First we would like to wish all our past, present, and future customers a Happy New Year. We at
South Hills Electric Heating Cooling hope 2010 finds you well and prosperous.
As you can see from Our South Hills
Electric Heating Cooling homepage we won the 2009 Trib Total Media Readers choice awards for best electrician. This year they
seem to have forgotten the electrician category.( on the website at least) Well the time has come again to vote for your favorite
local Pittsburgh Electricians and Pittsburgh Heating and Cooling Companies. Please cast your vote for us under the Plumber/HVAC and the Heating/AC categories at this link. The small print recommends you fill out your ballot at least half way so please make your vote count.
Thank You
for your continued support from all of us at South Hills Electric.
Pittsburgh, PA - We've
come across something worth mentioning from a local IT company, Phoenix Business Technologies Group in Pittsburgh PA. They've
introduced a very useful Web service appropriately named Community Crier Online. It's a very easy to use Web based public
alert and notification system that can be used by townships, agencies, utilities, non-profits and other organizations to help
improve the communication process between the public, residents, or their constituents. Basically, it makes things a
whole lot easier, smoother and faster for the municipality or agency responsible for delivering notifications while improving
on public service and communication for the residents.
Originally made for the borough of Mt. Lebanon in Pittsburgh
PA, it keeps residents informed and updated when things happen. It's a free public alert system service, and public sign- up for notifications is quick and easy. Residents easily choose the notifications they want, and how they
want to receive them. Plus, options can be changed at any time. Creating and sending the notifications for the municipality
or agency is easy to do, if you can send an email, you can use Community Crier Online.
Community Crier Online delivers
alerts through text messaging, email, RSS subscription, Twitter and telephones. So, if you're one of those mobile types with
a Blackberry, IPhone, or other type of PDA you'll receive alerts through your mobile device no matter where you are. It's
a great tool to help keep the public informed and a great tool to help local governments and agencies save a lot of time and
resources, improve efficiencies, and serve the public better. See for yourself, visit www.communitycrieronline.com .
Please Read Pittsburgh Contractor Reviews and Check References
Please Read Pittsburgh Contractor Reviews and Check References
At South Hills Electric Heating and Cooling
we care deeply about our customers' safety and comfort. We want to provide you with first class service. That has always been
our goal. We encourage you to read the reviews on our site (testimonials page) or on any other site on the Internet. We also
want you to ask us for references. We'd be happy to provide you with them.
When you search for Pittsburgh Electrical contractors or Pittsburgh Heating and Cooling companies, we want you to call us. Beyond that we want you to carry that feeling of trust and comfort long into the future. We know
how hard it is to find qualified service companies. We hear it from new customers daily.
In the interest of helping
you make the best decision possible we encourage you to read customer reviews when searching online for electrical contractors
and heating and cooling companies. We want you to get good service and support at reasonable prices whether you choose us
or not. Of course we'd prefer it if you called us.
A word about online reviews; even the best companies have had
unhappy customers. This is not unusual. However a series of them is not a good sign. Be wary of companies with multiple negative
ratings. Also some companies will write good reviews of themselves to try to mask the bad ones. There are also many websites
dedicated to consumer advocacy on the Internet, check them as well.
Another good tip is to ask for references. After
you search out the companies you wish to entertain bids from, ask for references. Any good company should be able to provide
you with them on the spot.
Call South Hills Electric Heating and Cooling for prompt professional Pittsburgh Heating Cooling
and Electrical service since 1993 at (412)537-0687.
Energy Saving (Green) Pittsburgh Electrical Equipment For Your Home Or Business
Energy Saving (Green) Pittsburgh Electrical Equipment For Your Home Or Business
Pittsburgh,
PA - South Hills Electric, LLC sells and installs green energy
saving electrical products. We are now offering the ECO Power
4 Surge Suppression and Power Factor Correction system. Since 1985 electricity usage has risen 60% and is expected to grow
by an additional 45% by 2030. That's where the ECO Power 4 Surge Suppression and Power Factor Correction system comes in.
Pittsburgh, PA – Winter will be here before we know it. As lifelong
Pittsburgh residents, it seems that our winters are longer than our summers. South Hills Electric, LLC conducts energy audits for residential customers as well as commercial interests. An energy audit is designed to find the
weaknesses in your electrical, heating, and cooling systems and is designed to point out those inefficient systems which are
costing extra money while not providing optimal comfort. We all have utility bills; why not get the maximum out of our dollars.
