Lubbock HVAC, Plumbing, and Energy Management Blog

Commercial HVAC Controls: LonMark Technology

 

 

Sinclair Heating Cooling & Plumbing is excited to announce that we have a LonMark Certified Professional on staff (Me)!  What that means to you is that I can help you save money.  I can do this by controlling what your building HVAC system demands are along with other things like lighting.  Having an intelligent control system based on LonMark certified devices is key in obtaining money saving strategies. Ask me how? 

"What is LonMark?"  LonMark is the company that has developed the international standards to make sure that devices will work together in an integrated control environment. Basically, if you already have a control system in your business or building that runs on BACnet, Modbus, LonMark, etc... LonMark has made it possible to tie-in to those applications.  Or, I can help create a LonMark network from scratch for you and your building. 

Facts straight from LonMark International:  

-Having an intelligent control system following a LonMark specification has been shown to save upwards of 30% annually in energy costs over a non-integrated, non-intelligent control system.  Wow!

-With continuous commissioning and implementation strategies, this number (30% savings) increases even more! 

-LonMark systems allow for future expansion and adaptation without changing architectures, without being locked into a single provider, and allow for fair competitive bidding on the initial install and future projects. 

This is a new venture for Sinclair HVAC & Plumbing and I am excited about these new opportunities.  Would you like to save money with your commercial buildings high energy bills?  Have questions? Need more information?  Please send me a comment below.

 

 

Safe Drain Cleaning Product: Bio-Clean

 

 

Do you have a smelly or clogged up drain that needs attention?  Sinclair plumbing offers a product that is just right for the job.  Not only does is help clean drains, it also cleans:

• Septic systems
• Garbage disposal odors
• Grease Traps
• Sewage ejector sumps
• Outdoor privies and vaults
• RV & boat holding tanks
• Cat litter pans
• Grease Traps

Bio-Clean is a product that will help solve your drain problems.  It is a blend of bacteria and enzymes.  The bacteria are natural, not genetically-engineered. 

 

"How does it work?" from The Bio-Clean Story

In Nature all animal and vegetable matter, from insects to mighty oaks, is broken down and recycled into plant food by enzymes and bacteria. Bio-Clean uses this same principle to biodegrade animal and vegetable waste in pipes.

Like all living things, bacteria must eat to survive. Fortunately certain types of bacteria will use for food the grease, hair, soap film and all the organic waste that tend to clog peoples drains.

Enzymes act like short order cooks. They prepare food for bacteria by breaking large molecules down into a size the bacteria can "swallow". Each enzyme works on one specific type of molecule. For example, the protease enzyme only works on protein. Lipase works only on fats.

The bacteria are dormant while in the jar. When mixed with water they come to life in about 30 minutes. In the meantime the enzymes are breaking down the waste. They are very fast. In fact, they work on contact. When the bacteria revive they are hungry. Each one eats its weight of waste every minute - and they never sleep! As a result of eating and growing they start to multiply through cell division. Their number will double every 30 minutes under favorable conditions.

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I use this product myself and I love it!  I have a shower drain in my master bathroom that has had some problems in the past and I use Bio-Clean when it needs to be cleaned or unclogged.  It is not hard to use and you don't have to wear a HAZ-Mat suit to use it :-)  You mix the proper dosage with water and poor it into the drain you need help with.  Let it sit over night and that's it!  There are some occasions were you might have to treat the drain more than once.  If you are interested in purchasing Bio-Clean please contact Sinclair by filling out a short form and we will contact you to make the purchase.  One can of Bio-clean is only $43.25!  If you have any questions or comments please let me know.  

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Sinclair HVAC and Plumbing: February recipe

Enchilada Casserole

1 (14 oz.) can tomatoes
1 small chopped onion
1 clove minced garlic
½ tsp. Ground red pepper
½ tsp. Salt
6 oz. can tomato paste
½ lb. ground beef, browned
1 can beans, drained
1 pkg. Dry taco season mix
2 cups shredded cheese
9 corn tortillas

Sauce:  Blend tomatoes with onion and garlic in blender.  Pour in medium saucepan.  Add pepper, salt and tomato paste.  Heat until boiling, then simmer 5 to 10 minutes.  Place 3 tortillas in bottom of crock pot.  Layer on tortillas 1/3 of ground beef, 1/3 tomato sauce, and 1/3 Cheddar cheese, then 3 more tortillas.  Repeat each layer 2 more times, ending with cheese.  Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours.  Serves 4.

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Programmable Thermostat: Why Should I Buy One?

 

When I ran service calls on a daily basis, I was asked a lot about programmable thermostats.  The customer would ask me, "Do they really save money?"  The answer to that question is, Yes!!!  If you have ever left your house in a hurry and forgot to turn the light off, you probably forgot to adjust your thermostat.  For example:  If it is 100 degrees outside and you leave your thermostat set on 74 degrees, your air conditioning unit is going to run most of the day.  You are spending money to cool your home at 74 degrees with no one there!  With a programmable thermostat you can set it to 78 degrees when you leave for work and not have to worry about it running as much during the day (With no one at home).  The key to saving money with your programmable thermostat is to stick to the schedule that you set.  What I mean by that, is to create a schedule when you first get your thermostat and don't touch it for 2 weeks.  After 2 weeks is up, you should be able to notice changes that you could make to the schedule, so that it fits your demands.  A programmable thermostat is a big change from the old mercury turn-dial thermostats but let us help you and I promise it will save you money in the long run.  

This is a great example and overview about a programmable thermostat from Energy Star:

Did you know that properly using a programmable thermostat in your home is one of the easiest ways you can save energy, money, and help fight global warming? A programmable thermostat helps make it easy for you to save by offering four pre-programmed settings to regulate your home's temperature in both summer and winter - when you are asleep or away.

• The pre-programmed settings that come with programmable thermostats are intended to deliver savings without sacrificing comfort. Depending on your family's schedule, you can see significant savings by sticking with those settings or adjust them as appropriate for your family.
• The key is to establish a program that automatically reduces heating and cooling in your home when you don't need as much. Use the programmable thermostat calculator to see what you can save with set-back temperatures that work for your family. The pre-programmed settings for a programmable thermostat are:

Programmable Thermostat Setpoint Times & Temperatures

Setting	Time	Setpoint Temperature (Heat)	Setpoint Temperature (Cool)
Wake	6:00 a.m.	≤ 70° F	≥ 78° F
Day	8:00 a.m.	Setback at least 8° F	Setup at least 7° F
Evening	6:00 p.m.	≤ 70° F	≥ 78° F
Sleep	10:00 p.m.	Setback at least 8° F	Setup at least 4° F

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