The Hammond Services Company Party was held at Magnolia Lanes Bowling Alley. 

The bowling alley was closed to the public from 5:30 -9:30 so employees could enjoy a night

with other employees and their families. It was a fun time for all.

 ”We’ve had a very busy summer so far”, said David Hammond. “It’s nice to be able to do this as a way of saying Thank You to all of our employees, and to their family members who support their hard work.”

This month, the June Shining Moment Award goes to, Phonexay Simmavanh, one of our air conditioning techs. Phonexay has been employed at Hammond Services for 10 years.  He is well liked by his fellow employees and often recieves compliments from customers.

These are two compliments he recieved from customers in June.

Richard & Ramona Lunsford, who live on McKinley Drive in Griffin, called in to say what a great job Phonexay did at their home. They wanted to say thank you and make sure we gave him a big pat on the back.

 Perry Pace, who lives in Griffin on Kline Circle, mailed us a note that read as follows:

“Yesterday, our AC wasn’t cooling and I called for your service.  Mr. Phonexay came out and, without question, he was one of the best technicians to ever come to my home, Period.  He was very professional and had a good personality, but above all he did a wonderful job and we are well satisfied.

Thank you, Perry Pace”

Judy Snider, was our May, 2010 Sign Contest Winner! We went out to present her with her $100 check, and to take her picture. Ms. Snider proceeded to then give countless praises about our service. Below are some quotes of what she had to say: 

“Hammond’s has been coming to my home since 1998.  They usually come five or six times a year.  I’ve used all their services, heating & air, electrical, plumbing.  All the techs that have come out have always been good!  What has really impressed me is the support of Griffin Tech students. It’s nice seeing them graduate and then be employed.  One of the techs that came to my home was actually one of my students from Griffin Tech.  It’s nice to see a business in Griffin doing well!  I have Hammond Services on my speed dial!!  Last year I recieved a card and brownies, it was a nice personal touch.”

It ceratinly is a pleasure to do business with customers like Ms. Snider. It makes our job very enjoyable and rewarding. Thanks for the very nice comments. We appreciate it!

NCI Instructor, Paul Weibolt

On June 18-19, 2010 Hammond Services had on-site training conducted by NCI. The training course was titled “Air Diagnostics and Balancing”. Hammond Services had 14 employees attend this course, and employees from two other contractors also attended, one from Kentucky and the other from South Carolina. The purpose of the course was to train us all in new techniques to help our customers achieve greater energy efficiency and comfort.

When a typical heating and cooling contractor quotes the efficiency of the equipment (SEER or AFUE) and leads you to believe the new equipment will automatically deliver that efficiency, think again. Typical installed equipment only operates at 55% to 70% of rated capacity. In simple terms, 14 SEER air conditioning equipment could only operate like 7 SEER equipment. This is terrible, and it is an industry-wide problem. Now, with NCI’s approach to testing and measuring, we can identify and correct this problem.

While new high efficiency heating and cooling equipment may help, the number one factor in determining system efficiency is your duct system. Heating and cooling travels through ducts that are often too restrictive, damaged, poorly maintained, or improperly designed and installed from the beginning. A certified NCI contractor can fix many of these problems and increase your system’s delivered heating and cooling efficiency.

Measuring System Static Pressures

Hammond Services, now an NCI trained and certified contractor, will evaluate your existing duct design and look for deficiencies. Most duct systems have deficiencies, and these can be corrected while installing your new equipment. We will then measure the new system’s performance to prove te new system is functioning as designed. By taking this approach, we insure that you get the comfort and energy savings you’re paying for.

Hammond Services has always followed industry guidelines for duct design, and in most cases exceeded minimum design criteria. However, we are now discovering with the use of new test instruments and diagnostic techniques, that most systems are not performing as well as we originally thought.  The average delivered  cooling and heating efficiency of systems across the country is only 57%, according to NCI’s national database. This is shocking because it demonstrates that the focus on the equipment efficiencies alone is not working. That’s why Hammond Services is now implementing newly learned best practices to measure and deliver actual delivered efficiencies of 90% or better.

Now we can measure every customer’s system efficiency, and give it a SCORE. This will identify those opportunities for the greatest improvement. This will result in greater comfort and tremendous energy savings. We are very excited about this new technology and have invested heavily to make sure that our entire company is trained and certified accordingly.

Who are good candidates for this SCORE test? Actually we are doing it on every call. But those who stand the most to gain are those who have :

• Higher than expected utility bills
• Rooms that are hot or cold
• Lower than expected air flow from your ducts
• Systems that run all the time and seem to never cut off

 Give us a call at 770-227-5325 to have your system SCORE tested. Call now and see how you can get your system tested at no cost.

Me and my Operations Manager, Wayne Hughes, just returned from 4-days of training at the NCI (National Comfort Institute) training center in Cleveland, OH. This was their Fast Track Implementation course for Performance Based HVAC Contracting. Learned a lot and developed a plan for conducting NCI on-site training for all of our employees. This will give us new technology and tools for measuring actual HVAC system “delivered” performance. Most contractors focus on selling their customers new, high efficiency HVAC equipment and expect it to deliver the rated BTUH’s and efficiency without any way to measure and prove what it is actually delivering into the home.

