One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning is a service company and its promise to you is:
"Always on Time ...or You Don't Pay a Dime"
So if we are a minute late, your repair is FREE! We believe your time is valuable and we want to make sure we honor your time! Especially if you took time off of work or have other obligations, we want to make sure our professional service technician are there on time; hence our promise.
For your convenience, you can choose different time windows that meet your specific needs and then we guarantee that we will be there on time or it's free! Here are the 5 different time windows that will be presented to you by our customer care representative (CCR): Express, Reserved, Standard, Standby, and Emergency. One of our most popular windows is the Express appointment window. It is a "One Hour" window meaning we will be there within that hour specified. We have the flexibility to meet your time constraints with these 5 options.
A lot of times, customers see our name and think we install home comfort systems in 1 hour. The One Hour part of the name refers to the service part of the company. However, our install technicians will replace your system in a timely manner.
After you make an appointment by choosing your window, our CCR will dispatch our drug-free, background checked service technician to your home. Our CCR will call the customer to notify them when our technician is on their way. The service technician will call the office when they arrive, during the visit, and when they complete the call. This way our CCR can always make sure our technicians are on schedule before, during, and after a call.
We want to make sure we take care of your heating/cooling home comfort system in an efficient, timely manner.
Direct Energy Services is acquiring Home Warranty of America (HWA), a US nation-wide home warranty protection plan company, for $48 million. In 2010, Direct Energy Services acquired Clockwork Home Services to become the largest provider of heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical services, serving more than three million households annually in North America. The Clockwork network includes the One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and Mister Sparky brands.
This deal will eventually allow Direct Energy to sell protection plans in all 50 states, which means 100 million households will be able to use the benefits of the HWA. Based in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, HWA provides whole home warranty services directly to customers through a national network of real estate agents, insurance professionals, relocation companies, developers, title companies, bankers, home inspectors and mortgage brokers.
The warranty plans offer full coverage for every buyer without the home age restrictions that are common on competitor's products. Service is a convenient 24/7 toll-free call away and repairs are performed by qualified, approved technicians. The Company offers a 30-day, money back guarantee on every home warranty. More information is available at www.hwaHomeWarranty.com.
"Adding HWA's capabilities will position Direct Energy to become the first high quality national home services player offering dependable, peace of mind home protection. American homeowners will be able to rest easy knowing their major appliances are covered 24 hours a day," said Eddy Collier, President of Direct Energy Services. "What's more, the acquisition of an established nationwide home warranty provider brings infrastructure for significant cross-sell opportunities with our residential energy customer base."
The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. It is expected to close during the first quarter of 2012.
This is a tough question sometimes.
Sometimes it makes complete sense to just have your system repaired. If your system is newer, you haven't had many problems, and you have it annually maintained, you should be fine to just have it repaired. Having your system tuned up on a regular basis can expand the life of your heating/cooling system and it helps with the manufacturers warranties on the system. So make sure you keep up with your tune ups.
Sometimes it makes complete sense to replace your furnace and/or heat pump because it is so old or it's broken. In this case, you want to replace for sure. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it is seriously time to consider replacement for a heat pump or AC around 10 years or older and for a furnace is 15 years or older, especially with all the energy efficient systems available.
But what if you have a furnace and/or heat pump that is not that old and works fine most of the time? Well, then it would depend on:
- If the repair costs are as much as it would be to replace it;
- If a new system would save you a lot of money on your utility bills; and
- How much the future costs to repair your system would be.
There are many factors that go into making this decision. We can help you make the right decison. We use a true cost calculator to help us guide our customers as to whether it makes sense to repair or replace.
If you need some repairs done or need to get a tune up done, make a request online today.
If you are considering replacing your system, contact us to learn more about our products and services.
Until April 30th we are offering 30 Homeowners the "Hottest AND Coolest Deal of the Year!" by saving an average of $825 on a furnace if an off-season central air is purchased too. Please click on the image for more information about this great offer.
One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning participated in the Puyallup Home Show this past weekend and we had a drawing for a new Kindle Fire. Yesterday, Lisa Hawbaker stopped by our office to claim her prize. She was one of many participants in our drawing this past weekend.
Congratulations to Lisa!!
The top question asked was how to save money if you use baseboard heat or wall units to heat your home. You can save a lot of money on energy bills by installing a ductless minisplit system AND these systems:
- * Require no ductwork so you don’t have to tear your home apart to install ducts costing a small fortune;
- * Distribute efficient heating to your home; and
- * Provide an extra added bonus of air conditioning.
Here are some other incentives to explore when researching your home’s heating system.
- If you have Puget Sound Energy, there is a rebate up to $1,500 for qualifying systems including ductless minisplits, furnaces, heat pumps, and water heaters.
- If you have Tacoma Power, there is a rebate up to $1,250 on qualifying heat pump systems.
- The federal government is also offering up to $500 tax credit on qualifying Energy Star systems.
- Lastly, One Hour’s Home Show Special is an instant savings of up to $1,200 on qualifying systems (ends 2/12/12).
