Lighting Controls

See Your Home In A Different Light ~ Advances in lighting controls add ambiance, convenience and safety

Light...it comforts us, warms us, brings us relaxation. Whether it is a ray of sunshine that filters through the window on a cold winter's afternoon, the dusky light that signals the end of day, or the soft light next to our favorite reading chair.



While there isn't too much we can do to brighten a dark stormy day out of doors, we can change the personality and ambiance of a room in an instant? And establish yet another mood just as quickly? It’s easy as the flick of a finger with today’s controlled lighting advancements.

In fact, lighting controls are the most cost effective way to change the aesthetics of a room. One control can illuminate several room personalities.

Just like painting or furnishings, room lighting brings out the decorator in you. By using dimmers in different combinations throughout the room, you can switch from dramatic to relaxing to functional to night lighting – whatever the moment calls for. And today’s remote control systems let you preset each lighting setting so you can recall it at the push of a button. Program the lighting at bright levels for cleaning, then a dim preset for entertaining. Click again for the perfect in-home theater setting. Preprogram an entire lighting plan that includes the bar, framed paintings, track wall lighting, the dining room table, even your plants.

Don’t limit your creativity to the living and dining rooms. You can switch your kitchen from a brightly lit meal preparation center to a comfortable gathering place for guests. (Isn’t that where everyone seems to congregate anyway?) Dim the cabinet lights for decorative china silhouette effects. Then turn up the brightness when you need to shed light on the selection. Use the same cabinet lighting principle in the living room and library too.


Controlled lighting is also a luxury when the family’s asleep. Lights can dim automatically throughout the house, while illuminating nighttime pathways in halls and stairs. It makes late night bathroom and kitchen snack trips so much easier and safer, plus you won’t wake anyone up with sudden bright lights. Multiple dimmer controls let you set the lighting from either end of the hall, or from other rooms. Need to check on the sleeping kids? Turn the dimmer up slightly before you enter so you won’t wake them up. You can even have different preset lighting for both sides of the bed – one for reading, one for TV.

Other household controls can handle even more tasks for you. For example, come winter, they can automatically reverse the ceiling fan’s direction and slow it down. You won’t forget to turn on the security night lights because they’ll go on automatically, and shut off at daylight. Speaking of security, if you come home late, the remote in your car can light the whole house upon your arrival – and alert the security system.

The control panel itself can add a decorative touch. Don’t limit yourself the common denominator styles at the big box hardware store. A wide range of colors, textures and finishes are available from the professional electrician. And you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how few changes to your current home’s wiring are necessary. In fact, we can enhance your home’s appearance in the process of upgrading your lighting system.

There’s one more controlled lighting advantage we can all appreciate – savings. By cutting down on all the bright lights, you’ll be also be cutting down on expenses, energy and your carbon footprint.

Now that’s bright thinking!


Visit the Rapid Service website for your $25 Coupon toward any new installation or repair.

The Eternal Question - Repair or Replace

We all know that everything has a life span, whether it is your automobile or your water heater. It is always our hope that the life span is long and trouble free but the day eventually comes when we have to admit this "thing" is just costing too much to keep it working as it should.

How many times have you taken apart that leaky faucet only to have it start dripping again a few weeks later?

With the first sign of trouble, most of us will opt for repair since it hasn't cost us too much in maintenance until now.

A couple of months down the road, another problem crops up. Using the same wisdom as we did a few months ago, we most likely repair it again.

Since you have probably been doing these repairs yourself without professional assistance, it may be more of an annoyance and an intrusion on your Saturday relaxation time than actual dollars out of your pocket so you have put up with the inconvenience.

Another few months pass and another problem pops up. It's about this time that we begin questioning whether we should continue repairing or if it is time to just bite the bullet and replace the whole thing. After all, there is a lot of truth to the old saying about pouring good money after bad.

When you are faced with this decision, we suggest you discuss it with a trusted technician. Talk to your Rapid Service plumber, electrician, or carpenter for an honest appraisal of your problem and a firm quote on the price to correct the situation.

In today's "throw-away" society, we find that many parts available to the average consumer are not really intended to be repaired. As an example, you can buy a replacement faucet at the hardware store that may get the job done in the short term but isn't really built for a 20 year life span.

We when encounter situations such as this, we will always recommend that we replace your failing unit with a high quality new model that we can warranty and stand behind in the years to come. It may be a few dollars more in the short term but you won't have to worry about it again for a long, long time.


It is our promise to you that we will always give you the best advice we can about repair versus replace. After all, we are faced with those same dilemmas in our own lives and we rely on the professions to offer the benefit of their expertise and experience, just like you do

Questions to Ask A Home Repair Contractor (Besides "How Much Do You Charge?")

Everyone in the service business cringes a little when people call and ask, "How much do you charge?" No, it's not because we charge too much. It's because, deep down, we know we cannot completely answer the question.

Most service firms will quote an hourly rate over the phone, but does that really tell you anything? What any home owner really wants to know is, "How much will it cost me to fix my problem?"

To answer that question, the service company needs to know

1. the exact nature of the problem, which cannot be described with certainty over the phone, and
   
   
2. how long it will take to fix it.

Quoting an hourly rate might seem to provide a rough estimate. Yet how often have you seen home repair jobs drag on for hour after hour with "the meter running"? Too many variables come into play, including the exact nature of the problem and the skill of the service technician dispatched to your firm. Some are more experienced and work faster than others.

With this in mind, I would like to suggest some other questions that you as home owners might wish to ask of the people you call for home repairs and service who quote you hourly charges over the phone.

