Carbon Monoxide Alarm
Everyone knows the hazards of fire; so most people have installed fire detectors in their homes. What you may not know is that it’s equally important to also have carbon monoxide detectors.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is toxic to humans and animals when encountered in high concentrations. It can leak from indoor heating or cooling systems or even through your garage from car exhaust.
Carbon monoxide alarms are designed to alert the homeowner when carbon monoxide levels accumulate over a period of time, and will alarm before most people would experience any symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Installing carbon monoxide alarms with electrochemical sensing technology in the home also provide sufficient protection for residents. The more accurate a carbon monoxide alarm, the greater your chances of appropriately responding to the problem.
Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors/alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire by half.
Safety Tips
- Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
- An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires, and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, both types of alarms or a combination alarm (photoelectric and ionization) should be installed in homes.
- Test Alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
- Smoke rises; install smoke alarms following manufacturer’s instructions high on a wall or on a ceiling. Save manufacturer’s instructions for testing and maintenance.
- Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps”, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
- Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are 10 years old or sooner if they do not respond properly.
- Be sure the smoke alarm has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
- Alarms that are hard-wired (and include battery backup) must be installed by a qualified electrician.
- If cooking fumes or steam sets off nuisance alarms, replace the alarm with an alarm that has a “hush” button. A “hush” button will reduce the alarm’s sensitivity for a short period of time.
- An ionization alarm with a hush button or a photoelectric alarm should be used if the alarm is within 20 feet of a cooking appliance.
- Smoke alarms that include a recordable voice announcement in addition to the usual alarm sound, may be helpful in waking children through the use of a familiar voice.
- Smoke alarms are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These devices use strobe lights. Vibration devices can be added to these alarms. Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan.
GFCI Protected Outlets
Every year, hundreds of Americans die due to electrical accidents called electrocution – death caused by electric shock. Sometimes electrocution happens in utility and construction incidents, but these tragic accidents happen in homes, too. Before the widespread adoption of GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) outlets, around 800 people died annually in the United States. Now, thanks largely to the proliferation of GFCI technologies, particularly in areas near water, such as bathroom sinks or in places exposed to rain or standing water, that number has dropped significantly.
In short, GFCI outlets exist to protect people from electrical shock — it is completely different from a house fuse. The idea behind a fuse is to protect a structure from an electrical fire. Unlike a home’s fuse, the GFCI is integrated in the outlet itself. When you plug in an appliance, such as a hair dryer, the GFCI outlet monitors the amount of power going to the device. If you accidentally drop the appliance into sink full of water, the GFCI detects the interruption in current and cuts the power … and possibly saves your life.
So how do you know if you’re looking at an outlet equipped with GFCI capabilities? You’ll see a Test and a Reset button (and perhaps an indicator light) built right into the outlet. If you do not see a GFCI outlet in your restroom, near your kitchen, outside, or near any other potential for electric shock. Learn more from Bob Vila here. Call Mike’s today!
What Is A Surge Protector?
A surge protector is an appliance designed to protect electrical devices from voltage spikes such as lightning strikes, and power outages. A surge protector attempts to limit the voltage supplied to an electric device by either blocking or by shorting to ground any unwanted voltages above a safe threshold.
Replacing equipment is neither easy nor inexpensive. Having surge protection comes with many benefits:
- Reduces the loss of equipment due to voltage spikes
- Reduces equipment downtime
- Reduces maintenance costs
- Reduces electric bill
Security Cameras & Doorbells
Home security cameras are a crucial investment in protecting your home. Thieves may even get away scot-free if your home isn’t equipped with the right technology to ID any robbers. The latest outdoor security cameras combine the convenient features of any smart home device with advanced camera technology so you’ll always have an eye on your home. Our top picks for security cameras will send alerts to your phone when they detect motion, be able to record in HD quality even at night, and are designed to withstand any type of weather.
Some systems also include doorbell security cameras. If you install a video surveillance system, consider how many cameras you need, their resolution and how many hours / how much storage space of recorded video you plan to use.
- If you’re often out of town, consider security cameras that feature remote monitoring.
- For homes in areas where break-ins are a concern, the best outdoor security cameras feature security lighting to improve your field of view. Choose from stationary lights or lights with motion detectors.
