Spring Lennox HVAC promotion with rebates for Homeowners up to $1,500 thru April 17th, 2009!

We're thrilled to announce our partnership with the Lennox brand of Home Comfort Systems. There are many reasons why we are moving to this premier brand but the most important is to offer our customers great value right from the start of our relationship.

The 2009 Lennox Spring promotion allows Marshall Mechanical to customize an HVAC system based on your home's specific requirements. We can pick a Lennox system from a range of qualifying products from their outdoor, indoor, healthy climate and controls lines and the homeowner will be eligible for a rebate of up to $1,500 for buying one in each category. The rebate includes up to $1,200 for a system purchased and installed by June 12, 2009, with a $300 Early Bird bonus rebate if system is purchased and installed by April 17, 2009.

Or you can get 90-day no payment, deferred interest financing, available for qualified applicants.

Many of you have heard that the stimulus plan has provided for Federal tax credits on energy-efficient products. The homeowner can qualify for tax credits in addition to the Lennox rebate program. Please refer to our separate blog post regarding tax credit details but what you need to know is:

• Tax credits of 30% up to $1,500 are available on HVAC and non-solar water heaters for those installed in 2009 & 2010 in existing homes.
• Tax credits for up to 30% with no upper limit are also available for geothermal heat pumps and solar water heaters through 2016 for existing homes and new construction.

The bottom line is that if you replace your HVAC system before April 17th with a Lennox Comfort Care system, you can now qualify for product rebates, an early bird bonus rebate and Federal tax credits. And all that is in addition to the savings you'll get each month by having a new more energy efficient unit installed in your home for true comfort all year round.

Don't wait to take advantage of this offer. Please call your Richmond HVAC guys at Marshall Mechanical today at 804.323.0189. Sean and Mike will be happy to answer your questions and set up an appointment to review your heating and air conditioning needs prior to the arrival of the summer heat and humidity that the Richmond area is known for. Now there are even more ways to both protect and maximize the investment you've made in your home!

P.S. Additional details will be on our website soon but we wanted to get this information to you asap as the Lennox Spring promotion started last Monday and is in full swing! And please remember to TELL A FRIEND USING THE BUTTON BELOW!!

A big thanks to Doug Lucy, AdLinea

Just happened to be reviewing the Google analytics results for this Marshall Mechanical blog yesterday when I noticed a hit coming through from Adlinea's blog. So I checked out the blog only to find Doug Lucy had written a post about...Marshall Mechanical and me!

Yep, we keep busy here on all fronts and we're "never too busy to use the internet!" Geez, no. In fact, we spend a few moments when we can on the social networks, twittering and blogging and now we're planning some website changes to go along with our new Lennox partnership. That's right, Richmond HVAC guys moving to web 3.0. We have a ways to go but definitely making progress. We feel more in touch with our homeowners that way.

So, back at you Doug! Doug's one of the smartest guys I know, a great internet marketer...hope you'll check out his blog and his linkedin profile. Now let's see how long it takes him to discover I wrote this blog post.

You've got to see this: The 2009 HGTV Green Home!

The Grandest Green Giveaway Ever : Special : Home & Garden Television

You've gotta see HGTV's Carter Can explore every room in this eco-friendly home that will be awarded to one lucky viewer.

Starting April 17, you can enter once a day for your chance to win the 2009 HGTV Green Home Giveaway — a grand prize package worth $750,000.

The grand prize includes:
- A custom-built "green home" in Tradition Port St. Lucie, FL.
- A 2009 GMC® Sierra Hybrid
- Eco-friendly appliances and furnishings

Find out details about how to enter, the show's sponsors as well as airing dates right here. Good Luck!

Right-sized HVAC units and Geothermal or Solar Heat/AC options for your home.

