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The Importance of Maintaining Your AC Unit

Modern AC units are being built to last longer while running more efficient. That being said, manufacturers can only do so much – same for the installers. Home and business owners have a responsibility when they have a new air conditioner installed and that requires scheduled maintenance.

To be honest there’s really no reason not to have your AC maintained on an annual basis. Sure it is an overhead, but at the same time, you recoup that investment in lower utility bills, a more comfortable home, and a longer last HVAC system. Here is what can happen – and why – when you slack on maintaining your AC unit:

#1 You May Lose Your Warranty

Maintaining an air conditioner isn’t just recommended for premium performance, many manufacturers actually require it as part of their warranty agreement. It makes sense, why should manufacturers be liable for problems that occur prior within a warranty period if the unit is allowed to build up dust, operate with chewed belts, function with a condensing drain not being cleaned, etc.? An air conditioner warranty is a two-fold agreement – 1) the manufacturer will supply quality parts and stand by their workmanship if 2) the homeowner agrees to regularly have the unit cleaned, air filters changed, and so on.

#2 You’ll Pay Higher Energy Bills

If you think that lack of AC maintenance driving up utility bills is hyperbole, just look at the process. Air travels through a clean filter much easier than one caked in debris, right? The air conditioner will also continually try to meet the demands of the thermostat regardless of the condition of the filter. If your blower has to work harder to force air through a clogged filter, it’s going to cycle longer which will obviously increase your utility costs. This is true for components besides the filter, too as maintenance includes cleaning ducts and airways as well as inspecting the air flow of blowers and blades.

#3 Your Repair Costs Will Go Up and Your AC Will Die Off Faster

One of the most important aspects of air conditioning maintenance is a thorough inspection and lubrication of all the system’s moving parts. When belts are allowed to operate while worn or debris builds up in the bearings of the fan blade, it means other components must overcompensate and start to wear down faster themselves. In this manner, maintenance is a preventative measure that catches ‘issues’ before they become ‘catastrophes.’ Even more along those lines, blocked up drain plugs and condensation lines can lead to water damage or at the very least mold growth and a musty smelling utility room.

#4 Your House Won’t Be As Comfortable

You WANT your AC to be working on optimum levels not just to avoid financial repercussion, but so that your home is comfortable. Most people are aware that an AC that has failed to be maintained will not cool a property as good as it should. More than that though, the unit’s job is to condition the air in your home or business. A full and complete AC cycle works to remove the moisture and humidity from the air. If your AC isn’t working properly it either short cycles which leaves you with an uncomfortably humid house or it long cycles which drives up utility bills.

When it comes to contracting AC maintenance, failure to do so could cost you dollars at a time or it could cost you hundreds (or thousands) if you need repairs but your warranty is voided. We tell our clients that the other option of a comfortable home, lower utility bills, and much longer lasting system are the more desirable route to take.

Be sure to contact us for AC maintenance!

Benefits of Gas Fireplace Over Wood

Fireplaces can get a bad rap in the home improvement industry mostly because contractors say to batten them up simply because they are an energy loss risk. It’s true an unattended fireplace can leak air among a few other problems but is that enough to overlook the multitude of benefits that a unit could bring to your home? Bruni and Campisi urges you to think of some of the positives of having a fireplace before writing them off altogether:

  • Extra source of warmth to cut down on heating bills
  • Romantic, peaceful, and relaxing
  • A backup heat and light source if the power goes out
  • Adds value to your home to the right buyer
  • A fun and unique place to cook

Of course, not all fireplaces offer these benefits which brings us to a question that homeowners often have to ask themselves. Which is the preferable fire source – gas or wood?

The Traditional Wood Burning Fireplace

When most people think of a fireplace, they conjure up images of the traditional wood logs crackling on an open flame. There’s not a whole lot to explain about a wood fireplace beyond that. The hearth is the brick and mortar of the fireplace that is encompassed by the surround. The surround contains the mantel which is the decorative aspect of the wood fireplace. From there you have the firebox, where the fire is contained, and the flue, where the smoke exits the home safely. The chimney is the protective unit surrounding the flue which also adds aesthetic value to the exterior of the house.

Wood burning fireplaces are considered a very inefficient heating source for one main reason. The flame needs oxygen and a draft to survive, but at the same time, you don’t want that draft forcing smoke and fire out into the home. Therefore the wood fireplace works in the opposite manner in that it sucks the air out of the home and up the flue in order to ‘stoke’ the fire. You’ll still get some warmth from the wood fireplace, but hopefully without all the smoke and ash that makes it look like your furniture and electronics were sitting by a campfire.

