We Love Our Customers – February 2013

We Love Our CustomersWe are consistently striving for excellence in everything we do. Our entire company feels the satisfaction of “mission accomplished” when we receive letters from our clients detailing their experience with Horizon Mechanical.

It was a privilege to work for you and your family, Joan. Thank you for writing to us about your experience.

Here is Joan’s letter:

We can’t speak highly enough about Horizon Mechanical. Our furnace went out sometime between bedtime Sunday and breakfast Monday. We had hoped it would be an easy fix, but when all the DIY tricks failed we decided to call in an expert. Of course it was 6:30pm Monday evening and the temperature was heading into the single digits for an overnight low.

After three calls to “experts” who couldn’t come out until the next day Horizon Mechanical was recommended as a possible resource. Keith answered the call, came out within 30 minutes and assessed the furnace. By the way our furnace is in the crawl space and unless you are less than 4 feet tall you can’t stand up. Dumbest set up I’ve ever seen. Anyway I digress, Keith delivered our options and considering the age of the furnace, somewhere between 15-18 years, we opted to have a new furnace installed.

Keith called Carolyn who was on her way to work out and Carolyn cancelled her workout and was at our house and ordering our new furnace by 9:00pm and she provided us with two space heaters to use during the frigid night. At 8:00am Tuesday morning Keith was back at the house starting to disassemble the old furnace and prepare for the delivery of the new furnace.  At one point during the install there were three fully grown men working on the furnace in that tiny crawl space.

All in all we couldn’t believe that from first phone call to thermostat training only 18 hours has elapsed. Besides being experts in what they do, everyone was courteous, knowledgeable and professional. They also wore booties and put down floor covering to protect our hardwood floors. I can understand why Horizon Mechanical has an A+ rating with the BBB.

Joan S – Littleton

2/5/2013

 

 

 

 

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Who Is Horizon Mechanical?

HorizonColor-DarkTrust, plain and simple we are in the business of trust. We take this seriously and it is at the heart of our business. You, our customers put your trust in us every time you call us to your home and when you refer us to others. How do you “know” we are worthy, reliable and consistent with the trust you put in us? As we begin this New Year, this is a perfect time to share our company: Mission, Values, and Branding Statement with you. The final section is our Value Proposition. It is in our Value Proposition that we have a request of you, our faithful clients. Enjoy the glimpse into our company and please, if you have any comments you would like to share, please post them on our face book page: Horizon Mechanical. www.facebook.com/HorizonMechanicalLLC

Mission:

To Create and Stage Unique and Memorable “Horizon Experiences” that will leave our Customers, Suppliers and Employees feeling compelled to tell their Family, Friends and Neighbors about their unique experience.

Values:

Family is our core value.

We foster individual learning and personal growth

We have created a strong team of independent and unique individuals; interdependent upon each other to delight our customers, in which we consider it a profound honor to serve them.

We create an environment that is mutually beneficial for our customers, our employees and the company, and we realize that we can only be successful in the long run if all three benefit.

We are committed to being honest, dependable and quality minded.

We are consistently striving for excellence in everything we do.

We are committed to strengthening the community and industry in which we live, work and play through associations, partnerships and volunteer activities.

This is who we are and this is what you can expect from Horizon Mechanical!

Branding Statement:

Leading with innovation, excelling through ingenuity, anchored by integrity.

We read and discuss these statements during our weekly meetings. As we strive for excellence in our industry we are also committed to technical expertise and continuing education. Every single technician is enrolled in continuing education classes. We are up to date with codes, best installation practices and technically advanced diagnosis processes.  As a result of our well rounded expertise we can offer you options to help you get the system in your home or office back on track. You will always be empowered to make an educated decision as a result of our processes.

Value Proposition:

Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning for Residential and Light Commercial Clients who: Expect Superior Customer Service from Technically Trained Experts 24 hours a day.

 Now, we have a request of you. Once you have worked with Horizon Mechanical, it is obvious we are not your “average or run-of-the-mill” contractor. We work at a level of trust and integrity second to none. Will you please pass our name on to people you know? Would you like some ideas of whom to share your Horizon Mechanical experience with? Think of the people at work, neighbors, church, schools and of course, your family members. We have been here for 15 years. We want to be here for 15+ years and we need you to succeed. We promise you can TRUST we will provide them the same level of service, expertise, options and reliability we have provided to you, every time.

