November 26, 2020

We have been running a plumbing, heating, and air conditioning company in the Queensbury area for over 25 years now, and there is never a dull moment. Afterall, we are paid to solve problems for our customers and those problems are always changing. No matter what the challenge or how difficult things get, we pride ourselves on great customer service. So we thought we would put paper to pen and give definition to what we feel, as a plumbing – heating – and air conditioning company, is great customer service.

When you boil it all down, it is three simple things:

1. Trust – I know this may seem like a no brainer, but it’s more than just the overall idea of trust. We want our clients to trust that we will show up on time. We all have busy schedules these days and the last thing you want is for us to mess up yours because we did not show up on time. We want our customers to trust that we will work efficiently. Plumbing, heating, and air conditioning happens in your home, which means you want us in and out as quickly as possible. That takes efficiency. We want our customers to trust that we will bill appropriately. In some cases, like emergency service, there was no established quote or estimate. The last thing you want is to feel like you are being taken advantage of. Lastly, our customers trust us to get the job done. Not half way done, not three quarters of the way done, they want it all the way done. We are not going to leave you high and dry for days or weeks, we are going to work until the job is finished. 

2. Communication – Communication is the bedrock of everything we do. Clear communication ensures our clients’ expectations are set and met.

   Communication helps to keep our clients informed and at ease throughout the process. Communication helps to solidify trust with our clients because we tell them what we are going to do and then we do it. Communication keeps our team on the same page, working towards completion as efficiently as possible. Without clear communication none of what we do is possible. 

3. We own our mistakes – No one is perfect, not even us. Every once in a while something does not go to plan, or we make a mistake. When this happens we do not make excuses or try to shift blame. Instead we own the mistake and move forward with doing what is necessary to get the job done. Afterall, that is what you are trusting us to do. Of course, we will communicate very clearly with you every step of the way.

Great customer service is not about being perfect all the time. It is about what happens after a mistake is made, it is about building trust, and it is about clear communication in every situation. We may not always hit that mark but we do always strive to achieve it. We hope you give us the chance to show you!

October 27, 2020

We like efficiency. Like, a lot. We talk about it all the time and most every installation we do is focused on efficiency. High efficiency furnaces, high efficiency water heating systems, water efficient plumbing systems, the list goes on and on. These efficiencies are focused on a lower environmental impact and a higher cost savings in the long run to you. The thing is, those cost savings don’t only reside with the installation, there are other factors to consider. So let’s talk about it, let’s save some money.

Heat Loss

Heat loss takes place when the heat in your home moves from the inside of your house to the outside of your house. A small amount of heat loss is normal for most homes when the temperature outside is colder than inside. What most of us are trying to do is slow the rate of heat loss down to its lowest amount, if not stop it all together. So here are a couple of things to ponder:

Heat will always try to find it’s way out into the cold. So one of the first things we need to do is make it as hard as possible for heat to find ways to get out. Drafty windows and doors are a gimmie. Sometimes we can block these drafts with some sort of cloth, install storm doors and windows, or even replace those old doors and windows. It may sound like you are not saving money here but in many cases those short term investments can yield long term dividends. If you feel cold air getting in, heat is definitely getting out. 

Next up for heat loss is your insulation. Again, not a new concept, so we won’t spend a ton of time on it but worth at least mentioning that most of your heat loss in your house happens in your attic. Heat rises and moves with the path of least resistance by following stairwells, empty spaces in your walls, and radiating through poorly insulated floors. It will finally find its way up to your attic, the line of last defense. So do your wallet a favor and check to see if your attic is properly insulated.

Water Loss

Maybe it is just me but the other day one of my kids went to go hop in the shower. I heard the water turn on and run for a few minutes, maybe 5. Next thing I know the “supposed to be in the shower child” walks by me moving towards the kitchen (which is away from the bathroom with the running shower). When questioned on this my darling replied that “the water needed to warm up”. 

