You can’t control the Richmond VA summer heat but you CAN control your energy costs.

With temperatures rising and energy costs continuing to soar, there are a variety of steps you can take to cut the expenses of cooling your home this summer.

"Cooling and heating equipment use more energy than any other appliance. This inevitably shows up every month on the energy bill, but it’s important to remember that energy costs can be controlled," said Sean Cantrell, owner of Marshall Mechanical.

Annual Maintenance

One step to control energy costs is to schedule annual maintenance checks to make sure your unit is running efficiently. Most cooling systems require very little owner maintenance. However, operating dirty cooling equipment can result in an unnecessary loss of efficiency and can damage the furnace. You play a vital role in making sure your cooling system continues to operate at peak performance.

High Efficiency Cooling Equipment

If you’re in the market for a new cooling unit, consider purchasing a high efficiency model. They can help reduce your energy costs as well as conserve our natural resources. When selecting an air conditioner or heat pump, pay close attention to the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). This is a measure of cooling efficiency for air conditioners. The higher the SEER, the higher the savings. The minimum SEER rating is 13.

Zoning

Zoning can drastically lower your heating costs. With zoning, you no longer have to pay to heat or cool areas of your home that are rarely used. You won’t have to heat or cool the whole house just to make one room comfortable. Zoning divides your home into separate comfort areas, which are heated or cooled based on your needs.

Programmable Thermostats

Programmable or setback thermostats can make a big difference in energy consumption. These thermostats deliver maximum comfort, efficiency, and energy savings. Setback thermostats are used to achieve the temperatures you want throughout your home. For example, if you’re going to be away, you can set the whole house at an energy-saving temperature to avoid heating an empty house. If you have setback thermostats, you can program them to have your living areas comfortable when you arrive home.

To find out more about reducing your Richmond VA cooling costs, call Sean Cantrell or Mike Smith at Marshall Mechanical today at 804.323.0189.

Is it too hot and your air conditioning isn't working? Or got a water leak and need a Richmond plumber? Are you remodeling your kitchen or bath?

No matter what the Richmond summer brings you as far as air conditioning or plumbing problems or service needs, Marshall Mechanical has the answers. We're available 24/7 for HVAC or plumbing emergencies and we offer same day water heater replacement and guaranteed next day HVAC service in the RVA and surrounding counties of Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield.

At Marshall Mechanical, we're dedicated to solving your Richmond air conditioning or plumbing problems, quickly and easily. When you're having trouble with any of your HVAC systems or need a Richmond plumber in a hurry, our technicians will assess the situation and walk you through what is necessary to fix the problem as soon as possible. And we often will give you a temporary solution, like a window air conditioning unit for your bedroom, to help you stay comfortable while we take the time to fix the problem right.

• If you require a new HVAC system, an additional system, or if you're planning to remodel, a member of our sales team will come out to your home or business for an on-site consultation at your convenience, offering you options for high-efficiency and high-value systems that will save you money each month on both your cooling as well as heating bills.


• We even have options such as the industry's first solar assisted heat pump by Lennox and we're installing the first one in the Central Virginia area, which is one family's first step toward living off the grid!


• Or we can explain the benefits of the WaterFurnace geothermal energy heat pump, which is "The World's Greenest Heating and Cooling Systems."

• And we'll explain how you can may qualify for Energy Efficiency Federal tax credits too.
  

And our expert plumbing team, led by master Richmond plumbers, will replace hot water heaters, upgrade faucets, fixtures and toilets, clean drains, even install gas lines and appliances. And you can call us for big jobs, like water line and sewer line replacements too. We are here to service all your Richmond cooling and plumbing needs throughout the summer.

So for all your Richmond Plumber and HVAC needs both now and year round, please call Mike Smith at 804.323.0189 to schedule a service appointment today. Remember, we're available 24/7 for any cooling or plumbing emergencies so you can easily protect the investment you've made in your home or business.

And, yes, we service commercial HVAC design, build and maintenance clients too.

Are you an age 60+ homeowner? Or do you have a parent or grandparent who is?

Marshall Mechanical offers homeowners age 60+ a 15% discount off our HVAC and Plumbing labor fees for service or installations. It's that simple. This is just another way we serve our community and provide extra savings for those in need.

Sean Cantrell or Mike Smith will be happy to answer any questions you have and give you the best advice based on our years of experience. Please email or call Mike to schedule an appointment 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.

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.