Happy New Year!  We are looking forward to hearing from you.

 

Sincerely,

Peter Smith – President
Tom Wolvin – General Manager
Jonathan M. – Service Manager
Keith W. – Technical Manager
Don T. – Service Technician
Alex P. – Service Technician
Chris W. – Duct Cleaning Technician and Warehouse Manager
Michelle S. – Office Manager
Carolyn C. – Estimator and Newsletter Author

 

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Your Home Is Your Castle

CCobosEven Castles need maintenance.

In order to keep your home in tip top condition it is important to perform maintenance tasks each month.  By completing these task we high-light each month and addressing problems before they become expensive repairs, you can be confident you will be keeping your home in  “castle-like” condition.

It’s February. The holidays are over and ornaments have been safely stored. Now it is time for a reality check. Does your home feel and appear cluttered? Well February is the perfect month to get your home in order. By doing this now, you will have time to spend outdoors in the spring and summer enjoying family, friends, and our beautiful Colorado sunshine.  According to the U.S., Department of Energy, one quarter of American’s can’t even park one car in their two-car garages because there’s too much clutter. Marketing research firm Harris Interactive, found that 23 percent of adults incur late-payment fees because they lose bills. Americans had accumulated so much stuff that between 1994 and 2004, demand for self-storage units doubled to about 44,000 units today.

Are you feeling resistant? Do you want to skip this article because it doesn’t pertain to you? Well let’s take a look at what items can become clutter. Look over the following list, can you relate to anything on it?  Think about the areas in your home where things accumulate.

  1. Paper, mail, junk mail, magazines and newspapers
  2. Shelf-stable food, including duplicate spices and expired canned food
  3. Bathroom cabinets containing expired medicine and personal care products no longer being used
  4. Clothing, including clothes that haven’t been worn for years: an American Demographic Society study found that Americans wear the same 20 percent of their wardrobe most of the time.
  5. Craft supplies, including fabric for sewing and quilting
  6. Books
  7. Furniture, including shelves and storage boxes bought with reorganizing in mind
  8. Empty appliance boxes

After you have identified the areas which need to be “de-cluttered”, work on one area at a time and complete the task. Once you have completely cleaned and organized one area you will be ready to move to the next.  You may find it is better for you to take care of your home, one room, one weekend at a time. Others of you may find this task challenging and it may be in your best interest to recruit the help of a friend. Sometimes it is with the input of a friend you can decide which items to keep and which to remove from your home.  You may want to sort the items into: keep, donate and toss piles. Once you determine what you want to keep be sure and put them in a drawer or bin. Please don’t leave them on the counter or table top as it will quickly grow again.

Here are a couple of boundaries to implement in 2013 make your life less “cluttered”.

*       Before buying something ask yourself: Do I really need this?

*       Use the “one in, one out” rule. When you buy something, donate or throw away its predecessor.

*Buy a shirt, remove a shirt: buy a vase, donate one.

Enjoy the process and the results! Take it one step at a time as long as you start, TODAY.

By the way, remember to replace the filter in your furnace this month. See you in April. If you have a home maintenance question, be sure to post it on Face Book. If I don’t know the answer, I will research it and include it in an up coming newsletter.

Take care!

Carolyn

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De-Clutter and Help Others

NAHB_logo

Especially in these tough economic times, donating your unused items to charity could be a lifesaver for homeless or needy families. If it’s in good condition, your out-of-style or outgrown clothing could keep a family warm during the cold                                   weather months.

Many local charities also accept donations of household items that are in working order. That lamp, toaster or set of dishes gathering dust in the garage could help furnish a home for a needy family.

When you redecorate or remodel, don’t put out-of-style-but-usable home furnishings such as light fixtures, bathroom vanities, and even door knobs in the garbage. Habitat for Humanity ReStores and other organizations will take and re-sell them at a fraction of the cost of new, and the proceeds help build Habitat homes.

 

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We Love Our Customers – January 2013

We Love Our CustomersEvery Month, we have the opportunity to share what our customer’s are saying about us. Our Mission is 100% Satisfaction with every customer, every time we are in their home.

 

Gayle P.
11/28/2012

The workman, (Jonathan) was very intelligent and honest.”

 

Paul M.
12/3/2012

Horizon Mechanical is a good competent company that does high quality work.”