• Can you guarantee a maximum price to do the job?
  
  Expect to hear a lot of stuttering and stammering with this one. Some contractors will laugh out loud.
  
  However, there are a few progressive contractors like Rapid Service out there who do quote exact prices, guaranteed, once they perform a diagnosis. Usually they charge a modest upfront fee for the diagnosis, though many waive the charge if they get the job. Nonetheless, it does remove the guesswork.
  
  
  
• Do you charge for time driving to and from a supply house?
  
  Some jobs might require only 15 minutes of labor to perform, but you'll see the service technician disappear for an hour or more to go pick up parts not stocked in the truck. Supply houses are some of the favorite hangouts of many service techs. Many serve free coffee and snacks to their customers, and it's a great place to catch up on the latest industry gossip. Rapid Service trucks arrive fully stocked and ready to work but if there is a special need on your project, you will not be charged extra for the technician to get anything required to meet your needs.
  
  
• Who will be doing the work?
  
  Sometimes it will be a master mechanic with many years of experience. At other times, though, it could be a youngster with less than a year under his belt - maybe even an apprentice filling in during an absence. Who does the work has a lot to do with how much you end up paying when rates are quoted on an hourly basis. With Rapid Service, you can rest assured that an experienced, licensed, and insured tradesman will complete the work.
  
  
• If the problem persists or reappears after your mechanic leaves, will you come back to fix it at no extra charge - immediately?
  
  Most companies will answer yes to this questions, but watch out. Most labor guarantees extend only a month, which is not very long when you think about it. Also, call-backs tend to be the lowest priority when service firms get busy. When you choose Rapid Service as your contractor of choice, you can be confident that we stand behind our work and will be here next week, next month, and next year if you have any questions or concerns.
  
  
• Can you show me proof of a license and insurance, both general liability and worker compensation?
  
  This is a big one. Most people don't realize that if an uninsured worker gets injured while working in a home, the home owner can be held financially responsible.
  
  On the flip side, in some states where licensing is required, a home owner is not obligated to pay for any work done by an unlicensed contractor.
  
  All of Rapid Service's technicians are licensed and insured with many years of experience. Don't hesitate to ask for proof of both from our people.
  
  
• What time will you show up?
  
  Most service companies can't pinpoint their time of arrival closer than "morning or afternoon." This can get expensive if the home owner has to take off a full or half-day of work.
  
  Progressive service companies like Rapid Service can many times pinpoint within an hour or two when their service technician will be at the door. We will call to before the technician's appointment to confirm the time and let you know we are on the way and when you can expect us to arrive. If he or she does get delayed, we will call with an updated time of arrival.
  
  
• Another useful gauge of a service firm's value is if there is even anybody available to answer these questions.
  
  Many contractors try to do business using answering machines, promising to return calls at some undetermined time. This isn't much help to someone who needs an emergency repair right now. When you call Rapid Service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you will speak to a real live person, not a machine. You can have confidence that your needs are a priority with us.
  
  Also, how many of you have had this experience - you call one contractor and leave a message on an answering machine. Then you call someone else to do the work who is available at the moment.
  
  A day or two later, the contractor with an answering machine calls you back. You inform him that you had someone else do the job. Then he asks, "How much did he charge?" You tell him, and then the guy says, "You got ripped off. I would have done the job for half that price!"
  
  Reminds me of the old story about the customer who goes into a store to buy a toaster. The owner rings up a $25 sale.
  
  "That's outrageous!" the customer complains. "A store down the street sells the same toaster for $15."
  
  "Well, why didn't you buy it there?" asked the owner.
  
  "Because they're out of toasters."
  
  "Heck," replied the owner, "when we run out of toasters, we only charge $10."
  
  Let the buyer beware.
  
  
  
  

CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning has been one of the more under-publicized household hazards until two recent events put it in the spotlight. One was the accidental death in September 1994 of tennis star Vitas Gerulaitas, who succumbed to CO while sleeping in a rented home. The other was an ordinance that went into effect October 1, 1994, in Chicago requiring CO detectors in all residences heated by any fossil fuel burning equipment - in effect, all except solar or electrically heated homes. The Chicago law was in reaction to a tragedy that occurred in 1991 when a family of 10 was wiped out by CO poisoning from a faulty furnace installation.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that "at least" 250 people are killed each year from CO, a very conservative estimate. The American Medical Association says it's more like 1,500 people a year, with another 10,000 or more taking ill.

There is a lot of uncertainty because CO is tasteless, colorless and odorless - undetectable except by sophisticated gear. Also, the main symptoms of CO poisoning - fatigue, headaches, dizzy spells and nausea - resemble those of the flu and many other common illnesses. Thus CO poisoning is easily misdiagnosed, and people can succumb to it with very little physical discomfort, almost like falling asleep. (Early news reports treated Gerulaitas' death as mysterious and were filled with speculation about drugs or foul play.)

CO is given off by incomplete combustion of flammable fuels such as natural gas, oil, wood, coal or kerosene. Common household appliances such as furnaces, boilers, water heaters and stoves are all potential sources of CO gas. All of these products are designed with elaborate safeguards and under normal operating conditions all the CO produced from combustion will be harmlessly vented to the atmosphere.

Poor venting, due to leaks or blockages in the vent system, is the most common cause of CO build-up in the home, followed by cracks or corrosion in a furnace's heat exchanger. Here are some danger signs and steps you can take to minimize the danger:

* Most important, have your furnace or boiler regularly inspected, at least one a year, by a licensed, competent heating professional. The technician should check all connections to flue piping and vents for cracks, gaps, rust, corrosion or debris. Likewise the inspection should cover the combustion chamber and heat exchanger for cracks, holes, metal fatigue or corrosion, as well as the filters and filtering system for dirt and blockages. Debris should be cleared off the burner and safety switches tested.

