Recent Blog Posts in 2010

Maintenance on your electric solar system is simple but must be done routinely in order for your system to be effective.

Cleaning the Solar Modules

Every 3 months it is necessary to have someone clean the surface of each solar module.  The first thing you will need is a supply of clean, soft cotton rags and a hose (with a pistol grip sprayer) long enough to reach your solar array.  Note; make sure whoever is providing the service is good on ladders and not afraid of heights.

Step 1

Note down the output on the LED read out for your solar inverter.  These figures will improve once all the modules are cleaned.

Step 2

Set up your ladder for access to the roof and extend your hose so that it will be easy to put up on the roof.

Step 3

Turn on the hose and pull it over to the solar array and rinse each module surface thoroughly.  This will clean the majority of debris as well as soften anything that is stuck to the surface. Be sure not to use any soaps, detergents or solvents to clean your solar modules as this will damage the surface of the module.

Step 4

With a wet, clean, cotton rag gently wash the surface of each solar module and thoroughly rinse.  Make sure not to apply too much pressure to the surface of the module as this could crack the glass surface.  Note, drying the surface of each solar module is not necessary.

Step 5

After you have thoroughly washed all of your solar modules and removed your hose from your roof go to your solar inverter and note the LED read out.  This should have improved.

Step 6

Make sure that any trees, bushes or plant life is kept trimmed so as not to interfere with the sun's rays reaching the solar modules throughout the day.

Keeping your solar panels clean throughout the year will go a long way in reducing your electric costs.  At RWT we happily provide this service to our customers which costs about $200 per system.  If you should find your electrical bill has suddenly gone up with out any substantial additional consumption, contact an authorized solar repair company like RWT Design & Construction to trouble shoot, repair and get your system back operating at top performance.  We have been authorized by Earthsafe since August 2002 and we are fully qualified to maintain, repair, service and install new solar electric systems.

Click here to view our certification.

We at RWT Design & Construction are experts in the area of solar maintenance, repair and installation.  Please give us a call if you have any question or need any help in this area.  We are your local Burbank Contractor and LA Remodel experts.

Musicians and recording engineers can save tens of thousands of dollars by building an in home recording studio.  With the cost of professional studios rising building your own in- home recording studio can be a viable option.

First thing you should do is check with your local government agency to make sure your recording studio can be legally permitted and installed.

Next, put together a budget of what it is you would like to spend on your recording studio.  Note, a min budget of 5,000 would be needed to even get started and 20,000 to 50,000 would be the average cost for a home recording studio.

The basic set up for a home recording studio is building a box within a box.  You basically take your existing walls and ceiling and build new walls and ceiling within the existing space with a minimum of a 2" gap between the two.  With proper sound proofing of walls, double doors and windows you can create a professional quality recording studio.

Here at RWT we have been working in the home and professional recording studio industry for over thirty years.  Jobs ranging from professional home recording studios to commercial radio station recording studios and even a fair amount of work at Mt. Wilson's radio transmitter stations.

We provide not only design and installation but are happy to consult on any of your recording studio needs.

We at RWT Design & Construction are your local Burbank Contractor and LA Remodel experts.  Give us a call if you need help with anything.

The technology for solar electricity for homes has improved tremendously over the last 10 years.  With energy costs rising solar electricity is a viable option to off set these higher utility costs. The initial investment while significant can usually be paid back within the first 6-8 years after which you are generating free electricity for the remaining life of the system.  Even if you install a system that only supplies 1/3 of your total electrical consumption, huge savings can be had by installing one of these systems.

The way the system works is the solar panels generate a DC electric current.  This electricity changes to AC current via an inverter.  The power is then back fed through your main electric panel and when you are not using the amount of power you are generating your meter will actually run backwards.  This additional electricity you are generating will be fed to the electricity grid in your city. This surplus energy is deducted from your monthly utility bill.  However you can only work towards a zero balance since your electricity provider will not compensate you for additional solar generated electricity.  This is why it is important to build your solar system that will handle only the electricity you consume during a twelve month period.

The main components of this system that need maintenance and possible repair are 1) the inverter and 2) the solar panels.

Inverter

Today's inverters will normally have a read out on the front panel of the inverter.  This will display information that shows that the system is generating electricity.  This inverter should be checked every month to insure your system is up and running and generating electricity within its parameters.  Inverters usually come with a 3-5 year warranty and repairs to the inverter can be costly.  The inverter I have at my house stopped working after 4 years. I called the manufacturer and they said I needed to send it in and the cost was about $700 to rebuild the inverter and the system was down for 3 weeks.

