Spring Home and Garden - West/Northwest

Features 3

Gardening with a purpose takes root

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Color the new year with trends for 2011

Check out the top 2011 gardening trends.

See what’s hot in home decorating.

Featured businesses Roof Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Otten Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Karen’s Basket Factory . . . . . . . . . . 5 Wes-Par Rental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 White Oak Lawnmower . . . . . . . . . 7 Stonebridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Western Hills Builders . . . . . . . . . . 9 Perfection Handyman . . . . . . . . . .10 Bridgetown Hardware . . . . . . . . . 13 Ceramic Tile Outlet . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Affordable Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Contact Spring Home & Garden is an annual advertising-sponsored magazine published by the Specialty Publications Department of The Community Press/ The Community Recorder.

Questions and comments can be sent to Editor Melissa Stewart c/o The Community Press/ 394 Wards Corner/Loveland, OH 45140 or e-mail mhayden@communitypress.com.

For advertising information call 687-4614.

March 2011 West | Northwest

TOP 2011 GARDENING TRENDS

From containers with climbing vines, flowers and veggies to vertical walls blooming with edibles and foliage, plants are growing up.

Beautiful native plants, like Solidago “Solar Cascade” from North Creek Nurseries, are great for attracting wildlife in your backyard.

Orchids are perfect choices for affordable, colorful plants that look as comfortable in 21st-century homes as they did in Victorian days.

Blended containers in front yards with herbs and veggies provide a one-two combo that can’t be beat for freshness and convenience.

Home & Garden

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Gardening with a purpose takes root Put on your garden gloves and join in the fun because “gardening with a purpose” is taking root.

The purpose may be to grow your own food or create urban sanctuaries, but planting for a greener good is changing neighborhoods and communities – one garden at a time.

According to the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, homeowners are growing more of their own food – more herbs, vegetables and fruit trees – both in dedicated vegetable gardens and mixed in the garden among flowers and shrubs.

But it’s not just food production that’s driving today’s gardener.

As backyard conservationists, gardeners are transforming yards, gardens, rooftops and even urban alleys into green and productive spaces.

Here’s a glimpse of what Susan McCoy, garden trend spotter, sees for 2011.

Gardening with a purpose Nine out of 10 households want to manage their lawns and gardens in an environmentally friendly way, according to the National Gardening Association.

“Gardens continue to reflect awareness of how our landscapes enhance and improve the environment around us,” Patricia St. John, president of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, says of this trend.

Since healthy plants start with healthy soil, people are looking for sustainable and organic soils like OMRI-listed, compost-based, premium-blend potting soil from Organic Mechanics Soil Company.

This all-purpose premier blend is good for all your plants and good for the earth.

sively available from North Creek Nurseries, part of The American Beauties Native Plant collection, are low-maintenance plants that attract wildlife and beneficial pollinators like butterflies, bees and birds.

Proceeds benefit the National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat Program.

Sustainable containers For small space gardens, growing food in containers makes sense.

Blended containers with herbs and veggies provide a one-two combo for freshness and convenience.

And, containers blooming with natives, re-bloomers and ornamental grasses beautify spaces and benefit the environment.

Succulents Dry gardening using less water is bubbling across the nation.

Attractive and low-maintenance succulents have showy flowers and thick, fleshy foliage that stores water like a camel’s hump.

Drought-tolerant and able to thrive in a variety of conditions, succulents look great in small gardens and large landscapes.

Get ideas from Costa Farms on varieties that you can mix with perennials, containers and standalone or in roof gardens.

Indoor gardening

From “steampunk” Victorian hipster decor rocking among young urbanites to upscale suburban homes, decorating with houseplants like orchids, ferns and palms is hot.

Chic and easy to grow, orchids add a lavish touch to any room.

Plus these hard-working beauties clean indoor air of volatile organic compounds and provide oxygen.

Phalaenopsis (moth) orchids as Eco-scaping well as other varieties are perfect The move to de-lawn large choices for affordable, colorful tracks of turf and transform lawns plants that look as comfortable in into sustainable landscapes is 21st-century homes as they did in achievable with the right plants that Victorian days. use less water and pesticides.