* A yellow, lazy-looking flame in a natural gas furnace indicates inefficient fuel burning, and consequently higher levels of carbon monoxide. An inefficient oil furnace will give off an oily odor - but remember, you can't smell CO itself.

* Chimneys and vents ought to be inspected regularly for blockages caused by debris, animal nests or cave-ins. Also beware of cracks and holes. Inspect fireplaces for blocked flues, excess soot and debris.
* Be sure all vents are properly installed - including those leading from the clothes dryer, water heater and wood-burning stoves.

* Never use an unvented space heater indoors. Never burn charcoal inside and do not use your gas stove as a heater. When cooking, keep the oven door closed.

* Avoid running both a furnace and fireplace simultaneously for long periods of time. This can create serious backdrafting that prevents CO gas from exiting the home.

* Never install a boiler, furnace or water heater in an airtight enclosure.

* Look for the following signs that may indicate CO problems - streaks of soot around the service door of a gas appliance; rust spots on flue pipe, boilers, furnaces or water heaters; excessive moisture on basement windows, which may indicate poor ventilation; generally stale air throughout the house, another sign of poor ventilation.

* DO INSTALL A UL-APPROVED CO DETECTOR. The UL standard requires home CO detectors to sound a warning before CO levels reach over 100 parts per million (ppm) over 90 minutes, 200 ppm over 35 minutes or 400 ppm over 15 minutes. These warning should allow the average person to safely evacuate the premises. (CO levels over 200 ppm lasting for 90 minutes can cause headaches in healthy adults. At 300 ppm the healthy adult may experience drowsiness, at 400 ppm might collapse and 500 ppm exposure could result in brain damage or death.)

Approved CO detectors are now available for around $50 or less. They are similar to smoke detectors in both appearance and installation. The best place to install a CO detector is near bedrooms. Don't install one in the boiler or furnace room the garage or the kitchen, where it may go off in reaction to temporary elevated levels of CO.

Cheap CO-detection patches that sell for under $10 are not of much use. These devices are based on chemical reactions that change the color of a spot in the presence of elevated CO. They register many false positives and tell you nothing unless you are looking at the spot for a telltale change of color. What you need is an alarm that alerts you to danger as soon as it arises and wakes you up if you are asleep.

What do you do if the alarm sounds? Vacate the house quickly, opening doors and windows as you leave in order to provide ventilation. Then contact a local emergency service crew - usually the police or fire department - for advice. Depending on your community, they may have a CO measuring device on hand to take a reading inside your home in order to determine if it is safe to move back in.

Keep in mind that the act of ventilating your home may make it safe for immediate occupancy but won't fix whatever generated excess CO in the first place. As soon as possible you need a professional inspection of all possible CO sources. This should be someone equipped with CO measuring gear able to detect concentrations as small as 5-10 parts per million. The measurement test should be conducted over at least a 24-hour period.

It is possible for a CO alarm to be triggered by a single unusual incident that presents no lasting threat. However, if one ever goes off in your home, you won't rest easily until you take all the precautions possible to safeguard yourself and love ones.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Caring for Your Faucets

Be Good to Your Faucets, and They’ll Be Good to You!

No one likes cleaning their bathroom or kitchen. Hey, it’s hard work! But did you know that you can make your faucets last longer, and that all faucets, old and new, can help conserve huge amounts of water? It’s true, and below you’ll find the proof.

A faucet is something you turn on and off. Turn it on, you get water. Turn it off, the flow of water stops.

Alas, if only it were that simple. But faucets, bless their little hearts, have moving parts, and anything with moving parts is prone to need a repair…maybe later than sooner, but there’s no avoiding the inevitable.

So what can you do to extend the life of your faucets? Actually, quite a bit:

• Treat them gently…when turning water on and off, use normal hand pressure only;

• New houses often have dirt or metal in the water lines, which can damage faucet washers. So keep a supply of various size washers on hand…that way you can change them when your faucets start dripping;

• Clean your chrome fittings with a soft cloth moistened with vinegar, rubbing alcohol or glass cleaner;

• For lacquered brass faucets, use a mild detergent…for un-lacquered brass faucets, brass cream will do the job nicely;

• If the brass lacquer coating on your faucets gets scratched, you can prevent tarnishing by coating the scratch with clear nail polish;

• Lemon rind works wonders with tarnished brass or copper;

• Older steel faucets and fittings can be scrubbed clean with a mild scouring powder.

Eventually, as we said, preventive medicine alone won’t do the trick. In fact, a faucet that drips, on average, one drop of water per second can waste up to 100 gallons of water in just a week.

Before you think of buying a replacement faucet, the professionals at Rapid Service LLC suggest you first try replacing the washer. But this time, leave those rubber washers on the hardware store shelf and purchase a supply of ceramic disc valving, instead. These offer a lifetime of drip-free performance, which saves you money on maintenance and water.

Of course, faucets do eventually call it quits, great washers or not. Or, you might simply want a different look in your kitchen or bath. In that case, we suggest you buy faucets with aerated flow restrictors which incorporate air into the water stream. The result is a bubbling flow that provides excellent rinsing action while reducing water usage.


If new fixtures happen to be on your current shopping list, give us a call and also visit the Rapid Service Website for a $25 coupon good for any new installation or repairs.

Thanks for sharing some time with us…“Around the House.”

