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The Importance of a Reliabe Furnace

del-air@hotmail.com (Residential HVAC) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:43:00 GMT

    Today is January 15, 2009 at 6:50 pm. In most of New Jersey it is currently twenty degrees and tonight will get down to the single diggets. According to the wheather man this temperature trend will last for the next fews day. If there is ever a good reason to know that your furnace is working in top condition i think that 0-10 degrees is the best you can get. When it is thirty degrees out side, your house can stay around 45-50 degrees with out heat for a few days. That will keep pipes from freezing and causing serious damage to your home and possetions. BUT... when it is below twenty degrees and your house is with out heat for enough time it can cause damage that you will never take your furnace for granted again.
    Now there are certain things that you as a home owner can do to prevent having this happen to you. One thing is if your furnace or thermostat is twenty years old i strongly reccommend changing them out. As a heating and air conditioning contractor i see people in some pretty bad situations. Not only do they not have no heat or air conditioning but when it does get fixed the cost is over whelming. Now to have a yearly service contract would cost about $100 per system. That would assure you minnimal surprises with your equipment and if something did go wrong atleast you have a mechanic that you know ready to come to your house and take care of things. Another way to go is to have a heating and air conditioning company come every few years to do a heat start up and evaluate your furnace.
    If you are a "handy man" home owner then some things that you can do are:
change your air filter
change your humidifier pad
check callibration on your thermostat
if you have an electronic air cleaner make sure it is plugged in and that the power light is on
if you have a 90% furnace or a humidifier poor water in you condensate pump to see if the water runs through properly
    If you have an oil furnace proper, yearly maintenance is very important: For most home owners doing any thing on their oil furnace is out of the question. Besides the smell of the oil unless you know what you are doing even a simple task could take all day. On the other hand if you want to dive in and get dirty then a good place to start would be the oil filter. As long as you have a good valve this should be no problem. Changing other parts like the ignitors or the burnur nozzel could get a little trickier. Anything more then that i reccommend calling a qualified heating contractor.
    Allways Remember That When Working With Gas, Oil Or Electric There Is A Risk Factor

How much do you know about Honeywell Thermostats

del-air@hotmail.com (Residential HVAC) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:32:00 GMT

    If your thermostat is from the late 1980's and has remnants of every color paint that room has been painted the last twenty years maybe it's time for an upgrade. An old thermostat not only has a dated look to it but it is not doing you any good. The temperature may not be accurate and it does not contain any technology that will help you save money. So by changing your thermostat you are not only improving the look of your wall but the money spent will pay itself back be for you know it.
    There is a great variety of thermostats from Honeywell. As a heating and cooling company owner Honeywell is the only thermostat that i will use. Whether you get the standard Pro 2000 or splurge and get the Pro 8000 IAQ you are sure to be getting a very quality thermostat. Every Honeywell thermostat is Energy Star rated. Also you get a 5 year warranty.
    The Pro 2000 is Honeywell's most standard thermostat. If you aren't looking for a fancy thermostat then this is your best choice. It's basic operation and easy to use controls makes it ideal for many home owners.
    The Pro 4000 is the next step up and allows you to program a schedule into your thermostat. This will give you control to raise or lower the temperature at specific times depending on the need for heat or air conditioning. The Pro 4000 allows you to schedule a Monday through Friday and a Saturday/Sunday option.
    Now if you want a thermostat that is going to make a difference in your gas and electric bills plus add some pizazz to your wall then the Pro 8000 is the right choice for you. The Pro 8000 gives you control of every day Monday through Sunday. It has reminders for changing your air filter or humidifier filter. It has a big touch screen with easy to read numbers and a continuous back light. The best feature is the Adaptive Intelligent Recovery. The thermostat learns how long it takes to raise the temperature according to your daily schedule. By using all the features the Pro 8000 has to offer Honeywell states on their web page that you can save 33% on your gas and electric bills.
    The upgraded version of the Pro 8000 is the Pro 8000 IAQ. If you have a furnace with a whole house humidifier or a dehumidifier or a hepa system and want to control it from one location then this is your only choice. The Pro 8000 IAQ has all the controls as the Pro 8000 with the addition of a control interface module.
    So if you want an easy to use, reliable thermostat made by a company you can trust any of your choices would be a good one.

