The event was held at The Fillmore in Charlotte, which featured a “survivorship in style” fashion show and live auction.  The fashion show featured a stage full of survivors celebrating life.  “We and are so happy to be a part of this wonderful event”, stated Steve McLaughlin.

Charlotte Mechanical will continue the fight against cancer  and the hope for a cure in 2013.  They will be involved all throughout the year, with the next event being the ACS Relay For Life, details to follow. For more info on that event or joining the team, please visit our Facebook page.

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Unclog your drain without using powerful industrial chemicals. Find out other surprisingly easy and non-toxic ways to keep your drains open.

When drains get clogged, we often reach for the most powerful chemical arsenal we can find. As a result, most of us resort to commercial drain cleaners that contain some of the most dangerous chemicals found in the home. Lye or acid, these products can harm health, the wastewater stream, and PVC pipes.

A gentle yet effective way to free a clog from a drain is to use simple household ingredients instead of burning a hole through the clog with industrial lye or acid. There are even bacteria-based enzyme cleaners available in health food stores that eat the clog free from the pipe without harming everything else in which it comes into contact. And it is always worth it to try unclogging a drain first with an old-fashioned plunger; they very often do the trick.

Baking Soda Drain Cleaner
If water hasn’t yet backed up in your drain, pour 1 cup of baking soda followed by 3 cups of boiling water. The boiling
water will change the chemical composition of baking soda, making it more alkaline. Repeat a few times until the drain is clear.

Washing Soda Drain Cleaner
 If the water isn’t going down the drain, pour a cup of washing soda over the drain area and let it set for a while to work its way down to the clog. Once the clog is loosened, use the baking soda method, above. Washing soda is more alkaline than baking soda, with a pH of 11. You never want to use washing soda if a commercial acid drain cleaner has recently been used in the drain, as they will strongly react with each other. You also shouldn’t overuse washing soda if you have PVC pipes, as the caustic nature of washing soda can slowly damage the plastic.

The Bubbling Method Using Vinegar and Baking Soda 
Baking soda and vinegar react with each other to cause bubbles and fizzing. Sometimes the fizzing can unlodge clogs. Follow the baking soda and boiling water formula, above, with 1 cup of vinegar.

Enzyme Drain and Garbage Disposal Maintenance 
All natural living enzyme culture drain cleaners will actually eat and break down any organic matter. Using enzyme drain cleaners once a month, such as Bi-O-Kleen’s Bacout, will help not just your drains, but your septic system. They will also significantly reduce odor from garbage disposals. Colonies of enzymes will actually continue to grow and break down organic matter in your drains .

Washing Soda Maintenance 
Enzymes don’t work as well on hair clogs, so to keep drains clear that tend to collect hair, such as in the shower and bath. A few times a month pour 1 cup of washing soda followed by a thorough flushing of water.

Mineral or Vegetable Oil Sometimes a foul odor can be caused by sewer gas rising though empty drain traps, which is caused by lack of regular use. One trick is to avoid this issue is to pour a small amount of mineral oil or vegetable oil into little used drains.  The oil floats on the water in the trap and slows evaporation.  If you still have problems with the odor, you have to look for leaks.  These can be caused by leaking wax seals on toilets, cracked toilets, rotted drain tubes, leaking joints, etc.  Each of these must be repaired.

If these methods do not solve your drain problem, Call Charlotte Mechanical today.  We are an Award Winning Plumbing Service and we can give you a free estimate or a 2^nd opinion today!

The post Unclog Your Drain – “The Green Way” appeared first on Charlotte Mechanical.

Let’s Talk FILTERS – SAVE ENERGY & MONEY with clean filters

• Check all of your filters inside your home every month
• Pay close attention to the months that are the coldest and the warmest
• If the filter looks dirty, change it
• Change your filter every 3 months

When dirt accumulates in your air filter it slows down the flow of air. The result is that your system has to work much harder to keep you comfortable. A clean air filter also helps your system by preventing dust and dirt from building-up within your system – something that over time leads to expensive maintenance and/or premature HVAC failure.

If you are checking your filters and they never appear dirty, you may have another issue that needs attention. Air could be passing through gaps in your ductwork as it returns to the furnace/air handler. Look for tears in the flex duct or gaps in the sheet metal duct back to the furnace/air handler. This means your HVAC unit is not running efficiently which comes at a cost. It also indicates that the system is not cleansing the air as it should be, which can lead to a host of other problems – especially for those with allergies.

Charlotte Mechanical can check these issues out for you anywhere in the Charlotte area and repair the problem immediately.

Charlotte Mechanical is a proud supplier of 3M filters.

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It is more economical to detect and repair a plumbing problem as quickly as possible.  If a small plumbing issue is left untreated, you can have serious damage to your home plumbing system.  For instance, rattling pipes can be easy to repair, but if not purged, could lead to permanent damage that will be very expensive to replace.

