Home Maintenance & Repair Video Blog - ServiceOne Omaha, NE

A Tankless Water Heater Demonstration By ServiceOne in Omaha

2011-06-03T16:18:00.000-05:00

In case you have been considering a tankless water heater for your home check out this quick article and video. The video is a quick demonstration of the Rinnai tankless water heater by Gary McCollum, the Operations Manager at ServiceOne.   Gary is a great believer in this product, having a tankless water heater in his home and enjoying all the benefits you see below.   Enjoy the video and read more below…
Just from a visual perspective, you can see how great the potential space savings is for your home. Rinnai tankless water heaters are about the size of a carry-on suitcase and can be installed on virtually any wall inside your home.
A tankless water heater will give you an endless supply of hot water, when you need it. You are never limited to the amount a storage tank can hold. As demonstrated on the video, you can see turning on a 2nd and a 3rd shower head, mixed with your cold water and you would have all the pressure you need.
And remember, the water coming though your faucet or showerhead from a tankless heater is not built up with scale and rust…you will always be experiencing fresh, clean water that is heated on demand as it passes though the unit.
Tankless water heaters are much more efficient. You can achieve up to 97% efficiency vs. the 50-70% offered by the tanked water heaters. You can enjoy up to 70% energy savings with a Rinnai tankless water heater. They only heat water when it is needed…a revolutionary advantage over tank-style heaters.
Finally, Rinnai tankless water heaters have a typical life for 20 years, tanked heaters are averaging ½ that life span.
Call ServiceOne and we would love to come out and give you a FREE estimate for a tankless water heater. This water heater is highly recommended by our plumbers as trade experts AND as homeowners.   Remember, there are good utility rebates available, depending where you live and the government has energy credits you can utilize as well.

How Are You Handling Your Asthma in Omaha?

2011-05-20T15:49:00.000-05:00

Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month

As part of our series on Asthma and Allergy Awareness month we wanted to share this great article from the folks at Fox News Health.

Asthma is a serious and costly health issue that has an estimated annual cost of $19.7 billion – nearly $10 billion in direct health care costs and $8 billion for indirect costs (lost earnings due to illness or death). (Source: The Costs of Asthma, Asthma and Allergy Foundation 1992 and 1998 Study, 2000 Update)

Earlier this month, government researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new study showing asthma rates have risen dramatically since 2001. The study also found the increase was present in every demographic group – men, women, blacks, whites and Hispanics – affecting one in 12 of all Americans and one in 10 school-aged children.

Although researchers could not explain why asthma is on the rise, in recent years many scientists believe environmental pollution may be a contributing factor. Tobacco smoke, pesticides and harsh, toxic cleaning products – commonly used in homes, schools, businesses and medical facilities – lead to poor indoor air quality and can trigger and exacerbate asthma symptoms.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
• Asthma is the most common chronic condition among children.

• Each day, 11 Americans die from asthma, totaling over 4,000 asthma-related deaths each year. Asthma is a contributing factor in another 7,000 deaths.

• Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism and the fourth leading cause of work absenteeism resulting in nearly 12 million missed or less productive workdays each year.

• Asthma accounts for more than 10 million outpatient visits and 500,000 hospitalizations. Nearly half (44 percent) of all asthma hospitalizations are for children and is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization in children.

• Since 1980, 0 among all genders, age groups and ethnic groups. The death rate for children under 19 years has increased by nearly 80 percent.

Deirdre Imus is the Founder and President of The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health CenterTM at Hackensack University Medical Center and Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer. Deirdre is the author of four books, including three national bestsellers. She is a frequent speaker on green living and children’s health issues, and is a contributor to FoxNewsHealth.com. For more information Click Here.

As an extra bonus ServiceOne will be conducting FREE indoor air quality evalutions and will offer 10% off any American Standard AccuClean air filteration systems.
Call for more information 402-597-2168.

May is Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month and ServiceOne in Omaha Wants to Help

2011-05-06T11:40:00.000-05:00

During the next few weeks ServiceOne in Omaha will be offering valuable tips and resources to help you learn more about asthma and how to deal with it.
Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening chronic respiratory disease that affects the quality of life for almost 25 million Americans, including an estimated 7 million children. Although there is no cure for asthma yet, asthma can be controlled through medical treatment and management of environmental triggers.

As an extra bonus ServiceOne will be conducting FREE indoor air quality evalutions and will offer 10% off any AccuClean air filteration systems.
Call for more information 402-597-2168.

