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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Summer 2018 has been sweltering so far, and we're not even halfway through it. At Cooper, our HVAC team has been very busy with emergency HVAC repair. Our team has been working everyday to get folks' AC back up and running so they can live in comfort.
In fact, having air conditioning in this extreme heat is much more than a luxury or comfort--it's a necessity for safety and health. According to the CDC, more than 600 people in the United States die from extreme heat each year. We understand that seriousness of a hot house in the middle of an extremely hot South Carolina summer. The Cooper Mechanical Services team prides itself on fast, reliable service, and our team members keep customers updated with accurate arrival times so homeowners aren't waiting around all day on a service technician.
If you haven't called for repair service, well, be thankful for that. To keep your units working efficiently, here are some simple things you can do:
Change Filters: dirty filters reduce air flow, which makes your AC less effective and can make your HVAC system work harder than it needs to, which may cause components to overheat or burn out. Find out which filters are best for your HVAC and change them regularly.
Close Shades and Blinds: hot sunlight on glass is working against your AC. Pull the curtains to keep your room as cool as possible.
Close Leaks: insulating leaks around windows or doors will improve AC effectiveness during the hot summer. Replace weather-stripping or add caulking to seal gaps that let cold air out.
A Clean & Service Agreement is scheduled cleaning and inspection of all HVAC components on a bi-annual basis. One advantage of scheduled service is that you can get a heads up on the health of your unit before summer when it will likely be working overtime. The Clean & Service Agreement can increase the life expectancy of your HVAC and save you money in costly repairs. Learn more about our Clean & Service Agreement here.
Don't sweat it this summer. The Cooper team is hard at work to keep you comfortable. Just Call Cooper!
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Hurricane season in Myrtle Beach is June 1st through November 30th with most notable storms coming in late summer and early Fall. Around this time of year folks will start to see lots of information about hurricane preparedness. For us at Cooper, we get a lot of calls before and after big hurricanes about residential HVAC and electrical systems. It's a topic we've covered on our blog in the past, so check out some of the links below for detailed information about what you can do so your home electrical and HVAC systems weather this year's hurricane season.
In addition to cleaning outdoor HVAC of debris, you may want to also check that your unit is properly secured to its base. Hurricane winds can get above 150mph which can easily move something heavy like an outdoor condenser unit. Make sure the unit is anchored, and if not, consider hurricane tie-downs. You might also want to cover your unit with a tarp and bungee cord.
Many readers are likely aware of the list of things to have on hand should you experience a power outage: flashlights, batteries, water, non-perishable food, first aid, etc. But fewer are prepared for how to handle potential power surges. Protect yourself and your home appliances from power surges after full utility power is restores but making sure they are in their off positions while the power is out. The link above also covers some simple strategies for keeping your home cool while you wait to restore power.
Hurricanes at the beach bring lots of flash flooding which is dangerous and damaging in its own right. If your home has standing water, you may have a flood-damaged electrical system, and it's important that you don't enter your home until a licensed electrician or safety official says it's safe to do so.
In addition to electrical damage, you might also need to contend with water damage and mold. Mold and mildew after a hurricane pose serious health risks, so always contact a licensed mold removal and remediation professional such as MasterTech of Myrtle Beach to handle it. It's not something you can let "air out" or spray a little bleach on.
A flooded electrical system will likely need some replacing, but it's important to request a full electrical inspection beforehand. Structural damage to your home from flooding or high winds can be overwhelming, but Myrtle Beach custom builders like Odom Design can work with existing salvaged structures and materials to renovate, repair and remodel.
We've been doing business in the Myrtle Beach area since 1989. We've weathered all the major hurricanes here and proud to help families and business at the beach keep their homes and workplaces safe, secure, and comfortable.
If you are looking for extra preparation, call our sister company Cooper Electrical Services. CES specializes in commercial and residential generators that provide automatic, whole-house power in the event of an outage. Keep your HVAC, lights, appliances and everything else in your home on immediately and without the noise and extension cords that come with portable generators.
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Maybe you've heard it before, but the skilled trades like electrical, HVAC, and construction are struggling to find workers. It's said that for every 4 skilled workers retiring or leaving the industry, only 1 is entering. With competitive wages and high employability, it's a reliable career path, but trade industries struggle to recruit the next generation.
Enter the South Carolina Ride and Decide Program. Currently in its pilot program, SC Ride and Decide works to pair students and high schools with industry contractors in their region. The program lets students experience the trade during summer break, assisting in paid work activities. The Ride and Decide Program is a project of the South Carolina Association of Heating and Air Conditioning.
