843-626-3689
When we talk to customers, we mention that a full HVAC inspection involves all five senses: sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste. Well, maybe not taste, but the point is that the paying attention to the senses can clue you in to potential issues before they snowball.
Many folks are familiar with a smell associated when the heat kicks on for the first time in a while. That burning, electric smell that lasts for a few moments and then dissipates reminds me of the baseboard heater of my childhood home. It was usually just the furnace burning off the dust that had accumulated during inactivity. It lasted for a moment and was gone. In this case, it was relatively harmless and normal. But when might a smell indicate a larger problem and warrant a professional inspection?
If the electrical odor persists, you should call a professional immediately. One possibility is faulty wiring, which if left unchecked, could lead to an electrical fire. It's also possible that the smell is coming from an overheating mechanical component in your HVAC system. It's best to turn everything off and call a trusted HVAC professional before an electrical hazard occurs or a part of your system burns out.
South Carolina has no shortage of heat and humidity. And with recent hurricanes and flooding, all the moisture has created the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. Mold growth in HVAC ductwork requires professional cleaning. The good news is that your unit isn't at fault. The bad news is that circulating mold spores can be harmful to your health.
This is a serious one. A rotten egg smell usually means there is a natural gas leak. A gas leak could lead to an explosion, so get out of your house and call the fire department. An HVAC professional can identify the source of the leak and repair it, once cleared to do so by safety officials.
It's hard to describe this odor, but you'll notice it. HVAC ducts and vents can be cozy nesting areas for all types of rodents and birds. Animals can clog vents, which in turn makes your HVAC system work harder to maintain indoor room temperatures. If you have an animal decomposing in your HVAC system, you'll either need to remove it yourself or call a pest control company to handle it for you.
Don't ignore the strange smells coming from your HVAC system. They can be an early warning sign of bigger problems to come. Cooper Mechanical Services will inspect your system, diagnose the problem, and fix it quickly. Our family business has been serving the Myrtle Beach area's HVAC, refrigeration, and electrical needs since 1989. To speak with a member of our team, Call Cooper.
Read more
Wintertime in South Carolina can be unpredictable, but you should definitely count on a handful of cold snaps and freezing temperatures. As you take heavier blankets and warmer clothes out of your closets, there are also a some other things you can do around the house to keep warmer while you wait for spring. Try out some of the suggestions below to make heating your home easier.
Seal Leaks and Gaps: Use caulk and/or replace weather stripping to seal leaks around doors and windows. Don't let warm air escape or cold air in. By sealing things up, your HVAC system will work less and save you money.
Don't Heat Unused Spaces: If you have a guest room that is unoccupied most of the year, you can shut the vents and close the door. While the room will quickly become colder, you can be sure that most heat is distributed to spaces you actually use.
Insulate Water Heater and Crawl Space Pipes: Insulation sleeves and insulation covers can wrap your hot water heater and crawl space water pipes to help prevent heat loss.
Use Alternative Heat Sources: You can warm your home and save money by using a traditional fireplace, a gas fireplace with a blower, or a pellet stove to help heat your living room. Keeping the fan setting on your HVAC thermostat can help circulate warm air you generate from your fireplace or stove.
Change Air Filters: Keep your heat blowing freely by changing your air filters regularly. Clogged filters not only make heating more difficult, but they also make your HVAC system work harder to maintain a set temperature, which costs you more on your monthly power bill.
Check Vents: Make sure air returns are clear of obstructions. If you have floor vents, make sure furniture or curtains aren't blocking the warm air from reaching the room.
Consider a Maintenance Agreement: Scheduled service and cleaning is the best way to increase the life of your HVAC system. Cooper's Clean & Service agreements occur every six months, and they let you know the health of your system before the hottest and coldest days of the year.
While we talk a lot about the AC part of HVAC, Myrtle Beach does receive winter weather, and having a working heating system is critical for this time of the year. Cooper Mechanical Services has been serving the Grand Strand since 1989. To schedule a service call or to speak with a Cooper team member, contact us today.
Read more
Read more
Fall and winter in Myrtle Beach can be unpredictable. In the 50s one day and the 80s the next. Two days later and neighbors are reminding you to keep the sinks dripping because a deep freeze in on the way. Keeping the inside of your home or workplace comfortable is important. But using your thermostat wisely can also save you a lot of money in energy costs.
In order to maximize savings and keep your HVAC working effectively, it's important to take advantage of the various settings and features on your thermostat.
