Sometimes people wonder if a maintenance agreement is worth it. Let’s try to put it into perspective. If compared to a car, an average heating and cooling system runs the equivalent of 330,000 miles in a year. Would you run your vehicle that long without service? If it is difficult for you to remember to change your filters, you should definitely invest in a maintenance agreement.
Clogged filters cause air flow restriction, which can cause higher utility bills, and system damage. Frequency of filter changes depends on the type you have. If you just have the fiberglass throw away filters, they are only about 7% efficient and were designed just to keep large items like a plastic grocery bag or piece of paper from being sucked into the blower compartment. They should be changed very 4-6 months. If you have pleated filters, they typically need changed less often. If you have pets or perform construction in your house or install new carpet, check them more often.
Our Maintenance Agreement page has an area where you can view the agreement and also the comprehensive check list. If you are interested in signing up, let the St. Clairsville or Barnesville office know, they will send out the agreement, you sign it, send in payment and we will call to schedule your check up at the appropriate time. As well, you will automatically be offered a renewal. You only sign up for one year at a time, we do not automatically bill you for another year. If you don’t want to renew, that is fine.
Please call or email with any additional information you may need.
May 10, 2013
Loudin Attends National ASBDC Conference and Capitol Hill Visits
The Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) held their annual spring conference in Washington D.C. from April 14-18, 2013. As a member of both the regional and state advisory boards, Kellie Loudin, Vice President of Rumer-Loudin, Inc., was in attendance along with Daryl Hennessy, Assistant Chief, and Karen Shauri, SBDC State Director, Business Services Division of the Ohio Development Services Agency.
Small Business Development Centers are funded, in part, by the Small Business Administration and are located throughout all fifty states plus U.S. territories. The purpose of the SBDCs is to help small business owners start, grow, and sustain their businesses with education, free counseling, and assistance with funding procurement. Each state typically contributes funding to the SBDCs for operation, as well as regional partners.
During the conference, attendees heard from the Small Business Administration regarding how sequestration is affecting funding for fiscal year 2014, possible new funding for veteran business startups, and a new entrepreneurial education program. A new logo was also revealed, various committees reported on their activities, and members were updated on revisions to the reporting software used to provide impact data. Representatives from Google presented information on their business outreach efforts and what tools are available for businesses to use for launching a website or elevating their position in search results.
Hennessy, Shauri, and Loudin met with staff of 13 out of the 16 Ohio Congressional districts and both Senators to share information about the impact the Small Business Development Centers have made for businesses in their area. Congressman Bill Johnson personally met with the three to discuss the Centers and their benefit to the state. For Congressional District 6, representing in whole or part of 18 counties, the SBDCs created or retained 1,729 jobs, helped 54 businesses start, infused $8,180,356 of capital into the area, and provided 7,490 hours of counseling representing 791 clients.
The SBDCs serving our area are located at Zane State College, Willet-Pratt Training Center and Kent State University at Tuscarawas. Cindy Voorhies and Stephen Schillig are the directors, respectively.
Things to Check Before Requesting a Repair…
No one likes to pay for a repair they may have been able to handle themselves and we don’t like charging for them. Here are some things you can check on your own before requesting a repair. Please be sure you are comfortable doing this, we don’t want you to harm yourself or your home if you don’t know how your system is connected to your electrical and water systems so of course we have to say this is a disclaimer of any responsibility if you don’t do things correctly.
- Check all fuses and breakers. Breakers for the condenser (outdoor) unit for an air conditioner can often become tripped over the winter.
- If you have a digital thermostat and your screen is blank, you could need to replace batteries in the thermostat itself.
- If you have a high efficient gas furnace, which vents gases and sometimes intakes air with white plastic (PVC) pipe, the pipe can get plugged with all kinds of things: ice, snow (if deep enough), birds’ nests, bug nests, dead birds, children putting gravel, marbles, balls and other items in there, and we have even heard of drunk neighbors urinating in them. If the pipes become blocked, a safety in the furnace senses it and will shut the furnace down. If that blockage is removed, often it will fix the problem.
- Also on a high efficient gas furnace, there is usually a condensate drain. If that gets plugged, a safety is triggered and will shut the furnace down. The damp environment invites mold, mildew, and green icky junk to grow, so you may want to try to clear that out to see if it gets you up and running again.
- Make sure you have oil or propane. Yes, we get a few calls a year where we find the tanks are empty.
- Check your air filters. Clogged air filters can cause many problems: lack of air flow, higher energy bills, dirty evaporator coils, cracked heat exchangers, over heating of the furnace causing safety lockouts.
- Check to be sure icy weather hasn’t caused your condenser fan motor to stop working on your heat pump. This can happen when there is sleet or an ice storm. To get rid of the ice, just pour warm water over the fins on the top of the condensing unit.
- An air conditioner removes humidity and a condensate drain typically runs into a floor drain or is pumped out with a condensate pump. If you see water on the floor in the summer, it could be your condensate drain piping is plugged up with slimy gunk. If you get it cleared out, it may stop your water problem.
