Spring means Nests in your trees and your home

Nest Protect

Spring is in the air and you may have heard me go on bout how important Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors are in your home and that every time you change the time on your clock for daylight savings to also check the batteries and test your smoke & CO detectors.  Every day I receive reports on horrible preventable accidents where people loose their lives due to CO poisoning.  Its the #1 cause of accidental poisoning.  As a matter of fact, today, one of our technicians found a cracked heat exchanger (can cause CO poisoning) on a Carrier/Bryant furnace that was only 4 years old!

Last week Triton Air became a authorized installer and provider of the W-Fi Nest thermostats and Nest Protect carbon monoxide/smoke detectors.  I wanted to give these new Nest Protect detectors a try first hand as the features it offered impressed me.  We had detectors in our home already, however they were 10 years old and the sensors usually last for 5 to 8 years so it was past due to replace them.  The detectors are boxed in packaging that resembled packaging for a cell phone.  Very contemporary, compact, recycled and efficient.


Set up was simple.  Download the Nest app & link it to your homes Wi-Fi.  Pull the battery tab on the detector.  Push the center button on the detector and within a minute or so, after configuring, your new Nest Protect is ready to go & get installed.

Things I really like about the Nest Protect:

1. Has a built in night light that turns on when you walk under it in the dark (can be configured to turn off if you wish)
2. If an alarm goes off in you  home you will be notified on your phone (I love this.  One of my worries is that a fire or CO problems will happen while I am away or  my wife and kids are the only ones at home) - .  The app will show you:
1. what room the problem is occurring.
2. what type of alarm is going off (smoke or CO).
3. If your detectors are currently working correctly.
3. When your home, if an alarm goes off, it will talk and tell you what room or area has the problem.
4. You can silence "nuisance" alarms with a wave of your hand.
5. Appears to be built with great attention to detail & quality.

Here is a link to the nest protect.  Check it out. Although pricey, I am confident you will feel a peace of mind once they are installed in your home.

nest-protect/
Now.......about that beautiful contemporary Nest thermostat.....my review might surprise you!

6 important to do's in your home with an easy reminder from Father time!

Its that time again! Spring forward! Anytime you change the time on your clocks for daylight savings in the Spring & Fall, it's a great reminder to:

- check the batteries and test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (if you don't have either one of these in your home, it is now a code requirement. They can be found at most hardware & home improvement stores). Most of these type detectors require a 9v battery.

- have your heating (in the Fall) and air conditioning (in the spring) system serviced.

- Inspect (spring) and drain (fall) your storage tank water heater. If you have a tankless water heater, it typically requires an annual descale service.

- Inspect and clean behind and around your clothes washer/dryer

- Inspect and clean behind, under & around your refrigerator (pay close attention to clean any coils or parts that look like a radiator)

- Check your emergency preparedness and first aid kits for any items that need replenishing.

Now that you have got all that done...enjoy the x-tra daylight!

Series of mistakes blamed for carbon monoxide death - News - Charleston Daily Mail - West Virginia News and Sports -

Series of mistakes blamed for carbon monoxide death - News - Charleston Daily Mail - West Virginia News and Sports -

PRESS RELEASE

Feb. 8, 2012, 11:23 a.m. EST

IndoorDoctor Says Winter Can Be the Most Effective Time to Test Indoor Air Quality

BOSTON, MA, Feb 08, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- IndoorDoctor, a New England-based indoor air quality testing firm, has seen a steady rise in indoor air quality concerns during winter months. Simply put, more people spend their time indoors when it's cold outside. "As homes become more energy-efficient indoor air pollution will accumulate with greater concentration," says environmental engineer and company president Jeffrey Bradley.

Major contributors of indoor pollution include combustible heating sources and fireplaces, both of which emit miniscule particles that can deeply penetrate one's lungs and can cause or worsen respiratory disease. Dander from household pets can also amplify as conditions prevent them from spending significant time outdoors, resulting in greater prevalence of allergic symptoms. IndoorDoctor is able to measure and indentify such fine particulates using a handheld particle scanner in order to help families determine steps to reduce indoor air pollution.

Airborne fiberglass is another irritant that is overlooked. Often, people choose to exercise at home instead of outside or at the local health club when weather does not cooperate. Bradley notes that home gyms, especially when housed in the basement, can be dangerous due to exposed fiberglass, fine particulates from the furnace, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from stored chemicals, and higher mold spore levels. He cautions people who have placed treadmills and other exercise equipment in such areas to have the air quality checked to prevent adverse health reactions.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is one of the most common pollutants IndoorDoctor detects during cold months because homeowners keep their houses air-tight to reduce heat loss. Unfortunately, the common carbon monoxide meters sold to detect the lethal, colorless and odorless gas only register CO levels around 5 or 10 parts per million (ppm) -- a relatively significant amount. They do not detect trace levels of CO hat can lead to headaches, memory loss and fatigue. "We've had a number of clients experiencing long term acute carbon monoxide poisoning from CO levels around 2-4 ppm," Bradley notes. "Our specialized testing equipment will detect even minute levels of carbon monoxide that a typical home detector will not."

