Saving Lives & Property

Oh heck yeah! Here we go! Nothing gets an American’s red blood pumping more than the strategy of defense. Yeah buddy. Defense of home. Defense self. And that patriotic defense of old Glory herself. Do you love it? I know I do. Eight years as a Marine taught me that your plans for success are a big barrel of nothing without a good system of defense. “Security in depth” is what they called it. Keeping the good people cool, calm and collective under the most dire of strains. That takes skill. Takes practice. Takes know how from the people who have been there before, time and time again.

Like our firefighters: the always forgotten heroes who walk amongst us daily. If they or any firefighter or emergency response personnel where to be asked who is the most forgotten stepchild of any well thought out security system? You guessed it! The whole lot of them would tell you fire alarms. Smoke detectors. Every patriot knows that matching a security system to a good fire alarm system and plan is just about as essential as harvesting beets, carrots, onions and potatoes before the ground freezes at the turn of the year. Without doing so is a waste of your time. But, there is no need to be alarmed. I have solutions.  So, let’s ponder the different types of fire alarms there are for the American business owner.

Choose a Local Service

At this point, I don’t find the naming of any specific brand of fire alarm necessary. A brand is not particularly important as compared to all the functional bells and whistles it may possess, However, I will tell you my personal opinion on the subject of brands: when it comes to classifying security elements such as alarm systems, know that the best system is whatever system that is locally tech supported. That’s right! It’s arguable however, I believe that your best choice of fire alarms will be the one that you can get regular support for if you, yourself or someone you hire is not going to be the guru of fire alarms. In today’s times, its best to have all your bases covered when it comes to the safety of your hard working, very appreciated workforce; and coming in as almost forgotten, staggered and distant runner-ups: financed machinery, commercial real estate and non-recoupable equipment. 

When it comes to the different types of fire alarms, the best systems on the market are offering the whole shebang. Automation is key as top companies and system designers are integrating both physical security elements such as motion detectors and invasion notification tech with hazard prevention and preservation systems such as audible alarms and heat sensing sprinklers. Neither a physical prevention or a hazard detection system is never complete without smoke detectors.

Smoke Detectors and Sprinklers

Smoke detectors and sprinkler systems have come a long way baby! Depending on environmental conditions and the type of systems that you may already have, fire sprinklers and smoke alarms serve different purposes so their functionality differ as well. Smoke alarms are going to be the audible part of your alert system play. If there is a fire, the smoke detectors will scream and scream and scream some more just for the safety of your business as well as your neighbor’s business although miles apart. They are that freakin loud, bless the manufacturers everywhere!

Contrary to myth, sprinkler systems have and always will be heat activated and not at all activated by smoke detectors. Sprinkler systems work independently from fire alarms and are typically activated when the approximate area of each sensor reach the temperature of 160 degrees. However, it’s like the old saying goes: where there’s smoke, there’s a smoke detector ringing in your ear as water pour down upon you due to the sprinklers drenching out the fire! Something like that. The fancy fun fact about today’s top notch smoke detectors is that they come digitally integrated with one another. That’s right fire safety fans! With smoke detectors calling the shots, not only are they first to detect smoke well before there’s fire, smoke detectors can signal all other integrated components like the fire alert notification system according to the affected areas. 

Different Types of Fire Alarms for Different Businesses

So, now that we can see that there are many factors to consider when deciding between the different types of fire alarms, you can see how local knowledge and expertise might be the best way of figuring out the best system for you and your business. Either way, any movement towards safety is a good move and the right step towards defending America.  

For property managers and commercial building owners, saving money is synonymous to doing best commercial HVAC practices. Energy waste can cost your business high utility bills; and when you are trying to have a successful business operation, every dollar counts.

Taking steps to lower energy costs can also help in the longevity of the equipment you use. Gaining a reputation for being energy conscious and environmentally friendly can serve beneficial for your company as it can attract potential customers who value those things as well.

Don’t allow energy waste to keep your business from prospering. To maximize the money and time you invested in reducing your energy costs, here are some tips and strategies you can apply to your commercial property.

Conduct an energy audit

Before you can even take steps to lower your energy consumption, you need to know when, where, and how energy is being used throughout your commercial property. Building owners should gather and assess their property’s energy bills for the last two to four years. Try to determine some patterns. Is there a spike in energy consumption that is not related to the changing of seasons? Are there tendencies for your commercial HVAC system to run less effectively? The more you know about your building’s energy usage, the easier it is to determine what the issues are and address them.

Do routine preventative maintenance

One of the most effective ways to control your commercial energy costs is by ensuring that your commercial HVAC systems are running at the peak efficiency. To achieve this, create and follow a preventative maintenance schedule. When you put off the cleaning, replacing dysfunctional parts, and other maintenance tasks, you will most likely experience everything from minor consumption loss to expensive major unit failures.

Don’t delay repairs

It can be incredibly tempting to schedule an HVAC repair for next week, next month, next quarter, or even next year – especially when you think that you will have more money to budget for repairs as you wait longer. However, that is not a good strategy, especially when you factor in the consistently growing expense of an incompetent HVAC operation to the repair cost.