A new testing process, referred to as HeatMaxx and CoolMaxx, was introduced to us in the training we received. This gives us the ability to measure the HVAC sytems actual efficiency, comapring what the equipment’s rated performance potential with what is actually being delivered into the home. By doing this, we can identify opportunities for improvement, and with additional testing can pinpoint solutions. I am convinced these new testing methods will provide our customers with improved comfort and energy efficiency, not just on older systems, but even on newly installed systems. This is breakthrough technology for the HVAC industry, and I plan to lead Hammond Services so that we fully integrate this into our organization. All of our employees will be trained and equipped to perform this testing by the first week of July, 2010. If you want to learn more, please click on the following to read NCI’s brochure about this testing.

HeatMaxxCoolMaxxConsumerSeries

If you want to schedule a test for your home, or if you have questions, please call our office at 770-227-5325. We are excited to begin to roll this new technology out to our customers. I appreciate all of our customers and encourage you to have your HVAC equipment tested. The average measured system efficiency across the nation is less than 60%. After pin-pointing the problems areas, and making the needed adjustments, most systems can be brought up to 90% or better. This translates to better comfort and reduced operating costs. If you’re not in our service area (South Metro Atlanta), look for a NCI certified contractor in your area to perform this work.

David Hammond

Congratulations to Mr. Bill Jones of 700 Tanyard Road in Zebulon, GA. He is the winner of the sign contest for the month of January. He has always been pleased with the Heating & Air service he gets from Hammond Services and is very thankful to win the sign contest for January and receive his $100 check. He said that James, our HVAC tech, always does a great job.

Thank you for your continued support!

For chronic “Do It Yourself” types or for those that simply want to save a few bucks, simple electrical wiring installations or repairs are nothing to be scared of if you simply follow some basic safety rules.  After all, 120 volts is nothing to be played with or taken lightly!

While it is true that 120 volts can possibly kill you, it is also true that by following some basic safety rules and techniques, the chances of that happening are highly unlikely.  Now that you feel better, let’s go over the rules for safely handling electrical wiring.
Check the rules set by your local electrical authority regarding permits in your area.  Some jurisdictions allow homeowners to work on their own electrical systems while others restrict the kind of work or work area, such as working on only the branch circuits and nothing larger.  Find out if you need to get a permit or if you are not allowed a permit at all.

While this should go without saying, we will say it anyway…always shut off the power before beginning any electrical wiring work.  You can do this by shutting off the breaker connected to the circuit you would like to work on.  Just about all distribution panels have a diagram or schedule displayed that will let you know which circuit is connected to which breaker, however, you may need to be careful in following these as they may be vague or changes might have been implemented by previous owners.  It may take a little testing to find the right breaker, but it is time well spent.

You can test that the breaker is completely off by using a voltage tester or a lamp or even a radio.  It is easy enough to plug in the meter (or whatever you are using to test it) to the area you are going to be working on and ensuring that there is no power available.  If you are using a lamp or radio, you just turn it on and then turn off the breakers one by one until the appliance also turns off.  Now you will know and can document which breaker controls that particular circuit for the next time.

Depending on what kind of work you are doing and if there are others around while you are working, you may want to consider posting a notice on the service panel so that no one will try to turn the power back on while you are working on the electrical wiring or even better, lock the panel.  Be sure to not restore power until the work has been completed. 

Make sure you NEVER touch the service wires that enter the service panel from the outside.  These 2-3 large wires remain live even if you shut off the main switch or breakers.  You also will not want to work near them with any kind of metal ladder and if you suspect that there is anything wrong or faulty about these wires then do not conduct any electrical wiring work yourself until you have contacted a professional or the power service provider in your area.
 
Again, common sense says to never work with anything electrical while there is water on the floor and to not be wet while you are working on anything electrical.  If there is moisture present and it can’t be helped, then you can put down dry boards or use a rubber mat while working.  You should also use common sense and not touch anything metal while working on electrical wiring.  Be aware of your surroundings and clear the area of anything metal before getting near a live wire. 

It may also help to use tools that have insulated handles.  These are the ones with a rubber or plastic coating and will not conduct the electricity easily if you do happen to touch a live circuit.  Make sure that your shoes have rubber soles or wear sneakers, and safety goggles or glasses are smart to wear while working.

As you complete your work on the electrical wiring, you can turn the power back on and test the work with a voltage tester or a lamp, etc.  But the smartest thing you can do is call a professional if you are not comfortable or feel intimidated by trying to work on electrical wiring yourself.

Joe Buice, a Spalding County Deputy, is recuperating after being shot in the face with an assault rifle January 29, 2010 while on duty in Griffin, Georgia. Deputy Buice has high hopes for a speedy and full recovery. A golf tournament to benefit Joe Buice was held on February 24th at Morgan Dairy Golf Club.

Hammond Services was one of the many sponsors that participated in this community effort.  Hammond also put together a 4-man team for the golf tournament fund-raiser for Deputy Joe Buice. This team from Hammond Services consisted of David Hammond, Bill Ward, Ed Hammond, and Kirk Nixon.