Heating and Air Conditioning and Much More: ServiceOne Omaha

2011-04-25T10:34:00.000-05:00

ServiceOne has been providing quality service to the Omaha Metro area for over 20 years, and there still seems to be some confusion about what all we do. This video "breaks it down" for you.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

2011-02-09T09:27:00.000-06:00

Why people love ServiceOne…

ServiceOne is committed to providing products that will prove valuable to home owners in reducing costs, enhancing comfort and providing increased peace of mind. But, as with any great service company, we are more than the sum of our products. ServiceOne delivers quality because of the commitment of our dedicated employees who believe in ServiceOne and work hard every day to make sure our customers see value. That is the ServiceOne Difference.

The ServiceOne gold plan is the most popular of all the ServiceOne plans. For less than $1 day, for less than a soda, or a cup of coffee, you have parts and labor coverage on:

• Gas or electric central home heating
• Central air conditioning/heat pump
• Annual heating inspection
• Furnace humidifier
• Clothes washer
• Gas or electric clothes dryer
• Gas or electric range
• Range hood/exhaust fan
• Dishwasher
• Freezer
• Refrigerator
• Electrical system
• Garbage disposal
• Gas or electric water heater

Common Mistakes When Hiring An HVAC Contractor

2011-01-26T15:03:00.000-06:00

Buying a new heating and cooling system is a major household investment. Being informed and cautious is always the best approach. The most important steps in selecting a new comfort system for your home are:

1. To insure the unit’s specifications meet your needs
2. That it is purchased from a licensed, reputable contractor that installs it properly
3. That it is adequately maintained each year.

Considering a new furnace or a new system for your home? Here are some things to consider, questions to ask, before you sign on the dotted line:

How long have they been in business?
Are they in good standing with the Better Business Bureau?
Are they licensed appropriately?
Do they carry insurance?
Are their employees drug tested?
Are background checks performed on their employees?
Are their technicians clean and respectful of your home?
Do they guarantee quality?

Before committing to a contractor, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask for references, and call ServiceOne for a 1st or even 2nd opinion.

A quality heat pump installation should included pump ups or risers, adequate clearance for airflow from landscaping and be on a leve and secure foundation. There are many code requirements that a licensed contractor wouldn’t cut corners on, using single wall pipe instead of double wall, using duct tape vs. proper connectors.

General Maintenance of Your Humidifier

2011-01-07T11:12:00.000-06:00

Humidifiers Help Your Home

Running your home’s heating system keeps you warm during the winter, but it can dry out your house. An indoor humidity level less than 30% is too dry. Such a level can dry noses and throats and cause colds; wall paneling, wood trim and hardwood flooring can shrink and cause joints to open; cracks in drywall and plaster can develop; joints in wood furniture can become loose, and pianos can go out of tune. Conversely, a home that is too wet —where the humidity is greater than 50% —can be a breeding ground for mold, rot, pests such as termites and cockroaches, and condensation. Excess humidity can produce enough condensation to stain ceilings and walls and cause flaking paint and peeling wallpaper.

Make sure to remember the humidity levels of your house need to be within the 30-50% humidity bracket. Regulate your humidity with your humidifier’s built in humidity meter or by a hygrometer from any good hardware store.

Operating your HUMIDIFIER.

One of the most common questions for homeowners is how should they be controlling the humidity in their home, based on seasons. The most basic guideline is Summer OFF and Winter ON. Depending on your controls, here is chart to help you with operating your humidity control settings.

At Outside Tempearture	Recommended Control Setting
-20° F	15
-10° F	20
0° F	25
+10° F	30
+20° F	35
Above 20° F	40

How to Troubleshoot Your Furnace

2010-12-10T14:06:00.001-06:00

If you do not have heat, choose 'yes' or 'no':

Is the fan running? YES

•    Make sure thermostat is set at a higher temp than room temp.

Is the fan running? NO

•    Make sure thermostat is set to “HEAT” and set at a temperature higher than room temperature.
•    Make sure switch on side of furnace is “ON” and fuse next to switch is good.
•    Turn furnace switch off, wait 1 minute and turn back on.
•    Make sure breaker is not tripped.
•    Check to see if pilot is out. (older furnaces)
•    Make sure the door to the furnace is latched in place.

Won’t shut off…

•    Make sure thermostat is set at a lower temperature than room temperature and fan is set to “AUTO”.
•    If temperature keeps going up, shut off furnace switch or breaker.

IF BURNER STILL STAYS ON, TURN POWER BACK ON AND CALL SERVICEONE.

Water around bottom…

•    WINTER- Probably the humidifier, turn the water valve to “OFF” to prevent further leaking until repaired.
•    SUMMER- Probably a condensate leak, turn off the air conditioner to prevent further leaking until repaired. (see air conditioner troubleshooting tips)

Not enough air flow…

•    Check for dirty filter (filters should be changed once a month)
•    Check for closed or obstructed registers (both cold & warm returns)

Smell gas…

•    Call your local gas supplier. If heavy, leave the home.