S P E C I A L
H O M E
C O M F O R T
I S S U E
HOME LIVING FALL/WINTER
www.RBclimate.com
2014
Winter is just around the corner Now is the best time to buy a new Ruud heating system
Steak T-bones give you the best of both
Up to
$1200 CashBack
worlds. We’ve got some great rubs and sauces to take your grilling to the next level
on a New Ruud System
FOR THE FRIENDS AND CUSTOMERS OF
R&B Climate Control 803-547-2055
Welcome to Home Living Welcome to the fall 2014 issue of Home Living, the magazine that provides homeowners across the country with recipes, lifestyle articles, home health tips and, home comfort. The new rage seems to be rubs. There’s rubs for chicken, pork and now we’ve provided some rubs for your steaks. As the weather cools off, it’s a perfect time to fire up the grill and we hope our tips on cooking the perfect steak will come in handy. Depending on where you live, fall and winter can have very different impacts. For those in southern states with warmer climates, it’s often a time to open the windows and turn off your air conditioner. For those in more moderate climates, it may be time to see if your heat pump is working properly for those cold snaps that always come unexpectedly in December and January. Homeowners in colder climates have a lot more to worry about. A broken furnace during a blizzard can mean days without heat and single-digit temperatures outside. For those in the northeast and mountain states, it’s vital that they get their furnace checked before the winter bears down. If your system is more than 10 years old, you really need to consider a replacement, not just for energy savings but also for peace of mind. Please take times to read through our recipes and home advice. You probably will want to keep Home Living through the season just in case you have a need for a highly-qualified heating and cooling company!
CONTENTS
FALL/WINTER 2014
INSTANT CASHBACK REBATE
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STEAK
Steaks are great all year ‘round and rubs are the rage. Great tips on making the perfect steak.
See how your Ruud contractor can save you up to $1,200 on a qualifying Ruud cooling and heating system.
HEALTHY LIVING
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Without the right air filters and cleaners allergens and bacteria can spread throughout your whole house. Good filters and installing a UV light in your new or current system is a great way to protect your family all year long.
DidYouKnow
Easy ways to lower your energy bills from replacing some light bulbs to finding pesky leaks
Home Living PUBLISHER William Sabo DESIGNER KZ Creative
STAFF WRITERS David V. King Beth Burcham Bill Reid
All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the express permission of the publisher. Published by: Private Label Media Partners, 709 State Street New Orleans, LA 70118. Phone 877-618-6626.
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How to find local utility rebates & incentives Heating and cooling bills too high? You’re not alone. According to the ENERGY STAR program, homeowners of a typical single home can expect to pay approximately $2,200 for their annual energy bill. Even though there are energy savings with new heating or cooling systems, the up-front price can be daunting. The good news is a number of local utilities and even municipalities are offering homeowners rebate programs to help lower these up-front costs. Here are some helpful ways to find out about rebates and tax credits: • Ask your Ruud contractor what is available in your city and state. • Start by reviewing the Database of State Incentives for Renewable EnergyTM (www.dsireusa.org). This comprehensive website gives an overview of a number of savings opportunities for all 50 states and U.S. territories. • Check with your utility providers. Do you usually throw away those inserts that come with your power or gas bills? Read them first! They often give good information on rebates offered by the utility. Most utilities also have sections for incentives on their websites, so you can go online for more information too. • Look at what the manufacturer has to say. If you’re shopping for a new heating or cooling system, visit the manufacturer’s website. Ruud’s website, for instance, gives helpful information on the Federal Tax Credit as well as its CashBack program. Just a few minutes of online research could help you save big on your next HVAC purchase!
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BIG COMFORT Rebates
The Ruud Consumer CashBack offer means big savings for you! By combining the new Ruud Consumer CashBack instant money back program with local rebates, homeowners could save $1,500 or more off a hew heating and cooling system. Ruud is offering up to $1,200 in money back on qualifying systems. Filing is simple: there is no paperwork for the homeowner to fill out. Everything is submitted online by your Ruud contractor. At the time of the sale, the home owner’s rebate will be subtracted from the purchase price.
The extra savings provided by the Ruud Consumer CashBack program and federal tax credit can be combined to allow homeowners to upgrade to high-efficiency HVAC systems. The Ruud offer is good now until November 14th, 2014 so don’t wait!
Ruud.com
SWING RIGHT INTO COOLER WEATHER
The New Ruud 90%+ Gas Furnace
Rely on Ruud™ Ease back into falling temperatures with Ruud’s 90%+ Gas Furnace, a great choice for homeowners who demand quality and value. Its high efficiency features keep utility bills low without sacrificing the legendary Ruud comfort.
