Not all Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors exemplify this list. At Horizon Mechanical we not only live this list as a company but each individual who works here fulfills this list on a personal level.

How many companies can say that?

Are you looking for a contractor you can trust to come into your home and do the “right” thing according to your needs?

We are building our customer base one homeowner at a time. When we are in your home, we are working for you today and building a relationship so you will want us back in the future.  We work with old fashion business ethics—Honesty and Trust.  We blend the honest work ethics with a highly skilled workforce. We bring state of the art equipment, design and installation practices into your home or office that you can trust.

We don’t need to brag about ourselves, we let our customer’s do that for us. Check out our Testimonials page!

As I think about my new coat, it makes me think about how I care for other things I buy. I work hard for my money. I bet you do too. Maybe we should be applying the same focus on care, upkeep and extended life expectancy on other purchases we make.

Ok, you know where I am going with this. I am, as you know the heating and air conditioning maintenance queen.  So, have you taken time to read the owner’s manual? Do you know what you are risking by not following the manufacture recommended maintenance procedures? You are risking a lot more than the amount of money I spent on my new suede coat. I researched a few manufacture web sites today so that I could bring you the information you need to know.

The following verbiage has been taken from web sites such as Trane, American Standard, Lennox, Carrier and Rheem.

Please note that routine maintenance is required as recommended in the owner’s manual to ensure proper performance of the equipment. Repairs that are required, due to lack of routine maintenance, are not covered by the American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning Extended Warranty Agreement.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: The following items are required in order for the Products to be covered under this limited warranty:

• The Products must be properly installed, operated, and maintained by a licensed HVAC service provider in accordance with the Product specifications or installation, operation, and maintenance instructions provided by Company with each Product. Failure to conform to such specifications and/or instructions shall void this limited warranty.
• Company may request written documentation showing the proper preventative maintenance.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that this appliance is professionally maintained.

As I researched maintenance and its impact on warranty, every manufacturer I found wants proof of professional maintenance in order to ensure the full warranty for the homeowner.

The installed price for a new furnace is at least 5x higher than the cost for my suede coat. I fully intend on taking care of my new coat and maintain its fit, color and look by having it professionally cleaned. What do you own that you take great care of? Do you have a favorite sweater that you always lay flat to dry? Or, how about those sexy knee-high, soft, leather boots that you won’t wear in wet weather and you choose to clean with a soft cloth and store in the box they came in?  Maybe it is time to think of your furnace as something you cherish. It wraps you in a warm hug every time it comes on. It is there for you no matter what your mood.  It even tries to continue working through severe neglect.

If you are in the Denver metro area call us today. We are open 7am-7pm, 7days a week. Our service technicians are not commission-based as is the norm in this industry. You can trust our technician to perform the manufacture recommended maintenance and inform you of the condition and performance of the important components in your furnace.

Have you called Horizon Mechanical? You should! Your call will be answered by a person. Most likely the person who answers your call will be Michelle. We are so proud to have her as part of our team.  One of the goals of our newsletter is to “open” the doors to our office and the wonderful people who work here.

This is not the first job for Michelle. She brings with her a full background of work and life experiences. Let’s do this introduction in a fashion similar to speed dating. Here are the facts, the timeline, the life knowledge learned and put to use as the Customer Service Representative at Horizon Mechanical.

Most people are hanging out, enjoying friends and…………(you fill in the blank), while in high school. Not Michelle, at 16 she was employed by McDonald’s. Not just employed but the Breakfast Manager. How would you like to put in a full day before school even starts! Whew!  Well, that is our go getter Michelle.

After high school she held various positions and learned many useful skills.

Manager for 320 unit condominium complex: What skill did she learn there? Can you say, people skills? Of course she loved all 480 people who lived there. Wouldn’t you?

Court Reporting Firm: Worked in 4 departments, on 2 floors simultaneously. Do we even need to mention that she was quick to learn multi-tasking? It was while working here that she began her pursuit of a degree in accounting at Regis University.

The Big Adventure: Moved to Las Vegas, by herself, unemployed and without any personal connections. Is it time to mention that Michelle is brave, competent, adventurous and out-going? Well, she is!

Cabinet Company in Las Vegas: During the 10 years with them she was the Accounting Manager and Accounts Receivable Manager. Her innate combination of kind and strong leadership made her a successful leader and high producing collections professional. Why stop there? She continued her studies working towards her BS in Accounting.
After the economy slowed in Las Vegas it was time to come back to Colorado. Family, friends and the four seasons in Colorado were the big draw to come home.

