You may not realize it but you could be losing money each year as a result of wasted energy through air leaks in your home. The good news, though, is there are quick and simple ways to reduce wasted energy. Caulking and weather stripping your home can make a big difference in reducing wasted energy in your home and reduce your energy bills in the process.

Tips to reduce air leaks:

• Test your home for air leaks.
• Caulk and weather strip doors and windows that are leaking air.
• Caulk and seal leaks in plumbing, electrical wiring and ducting that come through walls, floors and ceilings that are leaking air.
• Seal outlets and wall switch plates by installing foam gaskets behind them.
• Seal leaks in your insulation with low-expansion spray foam. (Dirty spots in the insulation are key signals that there is a leak.)
• Cover single-pane windows with storm windows or install double-pane, energy efficient, heat-resistant windows.
• Use foam sealant on areas that may produce leaks including larger gaps around windows and baseboards.
• When your kitchen exhaust fan is not in use, cover it.
• Clean out your dryer vent, which saves energy and prevents fire.
• Add pliable sealing gaskets to door bottoms and thresholds.
• When fireplaces are not in use, keep the flue damper closed tightly.
• Seal air leaks around fireplace chimneys, furnaces, and gas water heater vents with proper fire-resistant materials.
• Seal the leak caused by the installation of the drain assembly of a bathtub by fitting foam board around the pipes and seal any gaps with spray foam insulation.

You can test your home for air tightness by looking at these areas – electrical outlets, switch plates, door/window frames, electrical and gas service entrances, baseboards, weather stripping around doors, fireplace dampers, attic hatches, wall or window-mounted air conditioners, cable TV and phone lines, where dryer vents pass through walls, vents and fans, all exterior corners, outdoor water faucets, where siding and chimneys meet and areas where the foundation and the bottom of exterior brick or siding meet.

Sources: Zillow, energy.gov, the Allstate Blog and House Logic

Check out these sites for additional information:
http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/air-sealing-your-home
http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/insulation/biggest-air-leak-home/#
http://blog.allstate.com/feeling-a-draft-how-to-find-and-stop-common-air-leaks-in-your-home/
http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/detecting-air-leaks

For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040

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Tips To Keep Electric Bill Down In Summer

As our triple-digit temperatures continue they can bring high electric bills, and we at Marlin Services are reminding customers on ways to reduce energy use through the summer months to lower electricity bills.

Small measures such as turning off unneeded lights and raising the thermostat temperature a couple of degrees add up to big savings.

Here are 10 simple and free or low-cost measures to reduce energy use:

• Set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher. For every degree you lower your thermostat, you increase your bill by 3 to 4 percent.
• Purchase a smart thermostat that is Internet-capable and can be programmed through your smart phone and computer.
• Use fans in combination with your air conditioning. Fans don’t make the room cooler but they make your skin feel 4 degrees cooler. Turn off the fan when you leave the room.
• Replace or clean your air conditioning filters once a month. Clogged filters cause your air conditioner to work harder and run longer.
• Close curtains and blinds on windows hit by direct sunlight to avoid bringing heat into the home.
• Avoid washing dishes, washing and drying clothes, using the oven and stove, and other activities that bring heat into your home during the hottest part of the day between 3 and 7 p.m. and make your air conditioner run longer. Perform those activities in the early morning or late evening hours.
• Nothing is more energy efficient for cooking than your microwave. It uses two-thirds less energy than your stove
• Having lots of food in your fridge keeps it from warming up too fast when the door is open. So your fridge doesn’t have to work as hard to stay cool.
• Turn off lights that are not needed.
• Unplug electronics when not in use such as TVs, cell phone chargers, computers and other devices. Electronics continue to draw power even when turned off and can account for as much as 10 percent of your energy use. Connect the devices to power strips that automatically cut off the power when not in use or that allow you to turn the power strip off

For more information on how we can help you save BIG this summer, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040

We wanted to give you some energy saving tips for all of our homeowners!

• A cooling system is one of the biggest energy guzzlers in your home. If you have an old air conditioning system with a SEER rating of less than 8, it may be worthwhile to consider replacing it with a more energy efficient system. You should be able to recoup the cost in just a few years

• Plant shade trees and shrubs around your house to help reduce the heat of the sun, especially on the west and south sides. This can reduce your cooling costs by up to 30%.

