These are tough economic times and our goal is to make the most of the dollars we have. Saving money is as important as earning money and if we can follow some simple tips from the experts on how to save energy around the house then we can all put a few more dollars away for the things we really need or want.
Here are 12 simple low cost steps you can take toward saving energy around the home:
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1. Change light bulbs to compact fluorescent lights, CFL’s, when your incandescent lights burn out. CFL’s use about 1/3 the energy and they have been improved so the light looks like the warm whites you are accustom to.
2. Install insulation behind wall outlets and switch plates. Cold air from outside can enter into your home through these non insulated openings. Hardware stores sell custom fitted insulation for these electrical coverings.
3. Install motion sensors in place of light switches. These devices will automatically turn on lights when you enter room and will automatically turn off lights when you leave.
4. Set your heating system thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. The amount of oil/gas you will save over the course of the winter will be substantial compared to setting thermostat at 70 or 72 degrees.
5. Install a multiprogrammable thermostat that will automatically lower heating temperature during day or night when you are not at home and raise temperature when you are home e.g. evenings and weekends.
6. Install a humidifier for your home. Moisture in the air during the winter is healthy and makes the room feel warmer.
7. Insulate and caulk windows, doors, and openings, and heating ducts.
8. Insulate hot water heater and hot water pipes that are exposed. If your hot water is more than 10 years old then consider replacing. If your furnace/boiler is more than 15-20 years old than consider replacing. There are rebates and discounts available from many dealers and manufacturers. Check out T.F. Obrien.
9. Have your heating system checked out each season. A tune up is always needed and well worth the expense or should I say investment.
10. Change all filters on your heating system. This includes oil filter, air filter, and water filter. Clogged filters reduce efficiency and cause equipment to work overtime.
11. Make use of passive heating and keep drapes and blinds open on south facing rooms of home during sunny days. Let the sun heat your home.
12. Make sure all air ducts, heat registers, and baseboard heating is clean and open to allow air to move to be efficient.
These are just a few of the many minor inexpensive items that you can perform or have a professional perform at little or no cost. Look for future postings on additional ideas and links to energy savings. Check out www.energysavers.gov. For more information and or a free consultation please contact us at 631-423-2211.
Whether we want it or not winter is here. Extremely cold winter temperatures can damage your water pipes, leading to water waste and high sewer and water bills.
During the winter months, unprotected water pipes and water meters are vulnerable to freezing. This problem can be easily prevented by making sure that minimum heat is provided to all basements and other areas where the pipes and meters are located.
Here are 5 great tips that will help protect your home’s plumbing from winter water damage:
1. Cover all outside exposed pipes and wrap them with insulation. This can be obtained at your local hardware store. This will help keep your pipes warm and should prevent freezing. See Jeff at Greenlawn Hardware or visit his website at www.greenlawnhardware.com.
2. Check for any cracks in your foundation. Be sure repairs are made and potential problem situations are resolved.
3. If pipes do freeze, cut off main water valve. You can call your local water department and request they come out and shut off your buffalo box or simple call Rain Rich we are happy to help.
4. If you are leaving for an extended period of time you can shut your water off at the main valve. Also, you can lower the temperature of your furnace, but don’t shut it off. Set heat no lower than 55 degrees as this will prevent costly repairs to your plumbing.
5. Leave faucets dripping slightly overnight in extremely cold weather. If weather is below 32° for more than 3 or 4 nights turn your faucet on just enough for a slight trickle, by doing so you will have constant movement of the water which will prevent freezing
The goal is to be safe, secure and stay warm throughout this winter. If you need help with any of the above then please call us 631.423.2211 for a free consultation.
So far this winter season has been mild compared to our normal arctic experience. Good for us in many ways with lower heating bills, less snow to shovel, and easier travel. With over 60+ official days of winter remaining I am sure that we will have old man winter rattling our homes and sounding like a freight train running through the yard. Now would be a good time to take inventory of how well prepared we are before we are surprised by the blizzard of the century!
15.5 Tips to help you prepare for the snow and extreme cold weather:
1. Have snow shovels handy and available.
2. Have ice melt. Rain Rich has plenty of high quality safe ice melt in stock.
3. Make sure your snow blower is ready. If you do not have then now would be a good time to purchase. They are lower in cost then they ever were and are easy to use. If you only use once or twice in a season then it is still worthwhile to have. They don’t go bad!
4. Have plenty of birdseed. Birdseed is good to throw down on icy patches and helps the birds because that cannot find food when snow blankets the ground.
5. Make sure your water pipes are insulated. If it is super cold and windy outside it is not a bad idea to keep some faucets dripping to keep water moving in pipes and prevent from freezing. Moving water does not freeze as quickly as non-moving water.
