PCBs in Caulk and a few good words about the best Air Conditioning Repair Businesses in Las Vegas

Life always has its ups and downs.  For the plumber its the hot chick saying hello on the strip followed by finding out she says hello for money.  It is Las Vegas after all.   For the environmentalist its about seeing all the new studies about PCBs in caulk (all that caulk plumbers and AC men used for years to seal cracks and joints to keep your home comfortable) only to find out once again EPA science lags behind its imagination.  For the record, PCBs were used in caulk until the late 1970’s but as with dioxins in clay pigeons (if your an environmental scientist you’ll understand this) that toxic chemicals that are not bioavailable or not really toxic.

I was think of other chemicals too we use to paint HVAC equipment to prevent corrosion.  There was an interesting article discussing corrosion of metals being significant for HVAC equipment that is difficult to do routine maintenance.  Have you ever noticed your outdoor air conditioning equipment with rust stains.  In the old days, we used paint with lead to protect our HVAC equipment, a guy at Ideal Service told me; since they are good at keeping their air conditioning equipment in good condition, I believe him.    I was talking with another guy at Silverfox who told me about the tin in paint they used on Navy ships.   This got into all sorts of exotic metals such as titanium, tantalum, and zirconium to prevent corrosion of heat exchangers for their air conditioning equipment.   I think Silverfox has some of the best professionals in the HVAC repair business.   The people they have really understand the engineering behind air conditioning for extreme conditions.

So all this brings me back to where I was a couple weeks ago about environmentally friendly refrigerants.   All that freon we used for so many years in air conditioning equipment has created a long-term environmental problem.  But I have faith that the scientists and engineers out there will continue to make air conditioning more environmentally friendly.  I have a lot of thoughts about this and what can be done and some of these ideas are what I tinker with at night.

I also want to write about all the corrosion resistant elements of heat pumps when they are used for heating swimming pools.  The summers in Las Vegas are hot enough that heaters are not needed but the engineering improvements with time are interesting.

Speaking of Summer, I know everybody in Las Vegas will soon be calling their friendly neighborhood air conditioning repair person.   I don’t like to recommend the competition but I am retiring soon, so I need to send the work to the younger AC repair men and women.   I was thinking of ordering some skirts for the repair-women if I can hire one.   For some reason, I only have guys and I’m still old-fashioned and cannot imagine using pants as an AC uniform for a lady.

Number One Plumbing Heating Air Conditioning, 2314 Western Ave, Las Vegas, NV  89102.   Phone: (702) 472-8050.   Email: info@numberonelv.com

Number One is good for AC because they are big and can usually work in small jobs quickly.  They also have good service and well qualified technicians.  They also do plumbing.

Silver Fox Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Heating.   2636 Westwood Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89109.  Phone: (702) 472-8777.    Email: info@silverfoxlasvegas.com

Silver Fox Air Conditioning, Plumbing is good for repair jobs.  They like fixing problems.   They also have an attractive secretary who speaks with a heavy accent.  But even she likes to talk about air conditioning.   I think she has a night job nearby and is trying to make AC Repair her new career.   They are pretty clean-cut honest group that knows what they are doing.  They tend to focus on a few jobs at a time.

Ideal Services has one the prettiest webpages I’ve seen.   You can see they have about 20 young lads working there — all well trained and eager to make their way in the air conditioning field.   I think this guy tries to help disadvantage youth get a career and I like that about them.   I would say they will do you right for air conditioning repairs and the price will be fair.   I know they do plumbing too.

Las Vegas AC – Las Vegas Air Conditioning.  3324 S Highland Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89109.  Phone:   (702) 518-9148.  Email:   Paul@Lasvegas.AC or Info@Lasvegas.AC

My motto is to call me last.   I like the most difficult problems and tend to charge less for the opportunity to work on them.   I will solve those problems that nobody else can.   I will tell you though that if the job is routine I will most likely refer the job to one of my friends.   I love giving air conditioning repair estimates and advice.  I live in the Las Vegas community and am always happy to make new friends.

air conditioning mold, lawyers, and the las vegas airport all have something in common

What do they all have in common?  Another true story about air conditioning.

Probably if you think back to sesame street, you’ll remember what do these things have in common.  Its a thinking exercise for children.   Well lawyers and mold have the most in common, but all three intersected for me in the waiting area of the las vegas airport a few days ago.

