Archive for February, 2012

What happened to heating season??

Sunday, February 26th, 2012

We Floridians have enjoyed our non-winter thoroughly this year! It has been true “Chamber of Commerce” weather. We haven’t experienced the few weeks of chilly weather we usually get, and the 80s haven’t been uncommon over the holidays and throughout the typically chillier months.

What does all of that mean to your AC unit? Well, the heating features likely didn’t get used much this winter! So the run time on those parts is down some from normal, but the air conditioning parts might need a little love. Air conditioners are like cars: they need regular maintenance to keep running efficiently. So if you haven’t had your system fully maintained recently, you might want to give it some serious thought, before it decides to throw in the towel on the hottest day of the year.

Be careful: if you try to find the least expensive price, you might not get a thorough maintenance, just an “inspection” during which the company might tell you that you need a maintenance or parts replaced at an additional fee. Consider instead one of our pre-planned maintenance agreements. We call them MVPs because contracting for one entitles the homeowner to many additional benefits that they wouldn’t have with simply a standard maintenance.

During our maintenance visits, we inspect all the parts that can break and test the ones we can test to ensure you that you’re given an opportunity to repair the ones that are near failure before they fail and cause you a loss of comfort. We also thoroughly clean your outdoor AND indoor coil (in place) to make sure dirt and other debris aren’t robbing you of efficiency, increasing your unit’s run time, and increasing your power bill. Just a tiny layer of dirt on the coil increases your power bill, according to an LSU study.

So, don’t keep neglecting your poor, overworked AC unit. Find out about our unique MVP agreements today or schedule a maintenance.

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DIY tips from our Plumbing Experts

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

These days the need for value is a highly valued commodity. When do you need pros and when can you do it yourself? Here are some quick and easy bits that can help you at home.

If you discover moisture in the cabinet under your sink, but have determined for sure that there’s not a faucet leak, do not just give in to the temptation to write it off or blame a kid. Other connections, such as your ice maker and dishwasher lines, may also be located below your sink. Take the time to see if one of these connections might be your culprit.

Drain clearing chemical may seem a great way to eliminate obstructions in your drains but be careful! Many that contain extremely corrosive chemical substances that are dangerous to your pipes and might cause more harm than help to the pipes. If you’re experiencing a slow drain or no drain situation, remember our “Any Drain, Any Time for $99” special. It will pay off for you!

Are you looking for a simple tip to determine if your toilet features a hidden leak? Here is one that is not just easy, it also won’t make a large dent inside your wallet. Simply add six drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. If your toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl inside 30 minutes.

Don’t put stringy or fibrous items into your garbage disposal. Substances like banana peels, gristle, pasta, or celery might not totally break down in the disposal, and might clog your pipes rather than flowing out of the waste lines. When in doubt, throw it out!

Do you have to wiggle the toilet handle or hold it down to obtain your toilet to flush it? If you do, that indicates that the tank parts need to be replaced. Kits that include all of the parts required can be purchased in any hardware or house improvement shop to effortlessly do the repair yourself. If you’re not the handy type, call one of our experience plumbers to do it for you. We warrant all of our repairs for 2 years! You won’t get that from any home improvement store!

Does your pull-out faucet frustrate you? Mine does! It gets hung up all the time! Here’s an easy way to fix it: buys a length of pipe insulation. Slit it open carefully with a sharp knife. Slide it over the flexible tubing. Tape the top of the insulation to the underside of the cabinet to secure it. Now it will slide effortlessly.

Remember: the project that you take on yourself may cost you more in time and headaches if you’re not properly prepared and educated. In the long term, what is your time worth? Trust the pros at Bayonet to tackle any job no matter how big or how small. Don’t sweat, call Bayonet!

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Spring Cleaning? Don’t forget the AC unit…

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

The cold snap is over and Easter’s not far away. For many, that is a signal to let the spring cleaning begin! Did you know that as little as 0.042 inches of dirt accumulated on condensing unit coil and reduce your system’s efficiency by 21 percent! It’s a fact, proven by an LSU study.

When you’re thinking about cleaning, think about your AC unit. If you haven’t had it cleaned recently, call 877-BAYONET and let one of our technicians give it the spring cleaning it deserves so it doesn’t run longer than it has to when it beats the summer heat and keeps your home and family cool.

Be careful when calling for a tune up. Some companies advertise a very low cost “inspection” but they don’t actually “do” anything; they simply inspect. That’s not going to help. On the promotions page of our website, we’re running a $57 tune up special, and it’s a great value. We clean the outdoor coil and the indoor (in place, removing the coil is an extra charge) among the over twenty other tasks performed while we’re there.

Reduce your summer cooling bills before they start! Kick off your spring cleaning with a Bayonet tune up. Don’t Forget to Call Bayonet!

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Protect Your Property Today

Monday, February 6th, 2012

It has become a sign of the times: business owners call for an estimate to replace a stolen condensing unit. So many have been taken, stripped, and turned into fast cash by thieves.

We have some solutions for you that can help prevent theft before your business becomes a victim. Depending on your location, there are a few options. One is pretty obvious when replacing a system: hang it up high where it become more difficult and dangerous for the thieves to reach it. Enterprising vandals still can access the units, but most will likely move on to easier targets. This option is mostly viable when replacing a unit and involves installing a air brace onto the building and keeping the unit well up off of the ground.

If your condensing unit hasn’t been tampered with or stolen (yet), you might be interested in “caging” the unit. We can install a steel cage that is bolted into the ground, prevent access to the service valves and making it much more difficult to remove the unit entirely.

Granted, it won’t keep the most persistent thieves at bay, but it will deter most, which will go a long way toward protecting your investment!

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