Horizon Mechanical: She was looking, we were looking………..and as they say the rest is history. Michelle will celebrate 2 years at Horizon Mechanical on February 17th.

As we speed through Michelle’s life let’s slow down a minute and ask a few questions.

Me: Michelle, what do you do at Horizon Mechanical?

Michelle: I am the Customer Service Representative. I take care of scheduling with the customers and I supervise the Service Technicians. The way I like to say it is: I make sure the customer’s are taken care of.

Me: You are very happy everyday when you come into work. Why is that?

Michelle: Horizon Mechanical is built on Integrity. I live my life that way and I appreciate working for a company that does the “right “thing. I can count on them to do that and I have seen it in action many, many times.

Me: Can you give me an example?

Michelle: Sure. Our Service Technicians are fantastic and they are also human. We have had occasion that we missed something while at a customer’s house. We have owned up to it and gone back at no charge to take care of things properly. No arguing. We step up and do the right thing.

Me: Any other examples?

Michelle: Yes, this just happened last weekend. We had a service technician out on a late night call. The part needed to make the repair had to be picked up the next business day to complete the repair. The Service Technician priced the part as though it was picked up that night with overtime charges included on the pre-paid invoice. Once I spoke with the customer and realized what happened, I spoke to the General Manager. He immediately wrote out a check and put in the mail that morning.  We simply did the right thing – no hesitation.

Me: When you talk to friends and family about your job, what do you brag about?

Michelle: I am so fortunate to work at Horizon Mechanical. This company values me and allows me to grow professionally and personally. At this point they are giving me the opportunity to take on accounting tasks.  That is so fulfilling for me. I am going to graduate this May with my BS in Accounting from Regis University.

Me: Is there anything else you would like to say?

Michelle: Absolutely. I know that we are sending highly skilled, quality individuals into our customer’s homes. I have sent them to my Grandparent’s house to work on their system. I trust our Service Technician’s implicitly.

Well it is time to bring this speed date to an end. Michelle is anything but boring so let’s end with a fact of her life. Story has it that she has been kissed by Darth Vader! As of this writing she has not given more details.  If she does, we will be sure to let you know.

Call us today. Michelle will set you up with a great Service Technician and will make sure everything goes smoothly!

Tire pressure levels can be found on the outer rim of the tire itself. This is not a good place to find the recommended tire pressure to be maintained for your vehicle. Open the front driver door to your vehicle. Look in the door jamb for a manufacture sticker. On that sticker you will find the tire pressure for your vehicle. If the sticker is difficult to read or missing you can also find this information in the owner’s manual. The automobile manufacture recommended tire pressure should always be followed unless you have changed the size of the tire on your vehicle.

Tire pressure gauges come in a full range of inexpensive to very expensive. Buy one that is easy for you to read. They come in digital and non-digital displays. It should be kept in your glove compartment. Go ahead and buy one for each of your vehicles. Gauges can be purchased at many locations including: Target, ACE Hardware, Wal-Mart, 7-11, Auto Shops and even the grocery store.

Tire pressure specifications are given for tires that are cold or haven’t been driven yet. You can check the tire pressure while the car is in your garage.  If you go to the gas station to check the tire pressure,  drive to one that is the closest to your home so the tires don’t heat up too much. Use the air machine at the gas station to fill each tire. After filling your tires, check each one with your own gauge. The gauges attached to the air tanks are not always accurate. Be sure to put the screw caps back on each tire before leaving the gas station.
In addition to maintaining good tire pressure, it is also important to rotate tires. Tire rotation is recommended every 5, 000 miles or at minimum twice a year.  As a result of maintaining accurate tire pressure you will, extend the life of your tires, get better fuel mileage and you and your passengers will be safer.

Questions? Contact me by facebook at Horizon Mechanical.

Be safe!

Hmmm, SIX MORE weeks of winter, or is this going to be the FIRST six weeks of winter????

As you know our weather has been very mild this winter season. However the historical facts for our weather in February are:

18 degrees    Average Low Temperature
49 degrees   Average High Temperature
8 days           Snowfall
21.41”            Snow

So what does that mean for you and your home? Well, to start with, don’t put away the shovel.  I would suggest since the weather is going to keep us inside a bit longer, let’s do the next home maintenance project.  Today we are going to work on caulking. Specifically, let’s look at caulking bathroom showers and bathtubs. What? You say you haven’t done this before? No problem. Not only are we writing a step-by-step procedure, we have also taped a short video showing what to look for and how to repair it. Caulking is not a particularly difficult job but it does take time to prepare the area for repair.

