This winter has been mild for us here in Indiana, but while we have been enjoying 50 degree days in January, other parts of the country are getting hit hard by winter weather. When you think about dangerous winter weather your first thought isn't usually flooding, but that is exactly what caused an emergency situation in Wildwood New Jersey last month.

If you haven't read the story or seen it on the news, the unbelievable flooding all started as a heavy snow storm. The snow quickly melted away, leaving a river running through most of the northeast. One town in particular faced extreme flooding that caused serious damage to homes, businesses and roadways, Wildwood New Jersey. This coastal town's damage was more than a few iced-over roads or heavy snowfall, the melted snow became a huge flooding issue for North Wildwood, New Jersey. Mayor Patrick Rosenello said flooding reached a record high of 9.26 feet, 6 inches higher than flooding during Superstorm Sandy.

In extreme situations like the one that took place in New Jersey this winter, it might seem like there isn't much to do to prepare, but there is. Preparing your home with a sump pump and regular maintenance is one way to be a little more equipped when weather situations occur.

Sump Pump

Your first line of defense is a working sump pump. Even if you don't live in areas prone to flooding like the eastern seaboard, it's still a good idea to have one in the home just in case. Even here in Indiana, it's not uncommon for basements or homes in low level areas to experience flooding or situations with excess water in places it shouldn't be.

To describe it briefly what a sump pump is, this device pumps ground water from heavy rain out of the pump pit in your basement. A sump pump acts as a huge floor drain and keeps water from getting too deep, perfect for managing flood situations and removing water before it causes more problems for your home.

Backup Pump System

Even the most reliable piece of equipment can malfunction and fail. That's why it is important to invest in a backup sump pump system. A backup sump pump, even a battery-operated style, can begin working if the main sump pump is out of commission. Make sure your equipment is up to date and ready for anything in an emergency situation. Flooding can happen at any time and being prepared with working equipment is your best defense.

Water Commander

An alternative to the sump pump and backup sump pump is the Water Commander. This pump is the best in emergency situations because it uses your home's city water pressure as the source of its pumping energy. It does not depend on battery or electricity, so there is little maintenance needed to keep your home protected from flooding for years.

This month when you purchase a sump pump from Chapman, receive 15% off your service agreement to make sure your equipment is working correctly all year long in case of emergency. Call today 317-291-4909 to schedule an appointment and talk to our professionals about your sump pump options.

Are you ready for winter Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, carries a full line of high efficiency furnaces. Contact us to recommend the best services to your home

The holidays are upon us! We only have a few weeks left before Christmas and everyone is scrambling to finish shopping. We all struggle to find good gifts for the people on our list, this year at Chapman we're making it easier by offering a gift everyone needs, the gift of safety against carbon monoxide.

When thinking about home safety, a few things immediately come to mind; you need a smoke detector, flashlight with extra batteries, a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher. Here at Chapman we know there is another piece of equipment to add to your list to stay safe in the home, a carbon monoxide detector.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that limits air supply in the body when it enters the blood stream. If exposed to carbon monoxide; dizziness, headache, nausea and breathlessness are signs that the gas has entered the blood stream and those exposed are in danger.

CO detectors warn you of carbon monoxide in the home at levels as low as 5 parts per million on each level of your home. Carbon monoxide can come from a few different places in and around your house; many leaks come from faulty heating systems. Make sure to keep your systems running smoothly and schedule regular tune-ups to keep everything in good shape. Slow leaks can affect homeowners before they even know they are being exposed. Without alert, it can be impossible to tell carbon monoxide is present before it's too late. Earlier this year, one of our customers had a situation with carbon monoxide, thankfully no one was harmed but exposure can happen to anyone. Read the full story of how she saved not only her own life, but the life of her neighbor thanks to her CO detector.

Skip the socks and stuff the stockings with the gift of peace of mind, not only for your loved ones but for you too. Be sure that your friends and family are protected against the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning with a top of the line CO detector.