As we've mentioned before, using your thermostat's settings can lead to considerable savings. The reality is, many homeowner's see a digital display and don't want to bother messing with it. In actuality, most thermostats are simple to use and come with some pre-set modes that fit most people's needs.
Use the custom settings to select a mode that changes the temperature to a more economical setting for the hours that you and your family are out of the house.
The U.S. Dept. of Energy finds that setting your thermostat to adjust the temperature by 7-10 degrees during the hours your are out of the house leads to savings of up to 10% on power bills.
Take the time to click through the settings on your thermostat, and start seeing savings next month.
Keeping an eye on the forecast and making simple adjustments can also lead to energy savings. On colds days, open blinds and shades to take advantage of natural solar heating, and use heavy curtains or blackout shades on particularly warm days. Obvious adjustments like this can improve HVAC efficiency and save energy.
Read more
Read more
Hurricane Florence has left many individuals and businesses in South Carolina without shelter, electricity, or the ability to do business. At Cooper, we've worked tirelessly around-the-clock these last couple weeks to aid residential and commercial customers in need of HVAC, electrical, and generator services.
However, it seems the worst of Florence will be felt long after the storm has left. Record-setting flood waters threaten many areas outside of normal-risk flood zones. The unfortunate result will be a record number of Horry and Georgetown county residents and companies with flooded homes and businesses.
In this post we will highlight the process for recovery.
Thankfully, the federal response to Hurricane Florence has been swift. Within days, the White House authorized a Federal Major Disaster Declaration for South Carolina that brought resources to our region and commits federal funds through FEMA toward relief and recovery.
If you are a home or business owner, your first call should be to your insurance provider. Small business insurance policies vary, but you'll want to review our policy carefully to see what coverage is provided for natural disasters.
FEMA and other federal relief may still be available to you even if you have insurance, but it is important that all insurance benefits are exhausted before federal financial assistance to avoid duplication of benefits. Keep a record of your exchanges with your insurance agents and keep copies of claims to avoid potential problems.
Read more
Cooper Electrical Services is Cooper's "sister company," handling the Myrtle Beach region's commercial and residential backup power needs. The Cooper team is proud to announce that CES is now an authorized dealer and service provider of Cummins brand generators. Cummins has been a manufacturer of quality-made engines for nearly 100 years. The Cooper team stands behind their products, and we are pleased to become an authorized dealer.
Cooper Electrical Services offers residential and light commercial generators to keep homes and businesses supplied with full power in the event of an outage. Cummins' line of standby generators are clean, quiet, and efficient, tying to existing fuel sources like liquid propane, natural gas, and diesel.
With a Cummins standby generator, your system will automatically detect power disruption and switch immediately to standby generated power. You don't need to do anything. For homeowners, this means full power to all aspects of your home including HVAC and all major appliances.
For small businesses, even a short power outage can be costly. Given the hurricanes along the Grand Strand in recent years, an outage may knock out power for days or even weeks. Commercial and light commercial generators guarantee that business keep their doors open when their competitors are closed.
Cooper Electrical Services provides free, onsite assessment to determine your power needs. We provide free estimates that include the cost of installation.
As a Cummins dealer, we are also authorized to perform start-up testing, regular service, and warranty repairs. Customers can take comfort in knowing that Cummins generators are designed and manufactured in North America, and OEM inventory for all generators is easily available.
To learn more about CES and our generator services, please visit our website.
Read more
Cooper Mechanical Services has been helping restaurants and food service companies keep their refrigeration appliances and systems up and running since 1989. As a family business in Horry county, we take pride in getting to know our customers, their businesses, and their needs. If your business wants trustworthy and dependable refrigeration service, give us a call.
In our last blog we talked a bit about how critical it is for restaurants to keep HVAC equipment working during the busy tourist season. Every hour closed for repair is money lost. In this post we'll look at some of our most popular blogs regarding commercial refrigeration. From walk-in freezers to ice machines, Cooper Mechanical Services' refrigeration experts handle all types of equipment you need to keep products safe and cool.
We often hear customers tell us, "My businesses refrigerator is still running, but it doesn't seem to be as cold as it used to." If you've got a temperature log, either digital or with pen and paper, you may see changing average temps. Often it is seen anecdotally--the refrigerated butter is softer than usual, for example. Learn more about common signs of refrigeration failure and how Cooper Mechanical Services can help.
