Lighthouse Mechanical Heating & Cooling is honored to receive the Angie’s List Super Service Award in the Catagory of Heating & AC for its service record in 2011.

Only approximately 5% of businesses reviewed on Angie’s List are honored with this award. Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their customers and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Thanks to Angie’s List and all of the customer’s you choose us as their Heating & Cooling Company.

R22, which is a type of freon commonly used in Heating and Air Conditioning was fazed out by the government several years ago and prices have jumped 30-40% already in 2012.

Read this article to learn more.

If you have an old system that leaks you should seriously consider replacing your system. An upgrade could save you thousands in potential repair bills and reduce your energy bills.

Indoor Air Quality

How clean is the air in your home? Probably not as clean as you think. Indoor air can actually be 4 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. The air inside your home contains particulates such as dust, pollen, pet hair, dander, dust mites, mildew and fungus.

These particles have been found to aggravate or cause 50% of illnesses according to a study done by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If you suffer from asthma or allergies, improving your indoor air quality can help in lessening your symptoms.

Lighthouse Mechanical Heating & Cooling sells and installs one of the most effective air filtration devices on the market. That product is a Trane CleanEffects whole home air filter. It is so effective that it removes 99.98% of air borne allergens including bacteria and viruses down to .1 micron in size.

To learn more about Trane CleanEffects click here

Thanks for visiting Lighthouse Mechanical Heating and Cooling… “Your Guide to Comfort”

Hi All,

From Jan 15th to February 29th, Lighthouse Mechanical Heating & Cooling and Trane are offering 0% APR for 36 months on qualifying Trane systems. Here are the details:

• 0% APR if paid in full
• Mininum monthly payments required
• Interest must be paid back if not paid in full during payback period 
• Only available on qualifying XL or XV systems
• Install date must be between Jan 15 and March 15, 2012
• Please see disclousure http://www.lighthousemech.com/special-offers.php

Just Need a Furnace or Air Handler?

Lighthouse Mechanical Heating & Cooling and Trane are also offering 0% APR for 12 months on qualifying Trane Individual Components. Details are:

• 0% APR if paid in full
• Mininum monthly payments required
• Interest must be paid back if not paid in full during payback period 
• Only available on qualifying 95 VS Furnace/Air Handler
• Install date must be between Jan 15 and March 15, 2012
• Please see disclousure http://www.lighthousemech.com/special-offers.php

Call Lighthouse Mechanical today at 757-868-0069 and let Belinda or Silvia make an appointment with one of our Comfort Consultants.

Regards,

Lighthouse Mechanical Comfort Team

Lighthouse Mechanical Heating & Cooling would like to take a moment to thank The Hampton City Council for recognizing the company and many others in the community in the “Spotlight on Citizens,” program. This program gives Hampton City Council members and opportunity to recognize citizens, businesses and organizations that make a difference in the community. This honor is given to Lighthouse for it’s contribution to the Hampton Remodel Mania project. See link for details: dp.com/remodelmania

We would also like to sincerely thank Rick and Linda Jenkins at RLC Contracting for gettting us involved in this project.

Wether you are trying to decide to keep or replace a furnace, air conditioner or air handler; or have already set up an appointment with a Home Comfort Consultant, ask yourself the following questions regarding your homes environment.

1. Do your heating and air conditioning bills seem too high?
2. Are any of your current HVAC system units too noisy?
3. Do you have a problem with humidity in the summer? Dry air in the winter?
4. Are there rooms that are always too hot or too cold?
5. Do you have pets or do any family members suffer from allergies?
6. Do cooking odors linger?
7. Do you want more control over when and how your system runs?
8. Do you want a system that’s easy to maintain?
9. Is your current system still covered by a warranty?

Your answers may help you come to a conclusion or if you have decided to replace the answers will help you choose the best system for you and your family.

As you may know you always want to keep vegetation away from your outside heating and cooling unit to keep unobstruted air flow.

But planting trees strategically around your home can help reduce your home energy bills. By planting a row of trees on the side of your home that takes direct sunlight you can naturally keep your home cooler in the summer.