Energy Star is the authority on greener living
and saving money through investment in electrical, heating, and cooling products for the home or business.
Energy Star says,
“A home energy audit is often the first step in making your home more
efficient. An audit can help you assess how much energy your home uses and evaluate what measures you can take to improve
efficiency. But remember, audits alone don't save energy. You need to implement the recommended improvements. ENERGY STAR
provides extensive information about home improvement projects to enhance energy efficiency, lower utility bills, and increase
comfort.” The full link to the Energy Star page on Energy Audits is here.
Hire a Professional Home Energy Auditor
Although a self done energy audit can be very
beneficial, if you are interested in getting specific recommendations for improving the efficiency of your home, consider
contacting a professional Home Energy Auditor like South Hills Electric, LLC. A professional auditor can use a variety of techniques and equipment to determine the energy efficiency of your home.
Pittsburgh Electricians - Hire a Licensed Pittsburgh Electrician
Hire a Licensed Pittsburgh Electrician
Pittsburgh, PA - Everybody is looking for a bargain these days. When it
comes to your electrical system, what may seem like a bargain might end up costing you money.
Make Sure:
Your
electrician is registered with the Pennsylvania State Attorney General.
You hire a reputable, licensed electrician to perform any work in your home or business.
Your electrician is listed with the Better Business Bureau and carries a
high rating.
Your contractor carries
Worker’s Compensation for all employees.
Your electrical contractor can provide proof of insurance upon request.
That guy in the pickup
that advertises electrical work in Pittsburgh might not be registered, insured, or licensed to perform work in your area.
This could lead to costly permit and electrical code violation issues which could get your power shut off, or worse put your
family and your community at risk.
The Attorney General has a website and a section
dedicated to showing which contractors have registered. Visit this link and enter our HICPA number – PA012126 or our name, South Hills Electric.
How do I check to see if my Pittsburgh
electrical contractor is listed with the Better Business Bureau?
The Better Business
Bureau has a website and a section dedicated to showing which contractors have signed up with them. The BBB has its own set of standards required
to get listed and a ranking of the contractor in question. Here is the link to the South Hills Electric BBB listing.
How do I check to see if my
electrician is licensed to perform work in the City of Pittsburgh?
The list of requirements
to obtain the City of Pittsburgh Electrical License is at http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/bbi/html/electrical_contractors_license.html as well as the phone number (412)255-2160 to call to see if your
electrical contractor is licensed in the City of Pittsburgh. South Hills Electric, LLC is licensed in the City of Pittsburgh
to perform electrical work. City of Pittsburgh License #EL04676
All three of the
above standards require a rigorous set of requirements, and that costs money. However, can you risk having Joe electrician
do the job on the cheap? How much do you save by having Joe do your electrical work? Nothing. Hire an electrical contractor
who is licensed, certified, registered and insured – South Hills Electric, LLC.
Did you know?
1 – The state of Pennsylvania passed the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act of 2009 on July 1, 2009.
See our post on the HICPA ACT of 2009 and learn more about your rights as a consumer. While we had hoped this law would be more highly publicized, it was not.
That may come in time and we would welcome it. We believe educating our customers is good business.
2 – South Hills Electric, LLC, is a licensed Pittsburgh electrical company. This means we have taken the time to educate our employees as to the proper design and installation of all electrical service
requirements of the City of Pittsburgh, PA
3 - All electrical
work is required to be inspected by a local authority. Because of the differing requirements of all these entities, we cannot
list them all here. Check with your local city or municipality for licensing and permit requirements.
4 – In all of our years of experience we have only been asked to provide proof of insurance a few times. Please
make sure your electrical contractor has insurance and Workman’s Compensation for their employees before you sign anything.
5 – We would be happy to provide you with a list of references for
any of our work. Just ask us.
6. – South Hills Electric, LLC also conducts
Energy Audits.
Contact us at the South Hills Electric Pittsburgh Electricians website or just call (412)537-0687 with any questions you may have. We would be happy to serve you.
A Consumer's Guide to the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act
A
Consumer’s Guide to the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act
On July 1st 2009, Pennsylvania residents were given a strong piece of legislation to protect them against
contractor fraud; the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act or HICPA. As this new law directly affects our
business and our customers, we have thoroughly reviewed this document and abided by all of its rules. We will attempt to run
down some of the key points to educate you against such activities.