Another potential problem is accumulation of sediment in a water pipe resulting in a clogged pipe and decreased water pressure.  An early clog can often be easily cleared and costly repairs avoided.

Some potential problems can easily be fixed, like tightening connections, replacing old shower heads, adding caulking around plumbing fixtures, replacing worn screws and washers, and cleaning faucets, shower heads and aerators.  If you have a toilet that is constantly running, that can be as simple as repairing the flapper valve system.

A plumbing check-up can help you AVOID costly repairs.

The post Save Money by doing a Plumbing Check-up appeared first on Charlotte Mechanical.

Heating and air in your home uses more energy and costs more money than any other system in your home-typically making up about 54% of your utility bill.

There are many factors that determine the  effectiveness of your heating and air system. You want to make sure you are comfortable in any season. At the same time there are important tips to follow to reduce your costs.

Here are a few tips we give our heating and air customers to help save money and stay comfortable.

• Set your programmable thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter, as well as when you’re sleeping or away from home.
• Clean or replace your filters on furnaces and air conditioners once a month or as recommended.
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
• Eliminate trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if unsure about how to perform this task, contact us.
• Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
• Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you’re done cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.
• During winter, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.

Charlotte Mechanical works hard to keep our heating and air customers comfortable and save them money. We can provide you with even more tips that can help you with your unique issues. Please contact us if you are interested in our specials or learning more about our heating and air charlotte services.

source: http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/tips-heating-and-cooling

The post Heating and Air Charlotte Tips: Save Money & Stay Comfortable appeared first on Charlotte Mechanical.

The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. High levels of CO inhalation can cause loss of consciousness and death. Unless suspected, CO poisoning can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mimic other illnesses. People who are sleeping or intoxicated can die from CO poisoning before ever experiencing symptoms.

It is imperative that fuel-burning appliances, such as furnaces, are inspected on a regular basis. Ensuring the proper operation of your furnace directly affects the safety of you and your family. Call Charlotte Mechanical today and schedule your furnace check up.

The post Protect Your Family From Carbon Monoxide appeared first on Charlotte Mechanical.

With over 20 years of industry experience, Charlotte Mechanical looks forward to being your number one choice for Charlotte plumbing services. We pride ourselves on doing the job right and giving our customers 100% satisfaction. Below are some of the services we offer:

• Sinks and Faucets Repaired and Replaced
• Tankless Water Heater Installation and Repair
• Conventional Water Heater Installation and Repair
• Toilet Installation and Repair
• Drain Cleaning (Residential and Commercial)
• Video Inspections (sewer and water lines)
• Tub and Shower Installation and Repair
• Water Line Repairs and Replacements
• Garbage Disposals
• Preventative Maintenance Programs

We are currently offering a special on plumbing maintenance agreements for those who have an HVAC maintenance agreement. Ask our customer service representatives for details.

The post Don’t Forget, We Do Plumbing Too! appeared first on Charlotte Mechanical.

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Heating System Preventative Maintenance

No one wants to think about getting their heating system checked out when the kids are still playing in the pool, but old man winter is just around the corner.  Call us today to get a jump start on your fall check-up and make sure your heating system is working properly when it’s time to turn up the heat.

Heating Check-up

A heating check-up is much like an oil change on your car, it needs to be done regularly and can catch potentially harmful issues before they occur.  Listed below are a few of the things we look at during our check-up:

• Inspect the thermostat
• Inspect and change filters (home owner provided)
• Check all motors and electrical components
• Check the gas pressure/air mixture
  • Too much or not enough can lead to shortened furnace life or potential danger
• Check the air flow and cleanliness of the evaporator coil
  • Ensures the correct temperature output
• Inspect the heat exchanger and venting thoroughly to ensure no cracks or leaks
  • A cracked heat exchanger or leaking vent pipe can be very dangerous as it releases Carbon Monoxide into the vents and throughout your home
•  Refrigerant charge check (heat pumps only)
  • Check temperature and pressures of the system for leaks

Before having our factory trained technician out, it’s good practice to do a few things to ensure safe and happy heating:

• Make sure nothing has been mistakenly moved up against the furnace, as this could create a potential fire hazard (boxes, holiday decorations, clothes, etc).
• Regularly change your filters
  • Dirty filters can put unwanted stress on a heating/cooling system, costing you more money with longer run times and premature part/motor failures.
• Make sure all doors and covers are in place before starting the furnace.  If doors are not in place, it could lead to a potential fire as there are open flames in the unit. A simple suitcase or box falling over into the unit could create a disaster if the doors/covers are not in place.

What’s that smell?!?!