News : Trends : Heating and Cooling Go Green : HGTVPro.com

Right-sizing of HVAC system

I heard a story through a friend of a friend that a homeowner in Chesterfield had to replace his HVAC unit. The house was about 14 years old and, from what I understand, the unit just wore out. The homeowner had four HVAC contractors give him an estimate for the replacement and all four of them said the original HVAC unit that the builder installed in the home was definitely too small for the square footage of the home.

In fact, one of the HVAC contractors was from the company that originally put the unit in the home for the builder. So when the contractor told him that the unit was too small, the homeowner asked him why his company installed it that way. The HVAC contractor swore that there was no way they would have put that unit in that sized house but the homeowner had the original paperwork to prove it. The HVAC contractor then said it must have been installed prior to the time he was personally working for the company.

Mis-sizing of heating and cooling equipment is an all-too-common occurance, especially if homeowners are buying spec houses in which the builder wanted to save money. Or perhaps his builder didn't order accurate load calculations from the original contractor. In addition, it is tempting for homeowners to purchase replacement systems that are too small because they cost less. On the flip side, sometimes both builders and homeowners can install units that are too large for the home. Since recent technology has improved, new smaller units can often be more energy efficient and therefore the appropriate solution. In this article from HGTVPro, writer Rob Fanjoy clearly states how the right-sized HVAC equipment can save homeowners money and can create a more energy-efficient and comfortable home. An excellent write-up that all homeowners should read.

Geothermal heat pumps: Digging deep for green

The HGTVPro article goes on to talk about the benefits of using the new geothermal HVAC units. While more expensive at retail cost than a non-geo unit, they come with energy tax credits up to 30% with no limit and "they have the biggest upside in terms of energy savings and environmental consciousness. They use the earth's natural below-surface temperature of about 55 degrees to provide heating or cooling to spaces above ground." The article goes on to say that the EPA "estimates annual heating savings of as much as 70% and cooling savings of close to 50%." These are significant savings for the homeowner, especially when annualized over the life of the unit.

Need assistance?

If you're a homeowner in the Central Virginia area, specifically Richmond, and you find yourself in the position of having to replace your HVAC unit, please call us to discuss your needs. First, we'll make sure that your unit requires replacement -- that may not be the only solution. Second, if it is determined that your unit does need to be replaced, we'll make sure that you not only get the right-sized unit for your home but that you also are presented with options including geothermal units and even the new Lennox solar-assisted units. These may not only make your home more energy-efficient and "green" but also more appealing to a home buyer in case you need to sell your home in the future.

I am a licensed professional mechanical engineer and started Marshall Mechanical in 2005 to service both residential and commercial clients. Previous to starting Marshall Mechanical, I worked for 15 years at the premier architecture firm in Richmond, designing HVAC systems for some of Richmond's largest companies, including the Dominion Energy Trading Floor, MCV's Gateway Building and Owens & Minor.

You deserve to call someone you can trust to help you make the right decisions to protect the investment you've made in your home. Call or tweet us anytime -- even if you just have a simple question about heating, cooling, plumbing, air filtration or moisture control. We're here for you and we pledge never to forget that.

- Sean Cantrell, 804.323.0189. You can find both me and Mike Smith on Twitter and LinkedIn

Alternative Energy Revival by Stimulus

Stimulus Appears to Be Sparking Alt-Energy Revival: Scientific American

Excellent article from Scientific American technology section about how President Obama's stimulus plan is sparking an alternative energy revival.

It starts out with...

"NEW YORK—There are signs that the federal stimulus might be pumping a little life into the alternative-energy industry.

Financiers and law firms specializing in renewable energy say they see growing interest in reviving moribund projects and breaking ground on new deals. And while big banks that have braced the industry's backbone are still on the fence, some hedge funds and private equity and venture capital firms are cautiously looking to take advantage of stimulus provisions that temporarily eliminate the need for tax equity financing, which has long been a mainstay for renewable energy projects."

Excellent read for anyone wanting more information and resources on renewable and alterative energy. If you have any specific questions relating to residential or commercial energy consumption, please call Sean Cantrell or Mike Smith at 804.323.0189.

