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Posts Tagged ‘Home Inspector’
Monday, January 26th, 2009
My clients demand the very best from their Santa Clarita Home Inspector and Licensed Contractor. I strive everyday to exceed their expectiations. There are many things I do to stay current and keep my clients informed with new products for the home. In the passed year I’ve attend classes at Edison on: Home Energy Savings, Rebates, Solar Power, Lighting, etc. We don’t stop there.. online webinars, symposium for ASNT (Association of Non-Destructive Testing). But one thing stands out above all ..Once a year the NAHB (National Home Builders Association) puts on the “BIG SHOW” the largest building show in the United States. You would not believe the amount of new products for the home. One Million square feet of exhibitor space! Back in 2007 I flew to Orlando and walked over 11 Miles and didn’t get to see 1/5th of the show !
I enjoy visiting the booths and seeing large indoor displays. New products are great but my main interest is Home energy and efficency.

The Highlight of this year was meeting with Tom Silva of “This Old House”.

Celebrating his 22nd year during the 2008-09 season as a proud member of America’s favorite home improvement team, general contractor Tom Silva has provided years of expert advice to home enthusiasts across the country on This Old House He also brings his endless expertise to This Old House’s sister show,Ask This Old House. Tom and I discussed the changes to Home Building Industry, Energy Efficency, and we discussed ways to combat the growing problem of mold. Big manufactures like Ownes-Corning Insulation come to the show, displaying their latest developments in Home Insulation ”Think Pink !”™
If you live in Santa Clarita , you’re living in Climate Zone 10, Pink Panther…errr Owen-Corning says you should have 15″ of insulation. Bad News is the builder in most homes built in the late 80’s only installed 6 to 10″ inches if your lucky.” Improving your level of insulation in your home will lower your utility bill, while improving your comfort. Payback is less than 3 years, and every 3 years after is 100% return on your investment.

As you know we are a Proud EnergyStar Partner. We have great news for Santa Clarita residents, EnergyStar is lauching a newHome Performance program in 2009 for Southern California.

This program will allow for homeowner to get money and Federal Tax credits for energy efficency improvement for their homes. This is not an income quaifying program anyone can apply. With this program CR Construction will come to your home and conduct a whole-house analysis on the home and make a comprehesive list of energy saving recommendations. EnergyStar thru sponsors such as the Energy Commision, will grant money to homeowners to make improvements to homes.
All New articulating kitchen faucets like the Karbon from Kohler and their shower heads that save home owners 5,800 gallons or 30% each year! Over 2.5 showerheads or handshowers.

Kohler has perfected the Bidet with the add on “C3″, this seat can be added to your current toliet. With Heated Seat and retractable self cleaning pulsating water wand.

If toliet seats left in the up position is a hot topic around your home you might want to look into Kohlers “automatic toliet seat” that is watersaving !

Want to save money,water and protect the environment ? Water Optimizer Inc offers a “smart” sprinkler system that uses sensors to determine if the soil needs water. Rather than just overwatering and wasting water that just runs off the lawn and down the drain. This system responds to weather chages, Moisture senssors monitor the soils in indivdual zones, when applied to reclaimed water systems the water optimizer helps utilities manage reclaimed water.

Installing these products pay for themselves in water and energy savings.
Many clients have rooms of the house that are Hot, no mater how long the AC unit runs these rooms never seem to cool off in the summer months. These west and south facing rooms are often times get a large amount of sunlight during the summer months. Attic Foil is your answer.. These foil radiant barriers for attics is nothing new for us, we’ve installed foil for sometime. Helping our clients build homes that reduce energy costs and increase comfort. Ask us about making a hot room more comfortable without spending alot of money.
Okay lets talk about Patio covers and outdoor living spaces Santa Clarita. We have built patio covers from Palmdale to Hasley Canyon.
   
Now available for your one of a kind outdoor livings space is the Tempest Torch.

