Charity Lombardi-Simard, Author at Newburyport Area

Providing Cool Air Conditioning Comfort to our Community!

By Charity Lombardi-Simard, Newburyport.Com Correspondent
Charity is president of Lombardi Oil & Gas. She is second generation in the family business that was started by her father in the 1950’s. Her interest in the industry is the continued evolution and fast-paced movement into cleaner and more efficient energy. Her vision for the business is to maintain a personal culture with the community and to provide options and service to those that heat with fuel – with focus on hi-efficiency equipment, use of new technologies and Biofuel delivery. In her personal time, Charity is active in the Icelandic Horse Community, with 2 of her own. She travels regularly to Iceland to train and supports promotion of the breed in the US.
Lombardi Oil & Gas

Air Conditioning used to be a luxury, but modernized homeowners are more reliant on cooler drier air. Higher efficiency options allow for comfort with less operational costs as well as creative solutions for style and decor. Lombardi Oil & Gas has been installing and servicing air conditioning system for residential customers in Newburyport and the surrounding area for many years giving us the knowledge and experience to help customers understand that In addition to making everyday life more comfortable, air conditioning does much more for homeowners.

Air Conditioning continuously filters and circulates indoor air, removing airborne allergens, pet dander, pollen, pollutants and more. For those with respiratory conditions or sensitive allergies, HEPA filters and air purification systems work alongside cooling units to bring needed relief.
Air conditioning dehumidifies the air as it cools. This is important because humidity inhibits the ability of our bodies to self-regulate temperature, and it makes cooled indoor spaces feel clammy and smell musty.
Many modern air conditioning offers multiple fan settings, making it possible to filter and circulate indoor air even when the Air Conditioning isn’t actively cooling helping homeowners strike a balance between cleaner air quality and lower energy bills.
Smart Thermostats, the latest in thermostat technology, make it easier than ever to control energy use. These thermostats can be controlled from anywhere using your smartphone, and they provide the most user-friendly interface for setting up detailed cooling schedules that will save you money.
As an alternative to central air systems, DUCTLESS Air Conditioning & HEAT PUMP units are Great for older homes, renovated spaces and targeted cooling and heating needs – and can provide added value with savings up to 30% in heating costs.
- Whisper Quiet
- Quick & Easy Install
- Year-round efficiency
- Wi-Fi compatible
- Wall, ceiling or floor mounted
- Aggressive rebates available for new installations

Suggestions to keep your Air Conditioning system running at peak performance:

Keep your outdoor condenser free from leaves and brush. Sometimes you may want to hide the outdoor unit, however, please make sure to leave sufficient room around the whole unit, for proper air circulation on top and sides.

Change the filter regularly. Your air conditioner breathes through its filter, and when that filter becomes clogged, your AC unit struggles. A dirty filter can cause your fan to wear out prematurely and can sharply increase your energy use. Make a habit of replacing these on time!

Tune up your AC unit annually. Annual maintenance from a licensed technician is the only way to get your system ready for the cooling season. You’ll experience fewer breakdowns, lower energy bills and a longer life for your air conditioner.

Consider an Air Conditioning maintenance plan. The plan will cover an annual tune-up – and give you 15% off any parts and labor.

If you experience any disruptions in your cooling system, or have interested in upgrading to high efficiency or ductless, we are happy to help!

Customer satisfaction is important to us. We will offer the best value, with reliable, quality Air Conditioning service and installation and top of line expertise, to increase your comfort, convenience and safety. Call Lombardi Oil & Gas anytime to see how we can help you 978-465-7200 * Lombardioil.com!

Five Ways to Improve Air Quality in your Home

You probably filter most of the two or three quarts of water you drink every day. But what about the 15,000 quarts of air you breathe, especially inside your home?

The fact is, indoor air can be four or five times more polluted than outside air. Why does this happen? Well, it starts with the fact that today’s homes are increasingly airtight – a consequence of building and modifying them to be more energy efficient. That means that whatever pollutants gather in your home tend to stay there.

The second part of the equation is that toxic products have become much more common in the home: from VOC-containing construction materials to chemicals contained in cleaning and personal care products and furniture items, your space is filled with potentially harmful fumes. Add that to the toxic load of outdoor air pollutants like radon and pesticides, plus other indoor pollutants such as pet dander, dust mites, and mold, and viola – you’ve got bad air.

