Rentmeister Total Home Service Blog: Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

The Heat Pump Difference: Consider This for Your Next Comfort Installation

Tuesday, September 5th, 2017

icon of the sun next to a snowflakeThere’s a cooling system on the market that is quickly rising in popularity as a way for homeowners to improve their comfort and HVAC efficiency. It’s the heat pump—a system that works much like a standard air conditioner. We mean that it circulates chemical refrigerant between two sets of coils, one indoors and one outdoors, in order to create the process of heat exchange.

Heat exchange means literally that heat is being moved from one area to another. An air conditioner works by taking the heat from inside your home and expelling it out doors. But with a Syracuse, UT heat pump installation, you have the power to reverse the process for effective heating, too. With just a simple adjustment to your thermostat, you can enjoy year-round comfort from this climate control installation.

Continue Reading

Donation Drive for the Safe Harbor Crisis Center

Monday, November 23rd, 2015

Rentmeister is proud to participate in the Donation Drive for the Safe Harbor Crisis Center. This great cause provides a safe haven for women & children who are in abusive relationships and situations.

We will be collecting donations at our office through December 14th, 2015.

 

Continue Reading

Lupercalia: The Origin of St. Valentine’s Day

Saturday, February 14th, 2015

Many people may think of Valentine’s Day as a holiday essentially created by card and gift companies, but the truth is that the holiday has long-standing roots going back to the Roman Empire. The name “Lupercalia” has its origins in the word “lupus”, which means wolf, and the reason for this is that according to Roman pagan religion, the she-wolf Lupa nursed the two orphaned infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome.

The Festival

The Festival of Lupercalia spanned two days each February, from February 13th to 15th. The festival was about fertility and was led by Luperci priests, known as “brothers of the wolf”. The festival was serious with intention (fertility) but was executed as quite a romp for both the priests and citizens of Rome. The process was this: two male goats and a dog were sacrificed at the beginning of the festival by the priests; two young Luperci were then anointed with the blood from the animals, and the hides of the animals were cut into straps. As food and drink flowed, the male priests would run around the city wearing nothing but thongs made from the animal skins, and they also carried a strap from one of the sacrificed animals. The strap was used to strike the palms of Roman women waiting for the priests in the city, as it was believed that being hit with the strap could help with infertility issues and a safe, healthy labor for women who were pregnant.

The Transition to St. Valentine’s Day

The Christian influence of the holiday came around the 5th century. The Roman Empire was still strong, but Christianity was rapidly taking hold throughout the world. It is believed that to try and remove the paganism from the holiday, the deaths of two men, supposedly both named Valentine, were added into the mix. During the 3rd and 4th centuries, a law created by Claudius II forbade young men eligible for military service to marry, because Rome wanted a strong army. The two men named Valentine were priests, and married young couples in secret. Both were found out and executed on February 14th, although in separate years. The Church made Valentine a saint (they chose one), and Lupercalia became St. Valentine’s Day.

Here’s wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Continue Reading

What Are My Choices for a New Heating System?

Friday, October 24th, 2014

**Rentmeister Total Home Service No Longer Services Boilers Or Radiant Heating Systems, We Apologize If This Is An Inconvenience**

Here in Salt Lake City, you need a new heating system that will be sturdy and reliable. Often, it is best to replace an older heating system with a similar type. For example, it’s probably best to replace a forced-air heating system with a new furnace or heat pump, while it’s best to replace a radiant heating system with a similar model. But if you’re considering a brand new system for your new home, here are some of your options.

  • Furnace: Furnaces are some of the most popular systems available to homeowners, in part because of the relatively low cost of installation and the efficiency of many modern units. Furnaces may generate heat with electrical current or natural gas, and connect to the ductwork in order to distribute warm air.
  • Heat Pump: Heat pumps also connect to your ductwork, but this replaces both your heating and air conditioning system. Heat pumps work just like central air conditioners in the summertime, removing heat from the air inside and releasing it outside. However, in the winter, they can actually absorb heat from the outside air in order to release it into your home.
  • Hybrid Heating System: Sometimes, it’s too cold outside for your heat pump to absorb heat efficiently or effectively. For this reason, you may choose to install a hybrid heating system, which combines two fuels, gas and electric heating, for maximum energy savings. Most of the time, your heat pump absorbs heat from the outside, but when temperatures drop too low, around 30 degrees, the gas furnace kicks in.
  • Geothermal Heat Pump: A geothermal heat pump works much like a regular air-source heat pump except that it pulls heat from the ground instead of the air. The ground remains a constant temperature year round, which makes it a reliable source for heating and cooling.
  • Radiant Heating: Finally, radiant systems are some of the most efficient systems out there. These use hot water as a source of heat in order to distribute it evenly throughout the home either via a radiator, baseboard, or with piping underneath the floorboards, for the ultimate in home comfort.

You should always discuss your options with an expert before making any long-term decisions. Professionals can help you to decide which unit is right for you and what fits into your budget. Call the professional technicians at Rentmeister Total Home Service for any questions you have about heating services in Salt Lake City.

