PHOENIX (CBS5) -

A Phoenix woman says the home service contract on her air-conditioning unit is not delivering the anticipated benefits. She's now going to maintain her air conditioning in a way that could be good for many other consumers.

Five-year home service contracts are common, nearly every Cooling & Heating company in Arizona offers them. Some consumers value the free maintenance and repair discountsoffered in these contracts, but they are not for every consumer. These agreementsmay limit your options and the discounts are hard to measure.

"I got a $600, five-year, maintenance contract," Becky Lehman said.

Lehman says she entered intothe contractwith Air Care Cooling & Heating strictly for the free maintenance and the promised discounts on repairs. The first time her unit had a problem, Lehman says an Air Care tech replaced a circuit board for around $900 and added a surge protector for around $100. Lehman had the box the new board came in, so she went online to research what kind of deal she just got.

"That part we could have bought as a consumer, delivered to our house, for $81," Lehman said.

Lehman says she found surge protectors online for around $40. She says all the work took the Air Care tech around 15 minutes to complete. Lehman says the promised discounts under the service contract didn't seem to exist, so she complained to Air Care and the company gave her an $800 refund.

"I'm very appreciative that Air Care considered the situation and did refund the fair amount," Lehman said.

The unit works fine now, but Lehman says she's done with home service contracts. She plans to service her air conditioner on a year-to-year basis only.

"I would establish a relationship with a contractor that I trusted, word of mouth from someone who said this person does a nice fair job," Lehman said.

More:
A/C home service contracts not always best for homeowners

Area residents who are income eligible and program eligible can apply for energy assistance through the Orangeburg-Calhoun-Allendale-Bamberg Community Action Agency Inc. Applications for emergency assistance for residential heating will resume on Monday, Jan. 27. Applications are taken on a first-come, first-served basis, Mondays through Thursdays, as long as funds are available.

Eligible clients can apply from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays are reserved for elderly and disabled residents only. Elderly residents are those citizens 60 years old and older. All eligible persons can apply on Wednesdays and Thursdays. In 2014, citizens can be served twice in the calendar year. Residents must apply for services in the county where they live.

Residents are reminded that assistance is only available for heating and cooling charges. No payments are made for water, wastewater, streetlights, garbage pickup, appliance repair or maintenance, returned check fees and return check amount, contract fees for old bills nor voluntary donations like Project Good Neighbor.

Clients must present a current utility or propane gas bill, no more than 30 days old, or a current invoice for wood or coal. Applicants must also present an itemized utility bill to determine if there are any unallowable charges. Clients requesting payment for utility deposits for new accounts must present a signed, dated letter from their utility company. A signed and dated lease agreement listing all residents in the household must be provided.

Any printouts from the utility company must have an official vendor stamp. Only original documents will be accepted; no faxed documents can be used. All documents must be available to start the application process.

There are changes from several state and federal agencies regarding official documentation. To obtain a Social Security benefits verification letter, an original or replacement Social Security card, call 1-800-772-1213 or go online to http://www.socialsecurity.gov. Printouts of unemployment benefits from SC Works can be obtained by phone at 1-866-831-1724 or online at http://www.mybenefits.dew.sc.gov with a valid email address.

Computers are available at the SC Works offices at 1804 Joe S. Jeffords Hwy. in Orangeburg and 398 Barnwell Hwy. in Allendale; the Calhoun County Library, 900 F.R. Huff Drive in St. Matthews; Bamberg County Library, 201 NE Railroad Ave.; Allendale County Library, 297 Main St. in Allendale; and Orangeburg County Library, 510 Louis St.

OCAB no longer processes food stamp printouts nor DSS Household Summaries. Household Summary printouts are available from the Orangeburg and Calhoun Departments of Social Services. Bamberg County residents must pick up a DSS Information Form from the OCAB Denmark Neighborhood Center, 122 East Coker St. and have it completed by a Bamberg County DSS caseworker. In Allendale County, requests for the printouts must come through the OCAB Allendale Neighborhood Center coordinator.