The Homeowner - The Contractor and The Estimate by Falco Tile Llc

falcotile@gmail.com (Falco Tile) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:44:00 GMT

When homeowners are in the planing phases of budgeting a future home project, there are a few thing they should keep in mind.

For starters, getting more than one estimate is key, in fact homeowners should get no less than three estimates.

Here are some reasons why.

Getting to know contractors
Making sure that one, some or all the contractors are giving good advice and good ideas.
Recognizing the contractor with the most experience, talent and knowhow.
Being able to tell which one of the contractors is the better listener. ( listening is very important when dealing with a contractor )
Finding out if the contractor does one or more projects a time.
Learning if the contractors sub the work to another contractor or installer.
Do these contractors have a licensed plumbers or electricians that they deal with on the regular bases.
Which of these contractors actually specialized in the what the homeowners wants to have done.
At the time of getting the estimates, which contractor showed up in time of the appointment. For a Homeowner having a contractor being punctual It's always a good indication that things will go smooth.
When is the contractor willing to start the project and how long is going to take.
Is the contractor licensed and insured.

Price, yes price is key when deciding which contractor will do the job. And, I am not going to write about weather the homeowner should pick the highest or lowest or the one in the middle. That is up to the homeowner.

But, what I am going to write about is; make sure to compare apples to apples, know the deference of what each contractor is doing and how, and what kind of materials are they offering.
At the end, I am sure that there are more things to keep in mind. But when all this is set and done, the very best way a homeowner should go about getting a good contractor is to contact family members and friends, and ask them if they know a reputable contractor. Someone who has done work for them before and satisfied all the agreements made.

Money doesn't come easy and no one wants to give to some contractors that the only thing that is know about them is what they have to say about them selves. So count on your personal network and take less of a chance with your hard earned money.

Welcome and good luck, from falcotile.com 732-625-0555

falcotile@gmail.com (Falco Tile) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:03:00 GMT

Falco Tile Llc, of Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey would like to welcome the introduction of the new partner website www.barbmaries.com of Freehold, NJ.

Barbmarie's Kitchen Alternatives specializes in kitchen cabinet sales and installations. Serving Monmouth, Middlesex and Ocean Countys, New Jersey.

Tiling a backsplash By Falco Tile & Stone 732-625-0555

falcotile@gmail.com (Falco Tile) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:20:00 GMT

Tumble marble is the number one choice for homeowners for their kitchen back splashes, it adds class and style to any kitchen, specially over granite or engineer stone like Salstone, Ceasar Stone, Zodiac.

Tumble marble comes in different sizes 4x4, 3x6 (subway tile) and 6x6 with plenty of accents to complement the stone, from listellos to chair rails to small mosaics.

There is a limitation in colors Chiaro (light beige), Nocce (dark beige), gold and Rosso (red). The beauty of tumble marble is unique.

Another good idea is to use metallic or metallic finished tiles (silver, bronze, copper) but not a lot. Remember, to much of a good thing can turn out to be a bad thing.

So, before choosing a ceramic tile or making the grand mistake of using granite tiles to go with their stone top, consider the versatile beauty of Tumble marble.

For more information on back splash installation in New Jersey please visit www.monmouthcountycontractor.com

If you are looking for a qualified tumble marble installer please visit www.falcotile.com

Not all Cabinets are created equal by John LoPiccolo 732 618-7656

bjklent@yahoo.com (Barbmarie's Kitchens) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:57:00 GMT

Not all cabinets are made the same. I was at the checkout counter at our local Wegman's. I overheard a conversation about kitchen cabinets being the same. Cabinets may all share the same function but they are very different.

Frameless can be glued, screwed or doweled or all of the above. Frameless has evolve with the use of Computer Numerical Control (CNC), that creates a tongue and groove which is much stronger than a dowel system.