Call Chapman at 317-291-4909 to purchase your carbon monoxide detector. To give the gift of safety a little easier this year we are discounting our CO detectors at $137.00 all through December. High quality CO2 detectors are designed to detect traces of the gas even at low levels. This low-level detection will let you know before any symptoms arise and can save your life.

Happy Holidays from Chapman and remember to stay safe this winter!

Give Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, a call today and have one of our air conditioning contractors come to your home

Before chilly autumn nights set in, make sure your furnace is up to snuff and don't get left out in the cold with a broken heater. The best way to make sure your systems are ready for winter is to have a full fall inspection and tune-up. Without this yearly cleaning and inspection, a system can wear itself out, pump deadly carbon monoxide into your home or simply stop working.

Think about it the way you might think about getting a car tune up, or an oil change. These preventative services could save you a lot of money in the long run and more importantly alert you to problems and keep you and your family safe.

So what exactly goes into a fall tune-up and what kinds of things are we looking for?

Proper Air Flow

Inspecting and cleaning heating systems allows us to remove blockages from the system. This ensures that you feel the full amount of heat your heater is producing. If a block exists and is not removed, the system works harder, uses more energy and wears itself out faster.

Carbon Monoxide Leak

Carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous and difficult to detect (which is why you should always keep a functional CO2 reader in your home). Regularly scheduled maintenance and cleaning reduces your risk of being exposed to carbon monoxide. A full inspection from a professional is the best way to spot leaks or weaknesses in the system.

Reduce Repairs

The more often you have your heating system serviced, the lower the changes are of a big issue or expensive damage. Small fixes are easier on your system and your wallet. You can extend the life of your heater by keeping it clean and fixing small problems when they happen.

Improves Energy Efficiency

Did you know heating and cooling amount to 47% of the energy costs in your home. Proper sealing and insulation can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs, or up to 10% on your total annual energy bill. Proper inspection and cleaning gives you the opportunity to check your home and system for ways to improve efficiency and save money.

Cleaner Home

A clean system will pump cleaner air into your home. Remove dust and allergens during fall to maintain cleaner air in your home through winter. Your home doesn't see much ventilation during the winter months; you want the air recycled through your home to be clean and safe.

Schedule your annual fall clean up today and ensure your home is safe and prepared for winter. Being prepared and making sure your system is running correctly is safer, less costly and much faster than repairing a broken heater in the middle of winter. Give us a call at 317-291-4909 to schedule an appointment.

Looking for air conditioning services contact Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, today

What would you do in an emergency situation at your home? I'm guessing you have a plan and your family knows it as well. Now, what would your babysitter do in an emergency situation in your home? They might not know where to find the first aid kit if they need it. Use this guide to give your babysitter the knowledge they need to keep your kids safe when you're gone.

Contact Information

Contact information needs to be readily available. Not only do they need your phone number and an emergency contact number in case they can't get a hold of you, but phone numbers for other emergency situations. We've created a checklist for some of the numbers your babysitter could need, make sure they have these numbers close by just in case.

Your phone number:

Emergency Contact:

Family Doctor:

Fire/Police Department:

Poison Control:

House Rules

Make sure your babysitter has a lay of the land. Communicate to them how you expect your child to behave when you are out of the house. Follow a routine and keep the same rules in place to help your child feel comfortable without you home.

Home Safety

Bathroom: Make sure all cleaning supplies are locked away, out of the hands of children. Let your babysitter know to pay attention to the amount of time a child spends in the bathroom, it is full of potential hazards.

Kitchen: A child should be supervised at all times while in the kitchen. Meals prepared beforehand or by the babysitter are best. Trust your babysitter to use their best judgment and let them know they are free to reach you or a contact if they need.

Locations

Your family should have a place outside in case of a fire; let your babysitter know where that spot is and how to get there. Additionally, the thermostat, fire extinguisher, first aid kit and a flashlight should all be easily accessible. Prevention is a major player in fire safety so make sure your systems are clean and working properly. If it's time for a tune-up, give us a call at 317-291-4909 to schedule an appointment.