Solar Panels

The solar panels are easy to maintain but require quarterly maintenance.   Every 3 months you should have someone get up on the roof and carefully clean off these solar panels with fresh water and a soft clean rag (do not use detergents or solvents on these panels). It is important to note that whoever does this maintenance does not scratch or damage the surface of these panels. Scratching the surface of the solar panel will reduce the efficiency.  Any dirt, grime or build up on the face of these solar panels will reduce their efficiency.  Since these solar panels are run in series (one panel connects to the next) dirt on one solar panel will reduce the efficiency of the whole system by the percentage of the single panel.  For example if 25% of one panel is reduced by dirt, grime or obstruction the whole system will be reduced by 25%.  This is why it is also important to keep all your trees and foliage trimmed regularly to avoid any obstruction of these panels.

Since installing the system on our home about 8 years ago, counting our initial investment we have saved over $16,000 on our electricity bills.

We have installed many similar systems for our customers (small and large) and they have noticed similar savings.  But it is important to note that unless the system is maintained properly you will not see these savings.

To find out more information feel free to give us a call at RWT Design & Construction your  Burbank Contractor and LA Remodel experts. 

You can also check with your local utility provider to see what incentives are available to you for adding a solar electrical system to your home.

With the cost of energy these days and future increases it is becoming more and more economical to install the latest technology in water heating.  The tankless water heater has been around now for over 10 years and the systems have proven their cost saving benefits as well as their reliability.  With potential savings over 50% on your current water heating bill, a new tankless water heater can virtually pay for itself within 2-5 years. 

Here are some things to consider before deciding on a tankless water heater:

• Is the distance between the fixtures you will be supplying and the location of the current water heater itself a long distance?  For example if you have a larger home that utilizes a recirculating pump system you may need more than one tankless water heater to replace your current water heater.
• Make sure the tankless water heater will handle the capacity you need.  It is always better to oversize the tankless water heater so you will not run out of hot water when needed.
• Make sure the warranty of your tankless water heater is at least 5 years.  It may take this long to realize the cost savings.

Another benefit of the tankless water heater is unlimited hot water on demand.  For those of you who have teenagers this benefit could be good or bad.  While taking a shower for example you will never run out of hot water. 

Please feel free to give us a call at RWT Design & Construction if you have any further questions regarding tankless hot water heaters or anything else having to do with construction or repair on your home.  Remember we are your local Burbank Contractor and LA Remodel experts.

With summer right around the corner it is important to check your doors and windows for any signs of failing paint or stain finishes.  Wood windows and doors that are hard to open and close will typically have signs of failed paint or stain finishes which cause the wood to swell and eventually fail at the joints.  If not properly maintained this could turn into replacement rather than repair.  Areas that receive excessive exposure to weather (sun and rain) deteriorate faster than areas that are covered from exposure.  We also notice here in Southern California the southern facing doors and windows need more maintenance than the northern facing doors and windows.

I often recommend doing a routine check of all doors and windows in your home twice a year due to the extreme summers we have here.  When checking your doors and windows it is not only important to check that they are functioning properly but also that there is no cracking paint at any of the joints.  Cracking or pealing at the joints can lead to further deterioration and rot and if not maintained properly will lead to failure and ultimately will require replacement of these units.

When maintained properly doors and windows will last 50 plus years, however we have replaced door and window units which were as little as five years old due to improper maintenance.

If you have any questions with regards to the maintenance, repair or replacement of any of your door and window units please give us a call at RWT Design & Construction for a free estimate. We are your local Burbank Contractor and LA Remodel experts.

If you are planning to upgrade your main electrical service the very first step that you or your contractor will need to complete is a free service offered by your electrical service provider.  In Los Angeles we have the Department of Water and Power (DWP) and Southern California Edison.  If you live in a city that is incorporated like Burbank or Glendale they have their own water

and power departments i.e., Burbank Water and Power and Glendale Water & Power.

You start by calling your service provider and asking for a Service Planner.   When you speak to a Service Planner let him know that you need a meter spot for your electrical service upgrade.  He will then schedule a time to come out and meet with you to go over the new location for your upgraded electrical service.  He will also provide you with a copy of his drawing so that you and your contractor will know the exact location of your new electrical service.  Make copies of this document as it is very important to keep this record of the meter spot. After this is completed an accurate estimate can be provided for the new electrical service panel.

Next you will need to get a permit with Building & Safety and have the new electrical panel inspected.  When the City Inspector has finaled the electrical panel they will then send a memo to your service provider releasing the panel for the final connections and/or a new service feeder drop.