6. Use heated pipe cables on water lines that may be exposed to the cold. e.g. cold water lines that run through a crawl space or garage or outside wall.
7. 
Place inexpensive water alarms in basement, under sinks, by laundry room. Rain Rich has plenty in stock.
8. If you leave to go on vacation and the house is vacant then think about shutting down water supply to the house to prevent damage while you are away.
9. Check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
10. Have boiler serviced and fuel filter changed to prevent emergencies. If you have an old boiler then consider changing. Check with your fuel company as they have sales and there are many rebates. The cost may pay for itself quickly.
11. Stock up on firewood while it is still relatively inexpensive and easy to deliver and store.
12. Make sure your chimney is clean. Have a professional clean it annually.
13. Clean gutters and leaders. Have downspout extended to move water away from basement and cellar windows. Frozen ground does not allow water to seep in and water will find its way into your basement!
14. Install heat cables in gutters and leaders and prevent from freezing and creating and ice dam on your roof. Ice dams on your roof can damage roof shingles, gutters, leaders, downspouts, and allow water to leak into your home creating damage inside! Maneuvering snow, ice, water off the roof and away from your home is critical during the few storms we may get.
15. Install dry wells to capture water from ground surface and from downspouts and to maneuver water away from home and safely into the ground.
15.5. Consider the purchase of a gas powered generator. They are also lower in cost and if it is powerful enough to keep your heating system working then it will more than pay for itself.
There is plenty to do when owning a home and protecting your most valuable investment by being prepared and practicing these few preventative maintenance listed above will go a long way in keeping your family safe, warm, and happy while keeping your overall costs low. I would certainly appreciate your feedback and if you have any questions or comments then I will also be happy to answer. Rain Rich can also help you with any of the above and please call 631.423.2211 or request a free evaluation.
Winter can be brutal on your landscaping and cause many plants to perish or become injured. A beautiful landscape adds value to your home, and as your landscape matures certain plants become difficult or impossible to replace. To save your plants and minimize plant replacement I recommend the following:
1. Apply wilt pruf or an anti desiccant to your evergreen plants to prevent them from drying out. When the ground is frozen plants cannot take in water and replace moisture due to loss from wind or normal biological activity. Protecting plants such as: rhododendrons, azaleas, boxwood, hollies, skip laurels; etc from wind burn and drought is essential to keeping them alive and off to a good start in the spring.
2. Mulch around plants. Winter mulching is very important because it helps keep soil temperature stabile during the cold months. A good layer of mulch prevents soil from rapid changes in temperature for freezing to thaw and v.v. constant freezing and thawing of soil damages the fine roots of many plants and also causes soil to lose moisture more quickly. A 2” – 4” covering of soil with a good quality mulch of either bark, shredded bark, hay, straw, and oak leaves works best.
3. Cover plants with cloth and burlap works best. Put stakes in ground and place cloth over stakes and not on the plants themselves. Cover rhododendrons, azaleas, laurels, camellias, figs, etc. Plants that are in very windy locations benefit best as well as plants on north side of buildings. If necessary, construct temporary barriers and fences to protect plants from damaging winds.
4. Water plants, especially new plants, when weather is above freezing temperatures and soil is not frozen to keep plants hydrated. Evergreen shrubs will lose a lot of moisture on days when air temperatures are above freezing. If the soil is frozen and the air temperature is above freezing then plants will struggle to draw moisture from the soil.
5. Prune damaged trees, branches, and shrubs. Trimming trees and shrubs cut away dead or broken branches before they become a bigger problem later on. The best time to prune live trees is between Lincoln’s birthday, mid February, and tax day which is April 15th. Trees and plants have time to heal before the growing season.
It is best to leave it to the professionals to spray wilt pruf on plants and to have trees pruned. For more information or help in having these services provided please contact us at 631-423-2211 or contact us online at www.rainrich.com.
WINTER STARTS TODAY! Are you ready?
Cleaning your gutters and leaders is one of the simplest and least expensive maintenance items you can choose to maintain the great look and health of your home.
Many homeowners never think to clean their gutters until they notice a problem. Once realized, it may be too late to simply clean the gutters. Now repairs and replacements of gutters, leaders, siding, fascia boards and soffits must take place. Water can also make its way into the home creating a mold issue.
Here are 5 reasons to keep your gutters and leaders clean:
1. Heavy rain and snow can back up under roof shingles and into the roof and eaves. Saturated wood will quickly rot and disintegrate. Water will then enter into home.
