Pay Less in Los Angeles for your new Furnace

The biggest energy expense homeowners in Los Angeles face is heating and cooling. Usually if your heater isn't working properly it is one of three issues:

• heat source: the furnace or heat pump which provides warm air to heat the house
• heat distribution system: the ducts, vents and return air grills which move the warm air throughout your home
• control system: the thermostat which regulates the amount of heat distributed

One of the best ways to make sure you are getting the most out of your furnace is to schedule professional maintenance and a safety check at the beginning of the season. This will ensure that your equipment is properly calibrated and cleaned.

Sometimes if your furnace is older and needing expensive repairs a new energy-efficient furnace can pay for itself in energy savings over a relatively short period of time. The city of Los Angeles has incentive programs created to encourage homeowners to swap out their old, inefficient furnaces with new technology that saves money and reduces our carbon footprints at the same time.

Getting your rebate is as easy as filling out an online SoCal Gas Residential Rebate form. There is also special energy-upgrade financing for Los Angeles home owners called California First click to see if you are eligible!

Angieslist Super Service Award

Kilowatt Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical of Sherman Oaks, California has earned the service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award, reflecting an exemplary year of service provided to members of the consumer review service in 2013.

"We work hard to provide the best possible service, safety and savings to our customers," says a very grateful Dean Gilford, the president of Kilowatt. "Angieslist is purely customer feedback. It feels good to know that our efforts are appreciated so much by our customers that we are being recognized with this award." 

Kilowatt has more than 55 reviews on Angieslist and it seems that customers are very appreciative of the efforts made by Mr. Gilford and his team of background checked, drug tested, and professionally trained employees. 

John S. who had a new HVAC system designed and installed by Kilowatt says, “The entire experience with Kilowatt was extremely positive. Their level of professionalism and expertise is outstanding. From the spec’ing of the system to the commissioning, to the friendly and knowledgeable office/business communications, they provided the utmost in skill and efficiency. The team’s coordination in the whole process was flawless. Their project management, client interface, execution, and follow through serve as a model for all construction industry professionals. This is a well-synchronized firm with superb products, service, and client communication. We recommend them highly!”

“Only about 5 percent of the companies Kilowatt competes with in Los Angeles, California are able to earn our Super Service Award,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “It’s a mark of consistently great customer service.”

2013 Award Requirements

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2013 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade; the company must be in good standing with Angie’s List, have a fully complete profile, pass a background check and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality. Members can find the 2013 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

###

Angie’s List helps consumers have happy transactions with local service professionals in more than 720 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to healthcare. More than 2 million paid households use Angie’s List to gain access to local ratings, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List Magazine and the Angie’s List complaint resolution service.

Kilowatt Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical

4925 Sepulveda Blvd.

Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

www.KilowattHVAC.com

Home Heating Expert’s Saving Secrets

When outdoor temperatures get too hot or too cold many property owners resign themselves to higher energy bills. But good property managers understand that a penny saved goes straight to the bottom-line, therefore is truly a penny earned.

My name is Dean Gilford, I am a heating and air conditioning contractor, and my customers pay some of the lowest utility bills in Southern California. That’s because I refuse to let their heating and air conditioning costs get out of hand when savings are so simple. I’m going to give you the exact same savings secrets that I give to my customers.

You know and I know that when we talk about energy costs we are talking about more than pennies. Hundreds, even thousands of dollars can be saved with a few simple fixes.  

TOP TIP:  Change Your Filter

A dirty filter in your HVAC (heating/ventilating/and air-conditioning) system makes your furnace work harder, and leads to big scary numbers on your heating bill. Aim to swap your filter out once a month. 

Yearly Tune-Ups

Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Properly calibrated and lubricated equipment will save you money consistently on your energy bills and extend the life of your system.

Install a Programmable Thermostat
This is one of the most cost effective upgrades you can make to your HVAC system. I know you intend to turn your heat down when you are sleeping or not home. But you forget, right? Why not have your thermostat do it for you? Programmable thermostats turn off the HVAC systems at predetermined times when they are not needed. This way, the home is only conditioned when it needs to be and the energy consumption of the home is reduced. Programmable thermostats can reduce the amount spent on heating and cooling by 5 percent to 12 percent.

Insulate
You can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs by properly insulating your home. There are different types of loose-fill insulation, which are blown or poured into place using special equipment.  Cellulose, fiberglass, foam or even recycled denim can be used for insulating enclosed walls, new wall cavities, unfinished attic floors and other hard-to-reach areas.

Block that Leak!

The small gaps surrounding windows, doors and other areas in the average home, taken together, are like a 9-square-foot hole in the wall. Plugging them can save you up to 10% on your heating bill.

·       First, find the leaks: On a windy day, hold a lit incense stick to the most common drafty areas: chimney flashing, recessed lighting, sill plates, window and door frames, all ducts and flues and electrical outlets.

·       Buy door sweeps to close spaces under exterior doors, and caulk or tacky rope caulk to block those drafty spots around window frames. Apply weather-stripping to movable joints. Recessed lighting caps and outlet gaskets can be installed where cold air often enters.

