Presenting the new, innovative product designed to more economically solve flooded basement and sewer backup problems.

Raw sewage in your basement.  Can you imagine it spewing out of your toilets, shower stalls and sinks?  With record high precipitation in many parts of the nation, some families have experienced such unfortunate events.  These backups not only cause damage that is difficult to repair, but also create dangerous health hazards.  A floor drain backwater valve or mainline backwater valve can save the day.  These check valves are also sometimes referred to as “backflow prevention valves” or “backflow preventer valves”.

While cities and municipalities work relentlessly to clean and inspect sewer main lines, it is still possible for a sewer main to plug up and allow water and sewage to flow into the dwellings it serves.  But help is here!  By installing the award winning “Mainline Fullport Backwater Valve” (sometimes referred as a “Backflow Preventer”) in the main line to the sewer, property owners reduce their exposure to such an incident to almost nothing.

Who’s at risk? Your home or building may be susceptible to sewage backups if the lowest drain is less than 24″ above the nearest upstream manhole.  Most building codes require owners to install a backflow prevention valve to minimize the chance of flooding at properties with drains that meet the specification mentioned above.

How does it work? A backwater valve can be installed in the basement at the exit point from the home or building, or in the sewer lateral outside of the building.

The “lateral” is the underground pipe that carries sewage from private property to the city’s sewer main.  The backflow valve is installed downstream and prevents sewage from backing up into the lateral beyond (“above”) this valve.

The “guys” at Ryan Service can install at Backwater Valve at your home and make sure you never have a flooded basement problem due to a sewer backup. Give us a call at 585.232.5555 or use our online contact us form to set up an appointment today.

Ryan’s “Your Guy” when you’ve got problems…

Jingle – Ryan Service

Check out our new jingle by clicking the link above and tell us what you think on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RyanService

How to Cook When The Heat is On

* summer cooking
* choosing cooking equipment
* cooking tips

In the summer, the kitchen can heat up quickly when you’re making dinner. Luckily, there are plenty of measures you can take to keep your kitchen (and, subsequently, the rest of your house) from overheating while still getting a satisfying meal on the table. Here are some ways to keep your cool in the kitchen.

Cook on the Counter
Take advantage of the many countertop cooking appliances there are on the market, and use those to cook your dinner instead of turning on the stove or the oven. Many of them are very energy-efficient, and in addition to keeping your space cooler, they might even save you some money on your power bill! Try these:

* A rice cooker, such as the Panasonic Fuzzy Logic Rice Cooker for making full meals, such as risotto
* A slow cooker for making stews or even pork loin or pulled chicken
* A multi-purpose cooker, like Fagor’s Multi Cooker can make a variety of main courses or sides

Hit the Grill
Take your cooking outside by firing up your gas or charcoal grill. Doing all or most of your cooking outdoors not only will keep your kitchen cool but it also minimizes cleanup. (And who wants to sweat over a sink of hot water in the dead of summer?). If you don’t have an outdoor grill, an indoor countertop grill, such as one from George Foreman or Breville is nearly as good. And grilled fish tacos make a particularly satisfying summertime dinner.

Try Induction Cooking
Portable countertop induction cookers are efficient and powerful and will likely cook your recipes in less time than a traditional gas burner. What’s more, because the induction cooking surface doesn’t get hot, but instead directs the heat to the inside of the pan, it’s not radiating heat into your kitchen. One to try: the Fagor Portable Induction Cooktop.

Put on the Pressure
Pressure cooking, while done on the stove, cooks food in about one-third the time as regular cookware. The shorter the stove is on, the less time it has to heat up your house. Get creative with your pressure cooker and discover how it can cook everything from side dishes to dessert.

Make No-Cook Meals
Serving a chilled, no-cook dinner not only keeps your kitchen cool, but the refreshing temperature of the food will make you feel a little less hot as well. Try a chilled summer soup like traditional tomato gazpacho or cucumber yogurt gazpacho, and serve it with a loaf of bakery bread or a sandwich of cold cuts or fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.

If you do a lot of cooking, you may fine that the ventilation in your kitchen is inadequate for removing the heat generated by your oven, stove and other heat-generating appliances. While all the tips above can help cut down on the load, if removing heat is what you need, call us about installing a ventilation system that’s right for your particular situation. 585.232.5555 or click here to Contact us.

Operating a Gas Shutoff Valve

Natural gas or propane shutoff valves are located near a major gas appliance such as a dryer or stove. To operate the shutoff valve proceed as follows:

• TURN OFF: Turn the valve handle so that it is perpendicular (right angle) to the inlet and outlet ends of the valve body.
• TURN ON: Turn the valve handle so that it is parallel (in-line) to the inlet and outlet ends of the valve body.