To learn more about the health Beautiful native plants like benefits of indoor houseplants, Solidago “Solar Cascade,” exclucheck out www.O2forYou.org.

Growing up with vertical gardening “Vertical gardens are becoming increasingly popular and will grow far beyond anything we can envision,” says Joe Zazzera, with Plant Solutions, Inc. and Green Plants for Green Buildings (GPGB.org).

“Businesses are seeing the productivity, environmental quality and return on investment that indoor plantings and vertical living walls are bringing to their projects.”

From containers with climbing vines, flowers and veggies to vertical walls blooming with edibles, plants are growing up.

Urban farming and CSAs In step with the move to reinvigorate communities, urban farming and Community Supported Agriculture farms (CSAs) are springing up nationwide. Urban farming “micro-farms” are converting small spaces in blighted areas into thriving farms that grow fresh produce for inner city communities.

CSAs offer fresh produce and provide the chance to learn about varieties, maintaining plants and sharing experiences.

New urbanism Sustainable urban communities that offer spots to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle are on the rise.

Planting water-wise plants, collecting rainwater, building walkable streets, and fostering diversity of shops, homes and apartments with less turf and more plants encourages better stewardship of the earth, and reconnects everyone as fellow stewards of resources and communities.

“We had trouble wrapping our heads around saving the rain forests,” says McCoy, “But we clearly can wrap our arms around saving our own backyards. Digging and planting gardens brings awareness that we’re all Earth’s caretakers.”

For a complete look at the Garden Media Group 2011 Garden Trends visit: www.gardenmediagroup.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Home & Garden

West | Northwest

Don’t delay – it’s Roof Time now It’s going to be a busy season for roofers because of record winds, rainfall, and accumulating snow, many roofs in the area are “devastated,” explained JD Shoemaker of A New Roof Time.

Also in the current economic climate, there’s a movement to “improve, not move” mentality by homeowners. More and more people are choosing to invest in their house by adding attic insulation and changing their roofs to shingles that resist ugly black stains and strong winds that are rampant in the Ohio valley. In addition to the beauty and comfort these type of improvements create, homeowners also receive the added benefit of improved property value should they ever decide to sell.

At Roof Time, spring has sprung. Their roof crews are booked through the first of April and their estimators have been busy preparing new estimates since the first of the year. Their

company keeps busy year round due to their “approved insurance vendor” status with many agents and the fact that they have a booth in three home shows.

A New Roof Time is a wise choice for homeowners looking for honest, skilled work. They have earned the prestigious Angie’s List award every year since 2006. Fewer than 5 percent of the roofing companies in Cincinnati receive this award; fewer than 2 percent win it with consistency. Their A-plus rating as members of the BBB and complaint-free record proves that homeowners can trust them to do everything they promise.

“It is our No. 1 priority to always do the right thing by our customers,” stated JD Shoemaker.

Roof Time is also one of only three contractors in the Tristate that are Owens Corning certified as “Top of the House” insulationventilation-roofing experts. “We exclusively recommend and

install the Owens Corning line of products,” explained Shoemaker.

“Homeowners know and trust the OC brand, plus the quality, price and selection are second to anything else out there.”

Roof Time crews are required to always be up to date on the newest products, technology and codes, through company paid seminars and certifications’ annually conducted by Owens Corning. The company also uses qualified estimators that do not work on commission. This ensures that the customer always receives an honest estimate.

“We’re not the biggest company,” said Shoemaker. “There are some that have been around longer, some that are cheaper, some that are more expensive, but there is not a company that will provide the level of detail or work as hard for a homeowner as we will.”

Most roofing companies can only be reached weekdays 8 a.m.

to 5 p.m. The reality, however, is that a storm can happen on nights, weekends, and holidays.

“If you need us we’re there,” said Shoemaker. “We know if someone is calling it means they need help, so we forward our office lines to an emergency cell to be available.”

Roof Time provides free written estimates and will explain what they can do to fix a home’s issues. Services include new roofs, roof repairs, attic insulation, and seamless gutters, and are among the best in the city.