Properly Seal Ducts

Nothing depresses me like improperly installed duct. I’ve seen homes lose up to 60% of their warmed air before it reaches the vents because of poorly connected ducts, or ducting that is not well insulated.

Seal and insulate ducts to improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

Focus first on sealing ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement, or garage. Use duct sealant (mastic) or metal-backed (foil) tape to seal the seams and connections of ducts. After sealing the ducts in those spaces, wrap them in insulation to keep them from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter. Next, look to seal any other ducts that you can access in the heated or cooled part of the house. 

Know When To Replace

Furnaces need the most costly and frequent repairs in the last two years of their life. If you can circumvent those repairs and move seamlessly into a new energy efficient furnace, your new furnace can pay for itself. Maria Vargas is a spokeswoman for Energy Star, a federal-government-backed program that promotes energy efficiency and lends its name to energy-saving products. "If your furnace is over 20 years old, you're probably paying more to use it that it would cost to replace," says Maria Vargas, “Furnaces bearing the Energy Star label are about 15% more efficient than a standard conventional model”

Energy Star Rebates, Tax Credits and Utility Incentives

There are great tax incentives, rebates and utility discounts available for the different types of Energy Star HVAC equipment. Your contractor should be able to explain what is available for the equipment you decide to purchase and help you with the paperwork.

Since 1989, Dean Gilford and his company Kilowatt have provided A+ Rated guaranteed heating, air conditioning and electrical services for Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. www.KilowattHVAC.com

Tip for Saving Your AC Equipment

   
     What can you do for your central air conditioning equipment that will make it stay healthy longer? Give it a rain coat for the winter! A waterproof protective cover fits over your outdoor condenser and protects it from the wet debris and frost that can corrode equipment all winter long.

      Now that the weather has turned decidedly cold it is time to dress your outdoor air conditioning compressor for the winter. You will be using your furnace in Los Angeles for the next several months so an equipment cover will save your outdoor compressor from the destructive effects of the winter weather.

Heating Savings

 
Cash-strapped consumers can save hundreds (and possibly thousands) of dollars a year by cutting everyday expenses in ways that might seem obvious in retrospect.

• Home Heating and Electric Utilities

Problem: The cost of electricity for the average U.S. residence has risen by nearly 47% over 20 years, while prices for heating oil and propane rose even more dramatically. People are often unaware that many electronic devices still draw power even when they're turned off, diverting precious dollars from family budgets.

Solution: Stay Afloat: When Energy Costs are on the rise we recommend that consumers become aware of how much energy various appliances use, and to fully turn them off when they're not in use. Other tips include taking shorter showers, cooking more food at once, and paying utility bills with credit cards that provide cash back and other rewards.

• Buying or Repairing HVAC Equipment and Appliances

Problem: When shopping for refrigerators, microwave ovens, dishwashers, air conditioners or furnaces in Los Angeles many people base their decisions on superficial considerations such as upfront costs and product features. Without thinking about long-term costs - including financing, operating and potential repair costs - consumers can easily spend much more than they anticipated.

Solution: For financing Home Heating we suggest that you forgo repairs on AC and furnaces that are more than 50 percent through their expected lives when repairs will cost over 50 percent of a new appliance's price. The energy savings are that substantial with new units. There are excellent rebate programs active right now.  Furnaces typically come with a 10 year manufacturers warranty.

New Year’s Resolutions

It’s that time a year again, the time when you make promises to yourself that you plan to uphold throughout the coming year. Unfortunately, if you’re like me, it’s also the kind of promise that gets broken, more often than not, within a few months’ time. I’m talking, of course, about New Year’s resolutions. We all consider a new year to be a new start and a chance for a new and improved outlook, lifestyle, you name it. This year, we can help you keep one of your new year’s resolutions! All you have to do is resolve to improve the comfort of your home for you and your family. We will take care of the rest!

The following are a few of our most popular services during the winter months:

·       Furnace Tune-Up and Repair

·       Heat Pump Tune-Up and Repair

·       Installation and Testing of Carbon Monoxide Detectors

·       Filtration System Installation and Tune-Up

·       Air Cleaner Installation and Tune-Up

·       Humidification System Installation and Tune-Up

·       Thermostat Installation and Replacement

If your home is too warm, too cold, or different rooms in your home are different temperatures we can fix it! Imagine every room in your house comfortable at the same time. A tune up, by itself, may or may not solve these issues, but it will definitely make your system more efficient and save you money on your utility bills. In fact, you will save more in utilities than you will spend with us. Save even more with a programmable thermostat.

Are you suffering from skin irritation or static electricity, or finding it difficult to breath during the winter months? Are you prone to respiratory infections? Your home could actually be the cause. A little known fact is that the quality of the air in our homes is generally much worse than the air outdoors. Installing a filtration system or an air cleaner could minimize the effects of indoor contaminants. Also, installing a whole house humidifier will help keep the relative humidity in your home at a comfortable level and protect your family from the effects of dry air.