Combined with your utility company ($1,500), federal government ($500), and One Hour ($1,200), we can save you up to $3,200 on a new system.
We are offering our home show specials for 30 more days. To take advantage of these specials, please click here for more information on how to register for the Coupon Codes. Be sure to call before 2/12/12 and mention the coupon codes to take advantage of these savings.
It’s that time of the year again; that magical time when we resolve to do
something different for the New Year! I’ve thought about it and have come up with 3 resolutions for myself. I hope that sharing them here will help keep me accountable! 1) Spend less, save more; 2) Stay fit and healthy; and 3) my personal motto is: to be significant in other people’s lives to help them be successful.
At some point in our lives, we’ve all made a New Year’s Resolution for ourselves. I thought I would do something different this year. I have my personal New Year’s Resolutions, but what about a New Year’s Resolution for my home? I challenge you to come up with your own New Year’s resolutions for your home. To help get you started, I have come up with 12 Resolutions for 2012, one for each month!
- January – Clean your House and get organized. Make sure you get the fridge and freezer cleaned out from your holiday gatherings; get all your gifts and decorations put away; and get a deep cleaning in for the New Year.
- February – Don’t get discouraged! Plan a Vacation J (It makes a great Valentine’s Day gift for yourself or a loved one!)
- March – Have your Irrigation system turned back on for spring and summer. Now would be a good time to invest in a rain sensor which only waters the landscape when needed and stops your system from watering when it’s raining. This will save you money on your water bill. This is also a good time to plan your year’s landscaping projects: refreshing the bark, adding hardscape walkways, water features, plants, designing a new landscaped yard. Make sure you get on a landscapers calendar now because the summer months go by too quickly and they get booked up fast. I would recommend Controlled Rain, LLC for all your landscaping and irrigation needs.
- April – Get your Heat Pump or Air Conditioning Unit Cleaned and ready for the summer season. I recommend One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning to clean and make sure your system is working at its best to keep you cool and comfortable through the hot months ahead.
- May – Have your Windows Cleaned so you can admire the spring scenery from your windows. I bought a Pacific Northwest Bird guide years ago and still love sitting in my living room and trying to guess which birds are enjoying my bird feeders. My favorite bird is the chick-a-dee, because they sing so much!
- June – Clean Your Roof. Make sure all the moss is removed and that there was no damage from the winter storms. If you find damage, now is the time to get on a roofers calendar. They too get book up in the summer months.
- July - This is a good time to go through and winterize your home. Get your Windows and Doors caulked so your home can be airtight for next winter, and check your insulation in the attic and under the house. If you wait till winter, you will freeze trying to get this done and the caulking won’t dry.
- August – Clean your Gutters. It’s time to get ready for the rain and winds to blow all the fall leaves back into your gutters. Make sure you check the down spouts too.
- September – Have your Furnace Cleaned and inspected to ensure it is ready for the winter season. Of course, I would recommend One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning to do an 82-point inspection and cleaning on your furnace. Also, now is a great time to change your filters to keep your furnace from breaking down. This will save you money on your power bills and any potential repair costs.
- October – Have an electrician do An Electrical Safety Inspection on your home. This helps make sure your home is safe and can eliminate potential hazards to your family. Also, this is a perfect time to have a whole house surge protector installed to protect all of your home electronics, including your heating system, well pump, and appliances. I recommend our friends over at Mister Sparky to do any type of electrical work in your home. You can also request that they check your smoke alarms to make sure they are working properly.
- November – Don’t forget to Winterize your Irrigation system. When it freezes outside, your irrigation pipes can freeze and burst making for a spendy repair job. Here’s a Controlled Rain video link on winterizing your irrigation system.
- December – Clean up the leaves, fallen limbs, and debris from your Yard. Take advantage of one of those nice, sunny chilled days to get some fresh air and spruce up the yard.
Good luck and Happy New Year.
During the busy holiday season, a lot of items get neglected. We are just too busy to think about everything!! Here's a short list to remember for your safety of your home.
- Blow out all candles before going to bed and never leave lit candles unattended.
- Make sure you keep your tree watered well to avoid drying out making it a fire hazard.
- Be sure to get your furnace maintained and change your filter before your guests arrive. Not only will this reassure a warm cozy home for the holidays, it will help with dust control too.
- If it's slick on your walkways, be sure to put down sand or salt to prevent falling injuries.
- Make sure your chimney is cleaned so you don't have a devastating fire.
- Remember space heaters get very hot and can harm children and pets if left unattended.
- Lint traps are a fire hazard and can easily be forgotten when in a hurry.
- If you forgot to change the battery in your smoke detector when you changed the clocks, it's not too late, do it now.
- Cookies right out of the oven are nice and yummy, but the cookie sheets are hot.
A lot of homes are left unattended and are very vulnerable to burglaries during the holidays. In addition to locking doors and windows, you can:
- Use a timer to turn lights on and off.
- Leave on a TV or radio.
- Let neighbors know when you'll be gone and ask them to take in newspapers and mail, and to remove snow (if needed).