Over time, this mix of pollutants can cause asthma and other chronic respiratory problems, along with headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue.

Five easy ways to improve indoor air quality (IAQ)

The good news is that by taking some simple precautions and making smarter buying choices, you can greatly improve air quality in your home. Here are five suggestions:

Replace toxic cleaning products with natural alternatives – Shop wisely for your cleaning products, or make your own: vinegar and baking soda are great natural cleaning agents that cut grease, clean drains, kill germs, and more.

Choose low –VOC paint and healthier construction materials – Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in paint can cause eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, and memory impairment. You’ll pay a little more for low-VOC paint, but it’s a much healthier alternative. Look for mold resistant building materials, too.

Add greenery – Plants absorb toxic chemicals through their leaves. Plant roots and soil bacteria also remove trace levels of toxic vapors. They look great, too!

Maintain your HVAC system – Sign up for a Service Plan to keep your HVAC system working properly and moving air freely – and consider investing in a duct cleaning to remove allergens and mold.
Consider installing a whole-house UV filter – The air filter in your home’s HVAC does a good job with dust, dirt, pollen and pet dander. But filters can’t do anything about chemical or biological contaminants like air-borne viruses, mold, germs, bacteria or volatile organic compounds (VOC). That’s where indoor air quality equipment like an UV Filter or whole-house air purifier come in.

With powerful filtering capabilities, these add-ons to your home HVAC system will keep pollutants at bay, helping your family breathe easier for years to come.

Contact us today to discuss service plan options and schedule service!

Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips – Minimize Air Conditioner Service Calls

Air Conditioner maintenance, air conditioner service Newburyport, MA

Minimize air conditioner service calls and improve efficiency with just a few simple air conditioner maintenance tips. Lombardi Oil & Gas has extensive experience installing and maintaining air conditioning systems for residential customers in Newburyport and the surrounding community and we hope you find these suggestions helpful.

We’re heading for an intense summer here in the Northeast, which means your home cooling system is probably going to be putting in some overtime to keep you comfortable. That makes it even more important than usual to get off to a good start with simple air conditioner maintenance as we inch toward the summer heat. Here are 10 things to do before turning on your central air conditioner to minimize air conditioner service calls.

Check the thermostat! A thermostat it the “brain” of your HVAC system – make sure it’s up and running properly, with fresh batteries. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, consider installing one: it’s one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to save on your summer cooling bills.

Do a vent-check. Move drapes, curtains, furniture, or anything else that prevents cool air from reaching your living space. Why pay to cool the back of a sofa?

Check your ductwork. Did you know that as much as 15 percent of the air you paid to cool could be getting lost between the walls of your home? Yes, duct leaks are real, so take the time for simple air conditioner maintenance and seal leaks and fix out-of-place duct joints in exposed ductwork areas. If you’ve had your cooling system for five years or more, consider investing in professional duct sealing, since many leaks are either too small to see or out of sight behind walls.

Clear the drain line. A blocked drain line will divert water to other places – like back into your house or toward your foundation. Keep it free of debris.

Check your air conditioner filter. A blocked air filter reduces efficiency, and a chronically blocked A/C filter could even put your home cooling system out of commission. Check your air filter about once a month during peak cooling season, replacing it (or cleaning it, depending on the model) when needed.

Check your electrical lines. Issues with wiring could knock out power to your air conditioner. Check electrical connections and circuit breakers before summer starts.

Clean the outdoor condenser unit. Check for debris, including leaves, twigs, and nests. Never cover a condenser unit when it is in use! Proper airflow is essential throughout the home cooling system chain.

Look for signs of a refrigerant leak. Insufficient refrigerant will make it impossible to generate cold air. Look for visible signs of a refrigerant leak, including poor cooling, ice on the evaporator coils, and fluid spots near your A/C condenser.

Consider replacing an old central air conditioner. A 15-year-old air conditioner could have a SEER rating as low as 6 – a far cry from today’s 15+ SEER unit. That translates to hundreds of dollars in cooling bills over the course of a season – not to mention unreliable cooling on days when you need it most.

Have your equipment professionally maintained. There is no better way to prepare your air conditioning unit for the season than to have it inspected and serviced by a home cooling expert. A NATE-certified technician will replace worn parts, lubricate your system, check your refrigerant, and do all the little things that will keep your home cooling equipment running at its reliable best.