Bright And Refreshing Home Improvements

Bright And Refreshing Home Improvements

A few thought starters for your next home improvement project


When you’re in a decorating mood, consider an alternative to the furniture, department or home store – consider your friendly local electrician or plumber. They’ve got some great ideas that add beauty, comfort and convenience to your home.

Lighting can add as much impact to your home as painting it, maybe more. By installing tract lighting, you can add depth and soft shading to your walls while accenting decorations. Sconce lighting can also make a room appear taller while splashing comforting light tones along walls and hallways. Spot lighting can illuminate everything from framed photos to your favorite reading chair, while basking the rest of the room in warm, soothing shades of light.

Lighting also makes the great outdoors even more magnificent. Outdoor lighting adds curb appeal to passersby while it accentuates your home, lawn and outdoor décor to the delight of your guests. Landscape lighting lends beauty to trees and plants at night while featuring your home’s focal points. Light the walkways for safety, security and charming visual effects. You’ll find lamps specifically for porches, pools, cabanas and gazebos. Hanging lanterns lends even more allure to your evenings.

Somehow, the kitchen always becomes a social gathering center for guests, plus it’s crucial for resale value. The right lighting can make a big difference, however it has to combine task lighting functionality for food preparation with soft, general lighting for a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. An older kitchen may not be equipped for this new decorative, yet versatile lighting, so consider a modest electrical upgrade to open up new worlds of possibilities.



You probably associate plumbing with functional indoor necessities, but think again. Consider making a splash in the backyard with a cool, refreshing fountain. Or how about a relaxing, soothing hot tub under the stars? Add an entertainment center and wet bar and your back yard is like a vacation destination.

For the great indoors, install a whirlpool tub in your present tub space. Indoor rock fountains provide a calming effect and come in every size, from pebble basins to wall size. Bath and kitchen fixtures can add both style and resale value to your home. Replace your current faucets with matching styles throughout the home for a consistent and polished appearance. Pedestal sinks lend a distinctive look, but if your bathroom is small, you might opt for a cabinet mounted sink with a stone countertop. Install sconce lighting for both soothing illumination and the illusion of more space.

If your kitchen and/or bath appliances are old, they also show your home’s age and they consume too much energy. Today’s innovations add convenience, style and energy savings. Imagine a tap solely for instant hot water so you no longer warm up water on the burner for coffee, tea, soup or cocoa. A soft water system actually improves the appearance of your basins, serving ware and laundered items as it removes minerals and improves the cleansing performance. It also prolongs the life of your appliances. From refrigerators with door-mounted TVs to smart ovens you control while you’re away, today’s high tech creature comforts are astounding, efficient and affordable.

All your options are fun, but they can be dizzying. Just give us a call and we can help you assess your needs, your home’s opportunities and the best ways to give your home a comfortable, convenient and beautiful makeover.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Programmable Thermostats

Get With the Program, And Watch your Energy Savings Grow.

Install a programmable thermostat and by setting the temperature back by 10 degrees for eight hours every night will lower your heating bills by 10%. A digital thermostat can pay for itself in less than a year.

Set your thermostat at 68 degrees during winter days, and 78 degrees in summer.

The whole point of a programmable thermostat is to keep your home nice and cozy when you’re in, and not waste energy when you’re out.

With more than one programmable thermostat, you can save even more money by keeping comfortable temperatures only in the rooms where you spend time.

What’s more:

• Programmable thermostats allow you to program and pre-set separate temperatures for the various seasons of the year;

• They can also be set to coincide with your daily living, working, and sleeping schedules.


These are the settings most models include:

• The ability to program your thermostat one day at a time;

• With weekday/weekend programming, you can set one set of temperature control for weekdays, and another for Saturdays and Sunday;

• Or, you can have one fixed schedule for the five weekdays, a separate schedule for Saturdays, and a separate schedule again for Sundays;

• Full seven-day programming that permits a different setback schedule for each day of the week.

Now that’s a lot of flexibility. Depending on the manufacturer and model, here are other available settings:

• Vacation Override, which allows temporary override of the programmed settings;

• Keyboard Lock, which prevents unauthorized changes to the preprogrammed settings;

• Low battery indicator;

• An Energy Monitor that can keep track of how many hours the HVAC system has run for any selected time period;

• An Auto Season Changeover that automatically provides heat or cool air once the seasons change;

• A Filter Change Indicator.

What are the bottom line benefits to you? Now these you’re going to like:

• Greater accuracy for improved indoor comfort;

• They contain no mercury;

• When used properly, you’ll save $100 or more each year on your energy bill.

And that’s as bottom line as it gets!

So for improved indoor comfort and increased energy savings, call Rapid Service LLC to help you start saving money and the environment, today.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Just one more way we’re able to assist you…“Around the House.”

Wiring a Pool or Hot Tub is No Day at the Beach

Pool and hot tub wiring presents unique challenges that require more than a little bit of wiring experience. In short, this is no job for amateurs.

Common sense dictates that the most dangerous wiring jobs are those that involve water…two elements that definitely do not play nice together…at least not without constant supervision.

There are very specific rules, for example, on how close wiring may be placed to water, and where GFI (ground fault interrupters) outlets are required. GFIs protect against shock by interrupting electrical current caused by a ground fault.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the American Red Cross, there have been 60 deaths and nearly 50 serious shocks reported over the past several years involving electrical hazards in and around swimming pools and hot tubs.

And the usual culprits are as follows:

• faulty underwater lighting;
• aging electrical wiring that hasn't been inspected in years;
• ungrounded sump pumps, power washers, and vacuums;

• electrical appliances (such as radios and TVs) and extension cords falling or being pulled into the water;
• the absence of GFIs.