They also are box gutter experts and love working on older homes. Their use of digital cameras, satellite measurements, and thermal camera scans allow them to provide “to-the-inch measurements for to-the-penny pricing’ Visit the website at www.newrooftime.com or call 513-753-8463 to get a free inspection of your roof, attic insulation or gutter system.

Just before the spring growing season is the ideal time to prune trees and shrubs, because the trees can quickly heal and regenerate once Hot home tips & facts they start growing.

As interest grows in living more efficiently, people are building smaller homes. In fact, new homes are now 7 percent smaller than they were the previous year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Trendy kitchen color palettes. Bold expression: Exuding optimism, this palette creates a look that is both unconventional and energetic. Unique color mixes, such as intense purple combined with butterscotch and Capri blue, or sunny orange with dark red balanced against a soft neutral like champagne, create a space that's eclectic, yet warm and welcoming.

March 2011

Home & Garden

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Otten Painting and Blinds provides hard-to-come-by service An experienced, reliable painter is hard to come by. So, when you find one with 18 years of experience and a long list of happy customers, you better snag him up!

Otten Painting and Blinds has been providing personalized customer service and quality work to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky businesses and homeowners for more than a decade.

Owner Brian Otten, has been in the industry since 1993 learning the trade with Porter Paints and then starting his own business in 2002.

Otten Painting specializes in interior

and exterior painting and custom blind installation.

Every year in the spring there is a high demand for exterior work.

Otten’s services include cleaning and pressure washing decks, wood fences, play sets, porches, trim work and entire houses and then painting or staining them. They can also professionally clean roofs.

Otten Painting and Blinds is fully insured and can provide you with a free estimate within days.

Call today to schedule an appointment – 325-7762.

Weave your own Easter basket or purchase one made by Karen at Karen’s Basket Factory.

Karen’s Basket Factory hosts Easter basket classes There is still time to weave your own Easter basket at Karen’s Basket Factory; or, make them for your children or grandchildren.

Easter basket classes (and other basket classes) and kits are available at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

You can complete your beginner project in

approximately three hours and have a treasure to last a lifetime.

But if you feel you would rather not weave your own, you can purchase one already made

by Karen.

Stop by to see basket samples and many decorative home accessories and gift items for Easter and spring.

Or, try a new candle fragrance to freshen your home. Six lines of candles are available: McCall’s, Keeper’s of the Light, Warm Glow, 1824 Candles, 1803 Candles (soy) and Swan Creek Candles (soy).

There are also monthly candle specials! Call 2451100 for more information and hours of operation.

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Home & Garden

West | Northwest

Tackle spring projects with Wes-Par Rental Cincinnati homeowners have come down with spring fever! And the partnership of Wes-Par Rental Station and Bear’s Mulch makes it so easy to tackle all of your spring projects.

Both companies are family owned and operated by Steve and Michele Wessels. After spending 18 years on River Road, the Wessels returned to their original roots in Sayler Park and are now located next to McDonald’s.

Like the village they are located in, their facility has a safe, family-friendly showroom. The Wessels are proud to be a part of the Sayler Park community and take pride not only in their community involvement but also in keeping the community attractive through curb appeal and welcoming new neighbors and friends.

With Spring fever in high gear WesPar has a wide variety of tools for all of your landscaping projects. Customers can affordably rent aerators, slicer/seeders, tillers, chain saws, dethatchers, Bobcat Loaders and Excavators and much more.

They are there to help every step of the way from their door to yours by helping choose the right tool for each project and providing clear instructions on how to safely operate the equipment.

Wes-Par can also fill your propane tank while you wait.

This year Bear’s Mulch & Wes-Par Rental unveil a Gallery of unique

Call 687-4614 to advertise in the 2012 Home & Garden

Artistic Chain Saw Carvings, including an Indian Chief, a 6-foot tall Eagle, a beautiful crane, owls, bears, rustic benches and wall signs. Each piece is an original work of art and most are signed by the artists who travel all over the United States carving and competing.