On occasion I wash a dish or two, maybe even some pots and pans. One thing I am very guilty of is allowing the water to run the entire time, start to finish. Essentially watching money run down the drain. I don’t know why I do it but I just feel like to effectively rinse soap off of a freshly washed plate the water needs continuous flow. It’s silly but it’s true. 

Maybe you have a tankless system and maybe you have a tank system. In either scenario our habits are what are forcing our hard earned money down the drain, a seemingly easy fix. 

So take a look around the ol’ homestead. Where are the leaky windows, leaky doors, and leaky habits that are costing you money? 

September 22, 2020

It’s that time of the year again. Nights are cool, bordering on cold, and you are saying (sometimes out loud) “I am not turning on the heat until at least November”. We get it, utility costs skyrocket in the winter regardless of what you are using for fuel, and the frugal at heart want to keep costs as low as possible. With that frugality in mind you may be doing some google searches on how to keep heating costs as low as possible. One of the biggest things you can do is to make sure you have a high efficiency furnace. If not, we would love to install a nice High Efficiency York Furnace for you.

If you already have that high efficiency furnace then your next step is to make sure you are having regular maintenance done. Here are some reasons we feel you should be having your furnace serviced, especially this time of year. 

1. Reduce your energy bills. One of the most common reasons we found scouring the digiverse. Probably one of the reasons that makes the most sense for the frugal at heart. 

2. Helps your furnace run as efficiently as possible. This is what makes #1 possible. If your furnace is running at its peak efficiency it will cost you less money than if it wasn’t. Lower heating costs are all about the efficiency of your furnace, mechanically speaking of course. 

3. Maintain your manufacturer’s warranty. If your furnace came with a warranty not maintaining it could void the warranty. So keep it serviced by professionals and keep records of those service calls. 

4. Keep your family safe. A poorly maintained unit can suffer damage over time. A damaged furnace can allow carbon monoxide to leak into your home and have dangerous consequences. So keep your furnace well maintained and have CO detectors throughout the house, just in case. 

5. Fewer emergency repairs! We get a lot of no heat calls and more often than not it is because the homeowner does not have their furnace regularly serviced. So stay warm, get your furnace serviced regularly! We recommend at the very least having a fall cleaning done and change those filters often!

6. Extend the life of your furnace. As much as we love installing furnaces we do keep our customers interests at the forefront of what we do. We want you to have the furnace we install for you last as long as possible. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is to have regular maintenance done. 

7. Last but not least – air quality. A poorly maintained furnace with dirty filters can mean that you are breathing in dust particles. You may not even be able to see them but they are probably there. 

So there you have it, our reasons to have your furnace maintained regularly by professionals. As we said, it is important to have a cleaning done at least once a year and to change your furnace filters regularly, A common question of “how often should I change my furnace filters” has no easy answer. It depends on the furnace and the type of filters that you use. We like to use the motto of when in doubt – switch it out. If you still aren’t sure give us a call, we would love to add you to our happy clients list. 

August 22, 2020

If you are thinking about switching from a traditional tank system for your hot water to a Tankless hot water system there are a few things to consider. As a newer technology, relatively speaking, the idea of “instant hot water” can be tough to understand. Folks often love to go with the tried and true method of storing water in a tank, and continuously heating that water until there is a need. Once that need arises you turn on the faucet and wait for the hot water to flow out. It works and has worked for a long long time. I know some feel that if it isn’t broke don’t fix it, but there is a better way. A way that will save you money. Let’s take a look at the tankless hot water heater.

As we said, with the traditional tank hot water heater stores the water and heats it somewhat continuously. This means every time it fires up it is spending your money in the form of used electricity, fuel oil, or propane to keep the water hot. Let’s pretend you are gone at work all day for roughly 8 hours. You showered before you left, depleting most or all of the hot water in the tank. After this, the tank spent time, perhaps 15 minutes, heating the water in the tank back up to the set temperature. Then it sat there all day with no use in sight. Now add to this that at some point (and perhaps more than one) the water in the tank fell below the set temperature and so again the hot water heater kicked on to bring it back up to temperature. How many times does this happen during the day? How many times did your tank hot water system spend your hard earned money to heat water that was not being used and potentially could not be used until the following morning when you take a shower again. So by the time you take that morning shower the next day you have now paid to heat that water not once, but many, many times. 