"The best protection for families is inspection, detection, and correction of electrical hazards in and around swimming pools, hot tubs and spas," says CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton.

If you already have a pool or spa, here are several safety measures you can implement right away:

• Know where all the electrical switches and circuit breakers for pool equipment and lights are located and how to turn them off in an emergency.
• Ensure that all electrical wires and junction boxes are at least five feet away from water.
• Test GFIs monthly to assure continued protection.
• Post an emergency plan within clear view of those using the pool.
• Ensure that overhead power lines and junction boxes are safely positioned away from the pool or spa.

At Rapid Service LLC, we’re always available to assist you on any electrical matter, especially where your family’s safety is concerned. At the same time, we’re always happy to help good customers like you save money.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Just one more way we’re able to assist you…“Around the House.”

The 10 Most Common Household Repairs

The 10 Most Common Household Repairs

"Old reliable" churns away in your basement or utility room day after day, month after month, year after year like a farm mule in days of yore. Except this one doesn't eat as much - nor do you have those ugly, malodorous piles laying all around the place!

Except every once in awhile, like a cantankerous old mule, the modern water heater doesn't do what it's supposed to do. That's when you call a plumbing contractor saying "no hot water."


This is the top reason why people call a plumbing or heating contractor, according to a survey taken a few years ago by the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Information Bureau (PHCIB) in Chicago. A related problem, a leaking water heater, came in at number 5 out of the top 10.


Looking over the list, I can't help but shake my head at all the waste of time and money these emergency service calls represent. Most people don't pay much attention to their household "mule team" - the mechanical systems that provide so much comfort and convenience in our modern lives. We take for granted our water heaters, toilets, faucets, furnaces and air conditioners, until they stop working. Then comes the panicked call to the service company, and a repair job that always ends up costing more than we expect.

Regular care and maintenance can forestall most of these breakdowns at a fraction of the cost of repairs. Have your plumbing, heating and air conditioning inspected, cleaned and checked at least once a year. Progressive service companies offer service agreements in which they automatically come out to take care of these things for a modest annual fee.

Homeowners also should consider replacing ancient water heaters, toilets, furnaces, boilers and other appliances with new high-efficiency or water-saving models. Most of us are in the habit of squeezing out every last day of service out of such equipment. Yet any unit more than 12-15 years old probably can pay for itself within a few years through reduced energy or water usage.

Here are the rest of the top 10 household repairs identified by the PHCIB.

#2 - Clogged drains. Many of these calls could be avoided by taking greater care in what you put down drains - especially the kitchen sink drain, the most used and most clogged drain in the house. I also recommend regular treatment with Bio-Clean, a biological drain cleaner sold only through plumbing contractors and available at Rapid Service LLC



#3 - Dripping faucets. This is an annoyance that most homeowners have to deal with from time to time as the washers in the faucets wear out with use. You can extend the life of your faucet washers by not turning them off with too much force.

You may also consider replacing your older faucets with those that feature washerless valve cartridges instead of rubber washers. Since the valve mechanism is contained in one cartridge, these faucets are easier to repair and replace. In addition, cartridges are generally more durable and do not leak because they do not deteriorate with friction or age as washers do.


#4 - Leaking pipes. In extreme cases, these can cause expensive damage to floors and belongings. To stop a small leak from turning into a big one, take a look at your pipes periodically to check for rust or white lime deposits that may indicate a leak is starting.





#5 - Leaking water heaters. Most often when you have a leaker, it's time to get rid of the water heater. Usually leaks indicate rusting through at the bottom of the storage tank, for which there is no good repair. By the time this happens, the water heater is usually so old you'd benefit from replacing it with a more energy-efficient model anyway.



#6 - No heat. When your furnace or boiler stops operating, it can make for a long, cold winter night. An ounce of prevention here is worth of ton of cure. It's important to make sure your heating system is functioning properly before the first cold snap hits. Have a competent contractor do a thorough examination and cleaning in late summer or early fall every year.

#7-8 - Running & leaking toilets. This is not only an annoyance, but a waste of water and money. Leaky toilets can cost you upwards of $100 a year on your water bills. If you hear a low humming noise, or if the toilet continues to run into the bowl after the toilet is flushed, it indicates that some part of the mechanism is out of order. Sometimes a little jiggling of the ballcock or flush valve mechanism solves the problem with cost. Otherwise you may need to replace the entire mechanism.

#9 - New faucet installation. Many homeowners replace faucets not only when they break down, but for decorative reasons as well. This is the ninth most common reason for a service call, according to the PHCIB.

A few people buy a faucet from a home center and then call a plumbing firm to do the installation. This is okay, but be forewarned that in doing so, the plumbing firm will warrant only its workmanship, not the faucet itself.

#10 - Malfunctioning food waste disposer. This can be a messy headache for homeowners. Here are several tips to keep your unit in good working order. First, always run cold water when grinding to move the waste all the way down the drain lines. Fats and grease congeal and harden in cold water and can be flushed through the system. Hot water should not be used because it can dissolve fats and grease, which may then accumulate in the drain line.

Almost all bio-degradable food waste can be fed into disposers. However, they should not be used to grind clam or oyster shells, corn husks or other material with a high fiber content. Under no circumstances should you put glass, plastic or metal non-food materials through a disposer. This includes bottle caps, tin covers or aluminum foil, which are some of the items service technicians commonly find in clogged or broken disposers.

