Serving the Community Since 1939

Award reflects company’s consistently high level of customer service

Crisafulli Bros. has earned the service industry-coveted 2012 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor awarded annually to approximately 5 percent of all the companies rated on Angie’s List, the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service companies.

“Crisafulli Bros. is honored to receive this recognition from Angie’s List as we pride ourselves on delivering friendly, personal and attentive customer service. Our staff places great value on our customer relationships and treats every job or project, no matter the size, with the “Red Carpet Treatment” it deserves.” Andrea Crisafulli Russo, President

“It’s a select group of companies rated on Angie’s List that can claim the exemplary customer service record of being a Super Service Award winner,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “Our standards for the Super Service Award are quite high. The fact that Crisafulli Bros. has earned this recognition speaks volumes about its dedication providing great service to its customers.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2012 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, including earning a minimum number of reports, an excellent rating from their customers and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality. Members can find the 2012 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

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Angie’s List helps consumers have happy transactions with local service professionals in more than 550 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to health care. More than 1.5 million paid households use Angie’s List to gain unlimited access to local ratings, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine, and the Angie’s List complaint resolution service.

For over 70 years Crisafulli Bros. has provided plumbing, heating and air conditioning design, installation, service and scheduled maintenance to our residential and commercial clientele. Founded in 1939, Crisafulli Bros. now spans three generations combining the pride and craftsmanship expected from a locally owned and operated family business with the resources and knowledge available from a large national company.

With over 60 employees and a fleet of over 40 vehicles, Crisafulli Bros. is one of the largest mechanical contracting companies in the Capital District. Crisafulli Bros. has consistently ranked high in consumer satisfaction and has been recognized as “Best Of” by the Times Union for the past six years straight.

We all look for ways to save money in our daily lives and if we manage to help the environment and be a little “greener” while we are at it, all the better.  By decreasing your individual energy consumption you can reduce your monthly utility bills and become more eco-friendly at the same time.

Here are a few tips on how you can save valuable energy and put a little money back in your pocket.

• Install a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats can be installed for approximately $200 – $250 and can save up to $200 per year by automatically turning up your air conditioning and turning down your heat during certain times of the day and night. Using a programmable thermostat and adjusting the temperature in your home while you are at work or asleep, can save you up to 30% on energy.
• Consider installing a tankless water heater. Although a tankless water heater requires a larger initial investment, the savings realized in the long run outweighs the upfront cost. Tankless water heaters are designed to heat water on demand, water is not stored and continuously heated as it is in traditional water heaters.
• Be judicious when deciding what temperature to set your home at. According to the EPA, you can save up to 3% on your energy bills simply by adjusting your thermostat just one degree, either up or down depending on the season. You will notice the savings, but not the temperature difference.
• Wash your clothes in cold water. By washing your clothing at colder temperatures (70-80°F) you will use approximately 40% less electricity than at higher temperatures.  This could save as much as $100 per year. Additionally, conserve water by washing full loads, when necessary to wash a small load, use the economy setting if available.
• Unplug appliances and invest in a load monitor. According to a recent IBM study, you can reduce your monthly electric bills by as much as 15% by knowing how much power you are actually using when your appliances are not in use, but still plugged in. Load monitors display how much energy any plugged in device is consuming and when it is using that energy. Monitors help determine which appliances should be turned off and unplugged when not in use. There are even programmable load monitors that are designed to cut power automatically.

Any qualified Albany HVAC expert will tell you that the easiest, yet most important way to ensure your system works efficiently is to change your furnace filters regularly.

As much as half of the energy used in your home is from your heating and cooling system.  Therefore proper maintenance of your system not only prolongs its life, but has a significant impact on your utility bills and comfort. Read more »

Your heating system is a warming system that provides heat to your home or business from a primary heating appliance, typically a furnace or boiler often located in the basement or utility room. The heat is then distributed to other locations in the building through a network of pipes, tubing or ducts.

While central heating systems date back to the Roman Empire where they used what was called a “hypocost” which pushed warm air from furnaces throughout empty space under floors and through pipes in walls, today the most common types of central heating systems are “Dry Central Heating” (or “Forced Air”) and “Wet Central Heating” (or “Hydronic”). Read more »

Before you know it, winter will be here – which means freezing temperatures and frigid conditions. One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is to wait too long to prepare your home for the upcoming season.

Below are a few tips to help make sure your home is ready for ole’ Jack Frost:

• Have your chimney cleaned and inspected. An important consideration is to make sure your chimney is free of debris. If your flume and chimney become clogged it can not only cause serious ventilation issues, but serve as a potential fire hazard as well.
• Don’t neglect your heating system. In addition to making sure you change your furnace filters every month, always have your furnace inspected by a licensed heating and air conditioning professional at least once per year. A thorough cleaning of your heating system can prevent costly breakdowns and add years to its life.  Make this a number one priority when you begin to winterize your home.
• Clean your gutters. Read more »

When winter falls on New York, it’s important to ensure your heating system can handle it. It’s time to schedule your residential or commercial heating system tune-up.

Similar to getting routine oil changes and tire rotations for your car, your heating system is a machine that needs to be maintained in order to run properly. For your heating system to function properly, you should schedule a routine tune-up service once a year to reduce utility costs and to extend the life of your heating system. It’s best to schedule a tune-up prior to significant weather changes, like fall to winter. Read more »

Jack Frost is nipping at your wallet: prices to keep your home warm this winter will be higher. In some areas, it will approach up to $200 more than last year.

Forecasters have determined that New Yorkers will be seeing winter conditions very similar to last year, including below-freezing temperatures and massive snowstorms.  So, why is it that even though the weather conditions will be similar, the amount of your heating bill won’t be? Read more »

Whether we’re ready or not New Yorkers, winter is here. Temperatures have dropped dramatically and the nights are getting significantly colder. If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to inspect your furnace and heating system and make any necessary repairs to ensure your furnace is running in top-notch condition.

With the rising costs of utilities, few people know that you can cut over 20% from your heating bills this winter by simply cleaning or replacing your furnace filter and calling in a reputable, local New York heating professional for seasonal furnace maintenance. Let’s look at the facts: You are 70% more likely to need Read more »

As the summer months approach followed by rising temperatures, it’s almost impossible to live without air conditioning. However, with the costs of energy these days, it’s almost equally as difficult to watch our electric bills go up exponentially.

What’s a homeowner to do? While turning off the air conditioner might seem like the only option, anyone suffering from allergies and asthma will tell you that air conditioning can be a lifesaver – especially when the humidity increases. Therefore, before you switch off the A/C, below are a few tips to help you continue to keep your home comfortable in those hot months without draining your wallet.

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Risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases during the winter and stormier seasons as use of gas furnaces and generators increases dramatically. Although you cannot see or smell carbon monoxide, it is responsible for more deaths than any other poison. This colorless, odorless poison is dangerous at any level including low levels which can get a person very sick, moderate levels can result in permanent neurological dysfunctions, or worse at high levels carbon monoxide may result in death.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can result whenever any fuel such as gas, kerosene, oil, wood, or charcoal is burned. The amount of carbon monoxide emitted from appliances that burn fuel yet are maintained and used properly is typically not hazardous. However, if appliances are either used incorrectly or not working properly, then dangerous levels of carbon monoxide can result. In fact, literally hundreds of accidental deaths are caused every year from carbon monoxide poisoning that results from malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances.

Below are a few tips on how you can protect your family and yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning:
Read more »