Another strike against the tank system is that it can only hold so much water. Perhaps you have a 40 gallon tank, wIll you use half of that while you shower? Maybe you like to take nice long hot showers or maybe even a bath. How big is your tub? Are there other people in the house that also need to shower and find that by the time they get in there is no hot water left? If there are 4 people in your home that need to take a shower in the morning chances are the fourth person is going to have a rude awakening. 

One last strike against the tank is what can happen when they get too old. Hot water tanks, over time, can begin to degrade and eventually burst. Too many times we have been on a call when someone’s hot water tank burst and sent 40 gallons of water onto whatever is underneath. Now in the case of a basement with a cement floor perhaps this is not a big deal. If you have a finished basement or the hot water tank is located on one of the upper floors that is a lot of water that can potentially damage flooring, sheetrock, electrical systems, appliances, and more. 

Tankless Systems 

Tankless hot water systems give you hot water on demand. No more storing and heating water so that it is ready when you need it. With tankless it instantly heats the amount of water you need and sends it to you as you need it. No more paying for hot water that is not used which leads to cost savings for you. 

Tankless hot water systems give you an unlimited amount of hot water. No matter how big your tub or how many people there are in the house, they will always have hot water. No more cold showers for anyone.

No tank means you never have to worry about it getting old and bursting, sending gallons and gallons all over your beautiful home, incurring further damage.

Are they more expensive? In some cases the Navien Tankless Hot Water Systems we sell are more expensive than your traditional tank. You should take into consideration the day to day cost of running a tankless VS running a tank system. Over time those cost savings can more than pay for the system. As a recent customer said to us, “The system will pay for itself in under 5 years and then we will be saving money each month compared to what we were spending before installing the tankless system”. 

We also offer 0% financing on many of our plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems, Which helps homeowners install these systems in cases where they may be short on cash. Of course financing is subject to submitting an application and meeting the requirements. 

Two last thoughts on the Tankless Hot Water system VS the traditional tank unit. Tankless Systems take up less space and they are less impactful on the environment. All of this adding up to the fact that we think you should switch out that tank for a tankless system, whenever possible. 

August 5, 2020

Ductless Air Conditioning

Ductless air conditioning systems offer an excellent way to cool your entire home efficiently, without the need for bulky window units or existing ductwork. These systems provide everyone with the flexibility to add air conditioning to any room, regardless of your home’s age or current setup. Not only are ductless systems quiet, easy to use, and energy-efficient, but they can also be “zoned” to cool specific areas of your home, saving energy and increasing comfort.

With a smaller footprint than traditional HVAC systems, ductless units are an ideal solution for apartments, older homes, and rooms that need additional climate control, like basements or attics. Installation is straightforward, requiring no changes to your current heating system or ductwork.

Ductless systems are the answer to both cooling and heating needs. Here’s what makes them a smart choice:

• Efficient and Compact: Smaller than central HVAC systems, ductless units are perfect for apartments or individual rooms, and they use less energy, focusing on specific spaces rather than cooling unused areas.
• Eco-Friendly: Ductless systems can save up to 30% on energy compared to other HVAC options, offering both cooling and heating with reduced environmental impact.
• Air Quality Improvement: Equipped with multi-stage filtration, ductless units significantly reduce dust, pollen, and other particulates, enhancing your home or office air quality.
• Quiet Operation: Unlike noisy window units, ductless air conditioners operate quietly—no more volume adjustments every time the AC kicks on!
• Convenient Control: Most ductless systems come with a remote, allowing you to adjust the temperature from anywhere in the room without hassle.

Whether for a single room or the entire home, ductless air conditioning systems offer a year-round solution to keep your space comfortable, energy-efficient, and quiet.

Interested in ductless air conditioning? Call Cerrone Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning. Your comfort is our #1 priority.

