Recently, our marketing company  built an iPhone app so our customers could have the ultimate in fast and direct contact with us for any sort of routine or emergency service, 24/7…and we’re the first in the country to offer this amazing customer contact tool.

If you have an iPhone, you can download it now: in the meantime, we’d like to tell you a little more about our app, starting with why we’re offering it in the first place.

Today you no doubt spend long hours away from your home phones and even more time away from your home or office computer. But one thing all people keep with them all the time is their cell phones, and studies confirm that.

So we started thinking:

“What if our customers are away from home but somehow become aware of an emergency plumbing, heating, or cooling need?”

“What if they are home, but all the power goes out, and there’s no way to contact us?”

“What if they simply think of a repair or installation need while driving, for example, and want to contact us from their cell phone before they forget?”

That was the inspiration for our iPhone app, and the result is simply amazing. First and foremost, and for your peace of mind, our app has met with all Apple approvals…if it hadn’t we simply wouldn’t be able to offer it.

Next, check out all the “cool stuff” our app includes (beyond the vitally important direct contact access) literally at the push of a button.

Valuable Information
• Our web site
• Current web specials
• List of services
• Available tax credits and rebates
• Hours of operation
• Feeds to our company Blog
• Customer testimonials

Fun Stuff
• Company photos
• Company jingle
• Do-it-yourself videos
• Facebook link
• Newsletter & e-newsletter sign-up

The app is not yet ready for Blackberry use, but they’re working on it!

Bottom line, it’s important to us not only to respond to your service needs but, when possible, to anticipate them. In that same spirit, we’re confident you iPhone and iTouch users will find this to be absolutely the most convenient way to contact us, check out our current web specials, review our full list of services, and more…any time you choose. Heck, you can even press a button to hear our company jingle.

Enjoy!

Here’s How!

Before you consider upgrading your cooling equipment, the cheapest way to save money and energy from cooling is to reduce the need for mechanical air conditioning in the first place. This can be done in several ways:

1. Insulate and tighten your house
Improving insulation and air sealing prevents heat from entering your house. Your highest priority should be to check insulation levels and air leaks between your living space and the attic.

 

 

2. Get rid of inefficient appliances
Inefficient appliances give off a lot of heat. Especially consider replacing or discarding old or auxiliary refrigerators;

replace incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent; and unplug electronic equipment when not in use.

 

3. Consider “cool” exterior finishes
When replacing your roof or painting your house, using light-colored or other “cool” roofing and siding products can reduce your peak cooling demand by 10-15%. There are a number of roofing products that can dramatically cut down on heat gain without blinding the neighbors. Start by looking for ENERGY STAR Reflective Roof Products.

 

4. Shade or improve windows
To keep high-angle summer sun out, consider horizontal trellises for your east and west-facing windows. Protect south-facing windows with deciduous trees or climbing foliage so you can take advantage of low-angle sun in the winter, when the leaves fall. New windows on those walls that get the most summer sun should have low-e glazings to block unwanted heat gain.

 

5. Cool with air movement and ventilation
Fan operation uses less energy than air conditioning and can be adequate for attaining desired comfort levels unless you live in a very humid climate.

 

Ceiling fans. Ceiling fans cool by creating a low-level “wind chill” effect throughout a room. As long as indoor humidity isn’t stifling, they can be quite effective. Just remember that a fan cools people — it doesn’t actually reduce room temperature — so turn it off when you leave the room. Look for ENERGY STAR rated ceiling fans.

House fans. Unless you live in a very humid climate, installing a large fan in your top-floor ceiling is a very effective way of cooling your whole house down without central AC. These fans suck air through the house, inducing a strong draft in rooms where windows are open as it pulls cooler, outdoor air inside. Check with your local home improvement retailer about available products and installation.

According to www.drinktap.org, the amount of water consumed - on on an average daily basis - in U.S. household breaks down as follows:

By installing more efficient water fixtures and regularly checking for leaks, households can reduce daily per capita water use by about 35% to about 45.2 gallons per day. Here’s how it breaks down for households using water conservation measures:

Using the numbers provided Drinktap.org, that amounts to the following potential water savings:

• 25 gallons per day
• 750 gallons per day
• 9,125 gallons per year

Where’s a good place to start?  Well, let’s take the top current water users:  you toilets and your washing machine.  Older toilets consume between 5 to 7 gallons of water per flush.  Newer toilets use only 1.3 to 1.6 gallons per flush with no loss of pressure.  At the very least, you would cut your per toilet water consumption by 32%.

According to www.ehow.com, you can cut your clothes washer water consumption by up to 40% by switching to a front loading model.  Click on this link to learn how:  http://www.ehow.com/how_4485936_conserve-water-front-loading-washers.html

Saving water is the job - and responsibility - of us all.  Have any suggestions you’d like to share with us and our blog readers?  We’d love to hear from you.

The greening of America isn’t just a concept…more and more, it’s becoming a reality.


The success of this rapidly expanding movement has a lot to do with energy conservation rebates and tax credits.  From now through the end of 2010, for example, you can still earn a 30% tax credit on your purchase of high efficiency, Energy Star certified home heating or air conditioning system.  In most cases, the maximum credit is $1,500, but if you purchase a heat pump system (combined heating and cooling), your tax credit is 30% on your entire purchase, including labor, with no top end limit.

And now Con Edison is sweetening the pot with some generous rebates of their own, and here are just a few examples:

In some cases, you may also qualify for direct savings from Frank & Lindy and, in still other cases, available manufacturer rebates.