Visit Ruud.com/Furnace to find an authorized Ruud contractor to discuss your family’s comfort needs before winter arrives this year.
GRILL UP
AN INCREDIBLE STEAK T-Bones - The best of both worlds
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Ruud.com
uite possibly the ultimate steak, the T-bone embodies the rich blend of varied beef flavors that steak lovers crave, from tender and mild to bold and beefy. On one side of the T-bone is the filet mignon. French for “dainty fillet,” the filet mignon is considered the most tender cut, with a mild beef flavor. On the other side of the T-bone is the strip loin or New York strip, a firm, robust steak that is naturally marbled and offers a bold taste. The bone itself also provides additional flavor in the cooking process. With this pairing of tastes, it is no surprise that the T-bone is considered to be “the best of both worlds” by steak connoisseurs.
Ten Tips for Perfect
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Clean and preheat your grill on high.
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Lightly oil everything before you put it on the grill. This helps the searing process and prevents sticking.
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Season your food before grilling.
Sear the outside of steaks when grilling. This really helps with the flavor and juiciness.
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Use tongs or a spatula to turn your meat on the grill. Using a fork can damage the meat.
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Cover your grill as much as possible during the grilling process. This helps to lock in the grilled flavor and will help prevent flare-ups.
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Grilling
Keep a spray bottle with water handy to douse any unexpected flare-ups.
Use the 60/40 grilling method. Grill for 60 percent of the time on the first side, then grill 40 percent of the time after you turn over the food. This will give you an evenly cooked product. Place your cooked product on a clean plate. Never place cooked product on the plate you used to transport the raw product to the grill without thoroughly washing it first.
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Allow your foods to “rest” for 5 minutes between cooking and eating. This will help them retain moisture when you cut into them.
Continued of page 14
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Money Matters Repairing not Replacing–
When it Makes the Most Sense
Knowing when it’s Time to Replace your HVAC System As the seasons change, it’s important to know where you stand with your heating or cooling system. There’s nothing worse than having an air conditioner stop working on a muggy summer day, or having your furnace putter out on a cold January night. Before you run into any surprise repairs, start by closely evaluating if you may need to replace your system at the start of the season. Thinking it might be time to replace your system? Ask yourself these questions.
4Is your system 10 years old or older? 4Does it require frequent repairs? 4Does it fail to heat or cool certain
areas of your home? If you answered yes to one or more of the questions, you may need to consider replacing your system. Here’s why you’ll want to go forward with a new HVAC purchase: • You can reduce your energy bills. A new, ENERGY STAR-qualified furnace is 15 percent more efficient than a conventional furnace, and a new, ENERGY STAR-qualified air conditioner is 30 percent more efficient than one that’s 12 years old or more. Upgrading to more efficient models will lead to immediate savings. • You’ll save time on technician visits. Newer systems have much more advanced features and diagnostics. If a service issue arises in the future, your technician will have better information at his fingertips so that he can diagnose your problem faster.
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4Does it run excessively? 4Or, does it constantly turn on and off? 4And, finally, have your noticed any unusually high utility bills? • You can take advantage of federal tax credits. In 2013, homeowners can receive up to $300 in federal tax credits for the purchase of a high-efficiency air conditioner or electric heat pump, and $150 in tax credits for the purchase of a high-efficiency furnace. Check out www.Ruud.com/TaxCredit for more information.
When it’s time to start the buying process, contact a reputable contractor—like the one on the cover of this magazine. It is imperative that a technician visit your home to determine a new system that is correctly sized with the right humidity control features included. Taking this important step means you’ll have the best system for your home.
New isn’t always better. If you run into a service issue this fall or winter, it doesn’t mean that you’ll have to replace your system. In a lot of circumstances, it makes the most sense to repair instead—especially if you’re working with a trusted HVAC contractor. Here’s when you’ll want to repair your system: • If it’s under warranty. If the product is under warranty, then there’s no reason not to repair it. You’ll have to pay for the contractor’s labor costs for the visit, but it’s much more affordable than replacing the unit. • If you’ve consistently maintained the system. Do you hire a contractor for a seasonal tuneup? Do you change your air filters regularly? Taking care of your HVAC system means you’ll not only have fewer service calls, but when one does happen, you can be pretty sure that it’s just a one-time fix. • If it’s not an old clunker. If your system is less than 10 years old, then it’s probably not time to replace it just yet. Think about your HVAC system like your car. As you gather more and more miles on your car, you may run into a needed repair. It doesn’t mean you sell your car, right? The same principle applies to your HVAC system. Be sure to alert your contractor to any service issues right away so that he can quickly start solving your concern and get your family back into a comfortable environment.
