Did you know that certain houseplants inside of your home can reduce heating repairs? It’s true. NASA’s houseplant study focused on the correlation between air quality and houseplants, with the findings that air quality is improved when you place specific houseplants in your home that are known to reduce toxins and gases in the air. When your indoor air quality is improved, air filters are cleaner and less clogged, which may result in reduced heating and air conditioning repairs. It is recommended to place one houseplant per 100 square feet of space in your home.

NASA identified certain houseplants that reduce common indoor air toxins, such as Benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide. Reducing these harmful gases that can accumulate in your indoor air can greatly improve your indoor air quality, leading to better heating and cooling system performance and fewer repairs. When the air is not as healthy, your filters will collect more dust and small particles. An extremely dirty air filter can cause a complete shutdown of your system, which will result in the need for furnace and air conditioning repair.

At Berico Fuels, we have listed the top ten houseplants recommended by NASA for helping in air toxin removal in your home. There are links to individual houseplants, as provided by www.zone10.com:

“…You can use plants in your home or office to improve the quality of the air to make it a more pleasant place to live and work – where people feel better, perform better, any enjoy life more.

TOP 10 plants most effective in removing Benzene, Formaldehyde, and Carbon Monoxide from the air:

Mother-in-Law’s Tongue Sansevieria Laurentii
Bamboo Palm – Chamaedorea Seifritzii
Janet Craig – Dracaena “Janet Craig”
Chinese Evergreen – Aglaonema Modestum
English Ivy Hedera Helix
Marginata – Dracaena Marginata
Gerbera Daisy Gerbera Jamesonii
Mass cane/Corn Plant – Dracaena Massangeana
Pot Mum – Chrysantheium morifolium
Warneckii – Dracaena “Warneckii
Peace Lily – Spathiphyllum”

The added greenery will add beauty to your house and also give you better air quality. These pollution-reducing plants are recommended by Dr. Bill Wolverton, former senior research scientist at NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center, Bay St. Louis, Miss.:

“We feel that future results will provide an even stronger argument that common indoor landscaping plants can be a very effective part of a system used to provide pollution free homes and work places,” he concludes.”

If you have recently purchased new furniture, appliances, or are using harsh cleaning chemicals in your home, the identified houseplants will eliminate the harmful gases that are in your indoor air from those products. Another way to keep the pollution level reduced in your home is to replace your air filters once a month, or as recommended by the manufacturer. In the winter and summer months, we tend to keep our windows closed more often when the HVAC system is running, so there is more opportunity for toxins to collect in the air.

These months are particularly important for you to have regular air filter replacements. If you need a furnace or air conditioning repair, installation, or HVAC maintenance in the Greensboro area, contact Berico Fuels at 336-273-8663 today. We will help you maintain a healthy indoor environment in your home by keeping your heating and cooling system inspected and repaired, and by providing you with tips to keep your indoor air quality at the highest level.
(Source: Zone 10: NASA Study Houseplants Clean Air, zone10.com, 2014)

If you are in the farming or construction industry, you probably use a lot of machines that have non road diesel engines. If you are looking for a low-cost fuel with clean emissions and great fuel economy, low sulfur diesel fuel is a great choice. At Berico Fuels, we carry a variety of commercial fuels, including low sulfur diesel fuel for off road vehicles and #2 heating oil for home and business heating systems. What types of machines can benefit from the use of low sulfur diesel fuel? The EPA lists some of the construction vehicles and farm equipment that use this type of fuel:

“Nonroad diesel engines are used in machines that perform a wide range of important jobs. These include excavators and other construction equipment, farm tractors and other agricultural equipment, heavy forklifts, airport ground service equipment, and utility equipment such as generators, pumps, and compressors.”

When you need delivery of low sulfur diesel fuel, contact Berico Fuels to get the most competitive pricing and excellent service. Our knowledgeable service team will make sure the fuel is correct for your equipment, to ensure safety and reliability. If you need #2 heating oil, we can deliver it directly to you.

Decreased Emissions and Newer, More Efficient Parts

Forklifts, compressors, excavators and other machines will greatly reduce emissions while using low sulfur diesel. From the EPA’s initiative in reducing emissions:

“Low sulfur (500 ppm) and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel will be phased in for nonroad, locomotive, and marine (NRLM) engines from 2007-2014. These fuel requirements, coupled with advanced emission control technologies, will decrease emissions from these engines by more than 90%.”

A 90% reduction in emissions from agricultural and construction equipment will help to make the air less polluted. At Berico Fuels, our “green” initiative involves keeping our customers informed of newly available fuels and equipment to keep emissions minimized while increasing efficiency. Along with low sulfur diesel for outdoor vehicles, #2 heating oil is readily available for your family’s heating comfort, and can be delivered quickly to keep you warm during the winter months.