2. Water that sits in your gutter for extended periods of time attracts insects and wildlife.
3. Water that sits in your gutter weighs hundreds of pounds and will eventually pull the gutter and fascia away from the home causing damage.
4. Leaders that are clogged with leaves and branches cause water to back up and flow over gutter and into the home.
5. Water that overflows the gutter and onto the ground below destroys the landscaping and may also allow water to penetrate the foundation and into your basement.
Many of these problems can be avoided by regular maintenance. The cost to maintain can be minor in comparison to repairing damage and or replacing damaged structure.
Have Rain Rich give you a free quote by calling us at 631-423-2211 or click here to schedule an appointment.
Get geared up for winter, only 9 days left!
11 Things you must do to keep your home safe this month.
With icy cold weather and snow to appear at any time I recommend that you prepare for the worst and pray for the best! Winter has many challenges with cold weather, freezing temperatures, and icy roads forcing us indoors most of the time. A few simple and inexpensive purchases can save you a lot of time and trouble later on. Here is my December list to keep your home warm and safe:
1. Install carbon monoxide alarms and smoke detectors. Install one on each floor and in your cellar.
2. Clean chimney and or wood burning stove.
3. Have plenty of firewood ready. Be sure to cover and protect it from wet weather and snow.
4. Get rid of old gasoline properly and empty gas from lawnmower and other power tools that you are not using. Leaving gasoline in power tools all winter ruins the equipment.
5. Have snow blower, snow shovels, ice melt, and snow plow company prepared and ready to go in case of the big ONE!
6. Stock up on food. Can goods, dry goods, water, and propane for the BBQ, etc.
7. Purchase of a gas powered generator to serve as a backup for when power goes out. Make sure it is large enough to power your heating system, the refrigerator, and a few lights, the TV, the laptop, the radio.
8. Shop for gifts and everything else online. It’s cheaper, faster, and less hassle.
9. Decorate outdoors now while the weather is still warm. Hire someone (like Rain Rich!) to mount lights on your roof and take them down.
10. Give to a local charity. Food, clothes, and toys are always greatly appreciated by those less fortunate.
11. Hang a birdfeeder and put out birdseed regularly. They will give life to the outside of your home during those dreary grey days.
All of us at Rain Rich wish you and your family a safe and warm holiday season!
Get geared up for winter...
Give A Rain Rich Gift Certificate
In celebration of this holiday season many people have a difficult time finding the right gift for that
special someone. If you need a holiday gift idea we recommend giving them a
Rain Rich Gift Certificate!
5 Benefits of Giving Holiday Gift Certificates1.
Save yourself valuable time. With this easy gift solution, you’ll know the receiver will get something they like.
2.
Convenience. Gift certificates offer flexibility because they can be used at any time towards any one of our listed services.
3.
You decide. You can easily control spending with a pre-paid gift certificate.
4.
It’s fast and easy. In need of a last minute gift. All you have to do is call us and we mail it to you.
5.
No expirations date. Use your gift certificate at any time.
Rain Rich Gift Certificates make great holiday gifts. They come in any denomination and can be used for any one of our products or services such as:
o New sprinkler system installations o Modifications to existing systems o Drip Irrigation Systems o Fertigation Systems o Landscape Lighting Systems o Holiday Lighting PackagesRain Rich Gift Certificates are available for this holiday season. They are also great for any occasion. To get more information simply call
631.423.2211 and we'll be happy to help you.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
The official beginning of winter is only 6 weeks away and its hard to believe that summer and fall are almost over. I love the winter and there is much to do before it begins and the weather becomes difficult.
Here is a short list that I recommend and that I have found to be very beneficial to keeping my home in great shape.
1. Have your home heating system checked out as soon as possible. Clean and replace filters. Get your oil tanks filled up now and have your gas furnace looked at.
2. Insulate your home including doors, windows, attic and crawl spaces.
3. Clean all gutter and leaders. Clogged gutters and leaders lead to water damage to the house and flooding in the basements.
4. Bring your snow blower in for service now! Do not wait until that 1st snowfall. Give the service shop two weeks lead time to repair anything that might be loose or broken. Improper maintenance and operation of the snow blower can lead to serious injury.
5. Cover AC units outside to prevent leaves and debris from accumulation inside of the unit.
6. Walk the outside of your home and visually inspect for damages to shingles, roof, foundation, etc. Have these things repaired to keep water, moisture, snow, insects and mice from getting inside your home.
7. Caulk, insulate and repair damaged parts of doors and windows before the temperature really drops.
8. Put away all outdoor furniture, umbrellas, etc. to keep from being damaged and blown around with strong winter winds.
9. Trim trees that might destroy your home or property.
10. WINTERIZE your sprinkler system!
10.5 Check outside lighting and outdoor fixtures. Replace bulbs and lamp fixture that are old, blown out or in bad shape.