- Look through your windows and make sure your treasures aren't visible.
- Don't mention leaving your home on social media websites.
Have a safe and happy holiday. Merry Christmas!!
Are you feeling sad? Experts say that 5-10% of people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). And many more suffer from milder winter blues.
Common symptoms of SAD are low energy, social withdrawal, sadness and despair, difficulty concentrating, and cravings for high carb foods such as pasta. These symptoms are most prevalent during December and January where light is in short supply. Here are a few items to help with feeling SAD.
Lighten up by opening the curtains or take a brisk walk outside for some rays. Or you can always switch out your light bulbs to the natural light bulbs.
Fuel well by eating a balanced diet and avoid the cravings for high carb, surgary foods. Sweet and starchy foods cause your blood levels to spike and then plummet, making your cravings even more fierce. It is recommended to eat 20-30 grams of protein per meal to help boost your mood.
Supplement by taking a multi-vitamin and adding extra Vitamin D helps your body absorb the calcium supporting a healthy heart and immune system. Most people report improved mood after taking Vitamin D3 supplements.
Move it by get out an exercise: walk, run, or bicycle outside if possible for extra light. Physical exercise increases the oxygen flow to the brain and diminishes the body's response to high stress.
Change it by making sure you replace your furnace filters on a regular basis to help with the air quality in your home.
Stress less by scheduling fun things to do that give you pleasure not stress. Like playing a sport, scrapbooking, reading a book, going to the movies, etc. Also, alone time helps energize the mind and body too.
Schedule sleep by keeping your body on track with your sleep patterns. Set your alarm to wake up after 8 or 9 hours. Open your curtains and wake up to the early-morning light. Good sleeping habits keep your biological rhythms steady.
Get help if you can't shake the SADness. Keep a journal so when you meet with a therapist, they can help guide you better so you can cope through these dreary long winters.
Be happy by enjoying the wintertime as much as the summertime. Don't hibernate until spring. Find fun stuff to do in the winter that will get you out of the house and on a different routine. Have fun experimenting with life.
Last year Washington State had a mild winter, so plan for a harsh winter with all types of extremes this year. Here are some tips to protect you, your family, and your home before the severe weather hits.
Wind storms
- If you have an electric garage door opener, locate the manual over-ride.
- If the power goes out, turn off the stove and other natural gas appliances.
- During a windstorm, go to a lower floor in a multi-story house to avoid falling trees, branches, or debris.
- Make sure you have battery-operated flashlight and you have extra batteries. Candles can cause fires.
Power Outages
- Turn off all lights and electrical appliances except for the refrigerator and freezer. When the power comes back on it may have pikes or surges that can damage your appliances and electronics. When the power comes back on, the fridge/freezer will come on automatically and hopefully you will not have lost a lot of food.
- Be sure to unplug computers to protect them from possible surges when power is restored.
- Conserve water, especially if you use a well for your water needs.
Winter Storms – Ice and Snow
- Wrap pipes, especially those near outer walls or attics/crawl spaces. Remember, broken pipes can lead to a huge repair bill.
- Have rock salt or sand handy for traction with ice and snow.
- Be sure to fill up your gas and propane tanks before the snow starts.
- NEVER use a BBQ in the house to cook or heat your home. BBQr’s can explode and/or cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Educate yourself on how to shut off your home’s gas, water, and power.
- Get your heating system checked before the winter starts.
- Change your furnace filters and change the batteries in the thermostat and smoke detectors.
- To avoid damage from power surges, install a whole-house surge protection system in your home.
- By installing a GenTran near your electrical panel, you can plug your generator directly into the GenTran and flip the breakers "on" that you want running such as the well pump, freezer, fridge, and some lights.
The two home service companies we recommend:
For Heating Needs For Electrical Needs
One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning Mister Sparky
To help you formulate a plan, ask yourself these 7 questions on how much your home is losing energy:
- How much money do you spend on energy?
- Where are your greatest energy losses?
- How long will it take for an investment in energy efficiency to pay for itself?
- Do the energy saving measures provide additional benefits that are important to you (for example, increased comfort from a warm home in the winter)?
- How long do you plan to own your home?
- Can you do the job yourself or will you need to hire a contractor?
- What is your budget and how much time do you have to spend on maintenance and repairs?
Next step is to assign priorities to your energy needs so you can form an efficiency plan.
Your plan should provide you with a strategy for making smart home improvements. These home improvements will increase your home’s energy efficiency to save you the most money.
Did you know that your heating system is the largest appliance using the most energy on your power bills? Sometimes it is easier to have a professional come out and give advice on how to make your home more efficient. You can have One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning's Comfort Advisor conduct an energy audit on your home for free. After gathering information about your home, the Comfort Advisor will give you a list of recommendations for cost effective energy improvements to enhance your comfort and safety. They will also calculate the return on your investment in high-efficiency equipment compared to standard equipment.
Google Heating Olympia or Heating Tacoma to find your local energy expert in your area OR CALL One Hour at 888-389-5488 to have a comfort advisor do an energy audit on your home.
