Photo of Roger Grochmal

COVID-19 Update March 30th, 2020

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As expected, AtlasCare has been recognized as an essential business. This recognizes the role that HVAC contractors play in maintaining the integrity of residential infrastructure, especially in extreme situations. For example, we were called to a home this past weekend of a customer who had just returned from Florida to find their basement flooded from a leaking water heater. We were able to respond and get the water heater changed out today.

We have implemented some updated screening procedures over the phone regarding recent travel and the health of occupants in the home so that we can fully understand what kind of a situation we will be walking into when we attend at a home and any special protective measures our staff would need to take. We will be asking for credit card numbers where required at the time of booking a call so that you do not have to physically interact with our technicians. No charges will be made until the work is completed.

WARNING: Do NOT flush anything down a toilet other than toilet paper. We are all using disinfectant wipes, paper towels and even Kleenex to wipe surfaces down. If any of these items are flushed down the toilet they can fairly quickly lead to plugged drains. None of these items are biodegradable and can easily get caught up in a drain. If you sense that you are having problems with drainage from any fixture, please call to have a plumber clean it out for you before you experience a backed up drain.

If we haven’t called you, we will. We are scheduling air conditioning tune-ups with the mild weather we are experiencing. Our priority has been customers with known health conditions, those who are uncomfortable starting up their systems before we have had a chance to perform the tune-up and those with attic air conditioning systems. This state of physical distancing will be with us for awhile and we know there will be significant demand when it gets hot. Most of our maintenance time is spent outside the home with little interaction required. In addition to expected pent up demand, we have diminished capacity to perform work as some of our staff members have personal health conditions or are caring for elder family members.

Lastly, there is a lot of bad information in the public domain about miracle products that can filter out and/or kill viruses and protect you from COVID-19. Don’t believe it. We have some very good products such as HEPA filters and UV Lights that do a very good job in cleaning the air. We are happy to give advice on what might work best in your home. However, they are only one line of defense. Physical hygiene and physical distancing from others are essential.

We’ll keep the conversation going. Every day we learn more about COVID-19 and its potential impact.  You can check in with us for updates on our new website at www.mybosco.com about how we are responding. If we have something to share with you, we will. In times like these, we want you to know that we will be “Always there when you need us”. Thank you for your ongoing business and placing your trust in AtlasCare. During this challenging time, we’re working hard to give you the confidence to have AtlasCare in your home.

Roger Grochmal, P.Eng.
CEO

woman lying in bed in a noisy house.

Is Your Furnace Making Noise?

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We are living in unprecedented and uncertain times. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in December 2019, governments and organizations have been shutting down businesses and calling for individuals to stay at home. Like many other Canadians, you may have begun practicing social distancing and self-isolation to avoid contracting the COVID-19 virus and spreading it to others. For most of us, this means spending the majority of our time at home with our families.

While you are at home, you may hear occasional noises coming from your furnace. After all, a furnace can be a noisy machine! It’s common for your HVAC system to make noises when operating normally. You’ll often hear a low hum and even an occasional bang or hiss, which is an indication that your system is working as it should. If anything, these sounds should be a comforting reminder that your furnace is actively working to keep your home warm and comfortable.

However, if your system begins a noise you haven’t heard before, it could be an indication of a more significant issue taking place within your furnace. Don’t wait until your furnace breaks down and you’re stuck at home freezing! The key to prevention is action. Find out a few common reasons why your furnace may be noisy and then give us a call! We’re always there when you need us so you can stay safe and comfortable in your homes during this pandemic.

The Key Causes to Look Out For:

  • Fan or Inducer: With gas furnaces, specifically, products of combustion and other substances are removed by a motor-powered fan or inducer. If there is a grinding or high pitch sound, it could be a sign the motor is beginning to fail, or a sign that your inducer may be clogged with debris or dirt.
  • Indoor Fan Motor: Has your system’s motor bearing seen better days? If so, it could be the reason you hear a grinding noise. If ignored, a worn-out bearing could cause the motor to burn out. Skip the costly repair bill, and have your motor replaced by a professional.
  • Gas Valve: Have you noticed irregular clicking sounds? It could be caused by your system’s gas valve. A faulty or clogged valve can fail to release gas, and as a result, cause the ignitor to begin to click!
  • Pilot Ignition: The constant clicking you’ve been hearing may be your furnace’s spark ignitor trying to re-start your pilot light. A worn-out, lose or damaged ignitor can cause the furnace’s spark ignitor to work overtime, all in an effort to re-ignite it. A functioning pilot light is essential to ensuring your furnace produces heat. 