Income and benefits listed on the DSS Household Summary must be verified by the appropriate Human Services Agency; apartment manager for rental payments and utility checks; the county Clerk of Courts office for alimony and child support payments; employers for income; and payers for assistance with payments for utilities, rent, etc.

Clients with a zero utility account balance or an account credit are not eligible for assistance. When applying for vouchers for ECIP, the Emergency Crisis Intervention Program, clients must have a final notice/cutoff notice from their utility company with a cutoff date within five days of the date of application, or utilities disconnected not more than 30 days. Clients must also provide proof of the emergency such as receipts, printouts, official statements or cancelled checks. These documents must be dated within 30 days of the application.

Excerpt from:
OCAB taking applications for energy assistance

MESA, Ariz., Jan. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Delivering superior customer service is nothing new to the team at Air Factor Cooling & Heating. In fact, for the past 7 years, the Geiger family owned HVAC business in Mesa, Ariz. has been recognized as a leading provider of quality heating and air conditioning service in the greater Phoenix Metro area. In January, Air Factor Cooling & Heating found out they had captured the coveted Angieslist.com 'Super Service Award', proving once again that placing an emphasis on quality customer service is not a lost art for the family operated HVAC service company.

"As a family operated business, it's critical to pay attention to the little details but delivering superior customer service is hardly a small detail," noted Barbara Geiger, the CEO of Air Factor Cooling & Heating based in Mesa, AZ. "Every member of our team, from our professional sales staff to our HVAC technicians always places the needs of our customers as their top priority. Our dedication to superior customer service, timely repairs and cost-effective HVAC solutions are hallmarks of our business and has been so for several years. We look forward to continuing this winning tradition in 2014 for the 9th year in a row, and we thank the team at Angieslist.com for selecting us to receive this coveted award."

The Angie's List Super Service Award honors excellence among service and health providers who maintain superior service ratings and reviews on Angie's List throughout the past year. While the award is given out across the country, it is not currently available in every city. A city must reach a minimum size and maturity for consideration. And with a large demographic of residents representing the Phoenix Metro area, Angieslist.com awarded this distinguished service award to Air Factor Cooling & Heating for the 2013 calendar year.

Receiving this award from Angieslist.com is a huge accomplishment for any business. In fact, it's one of the hardest customer service based awards for any business to receive. The Angieslist.com 'Super Service Award' winners are preferred among their members due to the fact that only the top 5% of qualifying businesses per category, in each market, receive the award. And with hundreds of HVAC service company's operating in the Phoenix Metro area, to be listed as a winner of the prestigious 'Super Service Award' is indeed an impressive feat.

"Our mission has always been, and will continue to be; to provide the highest quality repair, maintenance and replacement of residential and light commercial HVAC systems at the best value to our customers," concluded Ms. Geiger. "With the assistance of a dedicated group of loyal customers, we are confident that Air Factor will continue to grow as a brand leader in the Arizona HVAC service market. And we're excited for a very prosperous 2014."

For more information about Air Factor Cooling & Heating, please visit their website @ http://www.airfactor.net. You can also visit the company via social media pages located at https://www.facebook.com/AirFactorCoolingAndHeating&www.google.com/+AirFactorCoolingHeatingMesa

About Air Factor Cooling & Heating

Air Factor Cooling & Heating is a family owned and operated business that services the greater Phoenix metro area. With over 86 years of combined HVAC business experience driving their company, Air Factor has been a leading provider of cooling and heating system repairs, service and maintenance. They are licensed in both Commercial and Residential (ROC# 242803) HVAC services and have been an outstanding member of the Better Business Bureau for several years. All technicians that provide superior services on behalf of the Air Factor team have EPA Refrigerant Certification, NATE Certification and are Master Heat Pump technicians ensuring to maintain environmental responsibility and safety with every cooling system service they perform.