Looking for home heating system installation contractor contact Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, today

An air conditioning system is a pretty big investment. It's one of the most expensive pieces of equipment in your home. So after you have made the decision to invest in a new air conditioner, you want to make sure you properly protect it. Keep your air conditioning system safe by installing at 5-2-1 Surge Protector.

So what is the purpose of a 5-2-1 Surge Protector anyway? Well, it actually has multiple purposes. First, it protects your air conditioning system from power surges. The 5-2-1 Surge Protector is designed specifically to interrupt any power surges so they never reach your equipment, causing it to malfunction. Lightning and storms are big causes for power surges. Have you ever been home during a storm and noticed your lights flicker? That is caused by harmful energy produced by lightning strikes and other power line transients. These power surges can be very damaging to your HVAC system resulting in costly repairs.

The 5-2-1 Surge Protector provides protection for multiple systems; HVAC unit, furnaces, heat pumps, motors refrigeration systems and electro-mechanical devices. If you want your home appliances to last, you need to invest in protecting them. The 5-2-1 Surge Protector will keep your larger, more expensive appliances safe, while saving you money in the long run. Do you have more questions about the 5-2-1 Surge Protector? Give us a call at 317-291-4909 today.

Give Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, to provide air conditioning services for your home today

You wouldn't dream of living somewhere without a smoke detector, but many people don't realize that having a carbon monoxide detector (also known as a CO detector) is just as important. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that can build up from every day sources like gas stoves, idling cars, improperly vented gas fireplaces or even from your furnace. It's colorless and odorlessand deadly.

We almost always recommend installing a CO detector in any home in which we work. It's simply part of the basic safety equipment every family should own. Recently, we heard from a customer about how our insistence on the detector saved her life and the life of her elderly mother.

After installing a new furnace for the Indianapolis family, our technician noticed they did not have a carbon monoxide detector. He advised them that installing a CO detector was prudent, even with a new furnace. They agreed and he installed the detector.

A few months later, they woke in the wee hours of the morning to the beeping of the detector. They felt sick, with nausea, headaches and coughsall classic symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. They called the fire department, and when they arrived, the firemen noticed very high CO readings in the attic they shared with two other condos. They woke their elderly neighbor, who did not have a carbon monoxide detector, and found that she had left her car idling in her garage for more than 24 hours. The exhaust had vented into our customer's home.

We'll let the customer tell you in her own words what this incident meant to her:

The firemen said that the CO detector saved our lives and we agree. We are most grateful for the service technician who sold us the CO detector. Had we slept through the deadly gas at those levels, we would have been dead by morning. Plus, the firemen thought that her overheated car could have caused a fire. Her car had just run out of gas or the CO level could have been worse.

Thanks for explaining the safety needs for our CO monitor. CO monitors do save lives!

Now, you might be tempted to run out and buy a detector from your local home improvement store, and that is better than nothing. However, store-bought CO detectors typically don't trigger until there are extremely high CO levels for at least three hours. Especially in homes with children, the elderly or those with respiratory conditions, those levels can easily cause long-term impairment or death before you're even aware there is a problem. Have a low-level CO monitor installed that can sense particle levels as low as 5 parts per million on each level of your home. It's the best way to keep you and your family safe.

Questions about carbon monoxide or having a detector installed in your home? Contact us today.

Call us today and schedule your appointment 317-291-4909

Looking for air conditioning services contact Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, today

The wait is over! You can finally leave your house without wearing 10 layers of clothing and still shivering. Spring is here which means it's time to get organized. Get started on your spring cleaning early this year with our spring cleaning check list.

1. Dust Your Home

Grab your duster and get to work! Dust gathers all over your home. From light fixtures to tabletops and windows, dust is everywhere. Begin your spring cleaning by thoroughly dusting the entire house. Then it will be easy to vacuum up any remaining particles and do light dusting each week to keep the house clean throughout the year.

2. Create a Fire Safety Plan

Fire safety is incredibly important. Create a plan with your family to make sure you know what to do and where to meet in case of emergency. Test each of your smoke detectors to see if they need to be replaced or need new batteries. Also, it's always a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher in the house. If you have a babysitter who regularly watches your children, make sure you fill them in on your new fire safety plan. That way you will feel comfortable everyone in your house knows what to do in case of an emergency.

