Home Comfort Quarterly - Fall 2021

QUARTERLY

FALL 2021

Home Comfort

A Letter From

STEVE SCHMIDT “I’m hoping we can all sit back, relax and reflect a bit as the holidays are upon us once again.”

There’s so much to be thankful and grateful for this year.

No matter what challenges and curve balls the world has thrown at us, we are here and safe. Our team spent the year learning how to cope with the “new normal” and have made all the changes necessary to ensure our future as a worldclass service company. The most important priority was the comfort and safety of you and your family.

Change and adapt, change and adapt, repeat, repeat…this has been our 2021! We have had so many new issues come up that we have had to deal with that our heads are collectively spinning. Who would have ever thought that if a team member is feeling a little off, they would have to take a COVID test and need three days off while waiting for a result? How do we deal with a team member being exposed to COVID and required to quarantine for 10 days? We hesitate to have team members riding in the same trucks and we have many safe but time-consuming processes in place to protect customers and team members alike. All these challenges and changes (and many more) have been met and conquered by our team.

In the midst of all this turmoil, Frederick Air has stood strong and become an even better community partner. We are here to serve our community and we take that responsibility very seriously. Anytime, day or night, we stand ready to take your calls for service. If you have an emergency at night or on the weekends, you talk to a real person; not a machine. When I say “real person” I mean not only a live voice but a person will respond who lives here and works here. A person who is involved in your community and is most likely raising a family here with you. We continue to prosper and gain local and national attention with awards like the “Bryant National Dealer of the Year”, numerous industry accolades and of course our run of six “Best of the Best” awards from the Frederick News Post. I’m still awaiting the final results to see if we have made it an unprecedented 7 years in a row! Who would have ever thought that almost 30 years ago a young man living in Frederick with a few dollars in his pocket would end up being the best heating and air conditioning company in our wonderful county?

You’ll notice I say “we” and “us” a lot… not “I”. This is because none of this… and I mean NONE of this could be accomplished by one person no matter how motivated or talented. When I have the privilege to stand up and receive an award for the company I always acknowledge our team for good reason; it’s a team accomplishment. You will be seeing members of this incredible team at your homes and businesses in the coming months as we maintain, repair and replace your home comfort systems. When you see someone or even talk to someone on the phone it would be really great if you would mention your appreciation for a job well-done! We talk to people in crises every day.

When your family’s comfort or safety is at risk… it’s a crises. The team does not always hear the thanks and appreciation they clearly deserve. If you can, please take a moment while we are in this season of thankfulness and giving to acknowledge their efforts.

Your words of encouragement will have a much greater impact than you can imagine!

As 2021 comes to a close I want to wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year. However you celebrate and whatever your beliefs, from our entire family at Frederick Air; we wish you a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah!

We are all in this together and I know that with some thoughtfulness, care and consideration;

2022 will be a great year for our collective families.

STEVE SCHMIDT |

PRESIDENT

Happy Holidays!

FROM YOUR FREDERICK AIR FAMILY

Cold Weather is Coming IS YOUR HOME SAFE? It’s important to run down a list of maintenance checks to make sure your home is safe before the cold weather arrives. After all, when it comes to safety, you don’t want to take any shortcuts. That’s why we’ve compiled a list for HVAC system coldweather safety. For a complete cheat sheet that you can use for your home, take a look at the next page.

Know your system

Get a working CO2 detector

Which type of heating system do you have in your

If you use a fossil fuel system (oil or gas) inside your

home? You may have an oil furnace, a heat pump,

home, please make sure that you have a working CO2

or a gas furnace. If you have an emergency heat

detector that will sound an audible alarm if something

setting on your thermostat, the chances are that

is wrong. We cannot smell carbon monoxide, which is

you have a heat pump.

why it is so dangerous. Prevent a tragedy by installing a detector or testing your existing detector.

Ensure there’s no debris in or near your unit

Schedule your winter maintenance

During the fall, leaves and branches can fall near

the air filter. We test every piece of equipment and

your unit and block its airflow. Create at least a

review how the system is functioning as a whole.

2-foot clearance between your unit and the brush.

Here’s a look at everything we do during an HVAC

That will also give our technicians enough space

maintenance appointment.