Maintenance is easy. Grinding small bones and egg shells actually helps clean the disposer by scraping away stubborn deposits or citric acid and pulp. Grinding a little ice is another way to clean deposits and get rid of odors. For the most part, though, disposers are self-cleaning.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Just one more way we’re able to assist you…“Around the House.”

Emergency Shut Off

When Disaster Strikes, Here’s How to Strike Back

By observing a few simple emergency shut-off procedures, you can help protect your and your family during a natural disaster.

When Mother Nature comes calling with anything other than sweet sunshine and balmy temperatures, you have cause for concern. Especially when “she” decides to send the extreme stuff, like an earthquake, hurricane, tornado, and other such pleasantries.

So what’s a homeowner to do? Well, as your preferred plumbing resource, Rapid Service would like to offer a few ideas on how, when and why to turn off your main water and power supplies.

Water Shut-Off Procedures

Following a natural disaster, conduct a visual inspection for leaks in your various plumbing systems. Also, check your water supply lines by turning water faucets on and off. If the cold water stops running, runs very slowly after a few seconds, or is dirty, you most likely have a leak.

In that event, you’ll want to shut off your main water supply. There are two basic means:

· Turn off the water where it enters the house…in many homes, there’s a valve just below your main outdoor faucet;
· Or, you can shut down your water supply by turning the valve attached to your water meter.

Water valves either have round or lever-type handles. With a lever, you only have to make a one-quarter turn to shut off your water. Round handles are typically harder to turn, so you may have to give it a few tries. To turn off your water, turn the handle clockwise. And if you don’t have a main water shut off, you should have one installed.

Power Shut-Off Procedures

In the immediate aftermath of a major disaster, do not turn lights on or off or use matches if you have gas heat! Instead, use flashlights to check for gas leaks to prevent an explosion or fire. If you do hear or smell a leak, shut off your gas valve and immediately open your doors and windows to vent the accumulated gas.



Also, if you hear sparking sounds or see or smell smoke, then you need to turn off your electrical power. If your house has fuses, you’ll find a knife switch or pull-out fuse that should be marked “Main.” If you have a circuit breaker, turn off the small breakers first, and then the “Main” breaker. But whatever you do, never remove the metal cover.

Want to Know More?

For more information on how to protect your home following a natural disaster, call us today.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Rapid Service LLC. We’re great to have: “Around the House.”

Switching to Circuit Breakers

There’s Life in the Old Fuse Box Yet.
However…


…is it still giving you all the electrical power you need? Here’s a look at why it might be time to switch from a fuse box to a circuit breaker panel.

For starters, fuses and circuit breakers are designed for the exact same purpose: to help prevent electrical fires caused by an excess of current running through a circuit.

Fuses stop the excess flow of electricity in its tracks, and then have to be replaced. Conversely, too much electrical current causes a circuit breaker to shut off automatically. Then, all you have to do is pull a lever, and on again comes the power.

So is that it? As in, is there no other advantage to a circuit breaker than the relative convenience of switching power back on vs. buying and replacing a fuse? The answer is a simple “no.” There are, in fact, additional reasons why you might want to consider upgrading to a circuit breaker system, no matter how long that old fuse box has safely and surely served your household power demands.

To make the best possible decision, start by taking a fresh look at your fuse box, especially if you’ve recently purchased your home. If your home has 60 amp power or less, and all you see are 30 or 20 amp fuses, chances are the original fuses were blowing frequently, and the previous owners opted to replace them with heavier fuses than are recommended or safe. There’s a case where you definitely need to upgrade to a circuit breaker system.

What’s more, circuit breakers offer double the protection of fuses. A fuse receiving too much power is designed to blow, thereby shutting down the current. But a breaker is designed to trip, and if that fails, there’s a "fuse-like" strip inside that will burn out.

Finally, fuse box systems were not designed to provide adequate power for today’s high tech home environment, especially larger homes with every kind of electronic gadget known to man. There are four basic types of circuit breaker installations, all of which provide a steadier and more reliable flow of power for your family’s growing needs. The first two are used for 220-volt service. One is double width and provides two wire connections. The other looks like a normal 110-volt breaker, although it’s actually two 110-volt breakers in one system with a connector so both wires are tripped together. The other two types are for 110V.

Bottom line, if you’ve been thinking about upgrading your current electrical system, there are many possible solutions. Which one is right for you? That’s what the professionals at Rapid Service are here to answer.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Thanks for sharing a few minutes with us…“Around the House.”

Hard Water

“All water is not created equal.”

Here’s some information on a common water problem that exists in 85% of the households in the United States. What to look for and how to make it go away.

There are plenty of problems commonly associated with well and city water supplies. Too many to properly address in this issue of “Around the House.” Instead, we will focus on the most common water problem our customers currently face: Hard Water.

What is hard water? Water is considered hard if it contains high levels of calcium and magnesium. If you’ve ever seen drinking glasses washed in hard water, you’ve probably noticed the milky haze that won’t rinse away. Or you’ve seen the whitish scale deposits on your faucets, shower doors or tea kettle. That’s because hard water reacts with soap and causes scale to form on all surfaces in contact with the water. What’s worse is the damage the hard water can inflict by causing scale to build up inside pipes, faucets and appliances such as water heaters, washing machines and dish washers.

The problems caused by hard water are not limited to plumbing and appliances. Hard water affects laundry with increased detergent use, faster fading of colors or yellowing of whites and shortened fabric life. Bathing and showering in hard water will dry out and dull skin and hair.