Two lawyers were pompously talking the lawyer talk of trying to look smarter than the other on a wide range of topics.  Then the housing market and all the foreclosures came up.  One of the guys said to the other, he made a bundle because he could get a foreclosure and it was always easy to find mold.  He went on to say that it was easy to prove faulty ventilation or air conditioning was the cause of mold in homes.  Proudly, he then explained it was easy to sue air conditioning or HVAC contractors for a bundle.  As I understood it, the slimy attorney (I know a pleonasm) had figured out a way to profit off the homeowner going into foreclosure, the bank holding the foreclosed loan, and still screw the air conditioning guy who worked on the house before the foreclosure happened.   All this in the las vegas airport.   The other lawyer was impressed.   I think humane humans (a non-tautology as I discovered after thinking lawyers versus human to be reminded that humans are not always humane) would be disgusted.    Disclaimer note- I believe the lawyers were both from California.  Lawyers in Nevada are more respectable -and I say this proudly- no legal trickery just bribes.

So now I know why I pay so much for insurance to do my job.   Has anybody ever looked to see if attorneys cross-bred with blood-sucking mosquitoes sometime after arriving in California during the 1890s.

Would it be green to recycle attorney heads as road bumps or would it be silly because people would drive in circles to go back get the missed bumps–thus causing traffic jams instead of merely slowing traffic down?

All that ranting aside, mold is a serious problem in some homes.  Especially in the southeast and houston.   It is bad and EPA says-and I agree with EPA in this case- mold can cause a wide range of illnesses.  Luckily in the dry las vegas area, dust is more of a problem.   I hate to admit when EPA may be partly right about the PM standards and that Herman Cain fellow cited as a reason to get rid of EPA (before his naugty side was reveled)…he said EPA even wants to regulate dust.   Well do a google or bing search on mold if you see mold in your house.  It is harmful.  Hopefully you’ll remember the moral of the story… being a rich and articulate pizza maker does mean you understand science–so ignore Herman Cain when it comes to EPA.

A Happy New Year and A Very Dry One

We have had the driest winter in over 100 years.   I should pull up the farmer’s almanac to see how the summer is going to look.   The hotter it is, the more people ask for air conditioning help.     For some reason, I am slowing down and just don’t have the drive to do field jobs anymore.   The air conditioning market has become very competitive.  In reality, there is probably work enough for all, but there are some greedy bastards out there.   I started noticing fly by night AC shops being advertised recently.   Maybe they are working on other peoples licenses.  But after so many years in this town, I suspect that we have some that are moonlighting.   That’s a big no-no in this town.  Vegas likes to control its contractors and makes a lot of money off the licensing procedure….so if you are not paying the license properly, you better be bribing properly.

All seriousness aside, even this lowly air conditioning man gets calls from Obama supporters about voting and donations.   I really lost my enthusiasm a long time ago.   Basically, the government bailed out the rich people.   Rich people made money by taking high risks.  But when everything fell apart, the government covered the rich.   I bet Geitner and Bernanke are probably the two greatist elitists in the USA and Obama loves them.   At least the old theory was trickle down money….but the Obama theory is to print money for the rich.

I have to admit.  Obama has become a do-nothing president.  He’s bent over to special interests on all sides and in doing so –did nothing.   Obama can argue a lot of hypotheticals to suggest he did something….but he really did nothing.   I look at Newt and Mitt and don’t really get excited.   I’m actually thinking that Sarah Palin should run.   What we need is a revolution of the working class.   Harry Reid needs to go.  Obama needs to go.   But no Mitt and no Newt.

I was hoping to retire by now but it looks the politicians are still too busy lining their pockets.  Its left to the working people to continue to eek out a living.

I started writing this blog to write about AC stuff….and there is much about it.  I missed the big anniversary of the first air conditioner and will write about that bit of important history.

Well folks think wisely about this next election….I really don’t care who you vote for…but let’s vote out all incumbents…..we simply cannot do business as usually no matter how eloquently Mr. Obama says it.

I won’t  be repairing AC units anymore as I am winding down my business …..but I will continue to give advice to people.  I might be going to the Grand Canyon soon for a visit and will let you know if I get any info from the AC repairmen in Arizona.

P.S.  Happy New Year to ALL