A maintenance visit is more than just looking at

to do a thorough inspection.

Change your air filter

Four things to check right now

There are many reasons to keep your air filter clean –

Make sure that the heat will kick in when you need

indoor air quality and HVAC system efficiency are two

it. Familiarize yourself with your thermostat. Typically,

of those reasons. It’s likely that your air filter should be

thermostats can be set to cool, heat, or auto. If your

changed every 1-3 months, or every 6 months for more

home is set to “auto” then the heat will kick in when the

elaborate systems. If you receive maintenance from

weather gets cold enough. In the past, we’ve received

Frederick Air then we will check the air filter whenever

calls about the heat not coming on, and sometimes a

we come to your residence.

simple switch of the thermostat can do the trick.

[Read: How to Improve the Efficiency of Your HVAC System] While you’re preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas, make sure that you are also preparing a safe winter home for your loved ones. An inspection of your HVAC system is the best way to ensure that your unit will work properly throughout the cold weather months. Give us a call at 301-663-0300 to schedule your maintenance visit or click here to book online.

Is Your Home Safe for Cold Weather?

HOME SAFETY CHECKLIST

Know what type of heating system you have in your home.

If your heat fails, knowing this can help you get the correct expert out to your home.

Double-check that your thermostat is set to “auto” or “heat.”

If applicable. The right heating mode ensures that it will kick on when you need it.

Change your air filter.

Frederick Air will check your filter when they come out, but chances are that you need to change it more frequently.

Check that your CO2 detector works.

If anything goes wrong with your heating appliance or something else, there will be an audible alarm for safety.

Ensure there is no debris in or around your HVAC unit.

Leaves or yard debris can pile up on the outside of your house. This may cause your outdoor unit to shut off.

Clear any snow or ice that forms near your HVAC unit.

Snow can drift over your unit and prevent it from working properly. Be gentle when clearing, don’t damage your system.

Clean your gutters and check them regularly for blockages.

A blockage can cause water to pile up on your roof and if the water freezes, it could cause damage.

Unhook your garden hoses.

Turn off the outside spickets and drain them so that the pipes don’t freeze.

Check your roof for missing or loose shingles.

It’s best to replace or fix them before the winter arrives.

Bring in any lawn furniture or summer toys.

Secure them behind your snow shovels or salt in your shed or storage area. Winter tools should be easily accessible.

Follow proper safety instructions if using a space heater.

Never plug a space heater into an extension cord and never leave it unattended.

Schedule your winter maintenance.

There’s no better way to make sure that you are prepared for the cold weather.

Understanding Your Emergency Heat Setting The emergency (or auxiliary) heat setting is not for when you feel a bit cold - it is designed to protect you when your system fails or is unable to heat your home in extreme cold weather conditions. Learn how it works and when you should use it by visiting frdair.co/3BEWQrq.

Eight Ways to Celebrate the Holidays There’s something satisfying about sticking around the Frederick area for your holiday fun. The following list will give you a good look at some new activities to partake in along with some family traditions that have been around for years. Part of the enjoyment of this time of year is being able to do something special with friends and family – plus, it’s always exciting to try something new and incorporate it into your holiday routines to make for wonderful memories later.

Longtime Frederick-area holiday enthusiasts may also notice that the Santa Train isn’t on this list. This family-friendly excursion has become so popular that it actually sold out by October! But there’s plenty of other activities for families to enjoy. Let’s start with Frosty Friday.

#1 - Frosty Friday |

NOVEMBER 26TH

The day after Thanksgiving has become the unofficial start of Frederick’s holiday season. People are encouraged to come downtown for a day of shopping and festivities. Parking is free all day which makes it even more inviting to shop local and get good deals. There are all sorts of fun to be had, starting with the official Frosty Friday Breakfast at 8 a.m. Participating restaurants will open early and also have holiday specials. Then, if you’re one of the first 100 people at 30 N. Market at 9 a.m., you’ll receive a free early bird goody bag with various local treasures. The shops will stay open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and you can also take advantage of wrapping and shipping at participating Shop ‘n Ship businesses. Adding to the fun will be live music all day and the Operation Sparkle Scavenger Hunt, where your efforts at spotting certain holiday lights can earn you a $50 Downtown Frederick gift card. After your shopping, bring at least two receipts from Frosty Friday totaling $100 and pick up a special gift to thank you for your participation. At nightfall, more than 100 stores will turn on their lights making it even more enjoyable and magical of an occasion.