Summer is coming fast – be ready with expert air conditioning service from Lombardi Oil Oil & Gas. Contact us today to learn more about A/C installation and air conditioner maintenance in the North Shore!

Get Your HVAC Equipment Professionally Installed

Reasons to leave installation to the pros

Homes and the HVAC equipment that goes into them are getting increasingly advanced. For example, a new furnace is a sophisticated mix of electronic and mechanical components that connect to computerized elements. If you need a furnace installed in your New England home, now is not the time to test you DIY skills. Leave it to the professionals.

The risks with an incorrectly installed furnace

When you have a professional install your furnace, you get peace of mind that everything will work optimally. If you try to do it yourself, here are some of the things that could go wrong:

Lost efficiency: Improper installation can nullify the benefits of a high efficiency furnace. If your furnace isn’t installed correctly or is the wrong size, it will work harder than it should have to in heating your home. This means your heating equipment will be using too much energy to heat your home, increasing your heating costs each month. Paying now for a professional to install your furnace will save you money over the long run.
Electrical problems: An improperly installed furnace can lead to an overloaded circuit breaker. If your circuit breaker trips, your heating service will be interrupted.
Poor ductwork: This can cost you hundreds of dollars a year in wasted warm air. Again, spending money now for a professional will ensure you get the most out of your furnace and save you money in the long run.
Fuel leaks: An improper connection to you heating system’s fuel lines can cause a fuel leak. In addition to causing poor performance and decreasing you heating system’s efficiency, a fuel leak is a serious safety issue. Don’t put your family’s safety at risk.
Ventilation problems: This is another serious safety risk for you and your family.

Reasons you shouldn’t install a heat pump yourself

As with most HVAC equipment, it’s best to hire a professional to install your heat pump. Here are a few reasons why:

A professional will choose the proper size heat pump to sufficiently meet your cooling and heating needs. That latter one is very important when you’re facing a New England winter!
It’s a bigger job than you think. It will probably take you a lot longer to do than you think, and that’s assuming you even have all the tools you’ll need. In addition, for a layman, the instructions can be difficult to follow.
A professional will get it right the first time. Unless you have previous experience, it’s worth the money to hire a professional to install you heat pump quickly, safely, and correctly the first time.
Pay for peace of mind. With professional installation, you get peace of mind. You can rest assured that you unit is functioning as it should.

Call on the pros

In short, it’s best to hire a professional for all HVAC installations. Proper installation requires heat load calculations that a professional should handle. If you try to do it yourself and get it wrong, you could put your family’s comfort in jeopardy. You’re likely to end up too hot or too cold. And no one wants that.

If you’re looking for professional installation service, look no further than Lombardi Oil & Gas. You can count on us for top-notch service. Click here to see if we serve your Massachusetts or New Hampshire neighborhood.

At Lombardi Oil & Gas, we offer professional furnace and boiler installation, maintenance, and repair. Our team of professionals will make sure that you get the right equipment for your home and that it’s properly installed. This will ensure you get the maximum in efficiency and longevity from your equipment. And if you need a new water heater installed or just need your current one maintained or repaired, we’ve got you covered. We also install heat pumps and oil tanks, provide natural gas heating service, and deliver heating oil.

Are you ready to become part of the Lambardi Oil & Gas family? Contact us today for more information or to become a customer. We’re here to help you with all your heating needs for your North Shore home.

Why Is It Important to Get a Fall Heating Tune-up?

Fall Heating Tune-Up - Lombardi Oil & Gas Newburyport

As autumn approaches, it’s important to start thinking about scheduling your heating tune-up. Most people remember their heater’s health only when the weather begins cooling down, but it can pay to plan ahead, especially if you can beat the winter rush in Massachusetts or New Hampshire for heater tune-up appointments.

Stay Warm in Your Home This Winter with a Heater Tune-up

Nobody wants their heater to go out during the colder months when technicians are the busiest and extra blankets on the beds just won’t cut it. Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common for homeowners who skip their yearly heating tune-up, and depending on what the problem is, it could take days to order necessary parts for a heater repair.

Catch Any Malfunction Before It Gets Worse – And Costlier

When it comes to a potential heating system repair, the earlier the problem can be identified and addressed, the simpler – and more cost-effective – the fix will be. A fall heating tune-up can catch minor problems before additional damage occurs. In fact, a routine inspection and tune-up can prevent some types of damage altogether by making sure the system is clean and works smoothly, ultimately extending the life of your furnace or boiler.