Wes-Par and Bear’s realize that outdoor spaces have truly become living spaces of the home and strive to help homeowners create these areas with the right tools and products. Bear’s Mulch has a wide selection of bulk materials such as shredded topsoil, dyed black or red mulch, a rich organic brown mulch and natural hardwood mulch.

They also carry pine straw and many products in bags such as potting soil.

Spring provides another opportunity to grow new grass and Bear’s has you covered with grass seed, seed starter and straw.

The customer base of Wes-Par and Bear’s is a good mix of homeowners and landscaping companies. They look forward to welcoming customers through their doors and are always proud when a new customer comes on recommendation from others.

They will deliver your tool rental or mulch selection directly to your home.

They accept all credit cards. Wes-Par and Bear’s Mulch is open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information call 941-0266 or 941-3339.

March 2011

Home & Garden

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Beat the rush, visit White Oak Lawnmower Shop now It’s that time of year again for that much-needed servicing on your lawn and garden power equipment.

The season will be here sooner than you think and at the White Oak Lawnmower Shop, they do get busy when it hits.

That’s why they promote service specials at this time of year to enhance your effort to come in now. Pick-up and delivery may be available for a minimal fee.

Beat the rush!

They would also like to take this time to explain servicing on a

lawnmower. Every year they have some customers come in and say, “I can service my own mower for less than $39.” They’re asked just what do they do when they service their lawnmower.

The customer replies he changes the oil and air filter and sharpens the blade. A service is in more detail, however, and your mower will perform better and longer.

For instance, that blade the customer has sharpened: Did they balance it? How about the RPMs which gives a mower its

power? Most mowers, especially mulching mowers will drop RPMs as the season goes along and you won’t even realize it.

Most mowers should be set at 3,100 RPMs. After a year of use, most mowers show an average of 2,600 RPMs. With that, customers say, “What do you do when you service a lawnmower?”

Well, they’re told how White Oak Lawnmower Shop has a 15point checklist some of them on the list are, sharpen and balance the blade, change the oil and air

filter, readjust the linkage, torque down the head, reset the RPMs, check self-prop operation belts, adjust cables, check compression.

White Oak Lawnmower Shop is family-owned and operated and has been servicing the West Side of Cincinnati for more that 40 years.

They have factory trained technicians and are a master service center for most small engines on the market.

Don’t wait, beat the rush! Call 385-4397. The shop is located at 3590 Blue Rock Road at Banning.

Color the new year with trends for 2011 What’s in store for home decorating in 2011?

No matter what your taste, you’ll have no problem finding a hue in the 2011 forecast of popular paint colors to fit your lifestyle … and your tastes.

“The 2011 color forecast contains some extraordinarily versatile and contrasting hues that have been inspired by everyday life,” said Donna Schroeder, color marketing and design manager for Dutch Boy Paints.

“The depth and range of what we’re predicting to be next year’s most popular colors provide extensive options for adding accents to a room, changing themes and styles, or even completely redecorating from scratch,” she said.

The five 2011 trend palettes are as follows:

the elements. There is a strong influence of holding onto heritage as we continue to move forward and look to the future. A true appreciation of craftsmanship and natural materials and finishes abounds. As such, rusty colors that emanate deep warmth are featured.

These include: Brick Fleck, Bittersweet Orange, Nature’s Way and Chestnuts Roasting.

Worn

Rebirth

The appreciation of old and naturally rusted or decayed items is prevalent in Dutch Boy’s first palette. The passage of time is held sacred, and beauty is seen in all things weathered from time and

Sustainability and the respect for the environment are now a lifestyle.

There’s a sense of personal responsibility when it comes to nature. This is reflected in these saturated and wholesome colors.

Rich greens are nature inspired and warm golds mirror the vegetables found in a farmers market. Colors in this palette include the following: Aubusson Vine, Endless Ocean, Brilliant Impression and Nectar.

Wonder Escapism and naturein-the-extreme drive the next trend. There’s a definite need for fun and fantasy to satisfy that inner child that’s in all of us.

