HVAC

It’s that time of year, yet again, where nature is turning colors and temps are cooling as we usher in a new season. What does this mean for the comforts of home? It might be time for maintenance checks! Our HVAC and plumbing specialists’ schedules are filling quickly, so we wanted to give you heads up as to what to prepare for and what you can expect from our seasonal service calls.

HVAC:
When was the last time your furnace filters were changed? Do you know if your system is starting up correctly? When you call us in to green light your home’s heating for the winter, here is short list of just some of what you can expect will be on our checklist in making sure you are not collecting Frequent Flier Miles with us. (Our FFM have no trade in or monetary value – just smiles and a friendly invoice charge.)

• Replacing filters
• Making sure condenser unit & lines are clean
• Checking on refrigerant levels (In cases of repairing leaks, we may perform dye test with a return appointment to ensure proper sealants.)
• Testing all controls and thermostats to verify proper function
• Lubricating any moving parts
• Winterizing A/C units: this may include turning power off, cleaning the unit, covering the unit properly, and possibly insulating any uncovered or exposed pipes
• Etc.

Plumbing:
With water being one of the most powerful and destructive forces running through your household, with the exception of toddlers and/or teenagers, we strongly recommend not skipping over winter prep! Having a licensed and trusted plumber perform your home’s winter preparation will save you a potential world of trouble in the long run! Our winterizing calls may include:

• Sealing off any cracks or open spaces in venting, crawl spaces, and home exterior
• Covering hose bibbs that are not frost-free: this may include closing the valve completely, draining any remaining water, and installing a cover
• Opening all drain valves & taps: A closed tap could create a vacuum of water held inside pipes
• Insulating exposed pipes with insulations sleeves (either wrapping or using slip-on foam insulation)
• Verifying proper function of existing water heater(s)
• Etc.

A phone call to our office at (406) 252-7100 could be the very thing standing between you and utter disaster this winter! We would love to help guarantee your home is at its best and ready to take on whatever this season may throw. Again, schedules are filling up fast, so do yourself a favor by calling today to lock in your service!

It is no mystery that there are bound to be a few learning curves with every new life experience. While some simply require a certain degree of common sense, we fully understand the slipping grip of that trait is in a continued societal decline. So, to offer a friendly, light-spirited helping hand, we have put together some dos and don’ts of bringing hired help into your home. If you find yourself guilty of the behaviors we will discuss below, no shame – we are all human and nobody is perfect! Plus, we here at Alpine are the forgiving kind… to a point. Without further ado, let’s crack this egg!

1. Realistic Expectations

We get it – champagne taste and bright-eyed dreams can take you far in life. If you don’t have a bank account to match, turning these into reality may become tough. Remodel projects are always a bit of an undertaking and each one is littered with their own set of obstacles. When outsourcing for remodel projects, it is important to note that you called in help for a reason, and that the help’s expertise most likely stretches beyond your own knowledge of the work. We want you to have your dream space also! Though, building something from nothing is time-consuming and can be an excessive workload. If your technicians have alternative suggestions or cannot perform the desired work due to legalities, please do not degrade them, argue with them, or berate them into flagging your address to never return to. We are on your side and have the same vision for the outcome that you do! We just want to get you there safely, legally, and within reasonable, realistic means that won’t bury you in debt or further your troubles down the road.

2. The Devil in the Details

It is vital there be an equal understanding of clearly communicated details. The details that often go miscommunicated in service calls are those like start times, locations, billing address vs service address, points of contact, and (believe it or not) even the full scope of work being requested. We don’t know what we don’t know and likewise for our clients. By no means do we need a full history of the property or how your Aunt Petunia came to inherit the property back in 1957, but a good rule of thumb to follow is this: If you think the technicians will not be able to perform the work being requested without this information, go ahead and share that information when you are making the appointment, BEFORE the time of service. Knowing what we are walking into and where to find it will do all parties involved a world of good – especially in sparing you some hourly cost.

3. Bartering Bills

We are not traders, and this is not the Oregon Trail. Money spends, my friends. While our technicians will always be grateful for a little extra kindness received, baked goods are not a fair sole payment for services rendered. An offer to pay by trade of services is not a fair payment. Drugs, booze, bbq nor booty are appropriate means of squaring out due payment either. No judgements! Your own time is yours. When our time is yours, however, there will be a cost; A cost resolved only in real monetary exchange.

4. Tidying Up

If the area of your home in which service is needed is inaccessible or obstructed, the chances of your technicians taking on the role of housekeeper are unlikely. Instead, often said technicians will leave said obstructed area, and the appointments will likely be rescheduled. Please be sure that access to the issues you need help resolving is in fact accessible before your scheduled appointment time.

5. Pants.

Just put ‘em on. Please and thank you.

Did you find yourself in our little list here? Again, no stress! We hope this has helped awaken a little insight & reason behind these woes. We here at Alpine look forward to being the ones who can help take some stress off your plate & appreciate the courteousness our community continues to put forth!