How Does a Gas Fireplace Differ?

There are a couple different types of gas fireplaces but in a nutshell, their biggest advantage as a whole is that they don’t produce smoke or ash. This might take some of the ‘fun’ out of owning a fireplace at your cabin, but the numerous advantages make up for this so-called ‘faux’-er place. First of all, the oxygen source for vented gas fireplaces comes from outside of the home meaning that all the heat can be placed into the home instead of dispelled out a chimney like a wood burning unit. The exhaust produced from burning the gas is vented out of the home in the same manner in which your clothes dryer works.

There are also ventless gas fireplaces that are very close to ‘plug and play’ units. These models work in the same manner as your gas stove range. The flame burns cleanly so it can be exposed to the open air (safety screens included) without any special venting being needed. You would think you’d have to have your stove cranked up to generate enough heat to warm a room, but gas fireplaces are manufactured in the opposite manner in that they require less fuel to create more heat. Thus ventless gas fireplaces are some of the most efficient heating sources on the market.

For those who don’t want to miss out on the ‘fun’ aspect of a wood burning fireplace flames, the closest alternative is gas logs which resemble that traditional wood hearth. The heat is available in an instant and you’ve got the cool piled-up wood aesthetics – without having to actually chop and replace the logs. Gas logs are available from Bruni in both vented and unvented systems.

Reiterating the Benefits of Gas Fireplaces Over Wood Burning Units

Wood fireplaces have the ‘look cool’ advantage over gas, few would argue that fact. Even so a wood fireplace is one of (if not THE) most efficient heating source available mostly because they cause the homeowner to force air out of the building in order to produce heat. Blocked flues and dampers can also present a huge safety risk, at the very least forcing smoke and ash back into your home and damaging costly electronics and furniture. These features need to be maintained on a very regular basis in order to avoid these problems. Plus, the chimney basically connects to the firebox through an actual hole in your house, making the whole unit an incredible leak threat that could damage drywall, flooring, wiring, insulation, and more.

Gas fireplaces provide a heat source without nearly any of the disadvantages of wood fireplaces. Gas fireplaces don’t require a chimney, merely small vents the size of the one you’d find on your dryer. Unvented gas fireplaces don’t even require that. There is no risk of a gas fireplace causing your roof to leak and there is no ash that emanates from the gas fireplace being in operation. You don’t even need to stoke a gas fireplace as most modern units operate via a remote or even an app on your smartphone.

Feel free to contact us to learn more about integrating a gas fireplace into your home. Once you start enjoying the benefits of these convenient units you’ll wish you called us Winters upon Winters ago.

Sources
https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/home-maintenance-tips/ventless-fireplaces-what-you-need-know/
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/05/realestate/your-home-using-gas-fireplace-for-heat.htmlhttp://www.ventless-gas-fireplaces.com/frequently_asked_questions.html
http://www.hgtv.com/remodel/mechanical-systems/gas-fireplaces-offer-efficient-heating-choices
https://smarterhouse.org/heating-systems/types-heating-systems
http://heattalk.com/best-gas-fireplace-inserts-reviews/https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/vent-free-fireplaces/

What to Do When Your Pipes Freeze in the Winter?

Unless you’re a skier or enjoy ice fishing, there really isn’t a lot to look forward to during the cold months. Our first priority is always going to be to make sure ourselves, as well as our friends, family, and pets, are safe as the mercury continues to plunge. The protection of your home from the cold temps is also critical this time of year. Prevention is always the top priority – but here’s what to do when your pipes freeze in the Winter:

Why Do Pipes Freeze and What’s the Damage?

Pipes freeze because it’s cold; a no-brainer, right? Well, why is it that your neighbors are out keeping warm in their hot tub while you can’t even pour a glass of water? The answer is because it’s not the cold temps alone that cause pipes to freeze. Also, the freezing doesn’t cause the most damage – it’s the impending thawing.

Pipes can freeze up because they aren’t properly insulated. For roughly $4 per foot, you can have foam insulation installed to create a barrier between the cold and your pipes, saving you hundreds in potential damage. Failure to ‘winterize’ your home also causes pipes to freeze. Leaving a hose hooked up outside, for example, creates a pressure buildup that will actually cause a burst in the cold weather – not good. Turning your heat off when leaving for a Winter weekend is another surefire way to return home to some sort of plumbing damage.

Damage from frozen pipes can range from plumbing repairs to the complete replacement of drywall, carpet, wood floors, furniture, and more. It’s not unheard of for frozen (then thawing) pipes to cause $5,000 – $10,000 worth of damage to a property. This is why it’s important to know what to do when your pipes freeze in the Winter.

