Waukesha County Home

Mechanicals From Page 1 62 to 66 degrees. Jim Kelly agreed. "It's OK to lower the temperature when leaving, unless they have pets," said Kelly, owner of Kelly's HVAC LLC in Waukesha. Kelly does recommend using a system controlled by an app so homeowners can adjust as needed from a phone while on the road. When hosting guests, Debelak said home mechanical systems shouldn't have any problems with additional capacity. Put garbage in trash can — not the kitchen sink The most common calls he gets are related to visitors "putting things down the toilet they shouldn't," he said, cau- tioning that items like baby wipes should always be disposed of in a wastebasket instead. Debelak added that kitchen sink food waste grinders are not for garbage. "Unless you like having a plumber visit and snaking the sink during your party," he said, adding that "egg shells and pasta are the number one cause of kitchen sink line backups." Kelly also recommends homeowners complete an annual furnace tuneup. "The biggest thing is in between the seasons having a professional do a clean and tune," he said, adding that he recom- mends the customer stand nearby and watch the contractors do the work. A good contractor won't mind being observed, Kelly said. "I have no problems with that," he said, adding that observing can be a way for the customer to get a sense of how the tuneup is going and how their equipment works. Once a year is good for a clean and tune, according to Kelly. With newer units, within 5 years old, biannual tuneups are sufficient. He recommends keeping an eye on up charges and replacement costs, noting that some companies will call for replace- ments when they aren't needed. As to furnace filters, Kelly said home- owners should consider the home and occupants. Cigarette smokers or those with allergies might prefer a filter with a higher MERV rating, or minimum effi- ciency reporting value. This value reports a filter's ability to capture larger particles, according to the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency. But higher MERV ratings do require the filters be cleaned or changed sooner, according to Kelly. He noted that keeping filters changed is good for the furnace. "It puts a lot of stress on the furnace," Kelly said, when they are not cleaned or maintained regularly. HOME DECEMBER 2021 2 Distributed by: ©2021 by Conley Media Waukesha County Home is published monthly by Conley Media - Waukesha County, 801 N. Barstow St., Waukesha, WI 53186. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. A publication of Conley Media Sales Director: Jim Baumgart 262/513-2621 jbaumgart@conleynet.com Editor: Dan Muckelbauer 262/513-2626 dmuck@conleynet.com Production: Patricia Scheel 262/513-2690 pscheel@conleynet.com Home Volume 10 ■ Number 8 ■ December 2021 Eileen Schmidt/Special to Waukesha County Home One of the tasks that many homeowners forget in getting ready for the winter months and holiday season is disconnecting garden hoses before the first frost, according to Jon Debelak, owner of Jon Debelak Plumbing & Heating Inc. in Sussex. MILWAUKEE — Callen Construction, Inc. in Muskego announced that Christo- pher Wittmann, senior sales representa- tive —Window & Door Division achieved Master Certified Remodeler (MCR) status from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). To achieve certification, Wittmann, who has been with Callen for 15 years, underwent extensive screening by NARI, demonstrated commitment to profession- al conduct, participated in intensive stud- ies on a broad range of critical industry issues, and successfully completed a com- prehensive written exam. The MCR designation recognizes a pro- fessional remodeler who has demonstrat- ed commitment to the remodeling indus- try through support of their local NARI Chapter, NARI National, and their local community. The MCR identifies Certified Remodelers who have withstood the test of time, continue to be successful within the industry and have agreed to uphold the NARI Code of Ethics. "I appreciate the personal growth opportunities our industry offers and the support Callen gives its employees to be better at their craft and keep our compa- ny at a level of exclusivity," Wittmann said. Callen staffer earns national certification

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