#2 - Small Business Saturday |

NOVEMBER 27TH

Consumers are encouraged to shop online and at the big chain stores, but part of the fun is shopping for merchants from your own community. That’s the purpose of Small Business Saturday which runs Nov. 27 in Downtown Frederick. More than 200 locally owned will invite shoppers to get in the holiday spirit by buying local products and services. It also kicks off a whole season of shopping downtown, with free parking on weekends. Participating businesses will also include specials, plus there will be music and fun downtown starting on this day.

#3 - Maryland Christmas Show

#4 - Holiday Train Display

NOVEMBER 26-28TH

NOVEMBER 27TH - DECEMBER 22ND

The 37th annual holiday shopping extravaganza is

The Frederick County Society of Model Engineers

considered the state’s premier Christmas event. It’s a

puts together this free look at an impressive model

two-weekend event, having run last weekend and now

railroad display. The trains can be viewed weekly on

this upcoming weekend, Nov. 26th – 28th. It includes a

Wednesdays and Saturdays Nov. 27-Dec. 22 at 21 East

super selection of holiday gifts for everyone on your list.

Main Street in Thurmont. The fourth-annual showcase

Produced by Your Christmas Day All Time, a Christmas

of Christmas and holiday trains includes so much for all

channel, it has become a favorite tradition in the area.

ages to enjoy. There’s also a sale area where people can start or improve their own sets, plus raffles for different sets and related components.

#5 - Christmas in New Market |

DECEMBER 4TH

A favorite winter tradition and a special way to kick off the season returns Dec. 4. The fun begins with a parade down Main Street at 3 p.m. Then guests are invited to follow the stilt walkers to Candy Cane Lane where they’ll experience a variety of food trucks and outdoor vendors. Kids can visit the Grange to meet with Santa and get their photos taken. There will also be shopping and crafts along Main Street.

One of the highlights is the annual Silent Christmas Tree Auction which takes place at Old City Hall. Finally, there will be carols in the park led by Valerie Vinson, and live nativity. Santa will arrive aboard a fire truck and then officially turn on the community tree.

#6 - Breakfast with Santa

#7 - S’mores with Santa

DECEMBER 4TH

DECEMBER 9-10TH, 16-18TH

The Brunswick Volunteer Fire Department offers a

Whether or not you’ve been good this year, Santa will

breakfast for the community from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on

still enjoy sharing a s’more with you at this event at Rose

Dec. 4th. Crews will put together a hearty spread of

Hill Manor. On Dec. 9-10 and 16-18, people can gather by

pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs and hashbrowns.

a campfire and share a special moment with Santa. This

There will also be opportunities to meet Santa. The

event is designed to be fun as well as adhere to social

meal is free for people up to age 5, then $5 for ages 5-

distancing: only one family will be allowed at a firepit at

up to 10, and $10 for ages 10-99. Craft vendors will also

any given time, and people are encouraged to register

be present. The location is at 1500 Volunteer Drive.

in advance to make sure they secure their spaces.

Families are considered 10 people or less.

#8 - Light Up Frederick |

DECEMBER 5-12TH

Downtown is fun, but it’s also enjoyable to tour some of the impressively decorated home in our community. Many of our friends and neighbors put substantial effort into their best-dressed décor. Some do it for fun, others to win top honors in the annual contest. The homes will be on display from Dec. 5-12, from 5-9 p.m. each evening. People can view the homes from their vehicles or on sidewalks, provided social distancing is observed. Tickets to the home tour can be received by making a donation to Celebrate Frederick and Sophie and Madigan’s Playground. Ticket purchasers can also be entered in a drawing for a special holiday gift.

There’s a lot to celebrate this holiday season. Grab your friends and family and head out to enjoy these events that we weren’t able to do last year. We’re thankful for our community and for you being a part of the Frederick Air Family. Happy Holidays!

WIN A FREE

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CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW AND ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN. We’ll notify the winner no later than December 31st, 2021.

ENTER NOW