The waste hard water creates each year cost many hundreds of dollars in appliance and plumbing repairs, extra laundry detergent, fabric softeners, fabrics that lose their usefulness, household cleansers, soaps, shampoos and conditioners, etc…

But now, Rapid Service can help rid of your home of hard water problems with a brand new and highly effective water softener. New technology has made today’s water softeners more efficient and compact than their predecessors. They require little if any maintenance and provide many years of dependable service. In fact, a water softener will pay for itself many times over with all the savings it will generate. One of the immediate benefits you will notice is how soft and smooth your skin and hair will feel. Once you live with soft water you’ll wonder how you ever did without it.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

“Around the House,” it’s just one more way Rapid Service can help.

Child Safety

A Few Words About Child Safety!

There are many ways to protect your children from electric shock…some obvious, and some not so obvious. We hope the following information helps.

The proper and safe use of electricity is indispensable to our daily lives. But the truth is, an electric shock CAN KILL YOU. And a small flow of electricity is enough to stop your heart.

Adults have the good sense and knowledge to take all necessary precautions. For our children, we need to be especially cautious.

So if you have young ones around the house, a good place to start is with electric outlet covers….before your children start to explore them with outreached hands!

Here’s a list of additional safety precautions we hope you find useful…from the professionals at Rapid Service:

· Teach older children to pull out a plug by the plug, not the cord;

· Teach all children that power tools are not toys;

· Unplug seldom used appliances when not in use;

· Always use a transformer when using electric cords outside;

· Never remove the third grounding prong from electrical plugs;

· Ensure your home has a current electrical safety Certificate of Compliance;

· Replace any damaged or frayed cords;

· Don't run power cords under carpeting;

· Extension cords should be heavy enough to handle an appliance;


· Teach your child to wait until a light bulb is cool before touching it;



· Teach your child not to touch any appliance with wet hands.

As you look for ways to childproof your house, how about calling Rapid Service for an in-home electrical safety inspection! You’ll sleep better at night knowing your home and your children are as safe as can be.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Just one more way we’re able to assist you “Around the House.”

Ask for Credentials

Put Up, or…Don’t Bother Coming In!

In these crazy times, a little bit of caution can go a long, long way. That’s why we urge you to ask every single contractor – including us – for proper identification before allowing a company technician into your home.

Usually, we like to talk about accomplishments and capabilities, and how we can best put them to use on your behalf. After all, to earn your business, we have to give you all the right reasons.

Well, that includes our ability to demonstrate not just our workmanship and quality products, but our hiring and on-the-job practices. You have a right to know. More than that, its’ your right to demand from us the highest of professional standards.

So with nothing but your family’s wellbeing in mind, we encourage you to observe the following screening measures:

• When interviewing prospective contractors, pay attention to how they answer your questions. A good contractor will listen carefully and not rush you into decisions.

• Are they licensed and insured? Demand proof! And if you’re still in doubt, check with the Better Business Bureau.

• How well experienced are they, and what do they have for references? Don’t be afraid to ask…it will help to eliminate potential problems down the road.

• When a service technician shows up at your door, don’t allow anyone inside that you’re not expecting. And even if you are expecting someone, ask the contractor for the name of the technician first, and then ask for proper identification when he or she arrives.

• Before the credibility of a field technician even becomes an issue, ask your contractor to explain their hiring practices. At Rapid Service, for example, we run thorough background checks on every individual we consider for employment.

• Always get an up-front cost estimate. For us, that’s standard practice. Plus, we honor every approved estimate, even if the job is more involved or takes more time than we anticipated.

All pretty common sense ideas…but often times, many of us are too focused on the end result to pay proper attention to the process that will lead us there.

We hope you’ve found this information useful.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

We hope to see you again soon…“Around the House.”

Garbage Disposal Upkeep

The Care and Feeding of Your Garbage Disposal.

Garbage disposals are designed to last only about 10 years. But here’s information on how you can forestall its inevitable demise!There are a number of events that signal the end of a garbage disposal. Here’s one of the more common: it rusts out on the bottom, and water starts spewing underneath your sink and onto the kitchen floor every time you turn it on.

Can rust be avoided in the first place? Absolutely, and simply by running the disposal every time you put food in it. Otherwise, the acid and oils from standing food will eventually eat through the seals. Also, when you run the disposal, always use cold water. Hot water dissolves fats and grease, but then it deposits them in your drainpipes where it accumulates before causing a clog.

Here are some additional tips for maintaining your disposal:

· Run cold water for 30 seconds or more after turning the disposal off to thoroughly wash ground-up food down the drain.

· You can grind almost any food waste, but don't try to grind really fibrous foods like onion skins, celery stalks or asparagus.


On the other hand, ice and eggshells can actually help clean the disposal.

· If the disposal won’t run, check the circuit breaker or fuse and replace or reset as necessary. Also check to see if the overload switch has tripped. Find the reset button at the bottom of the disposal unit and push it.

· If the motor hums but the disposal doesn't run, you may have a jammed impeller, and that’s a repairable problem.

· If the disposal runs intermittently, the switch or stopper may be defective…if so, you’ll need to replace it.

· A leaky garbage disposal isn’t necessarily a sign of rust. The cause might be as simple as a loose connection, which can readily be tightened.

· How about that all-too-familiar racket a disposal can sometimes make? When you hear it, chances are you’re trying to grind up something your disposal wishes you wouldn’t. The result could be a damaged blade, impeller or motor. But don’t be too quick to repair, since it’s highly likely that it would cost less to replace..

Bottom line, once a disposal stops doing a good job of grinding, or starts to leak, that's usually the ball game. Give it a little loving care, however, and you might get a few extra innings.