 

Jay B.
12/5/2012

These folks do what I want AND need!”

 

Each of the homeowners listed above completed a Customer Satisfaction Survey from Trane. They answered the following questions the exact same way.

 

Would you recommend the contractor to your friends or family?     “Definitely Would”

Total Customer Satisfaction Survey Score.                                        “100% Satisfaction”

 

 

 

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Our Service Technician’s have “Superman” qualities

superman_logo-

After a satisfying day at work, you are looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the evening at home. As you turn the key in the lock on the front door, you instantly notice the air inside is not warm as you expected.  The furnace is not working. This is not the homecoming you had envisioned. Now, instead of relaxing it is time to start making phone calls to see who can come out, diagnose the problem and fix it. You may not have put a name to the person you are looking for yet, but we all know at this particular moment, you are looking for someone a lot like Superman. Someone trustworthy, intelligent and hard working, a person who will explain in terms you understand, what happened, why and how to fix it and fix it now. If you want “Superman” then you will want to call Horizon Mechanical. Our “Superman” Service Technicians go by the names: Jonathan, Keith, Don and Alex.

Here are a couple of Superman quotes we identify with:

There is a right and a wrong in the universe and that distinction is not hard to make.”

“He jumps into action when troubles arise”

 “Nothing can stop him”

 “He has super speed and super strength”

“He leads by example”

At Horizon Mechanical we live the words purpose and integrity while providing the highest level of expertise in the industry. We excel in diagnosis, repair, installation and customer satisfaction and we have awards to prove it. The nice part is, you, our customers have given us our stellar rating. We feel a great sense of pride knowing we have the highest customer satisfaction rating in the Denver Metropolitan area. We won this award in 2011 and we are on target to win it again for 2012.

About Our Employees:

Our Service Technician team is lead by Jonathan Miller and Keith Wildhaber. They both celebrated their 3rd year anniversary in 2012. Both of them come to work every day with an enthusiasm:  for the industry and for leading the department in continuing education as well as helping home and business owners to reduce energy costs while extending life expectance of equipment and increasing comfort. They support, advise, encourage and challenge the newer Service Technicians we added to our team.

In 2012 we actively sought out quality, intelligent, caring individuals to add to our stellar staff.  Here are the new additions and a little about each of them.

 2/2012 Don Turner – Don applied at many Denver heating and air conditioning companies last year. He said he was the most excited when he received a call for an interview at Horizon Mechanical. According to Don he wanted to work for a company that encouraged a team atmosphere and offered in-house training and support.  He is proud of his customer service skills. He listens to homeowner needs and concerns and finds the appropriate answer on how best to address them. Don has high goals for himself. He holds several NATE certifications as well as additional industry specific certifications. He will be adding to the list in 2013. He is looking forward to a year in which he can increase his knowledge and skills and bring the best to every customer he encounters. We are proud of Don and look forward to his continued growth.

 7/2012 Chris Willis – Chris is young, energetic, hardworking and eager to learn. He is a perfect fit for us and you! Chris maintains our warehouse and ensures stock levels are where they need to be to provide you with the best service possible. Our warehouse is clean, orderly and inventory is cared for so when we install a part into your furnace or air conditioner it is in perfect condition. Not many heating and air conditioning companies can say that! Chris leads our Duct Cleaning division and provides in-home services that will leave you telling your friends and family all about this service.

 12/2012 Alex Peralta – It has taken over 2 years to find a Service Technician to fill our fourth service truck. It was worth the wait. Alex was looking for an environment where he can utilize his communication skills, work ethic and technical skills to provide quality service to residential and commercial customers. He was also looking for a management team that is involved in the business, everyday and is aware of what is happening in the field. He found what he was looking for at Horizon Mechanical. According to Alex a bonus to working here is our dedication to offering “on-going” continuing education on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis.

When one of our Service Technician’s arrives at your home, you will see their clean white shirt, shoe covers, tool bag and computer. You will sense their focus on uncovering and diagnosing what the trouble is with the system. They will explain their findings and offer you options. What you won’t see, hidden underneath the white shirt is: the Superman emblem but believe me, it’s there.  Oh and by the way, please do tell your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. At some point, everyone needs “Superman” otherwise known as: Horizon Mechanical.