Media Contact: Barbara Geiger, Air Factor Cooling & Heating, (480) 706-3333, dispatch@airfactor.net

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

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Air Factor Captures 2013 Angie's List Super Service Award

Detroit female auto executives recognized during State of the Union Detroit female auto executives recognized during State of the Union

Updated: Tuesday, January 28 2014 10:36 PM EST2014-01-29 03:36:53 GMT

The CEO of General Motors joined first lady Michelle Obama to watch President Barack Obama deliver his State of the Union address.

The CEO of General Motors joined first lady Michelle Obama to watch President Barack Obama deliver his State of the Union address.

Updated: Tuesday, January 28 2014 8:32 PM EST2014-01-29 01:32:58 GMT

Former Michigan Kicker Brendan Gibbons has been "permanently separated" from the University of Michigan according to Tuesday's Michigan Daily, the student run Newspaper.

Former Michigan Kicker Brendan Gibbons has been "permanently separated" from the University of Michigan according to Tuesday's Michigan Daily, the student run Newspaper.

Updated: Tuesday, January 28 2014 8:02 PM EST2014-01-29 01:02:52 GMT

If it's too cold for us, it's also too cold for your pets! A local rescue is so overwhelmed they need foster families to house dogs during the cold, winter months.

If it's too cold for us, it's also too cold for your pets! A local rescue is so overwhelmed they need foster families to house dogs during the cold, winter months.

The rest is here:
Home heating tips during the frigid temperatures

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) January 28, 2014

Charles E. Anderson, Chief Operations Officer of Revamp Strategies, LLC says: "Our newest clients represent the Best of what Atlanta has to offer. We are very pleased to assist them with offering their services. Please welcome..."

Judy Whittenberg: Judy Wittenberg is a Premier Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services and is located in Atlanta, GA. Judy is a dedicated professional and has been in the real estate industry for over 8 years specifically in the Metro Atlanta Area. Judy is in the top 3% Nationwide of Realtors within Berkshire Hathaway Home Service company. Judy provides premium real estate services for the North Metro Atlanta Area.

Maintenance Unlimited: Maintenance Unlimited is a Premier Heating and Cooling Service Company located in Atlanta, GA, with the principle idea that a quality heating repair company should be easy to reach and always listen to the needs of the customer. Since Maintenance Unlimited conception, the company has been growing one heater repair job at a time. There are many heating and air conditioning repair companies in Atlanta and it can be difficult to know how to choose the right one. Consumers must consider both price and quality of service and reputation of the company that they contract with. Maintenance Unlimited provides free estimates and is on call 24/7.

Infinite Delivery: Infinite Delivery has over 20 years of experience with a professional staff who specialize in the delivery of high end furniture and antiques. Total customer satisfaction is their objective, and integrity is how they maintain their stability. They thrive on exceeding the clients' needs with safe and superb delivery. Their teams function as a unit to continually grow, and lead the moving industry to new levels that others will desire to follow. In addition to handling the most delicate of relocation services, Infinite Delivery also loads and unloads trucks and pods.

Atlanta VIP Parties: Atlanta VIP Parties is a Platinum Event Planning Company specialized in creating customized events and parties that will delight the senses. Their team are experts in crafting, planning and producing events and parties of any size or level of sophistication. They've planned events for individuals, corporation, professional athletes and celebrities! They work with the top vendors in Atlanta, which means clients have access to the "best of the best." As partners in planning, Atlanta VIP Parties create a memorable event or party. "We strive to identify the client's needs, fulfill all goals and exceed client expectations." Jan W., CEO.

Revamp Strategies LLC, an innovative online marketing company, offers customized online marketing services for small and mid size businesses. Revamp Strategies works closely with each and every client to create solutions that will fit their needs and budget. Revamp Strategies, LLC is now providing an array of services for their newest clients.