Our Safety Measures For COVID-19

The safety of our customers and employees is of utmost importance to AtlasCare. We understand that prevention is the best defense against COVID-19. To protect our customers and employees, our company has implemented strict preventive measures with our field staff to minimize contact with others and limit the virus from spreading.

We have taken numerous precautions to ensure we can still provide emergency service during this tough time:

  1. Our technicians will no longer be shaking hands with our customers.
  2. We’re asking homeowners to provide a sink for our technicians, and the technician will bring their own soap and rags.
  3. Upon arrival, our technicians are wiping down their iPads and washing their hands before beginning the service.
  4. After the service is done, our technicians are wiping down the thermostat and their iPad and washing their hands before leaving the home.
  5. Homeowners will have the option of signing or not depending on how comfortable they feel.
  6. Our trucks are being wiped down and cleaned before and after every shift to make sure that they are clean and safe.

Inspection & Furnace Repair

One minor issue with your heating system can cause another one of your home’s systems such as air conditioning, to be affected. While certain DIY projects can be fun, we don’t recommend tackling your furnace repair alone. Our team of expert furnace technicians can diagnose the problem and offer the best solution for you and your family. Regular HVAC maintenance and inspection is the best preventive measure you can take to keep your home comfortable at all times. Save yourself the headache by scheduling HVAC maintenance with our trusted team!

If your furnace isn’t working as it should and you find yourself in need of emergency repair, contact us! Whether it’s a dangerous gas leak or a faulty HVAC system, we are always there when you need us.

AtlasCare technician wearing a mask cleaning an air duct

We’re here for you during COVID-19

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Click to View All Recent COVID-19 Updates

 

With COVID-19 top of mind, I wanted to reach out directly to let you know how AtlasCare is addressing being an essential service during this pandemic, and to assure you that we are ready to help you through this.

First and foremost, I want to assure you that we have taken numerous precautions to keep our employees and customers safe. Our truck interiors and office are cleaned multiple times a day. We check in with our team every day and ensure that anyone with any symptoms of cold or flu does not come to work. We have equipped our technicians with soap, towels and wipes and our only ask is that you make a sink available where they can wash their hands before and after they finish working in your home. We will wipe down everything with disinfectant, including your thermostat if we needed to adjust it.  As always, we also wear shoe covers to ensure we’re not tracking anything into your home. Your well-being and that of our colleagues is always at the forefront of our minds.

As we will all be spending a significant amount of time in our homes now, whether working remotely, keeping our children home from school and we’ll all be travelling less, it is more important than ever that our homes be that healthy oasis in a sea of illness and uncertainty.

At AtlasCare, it has been a pillar of our mission for the past 25 years to keep people healthy in their homes. Preventive maintenance, cleaning heating and air conditioning systems – especially ducts that can trap and distribute dust and germs – has never been more important to keep indoor air as fresh as possible as it is now. We can provide these services and fresh air solutions for the air in your home including ventilation, upgraded filters such as HEPA that trap particles and pathogens, and ultraviolet lights that kill them. A humidifier that keeps the relative humidity between 40%-60% is also essential. The health of your home is important as well. No one wants a drain to back up or a leak to happen in their plumbing. We have people to handle those systems, too.

AtlasCare is known for its rapid response when you need someone. You will have a lot on your mind and if you need our services, we’ll be there. We simply ask you to advise us if anyone in your home is showing or has shown symptoms of cold or flu, so we can take precautions such as wearing gloves and masks.

We’ll keep the conversation going. Every day we learn more about COVID-19 and its potential impact.  You can check in with us for updates on our website at www.mybosco.com about how we are responding. If we have something to share with you, we will. In times like these, we want you to know that we will be “Always there when you need us”.

Thank you for your ongoing business and placing your trust in AtlasCare. During this challenging time, we’re working hard to give you the confidence to have AtlasCare in your home.

 

 

Roger Grochmal, P.Eng.

CEO