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning fron Furnace

NOTE: CO detectors only alarm at high levels. Chronic low level poisoning is often misdiagnosed by Doctors, or missed by untrained technicians. The best primary defense is to have your Furnace maintained annually in the Fall by a reputable Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor ...hint, hint :-)

Home energy upgrades get U.S.-backed loans

Home energy upgrades get U.S.-backed loans

Many U.S. homeowners are now eligible for up to $25,000 in federally-insured loans to make energy-efficient upgrades such as adding insulation, sealing ducts or replacing windows, the Obama adminitration announced Thursday.
Consumers with good credit scores, manageable debt and some equity in their homes can get "PowerSaver" loans at or below market rates to finance efficiency measures that also include new HVAC systems, water heaters, solar panels and geothermal heating/cooling.
"We're making it easier for American homeowners to save money by saving energy," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu, noting they spend an average of $2,000 each year on utility bills.

Eighteen regional and national lenders, including Quicken, have signed on to the two-year pilot program, said Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, who joined Chu in making the announcement. Donovan said he expects the loans will serve about 30,000 homeowners and will not only save them money on energy bills but also reduce pollution and create at least 3,000 construction jobs.

The loans are part of the Obama administration's broader efforts to improve home energy efficiency. In November, Vice President JoeBiden announced a pilot program in which nine communities will test a new Home Energy Score, which ranks a home's efficiency on a scale of one to 10.
Similar to the miles-per-gallon label for cars, the score will also tell consumers how their homes compare with others and how much money they could save with efficiency upgrades based on an energy audit.

Donovan said the Home Energy Score could help prove the payback for various upgrades and the PowerSaver loans could expand demand for them that will prompt greater private investment.
The Federal Housing Administration will cover up to 90% of the loans' amount in the case of default, leaving the remaining risk to the lenders. The participating lenders include:

1. Admirals Bank
2. AFC First Financial Corporation
3. Bank of Colorado
4. City of Boise, Idaho
5. Energy Finance Solutions
6. Enterprise Cascadia
7. HomeStreet Bank
8. Neighbor's Financial Corporation
9. Paramount Equity Mortgage, Inc.
10. Quicken Loans
11. SOFCU Community Credit Union
12. Stonegate Mortgage Corporation
13. Sun West Mortgage Company, Inc.
14. The Bank at Broadmoor
15. University of Virginia Community Credit Union, Inc.
16. Viewtech Financial Service

17. WinTrust Mortgage
18. W. J. Bradley Mortgage Capital Corporation

L.A. County health officials are investigating a possible respiratory infection outbreak after dozens of illnesses are reported by people who attended a recent fundraiser at the Playboy Mansion.

A Feb. 3 fundraiser was held at Hugh Hefner's Holmby Hills home. Many attendees have reported falling ill after the event and suspect that their symptoms are related to legionellosis, or Pontiac fever. Legionellosis is caused by a bacterium that grows in warm water and can take root in hot tubs or parts of air-conditioning systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bacteria are not spread from person to person, according to the CDC, but are instead inhaled in water vapor.

How is Legionellosis spread?

Outbreaks of legionellosis have occurred after people have inhaled aerosols that come air-conditioning cooling towers contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Bacteria can thrive in a variety of conditions and, like mold, can be easily spread throughout your home by the heating and cooling system.

What is the Solution?

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has been used by hospitals and restaurants for years to help disinfect and prevent the spread of germs. I install an excellent home ultraviolet treatment system which applies UV technology to your heating and cooling system to zap and kill airborne and surface contaminants to create a better home environment for your family.

What is UV-C light and how does it kill bacteria?

UV-C is the invisible, ultraviolet, C-band radiation that makes up part of the sun's light spectrum. UV-C light prevents growth and germination of microorganisms by altering the DNA and RNA and effectively sterilizing the organisms. Once sterilized, they cannot reproduce and with their short life cycles, they are effectively killed.

Since 1936, UV has been used to sterilize air. It was first used to purify air in a surgical operating room. UV has been used in schools to decrease the growth of epidemics such as measles and tuberculosis. Other applications include: churches, beauty salons, restaurants, incubation rooms, veterinary clinics, and hospitals.

You can effectively combat airborne germs and bacteria by having a UV system installed in your home. Call to find out more.