Indoor Air Quality: An often-overlooked danger and what you can do about it.

The Environmental Protection Agency has a great resource on educating yourself about the quality level of your indoor air. It's called "The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality" and it covers all aspects including causes, identifying problems and measuring pollutant levels. It also provides a complete reference guide for certain types of pollutants such as radon, tobacco smoke and formaldehyde, as well as certain types of stoves and heaters.

Another article chocked full of explanations and references about indoor air quality is one that appeared on MSN Green recently by Barbara Card Atkinson entitled "Sweet Green Air." In the article, she sums up information published by the American Lung Association about how typical household products such as cleaning solutions, pesticides and paints contribute to having toxins in our living spaces. Trichloroethylene (TCE), benzene and formaldehyde seem to be the ones lurking most often in common products or building materials.

In the same article, Atkinson also lists the top 10 houseplants that naturally help fight off formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air. They are:

Pot Mum -- Chrysantheium morifolium
Bamboo Palm -- Chamaedorea Seifritzii
Chinese Evergreen -- Aglaonema Modestum
English Ivy -- Hedera Helix
Gerbera Warneckii -- Dracaena "Warneckii"
Daisy -- Gerbera Jamesonii
Peace Lily -- Spathiphyllum
Janet Craig -- Dracaena "Janet Craig"
Marginata -- Dracaena Marginata
Mass Cane/Corn Plant -- Dracaena Massangeana

Marshall Mechanical can also help you improve your indoor air quality by taking simple measures of regularly cleaning air ducts, providing recommendations on the right air cleaner for your home's size, and ensuring that your heating and air conditioning systems are set up for optimum performance. It's yet another reason why scheduling regular preventive maintenance on your HVAC systems makes good sense.

If you believe you are experiencing problems with your indoor air quality, please contact Sean or Mike at 804.323.0189. We'll be happy to answer any questions you have and/or schedule an inspection visit at a time convenient for you.

Homeowners: Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency

On March 3, Energy Star updated their listing of Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency due to the changes approved through the signing of the stimulus bill (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act).

What does this mean for homeowners like yourself?

• Tax credits of 30% up to $1,500 are available on HVAC and non-solar water heaters for those installed in 2009 & 2010 in existing homes.


• Tax credits for up to 30% with no upper limit are also available for geothermal heat pumps and solar water heaters through 2016 for existing homes and new construction.

Details of Energy Star's changes for Energy Efficiency can be found on their website at EnergyStar.gov.

If you need help navigating the details, understanding the tax credit chart or knowing what system would be best to protect the investment you've made in your home, please call Sean Cantrell or Mike Smith at Marshall Mechanical at 804.323.0189. We'll be happy to answer your questions and help you decide on the best system to meet your needs.

Regular maintenance of your heating system will protect your investment

The best way to take care of your heat pump or gas furnace is through biannual maintenance - in the spring before hot weather hits and in the fall before cold weather has us turning up the heat again.

What can you expect from a maintenance service call? A Marshall Mechanical Service Technician will arrive at your home and ask you a few general questions about your system such as:

• Do any of your rooms feel too hot or too cold?
• Does your system seem excessively noisy?
• Do you feel the temperature is too difficult to control?

Next, our Technician will take a base level temperature and pressure reading on your system. Then the system will be cleaned to include the fan motor, the coil and the outdoor unit. All parts and hoses will be inspected. Finally the temperature and pressure will be checked again and any further adjustments made.

You can expect a routine maintenance to take 2-3 hours from start to finish. It might seem like a long time, but it will allow us to catch problems before they become costly and will ensure your system runs efficiently which saves you money down the line.

If you have any questions about the benefits of bi-annual preventative maintenance on your heating system -- or about the service call itself, please call Sean Cantrell at 804.323.0189. It is not too early to schedule your Spring maintenance.