 

Check back next month. We will fill you in on some of the exciting things we are doing at Horizon Mechanical. Every step and change we make is with you, our customer in mind. 2013 is going to be a very exciting year!

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HOME MAINTENANCE 2013

New Year Resolution – Perform Monthly Home Maintenance. Protect your home and investment one month at a time!

Let’s face it; your home is a significant investment. Maintenance tasks can be easily overlooked. The drawback to overlooking monthly maintenance is the maintenance can then turn into costly repairs. It is January 2013. January is a new beginning. Don’t beat yourself up over the maintenance you have let slide in the past. Take off the blinders and look at your home. What do you see that needs attention? Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry; we are here to help you. Each month this newsletter will highlight areas in your home which need to be tended to and properly maintained.  The tips included in the newsletter will provide details regarding “how to” complete each task. If it is not something you want to tackle on your own, the information will assist you in asking the right questions of the professional you will need to hire to complete the maintenance. As the saying goes, “knowledge is power.” By knowing what the job entails, you will not feel as vulnerable to unsavory characters masquerading as Service Providers. Always look for Service Professionals with a solid work ethic, integrity and the resources to help you now and after the work has been completed. Always call Horizon Mechanical first. If we cannot help you we have a long list of reliable Service Professionals to refer you to.

We are going to start the year with a few easy tasks. After reading this article, go and complete the listed tasks.

Before performing any of the tasks below, please be advised that valves that have not been maintained or used can get stuck in an open or closed position and it can leak when performing maintenance for the first time. Be sure to know where your main shut off is and have a bucket and a few rags with you as you maintain the water shut off valves.

  1. Washing Machine hoses.  Look for black or metal braided hoses near the back of the machine.
    1. Look for bulges in the hose. If you see any, shut off the water to the machine immediately and replace the hoses. Hoses can be purchased at a home improvement center. You will need a wrench to replace them.  Metal braided hoses are the recommended replacement.
    2. Check connectors  to make sure they are tight and visually check for corrosion. If corrosion is visible, shut off the water to the system and replace the hoses and metal connectors.
    3. If you are going out of town for a week or longer, shut off the water to the machine. This will reduce your exposure to a possible flood from this appliance.
    4. When you have a Service Professional from Horizon Mechanical in your home, feel free to ask them to look at the hoses and inform you of their integrity. Our trucks are stocked with Metal Braided replacement hoses.

          2. Water Shut Off Valves.  Toilets and sinks have water shut off valves.water shut off valve

               A.  Look at the shut off valve near the toilet and underneath sinks. Before you                     touch a valve have a couple of rags and a small bowl or cup handy incase some water drips from the valve.

B.  If you see corrosion near the valve, it may indicate a small leak. If you see corrosion, do not tamper with the valve. Unless you know how to deal with a leak, it is probably time to call a professional to replace the valve

C.  If the valve appears to be in good shape then the best maintenance procedure is to fully close and then reopen the valve. Be sure you know where the main shut off is for your home before performing this maintenance. In the event a leak appears you will want to shut the water off to the home.

D.  Follow the same steps at each sink and toilet.

3.  Aerators in faucets.

A.  At the tip of a bathroom or kitchen faucet is an aerator.  It is the screen you feel at the inside edge.

B.  The tip of the faucet screws off and you can remove the aerator to clean it.

C.  You may need a wrench if you cannot remove the end with your hand. Be sure to wrap a towel over the end before using the wrench. The towel will protect the metal and keep it looking nice when you put it back on.

4. Icy spots on driveways and walkways.

A.  Shovel the snow promptly from driveways, walkways and decks.

B.  Look for areas with a tendency to ice over

C.  Use cat litter or sand for icy spots on pavement.

D.  Never use salt on pavement.

E.  On the 15th of each month, when you receive this Newsletter, change the filter in your furnace.  Questions about “how to” or what type to use, call us.

 

That’s it! Perform the few maintenance items listed here and  you will be well on your way to taking great care of your home this year. Be sure and check the email Newsletter next month to find the next set of maintenance steps to be done around your home.

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2012 Holiday Gift Ideas

Gift Ideas

Do you need gift ideas? Whether you are looking for a packaged gift or one special gift, we have a few ideas for you. Be sure to enclose a personal note so anytime in the future, as the items are being used, the receiver will think of you and your special relationship.