Continue Reading

Hybrid Heating: Are You Ready to Save Money?

Tuesday, November 19th, 2013

It sounds like an overactive commercial. “Hybrid heating: are you ready to save money?” But when it comes to Salt Lake City heating installation, it’s not just hype. Hybrid heating refers to a heat pump married to a small gas furnace, which allows you to heat your home efficiently without succumbing to the problems offer by either technology alone. It works well in places like Salt Lake City, where our winters get cold, but not quite as cold as they do elsewhere in the country. And yes: a properly installed hybrid heating system can save you a great deal of money.

It starts with the heat pump, which combines the functions of a heater and an air conditioner into one single system. In the summer, it provides cool air and in the winter, it provides warm air… in both cases through the same closed-loop system that relies on refrigerant to do its job. Heat pumps cost a little more to install than traditional forced-air furnaces, but they do their jobs much more efficiently. Once they’re up and running, you can save a considerable amount of money in monthly heating and cooling costs, making them a prudent and judicious choice for heating your home.

There’s just one problem. When outside temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, their efficiency can drop along with it. We don’t always get that cold in Salt Lake City – our winter highs average in the mid-40s – but we do have those cold patches where the thermostat drops below freezing. That’s where the hybrid system steps in, with a small gas furnace to help the heat pump do its job. It provides you with the heating power you need to get through those cold nights while still keeping costs lower than a gas furnace alone.

And those money-saving tendencies also help hybrid systems improve the resale value of your home, helping to offset the cost of installation. “Are you ready to save money?” sounds like a rhetorical question, but with this kind of technology, it’s more than just lip service. The professionals at Rentmeister Total Home Service handle Salt Lake City heating installation service, and can advise you on the hybrid heating system that’s right for you. Give us a call today!

Continue Reading

Why is Air Conditioning Maintenance Important During the Summer?

Monday, June 24th, 2013

Getting your air conditioning system ready for the summer will involve some maintenance tasks, as well as scheduling your annual air conditioner tune-up service. Call  the Salt Lake City air conditioning specialists at Rentmeister Total Home Service for all of your air conditioning maintenance or repair service needs or if you have questions about how to maintain your system.

Keep in mind that routine tune-ups and other maintenance tasks help to prevent repairs or equipment failure, as well as maintain efficiency. If you want to ensure that your air conditioner is ready for the summer, be sure that you schedule your annual maintenance visit before the cooling season begins.

Here are some further tips to get your air conditioning system ready.

Change Air Filters

Changing air filters regularly helps to ensure that nothing is blocking the airflow. When dirt or other particles get trapped in the filter, it affects the airflow, as well as indoor air quality. These are both good reasons to change air filters often. If you have pets or anyone in your home with allergies or other sensitivities, you may want to change filters more. We recommend changing them at least once a month, or as recommended by the manufacturer. Always make sure there’s a new filter in place before you turn on your air conditioning system in the spring for the first time since last season.

Clean Your AC System in the Spring

One way to help prevent problems is to clean your air conditioning system in the spring. Dirty air ducts, dusty coils, and dirt blocking airflow can put excess strain on the compressor. We offer a basic cleaning during the annual tune-up, but your system will be easier to maintain if you keep it clean throughout the summer and before you turn it on in the spring. This includes the outdoor compressor if you have a heat pump. Make sure you know how to properly clean it, or call our air conditioning maintenance technicians if you aren’t sure.

Lastly, always call the Salt Lake City air conditioning specialists at Rentmeister Total Home Service for maintenance and tune-ups services. Be sure to call us before summer gets too hot!

Continue Reading

Memorial Day

Monday, May 27th, 2013

During the final Monday of May every year, we commemorate those military personnel who have died in service to their country. Formerly known as Decoration Day, probably because of the way that graveyards were decorated with flowers, Memorial Day came to prominence in the wake of the American Civil War, which left the country war-torn, with many casualties on both sides. Since that time, it has been a day of remembering those who have given up the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

As you go about town on your day off from work, you’ll probably see an abundance of flags and flowers, as well as public commemorations such as parades. While this day has been turned into the last leg of a three-day weekend, it’s important to reflect on the way that our military personnel have shaped our country, and to remember their contribution to the way we live today. We at Rentmeister Total Home Service, wish you all the best on Memorial Day.

Continue Reading

Check Out Our Blog for the Latest in HVAC Technology

Thursday, April 11th, 2013

Be sure to bookmark the Rentmeister Total Home Service blog for updates on the latest advances in HVAC and Plumbing technology.

We’ll feature money saving promotions here as well.

Call Rentmeister Total Home Service for all your Heating, Fireplaces, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Water Heaters, and Commercial Services needs.

Continue Reading

Welcome to Our New Website

Thursday, April 11th, 2013

iMarket Solutions has launched Rentmeister Total Home Service new custom website. To learn more about how iMarket Solutions can expand your presence on the web visit: www.imarketsolutions.com

Continue Reading