If you ever smell natural gas, DO NOT attempt to “fix” the problem by turning off the natural gas valve. Instead, get out of the house IMMEDIATELY and call the RG&E gas hotline at 1.800.743.1702 from a neighbor’s house or cell phone well away from the home. More information from RG&E if you smell natural gas can be found here – http://www.rge.com/UsageAndSafety/naturalgassafety/dosanddonts.html

Here’s How:

1. Purchase a passive CO test kit (detector badge) at your local hardware or building supply store. An example can be found here.
2. Write the date of the test on the front of the test badge.
3. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, place the test badge in a location where you are concerned about CO gas. This may be the furnace room, near a gas fireplace, the garage, and so on. Make sure you locate the badge away from direct exposure to sunlight, ammonia, solvents or cleaners.
4. Check for CO. Within 15 minutes or so the badge will darken if it detects any carbon monoxide. Even if the badge changes color slightly this is a problem.
5. If the badge changes color at all and detects any carbon monoxide, immediately find the cause and correct the problem.
6. If no CO is detected, you can leave the badge in place for 60 – 90 days as recommended by the manufacturer.

Tips:

1. Locate the badge away from ammonia, solvents and cleaners. These may prevent an accurate reading.

What You Need:

• Passive Carbon Monoxide detector badge

At Ryan Service, we recommend placing plug-in style Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors on each floor of the home and in the basement. Plug them in the hallway near bedrooms so they’ll be sure to wake anyone sleeping. Plug one in near the furnace/water heater and close to other gas appliances (i.e. stove/oven) in the home. This is the best way to make sure you and your family is protected as best as possible. If you need assistance with CO detectors, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 585.232.5555 or Contact Us.

As warm weather makes it way across the nation, sprinklers come out of hibernation and return to their full instance positions, pools fill up, and many a garden hose sees daylight for the first date in months.

But in an era where water shortages are a sad but true realty, many homeowners are now concerned with how to conserve water.

Here are 10 tips to help your family use water more responsibly.

Sprinkler Use. Homeowners want lush, green lawns. that is comprehensible when one considers that curb appeal can mean added value and better resale potential. To assemble your sprinklers as efficient as possible, try to use them during the coolest hours of the day, either during the daylight or evenings. that helps to play down evaporation due to heat. And adjust your sprinklers so that you aren’t watering the sidewalk or driveway.

Rain Sensors. While you’re at it, install a rain sensor on your irrigation controller. There is no need to water your lawn when nature is already handling the job for you.

Responsible Landscaping. Not every region of the country has the climate for lush, green yards. Consider following the lead of Southwestern homeowners, who opt to plant drought resistant plants, supplemented by rocks and stone.

Washing Dishes. Have one side of your sink filled with soapy water to wash dishes, and next fill the other side of your sink with clean water for rinsing. that keeps you from having a regular stream of water running as you rinse.

Washing Clothes. Energy Star rated appliances reportedly use 30 to 50 percent less water, not to mention giving you incredible energy savings. Consider replacing your old washer with a newer, more efficient one.

Water Level. that tip goes hand in hand with tip number five. Be certain that your load size matches the load setting. A large load setting utilizes more water, so adjust accordingly.

Cleaning the Drive. Consider using a broom instead of a hose or powerwasher to clean your driveways and sidewalks. Recent statistics say that small change can save 80 gallons of water every instance.

Low-flush Toilets. Newer, efficient toilets use around 1.6 gallons a flush, as opposed to 3.5 with standard toilets. According to water conservationist George Whalen, these bathroom fixtures can save you up to $100 a year in utility costs.

Water-efficient Showerhead. Use one. They’re a breeze to install. They can be very inexpensive and they can save you up to 750 gallons of water each month.

Pools. Pools can have leaks that are tough to find. To be a true Sherlock Holmes, use a grease pencil to record the water level of your pool and soon after check in 24 hours to see whether the water level has remained consistent.

This summer feels hotter than summers past. Here in Rochester, NY it’s been hot and humid outside from early morning to late night. Temperatures have reached and are supposed to continue reaching record highs! So how are we supposed to keep our homes cool with energy costs rising and these hotter than normal temps? The obvious answer: reduce your cooling load. Easier said than done, but it is possible. Here are a few tips for reducing your cooling load:

1. Fire up the grill. Your oven and stove emit tons of heat; after all, that’s how they work! But the heat it takes to cook your food also heats up your kitchen. Give your AC a break and cook out more often. Temperatures have started to drop by dinner time and the smoke from the grill helps keep the mosquitoes away, so take advantage of these beautiful nights and spend some time outside.

2. Wash your clothes and dishes at night. Temperatures drop with the sun, so your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to remove the heat your appliances emit. Run the dishwasher and dryer when you go to bed. Your body temperature lowers when you sleep, so the added heat from your dryer and dishwasher won’t affect you as much. You can always run the dryer on a cool setting in the morning to fluff the wrinkles out of your clothes.

