything that breathes is subject to the deadly effects of carbon monoxide.

This morning, a newscaster in the Denver market was talking about the death of two people in Boca Raton, Florida. They died from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. I bet you are wondering, “Why were they using a furnace in Florida?” They weren’t. They had a new automobile, a Lexus. This new vehicle doesn’t have a keyed ignition. It is a push button start. This amazing automobile is complete luxury, a powerful machine that has been equipped with an extremely quiet engine. This couple was preparing for a trip. Rushing around, getting things done, tying up loose ends. The bags were packed; the list of to-do’s was complete. They came home to sleep for the night before boarding the plane the next morning. Well sadly they never made it to the flight. Actually, they never even made it through the night. Their beautiful new Lexus has a motor that is extremely quiet and they had so much on their minds they had unintentionally left the car running, closed the garage door and went excitedly to bed for the night. It is so sad to tell you that they will not be seeing their family, their children, their grandchildren, friends, neighbors or each other on this earth, ever again. It is final. No do over’s. They cannot change their mind and go out to buy a CO detector. The family is now planning a double funeral.

The story of the couple in Florida drove me to research Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and the number of people effected so far this year. At this point in time there are no totals listed for the entire United States however I was able to research a few states to see what has been in the news since the beginning of 2012. Between Florida, Connecticut, New York, Illinois, Michigan and California 79 people have been transported to the hospital for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning at a “Serious” level of exposure.  During this same time period and in the same states, 8 people have died. The government has toys removed from store shelves for far fewer deaths and serious level hospitalization in a short time period like this.

The articles listed the source of the carbon monoxide for each situation.   The list included: furnace, generator, gas grille, water heater, space heater, gas dryer, gas oven and automobile. In almost every situation the people were sleeping when they were overcome with the gas. Now that you understand the importance of having a CO detector, let’s discuss types available on the market and where to install them.

Many states are now requiring Carbon Monoxide Detectors in homes and commercial properties. For a home, the detector needs to be installed within 15 feet of every bedroom doorway. For example, if you have a home with 3 bedrooms on one level of the home, connected by a hallway, typically this area would need 1 detector. Select a spot on the hallway wall and measure from there to each bedroom doorway. If it is 15 feet or less, that is the appropriate spot for the detector. You should have a detector on each level of the home that has a bedroom.  Absolutely!

The safest, most reliable Carbon Monoxide Detector will alert you at low-level exposure so that you can have your house checked to determine the source of the CO leakage. It will also have a high-level alert which will indicate when you need to leave the premises immediately. A single level detector meets the code requirement of having a detector in the home, although it may not offer the level of safety you want for you and your loved ones. It is actually a safety feature for the fire department. When they are dispatched to your home, they will hear the alarm and immediately put on safety gear and respirators prior to entering your home. It is rare that they will find anyone still breathing in the home. This single level detector does not go off soon enough to alert you of a potential dangerous situation. It notifies you when it is at a deadly level. If, during that time the level is reduced (could happen simply by someone coming through the front or side door of the home) the timer resets its self and starts over. You can easily be exposed to deadly levels of CO for 4-8 hours before an alarm will sound.

We don’t think that is what you really want out of a life saving alarm system.  A low-level carbon monoxide detector is a more sophisticated, reliable alarm than the single-level. A detector can last up to 5 years. A low-level CO detector costs more than a single-level detector. The cost for a low-level detector averages out to be about a $4.00-a-month investment into a life-saving device. Many people spend an average of $65.00-a-month on coffee alone! No excuses. Buy one and install it immediately. Make sure you READ the instructions and write the month and year of installation on the side of the alarm.

Act now before it’s too late. Give your family the protection they need. Call right now. We can come out and install the CO Detector for you or we can ship it to you. It is time to stop the unnecessary risk of living without one. Once the CO Detector is installed at your home, take a picture of yourself next to the detector and then put it on our facebook page. Encourage others to take care of themselves and their loved ones.

DO IT!