Whatever your new year’s resolution is, Kilowatt is here to help you uphold it. Call us today at 818-780-0701 for more information. We’ll see that your year gets off to a great start!

What Homeowners Insurance Does NOT Cover

Contractors Cutting Corners Can Cost You Plenty

Drip . . . drip . . . drip . . .

            Diane walked into her kitchen one afternoon and stepped into a growing pool of water. It took her a moment to realize that the leak was coming from a recessed light in her ceiling.

            “I knew I had trouble,” she laughed later, “but I had no idea what kind of nightmare I was about to endure.”

            Diane checked her homeowners association’s Web site for a plumber. One of her neighbors had recommended a plumber on the Service Providers List, so she felt confident calling and setting up an appointment.

            The plumber who came to fix Diane’s leak was nice enough. During the course of the repair, he slipped and fell on the slick floor, but he quickly assured Diane that he was fine. She thanked him and said goodbye—the leak was fixed, the bill was paid, and she didn’t give it another thought.

            Months later, though, Diane received a subpoena. The plumber who had slipped on her kitchen floor was suing her for $200,000 for medical costs and “loss of profession.” Diane was horrified—she’d had no idea anything was wrong, and she felt like she was being taken advantage of. She called her lawyer for advice.

            Over the next two years, Diane fought the plumber in court. She couldn’t sleep at night, and her hair began to fall out. It ended up costing her $127,000 out-of-pocket.

            “I trusted my homeowners association,” Diane lamented.  “Wouldn’t you expect an HOA to recommend only properly licensed and insured service providers? I had no idea I was putting myself at risk by hiring someone they recommended, and I was shocked to find that California law was so stacked against homeowners.”

Why wasn’t I covered?

            Diane’s HOA had recommended a plumbing contractor who cut corners by not paying Workers Compensation insurance for his employees. This left Diane legally responsible for her plumber’s accident. But Diane’s insurance, like most homeowners insurance policies, did not cover the contractor she hired.  Homeowners insurance usually only covers domestic employees like maids and babysitters. Most homeowners do not realize that they are personally liable if an uninsured worker is injured on their property.

California law is very clear:

            It is the homeowner’s responsibility to verify that repairmen and contractors are properly licensed and insured. If a homeowner hires a worker who does not carry the appropriate liability and Workers Compensation insurance, the homeowner is liable if an accident happens.  

 

You don’t have to do the paperwork.

            Diane came to me a year later when she needed air conditioning repairs. She was more thorough than anyone I’d ever met.  Diane asked for copies of my licenses and insurance certificates. I was happy to provide them, but I let her know that there is an easier way to make sure a contractor is properly licensed and insured.

The Contractors State License Board makes it easy to check your service providers.

1. Go to CSLB.ca.gov

2. Search for service providers by business name, a worker’s name, or a license number.

3. Find out whether the contractor is properly licensed and insured, and whether they pay workman’s compensation for their employees.

One thing even licensed contractors lie about:

            The Contractors State License Board may show that a company is exempt from paying workers compensation insurance, but that’s only true if the owner of the company is its only employee. Even licensed contractors lie about this from time-to-time. I know many talented air conditioning contractors, but not one of them can lift an AC unit onto a rooftop alone. Every HVAC contractor should carry workers comp, but many of them do not.

Why don’t all contractors carry Workers Compensation coverage?

            Workers compensation coverage is expensive. A contractor who cuts costs by skipping it can offer a much lower price than a contractor who insures his employees properly. As people who have gone through Diane’s ordeal know, however, a very low bid can turn into a very expensive nightmare.

Homeowners associations can protect their members from irresponsible contractors.

Most of the time, accidents do not happen. But when they do, homeowners are ultimately responsible for what happens on their property. Fortunately, homeowners associations can easily protect their members from irresponsible contractors by checking the credentials of the service providers they recommend at CSLB.ca.gov.

Dean Gilford is a licensed and insured HVAC, Electrical & GeneralBuilding Contractor in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. He can be reached at dean@kilowatthvac.com.

FURNACE Inspection Saves Lives

Be SAFE! Carbon Monoxide is the #1 Cause of Poisoning in Los Angeles.

The firebox in your furnace continually expands and contracts from the heat. This can cause the metal to crack. Cracks in a furnace firebox can release dangerous levels of Carbon Monoxide into your home. In Los Angeles a furnace inspection is recommended at the beginning of cool weather to make sure that your furnace is functioning properly and your family is breathing clean healthy air.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is the number one cause of poisoning deaths in the United States. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, "there are approximately 2,100 unintentional deaths from carbon monoxide every year in the U.S. and the use of CO Alarms could potentially prevent many of these fatalities." In addition, more than 10,000 CO injuries occur annually from this colorless, odorless and tasteless poison.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide:
Initial symptoms are similar to the flu with no fever. Dizziness, fatigue/weakness, throbbing headache, nausea/vomiting, irregular breathing, sleepiness and confusion can all be possible symptoms.

Methods of protection:
Every year have the heating system, vents, chimney, and flue tested, inspected and cleaned by a qualified technician. Install a carbon monoxide alarm near the sleeping areas and on every level of the home.