Home Is Where the Health Is - HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric

Regular Home Furnace Maintenance Prevents Heating Hazards

Unless you happen to be an HVAC specialist or possess knowledge in the area of heating and cooling, an annual inspection of your furnace by a professional is strongly recommended. There are numerous potential health and safety hazards that exist within a home. A home’s furnace can be a major culprit in this regard if not well maintained.

Potential Hazards

A faulty or neglected furnace can present a number of safety issues. On the more severe side, these issues can even be life-threatening. For instance, cracks or other problems involving the furnace’s heat exchanger can result in carbon monoxide being dispersed into living spaces, which at elevated levels can be fatal.

Also, a neglected furnace and its ductwork can contain dust, mold spores and other contaminants that can make their way into living spaces and play havoc with occupants suffering from allergies or respiratory problems. Additionally, worn or exposed wiring and debris buildup within a furnace — especially around the pilot light area — can create a serious fire hazard.

Leave it to the Pros

By having your furnace annually inspected and serviced by a reputable heating and air company, its longevity will very likely be increased and furnace-related safety concerns will be mitigated. Generally, the service professional will:

● Examine the furnace’s interior and exterior for wear, damage or debris buildup. This includes filters, blowers, sensors, the heat exchanger and all mechanisms and ductwork.

●Check burners and clean them, if necessary.

● Conduct safety tests on the heating equipment and the household itself. This may include a carbon monoxide test.

When it comes to your home heating system, maintenance and upkeep must be taken very seriously. Though you can perform relatively simple tasks yourself, it’s best to have an experienced professional comb through the system to ensure that it is operating safely and efficiently.

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Written and published by Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.

Taking Care of Your Home While on Vacation

Getting ready for a long vacation can be exciting, but what will happen to your home while you are away? There are a few easy things you can do before you leave to make sure you’re home is in tip-top shape when you return.

Got houseplants? Don’t let them die while you’re away. Most plants can survive a week or maybe two without being tended to. However, if you’ve got a plant that needs special care, it would be worth purchasing a watering bulb that sticks into the soil and takes water as it needs it.

As for home security measures, consider leaving a light on inside or using a motion detecting light to ward off intruders. Leaving a car in the driveway instead of in the garage may also give the appearance of someone being home. Be sure to lock all gates, doors, windows, etc. before leaving.

Going on vacation is a good time to save on water and energy since you won’t be at home. Turn down the thermostat some. Don’t make it too cold for plants, pets, or even pipes, but it doesn’t need to be cozy. It’s also a good idea to turn down the hot water heater since it won’t be in use.

Since electronics are major energy suckers, unplug your computers and televisions. If your fridge doesn’t have much in it, don’t be afraid to make it a little warmer, too. Otherwise, it will continue to cool an empty fridge, which is unnecessary.

Make sure all of your faucets aren’t dripping so you don’t waste water. Also, if any of your toilets are running, just shut the water valve off and have it fixed when you get home.

Following these simple steps will make coming home from vacation as positive as it can be.

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Written and published by Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.

Thompson Lends a Helping Hand to Homeless Vets

Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling employees participate in Giving Tree program for local homeless veterans.

Cincinnati, Ohio (PRESS RELEASE) December 20, 2012 – Did you know that one in five homeless adults is a veteran? This time of year, it’s important to give back, especially to homeless veterans who need your help – that’s the philosophy of Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Cincinnati’s national-award winning Electric, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling company. The company and all of its team members recently participated in the Volunteers of America Giving Tree program to help local homeless vets.

Volunteers of America is an organization committed to ending homelessness for America’s Veterans. VOA provides employment and job training, as well as emergency housing to the homeless veterans in Greater Ohio. Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling recently teamed up with the organization to assist veterans. 

This holiday season, Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling sponsored a Volunteers of America Giving Tree at the company’s headquarters. The tree was adorned with tags, each offering a suggestion of something an employee could contribute to help a homeless veteran. Thompson asked everyone in the company to stop by the tree and take a tag. The company now proudly reports that every single Thompson team member did his or her part to help a homeless vet and participated in the Giving Tree.

A major advocate of giving back to those who have served and sacrificed in our Armed Forces, Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling has donated more than $180,000 to veterans since 2009.

If you would like to learn more about Volunteers of America and find out how you can help out those less fortunate this holiday season, go to www.voago.org.

About Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling

With over 80 years of service, Thompson Electric Plumbing Heating & Cooling is among the most trusted and reputable electric, plumbing heating and cooling companies in the greater Cincinnati area. Thompson has received numerous national awards and recognitions over the years, including recognition from Airtime 500, an elite HVAC contractor association. Thompson is open 8-8, 7 days a week, No Overtime. To learn more about the award-winning services of Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, or to schedule a service today, visit 333help.com or call 513-333-HELP. You can also follow Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling on Twitter at @ThompsonPHC.

Holiday Home Safety

While the holiday season can be a time for fun and family, it’s also the time of year when careless accidents happen. Prevent any holiday hoopla this year by following these tips for home safety during the holidays.

Don’t let anything go up in flames. The basic rules of fire safety are especially important in the winter months. Never leave a candle burning unattended and make sure it is placed in an open area, away from papers, books, or decorations. Your best bet is to use battery-operated flameless candles.

Even if you’re not using candles, the holiday tree—real and artificial—is a big source of home fires. Make sure your tree lights aren’t old or aren’t full of exposed wires. If the bulbs get hot quickly, toss them and go for strands of LED lights, which stay cool to the touch. No matter what, turn off the lights when you are away from the house.

If you’re using a live tree, make sure it’s freshly cut and you keep it watered. Dry trees are a fire hazard. Going with an artificial tree? Make sure it’s fire resistant.

Have everything checked. It’s a great time of year to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detector. Also, have your furnace tuned up and give your chimney and good clean and inspection. Don’t forget about your fire extinguisher—have it checked, make sure it works, or purchase a new one and keep it handy.

When cooking and entertaining, don’t leave kitchen appliances on when you’re not around. Pots of bubbling food or baking ovens left unattended are a sure way to start a fire. Enlist a helper to greet your guests while you stay in the kitchen until the meal is finished.

By following all of these home safety tips this holiday season, you’ll be sure to have carefree visit and less hassle to deal with.

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Written and published by Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.

 

(Photo via Flickr)

5 Reasons To Follow Your Home Service Provider Online

Guest Blog Featuring: Oliver Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing -- Morton, Pennsylvania.

 

I recently had the chance to sit down and chat with a group of customers, who asked me a great question in the course of our discussion. “I’ve seen your Facebook and Twitter icons, but why should I follow you guys? I mean, you’ll tell me everything I need to know in the newsletters, right?” Of course we’re all bombarded with information, and I know that I have personally had to filter out a lot of messages from companies, even ones I have a good relationship with, just because I’m so overwhelmed. So I totally understand that you can’t keep up with everyone. But here are five good reasons to maintain at least one point of contact online with the people you count on to keep your home running smoothly:

1) In an emergency situation, information can be distributed quickly and universally from a company’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. When Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast recently, many offices were closed and access to regular channels of communication were limited. Service providers with social media accounts were able to keep their customers informed of emergency closures, limited transportation access, and safety information for homeowners dealing with the impact of the storm.

2) You have better things to do than to keep up with ever-changing regulations and technology. That’s our job, and we’re happy to do it. When something comes out that you need to know about, we will include articles in our newsletters but our Facebook and Twitter pages are where you can find links to third-party articles and information that will help you decide what’s best to do for your home.

3) You should feel comfortable with people providing service to your home. Following service providers online gives you a clearer look at who we are and why we do the things we do. A well-run company page gives customers a forum to talk about their experiences with the company in an interactive way.

4) Experts at your fingertips. If you’ve got a question, a service provider’s Facebook and Twitter pages are another great resource – check out previous posts to see if we’ve already answered it, or drop us a line and ask, we’d love to hear from you!

5) Keep up with what’s going on in the area. Locally owned and operated businesses, like ours, are proud of our place in the community. Having a fleet of technicians on the road also gives service providers a unique look at what’s happening all throughout our territory, and we’re happy to share the hidden treasures that we find!

What other reasons do you have for following (or not following) your service providers online?

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Find out about local services at the Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling website.

You can also find Thompson on:

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/333HELP

Twitter - https://twitter.com/thompsonphc

YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/user/thompson4450

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Check out the Oliver Heating Cooling & Plumbing blog at http://oliverhvac.wordpress.com/

Toxic Home Products to Avoid

From cleaning products to air fresheners, many common home products contain toxic, cancer-causing chemicals. To protect the health of your family, make sure you replace the following toxic home products with non-toxic alternatives.