Whether you need residential heating oil or commercial fuel, contact Berico Fuels to schedule your fuel delivery: 336-273-8663. We are helping the agriculture and farming industries with fuel supplies and integrative solutions and are the trusted source as your commercial fuel supplier.

(Source: Diesel Fuel, http://www.epa.gov//, 2014)

We all want to have an efficient furnace working at peak performance during the winter. This happens when homeowners maintain an annual maintenance schedule for their furnace, keeping their home comfortable and safe. The time is right for a heating system inspection and maintenance appointment, before your system is running at full capacity during the coldest winter nights. Prevent a complete system malfunction by getting a professional furnace inspection in Greensboro by a reputable HVAC company. At Berico Fuels, our certified HVAC technicians will inspect your furnace for problems and provide a complete check-up and tune-up. Why is a certified HVAC repair specialist in Greensboro the optimal choice to perform the maintenance? At www.dailyherald.com, it is recommended to have a certified technician inspect your furnace every year to prevent potential problems later on:

“Doing so now, while your furnace is working, prevents the nightmare of a dead furnace in the middle of winter, with its lofty costs for an emergency visit by a repairman, which can run you hundreds of dollars in just a site fee and another possible couple of hundred for repair parts and labor.

If your furnace has been operating on straining parts for a long time, you may also run the risk of expense and hassle of having to get an entirely new furnace. That can be prevented by making a simple phone call now to a reputable heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, company to set up your annual furnace checkup and tune-up.”

Furnace warranties often require this maintenance service. At Berico Fuels, we provide a comprehensive inspection that will keep your heating system running smoothly so you will not need more costly repairs. We can make sure that you will experience comfort and warmth all season with an annual furnace tune-up from Berico Fuels. The Daily Herald lists some benefits to receiving an annual furnace inspection by a certified, professional technician,

“• Prevent costly breakdowns. It’s not just a full system replacement that can be the danger. Your furnace might stop working because a part is out of order, which requires you to call a technician, live without your furnace for days or longer until the technician can make it to your home. The broken part will cost money to replace, plus a lot more money in site visit and labor. These mini breakdowns can cost a lot of money over time, and a tune-up can prevent them.

• Prevent inconvenient service needs. If you have houseguests for Thanksgiving, that would be a terrible time for your furnace to break down. In addition to the lack of heat, it can be very embarrassing to have anything break down in front of family and friends. Winter’s temperature extremes can make this an even bigger concern.

Once you have maintenance performed, appoint yourself the guardian of your newly tuned-up furnace by changing the filters regularly and keeping flammable items far from your furnace.”

Our commercial and residential customers enjoy easy scheduling, convenient service hours, and courteous and exceptional heating service. It’s a breeze to keep your furnace well-maintained in Eden, High Point and Kernersville, NC. We solve your HVAC problems. Keep your home energy efficient this winter with a complete furnace inspection from Berico Fuels. Contact us at 336-273-8663 to schedule service today.

(Source: Fall is the Perfect Time for a Furnace Tune-up, http://www.dailyherald.com, October 7, 2013)

It’s deadly, without a smell, taste or color. And it could become a huge problem if your furnace is not properly maintained. Carbon monoxide can become trapped in a room or entire house, leading to a very dangerous situation. Found in a variety of sources, such as gas stoves and gas water heaters, leaking furnaces and chimneys, this gas can cause huge problems if the level becomes high. Similar to flu symptoms, thousands of people who are poisoned from carbon monoxide annually do not realize the cause of their illness right away, leading to greater danger.

Hotels in North Carolina require carbon monoxide detectors after three deaths occurred as a result of high carbon monoxide levels inside of a hotel room in NC. How can this type of poisoning be prevented? The Consumer Product Safety Commission has preventative steps that will help you stay safe, and avoid carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Make sure appliances are installed and operated according to the manufacturer’s instructions and local building codes. Most appliances should be installed by qualified professionals. Have the heating system professionally inspected and serviced annually to ensure proper operation. The inspector should also check chimneys and flues for blockages, corrosion, partial and complete disconnections, and loose connections.
• Never service fuel-burning appliances without proper knowledge, skill and tools. Always refer to the owner’s manual when performing minor adjustments or servicing fuel-burning equipment.
• Never operate a portable generator or any other gasoline engine-powered tool either in or near an enclosed space such as a garage, house, or other building. Even with open doors and windows, these spaces can trap CO and allow it to quickly build to lethal levels.
• Install a CO alarm that meets the requirements of the current UL 2034 safety standard. A CO alarm can provide some added protection, but it is no substitute for proper use and upkeep of appliances that can produce CO. Install a CO alarm in the hallway near every separate sleeping area of the home. Make sure the alarm cannot be covered up by furniture or draperies.
• Never use portable fuel-burning camping equipment inside a home, garage, vehicle or tent unless it is specifically designed for use in an enclosed space and provides instructions for safe use in an enclosed area.
• Never burn charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
• Never leave a car running in an attached garage, even with the garage door open.
• Never use gas appliances such as ranges, ovens, or clothes dryers to heat your home.
• Never operate unvented fuel-burning appliances in any room where people are sleeping.
• Do not cover the bottom of natural gas or propane ovens with aluminum foil. Doing so blocks the combustion air flow through the appliance and can produce CO.
• During home renovations, ensure that appliance vents and chimneys are not blocked by tarps or debris. Make sure appliances are in proper working order when renovations are complete.