This trend comes to life with colors such as bright fuchsia, deep blue and cheery aqua, all balanced by a nature-inspired green. You’ll find a hint of

See COLOR on page 9

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CreativeLiving

March 2011 West | Northwest

Home & Garden

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History of Western Hills Builders Supply Company Although Western Hills Builders Supply Company has always sold building supplies, Julius Ratterman originally founded the company in 1920 as Western Hills Fuel and Supply Company. At that time, the company’s main focus was coal and feed.

After World War II, Robert Ratterman bought the company from his father. The coal business was declining, so Robert shifted the focus to building supplies.

When Robert passed away in 1984, his son Russ took over the company. In 1998, Russ decided to move Western Hills Builders Supply from its original location on Ferguson Road to a new, more convenient location right next to the highway. W.H.B.S. has been operating at 6801 Harrison Ave. in Dent for more than 12 years now.

Western Hills Builders Supply has always adapted to building

Western Hills Builders Supply has always adapted to building and economic changes to better serve their loyal customers.

and economic changes to better serve their loyal customers. Over the years the company has increased product offerings to diversify its inventory. W.H.B.S. now carries nearly 3,000 different items, including brick, block, cul-

COLOR | From 7 1980s influence here, but the combinations are much newer to the eye.

Colors include the following: Moonlit Sky, Rockets, Merlot Grape and Victory Red.

Functionality On the flip side, there are those who embrace a truly practical way of living and look into the depths and layers of nature. Within this trend, texture is key and colors are soft and faded.

Windswept and washed effects and monochromatic layering set this palette. Colors include the following: Boardwalk Blue, Composed Bloom, Spruce Hollow and Range Brown.

Abyss The last 2011 trend revolves around technology. Here, technology

influences a stripped-tothe-bone or cellular level of design. The color palette reflects a void element, as we move into the future and become ever more reliant on online and virtual communication. Colors are neutral and gray and include the following Dutch Boy hues: Gargoyle Shadow, Fresh Linen, Pursuit of Happiness and Piccolo.

Courtesy of ARA Content

tured stone, retaining walls, pavers, concrete products, steel and much more.

They use their fleet of trucks to deliver materials across the Tristate area in a timely manner.

They are also able to deliver

mulch, gravel, topsoil and sand to help customers finish their projects quickly and correctly.

W.H.B.S has been family-owned for more than 90 years, and it looks forward to serving Greater Cincinnati for years to come.

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Home & Garden

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Invite the Perfection Handyman experts into your home We have all spent the last three months cooped up in our houses and most of us have put together a list of needed home improvement projects a mile long. Now it’s time to bring in the experts!

Perfection Handyman can handle all of your home repairs, remodels and maintenance needs.

Their business grew naturally from their sister company, Perfection Pest Control, because those customers were always asking for handyman suggestions from issues that had arisen from their pest issues. Both companies are owned and operated by Tim Leatherman who has been serving Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati for over a decade.

Leatherman and his team of highly experienced professionals would often times see termite damage and would recommend

that their customers fix those issues and also install other preventative measures like door and window stripping. It only made sense to expand their services to include home repairs so that their customers could receive quality pest control along with quality handyman repairs.

Perfection Handyman can do just about anything including patch drywall, install electric fixtures, plumbing, hang new doors and build decks and porches.

Over the last several years they have become experts at installing screen porches.

They use a system called Screen-Eze that comes with a 10year warranty. This product can continuously stretch screen over a 150-square-feet area without support in between.

Another great service that Perfection offers their customers is a maintenance plan that takes the burden off the homeowner to

perform routine mundane tasks.

Perfection’s maintenance plan can be taken advantage of on a quarterly, bi-annual or annual routine and includes a full home inspection on such things as changing filters and checking the hot water heater.

Free estimates are offered on all of your projects and all forms of credit cards are accepted.

The entire staff at Perfection Handyman is committed to providing the same quality service that Perfection Pest Control is known for delivering. The Pest Control company was given the Super Service Award for 2010 from Angie’s List. They are also Quality Pro Certified, a designation given by the National Pest Management Association for a company’s exemplary business ethics and standards.

Perfection Pest Control offers residential and commercial pest control services for termites,

ants, cockroaches, fleas, rats, bats and bed bugs. Spring is the time to treat your home for ants and termites and a regular preventative maintenance plan is the best solution to keeping your home free of these pests.