Every restaurant's fear is a sub-par inspection. SCDHEC can shut a business down if refrigeration units are holding proper temperatures. Over 41 degrees and you may be in the "danger zone," a prime temperature for bacteria growth. Check out this blog post to learn more about SCDHEC refrigeration regulations and how to avoid an inspection that could cost you a lot in lost revenue and damaged reputation.
One of the easiest ways to keep a refrigeration unit working efficiently and extend its life is to clean the coils. As long as you can slide the unit out and get to the coils in back, you can clean them with common restaurant cleaning products. Read this popular blog to learn how to clean your refrigerator coils and why it is so important.
Learn about customizable Clean & Service agreements (including refrigeration) for your food service business with Cooper Mechanical Services. Regular cleaning, maintenance, inspection and testing often pays for itself by thwarting big problems before they happen. Service agreements also have the benefit of allowing our team to get to know you and your systems, making follow-up calls quicker and easier.
Cooper Mechanical Services offers 24/7 emergency repair in our service region. We also wrote a blog post about the best strategies for getting quick refrigeration service. Some of these recommendations can even help you consolidate accounts payable and save money as well.
Read more
We spend a lot of time on the blog writing about residential and business HVAC systems, but there's one sector that Cooper Mechanical Services knows well: the restaurant and food service industry. HVACR and ventilation systems in restaurants are more than just providers of comfort. Heating, cooling, refrigeration, and ventilation are needed for safe working conditions, DHEC permits, and safety. Cooper Mechanical Services recognizes the fact that the Myrtle Beach service industry depends on reliable, efficient HVAC, refrigeration, and ventilation system to keep their doors open. Our team provides fast and reliable service to Myrtle Beach restaurants.
Commercial HVAC, make-up air, and refrigeration systems can get expensive. The best way to maximize the life of your equipment is through regular cleaning, inspection, and testing. Cooper Mechanical Services offers restaurants customizable Clean & Service agreements based on your needs.
For restaurant HVAC systems, a full cleaning will:
Chemically treat and clean all evaporator and condenser coils
Clean drain pans and drain lines
Check thermostat operations
Inspect electrical components
Test all safety controls
Additionally, we will inspect your exhaust and make-up air systems. These components remove dirty air, typically with particulates of grease and organic matter, and replace it with make-up air from outside the building.
Cooper Mechanical Services will inspect to see that both aspects (ventilation and make-up) are working in tandem so pressurization issues don't arise. Often our techs will repair small problems like loose belts, possibly avoiding costlier, more serious repairs.
Cooper can chemically treat and treat refrigeration coils for walk-ins, case displays, and other common commercial refrigeration units. We also can clean and repair ice machines.
To learn more about how Cooper Mechanical Services can help you keep your restaurant in clean, working order, contact us today.
Read more
The thermometer reads 88 but it feels like the inner ring of Dante's infernal circles out there. There's no doubt the Myrtle Beach's summer get hot, but it's our high humidity that really exacerbates the situation. The "heat index" is the perceived temperature we feel, and the number is a calculation that takes both temperature and humidity into consideration.
It's been an incredibly hot and humid summer so far. Our HVAC team has been all over the Grand Strand, troubleshooting air conditioning problems and bringing our customers cool relief.
High humidity will make things feel hotter. That leads people to rely more on cold air conditioning for comfort. Modern HVAC systems in homes and workplaces cycle air over cold coils while also removing moisture from the air. This moisture exits your HVAC system by a small drain pipe, usually on the side of your home near the condenser unit.
If your system is ineffective and not sufficiently reducing indoor humidity, you probably won't feel that cool, dry relief. There are clear signs that your HVAC system isn't handling humidity well: condensation on windows, warm indoor temps despite thermostat (remember, humidity makes it feel warmer than it indicates), and damp or musty smells.
These are all clear signs that you'll want an HVAC professional to take a look at your unit.
There are some things you can do to address an indoor humidity problem before calling a Cooper Mechanical Services tech.
If you're a DIY homeowner and want to do some troubleshooting, look for leaks where excess moisture may be escaping, change your filters to increase airflow, or add fans to add air circulation (especially in big homes or ones not properly zoned). Also, check to see if your thermostat has a "dry" setting.
Of course if your problem is more serious than a clogged filter, you'll want to trust Cooper Mechanical Services to diagnose and fix your problem.
You may also want to explore a dehumidifier system that integrates with your existing HVAC ductwork.