August 4, 2020

We know it’s July and your furnace is probably the last thing you are thinking about. We get it, it’s hot outside, the central air unit we installed for you is running just fine. Or maybe you went for the ductless system, great choice. Those ductless air units get two thumbs up from us every time. If we did install central air for you and you go downstairs and look at the unit responsible for blowing that cool air around, we bet it says York. So today, on this hot July day, we want to tell you the top reasons we install York Brand Furnaces.

Warranty Warranty Warranty

No extra $$ needed here, the cost of the warranty is covered. York’s warranty program, in our experience, is seconds to none. You can read more about York warranties here.

Warranties will of course vary by model and we will help you navigate those waters but it is important to note that many units come with a one year warranty on labor and up to 5 or 10 years on parts. You can also look up specific warranty on your furnace here.

Fewer Problems

Very rarely have we seen issues with York brand furnaces compared to other manufactures we have installed in the past. They are built well and stand the test of time. Don’t take our word though, you can read all about York brand’s awards and accolades right here.

When they do need repairs or maintenance we can make it happen, fast.

We like York products. We install York furnaces and air conditioners every chance we get and because of that we often have parts on our vans. No need to wait while we order parts and have them shipped. We already have them on hand.

Better Pricing 

Cerrone Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning is an authorized York Dealer. As a dealer we are given better pricing and rather than line our pockets, we are able to give you better pricing. 

Honestly, there are a great many reasons to choose York over other brands of furnaces. Price, reliability, warranty, and so many others. York has an amazing website with a lot of great information and we encourage you to take a look. We are certain you will share our belief that York furnaces are the best furnaces. 

You can visit York’s website at https://www.york.com/

August 4, 2020

We know what you are thinking, it’s late April, early May, way too cold to start thinking about air conditioning. But is it? Temps will be in the 70’s reaching for the 80’s in just a month two at the most, and like most things, better to dig your well before you’re thirsty.

So without further adieu, with mathematical precision, here is our formula for a happy life. And yes, it starts with air conditioning.

Air Conditioning

Happiness starts with air conditioning because air conditioning brings comfort. We know this with absolute scientific certainty because the opposite of comfort is discomfort. Discomfort is what you feel in June, July, and August, when you don’t have air conditioning, and you are trying to figure out how to set up a “cross breeze” using fans, and open windows. Discomfort is what you feel when that Central Air unit you have had since 1972 decides it has had it’s time and just is not going to give you another hour’s work. It’s tired and has been looking forward to retirement since 1993. You catch my meaning I am sure. 

I believe at this point we have also illustrated that a home able to maintain that goldilocks zone of sub 70’s temps in the warmer months, provides physical ease, also known as comfort.

Air Conditioning + Comfort = Good Sleep

No secret that a lack of comfort will prevent us from sleeping well. The more comfortable we are the better we sleep and I am obviously not here to talk to you about your mattress. I know you are asking the question right now. “Ok, so what is the optimal temperature to be comfortable while you sleep?”. Well, according to the folks over at sleep.org the best temperatures for sleeping is between 60-67 degrees. Read that again. 60-67 degrees. You can read more about what they say by clicking here. Back to our story. Without air conditioning of some sort you are not going to be able to keep your home in that temperature range of 60-67 degrees during the warmer months. Which means the sleep you are getting (or not getting), is dependent on how comfortable you are, which is dependent on Air Conditioning. You may have seen that coming.

Air Conditioning + Comfort + Good Sleep = Productivity

I don’t care what you do for a living, career, in your spare time, on the weekends, or at night after your kids go to sleep, being productive is a huge piece of everything. Guess what the key ingredient to being productive is? According to Forbes.com it’s sleep. Actually, Forbes Magazine even goes as far as to tell us 4 ways that sleep improves our productivity. You can read more here. 

So now you know. Productivity comes from better sleep, better sleep comes from being comfortable (goldilocks zone), and that comfort comes from Air Conditioning. Don’t worry, we are not done yet. 