- You may also want to consider a camera with excellent night vision or two-way audio so you can scare off intruders by letting them know you’ve called the authorities.
Security Lighting
Motion Detecting lights
Motion sensor lights are the ideal solution for lighting certain parts of your home like exterior walkways, driveways and garage areas. They also serve as outdoor security lights, helping protect your property against intruders or trespassers. While most motion sensor lights will perform dutifully when installed correctly, they can fail from time to time. Many security lights today now come with cameras for added safety, call for details.
A smart thermostat is a thermostat that can be controlled with a phone, tablet, smart speaker, or other internet-connected device. Smart thermostats typically allow you to schedule your desired temperature settings, and you can also incorporate them into home automation systems. Learn more on our Smart Thermostats page.
Have you ever come home to a soggy wet floor or found out too late that your kitchen sink, toilet, water heater or washer has a slow leak? If so then you know how expensive it can be to repair or replace carpets, flooring, and walls that have sustained water damage. Finding leaks before they can do major damage is now easier than ever thanks smart home water-sensing devices that send alerts to your phone when they detect moisture. They range in complexity from simple sensors that with an audible alert, smart sensors with an alert to your device or an in-line systems that monitors your water flow rate for irregularities. Our professionals can help you find the right system.
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Update. April 2024. Had the return duct widened at my house and cleaned the blower and housing from the attic.
Pedro Garcia did a great job getting this started and Joe, who has a ton of experience, recommended this widening from 20x20 … More to 20x25. A lot of times I expect any tech or mechanic to say I need some work done just to sell me something. I ask alot of questions and I make sure they are justified.
There are 3 things that I think are very important that Mike's techs and supervisors do:
1. They consistently speak well about their owner and they do it organically. They talk about how he expects excellence and for procedures to be done by the book. I respect this as a leader. They don't have to do it, and if they hated or disliked their owner, they'd say nothing or worse.
2. There are quality checks done by senior techs/managers on bigger jobs. This is important. At first, you might say, "Why do you need to come check on the work?" But I was taught in the military to inspect what you expect. Some techs and apprentices are newer also, so this means the management wants to make sure the work meets the standard. I respect this, too. And this work is expensive. It should be right the first time.
3. If they make a mistake or break something or find that a prior Mike's tech did something NOT to standard, they fix it and let me know. No one is perfect, and I have been using these services for a few years now. Mike's has to get techs that sometimes come from prior employers, where they learned bad habits. Why? There's not a million guys who are actually qualified that also want to go into super hot attics all day. I think with all these things in mind, this company is worth every dollar I've paid in both the annual membership and the individual services or repairs. For the record they have replaced, fixed, or improved 2 of my toilets, 2 kitchen ceiling lights, this AC work, and prior AC services over the years.
Joe is going to tell you how it is. He suggested the widening of my return duct where the air goes through the filter and we got significantly better airflow through our home. That's not why I called them either. And I'm a HARD sell. But they measured the CFMs for me before and after at my vents with state of the art equipment, and I was pleasantly surprised.
Pedro and Juan did a great job on the build of the larger return duct and cleaning the blower. These guys always answer any questions I have. This kind of service is hard to keep going for a long time with a large staff. But Mike's leadership must be strong because they manage to do it.
If YOU go outside or into the attic or garage and ask about these things, they will teach you. The photo with the 3 pins is the electrical connection of the compressor motor and you can see it has wear from being old and possibly losing a bit of the seal. It's a lot of electricity passing through there and outside in a rough environment. You can ask what that means. They aren't psychics but you might be told that "I've seen this before and usually it means it is on its last leg. You might have several months or a couple years left with it." BUT when your compressor stops on you down the road, you will have had that knowledge to prepare yourself for it.
I will update this every time they come if i can.
2023. Recently had Jeff come by. He was super helpful and he listened to my issues which were not obvious fixes but he went and did some diagnosing and ended up fixing our issues pretty quickly.
He was thorough and he fixed things he saw in the attic unit when he could have left them the way they were.
Mikes techs always take pics and explain to you what is going on and what you need.
I have the Home Shield package and I think it's a little high but honestly when you really need that after hours visit, you will wish you had it.
I appreciate Mikes. I always expect them to offer or sell me something but they are never pushy, and its usually relevant. 🤷
I would call Mikes a good company and Jeff is a tech I'd totally ask for again.