In the meantime, the professionals at Rapid Service are available for any kitchen plumbing repair job. Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Just one more way we’re helping to make life a little easier, “Around the House.”

Your House as a System - It's Alive!

A house is sort of like the human body. It’s made up of multiple components that together create an ultimate living environment.

Take your water heater, home cooling and heating systems, for example. These are your most obvious “comfort keepers.” But even with the most modern and energy efficient of equipment, you still have other things to consider before you can realize maximum indoor comfort and energy savings.

Here are two examples that help illustrate the point:

· Your high-efficiency furnace won't run at peak performance without adequate weather-stripping around windows and doors. Same goes for the insulation in your walls and attic.

· High-efficiency windows won't solve your home's condensation problems if they weren’t properly sealed or insulated. Home condensation also depends on fine tuning the humidifier in your furnace, and the proper venting of bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans.

The fact is, we keep making changes to our homes. We install new furnaces, cooling systems, exhaust fans, and the air ducts these systems require to move warm or cool air from one point to another. The cleaner your ducts, the smoother the air flow. Later, we buy new and improved washers and dryers, dishwashers, computers, extra bathrooms, and even hot tubs and aquariums. These produce moisture and heat that most houses are not designed to remove.

The point is, all these increasingly common household conveniences interact with each other, and sometimes in ways that can cause serious problems. Mold and moisture damage, carbon monoxide poisoning, large energy losses, long-term health effects, and malfunctioning equipment are just a few examples of what can go wrong.

That’s why the professionals at Rapid Service take a holistic approach to providing for your family’s year-round indoor comfort. Recommending a new or replacement heating or cooling system isn’t just about the system itself. It’s about your home, everything in it, and how you and your family occupy your time indoors.

So with a change of seasons just around the corner, perhaps this is the perfect time to determine just how efficient your home “system” is running. To that end, we invite you to contact Rapid Service for:

· A thorough inspection of your heating or cooling system; or,

· A replacement heating or cooling system; or,

· A replacement water heater.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Rapid Service “Around the House,” we’re at the top of our game.

Power Surges: They Can Zap More than Your Patience!

By paying a little attention to surge suppression now, you can avoid major headaches later on.

Of all the things that can go wrong in your home, power surges are not the most dangerous, costly, or harrowing. That’s the good news.

But on the flip side, power surges can be downright annoying…and costly! And if the holiday season brought brand new electronic – and expensive! – “toys” to your home, then you could be especially vulnerable.

A power surge is a relatively long burst of high voltage that can cause substantial damage to sensitive electronic equipment and even major appliances like your refrigerator or dishwasher. There are several external factors that can trigger the start of a power surge, including: lightning, downed trees, neighbors using heavy duty power equipment…even squirrels doing their “high wire” acrobatics.

Of course, stuff like this happens all the time, so why aren’t there more power surges? Because lots of folks (and we hope you’re among them) have taken the proper precautions. Fact is, you’re far less likely to experience a power surge if your wiring is up to code and major appliances are properly grounded.

Next, you can greatly enhance your home defenses with surge protectors. There are basically two types:

• Exterior Surge Protector – is installed between your outside meter and your home and provides around-the-clock protection against high-voltage spikes before they can do damage.

• Interior Surge Protector - is installed inside your home to provide added protection for your more sensitive electronic equipment….think of it as a second line of defense for phones, answering systems, computers, AV equipment, and more. We can match each such diverter to the equipment and the pathway you need to protect.

Of course, like anything else, not just any surge protector will do. That’s why Rapid Service recommends you insist on these minimum requirements:

• Joule Rating of 500 or Higher – This is the energy dissipation rate. The higher the rating, the better the protection.

• Response Time of 5 Nanoseconds or Less – Response time is literally that…the amount of time it takes a surge protector to react to the power surge. Anything at or under 5 nanoseconds should be sufficient.

• Surge Protection Rating: UL 1449

• EMI/RFI Noise Filtration

How well wired is your home? If you’re even a little unsure, we encourage you to call Rapid Service today for a complete in-home wiring inspection. That way, we can take corrective action if and where needed, and before a major problem occurs.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Just one more way we can assist you “Around the House.”

What is BIO-CLEAN and How Does It Help My Plumbing and Sanitary System

Bio-Clean is non-poisonous. It creates no heat, no fumes, no boiling. It does not attack live tissue nor inorganic materials, only organic wastes like grease, hair, food particles, paper, cotton & sewage. This makes BIO-CLEAN safe for people, plumbing and the environment.

BIO-CLEAN changes the waste particles into water, carbon dioxide and mineral ash which run harmlessly out of your waste system. These elements are then available for plant life.

EFFECTIVE
Within an hour after pouring the bacteria into the drain, the bacteria begin to eat their way into the waste that has accumulated on the sides and top of the drain pipe. This is their natural food. They digest the waste and spread throughout your system, cleaning it completely.


MULTIPURPOSE

Residential and commercial applications
All drain and sewer pipes, including:

Kitchen Sinks
Lavatories
Bath tubs
Showers
Floor drains
Laundry drains

Septic tanks and drain fields
Garbage disposal odors
Grease traps
Sewage ejector sumps
Outdoor outhouses and cesspools
R.V. & boat holding tanks
Lift Stations
Cat Litter Boxes


ECONOMICAL

100 drain treatments per 2 lb. container
2lb. container treats 1,000 gallon septic tank
Eliminates the need to clean grease traps and cable drains
Eliminates the need to buy dangerous chemicals
Eliminates the need to buy deodorant blocks (urinals.)
Eliminates costly compensation to employees that have been injured by using dangerous chemicals.