Paraffin candles – Artificially scented, petroleum-based paraffin candles release carcinogenic toxins and soot when burned. Instead, choose non-toxic soy and beeswax candles that have cotton wicks and are naturally scented using essential oils; flameless LED candles are another alternative.

Air fresheners – Air-freshening products, such as room sprays and plug-ins, commonly contain the cancer-causing chemicals formaldehyde and naphthalene. Look for air fresheners made from essential oils or odor-absorbing zeolite as non-toxic alternatives.

Chemical Pesticides – Besides items like bug spray and lawn pesticides, this category also includes pet flea and tick treatments. Use non-toxic pesticides, such as garlic, eucalyptus, and natural, herbal flea sprays.

Petroleum-based cleaning products – Below are just a few of the many hazardous ingredients commonly found in petroleum-based household cleaning products. Remember that virtually every type of cleaning product can be replaced with a natural, plant-based product.

• Acid blue 9 – a carcinogenic chemical found in some toilet bowl cleaners
• Aliphatic naphtha – a neurotoxin used in some furniture polishes
• Sodium ortho-phenylphenol – carcinogen and eye/skin irritant used in some bathroom cleaners
• Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) –a corrosive respiratory, skin and eye irritant; especially hazardous to people with asthma or heart conditions; used in a wide range of household cleaners
• Ammonia – found in a wide range of cleaning products; exposure can cause respiratory problems, eye irritation and corrosive damage to the eyes and skin
• Xylene – used in spot removers, car cleaners, and other products; associated with neurotoxic and reproductive effects

 

Arts and crafts supplies – Art supplies can be a major source of dangerous chemicals in the home, including lead, cobalt, and ethyl benzene. Some of the worst offenders in this category include acrylic paints and solvents, permanent markers, and epoxy and rubber cement glues. Refer to this resource from care2.com for information on de-toxifying your arts and crafts room.

In addition to replacing the above toxic products, you may want to consider air treatment services to improve the air quality inside of your home. Modern technology can remove microscopic, carcinogenic compounds from your family’s air supply. For more information, call (513) 333-HELP.

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Written and published by Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.

Dust Mites and Your Health

While they are too small to detect with the naked eye, dust mites can cause big health problems for people with asthma or allergies.

These microscopic creatures thrive in warm, humid environments where there are dead skin cells from people and animals to feed on – in other words, they thrive in many ordinary households. In particular, they like bedroom carpeting and household upholstery. As many as 40,000 dust mites can thrive in one ounce of dust, with each releasing about 20 fecal pellets per day.

So what’s the big deal? Out of sight, out of mind, right? Wrong. Exposure to dust mites and their waste products can trigger asthma attacks and allergy symptoms in people with these conditions. According to Alliance for Healthy Homes, exposure to dust mites in childhood may even cause certain children to develop asthma.

Dust mite levels often go down in the winter when humidity levels drop; however, many people with breathing problems use humidifiers in the winter, which can make humidity levels even higher than they are in the summer, thus worsening their dust mite problem and related health problems. Of course, too-low humidity levels can cause breathing problems as well. Indoor humidity levels should ideally be between 35 and 50 percent for optimal air quality and protection from mites.

Some things you can do around the house to get rid of dust mites include weekly hot-water laundering of bedding, covering mattresses and pillows with allergen-resistant covers, and regularly vacuuming and steam cleaning carpets. In humid environments, it may be especially difficult to get rid of dust mites.

While doing things like laundering bedding frequently can help reduce dust mites, if anyone in your household suffers from allergies or breathing problems, a whole-house air filtration system is the best way to zap dust mites, as well as other allergenic particles, toxic compounds, and infectious agents that your family’s air supply may be harboring. Air filtration services can also be used to provide optimal indoor humidity levels. Call 513-333-HELP to learn more.

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Written and published by Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.

 

(Photo via Flickr)

A Cracked Heat Exchanger Should Be Addressed Immediately

Your HVAC system is undoubtedly one of the most important and expensive appliances in your home. If operating efficiently, modern heating and cooling systems keep a home’s residents comfortable throughout the year while also filtering out contaminants and providing clean air to living spaces.