Keep Your Heating Costs Down This Season With a Heating Tune-up

A properly-tuned furnace works more efficiently, which helps keep energy costs down. Replacing the air filter, cleaning the condenser coils, and making sure the lubrication is adequate, for instance, allow the airflow to move with less obstruction, requiring less energy force.

Improve Air Quality for a Healthier Home

Heater components work best when they are clean and not worn. A heating tune-up in the fall means that your furnace or boiler’s performance – as well as the air quality in your home – will be at its finest, just as cold and virus season ramps up. Ensuring that your heater is properly filtering the air circulating in your home is especially important for households that suffer from asthma or allergies, since a dirty or clogged heater spreads dust, dander and other irritants around your home. If you have concerns about air quality in your home, view our tips to improve air quality in your home.

Safety Precautions Bring Peace of Mind

Not only can a dirty, rundown heater cost homeowners’ money and leave them cold, it can also be dangerous. House fires, carbon monoxide leaks, electrical issues, and other dangers can arise from an improperly maintained heating system.

Don’t forget to schedule a heating tune-up for your heater this fall with Lombardi Oil & Gas. Our courteous, friendly technicians with enhanced skills and knowledge training want to help your family stay safe and comfortable this coming season.

How do You Know When to Repair or Replace Your Heating System?

Lombardi Oil & Gas Heating System Upgrade, Newburyport MA

Having a reliable and efficient home heating system is really important here in the North Shore, where we rely on our furnace or boiler for almost two-thirds of the year. Having a reliable and efficient home heating system is really important here in the North Shore, where we rely on our furnace or boiler for almost two-thirds of the year. If your confidence in your heating equipment is flagging, don’t worry, we’re here to help: whether you need to fix or upgrade your equipment, we have options for you. If you’re on the repair/replace fence, here are some general guidelines to help guide your decision.

Repair your equipment if:

Your system is less than 10 years old
It can be fixed with a reasonable hope that there won’t be further issues.
Your equipment is properly sized for your home
The problems are minor (smaller electrical issues, minor ductwork repairs, blocked drain lines, etc.)
Repair costs are 25 percent of the cost of replacement or less
Your monthly energy bills have risen by less than 10 percent since last year
Your system has been repaired less than twice over the last decade

Replace your equipment if:

Your system is 10 years old or older
Damage is severe
Your system is undersized for your home (for example, if you’ve built a house addition since installing it)
The repair costs more than 25 percent of replacement costs (especially on older equipment)
Your monthly energy bills have gone up by more than 10 percent since last year
Your system has been repaired more than twice over the last decade

Mass Save Rebates Could Tip the Scales

Sometimes the repair/replace equation is close to dead even, making your choice a tougher one. In those cases, incentives can tip the scales in favor of a heating system upgrade.

This year, for example, you may qualify for thousands of dollars in rebates and loans with zero percent interest to cover equipment replacement. Mass Save rebates in 2021 include up to $2,750 on natural gas furnace and boilers and $800 on oil furnaces and boilers. Additional savings are available for natural gas and oil water heaters – contact us today to learn more.

Considering a new heating system installation? We can help! Contact Lombardi Oil and Gas today to learn more about natural gas and heating oil heating system installations in the North Shore!

Biofuel Also known as Bioheat is the Evolution of Oil Heat!

Biofuel, also known as bioheat is a blend of ultra-low sulfur heating oil with renewable biodiesel made from organic and recycled products such as soybean oil, used cooking oils, inedible corn oil, canola, tallow, fats and algae. With biofuel, homeowners can burn a better, safer and more reliable fuel resulting in lower emissions, improved air quality and better efficiency of the heating system. For bio fuel blends up to 20%, there are no modifications necessary for your existing home heating equipment.

The environmental benefits of biofuel are significant. First, biodiesel lowers the carbon content of heating oil. Secondly, biodiesel is made from renewable, organic sources. And research conducted by leading authorities such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Air Resource Board indicates that bio fuel reduces Greenhouse Gas emissions (sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide) from 50% to 86% compared to traditional heating oil or diesel fuel. Additionally, research conducted by the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) indicates that when ultra-low sulfur heating is blended with biodiesel at 20% (B20), this BIOHEAT fuel significantly reduces Greenhouse Gas emissions making BIO HEAT cleaner than natural gas.