The law requires that all contractors who perform at least $5,000 worth of home improvements per year register
with the Attorney General's Office.
As
of July 1, 2009, consumers in Pennsylvania will be able to verify contractor registration with the office of the
Attorney General by visiting their website at http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/hiccon.aspx?id=4502 or by calling their toll-free hotline at 1-888-520-6680. (We have called this number and checked the link to their
website and they are both valid.)
For more helpful information
in selecting a contractor, go to the List of Registered Contractors section of their website. We are also listed here.
Now down to the teeth
of this new law.
Contractors
are required to complete a new registration every two years.
Registration Requirements: An individual, general partnership, corporation, Limited Liability Company and
limited partnership all have relatively the same registration requirements. An applicant must provide: names, home
addresses, telephone numbers, driver's licenses numbers, social security numbers, and all prior business names and
addresses of the home improvement businesses operated by the individual or each partner, officer, manager, etc.
HICPA provides that the personal information of the contractor shall not be disclosed to the public, and a home address
and telephone number will only be released to the public if the contractor uses home contact information for the
business.
HICPA also requires
each applicant, whether it is an individual or a company, to provide a complete description of the nature of the business
and provide a statement which lists whether he or the company has ever been convicted of a criminal offense relating
to a home improvement transaction, fraud, theft, deception or fraudulent business practices. Furthermore, each applicant
must disclose any final civil judgments entered against it relating to a home improvement transaction in the last 10
years, or whether it has ever filed for bankruptcy.
HICPA also requires an applicant to disclose whether a certificate or similar license issued by another
state or township was revoked or suspended by a court. This provision of HICPA extends to any other business in which
the applicant has ever had an interest, and is not limited to a home improvement business. In addition, an applicant
must inform the Bureau whether they are registered in another state, and if any disciplinary action has occurred
in that state
HICPA also mandates
that all contractors obtain and provide proof of liability insurance covering personal injury and insurance for property
damage in a minimum amount of $50,000.
Once a contractor has complied with all of the registration requirements, paid the $50 fee and obtained
its registration certificate, its work is still not done. Based on the requirements of HICPA, a contractor will in all
likelihood be forced to rewrite all of its contracts prior to July 2009. This is definitely the case as the Contractors
License Number and the Consumer number for the Office of the Attorney General are now mandatory on all contracts.
We encourage you
to investigate your contractors thoroughly. The state plans to publicize this law as the days and weeks move on. We look forward
to working with you at South Hills Electric, LLC.
Pittsburgh Air Conditioning - Goodman Heating and Cooling - South Hills Electric, LLC
Goodman Air Conditioning Sales and Service – Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh, PA – South Hills Electric, LLC is an authorized dealer of Goodman Heating and Cooling Products in Pittsburgh, PA. We pride ourselves on providing our customers
with high-quality products and professional service. Heating, Cooling, and Electrical services are our specialties.
We’ve become one of the largest manufacturers of residential air conditioning and heating
products by focusing on just one thing—building the most reliable and refreshingly affordable residential and commercial cooling
and heating products in the market. The complete line of Goodman® brand products are built on the principals
of founder Harold Goodman, a former air conditioning contractor.
Harold’s goal was to manufacture air conditioning and heating
equipment that:
Provides industry leading product warranties
Offers greater reliability and longer-lasting performance
than competing products
Is designed
for quick, trouble-free installations
Makes
reliable cooling and heating as affordable as possible.
Building our products to Harold’s standards, and protecting those products with some of the
best warranties in the industry, has helped to make the Goodman brand recognized as a leading brand in the residential
and commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry today.”
“From the beginning, Harold was dedicated to building HVAC equipment that performed reliably, lasted a long time
and solved many of the problems contractors encountered in the design of other companies’ equipment. The philosophies
he used to guide his company were simple:
High quality at low cost equals value
Maintain low overhead
Invest money normally spent on advertising and promotions in research and development, which
translates to high quality at a low cost for the consumer
Create products that are
engineered for reliable long life, utilizing the best components with some of the lowest failures rates in the industry
Our belief of offering some of the best warranties in the marketplace.
These same principals guide Goodman today. We remain focused
on providing high-quality products at an affordable price, and protecting them with what we believe to be some of the best
warranties in the industry. This clear focus has led to Goodman’s being a leading unit manufacturer of residential and
commercial heating and air conditioning products in North America.