Have your furnace in the Greensboro, High Point and Burlington, NC areas inspected and maintained by a professional. At Berico Fuels, we recommend routine HVAC inspections to eliminate the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning from old furnaces that are not operating properly. Leaky and older furnaces are potential problems that need to be addressed at an inspection. Your heating system repair in Greensboro, NC will be done by a certified and qualified technician, who has the experience and knowledge to locate existing problems and potential future malfunctions with your furnace. Determine your risks now, before the weather turns cold. At Berico Fuels, our Greensboro HVAC systems specialists have the expertise to prevent your heating system from having problems this winter. Stay safe, and stay warm this winter season.

(Source: Carbon Monoxide Questions and Answers, http://www.cpsc.gov/, 2014)

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/Carbon-Monoxide-Questions-and-Answers-/

Want to add beauty and warmth to your home with a fireplace that looks elegant and is easy to light? A gas fireplace provides ambiance and style to your home, along with a natural flame look. Gas fireplaces have improved greatly over the past 25 years, and are a top choice among homeowners, according to the Wall Street Journal:

“Many insist nothing beats the flicker and crackle of a wood fire. But the gas fireplace, which entered the market about 25 years ago, has become mainstream by offering the ease of push-button ignition and less mess. In its early years, the gas flame often looked “too blue,” says Mike Pennington, vice president of engineering and product development at Lennox Hearth Products, a unit of Innovative Hearth Products. Today, technology has evolved to create a gas fire that is practically indistinguishable from a wood-burning fire. “Dancing, billowy, yellow flames are typically the target,” he says.

Today, 69% of fireplaces sold are gas-fueled and of those, most are “direct vented,” not requiring a chimney. Vents can be installed through almost any exterior wall, so that even multi-unit apartment and condominium buildings can have fireplaces. Direct-vent fireplaces are sealed combustion systems: Air from the outside—rather than inside—fuels the fire, and byproducts are vented back outside. The sealed combustion process requires a glass cover on the front of the firebox, to provide a barrier that can keep carbon monoxide from entering the room.”

An inviting fireplace is a pleasant, central focal point for an entertaining room, such as a living room or family room, and it provides value to your home. In Greensboro and Burlington, realistic looking gas logs are the main accessory needed to create the perfect look for your gas fireplace. With a push of a button or the flip of a switch, and instant warm fire will appear, making the room cozy and sophisticated. The WSJ explains the benefits of having a fireplace in your home:

“Whether powered by a remote control or twigs and a match, a fireplace creates a zone not only for warming cold hands and feet but also for cuddling or celebrating in the primal glow. While no longer an essential provider of light and heat, “it’s still conceptually the center of the home,” says Seattle architect Betty R. Torrell, who has written about the hearth’s history in architecture. “It dominates the room that it’s in; chairs are organized around it, it’s the focal point.” The beauty of fire remains “emotionally sustaining,” she adds, “even if it’s not physically sustaining anymore.”

With a huge variety of vented and vent-less gas logs available at our gas log showroom, you can select the perfect set of gas logs for your home. The elegance and design of a gas fireplace will bring beauty to your home for many years, with little maintenance required. At Berico, our experienced technicians will inspect your vent duct to make sure it is safe, and provide a comprehensive installation of the gas log kit, compliant with local regulations and ordinances. We even include a demonstration of how to use your new kit, along with an overview of best practices regarding your natural gas or propane heating. Call us to find out about the variety of sizes and designs that we have available for your new gas log kit: (336) 273-8663.

(Source: Homes: Sleeker Designs Bring Modern Cool To The Fireplace, www.online.wsj.com, October 31, 2012) http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970204840504578086822060244366?mg=reno64-wsj