Senior year of high school can be a stressful time. In addition to finishing important coursework, teenagers are tasked with figuring out plans for life after high school. For some, college is the next step, but many are still unsure of what to study or pursue for a career path.
For Mark Phillips of North Myrtle Beach High School, the Ride and Decide program allowed him to work with Myrtle Beach's Cooper Mechanical Services, an unlimited license electrical and HVAC contractor. Phillips works part-time with the Cooper team in a variety of areas including business growth. For Phillips, the program provides him a well-paying part-time job and the ability to learn about specific jobs he may decide to pursue in the future.
For Cooper Mechanical Services and many businesses like them, Phillips represents the future of the skilled tradesmen and women. "Having Mark on board is a wonderful," said Glenn Cooper, founder and president of CMS. "The relationships we are building with students and high school administrators is a great thing for our community and the industry."
Another Cooper employee is also praising the new program. "Finding quality HVAC people has been a challenge," remarks Mike Ruggieri, Cooper's HVAC Clean & Service Manager. "We hope that this program will let young people see that there are good jobs in HVAC here that pay well and let you work with new challenges everyday."
The Ride and Decide program is open to any South Carolina high school junior or senior meeting the following requirements:
To participate, student must:
Be at least 16 years of age before starting the program.
Have completed their sophomore year of high school.
Have at least a C average and excellent school attendance.
Have reliable transportation to and from work location.
Be recommended to the program by an educator, school administrator, or SCAHACC member.
Obtain parental permission with a Release for the SCAHACC and educational institution.
Adhere strictly to the attendance and employment regulations required by the employer and adhere strictly to the SC Child Labor Laws.
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It's summertime, so when people see our service trucks and vans around Myrtle Beach, they tend to think about air-conditioning. HVAC is a big part of what we do for commercial clients. In hotels and restaurants, we provide installation, maintenance and repair services for air conditioning, heating, ventilation. But as the Grand Strand's premier mechanical and electrical services provider, we also do a whole lot more. Myrtle Beach hotels and restaurants rely on many mechanical systems to keep guests cool, comfortable, and safe.
Here are some of our other big commercial services in addition to hotel and restaurant HVAC:
Commercial Lighting
We handle installation and repair for inside and outside lighting solutions. As an unlimited-license electrical contractor, we cover everything from parking lot and pole lighting to room or pool lighting. Our electricians are highly knowledgable and can assist you in finding conventional and smart lighting solutions that conserve energy, save money, and keep people and facilities safe and secure.
Commercial Refrigeration
We also work closely with many businesses in the service and hospitality sector in Myrtle Beach installing, cleaning, and repairing commercial refrigerators, freezers, and ice machines. Faulty refrigeration equipment can lead to customer dissatisfaction or worse. SCDHEC inspections require holding temperatures and sanitation standards for walk-ins, display cases, and even ice machines. Our mechanical professionals work with all major manufacturers to ensure your hotel or restaurant is safe and up-to-code.
Emergency Shut-Off
Commercial boilers and heated pools and spas require emergency shut-off valves or switches. Our team is qualified to evaluate, install, or repair your boiler shut-off so you are compliant with the National Fire Protection Association (Code 85).
Stairwell Pressurization
Stairwell pressurization exists in part to suppress fires from spreading from hotel rooms and hallways to stairwells which are the primary means of escape. Pressurization also improves the ease with which doors can open and close. Stairwell pressurization is required for National Fire Protection Association code compliance. Our mechanical team is fully equipped to verify and solve issues relating to stairwell pressure.
Generators and Back-Up Power
Our sister company, Cooper Electrical Services, handles all commercial generator sales, installation, maintenance, and repair. Living in the path of destructive storms, businesses need to be prepared when power goes out. Our generator team allows businesses to keep facilities operational and secure for extended periods of time.
The above is just a highlight of some of the regular kinds of projects we work on. If your hotel or restaurant needs expert mechanical or electrical services, please contact us. Our team is knowledgable, professional, and dependable. We've been serving the Myrtle Beach area since 1989, and we're proud to be a part of this community. Don't wait, Call Cooper.
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Summer is Myrtle Beach is hot, and air conditioning at home and at work is a necessity. The last thing you want is for your AC to go out in July or August in South Carolina. Despite the wealth of information on the web, there are still some common myths about AC that folks believe. Here are our top air conditioning myths and why you should ignore them.
There's some logic behind this idea. It makes sense to use something fully before replacing it, which means that sometimes the cost of repairs makes more sense than the expense of a total replacement. But sometimes the "run it 'til the wheels fall off" mentality neglects the cost of inefficiency.