Today Goodman is the value leader in HVAC products--all
due to Harold Goodman's vision. In the words of the Goodman brand's tagline, "Thank Goodness for Goodman."
South Hills Electric, LLC – Heating, Air Conditioning, and Electrical has been installing Goodman products for 16 years and we stand by our products and service. We offer a 2 year labor warranty
on our work. (Twice the industry standard) We couldn’t afford to offer you this without the faith that we are installing
the best products for you.
Pittsburgh Electrical Equipment Protection For Your Home Or Business - Part 4
Pittsburgh, PA - South Hills Electric, LLC in its endless pursuit
to bring you the most cutting edge electrical and energy saving products now offers the ECO Power 4 Surge Suppression and
Power Factor Correction system. Since 1985 electricity usage has risen 60% and is expected to grow by an additional 45% by
2030. That's where the ECO Power 4 Surge Suppression and Power Factor Correction system comes in.
Electrical Equipment Protection For Your Home Or Business - Part 3
Don’t overload circuits. Connecting too many electrical
plugs into a single outlet can be very hazardous. Too many desktop computers, TVs, lights, and fans connected to a single circuit can easily overpower the electrical supply as well. Splitting outlets (using power
strips, surge protectors, and UPS devices), of course, does
nothing but multiply the power demands placed upon the circuit to which those outlets are connected.
Placing excessive demands upon a circuit can result in intermittent
power failures, wide variations in available electricity, and even
fire hazards as overworked circuits exceed safe operating ranges. As home and office power requirements have increased, your
wiring has stayed the same. Wiring deteriorates over time and
becomes less able to handle modern loads. Carefully research your home
or office’s power requirements to make sure the site’s electricity requirements are sufficient.
Several resources are available for helping estimate appropriate power
levels, but we recommend contacting South hills Electric, LLC
at (412)537-0687 or by email at patcray@southhillselectric.com for an evaluation of your electrical service and the wiring in your home or business.
Electrical Equipment Protection For Your Home Or Business - Part 2
Confirm that supply circuits are grounded properly. Surge protectors and UPS devices can’t properly safeguard the sensitive
hardware they’re designed to protect if the electrical outlets they’re plugged in to aren’t properly grounded.
Ground wiring is responsible for diverting most power surges. When ground wiring is compromised, surges don’t have an
effective suppression path. Heating systems, air-conditioning systems, personal computers, plasma televisions, and stereo
equipment can subsequently suffer significant damage.
Qualified
electricians are trained to install wiring according to the National Electrical Code which specifies all circuits must be
properly grounded. Many UPS and surge protector models will light a warning lamp if the outlet into which they’re plugged
into isn’t properly grounded. Most do-it-yourself and hardware stores also sell inexpensive circuit testers that are
simply plugged in to outlets to confirm that circuits are grounded properly. Call South Hills Electric, LLC at (412)537-0687
to test your circuits for proper wiring and grounding.
Whenever
deploying new equipment, be sure to first test the circuit. When using surge protectors or UPS devices that feature improper-grounding
alarms, also verify that the alarm light isn’t lit. Once again call South Hills Electric, LLC at (412)537-0687 for all
your electrical needs.
Electrical Equipment Protection For Your Home Or Business - Part 1
For the purpose of this post, the term electrical equipment applies
to computer systems, televisions, home theater systems, microwaves, and anything with a circuit board in it including modern
furnaces and air conditioners.
Most electrical equipment is designed to use 120 volts of AC power supplied at
60 hertz. Electrical current provided by a local utility however can vary from that standard significantly.
When deploying new systems and protecting existing electrical equipment be sure the local power grid continues providing
proper electrical baselines. Both sags and surges adversely affect electrical components and can lead to subsequent failure
of the equipment.
2009 Stimulus Package and Energy Tax rebate Information
How has the new Stimulus bill affected the tax credits for energy
efficient home improvements?
On February 17, 2009,
President Obama signed a stimulus bill (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) that made some significant changes
to the energy efficiency tax credits. The highlights are:
* The tax credits that were previously effective for 2009, have been extended to 2010 as well. * The
tax credit has been raised from 10% to 30%. * The tax credits that were for a specific dollar amount
(ex $300 for a CAC), have been converted to 30% of the cost. * The maximum credit has been raised
from $500 to $1500 for the two years (2009–2010).