Here is a picture of what to look for to determine if the area needs to be re-caulked.  In this bathroom the caulk is white. Do you see the crack in the caulk at the bottom of the tile where it meets up with the bathtub? If you have used the bathtub or shower in the last 3 days, I would suggest that you use another bathroom while this area completely dries out so that you can do the repair. If you don’t have another bathroom to use, direct a fan at the area that needs to be dried. Let the fan run for about 8 hours then you can go to work. If you do the repair at night, the caulk will set while you sleep, and then you can use the shower or bath in the morning.

1. Check all bathroom showers and bath tubs for loose, cracked, missing caulk
2. Dry the area completely before beginning to work on it.
1. Avoid using the shower or tub for 3 days prior to replacing caulk
2. If you cannot suspend usage of the area for 3 days:
1. Use area in the a.m.
2. Direct a fan (oscillating would be most beneficial) towards the area you want to dry. Let it blow on the area for 6-8 hours.
3. At the end of the day, turn off the fan, and replace the caulk
4. Direct the fan at the newly caulked area. Leave fan on all night
5. Check the caulk in the a.m. If it is dry, go ahead and use the shower
3. Go to the hardware store. Tell them what you are doing and what color the caulk is in your shower or tub, (most caulk is white or off-white). They will match the color and sell you the correct caulk for the bathroom application.
4. Chip out all of the caulk at the base of the shower or bathtub.
5. Clean out small debris. Use cloth, small broom or vacuum to clean work area
6. Snip off the top of the caulk tube.  Don’t make the hole too big. You want to squeeze out a small thin line of caulk.
7. Begin squeezing the tube at one end of the tub or shower base and move toward the opposite corner to create a line going all the way to the corner.
8. Using a wet finger, run your finger along the bead of caulk to smooth it out and seal the edges
9. Continue on until the area is filled in with caulk. Only do a strip at a time so you can smooth it out before it begins to set.
10. Be sure to read the manufacture directions on how long to let the caulk set before using the shower or tub.  Don’t run water in the area until the caulk is completely dry.
11. Take a picture. Post it on your face book page so all your friends know how amazing you are! While you are at it, will you please post it on our face book page? Horizon Mechanical and we can brag about your great work!

We matched each “like” with a donation of 2 meals to Food Bank of the Rockies. We donated 800 meals as a result of your action!  We have a lot of respect for the work that is done through Food Bank of the Rockies.

We will continue to support them through 2012. Our goal is to volunteer for them quarterly through this year!

Our Facebook page continues to be a huge success. Please remember to check our page often. We post fun facts as well as, tips to help you save money and energy while heating and cooling your home.

Community businesses employ over half of all private-sector workers. They have also created more than 64% of our new jobs in the past 15 years. For community businesses to grow and continue to increase the number of people they employ, we need to support them. Our first and most important goal for 2012 is to spend our money with companies that are fiscally responsible, provide solid jobs that offer insurance for employees, companies who guarantee their work and are committed to doing the “right” thing.

Each of us makes decisions daily on where to spend our hard earned money. Buying decisions based on the lowest price may not be in your best interest or that of our economy. Of course it is tempting and sometimes we even convince ourselves that it will be the same quality as the higher priced option. When we hire providers that don’t carry insurance, don’t pull permits, don’t have employees or an office we are deluding ourselves that this is a “good” purchase. In the end it hurts our economy, it hurts our local job market, reduces the chances that our adult children can find good, solid jobs, and the overall effects are far reaching.

It is our goal and focus for 2012 that we will be the company that has a positive impact on our employees, our customers, our community and our economy. We will commit to spending our money on other businesses that have the same commitment.  We will also commit our time to helping others.

Business goals and commitments for 2012.