3. Clean Your Gutters

Don't forget about your gutters! April showers are coming and your house needs to be prepared for any heavy rain. During the winter months gutters collect a lot of debris from your roof, surrounding trees and anything that may have been frozen. Making sure your gutters are clean is important because clogged gutters can destroy the structure of your home. Avoid spending hundreds of dollars repairing or replacing your gutters this spring by cleaning them out now!

4. Get Your HVAC Checked

Don't wait until the hottest day in July to call about your broken air conditioner. Get a head start and prepare yourself for the extreme temperatures of summer by calling in the professionals ahead of time. This leaves time for your HVAC system to be thoroughly checked and create a repair plan if necessary!

Get organized this year and start your spring cleaning now! By completing each of these tasks you will be ahead of the game and ready to relax when the warm weather arrives. Are you ready to schedule your HVAC maintenance appointment? Great! Visit our website or give us a call at 317-291-4909 today!

Give Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, to provide hvac services for your home today

So the worst scenario has happened and something is wrong with the plumbing within your concrete slab. You're not sure what is happening, but you have made the first step to fix the problem by calling a professional. Here are a few things you need to mentally prepare for during a concrete slab repair.

First, the plumber will ask why you think there is a leak in the concrete foundation. Then the water in the house will need to be turned off by the plumber in preparation for specialized listening equipment the plumber will use. This equipment will listen for any leaks or inconsistency within the pipes.

When the leak or problem is discovered a plumber will use this technique to fix the problem:

Jackhammer Approach

The jackhammer approach is very inconvenient to home owners, but may be the best way to fix the problem. Where ever the leak is detected a square of your home will need to be cut and removed. Then a jackhammer will be utilized to break through the concrete slab to gain access to the pipes. For this approach, make sure to factor in the costs of repairing the floor that was damaged. Be prepared for loud noises and to avoid the area for the duration of the repairs.

Concrete slabs leave no room for short cuts or quick fixes. Repairing plumbing within a concrete slab is expensive, time consuming and can happen any time of year. Expect any damage in your slab to take at least a week's worth of inspection and labor to be completed. When a leak occurs, call Chapman to determine the best option for your home. For more information about concrete slab leaks or repairs, give us a call at 317-291-4909 or visit our website today!

Give Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, to provide plumbing services for your home today

Concrete slabs are a stabilizing base for building homes. They are usually found in homes built in California and Texas. It became a trendy building technique during the 90's and early 2000's in the Midwest. It's not a common technique in most of the country, but it's important to know if your home was built on a concrete slab.

If your home was built on a concrete slab it not only maintains a stable base during construction, it also keeps all your plumbing in place. But what happens when something shifts? Damage coming from the slab can be extremely hard to detect, but we are here to make it easier. How do you discover a plumbing leak within a concrete slab? Keep reading.

1. Wet or Damp Floors

After slipping off your shoes, you might notice some dampness under your feet. Damp or wet areas of flooring can be indicators of a plumbing leak. The water escapes the pipes within the slab and starts rising to the surface. It may also cause an elevated or bubbled area of flooring. If you see this you need to contact Chapman immediately!

2. Sound of Rushing Water

If you hear the sound of rushing water and no one is taking a shower or running a bath, you've got a problem. While the water hasn't reached the surface of your flooring, it may be flowing around the pipes instead of within them.

3. Increased Water Bill

Your water bill comes in the mail and BOOM, you notice your bill is $50 more than the previous month. Pick up the phone and get a plumber on the scene. A larger water bill may be an indicator that water is escaping the pipes which is increasing your water usage.

Fixing a plumbing system within a concrete slab can be tricky, but Chapman has the expertise to make it as smooth as possible. If your home is built on a concrete slab, stay on your toes for indicators that something may be wrong. For more information about concrete slab leaks or repairs call us at (317) 207-9378 or visit our website today!

Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, your source for qualified plumbing contractors