However, some improvements such as geothermal heat pumps,
solar water heaters, and solar panels are not subject to the $1,500 maximum.
Tax Credits for Consumers:
Home Improvements
Tax credits are now available for home improvements:
* must be "placed in service" from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010
* must be for taxpayers principal residence * maximum amount is $1,500 in 2009 & 2010 for most
home improvements (geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, fuel cells, and windmills are not subject to
this cap) * for record keeping, save your receipts and the Manufacturer Certification Statement(detailed
below), OR for windows, you can save the ENERGY STAR label from your new windows * improvements made
in 2009 will be claimed on your 2009 taxes (filed by April 15, 2010) — use IRS Tax Form 5695 (2009 version) —
it will be available late 2009 or early 2010
A
Manufacturer’s Certification is a signed statement from the manufacturer certifying that the product or component qualifies
for the tax credit. The IRS encourages manufacturers to provide these Certifications on their website to facilitate identification
of qualified products. Taxpayers must keep a copy of the certification statement for their records, but do not have to submit
a copy with their tax return.
When it comes to your home, you want the best work at
a fair price. Don't let price be the final deciding point, however. Professional service and work means using the
best materials and the best technicians, these cost money. We receive "no heat" calls all the time from customers
who have had substandard work performed by fly-by-night heating guys. Please call us first. It saves you money and heartache,
and we'd be glad to serve you.
Visit our home page for
the PROOF POSITIVEPittsburgh Electricians | Pittsburgh Heating and Cooling | South Hills Electric link to prove that heat
pumps save money. After installation of a Goodman heat pump in my own home, my bill was reduced dramatically. Just
click on the link on the South hills Electric homepagePittsburgh Electricians | Pittsburgh Heating and Cooling | South Hills Electric to see the dramatic effect a heat
pump had on my gas bill. Look specifically at the usage difference between December of 2007 and December of 2008. It was colder this year and i used
.05 CCF on average per day this year as opposed to 11
CCF last year. That's 1/22 of the gas. Pretty impressive
results. Call South Hills Electric, LLC today at (412)537-0687 to speak with someone who can give you all the details on getting
your heat pump installed!
Get your smokies! NEC code requires that newly constructed homes have
one smoke detector at each level of the home plus one smoke detector in each bedroom and wired together in series. Wouldn't
it be nice if everyone that owned an older home could have have the benefit of hard-wired smoke detectors? Unfortunately,
this can be costly. A less expensive alternative can be achieved by locating battery operated smoke detectors where their
hard-wired counterparts would be. Call us at (412) 537-0687 to inquire about fire prevention solutions that fit all your needs.
South Hills Electric, LLC is committed to educating its customers on the current code requirements and best practices for
safety and fire prevention. For more information on fire prevention visit http://www.nfpa.org/index.asp
South Hills Electric, LLC is always looking
for ways to save our customers money. Installing high efficiency heating and cooling equipment can save hundreds of dollars
per year. These new furnaces and air conditioners literally pay for themselves while giving you the comfort of knowing you
have new equipment that is covered with one of the best product gaurantees on the market.
In addition to these
benefits, the high efficiency products available now are more environmentally sound, using less energy and thus reducing your
carbon footprint. As if all that was not enough reason to consider making a decision to install a new furnace and/or air conditioning
unit, the federal government has signed the energy tax credit into law for 2009. (See http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits) Call South Hills Electric, LLC at (412) 537-0687
to set up your consultation today.
From our family to yours, have a happy and safe holiday season.
Just a friendly reminder, please double check ALL HOLIDAY lighting as it is statistically shown that electrical fires
are more prone to happen during the holiday season. If you have a question as to the safety of any electrical device,
do not use it. Consider updating old lighting with newer energy efficient LED style lighting. This lighting
has been showing to be more durable, energy efficient and an all around better value. What price peace of mind?
Welcome To the South Hills Electric Weblog - Hiring a Licensed Contractor
We would like to start our first blog by discussing the importance
of hiring a licensed professional electrical contractor. I can't tell you how many times I've been called to fix shoddy
and unsafe electrical work installed by the handyman masquerading as an electrician. These licenses are not a joke. They insure
that the work is being completed by someone trained in the aspects of code and safety. Tell us what you think.
