by Administrator
January 31, 2012
Some home owners may wonder if pulling a permit is necessary on every job. The answer is yes! Unlicensed contractors can't obtain permits, so this makes hiring a contractor with a license essential. It will ensure whatever work you are having done runs smoothly and there are no setbacks.
Below are just a few things that could happen to homeowners when permits aren't pulled on time or even at all.
Hard to sell your home -If you try to sell your house without proper permits, it's possible it won't pass inspection.
Insurance issues - homeowner insurance policy modifications or changing companies often require a Certificate of Occupancy. If the certificate doesn't show structural changes that have been made, the insurance company can decline coverage because it's not code compliant.
Safety considerations - especially when work is completed that could represent potential fire hazards.
Double the costs - any permits pulled after work has already been completed include a fine that doubles what would have been the initial costs of pulling a permit before work was done. First, they need to contact their local building and planning commission as they are now responsible for pulling the permits.
Homeowner accountability – permits pulled after work is completed is the responsibility of the homeowner. It requires the inspection of visible modifications and changes not visible, which need to be detailed by the contractor or a hired structural engineer.
Sometimes it may seem quicker and easier just to forgo the permits, but often you have to weigh the long term costs! Contact your licensed MTB Mechanical professionals today! We will do the proper legwork so you can relax!
by Administrator
September 23, 2011
There are many brand names that we associate directly with certain products. Often they become pseudonymous with an item. Numerous examples out there such as Kleenex, Xerox, Coke, Band-Aid etc. come to mind. Often consumers may say "my Freon must be low" when their car or home isn't cooling like it should. You may be surprised to know that Freon is actually a brand developed by DuPont in 1928.
Originally Freon was praised for being non-toxic. Before Dupont had invented their Freon products, refrigerators used ammonia and other toxics to cool. Some fatilities even occurred due to toxic coolant leaks. In 1932, Carrier used Freon in the first modern day air-conditioning unit.
The original form of Freon is now banned because it is made up of CFC's which has been found to deplete the Earth's Ozone layer. DuPont and other companies now produce refrigerants that are safer to the environment.
If you aren't sure if your current air-conditioning system contains the old form of Freon contact us today. We can send one of our professionals to evaluate your current system and discuss the best way to handle your situation.
Now you can impress your local mechanic or HVAC specialist by telling them that saying Freon is not necessarily the same as saying Refrigerant!
Information sources: About.com , Wisegeek.com
by Administrator
May 16, 2011
More and more people are surfing the web on their phones and tablets these days. In fact, did you know that within a couple years more web content will be consumed on mobile devices than on desktop computers? It makes a lot of sense - when you are in need you want to contact someone right now...not when you make it back to a computer to look up the information you need to get help.
With all this in mind we have recently developed a mobile app for your convenience. With our app you will be able to request service, check local weather, watch great do it yourself videos, and lookup information on activities all around Charlotte!
Download the MTB App for Android
Download the MTB App for iPhone
If you aren't into mobile devices you can still contact us here or just call 704-321-9250 and we will take care of you!
If you do download our app and use it please leave a comment to let us know about your experience. We are always looking for ways to improve our customer experience and your feedback is very important to us!
by Administrator
May 2, 2011
Recently there have been three larcenies in Charlotte involving stolen air conditioning units. You can read the full story on WBTV.com here.
I thought this would be good to write about because I am sure that some people out there aren't aware that there is enough copper in an HVAC unit to make it a worthwhile target for scrap metal scavengers.
When we think of copper theft we usually think of the telecom industry and copper lines on utility poles but with the current price of copper at an all time high it can be very lucrative to steal something with even a small amount of copper in it. There are even stories of thieves dying while trying to steal copper lines that are attached to high voltage.
So now you know and knowing is half the battle. We sincerely hope that this awful crime doesn't happen to anyone else but if it does and you need someone to inspect or repair the damaged air conditioning unit we would be happy to help you out.
I think it is helpful to the community to spread the word and try to do our part to help stop this problem. If you know anything about these larcenies you can call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. If you see anyone trying to steal an AC unit, call 911 immediately.
P.S. If anyone out there has been through this and has tips on how to prevent these thefts please share in the comments.