Framed is a solid hardwood stile (vertical) & rail (horizontal) cabinet. Assembled age old method of mortise & tenon, glued and pinned can last decades, as long as it comes from a reputable company.

Reputable manufacturer's build a solid cabinet, you can be assured that you have a top of the line finish and hardware.

Hardware recommendation is Blum or Gross.

If you are planning on a Kitchen or Bath remodel, call me for a free consultation or check my portfolio. John LoPiccolo 732 618-7656, bjklent@yahoo.com.

Pros and Cons of a Humidifier

del-air@hotmail.com (Residential HVAC) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:32:00 GMT

When you think about it there are no cons to having a humidifier in your house. If you have a forced hot air furnace you should have a humidifier. Honeywell makes a bi pass or a flow through humidifier that is both effective and easy to install. It can be maintained yearly by a home owner with little effort. Another option is the Honeywell Steam Humidifier. This unit has many features. It use 70% less water then a standard humidifier. It can also be mounted up to 20 feet away from the furnace to allow for almost any installation situation. A Pro 8000 IAQ thermostat is a nice added feature to your Tru Steam Honeywell Humidifier. This touch screen thermostat allows you to control your humidifier as well as the temperature in your house. Unlike a standard humidifier the Tru Steam Humidifier will run when your heat is not on. By turning the fan on and putting steam into the house your house's temperature will feel warmer then it is. This humidifier is also easily maintained by a home owner by washing it out with some soap and water. It comes with a replaceable water filter to prevent wear and tear on the humidifiers components. I think that the only cons are the ones caused by not having a humidifier. Dry mouth, itchy throats, static electricity and not to mention dry cooler air. Most installations are done with in two hours for a quick inconvenient appointment.

How much tile to buy

falcotile@gmail.com (Falco Tile) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:12:00 GMT

If you are doing a tile installation project; when measuring the room or rooms, make sure to account enough tile for waste, cuts, and design. However, the amount of tiles needed doesn't end with the square footage for the project.

Also, is very important to consider that some day after the tile has been long installed, you may run into a problem and may need to use some new tiles. Hopefully, problems like floods, cracks, chips won't happen to your tiles, but hope will not fix a problem if it arises.

I recommend to all my customers to buy at least one more case of tiles, so when the job is done they can keep that extra case somewhere in the basement or shed and hopefully never have the need of using it. Why do I do that?

Well, when a person purchase tiles, he or she never considers that someday those tiles will be discontinued or if the tiles are found, for sure they will be from a different lot, and even though the line is the same the color/shade will be completely different.

FYI, some tile manufacturers and distributors, when they discontinue a tile line or design, they do their best to take that tile totally out of the market, so that when a homeowner needs that tile is nearly impossible to find, and as a result they have to buy new tiles and reinstall a new floor or wall or entirely remodel a room.

I like telling people that my goal is that every time they see the extra tiles I made them buy, they will say to them selves "why did I listen to Richie, he was so wrong"

Tile installer and plumber

falcotile@gmail.com (Falco Tile) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:05:00 GMT

Lots of homeowners make the mistake of hiring a tile installer to install tiles, but at the same time they expect the tile installer to do all the plumbing work needed to start and finish the job. Well, here are a few things to consider before makings the same mistake:

Is the tile installer a LICENSED PLUMBER?
Is the tile installer knowledgeable in rules and regulations of the plumbing industry?
Can the tile installer get special permits for the project?
Does the tile installer's insurance cover plumbing work?
How come the tile installer doesn't know a LICENSED PLUMBER?
Why is my tile installer doing my plumbing?
And here is the most important question. If my tile installer is doing the plumbing work in my house; is my tile installer a TILE INSTALLER? Or a jack of all trades? How long is this guy going to guaranty the job?

Never hire a tile installer to do the plumbing work in your house, and at the same time never hire a plumber to do the tile work in your house. A neurosurgeon and a proctologist are both doctors, but their area of expertise are very very different.