Perfection has been treating for bed bugs for over five years and was the first Kentucky based company to use a certified bed bug detection K-9 team. Beddy and Sofy are single-scent trained dogs certified through the Action Canine Institute in Michigan.

Beddy and Sofy team up for a highly thorough inspection and can find one bed bug (or a viable egg) in a room in 8 to 10 minutes.

Perfection K-9 Services can efficiently search not only private residences but also theaters, office buildings, hotels, university dorms, and hospitals.

Perfection also provides semi-

See PERFECTION on page 11

March 2011

Home & Garden

62 years of trusted service Bridgetown Hardware is a familiar name on the West Side. It’s a name that has been trusted for 62 years to provide quality service and affordable prices.

While big box stores are going out of business the privately owned Bridgetown Hardware is holding its own.

“We don’t have lawn

furniture or appliances, but we have more real hardware at better prices then any big box,” said owner Doug Lindle.

Over the years Bridgetown Hardware has grown from 1,200-squarefeet to over 8,000-squarefeet with two floors of product.

Bridgetown Hardware is committed to providing

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those “better” products that can’t be found at big box stores. They are serviced by the largest independent wholesaler in the world so they are able to offer a variety of product at a very reasonable cost.

For more information, visit 35-year manager Steve Meyer at 5555 Bridgetown Road, or call 574-4510.

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PERFECTION | From 10 nars for businesses interested in educating their employees on bed bugs.

Perfection Pest Control’s services include a treatment proposal and instructions on pest management.

They provide a planetfriendly approach to pest management and ongoing preventive inspections to keep your property protected. They

always respond promptly and you can rely on their team to always be professional and on time.

For more information on Perfection Pest Control and Handyman visit their website at www.perfectionpest.com or call 859525-8560 for a trained professional to assess your handyman needs or pest control issues.

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Home & Garden

West | Northwest

Old-time service, modern-day technology There is a difference between professional quality contractors who care about their customers, employees, and community and “fly by night” contractors.

Affordable Comfort Inc.’s mission is to be a professional quality contractor who provides “oldtime” service using modern-day technology for all your heating and cooling needs.

Jeff Schafer, the owner of Affordable Comfort Inc. grew up on the West Side of Cincinnati and still lives in the area. He has been in the heating and cooling business for more than 30 years.

In 1996, he started his own business to offer affordable quality service to customers and named it Affordable Comfort, Inc. He moved the business from his home to its current location on North Bend Road in Monfort Heights in 2006. In 2008, he purchased Duncan Heating and Cooling, also a West Side compa-

ny, which had been in business since 1962. Together, they have been serving the Greater Cincinnati area for more than 50 years. Now they are combined into one company to serve all your heating and cooling needs!

Affordable Comfort Inc. services all makes and models of furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, air conditioners, air cleaners, air purifiers, humidifiers, and water heaters.

They have a duct cleaning truck to bring your indoor air quality to its best. They offer annual service maintenance programs to keep our equipment working safely and at its maximum efficiency.

They use flat rate pricing so that you will know the cost of repair up front, with no hidden charges. They aim to meet and exceed all your heating and cooling needs. You can visit them on the Web at www.affordablecom-

Affordable Comfort Inc.’s mission is to be a professional quality contractor who provides “old time” service using modern-day technology for all your heating and cooling needs. fortinc.com.

With the forecast of continually rising energy prices, it is important to keep your equipment operating at the highest efficiency possible, or to consider replacing aged, inefficient systems with new premium efficiency equipment.

You could save up to 40 percent off your energy bill by using new high efficiency equipment.

On select new high efficiency equipment, you can still receive up to $500 back from the government and up to $400 from local utilities for select equipment.

Affordable Comfort, Inc. is proud to be a member of the Better Business Bureau and Jeff Schafer, owner, is currently serving on the Board of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA).

Affordable Comfort Inc.’s service hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Phones are monitored outside of regular hours for emergencies. Call them at 574-6660 or 471-4242, or e-mail them at affordablecomfort@fuse.net.