Underlying each discount and rebate is one essential point, and that is each one is tied to energy-efficient equipment.  So if you purchase a qualifying system or component, you can count on the kind of energy savings that by themselves can and will cover the cost of your system over time.

There’s lots more to know, and the professional home comfort specialists at Frank & Lindy can answer all your questions today AND help you save every dollar to which you’re entitled.

At Frank & Lindy, we’re celebrating our 50^th year of continuous service to people like you…folks who had faith in us back in the day, and continue to count on us now.

Our original name, established in 1959, was Frank & Lindy Maintenance Corp.  While plumbing has been a constant from day 1, it wasn’t long before we began offering home heating, air conditioning, and related services for your more comfortable living and greater peace of mind.

To reflect our broader range of services, we changed to our current name – Frank & Lindy Plumbing & Heating Service Co. – in 1996.

Company director, Bill Raymond, joined Frank & Lindy in 1989.  A year later he was promoted to service manger and in 1995 became co-owner of the Maintenance Corp. along with Bruce Lindenbaum.

Earn a government tax credit up to $1,500 and more!

Even though summer is winding down, we want to make sure you know about tax credits that are now available through President Obama’s stimulus package. Included among them are hefty tax credits for high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment, heat pumps, plus tankless and solar water heaters. How much are the credits? Thirty percent on the purchase (including installation!) of Energy Star certified equipment up to a maximum of $1,500. Better still, the credit for solar water heaters and heat pumps is 30% of the total purchase price…period!

These credits are available through 2010, so now is as good a time as any to cash in. In the process, you’ll enjoy greater indoor comfort and reduced energy costs.

Frank & Lindy is a proud sponsor of the Hudson Valley Renegades’ Pitch for Kids Foundation.

Founded in 1998, the organization has raised more than $500,000 to enhance the quality of life for children and families in the Hudson Valley.

“Our schedule of fundraising events is intense,” said Rick Zolzer, Executive Director of the PFK Fund. “Thanks to a dedicated staff and motivated and involved board members, we are able to be very successful with our special events each year.”

“This is much more than a ‘feel good’ for us,” says F&L co-owner Bill Raymond.  “We’re making a real difference in peoples’ lives where you can actually see the result of the foundation’s hard work and efforts.”

In 2008, the PFK awarded grants to The Children’s Museum of Poughkeepsie, Hudson Valley Civic Center, St. Basil’s Academy and St. Francis Healthcare Foundation to name a few. The funds are managed through the Community Foundation of Dutchess County.

For more information about the Hudson Valley Renegades’ Pitch for Kids Fund and a complete schedule of events, visit them online at www.pitchforkids.org or call (845)838-0094 x 231.

And while you’re at it, click here to sign up for the Renegades’ Rascal’s Kids Club. It’s fun, a great value, and sponsored exclusively by Frank & Lindy.

Calling all Saints!  Our own Bill Raymond is a 1984 graduate of St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY where he earned his B.A. degree in environmental economics.

Bill was also a first-rate goalie for The Saints’ lacrosse team.  St. Lawrence has been known throughout the years for its top echelon Division III lacrosse program.

The years 1980-1984 were no exception, when Bill played rock solid goalie to help anchor his team’s defense.  In his senior year, he earned “unofficial” recognition as an Honorable Mention D-III All-American…“unofficial” only because he split time in net with a teammate.

In his four years at St. Lawrence, the Saints consistently finished in the top 8 in national poll rankings.  The year 2009 was no exception as The Saints finished in 16th place nationally and competed in the national NCAA tournament.

Are you a St. Lawrence grad or alum?  A current or past lacrosse player, no matter where you played?  Or even if you’re someone inclined to share a little bit about your days of competitive athletics, we’d love to hear from you!

Have you heard the old saying…“laughter is the best medicine of all”?

Well, at Frank & Lindy, we take laughter very seriously, if such a thing is possible.  That’s why we invite you to send us your funniest plumbing-related sorry…something that happened at home, work, to you, your kids, a neighbor…doesn’t matter.  We just want it to be true!

Then, once a month, we’ll pick our favorite and send the winner a check for $25.  Just one qualification:  for your story to be considered as “the winner”, it has to suitable for blog readers of all ages!

In the meantime, this isn’t a true story, but it is one of our favorite plumbing jokes, as told by Steve Martin during his early days as a stand-up comedian.  It’s one of our favorites!

“Ok, I don’t like to gear my material to the audience but I’d like to make an exception because I was told that there is a convention of plumbers in San Francisco this week - I understand about 30 of them came down to the show tonight - so before I came out I worked-up a joke especially for the plumbers. Those of you who aren’t plumbers probably won’t get this and won’t think it’s funny, but I think those of you who are plumbers will really enjoy this…

“This lawn supervisor was out on a sprinkler maintenance job and he started working on a Findlay sprinkler head with a Langstrom 7″ gangly wrench. Just then, this little apprentice leaned over and said, “You can’t work on a Findlay sprinkler head with a Langstrom 7″ wrench.” Well this infuriated the supervisor, so he went and got Volume 14 of the Kinsley manual, and he reads to him and says, “The Langstrom 7″ wrench can be used with the Findlay sprocket.” Just then, the little apprentice leaned over and said, “It says sprocket not socket!”

Our web site has loads of green plumbing, heating and cooling tips. But going green goes way beyond that. So at this time, we’d like you send us a few suggestions of your own that we can add to our web site. We’re especially looking for things you’ve thought of and put into practice on your own, heard from a friend, etc.

All the “good stuff” will be added to our web site, including your name (provided we have your permission to display it and give you credit for your suggestion.)