Air Conditioning + Comfort + GoodSleep + Productivity  = Lower Stress Levels

There is a ton of information out there about how stress affects your productivity. However, studies are not necessary to know that when you are getting things done (being more productive), you are going to be less stressed. Simple right? Think about how good you feel everytime you cross an item off that todo list. Feel stressed? Nope. Feel good? Yup. Maybe….. Even…. happy?

Comfort + Good Sleep + Productivity + Lower Stress Levels = A Happy Life!

The formula! Yes this is it. The secret recipe, the awesome sauce, the pièce de résistance! Let’s work it in reverse just like we did before common core. You are happiest when your stress levels are low. Your stress levels are lower when you are more productive and getting things done. You are more capable of getting things done and being more productive when you are getting enough sleep (just ask forbes.com).  You owe that great night’s sleep to how comfortable you are, and you owe that comfort to your air conditioning. That beautiful central air conditioning or maybe that ductless air conditioning system. Maybe you don’t have it and maybe you have an older system that needs to be replaced. The one thing we feel is certain is that you should call us to chat about it. Stay cool my friends!

P.S. If our mathematical formula for life isn’t enough perhaps these articles about 2020 being the hottest year on record will be? 

Sources:

• https://www.ecowatch.com/2020-warmest-year-noaa-2645760766.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/04/16/global-warming-2020-expected-warmest-year-record-noaa-said/5144767002/
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/04/21/earth-warmest-year-likely-2020/

August 4, 2020

Finding a Plumbing Contractor or an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) Contractor that you can trust has never been an easy order. There are many options out there but evaluating the right ones is difficult. The barrier to entry for folks to start their own company has been increasingly easier which sometimes means the person you are about to deal with may not be as qualified as you would hope. You consult google reviews and of course they all say they are great (what they don’t say is that they are family members and friends). They seem trustworthy and they sound like they are credible. But are they?

So in today’s world of cooked reviews and youtube professionals we decided to put together a short list of things to discuss with your potential Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning contractor.

1. How long have they been in business? Experience can only come with time and nothing else. Training and certifications are great but there are many situations where having a Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning contractor that has been in the business for years is going to save time and money. Talking a good game is one thing but nothing beats learning your craft slowly over time and being put in every situation possible. When someone with years of experience shows up they are going to be in a better position to quickly handle your problems. Also, do you really want someone learning on your dime?
2. What do their clients say? There is no reason why you cannot ask for references and perhaps even specify: not family or friends. Find out who they have worked with, what types of jobs, have they done this specific work before and how many times? Do you want to be the 3rd client they have installed a furnace for or the 30th? It does not have to be confrontational, you are just doing your due diligence to find the right company for your situation. No professional company will be upset with a few questions to ascertain if they are the right company.
3. Are they a dealer for the brand they are working on or about to install? This is more specific to HVAC but can also apply to plumbing. Dealers are able to get better deals on pricing and are typically put through specialized training that allows them to know the products better than non-dealers. Now if you add that they have been dealers of this product for years we are now adding experience and things are looking a whole lot better.
4. Are they familiar with any warranties available for these products? A reputable installer will know and be familiar with available warranties. They will be able to walk you through the process of setting up the warranty or even better, do it for you. As warranties are often available on new installs (like our York Furnaces), be sure to ask. This may save you a lot of money later on should anything happen. 
5. Is this their job or a side hustle? One of our current clients that we have installed a York furnace for, a tankless hot water heater, and do ongoing maintenance for shared a horror story with us recently about formerly using “a friend” that works a full time job and does HVAC on the side. We won’t bore you with all the gory details, but needless to say it did not go well and in the end cost him thousands of dollars more than it should have and a lot of time and frustration. 

Moral of the story is that there are many contractors out there that while they may mean well, are not completely qualified to do the job. We hope this short list at the very least is helpful to you in evaluating them. Of course, we would love to chat with you about any needs you have, questions you want to ask, and we will certainly address all of your concerns. We hope to hear from you soon.