I can not stress enough the importance of the meter spot drawing and the final Building & Safety Inspection Card.  I was asked just recently to go and look at a project that was completed seven years ago.  The property had been bought and sold five years ago.  The current owners were concerned about their lights dimming when their air conditioner would turn on in the summer.  So the current owner called out an electrician to address this situation.  The electrician said that the electric service panel had never been inspected and there was never a permit pulled for this upgrade.  The electrician gave an estimate of $2,800 to relocate this panel and bring it up to today’s current Building and Safety codes.  These codes however did not apply seven years ago when the electrical panel was first installed.

I was contacted to consult on this issue and did my own investigation and found:

1.  The Service Planner had spotted the existing location of this electrical panel.

2.  A combination building/electrical permit had been pulled and finaled for the new service.

3.  No copies of the meter spot or the final building card were available.

I was able to meet with the current and original Service Planner at the property and he remembered providing a meter spot and drawing for the original electrical upgrade, but told us that it didn’t meet today’s current  codes.  Unfortunately the original electrical inspector for the project who finaled the electrical upgrade has been retired for two years.  All of this could have been avoided had the documentation been retained and given to the new owners of the property.  As for the lights dimming when the air conditioner turned on this had nothing to do with the existing electrical service.  When your air conditioner first starts up it pulls sometimes two to three times the amount of power compared to its normal running consumption.  This causes your lights to dim and is not necessarily a problem.

If you have any further questions regarding electrical service upgrades feel free to give us a call at RWT Design & Construction and we will be happy to answer any of your questions. We are your local Burbank Contractor and LA Remodel experts.

Word of mouth seems to be the best way to find a good, honest, reliable contractor these days.  Not only are you able to see the finished products that the contractor has performed for your friends and family but you also have a chance to find out how the relationship went with them.  For example were they honest and up front with regards to the scope of work.  When you called them were you able to reach them and get your questions answered or was it hard to reach them.

The working relationship is important.  Were you able to talk freely with your contractor?  Did he answer your questions satisfactorily?  Was he friendly and were you able to reach him easily?  Did the job come in on time and within budget?  If unforeseen conditions with regards to the job were found did he write a standard change order and have you approve it before he started?  Were his billing practices consistent with today’s construction laws? Were the workers clean and courteous and did they leave the job site clean each day?  Did your contractor have a current California State Contractor’s License?  You can contact this website to check on your contractor https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicense/LicenseRequest.asp

Did your contractor tell you the importance of getting your work permitted with the city? Did he carry the proper insurance such as Workers’ Comp and Liability?  Did he have a city license?

These are things to consider before hiring your General Contractor, as I like to say it is a partnership between the customer, the contractor and the city inspectors that together work as a team to provide a quality product that will last for years.  Your home is probably your best investment and is important that all work done is up to city and state codes.  You want your home to look good, be safe and last several generations.

Construction nightmares do not need to occur if you do your home work and follow these simple rules.  The bottom line is if you trust your contractor and he is trustworthy you will have a good experience in the end.

Give us a call at RWT Design & Construction for any questions you might have.  We are your local Burbank Contractor and LA Remodel experts.

With all the rain this season it is important to make sure you do routine roof and flashing maintenance.  Hidden water damage and leaks can cost thousands of dollars if not properly located and repaired.  Where as routine maintenance and repair can be very inexpensive.

How do you locate leaks?  The most obvious is water stains on the walls and ceilings.  Instead of painting over these stains you need to have a professional come out and determine if further damage has been caused by the leak.

Termites, dry rot and mold can result from an unresolved leak source.  For example we had a client in Silver Lake that had several roofers come out to repair the same leak issue over a period of ten years. Unfortunately the roofers never investigated any of the structural framing to see if there was any further damage caused by this leak source.  After this he would routinely call his painter out to repair the kitchen ceiling and paint.  Since this was an ongoing problem he couldn’t seem to completely solve he finally decided to have an expert (RWT Design & Construction) come out to totally solve this issue.

I told him the first thing we needed to do was open the ceiling where it had been repaired so many times in the past. What we found was incredible.   Subterranean termites had followed this leak source thru two stories and made a nest about the size of a beach ball in his ceiling.  They had totally destroyed the ceiling joist and the above deck floor joist.  What initially was determined to be a minor repair turned into a major structural reframing of his house.

This is why it is important to do a proper investigation when you notice any leak source in your home.

We at RWT Design & Construction are experts in the area of water damage repair.  Please give us a call if you have any questions or need any help in this area.  We are your local Burbank Contractor and LA Remodel experts.