Remember to deal with an experienced and professional plumber and tile installer, chances are that they already know each other.

For more information on New Jersey tile, ceramic, marble, porcelain and granite installer go to www.falcotile.com

Landscape Contractor

ghanley@egpi.net (Gregory Hanley) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:48:00 GMT

        Since 1984, Ever-Green Plantscapes, Inc. is a design/build company located at 70 Route 33 Freehold, NJ. (next to the Freehold Raceway Mall)
        We specialize in custom designed landscapes for our clients. From our own nursery, our Certified Landscape Designers select the best plant material to be installed at your home so you save money.
        Our long list of satisfied clients, wealth of experience and knowledge assures our clients of years of enjoyment and increased value of their property investment. For more information, check our website www.egpi.net or call 732.780.9032

Marble or Granite?

falcotile@gmail.com (Falco Tile) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:31:00 GMT

FOR MY NEW BATHROOM....

Is Marble the way to go? Do I like Granite more? How much is going to cost me? Can I afford it? Am I going to like it? Is my installer 100% qualify? I live in New Jersey, where can I get a Marble and Granite installer?

Most people ask me the same question time and time again. "Should I use Marble or Granite for my bathroom remodeling project?, and my answer is always the same one. "You should use what you like best".

After all both stones are natural and durable. But, and there is always a but, there are some major distinctions and differences between Marble and Granite.

Granite is very durable and it's polish is all natural, but is much more pores than Marble due to it's quartz composition content, and it needs to be sealed once a year. Granite happens to be very hard and it will take the punishment that Marble wont.

Marble is not as hard and durable as Granite and it's polish is not natural, it needs acid and a compound to make it shine. But on the other hand is very dense in composition and less pores, making it less prone to moisture filtration after installation.

However, the most important factor that should be consider is, who is going to be installing the Marble or Granite. Is this person knowledgeable, experienced and talented enough to flawlessly performed the job?

The installation process requires a high level of experience, expertise and talent. Always make sure to consider price and budget, but please don't cheat your self out of talent, experience and quality.

So, what should you install in your new bathroom, Marble or Granite? My personal opinion is that Marble is the way to go.

Marble is beautiful and delicate, and is much more bathroom friendly than granite. Granite is more for a kitchen, it's hardness makes it ideal for the constant use and abuse that it can get in a kitchen. Marble is more dense, making it more water impermeable.

To end, Marble or Granite is a good pick either way. You should be the judge of that.

To contact a qualify stone installer in New Jersey. Please go to www.falcotile.co

Del-Air Heating and Cooling

del-air@hotmail.com (Residential HVAC) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 04:52:00 GMT

Hi everyone. My name is Sal Del'Re. I am the owner/operator of a residential heating and air conditioning company. I specialize in forced air furnace installations and service. Every phone call that comes in i answer. Every job i am on 100% of the time. Humidifiers, DeHumidifiers, Electronic Air Cleaners, HEPA Systems, UV Bulbs. 13 SEER+ air conditioning units and 90%+ furnaces will dramatically lower gas and electric bills. For a free estimate call me at 732-580-7438.

A LITTLE FYI FOR YOUR NEXT TILE AND STONE PROJECT.

falcotile@gmail.com (Falco Tile) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:41:03 GMT

Falco Tile, is an owner operated company that serves Monmouth County, New Jersey.

We specialize in the installation of ceramic, marble, granite and porcelain tiles.

Fabrication and installation of kitchen stone counter tops, bathroom vanity tops, fireplaces, tables, stairs, heating radiators made of stone marble, granite, SALSTONE, CEASAR STONE (engineered stone), is the biggest reason for pride of our craft.

ONE JOB AT A TIME is the way we do business since our beginning in Brooklyn, NY many years ago.

New floors and wall is not the only work we do. We also do expert repairs (bathroom shower stalls, floors, walls, badly installed stone counter tops), and general tile work.

For your convenience, please allow us to give you an estimate for your next tile or stone project before you make your final decision.