Despite the very cold weather on Wednesday, the golfers and well-wishers showed up in great numbers to show their support for the officer. Joe was presented with a check for $19,000, and it is estimated that the final total was well over $20,000. Our community shows again and again that it strongly supports the men and women who serve to protect and defend us.

About Deputy Buice:
Deputy Buice rejoined the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office a year ago. He is a 25-year law enforcement veteran and a former sheriff in Lamar County. If you would like to contribute, there has been a fund established in his name – Joe Buice Benefit Fund. Please mail all checks to:
c/o Joe Buice Benefit Fund
Spalding County Sheriffs Department
401 Justice Blvd
Griffin GA 30224

If you have some time this weekend, you can save yourself some cash with this toilet replacement project and DIY with a little bit of patience and know how.

If a toilet has become damaged or is overly inefficient, then it is time for a new model that is water responsible.  Toilet replacement can be broken down into three main tasks:  Removal of the old toilet, the removal and replacement of the wax ring and the installation of the new toilet.

There are several types and models available for your new toilet, so be sure to properly research the best kind for your needs.   There are models that are all one piece, but most likely you will need to purchase the base and tank separately.  You will also need to buy the wax ring kit to seal the base to the sewer line.  This kit should include the mounting bolts and the finishing caps that go over the bolts.  You may also want to purchase a cement mixing tub to aide in the removal of the old toilet.  If the water supply valve on the old toilet is damaged or has rust, you should consider replacing it along with the toilet tank hose.

Toilet replacement tools needed are: an adjustable open end wrench or socket wrench, large flat head screwdriver, mini hack saw, disposable plastic scraper, plastic trash bags, paper towels, latex gloves and a utility knife or box cutter. It is also helpful if you have a large sponge to aid in removing water from the toilet tank and bowl.
Remove toilet by turning off the water supply valve and remove lid to the toilet tank.  Flush the toilet to alleviate any water pressure and disconnect the water supply valve hose from the fill valve shank. 

Remove the plastic mounting bolt caps from the base and unscrew the lock nuts holding it to the floor.  You may need to use the mini hack saw to remove the bolt if the threads are stripped or if the bolt is corroded.  Score any caulking around the base of the unit with the utility knife, then position the cement mixing tub close to the base of the toilet and once the bolts are removed, lift with your legs to remove the toilet unit from the floor and place in the plastic tub.

To remove the wax ring, put on latex gloves and have trash bags and paper towels at the ready.  Use the plastic scraper to remove the wax from around the ring, wiping it onto the paper towels and throw the wax away.  Next, use the scraper to pry up the rubber lip of the wax ring and throw it away.  Remove the bolts from the sewer flange and throw those away as well.  Clean up any remaining wax with the scraper and paper towels.  This should render the opening free from just about all wax and any debris.

If there is going to be a delay in toilet replacement from old to new – you can create a plug for the sewer line hole by partly filling a plastic trash bag with some paper towels, wadding it up into a kind of stopper and then plugging the hole.  This will keep most of the gases from the sewer line from entering the house.  Remove the plastic bag stopper before installing the new toilet. 

Be sure to inspect the sewer flange for any damage before toilet replacement continues.  If there is any damage, it will need to be repaired first. The #1 cause of bathroom floor damage is improper installation of toilet flanges and/or defective flanges. If replacing the flange, make sure that it is installed so that it rests on top of the finished floor.

Follow the directions on how to install the wax ring.  Center and adjust the ring as needed into the sewer flange.  Now install the mounting bolts into the guides along the edge of the flange and make sure they are perpendicular.  Place the unit over the wax ring and pass the bolts through the mounting holes on each side of the base.  You should feel the wax ring compress around the toilets drain pipe as you push down to seal it.
Take the plastic finishing washers and install them as directed onto the anchor bolts, properly tightening the bolt to secure the base to the floor, making sure the toilet does not move at all.  You can then trim the bolt to a ¼ inch above the nut with the mini hack saw, covering them with the finishing caps.
 
Now you can install the tank according to the directions and hook up the water tank hose and water supply valve again.  When this is done, you can turn on the water supply valve and allow the tank to fill with water.  Watch for leaks and adjust the water level.  Install the seat and your toilet replacement is complete!

Going “green” saves you even more money! Read this article we found below.

Did you know that if every one who watched Super Sunday had switched to a WaterSense labeled toilet, it would have saved nearly 200 million gallons of water on that in sync half-time flush?
 
Toilets are by far the main source of water use in the home, accounting for nearly 30 percent of an average home’s indoor water consumption. Older, inefficient toilets also happen to be a major source of wasted water in many homes. Replacing these toilets with
WaterSense labeled toilets could save nearly 2 billion gallons per day across the country-that’s nearly 11 gallons per toilet in your home every day!
 
With this Water Savings Calculator you can see yourself, how much water you can save by replacing older, inefficient toilets in your home. Plus, if your home was built before 1994, you may also qualify for a toilet rebate. You will need to verify with your water supplier if any rebates are currently in effect, and criteria for eligibility.

Contact Hammond Services today if you want to save money and water from being flushed down the toilet!