If you choose to start your heating system before we make our visit, you may find that your heating system is giving off a burning smell. This is normal.  Since the unit sat idle over the summer, the heat exchanger or heat strips typically collect dust which causes the smell. We recommend opening your windows prior to starting the unit to allow the smell to dissipate quickly.

Call and schedule your heating system check-up today @ 704.771.1020. Dont forget we also do plumbing, schedule both comfort calls and received $10 off.

The post Heating System Check-Up appeared first on Charlotte Mechanical.

Longer Life

Tank-style water heaters rarely last over ten years without needing replacement. Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, can last 20 years or longer. The difference is that tank-style water heaters generally have to be completely replaced when they have an issue, while it’s easy to switch out parts in a tankless water heater (if needed).

Increased Storage Space

If you’re having difficulty finding enough storage space in your home, consider making the switch to a tankless water heater. Instead of taking up an entire utility closet, a tankless water heater only occupies a small area on the wall. Tankless are also available in an outdoor version that can mount on the side of your home, with an optional flush mount kit. *Ask us for more info on outdoor mounting when we’re out giving you a FREE estimate.

Lower Cost

Though tankless water heaters generally cost more to install, they can save you money and reduce water consumption, waiting for hot water with conventional systems. While tank-style water heaters waste energy by heating water constantly, tankless water heaters draw water through a heat exchanger only when a water fixture is turned on.

Endless Hot Water

The problem with tank-style water heaters is that they eventually run out of hot water, interfering with long showers or dishwashing sessions. Tankless water heaters, however, never run out of hot water.

If you have any questions about switching to a tankless hot water heater, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 704.771.1020.  Don’t forget, water heater replacement estimates are always FREE.

The post Ready To Go Tankless? appeared first on Charlotte Mechanical.

- Locate the Problem

If you suddenly notice water pooling in your home, it’s important to locate the source of the leak as quickly as you can. Consider marking off the problem area so our plumber can more quickly narrow down the issue.

- Shut off the Main Water Supply

As soon as you locate the problem, you should turn off your home’s water supply. The shutoff valve will usually be located in either your laundry room or outside next to the street. This would be a good thing to take 5 minutes after reading this to locate in case of a future emergency. The earlier you turn off the water, the less water damage you’ll have to deal with.

- Call Charlotte Mechanical

Although you may feel obligated to fix your own plumbing problem, there’s a chance that you could cause more damage. In order to achieve a permanent fix, you should call a Charlotte plumber as soon as possible. Even if you first notice the leak at 3 am, we are on-call 24/7 for you! Charlotte Mechanical is licensed, bonded, and insured.

- Soak up Excess Water

If water is left standing for too long, it could cause serious damage to your home. While our plumber is on the way, you should attempt to soak up some of the water—unless you’re dealing with sewage, which can contain dangerous pathogens.

If you ever experience a plumbing emergency, give Charlotte Mechanical a call immediately—we’re here for you 24/7. Even if you don’t have an urgent plumbing issue, we’ll be happy to send a plumber out to look at your plumbing system. To schedule an appointment or sign-up for our yearly plumbing service agreement, call us today at 704.771.1020.

The post What To Do In A Plumbing Emergency… appeared first on Charlotte Mechanical.

But it’s also a mystery to most of us. How does central air conditioning get and keep our homes so pleasantly cool? What do you do if your air conditioner breaks?

Here’s some basic information about the way your central air conditioner functions to help you understand

Air Conditioners Draw Heat Out

Air conditioners basically function the same way as your refrigerator does. In fact, your fridge is essentially an air conditioner that’s attached to an insulated box. Both of them work on the theory of drawing heat out of a room or other space (not, as is commonly believed, adding cool air into it). The final result is a space that has less heat in it, offering a much cooler feel.

Air conditioning also takes advantage of the way evaporation works to make us feel cooler. Ever had a swab of alcohol placed on your skin? The fast evaporation of the alcohol made your skin feel cool, but it wasn’t actually lowering your skin temperature, just drawing heat from the air to turn the alcohol into a gas.

Air conditioning units have a special kind of chemical in them, referred to as a refrigerant. R-22 was one of the older chemicals used for this purpose, but its ozone depleting effects have caused it to be replaced by other substitute refrigerants. All refrigerants have the ability to evaporate, or change from liquid to gas, in a very short amount of time.

At the factory, the refrigerant will be pumped into the air conditioning or other cooling unit, plus some lubricating oil to keep the compressor working. It should never exit the unit, and if you have a refrigerant leak, you’re losing cooling ability, as well as causing environmental damage. That’s why correct central air conditioning installation and routine checks are important.

There are a number of basic parts to the average central air conditioning unit. They are the:

• Condenser (Outdoor Coil)
• Evaporator (Indoor Coil)
• Compressor
• Metering Device
• Thermostat

An air conditioner may also have thin metal fins on the condenser and evaporator. These allow heat to quickly be dissipated. The compressor is usually the heaviest part of the unit, as it has to be strong enough to stand the immense amount of pressure it’s under.

