June 2020

Even the best heating & air conditioning units need repairs & maintenance at some point. As a homeowner, you should have the number of a reliable HVAC contractor on your speed dial at all times. In the service industry, every company claims to be better than others, and it is often hard to select one. In this post, we are sharing five pointers that you must consider while looking for an HVAC maintenance service.

1. Credentials

You would be surprised to know that many HVAC companies are neither licensed, nor do they have a team of repairmen and technicians. First things first, check if the company or local service is licensed, and if they are insured. Repairing heating & cooling units, cleaning airducts, and replacing parts are risky jobs, and if one of their workers is injured, you wouldn’t want to pay for the medical bills. Also, check if the HVAC is a member of local or state bodies, where applicable.

2. Experience

How long has the company been in business? This is a very basic question but tells a lot about an HVAC contractor. As a new client, you can also decide to ask for references. Call up a few of their clients to know more, or check on Google to find independent reviews. Always select a contractor you can rely on.

3. Response time

If your HVAC unit suddenly stops working, you don’t want to wait for days for get it repaired. For most heating & cooling issues, immediate help is expected, and it is best to check the response time of a service. Many HVAC contractors have emergency numbers, and even though they may charge more to attend a call in such times, you can expect prompt response.

4. Estimates

Fair and transparent pricing is another aspect that matters for selecting HVAC contractors. Check if the concerned company is ready to give a quote for the job in advance – regardless of whether it is about indoor air testing, or replacing the air filters. For certain selected repair and replacement jobs, you can expect a warranty too.

5. In-house expertise

Ask the HVAC contractor about the brands, models and systems they deal in, and if they have an in-house team of workers, repairmen and experts. Their workers should be bonded, insured, trained, and experienced for taking up HVAC repair and maintenance jobs.

Finally, do ask if they can offer a yearly maintenance contract, so that you can avoid expensive repairs.

When it comes to gardening, everyone talks about the importance of soil quality. After all, the growth of your gardens or containers, depend on how healthy and nourishing your soil is. However, did you know that the key to quality soil and thereby beautiful lawns and gardens depend on what you add to the soil?

Yes, there are many different materials specifically designed to ensure soil health. Here we have discussed the 3 most commonly used – Potting Mix, Compost and Topsoil. Keep on reading to understand how they work, and how they are not one and the same thing…

Potting Mix

Usually, potting mixture is made from organic material, inorganic materials, sand and mineral soil. However, they are even altered to suit the needs of particular plants. To spread the mixture, it is recommended to depend on epandeur a terreau, rather than doing it manually.

On the other hand, if you wish to buy a fully organic potting mixture, make sure you check the label and look for terms – OMRI or organic. Furthermore, it is important to keep in mind that potting mixes should be only used for indoor or outdoor containers, and not gardens and lawns. They are not meant for in-ground gardens, where one can walk on cultivated ground.

Compost

Compost is one of the most common materials added to the soil. It is mostly made using organic material and is packed with numerous benefits. Adding compost to clay soil will enhance aeration and drainage, whereas when added to sandy rocky soils, it helps in increasing nutrient and water retention. Overall compost feeds your plants and soil microorganisms to ensure strong growing foundation.

Compost can be used to topdress lawns, as a material in potting mixture, or for mulching houseplants. However, growing plants directly in compost is not recommended.

Topsoil

Topsoil is ideal for creating raised planting beds as well as improve existing soil quality. It is the topmost portion in a lawn or garden right beneath your feet. Topsoil ensures that there is better biological activity, microorganisms and insects in the soil which reduces compaction and enhances soil health.

The upper layer of soil, i.e. topsoil, is mostly harvested by companies dealing in topsoil. Unfortunately, the leftover lower level is sold as topsoil as well, but it contains sand, clay and lime in higher quantities.

No matter what you buy – potting mix, compost or topsoil, it is important to research them well before you purchase. This might take some time, but it will surely prove beneficial in long run. Also, to ensure that you purchase the right type of spreaders and other gardening machineries, contact ecolawnapplicator.com.