1. We commit to supporting and buying from other quality small businesses. We are going to support businesses that offer quality services and products. We will support businesses that offer solid jobs to our fellow Americans. Health insurance, safe vehicles and guarantee their work.
2. We will grow our customer interfacing positions before adding to our internal support staff.
3. We will keep our vehicles maintained and insured for the safety of our employees and the safety of the people we share the road with.
4. We will continue to hire quality people that we would allow to work in our own homes. We will do extensive background checks to ensure the safety of our customers.
5. Our Service Technicians will participate in continuing education classes 50 hours in-house training and training classes provided by manufactures.
6. We will use “best industry practices” for repair of equipment and installation of new equipment.
7. We will donate time to Urban Peak on a quarterly basis. We will make dinner for the people who live there.  This organization has been in Denver for over 20 years. They house up to 40 people at a time. The age range is between 16 and 21. They are homeless kids who need help developing life skills so that when they leave this shelter they can survive and flourish on their own.
8. We will volunteer at Food Bank of the Rockies 4 times (once a quarter). We will assist them in preparing food boxes to be delivered to those in need.
9. In 2012 we will produce our own catalog to distribute to our customers.  It will introduce our customers to advances in our industry, new products, and the wide variety of services we provide.
10. Monthly we will send out our e-newsletter, “News on the Horizon” to educate homeowners on how to care for their homes.

One of the goals of our newsletter is to give you the opportunity to know us better. By knowing what we care about we want you to expect the best when you hire us to work for you.  Our focus is on YOU, our customer. Thank you for supporting us and if we can please ask you a favor, will you please pass our name on to your friends, co-workers, neighbors/church friends, etc? A referral from you will help us reach our goals and commitments for 2012.

We wish you and your family a healthy prosperous New Year!

•  Can it be tossed in the garbage when it no longer works?
• In the event that one breaks, can you clean it up with a broom or a vacuum?
• Which one is bright enough that it can be used for reading? Is the color rendering the same on all bulbs?
• They can get very expensive, which one is the most cost effective to use?

I know, I know, what a pain these questions are. They are a pain because they make you realize that the lighting industry is changing and we need to know more about what we are buying. It is time for a light bulb education. This is important information.  Let’s dive right in!

The incandescent bulb is being phased out by the Federal Government. The phase out is to begin this year with the 100 watt bulb. If there are areas where you would like to continue using this bulb, you would be wise to stock up on them, today—if you can find any on the store shelves.  The entire phase-out is to be completed by 2014. The incandescent bulb uses 60-70% more electricity than a CFL bulb. It makes sense to reduce our energy consumption.  However you need to know more—

CFL’s have limitations. They are not the ideal bulb for every application. Listed below are several areas that the CFL is not the best choice. If you do use them in any of the areas listed, please know that they will not last for the listed life expectancy as stated on the box.

1. Frequent On/Off: Areas such as closets and pantries where you pop in for a minute, turn on the light, find what you need and then turn it off. The 10,000 hour life expectancy is greatly reduced when used in this type location. An LED or Incandescent is better suited for these areas.
2. Dimmer Switches: Very few CFL’s are dimmable. Read the box before buying or installing. The bulbs hum and the life expectancy is greatly reduced when used on a dimmer switch. You may be able to find a CFL that can be used with a dimmer switch. Read the boxes carefully before purchasing and/or installing.
3. Outdoor Use: Low temperatures can reduce light output. Read the box to ensure that it is rated for outdoor use at low temperature. In a garage the CFL is slow to respond and give off enough light as a result of the cooler temperature.
4. Recessed applications:  Light fixtures and sockets that create a heat build-up will reduce the lifespan of the CFL. It is recommended that you buy a specially designed CFL’s for this application. An incandescent or LED is better suited for this use.
5. Recycling & Clean-up after breakage: CFLs contain small amounts of mercury which is a toxic metal. This metal may be released if the bulb is broken, or during disposal. The CFL bulb requires recycling. Ask your retailer if they have a program available.

LED’s are a higher initial cost bulb. Look for Energy Star and UL certifications on the box. The lifespan of this bulb is greatly affected by the manufacturing. Not all LED’s are created equal. Buyers beware of low cost LED’s!

1. Warm/Cool light: We are accustomed to the warm light from incandescent bulbs. The LED emits a cool almost bluish color. LED bulbs, which emit a warm color light, are available. The cost for the warm color rendering is much higher than any other bulb.
2. Overheating the bulb: A side challenge in manufacturing is that when the bulbs are made to burn very bright, they also become very hot. The heat reduces the life expectancy of the bulb. To overcome this challenge, the high brightness bulbs have a small fan built in it. The fan is similar to a processor fan. This bulb uses dramatically less electricity than an incandescent and a CFL.
3. Initial Cost: To replace a 60 watt incandescent bulb with an LED bulb with matching color rendering will cost from $40.00-$80.00. Most bulbs sold do not match the color rendering and the sell price is much lower. The price for these bulbs will range from $10.00-$36.00, typically.