If you need or want repair, please call, but these suggestions may save you from spending your hard earned money on a repair you could have made yourself. Call 740-425-3134 for Barnesville or 740-695-2487 for St. Clairsville.
Larry Rumer became interested in the heating and air conditioning industry when he was a young man. He felt bad that his dad had to call someone to work on his oil furnace. So, in 1964, he decided to enroll in an adult vocational program in Jackson, Ohio. He traveled every week for many months to Jackson, leaving his young wife and small daughter behind to learn a new trade. After completing his education, he worked for Wheeling Heating, then owned by the Thoenens, and Hitt Heating owned by Ben and Katherine Hitt. He continued to learn as much as he could about how to service all types and brands, read all information he could get his hands on, learned how to use Manual J to properly size duct systems, attended sales courses and worked hard to be a valuable employee and provide for his family.
In 1975, he and his wife, Jeneane, decided to strike out on their own. What a scary proposition! Now he had two girls, Kellie and Stephanie, plus he and his wife to support. Working out of his home and garage on Clark Road in St. Clairsville, he soon outgrew that location. He purchased land about a quarter of a mile away and built a commercial building housing an office, sheet metal shop, garage, and storage.
In 1987, to provide better access to the western side of Belmont County and parts of Monroe, Noble, Harrison, and Guernsey counties, a Barnesville office was opened in Rogers Hardware at 110 East Main Street (currently Art Works), managed by son-in-law Sid Loudin, thus the current name Rumer-Loudin, Inc.
Sid grew in scope of knowledge in the hvac industry…geothermal….plumbing….commercial applications. In 1998, Larry sold the Barnesville branch to Sid, which was then located on Route 800 North of Barnesville, and then the St. Clairsville office in 2006. Larry stayed on part-time until 2008 when he fully retired…. Until 2015, when he decided to work in the field again.
Sid and Kellie had married in 1984. Kellie worked for the company for 11 years, then went on to earn two Applied Associates Degrees in Business Management and Retail Management, a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Leadership. She worked at VNA Home Support Services, Shamrock Conduit Products, and Belmont Technical College before rejoining the company in March of 2008.
Brandon Loudin, who has worked in the industry in some way since the age of 9, earned his Associate’s of Technical Studies Degree in Electronics from Belmont Technical College. He continues to install and perform repairs as well as size and sell systems. He represents the third generation who will be there to take care of customers well into the future.
Rumer-Loudin, Inc was the first in the valley to install geothermal systems. See our website for more information.
None of the longevity and success would be possible without great employees, many have been with the company 10, 15, 20, and 25 years. They work hard to ensure customers are well taken care of and their homes respected.
In February of 2012, the previous Shamrock Lube Express building was purchased as the future home of the Barnesville branch. Remodeling was completed and the Barnesville operations moved to 823 East Main Street in December 2012. St. Clairsville remains open at its current location of 67679 Clark Road.
Who knows what’s next?!
Results of Low Humidity
Extremes in low and high levels of humidity, the amount of water particles (moisture) in the air, can cause discomfort in our living and working environments. This time of year, one of low humidity, many people experience dry, chapped, itchy skin and scalp, increased static electricity, respiratory problems, and notice their woodwork is changing, which is exhibited by loose joints and cracking. Low humidity can also shrink window and door seals, which affects air leakage and energy costs.
A common misconception is the furnace running makes the air drier. It is rather the reduced ability of cold air to hold moisture that is the real troublemaker. Warmer air has the ability to hold more moisture. However, this time of year there is little to none for it to hold. There are three basic things that affect the humidity level in your home: weather conditions and temperature levels outside; how it is protected from dampness and leakage; and daily activities like bathing, cooking, washing and drying wet clothes.
Relative humidity is the percentage of moisture being held in the air at a certain temperature as compared to how much it could hold at a certain temperature According to an example given at blueflame.org, “When air at a certain temperature contains all the water vapor it can hold at that temperature, its relative humidity is 100 percent. If it contains only half the water vapor it is capable of holding at that temperature, the relative humidity is 50 percent. If the outside air temperature in winter is 0°F and the relative humidity is 75 percent, that same air inside your 70°F home will have a four percent relative humidity. That’s dry! The Sahara Desert has an average relative humidity of 25 percent.”
At a temperature of 20 degrees and above, the optimum relative humidity level is between 35%and 50% (personal preferences differ). A hygrometer, which measures relative humidity, can be purchased at many hardware or electronic stores. Digital hygrometers are the most accurate. For a quick test, in a room other than the kitchen or a recently used bathroom, drop three ice cubes in a glass, add water, then stir. If condensation does not form in three minutes, your air is too dry.
