Celco Heating and Air Conditioning Blog : Archive for December, 2013

New Year’s Traditions Explained

Tuesday, December 31st, 2013

2014 is almost upon us, and with the coming of the New Year, we thought we’d take a brief look at some of the more popular traditions associated with this holiday. It’s been around for at least 4,000 years: as long as we’ve figured out how long it takes for the seasons to come and go. Here’s a quick discussion about some of our more modern traditions and where they started:

  • Auld Lang Syne. The famous song began in Scotland, where it was published by Robert Burns in 1796.  He claims he initially heard it sung by an elderly resident of his hometown, which suggests it has traditional folk origins even before that. It became even more popular when big band leader, Guy Lombardo, started playing it every New Year’s Eve, starting in 1929 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.
  • The Dropping of the Ball in Times Square. The tradition of dropping the ball in Times Square started in 1907. It was made out of iron and wood with light bulbs located on the surface, and the ball originally “dropped” over the offices of the New York Times at One Times Square. Dick Clark famously broadcast the event every year from 1972, until his death in 2012.
  • The Rose Parade. The Tournament of Roses Parade has been held in Pasadena every year since 1890; taking advantage of California’s warm weather to present a parade of floats, bands and horses. A football game was eventually added to the festivities in 1902, when Michigan dominated Stanford’s team by a score of 49-0
  • Baby New Year. The use of a baby to signify the New Year dates back to Ancient Greece, where it symbolized the rebirth of Dionysus (the god of wine and parties). Early Christians initially resisted the pagan elements of the story, but soon came to adopt it since it matched the traditional Christmas symbol of baby Jesus in the manger. Today, people of all faiths and traditions refer to the New Year as a baby, representing new beginnings.

Whatever traditions you choose to celebrate, we here at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning wish you the very safest and happiest of New Years. May 2014 bring you nothing but the best!

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Wishing You a Happy and Safe Holiday Season!

Wednesday, December 25th, 2013

It’s the holiday season once again, and everyone at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning wishes the very best for you, your family, and your friends. We hope that whatever brings you joy fills these last days of the year.

We’d like to thank all of our customers for giving us the opportunity to provide you with services that improve your lives and help you better enjoy this time with your loved ones. You are the reason that we exist as a company, and that’s something we always keep that in mind. We are eager to work with you in the coming year.

Here’s something to remember for the season: many companies in our industry are very busy on service calls during December—it’s one of the most crowded times of the year. If you need service, make sure you schedule it as soon as possible so you can continue to enjoy the pleasures of this time of year.

Lastly, we at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning want to conclude with a thought from the late Earl Nightingale to help remind us all that we do not need to wait for a holiday to have a reason to enjoy or celebrate ourselves, our lives or our family:

“Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.”

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Why Get Professional Generator Installation

Friday, December 20th, 2013

Have you ever had a computer crash on you, felt that sudden terror about lost data, and then let out a huge sigh of relief because you had an automatic back-up installed on an external hard drive? We hope so—at least about that last part. There’s nothing that can bring you peace of mind like having a back-up system to support you.

Now, take that computer crash problem and apply it to the power in your house during extreme weather conditions. Your power goes out, and then… an emergency generator automatically turns on and you once again have your lights, your heating system, your refrigerator… everything working you need to get by until the power company can restore your electricity. A solid whole-home generator will more than pay for itself during those brief times when you need it, and all those times when it keeps you from worrying.

However, you need to have professionals perform a generator installation in Westport, CT—like the staff at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning. Don’t go to amateurs, and don’t buy a unit and try to install it yourself.

The most important reason that you need professionals to handle installing your whole-home generator is that the best and most reliable units run on natural gas power coming from a municipal source. You do not want to attempt to connect anything to a natural gas line unless you are trained and licensed to handle the task. You risk exposure to poisonous carbon monoxide as well as possible explosions. Local codes may even prohibit you from doing any work on a line connected to a gas main.

Another reason to stick with professional installers is that you need their experience to properly match the generator size with the power needs of your house. You don’t want a generator that will short out your electrical system because it is too powerful, nor do you want a generator that will struggle to supply enough power to even run a toaster.

Celco Heating and Air Conditioning specializes in installing whole-home generators, and we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for our work with upfront pricing so you always know what the job will cost. Call us today to schedule generator installation in Westport, CT so you can have the back-up you need to keep you safe, comfortable, and free from worry.