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What customers are saying about R&B Climate Control
It was a pleasure doing business with an honest company for a change. They went above and beyond the call of duty to give me service which was excellent. I have
R & B are a pleasure to work with. A repairman early for an appointment? Unheard of until I scheduled an appointment to have our gas pack serviced with R & B. Thank you!
purchased a maintenance contract and will continue to do business with R&B I have recommended them to family and friends. Everyone I had contact with at R&B was friendly helpful and courtious a very real pleasure.
Jimmy got my heat working in a timely manner and was very helpful. The pricing was affordable. I will definitely be using them in the future and recommending their services to all of my friends.
R&B Climate Control has worked exclusively on my heating and AC equipment for about four years. They service my systems twice a year and have replaced a gas pack for my first floor area. They are punctual ( calling and emailing before coming to the house ), very responsive to phone calls and professional in completing their work. I have recommended them to several of my friends and neighbors and plan to retain them for future needs. I would rate them an A+ company.
Call R&B Climate Control today for a free in-home estimate. (803) 547-2055 Our fall service and inspection includes: • • • • • • • • •
Check your defrost timer Check your Reversing Valve Secure all panels Auxillary heat strips Heat exchange and burners Flue pipe checked for corrosion and leaks Record temperatures for future maintenance All safety controls checked for functionality Pilot light and all gas lines inspected for leaks
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Fall HVAC Tune-Up $88 For first unit. Each additional unit is additional cost.
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Ancho Chile Rubbed Grilled T-Bones Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Total time: 15 minutes
15
minutes
4 T-bone steaks 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 tablespoons Ancho Chile Rub (see recipe below) 12 grilled tri-color sweet baby peppers Preheat grill to medium. Thaw and blot dry steaks. Brush steaks with olive oil. Generously cover both sides of steaks with Ancho Chile Rub by dipping them in rub. Continue until steaks are completely covered. Place steaks on heated grill and grill to desired doneness. (For a medium-rare steak, grill approximately 8 minutes on first side and 6 to 7 minutes on second side.) Remove steaks from grill and garnish with grilled tri-colored sweet baby peppers.
Ancho Chile Rub
Makes: 4 tablespoons 1 tablespoon smoked paprika 2 teaspoons sea salt 2 tablespoons ancho chile powder 1 teaspoon brown sugar Combine all ingredients and mix well.
Grilled T-Bones with Spicy Tabasco and Roquefort Cheese Butter Prep time: 15 minutes, plus 4 hours refrigerator time Cook time: 15 minutes Total time: 4 hours and 30 minutes
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4 T-bones steaks Steak seasoning, or salt and pepper, to taste 4 slices (1 1/2-inch coins) Tabasco and Roquefort cheese butter (see recipe below) 2 tablespoons minced chives
Preheat grill to medium. Season both sides of steaks with seasoning, or salt and pepper. Grill steaks to desired doneness. (For medium-rare steak, grill approximately 8 minutes on first side and 6 to 7 minutes on second side.) Just before removing steaks from grill, place butter slice on each steak. The idea is to have butter half melted on top as you are serving steaks. Garnish each steak with sprinkle of minced chives.
Tabasco and Roquefort Cheese Butter
4 ounces unsalted butter, softened 4 ounces Roquefort blue cheese, crumbled 3 tablespoons Tabasco sauce 1/4 cup fresh chives, minced 2 tablespoons fresh garlic, minced 1 roasted red pepper, peeled, seeded and diced 1 teaspoon kosher salt Whip butter slightly in mixer. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Transfer mixture to sheet of parchment paper. Roll into tube (approximately 1 1/2-inch diameter) and twist paper at the ends.
Refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours. When ready to It alian serve, slice into coins as needed. Unused butter can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Roasted Pepper Pesto Rubbed Grilled T-Bones Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Total time: 45 minutes 4 T-bone steaks 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 cup steak seasoning, or salt and pepper 1 recipe roasted pepper pesto (see recipe below) 4 fresh basil sprigs Preheat grill to medium. Brush steaks with olive oil and season with seasoning, or salt and pepper. Brush both sides of
steaks with Roasted Pepper Pesto. Place steaks on grill and cook to desired doneness. (For a medium-rare steak about 8 minutes on first side and 6 to 7 minutes on second side.) When steaks are finished, brush both sides one final time with pesto. Serve steaks with dollop of unused pesto in center of each and garnish with fresh basil sprig.
Roasted Pepper Pesto
Makes: approximately 2 cups 1 cup roasted red peppers, peeled, seeded and chopped 1/4 cup garlic cloves, peeled 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 cup olive oil Combine all ingredients except olive oil in food processor or blender, and puree until smooth. Next, add oil slowly in food processor until completely combined.
