Posts Tagged ‘Bob Casteel’

Choosing an air filter isn’t really as easy as going to your local hardware store and picking up the right size. You want to take a few things into consideration. Where is the filter? are you worried about keeping your equipment clean? OR…are you trying to keep the air quality in your home as healthy and clean as possible?

Low to middle rated air filters will keep your equipment clean but have low dust removal ratings as well. These are the typical panel filters (pleated or not) and they usually have a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of less than 12. MERV ranges from 1-16 and obviously the higher the rating, the better the performance.

High efficiency filters do cost more but they also perform better and are generally higher on the MERV scale. Keep in mind that LEED builders use filters with a minimum MERV rating of 13.

Whichever filter you choose, remember to replace it once a month. Some of the higher efficiency filters can be cleaned with warm water and soap and reused. Make sure to factor that into your cost.

I know, I know…it’s still cold outside and we’re talking about Spring cleaning. Believe it or not the official first day if Spring is March 20th and that’s only 38 days away! No need to panic…we have time to get ready and that’s why we’re talking about it now. Just like everything else that gets cleaned out in Spring cleaning so should your HVAC system.

“But I haven’t used my AC all Winter long.” In a central air system the heating and cooling shares the same ductwork so your ducts have been busy all season long and require cleaning. At Casteel Heating and Cooling we recommend you schedule a tune up for your system when the season changes form Winter to Spring. one of our experienced and professional technicians can come  perform a very comprehensive 25 point inspection. That’s one thing you can check off your Spring cleaning list!

How can insulation help? Adding insulation in your attic is a very cost effective way of saving you money on your energy bills. The recommended levels for the Department of Energy are 12-18 inches of R-19 insulation in your attic. Anything less than 6 inches is considered unacceptable and will end up costing you more money in the long run. Adding insulation to your crawl spaces, attic and basement areas is recommend to maintain a constant temperature throughout the home. The rule of thumb is the higher the R-value, the harder it is for heat to transfer. All of this will add up to savings for you.

What’s next? Contact Casteel Heating and Cooling to schedule an evaluation.

Do you to spend less money on your electric bills and use less energy? If you answered yes, then you should get a Home Energy Audit.  Several people think that because someone came into their home and changed out the bulbs to CFL’s, installed new shower heads and sealed their windows and doors that they’re good to go. Not so! You need a FULL energy audit to realize big savings. At Casteel Heating and Cooling we perform the following tests in your Home Energy Audit:

• Insulation R-rating for walls, attic, and foundation
• Heating and cooling equipment
• Whole house air leakage (blower door test)
• Ductwork leakage
• Electrical and lighting analysis
• Water heater and water usage
• Carbon monoxide
• Flue draft

Knowing the results to these tests allows us to make recommendations for resolving the issues you have and we’ll provide a free quote to you and stay with you every step of the way. We would rather save you money than sell you products and our focus will always be to do right by our clients.

Start saving money today and make that call to our friendly staff at 770-565-5884. We’ll get you on your way to savings ASAP!

There are a lot of different HVAC businesses in the Atlanta/ Marietta areas. We all perform essentially the same service. Many of us have the same certifications and comparable experience. SO why should we use your company, Bob? I’ll tell you why.

Customer service is NOT dead here at Casteel Heating and Cooling. Not only do we listen to what our customers say, we ask them about our service. I personally send out survey cards to every one of our customers to make sure we have performed world class customer service for each and every one of them. To provide this world class service, we do year round customer service training, we survey every customer, complete customer feedback cards, and conduct thousands of phone interviews a year with existing customers.

SO, when I say we care, we care! From the first day in 1987 when we started this company, we have worked tirelessly to create a customer focused business. If you want to experience our world class service for yourself, feel free to call at 770-565-5884 or online at Contact Us

Bob Casteel has always prided himself on customer service and that’s the way he continues to do business today. Bob is our President and under his leadership and direction, we have won the Top 25 Cobb County Small Business of the Year for two years in a row, winning in both 2009 and 2010. Here at Casteel Heating and Cooling, we’re known for our “world class service.” Accomplishing this is no easy feat as we call, write and survey every one of our customers. We have always had a “customer first” policy and will continue to do everything to make sure every customer knows they not just a client but our number one priority. Winning this award again this year shows that we practice what we preach.

We say thank you to the thousands of loyal customers that believe in us. We appreciate the trust you put in us and know that you can choose any service provider you’d like. Thank you for choosing Casteel Heating and Cooling; we share this award with all of you!

During the winter we obviously use our heaters more often but there are ways to keep our heating costs down. We found a great article from DIYlife.com to help you with this.

Mistake #1: Ignoring Drafts
That cool air you feel seeping in is a blatant sign that your home is losing heat. Stop ignoring drafts! Check for cracks around doors, windows, foundations, fireplaces, and other areas. Use caulk, weather stripping, door sweeps, or plastic to close off leaks and keep the warm air inside your home.