The purchase price for an LED bulb will definitely cause a gasp the first time you price one. Since they are purported to last 50,000 hours, you should only need to make one or possibly two purchases of a bulb over your entire lifetime. If this is accurate, and the science says it is, you will want to purchase the brightness that you are looking for and the color rendering that you like. This bulb is going to be illuminating your home for the rest of your life! If you plan on being in your home for at least 20 years, the LED will pay for itself. It costs the most up front, however it lasts the longest (by at least 5 times) and the operating watt usage is 1/10th to ½ of the other choices.

Here is the bottom line regarding my decision-making.
LED bulbs are making technological and manufacturing advancements at a rapid rate. As the sales go up for these bulbs the price will continue to come down. The goal at my house is to convert to LED’s, eventually. I have also decided that if I move, I am taking my LED’s with me.  After the studying that I have done concerning bulbs, recycling, concerns regarding the mercury released if the CFL is broken, cost, color of light and volume of light, I have made determinations of what type of bulb I will use in different locations in my house this year. This is going to be a topic to revisit yearly as we continue through the phase out of the incandescent bulbs.

Please remember to go to http://epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.html for detailed instructions on how to clean up if you break a CFL in  your home. Read it today so that you will be prepared when you find yourself dealing with a broken bulb in your home.

Although there is more to say on this topic, I have to go. I am on my way to the local hardware store. I am going to buy a few incandescent bulbs so I have them on hand when I need them this year for the areas that I have dimmer switches, reading lights, and outdoor lights, since I live in a cold region.  Oh, I also need them for the recessed lighting fixtures. I am going to switch to medium cost LED’s for areas where I turn the lights on and off frequently, such as the powder room and the closets. CFL’s? I can’t say where I would want to use them. I haven’t figured that out yet. One thing I do know is that I don’t want to worry about the clean up if I break one, or the recycling. The exhaust from my car as I drive to the recycling center may negate the reduced environmental impact of using the CFL in the first place. Whew! Who knew that there would be so much to learn about a light bulb???????

The area of maintenance we are going to target this month is drains.

1. Go to each bathroom. Look under the sink for drips. Run the water to make sure that the drains are clear and working well. Flush the toilet. Does it turn off completely when the tank is full?
2. Check the drain by the furnace. Is there a funky smell in the area? If so, try pouring a quart of water down the drain. This will fill the trap and keep the gases from backing up into your home.
3. In the kitchen, look under the sink for drips.
1. Check the dishwasher and make sure you don’t see any water under or around it.
2. Check the water line going to the ice maker. Be sure it is not dripping and no bulges in the water line.
3. Look behind the fridge and make sure that there is no water on the floor.

After checking all the indoor water lines, it is time to start a drain maintenance program.

Drains need to be maintained so that they will dispose of water properly through the pipes in your home. Food, hair, soap are just a few of the things that leave residuals in the pipes and eventually block the drains. If you maintain the pipes and keep them clean, you will save yourself time, money and hassle in the future.

Everything we put down a drain through normal use builds up and reduces flow through the pipe. Many people live with slow draining sinks, showers and baths. They often times don’t do anything until it is an emergency and something is overflowing, or the water is not draining. What‘s next? Get the plunger, maybe go to the hardware store and buy a toxic, harsh chemical. The chemicals are dangerous and after using some of it, do you really want to store it at your house? Although the chemical will often times open the pipe, it doesn’t clean it.

We recommend Bio-Clean. It works organically without harsh chemicals. Bio-Clean works better than commercial drain cleaners and it is better for the pipes. Harsh drain cleansers are for problems. Bio-clean is a maintenance program to avoid problems. Start the maintenance on the drains this month. Check our facebook page and our web site for a video showing how to maintain and clean drains. The video will be available on Friday, January 20^th.  It will show you areas in the pipes (traps) that can be cleaned. It will also show you how to use Bio-Clean to keep the drains in your home working like new.

All natural Bio Clean works safely and effectively on: sinks, showers, septic systems, dishwashers, garbage disposals, grease traps and garbage disposals.

Call us today. We have Bio-Clean for purchase at our office and we have it on each Service Truck.

If you use 100-watt bulbs in your garage or front porch or anywhere else you better buy them this month! They will not be available after December 31, 2011.

Be sure and check back for the News on the Horizon, January 2012 for all the information you need to know about Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, (CFL). Where they can and cannot be installed. The article will include information on how to prevent breakage of a CFL. We will also include EPA guidelines regarding how to clean up if you accidentally break one and recycling tips.