|
First General Services Newsletter
February
2007
Vol.
5
Table of
Contents:
Editors
Note...

RAFFLE
WINNER:
MATTHEW
KRIVAK, Donegal Mutual Insurance
Congratulations
Matthew!
Matthew
and his wife won a $50 dining certificate to their
favorite restaurant - Lum's Fernbrook Inn, located in Dallas
Pa. We hope you enjoy your meal, and happy Valentine's
Day!
Also,
I would like to say "thanks" to all of you who
participated in our Valentine's Day Raffle. The response was
overwhelming!
As
always, please feel free to direct
any comments/suggestions/requests for future topics directly
to me at dsciandra@firstgeneralservice.com.
I will gladly include your suggestions
and/or opinions in one of our future issues...
Sincerely,
Danielle
back to top
Feature
Article
Cold Weather/High Bills
For a while
there, it appeared that winter forgot all about Northeastern
Pennsylvania... and for those of you like me, who prefer
sunshine and warmth over snow and ice, it almost seemed to
good to be true. I kept waiting for the ball to drop (or the
temperature in this case) and finally, the day
came. Its cold out!
It's funny how
we tend to ridicule the gas and electric
companies a little more than usual during this time of the
year.
But no matter how much we complain, our bills never get any
smaller. So what do we do then?... We find ways to minimize
usage. After searching the internet for ideas, I
found that the least expensive options are based upon common
sense - and while they may not cut your bills in half, they
will definitely save you
a few bucks.
No. 1
The Thermostat
Stop living like a Jamaican and turn down the
thermostat! Trade in your shorts and t-shirt for a pair of
thermal underwear. For every degree you lower the thermostat,
you can save up to 2% on each bill.
No. 2
Maintenance
Clean and service
your furnace - at least once per year. When your furnace is
cleaned and properly maintained, it will run more efficiently.
Most utility companies offer service agreements that will not
only provide you with an annual tune-up, but may also warranty
the services they provided.
No. 3
Home Inspection
Check your
property for cracks and drafts. Heating/plumbing lines, windows and
door frames are common places that heat is lost. Weather stripping or low cost caulking can solve
this problem.
No. 4
Fireplace Flue
If your
fireplace is not in use, remember to close the flue! An open flue can cost
you up to 7% of your heating bill.
No. 5
Windows
For those of
you with old and drafty windows, invest in a roll of plastic
and tape (or staple gun- whichever you prefer). This will not
only eliminate that extra blanket on your bed, but it will
make a noticeable difference on your heating bill.
No. 6
Alternate Heat
Since most of
your cooking takes place indoors during the winter months,
take advantage of the heat produced by your stove.
Instead of shutting the door when you are done, leave it open!
No. 7
Energy Efficiency
If all else
fails and you can't determine the where energy is being lost, I happen to know a very reputable company that can inspect
your property and determine the heat loss site by way of
infrared
camera.
back to top
FGS
Feature Service: Infrared Thermography
Thermography
enables us to see and measure heat. All materials emit heat in
the eye of the infrared camera.
The
FLIR ThermaCAMŽ infrared camera has been added
to our long list of specialty equipment to aid in the building
inspection process. Infrared cameras can not only see, but
also record infrared images and measure the temperatures of
objects, and areas of objects quite accurately.
Thermography
can detect moisture intrusions, heat loss sites, and the
efficiency/condition of heating and cooling systems ... in a
non-invasive manner.
For
more information, visit www.flirthermography.com
back to top
Quote
of the Day
There's
are moments in your life -- like the first time you rode a
bike without training wheels, the first time you dove off
a high diving board, or maybe the first day of your first
job -- when you had to push past the fear or intimidation
to get something you knew you had earned, and knew you
were ready for. This leap of faith is exhilarating, and it
changes your life forever. Seek out that frightening,
intimidating leap today -- and jump.
-
Author
Unknown - back to top
Joke
of the Day
A couple came
upon a wishing well. The wife leaned over, made a wish and
threw in a penny. The husband decided to make a wish, too but
he leaned over too much, fell into the well, and drowned. The
wife was stunned for a moment but then smiled, "It really
works!"
theholidayspot.com - back to top
New Specialty
Services...
NEW!
INDUSTRIAL
STEAM CLEANING
NEW! DUCT
CLEANING
NEW! SODA
BLASTING
NEW!
CONTENTS
INVENTORY
back to top
About
our Newsletter
First
General Services of NE
Pa. initiated
the Newsletter in an effort to maintain constant
contact and provide updates on service capabilities to our
colleagues in the restoration and insurance industry.
We are ever mindful of the changing conditions and
needs of the area in which we all work on a daily basis. We believe that in order to maintain and improve our
service, we will benefit from comments/suggestions from our
readers.
back to top
We
take privacy very seriously. We handle your personal
information as we wish others would handle ours. First General
Services of N.E.Pa. does not share, sell or lease unsolicited
mail or email regarding new promotions or sales. If you would
like to remove your name from these notifications, please send an
email to dsciandra@firstgeneralservice.com
and request to be removed from our list. |