Cooper Mechanical Services has been providing the Myrtle Beach area with stellar HVAC, electrical, and mechanical services since 1989. Our reputation as a quality, family-owned business is built around honest, dependable work and affordable rates.
Don't sweat it out for the rest of the summer. Call Cooper for a timely response and an accurate estimate.
Read more
When we talk to customers, we mention that a full HVAC inspection involves all five senses: sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste. Well, maybe not taste, but the point is that the paying attention to the senses can clue you in to potential issues before they snowball.
Many folks are familiar with a smell associated when the heat kicks on for the first time in a while. That burning, electric smell that lasts for a few moments and then dissipates reminds me of the baseboard heater of my childhood home. It was usually just the furnace burning off the dust that had accumulated during inactivity. It lasted for a moment and was gone. In this case, it was relatively harmless and normal. But when might a smell indicate a larger problem and warrant a professional inspection?
If the electrical odor persists, you should call a professional immediately. One possibility is faulty wiring, which if left unchecked, could lead to an electrical fire. It's also possible that the smell is coming from an overheating mechanical component in your HVAC system. It's best to turn everything off and call a trusted HVAC professional before an electrical hazard occurs or a part of your system burns out.
South Carolina has no shortage of heat and humidity. And with recent hurricanes and flooding, all the moisture has created the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. Mold growth in HVAC ductwork requires professional cleaning. The good news is that your unit isn't at fault. The bad news is that circulating mold spores can be harmful to your health.
This is a serious one. A rotten egg smell usually means there is a natural gas leak. A gas leak could lead to an explosion, so get out of your house and call the fire department. An HVAC professional can identify the source of the leak and repair it, once cleared to do so by safety officials.
It's hard to describe this odor, but you'll notice it. HVAC ducts and vents can be cozy nesting areas for all types of rodents and birds. Animals can clog vents, which in turn makes your HVAC system work harder to maintain indoor room temperatures. If you have an animal decomposing in your HVAC system, you'll either need to remove it yourself or call a pest control company to handle it for you.
Don't ignore the strange smells coming from your HVAC system. They can be an early warning sign of bigger problems to come. Cooper Mechanical Services will inspect your system, diagnose the problem, and fix it quickly. Our family business has been serving the Myrtle Beach area's HVAC, refrigeration, and electrical needs since 1989. To speak with a member of our team, Call Cooper.
Read more
Wintertime in South Carolina can be unpredictable, but you should definitely count on a handful of cold snaps and freezing temperatures. As you take heavier blankets and warmer clothes out of your closets, there are also a some other things you can do around the house to keep warmer while you wait for spring. Try out some of the suggestions below to make heating your home easier.
Seal Leaks and Gaps: Use caulk and/or replace weather stripping to seal leaks around doors and windows. Don't let warm air escape or cold air in. By sealing things up, your HVAC system will work less and save you money.
Don't Heat Unused Spaces: If you have a guest room that is unoccupied most of the year, you can shut the vents and close the door. While the room will quickly become colder, you can be sure that most heat is distributed to spaces you actually use.
Insulate Water Heater and Crawl Space Pipes: Insulation sleeves and insulation covers can wrap your hot water heater and crawl space water pipes to help prevent heat loss.
Use Alternative Heat Sources: You can warm your home and save money by using a traditional fireplace, a gas fireplace with a blower, or a pellet stove to help heat your living room. Keeping the fan setting on your HVAC thermostat can help circulate warm air you generate from your fireplace or stove.
Change Air Filters: Keep your heat blowing freely by changing your air filters regularly. Clogged filters not only make heating more difficult, but they also make your HVAC system work harder to maintain a set temperature, which costs you more on your monthly power bill.
Check Vents: Make sure air returns are clear of obstructions. If you have floor vents, make sure furniture or curtains aren't blocking the warm air from reaching the room.
Consider a Maintenance Agreement: Scheduled service and cleaning is the best way to increase the life of your HVAC system. Cooper's Clean & Service agreements occur every six months, and they let you know the health of your system before the hottest and coldest days of the year.
While we talk a lot about the AC part of HVAC, Myrtle Beach does receive winter weather, and having a working heating system is critical for this time of the year. Cooper Mechanical Services has been serving the Grand Strand since 1989. To schedule a service call or to speak with a Cooper team member, contact us today.
Read more
Read more
843-626-3689
843-626-3689