Prevention Didn’t Work – Now What?

So your home or business plumbing has frozen up – it doesn’t have to be a death sentence especially if you act promptly and properly. Sometimes the most that happens when your pipes freeze is just that you’re without water for a stretch.

The first thing you want to do when your pipes freeze is open up the hot and cold faucets. This will relieve pressure in the system and give the thawing water somewhere to go when it does begin to thaw. You always want to start thawing at the faucet and work towards the blockage. Starting to thaw in the middle of the pipes, for example, can create a steam blockage that causes a burst.

There are a number of thawing methods that can be attempted as well. It works to wrap the frozen section of pipes in a warm towel and regularly pour hot water over the top of them. On exposed areas of pipe that are frozen you can also use a hair dryer or space heater thaw the ice.

What to Do When Pipes Freeze In Winter – Call a Plumber

Sometimes the safest option is to simply call a plumber when your pipes freeze in Winter. An experienced plumber can pinpoint the blockage and perform the proper reparation methods depending on where the issue is located (even behind walls). Best of all when a plumber comes on site, it’s like a Winter pipe audit. You’ll know the problem areas (exposed pipe, poor home insulation, gaps around windows/doors, etc.) and the appropriate solution. Peace of mind is priceless, especially in the bitter cold Winter months.

If you need help from us at Bruni and Campisi click here

Should I Get A Generator for my Home?

Here in the New York and Connecticut areas, strong summer storms often result in power outages. A potent gust of wind can cause a branch to slam onto a utility line and leave your home without electricity for hours at a time.

If you’re on the fence about whether you should buy a generator for your home, there are some situations that favor owning a residential generator you might want to take into consideration. Let’s examine a few of these situations to determine whether they’re likely to affect you and your family.

Reasons To Own a Backup Generator

The team here at Bruni & Campisi thought up a few pretty sound reasons for purchasing a backup power generator, including:

  • Generators for Medical Equipment: If you or a member of your family relies on electric-powered medical equipment, a backup power generator is essential to ensure its continued, smooth operation.
  • Generators for Food Safety: If a really strong storm hits and causes extensive damage to your neighborhood, your utility power might be out for a while. Should this happen, perishable food in your refrigerator will spoil. If a few days of restaurant take-out isn’t financially feasible, you’ll want to think about getting a generator to keep your food fresh and edible as your utility company restores power.
  • Generators for Data Safety: If your home’s IT system relies on a constant power source to maintain the integrity of your data, you’ll want to consider investing in a power generator equipped with an automatic transfer switch that can instantly transfer power once utilities fail.
  • Generators for Sump Pumps: A strong summer storm that brings with it massive amounts of rain can spell trouble for your home’s basement. If your home is outfitted with a sump pump, you’ll want to invest in a generator to ensure water is being kept out of places it shouldn’t be.
  • Generators for Peace of Mind: You should feel comfortable in your own home. If a storm knocks out your utility power, you may have to endure unpleasant weather conditions, a disengaged security system and the challenge of navigating your rooms without the aid of light. A backup power generator can provide you and your family with a sense of normalcy as utilities are restored to your home.

Bruni & Campisi: Your New York Metropolitan Area Generator Experts

If you live in Westchester County, NY, Greenwich, CT, Stamford, CT or the surrounding areas and are interested in outfitting your home with a generator or are in need of generator repaircontact us here at Bruni & Campisi today.

We are a Better Business Bureau-accredited company that has been trusted by communities throughout the New York metropolitan area to provide outstanding craftsmanship and caring customer service for nearly 40 years. Having a generator you can rely on during storms is a smart way to protect your family and investments and maintain electric power when utilities are not available. We are happy to help provide generator services to ensure your home is ready to handle power outages.

HVAC Systems for Eco-Friendly People

Here at Bruni & Campisi, we think it’s great when folks take an interest in adopting a more eco-conscious lifestyle. That’s why we’re more than happy to promote green HVAC options for your home or business facility. Energy-efficient heating and cooling systems serve a dual purpose — they can simultaneously preserve precious natural resources while helping you save money on your utility bills.

Let’s take a look at some environmentally friendly HVAC system arrangements to learn about how you can promote more energy-efficient practices in your building.

Eco-Friendly Heating and Cooling Units

One way to begin to engage in eco-friendly heating and cooling practices in your home or business facility is to procure and install a green heating and air conditioning unit. Look for air conditioners with an EnergyStar rating and a high SEER — Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio — mark. SEER is calculated by dividing BTU — British Thermal Units, which measures a machine’s ability to remove hot air from a space — by wattage, or how much power your air conditioner needs to perform this action.