Originally posted here:
Revamp Strategies, LLC, an Online Marketing Company, Would Like To Welcome Four New Clients To The Family

St. Louis, Missouri (PRWEB) January 28, 2014

Missouri residents looking to stay warm this winter can now received discounted cleaning and inspection services from Future Aire, a Fenton furnace repair company serving the greater St. Louis, Missouri area. For $69.95, customers can have their gas or electric furnace professionally cleaned and checked with a 16-point inspection. This savings, a reduction from the regular price of $89.95, is only available until February 21, 2014.

Future Aire recommends consistent maintenance on all brands of heating equipment in order to have the system run optimally and to avoid further damage if left unchecked. For more information about this discount, or to learn about other specials available from Future Aire, homeowners are encouraged to visit http://futureaire.com.

About Future Aire

Future Aire was founded in 1984, known for being the Home Town Heating & Cooling Specialist. Family owned and operated, with the same owner and name for almost 30 years. Performing over 20,000 service calls with an A+ BBB Rating (Better Business Bureau). Future Aire repairs and or replaces all makes and models of Heating and Cooling equipment, commercial and residential, kitchen hood systems, exhaust venting. Future Aire has an onsite custom sheet metal shop for fabricating ductwork, custom fittings, exhaust systems and safety overflow pans and much more. Future Aire also services and performs maintenance on all HVAC systems both commercial and residential.

Read the rest here:
Winter Furnace Inspection Special Expiring Soon

It is a chilling tale of winter, one that in ghost-story fashion begins with a sign that all is not right. Maybe there's a damp spot spreading ominously across a wall, or faint sounds that grow louder and more insistent.

"I heard water dripping," Liz Simon-Higgs of Baltimore said, "but mostly what I heard was my water meter spinning."

Similarly, Kacey Gaige heard the tell-tale sound of water on the move in her Severna Park home, "but I wasn't running the laundry." As she headed into her garage to pick her kids up at school Thursday, the source of the mystery sound was revealed.

"Oh, an ice skating rink," she said of the water that had spewed from a broken pipe onto the garage floor, freezing in the unheated space.

Throughout the area, the record-breaking cold has caused water pipes to freeze and burst, unleashing rivers of water that panicked homeowners rush to stop.

"I was just turning valves," Gaige told Stephen Tant Jr., a plumber who had arrived Friday afternoon to fix her pipes.

Tant, who works for Len the Plumber company, began sorting through a complicated set of pipes, spigots and knobs running along the wall of the unheated garage. Water had apparently frozen in one pipe, causing it to separate at the point where it had been soldered to another length of pipe.

Like other plumbers in the area, Tant, 28, has spent much of this frigid spell heading from one winter-worn pipe to another.

"We've never had unbearable cold like this," he said. "We were just catching up from the last cold spurt, and now we're back into it again."

Tant had just left a rowhouse in Southwest Baltimore where an outdoor spigot connected to a garden hose froze and cracked, sending water cascading down outdoor steps and a walkway to the street, where it froze into a thick sheet of ice along the curb.

Continue reading here:
Big chill bursts pipes and heats up business for plumbers

Poplar Bluff, Missouri (PRWEB) January 24, 2014

Geothermal heating and cooling systems are changing the green energy industry, as they offer homeowners a convenient source of energy that is unaffected by weather patterns, such as solar and wind energy. Many homeowners make the switch due to the increased energy efficiency, and therefore increased savings. For geothermal heating, Poplar Bluff homeowners report even temperatures during the coldest winter nights.