Old units with occasional repairs may be costing you more than just the parts and labor. Old ACs work harder and cool less. You'll see the added expense on monthly utility bills, on top of the frustration and discomfort from an inefficient AC.
For more information, check out our post on when it's better to replace and when it's better to repair your HVAC.
Sorry, folks. It doesn't matter if you set your thermostat at 68 or 60 degrees. Setting your thermostat lower than the ideal temperature won't get you there any faster. Your AC unit has a limited capacity, and setting the temperature at a colder setting doesn't speed up the pace. The greater the gap between the actual temperature and the set temperature, the longer it will take to get there. Patience is a virtue.
We're sure this isn't as commonly believed as the others, but we want to highlight the fact that thermostat placement is important to how effective your AC is in cooling your home or office.
Your thermostat is the device monitoring indoor temperature and deciding whether or not your AC needs to come on. If your thermostat is in direct sunlight or near a window, or if it is directly below a vent blowing cool air, it is not getting an accurate representation of the indoor temperature. Poor placement skews readings, which means you may be adjusting your thermostat to a setting lower than you normally would in order to feel cool in the rest of the space.
A central location on an interior wall away from vents is always the best place for a thermostat.
Despite popular opinion, bigger isn't always better, and it's definitely true with AC units. If your air conditioning unit is too big, the compressor will turn on and off in quick intervals, which isn't good for wear and tear. It may also not effectively remove moisture from the air.
If the unit is too small, it will be working too hard to cool your home and constantly running. This can wear out the mechanical components and lead to high utility bills.
All of the above is the reason why units are always rated for a specific square-footage range. Choose the unit that fits your home or office.
We understand that cleaning and maintenance contracts can seem like a lot of money, especially if your unit has been fine on its own for a while. However, just like oil changes for your car, regular maintenance and cleaning is going to extend the life and hopefully save you money in the long-run when you avoid costly repairs.
Visit our blog to learn more about HVAC service contracts, and what to look for and what to avoid.
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Service contracts, clean and service agreements, or maintenance contracts. All these terms describe scheduled inspection, cleaning, and service of your HVAC system. HVAC service contracts may vary in terms of frequency of visit and scope of maintenance, but 1-2 visits a year is common.
There are benefits of scheduled service for both HVAC companies and homeowners. HVAC companies benefit from the reliability service work, especially in spring and fall before the extreme heating and air-conditioning months arrive. Homeowners benefit from increased HVAC lifespan and efficiency, as well as being able to be proactive in addressing any issues before they snowball into major repairs. In an area like Myrtle Beach, scheduled maintenance can give you some peace of mind if you have a second property or vacation home.
That said, signing an annual contract makes some wary for fear of being "locked in" and committed. Contracts can also contain fine print policies or leave curious about what service or products you are actually paying for. In this post we'll look at what to look for and what to avoid when shopping for an HVAC service plan.
There can be many red flags when looking over a service contract. And our first recommendation is that you look over the terms of the agreement before signing or providing payment. Here are some signs of a bad HVAC service contract:
1. Less than a page: A service contract isn't a 50-page document, but it should definitely be more than a page. The document should explain exactly what is covered (and perhaps what is not covered), pricing, and special terms of the agreement. The contract should explain the expectations of both the customer and the service provider. There needs to be enough in the document to protect you and the HVAC company, so make sure it is specific.
2. Insanely Cheap: You know that saying about a deal that's too good to be true? Compare service agreement rates amongst a handful of companies. There may be variations, but they should be in a similar ballpark. Avoid the ones that seem like they can offer the same product and service at a fraction of the price. Something is usually being left out.
3. Minuscule Type: You should be able to read the document. Be wary of the long paragraph on the last page in tiny type. If information is presented like this, it is intentionally being minimized for a reason. Additionally, any reputable service professional should be able to explain these terms to you. If they can't, go somewhere else.
4. Legalese and Jargon: An HVAC service contract should be able to simply state the terms and conditions as well as the scope of service, the expectations from both parties, and the cost. Question contracts that mask contract terms in confusing legalese.
On the other hand, good service contracts will inform you of the following:
You should feel comfortable with the HVAC company. Ask for a copy of the service contract and take your time to compare what you get (and don't get) with different companies. Some may have perks that others do not (discounted labor rates, priority service, etc). Look at reviews online and talk with neighbors. You can save yourself future headaches by doing a little research before signing a year's agreement.
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843-626-3689
843-626-3689