The goal is to be safe, secure and warm throughout this winter. Being proactive now and making these repairs and improvements is best. Due to the difficultly of working in cold weather, completing repairs now can also save you bick bucks later on.
If you need help with any of the above then please call us 631.423.2211 for a free consultation or click here now.
The holiday season is upon us. It can be the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also the busiest. Which is why this would be a great time to let Rain Rich become your holiday lighting expert.
Rain Rich wants to help you enjoy the holiday season with less work and less hassle. Leave the hard work to us! With our complete holiday decorating services, our team of experienced professionals can transform your home into a spectacular winter wonderland.
3 Reasons Why You Need a Holiday Lighting Expert:
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Tasteful Display Customized for You! Our displays create stunning visual designs that shine throughout the holiday season. We use quality products featuring the best lights, wreaths, garlands, 3D figures, and trees on the market. The Rain Rich design team crafts a customized display based on your needs. Our computer-generated lighting software then demonstrates how the display will look on your property. In the end, there are no surprises and you get the display of your dreams.
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Efficient Energy Use. Rain Rich uses the latest in energy saving LED Lights which consume 90% less power than those you buy at the hardware store. In addition, we set the timers and controllers so your display is on when you want it and off when you don’t.
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Convenience: One Call Does it All! Would you rather spend your holiday season relaxing with family and friends, or pulling lights out of storage, getting on ladders, and stringing extension cords all over your frozen landscape? One call does it all. Rain Rich can reduce your hassles and allow you to enjoy the holidays this year by handling all your outdoor holiday lighting needs. Our expert staff will come to your home, set up the display, configure the timers, and make sure your house looks its festive best. And after the season, we will be back to take it all down and store it in our facility until next year.
This year, don’t waste time looking for last year’s broken lights, untangling wires, climbing unsafe ladders, and connecting frayed electric cords. Visit us at www.rainrich.com to schedule your free consultation.
Redeem your $100.00 coupon now. Wishing you a great holiday season.
How to know if you should repair or replace that lawn sprinkler system?Today we are repairing a customer’s sprinkler system that is over three decades old. The question arose should we replace the system with a new automatic lawn sprinkler system or try to repair and keep this one going an additional year. Here are some tips to help you make the right decision:
1.
Calculate the total repair cost. Are we replacing broken pipe, sprinkler heads or both? Replacing broken pipe is more costly and time consuming then replacing sprinkler heads. If pipe repairs keep happening on a regular basis and new breaks appear in the middle of the summer then I recommend replacing the entire system. If sprinkler heads are more than 10 years old and are failing then replacing them is simpler and does not require an entire new sprinkler system.
2.
Water efficiency. If your water costs are extremely high then I would consider replacing the system with new because many of the new products are
water efficient and apply water at a uniform rate. Sprinkler heads also can be matched for equal precipitation rate. The cost of a new system will offset the cost of annual water bill.
3.
Old verse the new. New home renovations and new landscaping require new sprinklers. Unfortunately, you could have a perfectly good operating sprinkler system however when home renovations occur and new landscaping is installed it is tricky to match up an old sprinkler system with new. In the long run and over time the sprinkler system failures will adversely affect new landscaping. I would recommend replacing the existing system with new.
4.
Calculate life expectancy. The system operates erratically and does not come on when it should and/or shut off at the proper time. Chances are the control system; i.e. controller, rain sensor, zone valves, field wiring, and electrical splices are beyond their operating life and need to be replaced. These items are difficult to repair and should be upgraded.
The manufacturers of sprinkler equipment estimate that the average life span of their equipment under ideal operating conditions is 10-12 years. I have sprinkler systems that were installed 30 years ago and operating well. These systems installed by Rain Rich Sprinklers have been maintained each year by us. We have winterized and summerizied every season suggesting recommendations and upgrades and the properties continue to look healthy.
In this particular
customer case it was decided to repair and replace broken or missing parts on the system. It appears this system was well maintained and quality equipment was used in the initial design and installation. Next season we will replace the controller, rain sensor, and zone valves. I will recommend installing a solar sync to automatically control the run times.
I advise you to visually inspect your
sprinkler system several times each season and look for missing sprinkler heads and broken pipe. Remember to increase or decrease your sprinkler frequency and reduce for the fall. When was the last time you looked at your sprinkler system and checked for efficiency? I recommend repairing broken pipes before your system is winterized due to water reentering the piping.
For a free sprinkler system audit please call 631-423-2211 or
click here.