3. Ventilate the bathroom. Your air conditioner also removes humidity, so turn on the air vent when you shower to suck out the humidity. Don’t have an air vent? Crack a window. Just don’t forget to shut it later. You don’t want your nice, cold air escaping once the humidity is gone.

Remember – reducing your cooling load reduces the wear and tear on your unit, prolonging the life of your unit as well as lowering your energy bills.

Still haven’t had your air conditioner inspected this summer? What are you waiting for??? Summers’ here and it’s getting hammered with heat and humidity! Looking for a GREAT DEAL? Check out our 7-7 for $77 Special!

With rising temperatures all over the world, we are hard pressed to get by without air conditioning. It is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. But when you think about it, air conditioners really haven’t been around for long.

The first form of air cooling was created around 1841 by John Gorrie when malaria and yellow fever swept the world. He was a doctor in South Carolina that believed cooler air would help reduce fevers so his patients would get well faster. He had snow shipped in from the mountains which he suspended from the ceiling in a basin connected to a pipe that went through the roof. As the air around the snow was cooled, the air contracted creating a vacuum and pulling air from outside through the pipe. This created cool air flowing throughout the room. Doctor Gorrie realized that shipping snow was impractical, and even impossible in the winter, so he then invented a man-made ice maker. After he died, his efforts in air conditioning also died.

Air conditioners as we know them were first created in 1902. Willis Carrier needed a way to cool and remove humidity from a printing plant so pages wouldn’t wrinkle. He found a way to use coils to remove moisture and cool the air before creating the first mass air conditioner manufacturing plant. The first unit was installed in 1914, but air conditioners were too bulky and needed too many chemicals to be practical in homes.

In the early 1930’s Carrier invented a unit to cool movie theaters that cost between $10,000 and $50,000. Even during the Great Depression, theater owners made sure to invest in an air conditioner! By the late 30’s, window units were available.

In the early days, air conditioners were considered a luxury that most business owners wouldn’t buy. However, throughout the 1940’s and 50’s studies were conducted to show that worker productivity increased in buildings that were air conditioned. By 1957, people stopped believing that air conditioning made workers lazy; close to 90% of companies attributed higher productivity to air conditioning.

Not even 60 years after the first modern air conditioner was invented, it had already become a necessity! Nowadays, we can’t even imagine a life without it. We are so dependent on air conditioning that we have to become more energy efficient just to avoid energy crisis. Maybe if we all remembered that our grandparents didn’t have in home air conditioners, we would be a little more willing to cut out energy consumption.

For a FREE estimate on central air conditioning for your home or business, call us at 585.232.5555 or Contact Us by clicking here.

Hey Stella! Is it off now?!

Yes, that is the type of question shouted from the basement to the 2nd floor bedroom as weekend warriors across the land have tried to figure out which circuit breaker or fuse controls what outlet in their home.

But no longer do you have to make turning off the right circuit breaker a two person affair. No longer do you have to reset your clocks and DVD players or VCR’s because you incorrectly turned off power trying to locate the proper circuit breaker.

In the tutorial Circuit Breaker Finder I want you to know about a great little electronic device called a circuit breaker finder or circuit breaker tracer that makes this now a one person task. You simply plug the receiver into the outlet and wave the “magic wand” (OK, the electronic receiver) over your circuit breakers in your power panel and lights flash and beeper beeps when you find the right one! EASY!

So take a read and learn how easy locating the correct circuit breaker or fuse for a remote outlet or light fixture has become.

…

Read Full Post

Summer is in full swing, and that means it’s time to change your A/C filter! Remember, most air filters need to be changed at least once every 30 days. They need to be changed more often during summer and winter months when your system is running almost constantly.

Aside from being good for your unit, changing your filter regularly is good for your health. Air filters are designed to trap dust, mold, pollen, and other indoor air pollutants. These pollutants can aggravate your allergies or asthma if you have them, and, according to The American Lung Association, they can even cause cancer! I know it seems like everything causes cancer these days, but if something as simple as changing your A/C filter can help prevent it, why not do it?

As a filter clogs, your unit has to work harder to pull air through, making the unit wear out faster. Disposable filters are not very expensive, especially when compared to the costs of having your unit serviced or replaced due to excess wear and tear. Replaceable filters are even more cost effective! They do cost more initially, but after that purchase, you are not shelling out $15+ a month for a new disposable filter (they also keep all those disposable filters out of our landfills).

We take care of changing your filter and clean & inspect your system for $77! We’ll also come out anytime between 7am and 7pm to do it! We call it our 7-7 for $77 deal and we’d love to earn your business. Click here to take advantage!