Of course it’s crucial to keep large, complex systems such as these well-maintained and in good repair. A damaged, defective or neglected furnace or cooling unit can pose a number of health risks and hazards to a home’s occupants.

Keeping an Eye on the Heat Exchanger

One component of particular concern within a gas furnace is the heat exchanger. Wherever combustion occurs, fumes are produced that if not properly ventilated can have a potentially deadly effect on humans in an enclosed environment. A combustion process takes place inside a gas furnace to warm the air. It is eventually pushed through a home’s ductwork in order to heat its living spaces.

The job of a heat exchanger is to separate dangerous combustion fumes from air that will be distributed throughout a home and to safely vent them outside and away from the dwelling. A damaged or cracked heat exchanger can allow these fumes to seep into the area within a furnace that is designated for clean air. These fumes can then be circulated into living spaces, exposing residents to carbon monoxide and other toxins.

For these reasons, it is crucial to ensure the heat exchanger in your furnace remains sturdy and stable. Heat exchangers cannot be repaired and it is very costly to replace them. It is often suggested that an entire furnace be replaced when a damaged heat exchanger is discovered.

By regularly having your furnace inspected and serviced — at least annually — a heating and air specialist will be able to detect any problems and take the steps necessary to prolong the life of the unit’s heat exchanger.

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Written and published by Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.

Making Your Home Safe for Winter

Depending on what part of the country you live in, wintertime probably means more time indoors, which has its perks. However, there are many things to consider if you want to make sure your home is safe for the colder months.

Smokers who normally go outdoors for a cigarette might be tempted to stay indoors during the winter. Bundle up and go outside. Be sure to keep a proper ashtray —ceramic dish or can filled with sand— outside to put out your cigarettes.

Colder months often mean more cooking of warmer foods. While cooking, take proper precautions by wearing well-fitted clothing. Put any flammable materials far away from the stove. And never leave a pot unattended. It is also a good idea to make sure your home’s fire extinguisher is easy to get to and in working order.

Candles are also a popular household item, especially when the winter temperatures drop. The easiest prevention of a candle-related fire is to use battery operated LED candles. If you use candles with flames, be sure they’re in a sturdy holder. And never leave a room while a candle is burning.

When it comes to heating your home in the winter, be sure to have your appliances checked. Make sure your furnace is in good condition as well as your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Also, have your chimney checked and swept.

Another good thing to check around the home is the wiring. Any frayed or faulty wiring can cause fires, so replace old cords. Be sure to keep any linens, curtains or clothing items away from space heaters. Check light switches around your home and replace them if they feel hot when you touch them.

Taking simple precautions will prevent major damage to your home this winter.

 

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Written and published by Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.

Thompson Honors Veterans at Annual Veterans Day Breakfast

Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, a company that has raised over $180,000 since 2009 to support veterans hosted its 4th annual Veterans Day Celebration today at its company headquarters.

The firm presented a check in the amount of $55,010 to Marc Burgess, Executive Director of the Disabled American Veterans National Headquarters. The DAV is a non-profit organization dedicated to the service of our nation’s injured heroes.

In addition, Thompson presented a check for $10,000 to Marian and Adolfo Olivas, customers of Thompson, whose son, Army Cpl. Nicholas H. Olivas, was killed in the line of duty this year at Zharay, Afghanistan on May 30, 2012, while serving Operation Enduring Freedom. The Olivas family will donate the check their chosen charity, the Fisher House Foundation.

Thompson’s employees donated $7,000 in savings bond to Cpl. Olivas’ son, Connor.

The Veterans Day Breakfast and Celebration featured guest speaker Lt. Col. Brad Wenstrup, who is an Iraq War veterans. Wenstrup was recently elected as Ohio’s 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.

In keeping with the company’s ongoing commitment to serve the community and veterans, Thompson launched its Fourth Annual Veterans campaign on August 1, 2012, raising over $65,000 this year.

Thompson thanks the overwhelming support of their loyal Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky customers that have helped raise more money this year for veterans than ever before.

About Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling

Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling has been providing electric, plumbing, drain cleaning, heating and cooling repair and installation and service to Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky for over 80 years. Thompson is dedicated to providing National Award Winning Service. Thompson’s clients receive upfront pricing and guarantees on all work performed. Thompson is open seven days a week, from 8 to 8, no overtime! Call 513-333-HELP (4357) for more information or go to http://333help.com/veterans/.