It isn’t necessary to purchase a machine with the highest SEER available. Simply find an air conditioner with a higher SEER than the unit you have been using, and you’ll realize quite a bit of cost savings over the course of a year.

Other Heating and Cooling Tips

There are a few other ways you can keep your system running efficiently that don’t involve making huge investments of time, money or energy. First, you should check your HVAC system’s filters every few months to ensure they’re clean and not restricting air flow. A clogged air filter can cause your HVAC system to work harder, requiring more power to navigate air through it.

The next thing you can do is to have your duct work inspected for any gaps or air leaks. Like a clogged air filter, a leaky HVAC system will need to work harder to maintain a consistent temperature, driving up your utility bills and possibly reducing the life of your HVAC system’s components.

Finally, you can inspect your building’s windows and doors to look for spots that air might escape from. If it isn’t financially feasible to replace your outdated doors and windows, you can use weather stripping and caulk to plug up areas where air might be getting out.

Bruni & Campisi: Your HVAC Energy Efficiency Experts

If you’re looking to upgrade your Westchester, NY, Stamford, CT or Greenwich, CT-area home or business with eco-friendly equipment, contact us here at Bruni & Campisi today for a free estimate. Our friendly, knowledgeable team has provided expert craftsmanship and outstanding customer care to the area for nearly 40 years.

We offer a wide range of plumbing, HVAC installation, HVAC repair and HVAC replacement services for you to choose from. We will be happy to work with you to determine a cooling and heating system solution that is both eco-friendly and cost effective. Trust the team of professionals at Bruni & Campisi to get the job done for your home or business.

Common HVAC Installation Errors

It’s understandable to keep costs low when renovating your home or business facility. There are certain aspects of construction and building repair that can be fully performed in-house without taking much of a risk. It can be tempting to choose an installer who can do the job for a really low price, even if the details are a little skimpy. We get it — money is tight.

Your HVAC system, however, is one part of your building you should leave to a qualified professional with demonstrated expertise in their field who will take the time to thoroughly outfit your building with quality equipment and expert craftsmanship. We’ve seen a lot of well-intentioned home and business owners make HVAC installation mistakes that have ended up costing them money and time and put them at risk for injury. Let’s take a look at some of the top HVAC installation errors and how you can avoid HVAC installation mistakes in your home or business.

The Most Common HVAC Installation Errors:

Here are some of the most typical installation mistakes people make when assembling their HVAC system:

  • Leaving Leaks:

    If gaps in your HVAC ducts haven’t been properly addressed, or if flimsy material is used to seal them off, chances are your system is leaking air. This can decrease efficiency, requiring your furnace or compressor to work harder, which draws more energy, needlessly raises your utility bills and puts a strain on natural resources.

  • Improper Design:

    A poorly laid out HVAC system design can lead to inefficient air flow, causing similar issues to that of leaky ductwork. Additionally, a poorly chosen furnace or compressor — one with an output capacity that is not well matched to your building’s particular needs — can cause a lot of headaches and high repair bills. Have your contractor sit down with you to talk through their system plan for your home or business, and be sure to ask any questions about things you’re unsure of.

  • Poor Venting:

    Carbon monoxide is a deadly byproduct of your HVAC system. If your vent components are not adequately directing it out of your home or business facility, you, your family, your staff and your clients’ lives are at risk. Make sure your building is equipped with functioning carbon monoxide detectors, and pay close attention to any warning signs they may give off. Additionally, be sure to talk with your HVAC contractor to make sure the equipment they are using in your vents is sourced from a reputable manufacturer and fits the correct specifications.

  • Insufficient Drainage:

    In addition to requiring a method to disperse toxic gases, your HVAC system also needs a place to eject excess water. Standing water raises the risk of mold growth, foundational damage and frozen pipes. You’ll want to make sure your contractor has a plan for how to effectively drain fluids from your furnace and air conditioning compressor so as to prevent damage and health issues.

Bruni & Campisi: Your HVAC Installation Experts

If you’re a home or business owner in the Westchester County, NY, Stamford, CT or Greenwich, CT areas in need of professional HVAC installation, contact us here at Bruni & Campisi for a free estimate. We know how to install HVAC correctly — our team has provided dedicated service to the area for nearly 40 years. We will be happy to work with you to develop a comprehensive plan for your HVAC system that ensures efficiency, safety and durability, uses the finest products and employs skilled trade technicians to conduct the work.

Bruni & Campisi, Inc.

Serving Westchester, Greenwich and Stamford since 1979.

100 Grasslands Rd, Elmsford NY 10523

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