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Top 3 Common Furnace Repairs

Sunday, December 15th, 2013

Modern furnaces are built to last. Not built to last forever—that’s impossible for any machine—but still built for longer service lives with little reduction in effectiveness or efficiency. You can expect many happy and warm winters in Connecticut if you keep your furnace well-maintained…

…and keep it in good repair. Because at some point, your furnace will require repairs, no matter how well you take care of it. When your furnace starts to malfunction, you should call in trained and certified experts to handle the repairs (it’s too risky and complicated for you to attempt on your own).

Celco Heating and Air Conditioning offers excellent furnace repair for Fairfield, CT: call us any time for emergency service from our NATE-certified technicians.

Here are the 3 most common furnace repairs we perform:

1. Replacing worn or burned out motors

Your furnace requires a number of different motors in order to operate. The most important ones are the motors responsible for the blower fans. Like any motor, a motor in a furnace can overheat and burn out. With enough stress, especially from dust contamination, the motor bearings will wear down and cause the motor to break. Technicians can easily replace broken motors with new ones and get the furnace back to working order.

2. Replacing cracked heat exchangers

The heat exchangers in a gas furnace are responsible for the transfer of heat from the combustion gas to the air the fans distribute through the ducts. If the heat exchangers begin to corrode (which will eventually happen over time), they may develop cracks that will allow carbon monoxide exhaust to escape—not something you want to happen. Repair technicians will swap out damaged heat exchangers for new ones.

3. Cleaning off the burner

The burner is where gas jets ignite and create hot combustion gas. If this unit gathers too much grime, it will make it difficult for the jets to draw enough oxygen to burn. Too much dirt can also make the pilot light intermittent and possibly go out entirely. Cleaning the burner requires a technician to first remove it; you don’t want to tamper with anything connected to a gas line on your own.

To help keep your furnace in good order so you can avoid future repairs or emergencies, enroll in a regular maintenance program that will give your furnace a check-up and tune-up each year before the heating season starts. Celco Heating and Air Conditioning offers a maintenance plan that includes a 15% discount on services, plus a 10% discount on duct cleaning (something you should also look into). Turn to us for your Fairfield furnace repair and maintenance needs!

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Common Fireplace Repairs

Friday, December 6th, 2013

Although fireplaces are the oldest of all ways to heat a home, they still last longer on average than modern heating systems. A lot longer—sometimes through multiple generations. You may live in a home with a fireplace that’s much older than you. However, fireplaces do not survive that long without help. Even the sturdiest-built hearth and chimney can begin to fall apart if left without regular maintenance and proper repairs. If you get into the habit of thinking that your fireplace is indestructible, you may end up receiving an unpleasant surprise and find yourself without that cozy winter blaze. To help you stay warm this winter without any unexpected interruptions, we’ve decided to draft some of the most common fireplace repairs we encounter in Stamford.

When you need to have your fireplace repaired or maintained, call up our specialists at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning.

Some common fireplace repairs

  • Sealing cracks: The stones, bricks, and mortar in your fireplace should be able to weather the high temperature from the fires. If cracks begin to develop, it could mean a problem with your fireplace’s efficiency. It might also signal that water is seeping into the bricks, freezing, and then expanding. Water leaks are their own serious problem.
  • Stopping water leaks: Leaks inside the fireplace can come from cracks, but also from damage along the roof. Sometimes, repair technicians will need to replace mortar entirely in the upper fireplace to prevent further leaking.
  • Fixing ventilation problem: You should immediately call for repairs if you notice smoke wafting into your home when you have a fire going. This could mean trouble with the damper, collapsing mortar, or blockages.

Call fireplace experts for repairs and maintenance

Fireplace repairs involve knowledge of bricks and mortars, as well as other specialized skills. Often, repairs will require access to the chimney on the roof. You shouldn’t attempt repairs or investigation into possible repairs on your own. This is a field for fireplace technicians to handle.

Technicians can also provide you with regular maintenance: you should have your fireplace inspected annually to help catch the build-up of potentially dangerous creosote as well as the beginnings of damage like cracks.

Contact Celco Heating and Air Conditioning when you need fireplace repair or any other heating service in Stamford, CT, as well as regular maintenance. We have 24/7 emergency services for any problem you experience with your fireplace.

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