Adding a humidifier to your home can help remedy low humidity problems. There are three basic types: evaporating which puts moisture into the air from a pan of water through absorbent discs or an immersed heating unit as in a cool mist humidifier or vaporizer; portable or room which uses a small fan and wet pad or fine mist to discharge moisture, or a power humidifier which is connected to the ductwork and water supply dispersing moisture directly into the air stream. A humidistat is used on these systems, which works similar to a thermostat whereby a desired humidity level is set and the humidifier will operate as needed to maintain that level. Investing in a humidifier helps conserve energy in winter. According to Trane, people are more comfortable at a lower temperature setting when their air is not as dry.
Construction of your home, how tightly it is built, if it has the proper ventilation and vapor barriers also affect humidity levels. For more information and illustrations, go to How humidity dries out your house, Understanding Relative Humidity, and Indoor Humidity – How Much Is Needed?.
Kellie Loudin
Rumer-Loudin, Inc.
An important but often overlooked part of home maintenance is checking and changing your furnace filters. In fact, get up from the computer right now and go check them. I am serious! Many furnace, heat pump, and air conditioning repairs could have been prevented by simply keeping up with filter cleaning and/or changing. Often a homeowner will clean/change it right before we get there, but we can tell from the condition of the equipment that the filter has been neglected.
The return (often called cold) air duct provides an airway by which the central forced air heating and air conditioning system draws in air to be conditioned (heated, cooled, humidified, cleaned, filtered). The air is then distributed throughout the building via the supply air ducts. The air being drawn in is full of airborne pollutants such as dust, pollen, pet hair and dander, smoke, odors, etc. It is the filter’s job, which is on the return air side of the system, to stop the debris. How much is stopped depends on the type of filter. What is not stopped accumulates in the furnace and supply air ducts.
When a system operates with a clogged filter, it is working harder than necessary, which decreases efficiency. In addition, it can stress the parts on your furnace including the heat exchanger because the hot air cannot be carried away. Insufficient air flow can cause an air conditioning evaporator coil to freeze up which is very damaging to the system. Newer high tech motors are more sensitive to air restriction and can become noisy as well as damaged.
Filter types (except electrostatic) are assigned a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating between 1 and 16 which indicates the ability of a filter to remove dust from the air as it passes through the filter. This is also called dust loading capacity. The higher the rating, the fewer pollutants pass through the filter. The size of airborne contaminants is measured in microns. For instance, a human hair is about 100 microns, pollen and spores 10 to 100 microns, dust about 8 microns, tobacco smoke is .01-4 microns.
Deciding on the type of air filter depends on whether you want to remove as many contaminants as possible due to allergies or whether you just want to keep larger particles out of your system for good maintenance. The most desirable filter is one that has the least restriction while catching the most pollutants.
Regardless, fiberglass throw away filters are not the best option. They were originally designed to keep large items, such as a piece of plastic or paper, from being sucked into the system and causing major damage. They were never designed to provide small particle filtration. Their MERV rating is typically between 1 and 4 and will not stop anything smaller than 10 microns.
Here is a summary of additional filter types plus some pros and cons. Media air filter pads are used with or without a frame, is typically purchased precut or in a role and cut to fit, is more efficient than fiberglass, and do not need changed/cleaned as often as the more efficient filters but they can be messy to change and will not be much help for allergy sufferers with a MERV rating around 3 or 4.
Electrostatic air filters use static electricity caused from the friction of air flow to attract debris. They are a framed, permanent, washable filter available in the most common filter sizes. The best quality electrostatic filters are about 90% efficient. If not cleaned monthly, they cause restriction and eventually service problems so maintenance diligence is important.
Pleated air filters use the increased surface area from the pleats to increase dust loading capacity with MERV ratings between 5 and 12, which makes it a good choice for allergy sufferers. They are cardboard framed, disposable and available in many sizes. They must be checked frequently so restriction does not cause air flow problems.
HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance) filters are very efficient with MERV ratings of 14-15. Their pleated design increases dust loading capacity and are a good choice for those with allergies. Most are disposable, but some can be cleaned and reused. These filters, when clean let alone dirty, can cause restriction so you may need to speak with a heating and air conditioning contractor before installing them. Some brands require fabricated sheet metal return air adapters and professional installation, yet they are the most efficient filters available for residential use.
This has been a review of filters not air cleaners, which is a subject for a different article. Remember, your furnace and ductwork is the lungs of your home. If you don’t keep up with filter maintenance, it’s like trying to breathe with a hand over your nose and mouth. For more information, go to www.furnacefiltercare.com/compare-furnace-filters.php.
After 10 months we are finally operating out of our new location in Barnesville at 823 East Main Street. This was formerly the Shamrock Lube Express and is located between Hissom’s and McDonald’s. Staff is the same, including Annie the Yorkie. Our St. Clairsville location is still at 67679 Clark Road and will remain open. Our signs are coming soon. We love our new shop and hope you will stop in once our grand opening is announced.
We are excited to announce that we have purchased the former Shamrock Lube Express building at 823 East Main Street in Barnesville and will be moving our office there. The St. C. location will remain in operation. Watch as we transform the building. Will try to post some pictures later.
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