1.Geothermal systems range from 400-500 percent energy efficiency. Homeowners can save significantly on their monthly utility bills by replacing traditional systems, which max out in the mid-90 percent range of energy efficiency, with a geothermal heating and cooling system. 2.Geothermal heating and cooling units use the Earths energy, which is accessible 4-5 feet underground. There are different loop designs available (vertical and horizontal), depending on the amount of land or yard size that is available. This type of energy is a constant resource that isnt subject to high or low temperatures, presence or lack of sunshine, or wind speed. 3.Geothermal energy is considered green because it doesnt require the use of fossil fuels, reduces the emission of greenhouse gases, and will lower the users carbon footprint. 4.This type of system has a much greater lifespan than that of a traditional system. Due to the loop system being buried underground, undisturbed and not exposed to harsh weather conditions, and the unit itself being housed indoors, there will be minimal wear and tear. Geothermal systems require much less maintenance and repair as well. 5.Geothermal units provide very consistent heating and cooling. Homeowners enjoy consistent indoor temperatures all year long and superior humidity control.

For more information regarding energy savings with geothermal systems, homeowners should visit Home Comfort Geo at http://homecomfortgeo.com/.

About Home Comfort Geo

Home Comfort Geo is the leading source for geothermal statistics, technology, and innovation. Our dealers proudly serve residents throughout Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri.

More:
Top 5 Reasons to Switch to Geothermal

Your home is more than likely the largest investment you will make in a lifetime. Protect that investment by performing regular maintenance throughout the year. These steps, most of which are fairly simple and cost little to no money, will prevent bigger (and expensive) problems in the future.

Winter

Since the winter weather has you spending time inside anyway, take a moment to walk around the interior of your home to look for problems. (Take a note pad and pencil with you, or a camera.) Pay special attention to the ceiling to look for water damage. Check water pipes underneath each sink and in the basement, plus around the faucets, for leaks. Go into the attic to look for water damage and make sure the vents are clear. Also, do you know where the water shut-off valves are in your home? Take a moment to locate them (look under the sinks and toilets, plus the main shut-off valves in the basement) and test to see if they work so youll be prepared for a water emergency.

Replace the filter on your heating system once a month during peak usage, or as recommended by your systems manufacturer.

Check the hoses on the washing machine for leaks and replace if necessary, and be sure to turn off the water to the machine after each use to prevent the hoses from breaking.

Clean the hood and filter above your kitchen stove. (This is good to do once a month.)

Check the ground fault circuit interrupters on electrical outlets, which are most often located near a sink or other water source. Just push the test button to make the reset button pop up. Then push the reset button to turn the outlet back on. (Also good to check once a month.)

Is there a drain pipe in your basement, or sinks that sit unused for long periods of time, such as a laundry sink? Pour some water down the drains from time to time to ensure there is water in the trap to prevent sewer gasses from backing up into the house.

Schedule the annual tune-up to your cooling system. Yes, cooling system. This will ensure it is ready to go with the temperatures warm up. Heating and cooling systems require ongoing service and maintenance to keep them operating safely and efficiently.

Spring

More:
Home improvement: A maintenance calendar for all seasons

ST. CHARLES The St. Charles School Board has decided to ask voters to approve a property tax increase for operations and a $7.5 million capital improvements bond issue.

The tax boost - 35 cents for each $100 assessed valuation - and the bond issue will be on the April 8 election ballot.

District officials say some of the tax proposal - Proposition L - would boost teacher salaries to keep the district competitive with neighboring districts. The extra revenue also will allow the district to avoid cuts in service.

Without the additional money, superintendent Jeff Marion said, "I don't see any way to hold class sizes down." He said voter rejection of the tax hike also could lead to cuts in school bus service, extra-curricular activities and other items.

The district says it has cut $8.1 million from its operating budget in the pats four years to deal with money problems.

The district says the owner of a home valued at $150,000 would pay $99.75 more a year in taxes if the measure passes.

The bond issue - known as Proposition S - would allow the district to expand video surveillance and other security features, upograde cmmunications systems, complete asbestos removal and add exterior lighting.

The money also would be used to upgrade outdated heating and cooling systems at Hardin Middle School, repair the roof at St. Charles High School and expand the Lewis and Clark Career Center, the district's tech school.

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St. Charles schools ask voters for property tax hike, bond issue