Following extensive testing and research, American Society of Testing & Materials (ASTM), with support from the heating oil industry and the National Biodiesel Board, has set a standards for recommended percentage blends of biodiesel in heating oil. These percentage blend specifications are currently up to B20 (a 20% blend of biofuel). The heating oil industry along with the National Oilheat Research Alliance and the National Biodiesel Board are committed to introducing higher blends of biodiesel into the heating oil marketplace and these organization are conducting ongoing research on higher percentage blends of biodiesel in heating oil.

To learn more about bioheat, visit DiscoverHeatingOilMass.com

To start enjoying the benefits of Biofuel with a 20% Blend, contact us at Lombardi Oil & Gas

Visit Lombardi Oil & Gas, sponsor of the upcoming Greater Newburyport Green Expo on April 11th.

Quality Service and Repair – Protect Your Heating & Cooling Investment!

When inviting someone into your home for service and repair on your gas/oil heating or ac system, you want to ensure that you have partnered with a qualified, company that you can trust. We recommend for your safety and comfort, that the company be licensed and insured properly with both General Liability and Workers Compensation, technicians should be wearing company uniforms, always arriving in a marked company vehicle fully stocked with parts and tools and be fully licensed and trained. If you are using services of Fuel Oil Delivery, reputable companies will be taking extreme care with safe delivery process for environmental protection of your property. They should offer to check your oil tank to make sure its safe for delivery, and be sure that there is an accessible fill pipe and properly working vent whistle. We recommend Bioheat Fuel Oil, a cleaner energy option for your home. An Automatic Bioheat Fuel Oil Delivery program is highly suggested as it ensures that your fuel level doesn’t get too low, potentially stirring up any bottom residue, and clogging up filters. Also, drivers and routing programs can help to uncover any service issues, no heat issues and excessive usage. All Heat/Hot Water/AC systems should be serviced annually to keep them operating at peak performance while checking all safety features, and helping to prevent more costly breakdowns.

Homeowners Choose Lombardi Oil & Gas for their service and repair comfort needs!

If you need Bioheat fuel oil delivery, service and repairs on heating, hot water or AC, a consult/estimate for an upgrade to your heating system or conversion installation to high efficiency, you can count on us. We commit to offer the best value, with reliable service and installation and top of line quality and expertise. Over the past 60 years, we have kept our service area very localized to Newburyport and its surrounding communities so that we can be local and service local, quickly and efficiently. We have built our business on customer loyalty, referrals and providing unparalleled and quality customer services.

Choose us and count on:

Quality Gas or Oil Heating Service and Repair or Installation
Quality Water heater service and repair, or installation
Quality Central Air Conditioning and Ductless Mini-split heat pump, service and repair or installation
Value & Service that we stand behind
Automatic Delivery option for Bioheat fuel oil delivery
Payment plans on Bioheat fuel oil delivery
Option of Cap, Pre-buy and fixed price oil programs
Self Service account access
Senior and Pay per delivery discounts
Gas or Oil heating service plans, including Annual Maintenance and Oil Tank Insurance
24-hour emergency service for our Bioheat oil delivery customers and Gas Service Plan Accounts
Company is Licensed & insured. All In home service technicians are full-time employees of Lombardi Oil & Gas, licensed, trained and have had full background check
Our commitment to exploring new heating and air conditioning technologies to promote energy conservation and efficiency for our customers. Including: Bioheat Clean Fuel, High Efficiency gas or oil heating systems, On demand Hot Water Heaters, Heat Pump heating and hot water systems and smart thermostats.

Customer satisfaction is important to us. We will offer the best value, with reliable service and installation and top of line quality and expertise, to increase your comfort, convenience and safety. Call us to see how we can help you!

Lombardi Oil & Gas is a home heating, AC and fuel oil delivery company, located in Newburyport, MA. Lombardi Oil & Gas has been servicing the greater Newburyport community for over 60 years, offering personal quality service. Lombardi Oil & Gas has built their business on customer loyalty, referrals and by providing unparalleled and quality customer services. Over the past 60 years they have established deep community support of local organizations and businesses. Lombardi Oil & Gas is available to its regular accounts for peace of mind 365 days of the year. Homeowners Choose Lombardi Oil & Gas for their delivery of safe, reliable, quality and forward thinking services.