PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR VACATION

It’s always a good idea to perform your own seasonal home inspection as you move into a new season. When it comes to summer and summer vacations, you’ll want peace of mind in knowing your home is in tip top condition and that all repairs have been taken care of by professionals. Plumbing is one of those things that can easily be forgotten and go unchecked until there’s a major issue. With summer upon us, we want to share tips that can help keep your home running well and allow you to relax and enjoy the season and your vacation. Check these out:

• Check for water leaks indoors before you leave home on vacation. Key locations to check are sinks, showers, tubs and toilets for leaks, and be sure to have any leaks repaired before vacation. Also, check around major appliances for leaks and possible issues that need attention.
  
• Be sure to check for outdoor plumbing leaks as well. Perform a quick tour of your yard and checking all the water faucets, drip system, and pool plumbing too.
• Turn off water at the main shut-off valve, unless there’s reason to leave it on when on vacation.
• Toilets collect bacteria, and it’s a good idea to pour a half a cup of chlorine bleach into each toilet bowl before leaving on a trip.
• If you are leaving for a long time, have a neighbor or friend turn the water on and run the faucets at least once a month. They can also run the dishwasher and flush toilets to keep them functioning well and eliminate unwanted odors during your time away.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS VACATION REMINDERS:

• Before vacation, unplug small appliances, computers, TVs, lamps, etc., in order to save on utilities
• Make sure smoke detectors and thermostats have fresh batteries and are in good working condition.
• Leave emergency contact information for your house sitter. Be sure to include a list of names and contact information, including Marlin Services for Plumbing & Air Conditioning needs, your electrician, yard, pool service, and others – just in case.

Have a great summer and memorable vacation with family and friends. Enjoy the summer with your home in good working order.

 MARLIN SERVICES
We know comfort – and you can rely on us to do it right!
Call: 602-470-1040

STAY COOL WITH ENERGY-SAVING TIPS
It’s HOT in the Phoenix area and summer is officially upon us in a couple of weeks. Temps have been hovering in the low 100s lately and with these high temperatures we’d like to offer a few reminders for cooling your home and saving as much money as possible. As we crank up the air conditioning at home, keep these energy-saving tips in mind:

• First on the list is to check and replace those clogged and dirty air filters. It’s best to keep the filter changed once per month. This alone can help save AC energy by 5-15%.
• Regular maintenance on your air conditioning system by professional service technicians, like Marlin Services is your best insurance for a well running system throughout the season – and for the longevity of your equipment. Have AC maintenance and repairs completed at the beginning of the season to optimize your summer comfort and smooth equipment operations.
• Use your thermostat efficiently – save energy and money by setting your thermostat for the various times of day and night – adjust it up or down based on times when someone is home or away.
• Thermostat efficiency – consider using a programmable thermostat for ease of control and for best indoor comfort and savings. You can save as much as 10% per year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.
• Be sure to check your thermostat batteries
• Use your ceiling fans for additional air circulation and comfort in your home. Remember, ceiling fans cool people – not rooms. Turn on ceiling fans only when someone is in the room and turn them off upon leaving the room.
• Reduce the amount of humidity inside your home for best cooling efficiencies – use bathroom and kitchen fans as needed.
• Reduce heat from building up in your home on hot days by limiting stove and oven use when possible. Use window coverings to help limit the sun’s heat from entering the home during summer months.
• If your current air conditioner is 10+ years old and acting up often, think about having high efficiency equipment installed – as it can reduce your energy usage by 20-50%.

We hope these reminders help you achieve the highest level of comfort in your home this summer. Enjoy saving cash and energy at the same time.

MARLIN SERVICES
We know comfort – and we are at your service
when you need us – 24/7
Call: 602-470-1040