The Air Conditioning Process

1) The refrigerant enters the compressor. This usually happens at the bottom of the unit, but some other arrangements exist. The refrigerant is a cool gas at this point, but as it enters the inner chamber of the compressor, it is compressed, becoming an extremely warm gas under very high pressure.

2) The refrigerant then passes through a number of condensing coils that are located outside of the house. The heat in it dissipates into the air outside, the same way a radiator in a car removes the heat from engine coolant. Once the refrigerant makes its way to the end of the coils, it’s a lot cooler, has condensed to a liquid but still under a lot of pressure. It’s a lot like the liquid in an aerosol can, in fact.

3) The liquid refrigerant will then be forced through an extremely tiny opening. This is the metering device, and it works a lot like that aerosol can’s sprayer, creating an extremely fine mist of refrigerant. Refrigerants evaporate at a much lower temperature than other liquids, including water, so they start evaporating quickly as they travel through another set of coils.

This evaporation works like the alcohol on your skin, drawing heat from the surrounding air in your home. The fans blow air across metal fins that are located over these coils. Air comes to them through the duct work in your home, and leaves feeling much cooler.

4) Now the refrigerant in the gas stage goes back into the compressor. It keeps going around and around through the system until the thermostat registers that a specific temperature has been reached. Then the compressor shuts off and the action stops. Once the room warms up again, the thermostat sense this added heat, kicking the compressor back on again and repeating the cycle.

Efficiency is Important

Of course, your central air conditioning system won’t have to work as hard or use as much energy if you take other measures to keep your home cool, like keeping the doors closed and the window shades down, and sealing air leaks that could cause the heat from outside to come into your house.

A central air conditioning unit is much more efficient than a window mounted air conditioner, as it is able to cool the whole house. Installation in homes that already have forced air furnaces is simple, too – that’s because you can use the existing duct system and just hook the air conditioning equipment up to it.

If your home is older and uses radiators, or some other method of heating, installation of a central air conditioner may be more complicated and costly, since the house will have to be fitted for ductwork. Remember to choose a unit of the correct size to cool the space in your home – units that aren’t large enough won’t provide enough cooling, and overly large units may be a waste of energy and wont cool properly.

Expert Installation of Your Air Conditioning System

Installing a new, energy efficient central air conditioning unit is an excellent decision for any home owner who wants to add value to a home and improve the comfort of living. This upgrade can make a big difference in how your home feels in the summer.

Just remember it’s important to have your air conditioning system installation performed by an experienced professional. Charlotte Mechanical has been serving the Charlotte area for over 20 years and has installed over 7,000 units in the past 3 years alone.

To keep your system in tip-top shape, consider our simplified service plan (SSP),  you’ll save money in the long run by keeping your unit maintained properly.

Preferred and Referred by more for Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. 704.771.1020

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       Upgrade Your Thermostat and Save…

Would you leave your car running all day while you’re at work?  The same applies to your heating and air conditioning system.

If your thermostat doesn’t have programming capabilities, or you’re not using them, it’s the same as letting that car run all day.

Charlotte Mechanical has a variety of different programmable thermostats for all budgets. We have models available from basic programming to touch screen programmable with added features like outdoor temperature and humidity readings, color screens and more.  By adding a programmable thermostat you can save upwards of 30% on your heating and cooling bills by reducing the run time, and lengthening the life of your system.

Give us a call today for more information on the different thermostat models we offer 704.771.1020.

The post Upgrade Your Thermostat and Save… appeared first on Charlotte Mechanical.

Installation of an effective air purification system can negate these potential risks by removing many airborne allergens and irritants found in a typical home. Electronic air purifiers can eliminate as much as 98 percent of these pollutants from inside a residence. Ultra violet light systems, which are installed in the air ducts, eliminate these contaminants and kill molds and bacteria as well.

We have a variety of air purification products at Charlotte Mechanical to suit your needs, give us a call today to schedule an appointment, 704-771-1020.

The post Air Purification Benefits appeared first on Charlotte Mechanical.

The outdoor coil of your A/C unit is like a vacuum, gathering dirt, debris and other gunk in its coils.  What does this mean?  It means less and less air can pass through the small fins, lowering the heat transfer rate and ultimately costing YOU more money….

At Charlotte Mechanical we will come out and perform a foam coil cleaning on the outdoor coil, getting rid of the blockage.  The foam process shown below in the pictures will push out the gunk and dirt that has been packed in the fins resulting in a more efficient unit for you.

Right now for $59 we will come out and inspect, tune-up and clean your AC unit to ensure its in top performance for the summer months.

Give us a call today and schedule your Comfort Call at 704-771-1020

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