For more information on how you can keep an energy saving home, contact us TODAY!
(602) 470-1040 OR visit: MARLIN SERVICES

Phone: (602) 470-1040

info@marlinonline.com

www.MarlinServices.com

Marlin Services wishes you a Safe and Happy Halloween!

Avoid Halloween Plumbing Nightmares!

Millions of pounds of pulp are scraped from pumpkins throughout the Halloween season, resulting in yummy pies, creative jack-o’-lanterns…and plumbing nightmares. Every year plumbers receive a lot of calls to repair garbage disposers and kitchen sink drains that have been clogged with slimy, stringy pumpkin pulp and seeds.

Tips to Guard Against Drain Disasters

*  Never put pumpkin pulp or seeds down the toilet, sink drain or in the garbage disposer.

*  Throw away pumpkin-related materials in the garbage can or compost pile.

*  Separate the seeds, then roast for a tasty treat!

Special Treats for Halloween

www.MARLINSERVICES.com

Typically, when pipes get clogged, homeowners run to the store and grab a name brand chemical drain opener, thinking it will solve all of their problems. What most homeowners don’t know, however, is that, even though that name brand substance may unclog your drains, it’s only a temporary fix. The chemicals in the solutions actually burn or dissolve a hole in the buildup, blocking your drains so that, over time, with regular use, you’ll end up doing further damage to your system. Instead, homeowners should use natural or homemade alternatives such as baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice or Bio Clean. Bio Clean is a natural bacterium that feeds on the buildup inside of your drains, biodegrading anything that clogs the pipes until they run clear and trouble free.

Pouring baking soda down the drains along with hot water will dissolve the sludge and gunk in your pipes, even if you don’t see it happening. You can also add a cup of vinegar. When the bubbles die down, just continue to add hot water and repeat the process if necessary. Another natural cleaning paste can be created by mixing lemon juice with the vinegar and baking soda.

The #1 thing to remember with plumbing is to be aware. Be aware of what goes in and comes out of the pipes. Be aware of what the pipes can and can’t handle.

For more information Call: 602.470.1040
Or VISIT: www.MarlinServices.com

As Americans, many of us do not realize that one of the most dangerous rooms in our home is the bathroom, with senior citizens and infants at highest risk of injury. Every day approximately 370 Americans are injured due to bathtub and shower-related incidents, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. National Bath Safety month was established to raise national awareness of the risks and hazards people encounter everyday in their home bathrooms.

We’ve all seen the commercials and know never to leave our kids alone in the swimming pool. However, 43,000 children are injured or drown in baths each year. NEVER leave your children unattended in the bath.

Here are a few other tips to make your bathroom a safer place for you and your family.

#1 Use non skid decals on the floor of your tub and/or shower to avoid slipping. You can also place a rubber bath mat to cover a larger area. Bath mats are easy to clean and suction to the floor of your bath to keep you from losing your footing on the slippery surface of your bath or shower floor.

#2 Always check the water temperature to make sure it is at a comfortable 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent seniors or children from being scalded by hot water.

#3 Place a terrycloth bathmat on the floor at the entrance/exit to your tub or shower. These catch dripping water and keep the bathroom floor dry so there is less risk of slipping on wet tile or laminate. Another option would be to carpet your entire bathroom.

#4 Never use towel bars as railings for getting in or out of the shower or tub. These are not designed to support much weight and may give out causing you to fall.

#5 Do not use lawn chairs or plastic stools as seating in the shower. If you require seating, invest in a very sturdy shower chair that is less likely to deteriorate or weaken in regularly wet conditions

#6 For senior citizens, who have difficulty getting in or out of the tub, you may want to research alternative baths or showers. American Standard has a whole line of walk-in baths with door entry for easier and safer access to the bathtub.

Follow Marlin Services and American Standard on Facebook to get more safety tips as National Bath Safety Month Progresses.

And don’t forget to visit our site at www.marlinservices.com

Source: Tips for Observing Bath Safety Month