Take advantage of smart technology and programmable thermostats

Energy used when there is no one in your commercial building is energy wasted. When your heating and cooling systems are still running at the preferred temperatures of the building occupants – even after they are gone for the day or the weekend, then you are contributing to your energy waste. Install a programmable thermostat that will allow you to have energy-efficient settings. As the name suggests, you can program the thermostat to the preferred temperature of your building tenants while they are inside the premises, and then have the thermostat turn off when the tenants leave. On the other hand, thermostats equipped with smart technology can detect the absence or presence of people in the property and adjust the temperatures accordingly.

Opt for variable refrigerant flow systems

Variable refrigerant flow systems provide advanced solutions that instantly move refrigerant from one area to another. This process allows the efficient transfer of heat to where it’s needed within the building. These variable refrigerant flow systems can give you substantial energy savings.

Make structural changes

The design of a building, especially of older ones, causes heating and cooling inefficiencies. In many cases, it’s worth the investment in time, money, and effort to reconstruct and redesign the problem area to correct the issue. For example, if your commercial property has a shipping area that is continuously exposed to outside temperatures, then it should be separated from the rest of the structure with thick doors that seal correctly and insulated walls to save energy.

Perform a consistent check for energy-wasting acts

Building managers and property owners tend to focus on more systemic issues. Thus, energy consumption within the property is often overlooked. For example, when occupants run space heaters because it gets uncomfortably hot or cold, or when they are continually opening doors or windows even when the commercial HVAC is running, wastes a tremendous amount of energy. Assign someone to check the building on a regular basis so the administration can detect these bad practices so that they can be corrected right away.

Educate the building tenants and employees on energy-saving habits

Many of us would gladly use energy wisely if we are made well aware of what the best energy-saving practices are. If you’re a property manager or building owner, educate your tenants on the actions that will have positive effects on energy costs.

Replacing or repairing any appliance or equipment at home can be discouraging; not a lot of us look forward to that task. However, the experience can be a little less daunting if we know what warning signs to look for. If you suspect that you are in need of a water heater repair, look to these signs and plan ahead.

1. If you have no clue when the last time your heater was replaced, then it’s probably due for a replacement. The lifespan of water heaters is between 10 and 15 years. If you suspect yours is older or you don’t know when you got it, then it may be closing to the end of its life.
2. When you try to turn on the water heater, the water that comes out is a rusty color.
3. When there is no hot water coming out when you turn on the hot water, it might be because: a) the circuit breaker has been tripped; or b) the hot water heater is not functional anymore.
4. When there is sediment buildup in the tank, sandy or muddy water will come out. Most of the time, you can drain the contents of the tank; this will make the water heater function normally again.
5. When there is a metallic smell, or even taste, to the water when you turn on the water heater; this happens because the flakes and the grits from the inner tank is incorporating into the water in the tank. This is a clear-cut sign that you’re heater is breaking down; and you are in need of a water heater repair or service.
6. Instead of hot water, only lukewarm water is coming out. This might be because the heating element is burned out. Try adjusting your thermostat to between 120 and 140 degrees – anything lower can only produce lukewarm, not hot, water.
7. How often do you turn on the water heater in your house? A household with many members who use hot water will have a more active heater than a person living alone. Thus, if you know that your water heater is used more frequently, then you should watch for more wear and tear signs.
8. If your water heater is making is noise, then it shouldn’t. Loud pops and cracks may be a sign that the heating elements inside the heater are reacting to some mineral or sediment buildup within.
9. If you’ve already had a water heater repair done, but it still keeps breaking or causing issues and inconveniencing you, then it’s time to replace the equipment altogether – before it starts any major damage that will negatively impact your and your family’s life.
10. When you notice leaks or water puddling around the water heater, then that means the inner tank has broken down. Slow leaks and drops escalate quickly and can cause serious flooding when the tank breaks.

Repair or Replace?

When you see a leak, then a water heater repair isn’t an option anymore. On a positive note, new and modern models of water heaters are more energy-efficient and environment-friendly than older ones. Manufacturers incorporate foam insulation between the tank and the outer part of it to help in increased heat retention. Glass liners also make tanks less prone to decay and decomposition.

Furthermore, high-efficiency models that are Energy Star-certified can save you up to 25% in energy costs. Solar and tankless water heaters and heat pumps can also offer more savings and even a federal tax credit opportunity. They may cost more to install, but you will be getting savings in other aspects.

Water Heater Costs

Replacing water heaters is not as plain and simple as taking out the old one and installing the new. There are local building codes and regulations that require you to get upgrades on the following:

• Venting system
• Water heater mount
• Supply pipes
• Drain pan

Before starting any water heater repair or replacement, ask the contractor to give you a breakdown of all the costs. As for doing a DIY water heater replacement, most manufacturers give detailed instructions. However, you will also need to be familiar with local building codes.

Care and Maintenance

Whether you replace or repair, your water heater will last longer and work better if you do regular check, care, and maintenance. To remove sediment buildup, flush the tank once a year. Eliminating the muck inside the tank will allow your water heater to run more efficiently, saving you money in the long run. Furthermore, the anode rod needs to be checked every three years. Also called the “sacrificial rod,” it’s a probe inside the tank made of magnesium or aluminum that gathers corrosive components. It often gets eaten away; replacing the anode rod will only cost you about $30, neglecting to do so will result in higher repair and replacement costs.