PRK Services, Inc. Blog: Archive for December, 2013

New Year’s Traditions Explained

Tuesday, December 31st, 2013

2014 is almost upon us, and with the coming of the New Year, we thought we’d take a brief look at some of the more popular traditions associated with this holiday. It’s been around for at least 4,000 years: as long as we’ve figured out how long it takes for the seasons to come and go. Here’s a quick discussion about some of our more modern traditions and where they started:

  • Auld Lang Syne. The famous song began in Scotland, where it was published by Robert Burns in 1796.  He claims he initially heard it sung by an elderly resident of his hometown, which suggests it has traditional folk origins even before that. It became even more popular when big band leader, Guy Lombardo, started playing it every New Year’s Eve, starting in 1929 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.
  • The Dropping of the Ball in Times Square. The tradition of dropping the ball in Times Square started in 1907. It was made out of iron and wood with light bulbs located on the surface, and the ball originally “dropped” over the offices of the New York Times at One Times Square. Dick Clark famously broadcast the event every year from 1972, until his death in 2012.
  • The Rose Parade. The Tournament of Roses Parade has been held in Pasadena every year since 1890; taking advantage of California’s warm weather to present a parade of floats, bands and horses. A football game was eventually added to the festivities in 1902, when Michigan dominated Stanford’s team by a score of 49-0
  • Baby New Year. The use of a baby to signify the New Year dates back to Ancient Greece, where it symbolized the rebirth of Dionysus (the god of wine and parties). Early Christians initially resisted the pagan elements of the story, but soon came to adopt it since it matched the traditional Christmas symbol of baby Jesus in the manger. Today, people of all faiths and traditions refer to the New Year as a baby, representing new beginnings.

Whatever traditions you choose to celebrate, we here at PRK Services, Inc. wish you the very safest and happiest of New Years. May 2014 bring you nothing but the best!

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Wishing You a Happy and Safe Holiday Season!

Wednesday, December 25th, 2013

It’s the holiday season once again, and everyone at PRK Services, Inc. wishes the very best for you, your family, and your friends. We hope that whatever brings you joy fills these last days of the year.

We’d like to thank all of our customers for giving us the opportunity to provide you with services that improve your lives and help you better enjoy this time with your loved ones. You are the reason that we exist as a company, and that’s something we always keep that in mind. We are eager to work with you in the coming year.

Here’s something to remember for the season: many companies in our industry are very busy on service calls during December—it’s one of the most crowded times of the year. If you need service, make sure you schedule it as soon as possible so you can continue to enjoy the pleasures of this time of year.

Lastly, we at PRK Services, Inc. want to conclude with a thought from the late Earl Nightingale to help remind us all that we do not need to wait for a holiday to have a reason to enjoy or celebrate ourselves, our lives or our family:

Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.

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Why Heating Maintenance Is So Important

Friday, December 20th, 2013

Heating maintenance isn’t quite the same as heating repair. A repair call means coming in to fix a specific problem. The technician may need to pinpoint that problem first, but it’s still addressing something specific, like “the heater is blowing cool air” or “the fan is making a weird noise” or “my heating bill is higher than the gross national product of Bolivia.” Maintenance, on the other hand, is a sort of general tune-up, designed to spot any problems before they get too large and prevent other problems from starting in the first place.

When it comes to heating, Denton, Texas has issues that benefit from maintenance, such as summer dust which can coat the inside of many heating systems. That’s just one of the reasons why heating maintenance is so important.

Most of those reasons boil down to saving you money. Obviously, catching a small problem before it becomes a larger one is an excellent policy. It always costs less to replace one loose bolt than to let the component it’s securing come loose and damage two or three other components in the bargain. Moreover, dust build-up can increase friction in moving parts, as well as caking the heads of burners and reducing their efficiency during the heating cycle. Those problems may not be immediately apparent, but can result in higher bills if they’re not addressed.

Perhaps most importantly, a regular maintenance session cuts down on overall wear and tear, which means your heater will last months or even years longer than it might if you didn’t schedule such maintenance. That’s enough to make any homeowner breathe a little easier, as well as cutting down on worries about unexpected breakdowns.

If you know why heating maintenance is so important, the next step is to contact a trustworthy service to carry it out for you. For heating services in Denton, reach out to PRK Services, Inc. We provide first-rate maintenance services as well as repairs and installation of new heating units. Pick up the phone and call us today to schedule an appointment. You’ll be glad that you did!

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Can My Home Accommodate a Geothermal System?

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Here in Lantana, TX, geothermal heating systems make an attractive alternative to more traditional forms of heating. Geothermal power taps into the ambient temperature of the earth, which doesn’t change no matter what the weather’s like. A series of tubes running through the ground passes a mixture of water and antifreeze, which facilitates a heat exchange with the nearby earth. The results allow you to heat your home cheaply and effectively once the system is installed. But before you put one in, you need to know whether it’s a good fit for your circumstances. “Can my home accommodate a geothermal system?” you ask. A few general guidelines can help you out.

Most geothermal systems are closed-loop system, which means the fluid stays contained within the coils or tubes.  Ideally, they need to be spread out across a horizontal field, which could require a great deal of property space. The presence of a pond or significant body of water doesn’t hurt either, though it’s not necessary.

A horizontal field allows relatively easy access to the tubes in case of repair. You could also plan your geothermal system using a vertical set-up, which plants them down deep shafts instead of across a wide field. This saves on space, but makes repair work much more difficult, since the tube must be removed from the shat (or the repairman dig considerably deeper.

All of that means that you need to have a fair amount of property in order to make a geothermal system practical. The good news is that Texas has its share of big lots – and even if your property isn’t too huge, you can still use a vertical system depending upon the particulars.

If you’re asking “can my home accommodate a geothermal system?” then you should contact a qualified professional. PRK Services, Inc. has experience in dealing with geothermal systems and can provide strong advice before planning and installing your system for you. Geothermal heaters in Lantana are a viable option. Let us guide you through the steps of the process and ensure that you have the right system for your home!

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