Trees can also be used to block cold winter winds, insulating your home and keeping it warmer during winter.

Indoor Humidity Affects your Home, Health and Comfort

Too Dry (below 30%) common during winter months:

• Respitory, throat and skin irritations
• Increased dust, can cause allegic reactions
• Static electricity build up, can potentially damage electronic equipment
• Damage to wood floors and wood furniture

To Wet (above 50%) common during summer months

• Mold, mildew and dust mite build up, can cause allegic reactions
• Termites, cockroaches and other insects are drawn to humidity
• Condensation and stains on walls, windows and ceilings
• Flaking paint and peeling wallpaper

Lighthouse Mechanical Heating & Cooling can cater a Home Comfort System that will not only meet your families heating and cooling needs but also address Indo0r Air Quailty and Humdity. Ask your Comfort Consultant how energy efficient Air Handlers and Humidifiers can keep you comfortable against all the elements.

Here are 6 quick tidbits about the services you should expect from a HVAC contractor when they are changing out a Heating and Air Conditioning system in your home.

1. Professional Design = Quality Installation

The contractor should never size a new system based on the old system. The old system could have sized improperly or your home comfort needs may have changed. Professional Sizing takes time, be weary of quick estimates with low bids because the contractor may just be out to make a quick buck.

2. Thorough Load Calculation

This is crucial to service #1. DO NOT LET A CONTRACTOR CONDUCT A LOAD CALC WITHOUT USING MANUAL J. This will save you headaches in the future and ensure that you get year round comfort from your system.

3. Selecting the Right Equipment

This is done after a proper load calculation and taking into account your home comfort needs. Do some homework up front. Look at a few different brands and make yourself an empowered consumer.

4. Don’t Forget the Ducts

All too often, old heating and air conditioning systems are replaced without giving any thought to the old duct work. Properly installed and maintained duct work can last twenty years or more. But time, heat and humidity can degrade your duct’s insulation. Over the years, your ducts may have collected contaminates that should be removed.

Take time to let your contractor inspect your duct work.

5. Room Air Distribution

Your return grilles are crucial for air distribution. Ask your contractor to check your grilles. Sometimes repair or replacing undersized or malfunctioning grilles can greatly improve your Heating and Cooling System’s performance.

6. Selecting the Right Contractor

Ask your friends and co-workers, ask them how long they have had their system and how well it performs. Check out “earned accreditation” sites like NATE, ACCA, and Trane Comfort Specialist. These honors are earned by contractors through training and customer satisfaction surveys so the contractors that are recommended by these orgs have long standing reputations to uphold.

I hope this was helpful, also follow us on our new twitter page @lighthousemech1

Preventive maintenance agreements (PMAs) are agreements between you and your HVAC contractor for scheduled inspections and maintenance of your home comfort system.

PMAs are generally scheduled semi-annually to maintain peak efficiency, prevent higher energy bills, and avoid system failures.

Because most of us do not see our Heating and Air Conditioning systems on a regular basis they are often taken for granted, until they fail. Decreased efficiency, utility overpayment, discomfort, loss of productivity, premature replacement, and higher repair costs are the result.

Just because your HVAC system is out of sight, does not mean it can be neglected. You wouldn’t go all year without getting your car’s oil changed, so why would you go all year without getting your home comfort system serviced?

At Lighthouse Mechanical Heating and Cooling we service and repair all major brands. We are an ACCA member and employ NATE certified technicians.  Setting up a PMA or simply calling for service will bring you and your family the following benefits:

• Savings: PMAs typically more than pay for themselves through higher efficiency, less utility overpayment, and contractor discounts. PMA customers typically receive a discount on all parts and services performed during the entire year.
• Peace of Mind: Predictive maintenance will mean fewer system failures and a longer life for your HVAC equipment.
• Priority Service: Should a system failure occur during the heat of the summer or the cold of the winter, customers with PMAs generally receive priority service.
• Continuity: Many ACCA contractors are often able to assign technicians to the specific customers. That way, you get to see and know the same service technician, and he or she becomes more familiar with you and your equipment.

Source: www.ACCA.org