A gas appliance that swirls a flame that illuminates your patio cover in a very unique way. This glass enclosed unit even provides you with some heat. Now this isn’t something you see everyday!
Tags: Expert, Home Inspector, Home Show, Licensed Contractor, Rebates, Santa Clarita, Solar, This Old House, Valencia Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Sunday, January 4th, 2009
To obtain an application for the Automatic Water Softener Rebate Program, please click the link below. Be sure to complete the application, and sign it prior to mailing. Incomplete applications cannot be processed. The application can be mailed or faxed to (562) 908-4224.
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Rebate Application Form (PDF) (DOC)
Take the Rebate and Run: Up to $2,000 for your Automatic Water Softener
The Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District (Sanitation District) offers an automatic water softener rebate program. If you have an automatic water softener, you can get a rebate for the reasonable value of the unit—from $206 up to $2,000—and free removal by a pre-selected licensed plumber.
Applying for the rebate is simple:
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Submit the one page rebate application to the Sanitation District (forms can be obtained by clicking on the Rebate Application Form link above).
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After receiving your authorization to proceed, which will identify your rebate amount, schedule an appointment with a plumber on the list that accompanies the letter.
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Watch the mail for your check.
As you may be aware, automatic water softeners release a salty waste into the sewer system. Though the wastewater is thoroughly treated before discharge into the Santa Clara River, the treatment process does not remove salt. The salty waste may be harmful to downstream aquatic life and/or agriculture.
If all automatic water softeners are not removed, the Sanitation District will be forced to build an advanced treatment process to take the equivalent salt loading out of the water. These treatment costs have been estimated to be $74 million.
In 2003, the Sanitation District banned the installation of all new automatic water softeners, but four percent of homes in the Valley still own one. This rebate program responds to citizen concerns about losing the capital investment in their softener by reimbursing the reasonable value of the unit based on age, purchase price and model retail rates. The rebate program provides reimbursement for 75 percent of the reasonable value of the automatic water softener.
To qualify for the Automatic Water Softener Rebate Program, the automatic water softener, the kind to which you add rock salt or potassium chloride, must be owned by the rebate program applicant(rentals are not eligible). Portable exchange tanks, which are rental units where the softening tank is exchanged periodically by a service provider for a new softening tank, are legal to use and are not eligible for a rebate. The automatic water softener must be installed in a residential unit (house, multiplex, condominium, apartment, or mobile home) that is served by the Sanitation District. Residences outside of the Sanitation District or served by septic tanks are not eligible. If the residence has more than one automatic water softener, all must be removed to qualify for this rebate program. The program is limited to one rebate per site address (location where the automatic water softener is installed).
As a condition of the Automatic Water Softener Rebate Program, a Sanitation District’s representative is authorized to visit the residence to verify that the automatic water softener is installed prior to removal.
If you would like to dispose of the salt or potassium chloride yourself, it must be disposed of as household hazardous waste. Residents of the City of Santa Clarita may call Curbside Incorporated at (800) 449-7587 or (800) HHW-PKUP to schedule a free household hazardous waste pickup. Residents of unincorporated Los Angeles County may dispose of salt for free at the Saugus Water Reclamation Plant at 26200 Springbrook Avenue in Santa Clarita. At the Saugus Water Reclamation Plant, salt is collected at the Liquid Waste Disposal Station. Enter the station by driving through the railroad crossing located opposite Saugus Suzuki at 26081 Bouquet Canyon Road in Saugus. The station is open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is closed Sunday and major holidays.
All residents may also dispose of salt for free at the annual Santa Clarita Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events and at the East San Fernando Valley S.A.F.E. Collection Center. The East San Fernando Valley S.A.F.E. Center is located at 11025 Randall Street in Sun Valley and is open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. except on major holidays.
If you have additional questions, please call 877-CUT-SALT.
Here are the results of the measure voted on Nov 4th 2008 to remove exsisting Salt based water softners. So now if you have one in your house , even if you were grandfathered in before…you must remove it.
Measure S Removal of Residential “Salt-Based” Water Softeners — Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District (Ordinance - Majority Approval Required)
Pass: 55,502 / 64.02% Yes votes …… 31,192 / 35.98% No votes
| NOTE: If you do not live within the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District, Prop S will NOT be on your Official Ballot. If you are in doubt, please see district map.Prop S will continue to pop up on Smart Voter lists all over L.A. County until the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District has been properly defined in Smart Voter’s database.
Meanwhile, we regret any confusion that has been generated by this oversight. |
To reduce chloride levels in the Santa Clara River as required by the State of California and minimize future rate increases for the customers of the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District of Los Angeles County, shall an ordinance be adopted requiring the removal of, and providing a compensation program for, all installed residential “salt-based” self-regenerating water softeners within the District’s service area? |
Tags: Contractor, Home Inspector, Rebate, Santa Clarita, SCV Approved water softner, SCV water softner, Water, Water softner Posted in Contractor | Comments Off
Monday, December 22nd, 2008
Toxic waste disposal for Santa Clarita Residents is avaliable almost year round.
Santa Clarita real estate agents and residents ask me from time to time ”Where can I get rid of this old paint?”. Often when people are moving, they realize they have a ton of old paint. As you may know, you can’t throw it in the trash. This old paint is consider toxic waste. Here in Santa Clarita Valley we have the “Toxic Round up” twice a year. But what if you missed it?
Santa Clarita’s #1 Contractor has the answer below.
Keep harmful substances out of the environment with the annual Household Hazardous Waste (HHD) Pick up program. City households may receive free door-to-door collections of anitfreeze, car batteries, latex and oil based paints, motor oil and filters. Households have one free pickup every 12 months. For a FREE collection of these items contact Curbside Inc. at (800) HHW-PKUP or (800-449-7587)
BULKY ITEMS
Effective April 17, 2006, all City of Santa Clarita households, who have trash service, are entitled to four bulky item pickups per year with a maximum of three items per pickup at no charge. Please provide Waste Management/Blue Barrel Disposal with at least 48 hours notice in order to have the items picked up on your regular collection day. Waste Management can be reached at (661) 259-2398.
City residents may also dropoff unlimited bulky items at Waste Management’s facility located at 25772 Springbrook Road, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at no charge.
“Bulky Items” means solid waste that cannot and/or would not typically be accommodated within a trash, recycling or greenwaste cart: furniture (including chairs, sofas, mattresses, and rugs); appliances (including refrigerators – with or without Freon and with the doors removed, ranges, washers, dryers, water heaters, water softeners – with salt removel if applicable, dishwashers, plumbing, small household appliances, and other similar items commonly know as “white goods”; electronic equipment (including stereos, televisions, computers, monitors, cellular phones, VCRs, microwaves, and other similar items commonly known as “brown goods” and “ewaste”); residential wastes (including wood waste, tree branches, scrapwood, limited debris from building remodeling, rocks, sod and earth, in the aggregate not exceeding one cubic yard per collection); clothing; and tires. Bulky items do not include car bodies, construction and demolition debris or items requiring more than two persons to remove.
Tags: #1, Contractor, Home Inspector, Santa Clarita, Toxic Roundup, Waste Posted in Contractor | Comments Off
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