Winter Weather Preparedness Kit for an automobile (put everything in a duffle bag)

  • A shovel and windshield ice scraper
  • A bag of Kitty litter or sand in the car.
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • Flashlight
  • Reflective Triangles and Road Flares
  • First-Aid kit
  • Water and Non-Perishable Foods
  • Jumper Cables
  • Blanket or warm sleeping bag 

New Homeowner Tool Kit (put everything in a tool box)

  • Hammer
  • Pliers
  • Level
  • Flashlight
  • Bio-Clean to keep drains, draining
  • Screw Driver set
  • A gift certificate to a local nursery

 

Gift Certificates for Specific Items

  • Maid Service
  • Whole-House Humidifier
  • Spa Day
  • Round of Golf
  • Furnace Maintenance
  • Window Cleaning
  • Whole-House Air Purification
  • Low-Level Carbon Monoxide Detector
  • Whole-House Surge Protector

We hope this list is helpful. We offer gift certificates for services and products we provide.  Please call us and so we can assist you with selecting the perfect gift.

We wish you and your loved ones a holiday season filled with love, laughter and fun! Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah!

We look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

 

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Christmas Lights Safety Tips

Christmas Lights Safety Tips

By Adam Verwymeren

 

Published December 06, 2011

 

 

 

 
 
 
Read more:
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/12/06/christmas-lights-safety-tips/#ixzz2DM3Vo96Z

 

A house lit up with Christmas lights is a beautiful sight to behold. But stringing lights across your roof and around your home can be a real safety hazard if you’re not careful. So before you flip the switch to dazzle friends and family with your spectacular light show, take a few moments to run through a quick safety checklist.

●  Before you string up a single strand of lights, carefully check them for cracked cords, frayed ends or loose connections.

●  The combination of shorts in electrical lights and a tinder-dry tree can be deadly.There are 250 Christmas tree fires and 14 related deaths each year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. So keep your tree well-watered. Not only will it stay fresh and green, but it might also keep your house from burning down.

●  Modern lights have fused plugs, preventing sparks in case of a short circuit. Ditch old strands of lights that don’t have fuses and get a set of newer, safer lights.

●  If bulbs have burned out, replace them right away, but make sure you use the correct wattage bulbs.

●  Water and debris can get into outdoor sockets, so make sure outdoor lights are plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet to reduce the risk of shorts and shocks.

●  Keep an eye on extension cords, as they can occasionally overheat. Just touch-test the cord. If it’s hot, unplug it.

●  Don’t use tacks, nails or screws to hang lights, which can pierce the cable and become electrified. Use insulated hooks instead.

●  When running extension cords along the ground, make sure to elevate plugs and connectors with a brick to keep snow, water and debris out of the connections.

●  Tape down any ground-level extensions cords to prevent people from tripping over them.

●  Check to make sure lights have been rated by a testing laboratory. You can see a list of federally recognized labs on the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s website.

●  Not all lights are rated for outdoor use. Indoor lights often have thinner insulation, which which can become cracked and damaged when exposed to the elements outdoors. So make sure the ones you string up on the house belong out there.

●  Don’t leave Christmas lights running when you go to bed at night or when you leave the house.

●  When you put your lights back into storage after the holidays, make sure to put them in a well-sealed container to prevent possible water damage and to block hungry rodents looking to turn the cords into lunch. My final advice? Be careful with ladders.

Adam Verwymeren is a Networx- http://www.networx.com - writer. Get home & garden ideas like this- http://www.networx.com/article/christmas-lights-safety-tips - on Networx.

 

 

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We Heart Our Customers – December

We Love Our Customers

Every Month, we have the opportunity to share what our customer’s are saying about us. Our Mission is 100% Satisfaction with every customer, every time we are in their home.

Letters like the one below from Paul make us feel GREAT! Thanks for the feedback. Mission Accomplished!

Paul C.

Highlands Ranch

Quality Excellent

I just bought a complete Trane AC model XR15. The unit runs quietly and cools very well. The installation technicians from Horizon Mechanical knew what they were doing. Keith the Service Technician/Installer  was able to be at my house in the morning and had my new AC working in the afternoon. A new programmable thermostat that I can say there is nothing that I dislike.

I am very satisfied with the service and the unit and would recommend it to a friend. Wish I would of made this choice a year ago and saved myself allot of grief.

 

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