Mistake #2: Leaving a Ventilation Fan Running
During the winter, don’t let the bathroom fan or kitchen hood fan run for longer than necessary. Ventilation fans can suck all the heated air right out of your home. But, don’t avoid using ventilation fans. Mold and mildew are always looking for a warm moist place to hide.

Mistake #3: Taking the Furnace for Granted
Maintain your heating equipment throughout the year. Regularly check and clean the filters in your furnace every 3 months. Dirty air filters can reduce the air flow in your system and make your furnace work harder.

Mistake #4: Raising the Thermostat Too High
If your furnace is struggling to reach a desired temperature, don’t turn the thermostat higher than the desired temperature. You’ll just make your furnace work even harder. Instead, look for the problem and try to fix it. Or if you’re heater is just not strong enough, take note, and adjust accordingly.

Mistake #5: Heating an Empty House
Take advantage of a programmable thermostat to regulate the temperature of your home while you’re away. It’s important to program the thermostat to reflect your family’s schedule to get the most out of it And it can save you up to $180 a year in energy costs, according to Energy Star.

Mistake #6: Going to Extremes
Turning down the temperature at night seems like a good idea to save money on the heating bill. But if you turn the air back too far at night, it can cost you when you raise the temperature on the thermostat in the morning. Avoid extremes as the contents of your home will need to be heated as well as the air and that can take time.

Mistake #7: Washing Everything in Hot Water
Whenever your fabrics can tolerate it, turn the dial on your washer to cold. Washing clothes in cold water saves the cost of heating that water.

Mistake #8: Keeping the Curtains Drawn (or Keeping Them Not Drawn)
Opening window treatments when the sun is shining and close the curtains when the sun isn’t. This will give your home a heating boost from the sun and keep the heat in during the dark night. Also, pay attention to opening the curtains and shades on the side of your home where the sun strikes the windows.

Mistake #9: Keeping Windows Unlocked
It might sound too simple to believe, but locking your windows creates an airtight seal that keeps out air leaks and drafts.

Mistake #10: Going It Alone
Energy audits by a professional are the best way to know about your home’s energy use. You can take advantage of Energy Star’s free online tools by entering information about how you heat your home. The Home Energy Advisor provides energy-saving home improvement recommendations for homes where you live. The Home Energy Yardstick compares your home’s energy use to similar homes in your area.

Does it look like you need a “Wintervention?” Let Casteel Heating and Cooling be YOUR professional. We can perform a Home Energy Audit for you and make recommendations for any issues we may find. Start saving today and give us a call at 770-565-5884.

Article cited: http://www.diylife.com/2011/01/03/heating-mistakes-solved-10-energy-saving-tips/

In following with our last post about saving money, we found a few more tips for you and some are even Christmas related!

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.

Steps to Reduce Exposure to Carbon Monoxide

It is most important to be sure combustion equipment is maintained and properly adjusted.  Vehicular use should be carefully managed adjacent to buildings and in vocational programs.  Additional ventilation can be used as a temporary measure when high levels of CO are expected for short periods of time.

• Keep gas appliances properly adjusted.
• Consider purchasing a vented space heater when replacing an unvented one.
• Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.
• Install and use an exhaust fan vented to outdoors over gas stoves.
• Open flues when fireplaces are in use.
• Choose properly sized wood stoves that are certified to meet EPA emission standards. Make certain that doors on all wood stoves fit tightly.
• Have a trained professional inspect, clean, and tune-up central heating system (furnaces, flues, and chimneys) annually. Repair any leaks promptly.
• Do not idle the car inside garage.

At Casteel Heating and Cooling we can perform an energy audit that tests for presence of Carbon Monoxide.

For more information regarding this topic see the cited article: An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Most potential home buyers wouldn’t dream of purchasing a property without getting a home inspection to look for structural problems, water damage, and other potentially costly issues. But few people consider the energy efficiency of a home, and an inefficient home can cost you a lot of money over the years.

If you’re out shopping for a new home, consider asking the seller to have an energy audit done on the home. This will show you where there’s room for future home improvements, but it will also help point out major problems, such as insufficient insulation, air leaks in the foundation or attic, and inefficient heating and cooling systems.

Aside from knowing where there are issues before you buy, you can also use the information gleaned in an energy audit to either reduce the price of the home based on the cost of renovations you’d have to complete, or you can ask the seller to have some of the renovations done before closing.

In the end, a little forethought regarding the efficiency of your new home can make a real difference for both your bottom line and your environmental footprint.

Casteel Heating and Cooling performs energy audits and will be glad to schedule one for you today!

Article cited: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/newhome-energy-audit-beforebuy.html