R&B Climate Control home magazine now online! You can now find Home Living on your home computer, tablet or mobile device. Clip recipes or articles for yourself or share with friends. Visit our website at www.RBClimate.com or our Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/rbclimate
Heat Pumps: A Smart Choice for South Carolina Homeowners If you live in an area where mild winters are the norm, a heat pump just might be for you.
Heat pumps are the most efficient form of electric heating in moderate climates. Because they move heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can provide equivalent space conditioning at as little as one quarter of the cost of operating conventional heating or cooling appliances. Heat pumps are typically used to pull heat out of the air to heat a home, but they can be reversed to cool a home too. In a way, if you know how an air conditioner works, then you already know a lot about how a heat pump works. This is because heat pumps and air conditioners operate in a very similar way. The most efficient heat pump options feature two stages of operation. For most two-stage designs, the heat pump will primarily operate on a “low” setting, which can keep the home comfortable while reducing energy consumption.
Warmer climates (shown here in red and orange) are the best candidates for heat pumps.
When it’s necessary, the system will then kick into a “high” setting, but it reserves this for peak weather conditions like hot summer days or cold nights. Talk to your Ruud contractor to learn about which heat pump design will work best for your home.
Living in an area like South Carolina you can save energy costs installing a new Ruud high efficency heat pump available at R&B Climate Control at 803-5472055
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Is the AIR in your house making your family sick? E
PA studies show that even in the smoggiest cities, the air inside most modern homes is usually at least ten times more polluted than the air outside. That’s why many homeowners are upgrading their heating and cooling filtration system and installing UV lights to protect their families from a wide range of containments. Hospitals and other healthcare buildings have used UV lights for years. Now that technology can be ordered with a new HVAC system or retrofitted into an older system. The cost ranges from about $500 to $700. Modern homes are energy efficient, and built to be as air-tight as possible. The consequence is that stale air, laced with odors, chemicals, irritants – even minuscule insects – often becomes trapped in homes, where it circulates over and over. This can lead to:
Installing an ultra violet light in your current or new system can help reduce bacteria in the air and the allergens that grow inside your HVAC system. By using UV lamps, particles and germs are destroyed and prevented from being recirculated to the air in your home. For cleaner air trust an Ultraviolet Treatment System from Ruud.
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• Eye irritation • Sinus congestion • Sneezing, runny nose, • Colds, flu • Headaches, dizziness • Allergies • Asthma • Sore throats • And various other respiratory ailments. Your Ruud contractor can show you solutions from better filters to installing Ultra Violet (UV) lights on nearly any new or existing central HVAC system.
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Did You Know... Old HVAC systems throw money out of the window If your furnace or AC is more than 10 years old, you should consider replacing it with an energy-efficient system. A new system would greatly reduce your energy consumption, especially if the existing equipment is in poor condition. In today’s tough economic times, many might think about just patching their system to get through another season, but being penny wise will mean being dollar foolish down the road. New systems that provide two-stage systems will not only lower your heating and cooling bills but will provide a much better comfort level in your home. Also, you can significantly reduce costly service calls for the next 5-10 years. Local rebates and incentives can really help offset the investment to a higher-efficiency system. Not only will you be more comfortable with a new system, it will likely reduce your heating and cooling costs 35% to 50%.
Tune it or lose it "Tune-up" your heating and A/C system with an annual maintenance contract. Even a new system, like a new car, will decline in performance without regular maintenance. A contract automatically ensures that your Ruud contractor will provide "pre-season" tune-ups before each cooling and heating season. You save energy and money, and your system may last years longer with minimal costs for yearly maintenance fees.
Staying off a ladder might be biggest benefit of the energy efficient light bulbs Upgrading 15 of your old inefficient incandescent light bulbs could save you about $50 per year. Energy-efficient light bulbs such as halogen incandescents, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), and light emitting diodes (LEDs) not only use 25%-80% less energy than traditional incandescents, but they can last 3-25 times longer. Think about that as you’re teetering on a ladder trying to replace those hard-to-get lighting fixtures.
Leaky ducts: a hidden problem In central heating and cooling systems, ducts carry hot or cold air to different parts of home. The EPA estimates that roughly 20% of this air escapes through leaks. To address this headache, some homeowners use duct tape to repair leaks in exposed ducts. However, a trained HVAC professional will do a much better job than someone crawling around with a roll of duct tape. Leaks are often in attics, walls and crawl spaces where they’re pretty tough to spot, and even harder to fix. Generally this is not an expensive service and it can make your home much more comfortable while putting less strain on your HVAC system to heat and cool your home. (Right, duct work can be easily seen in a home under construction. Once the walls and ceilings go up, it’s tough to find leaks.)
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