Miguel Silva

Keep Your Family Cool and Safe

July 28, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Your family is likely spending more time than ever at home these days, and it may be smart to update you’re A/C system and install a home generator.

The outdoor unit of the Daikin Fit is half the size of a traditional condenser, which allows more space for outdoor living.

“The only thing worse than having you’re A/C go out on the hottest day of the year, is it going out during a hurricane, and not coming back on when your power is restored,” said Dana Spears, president and owner of Cornerstone Pros in Land O’ Lakes. “It is always best to plan ahead before an emergency strikes.”

Many families decide to upgrade their A/C system because their existing unit is unreliable, or costs too much to maintain, Spears explains.

A new A/C system that Cornerstone Pros offers exclusively in this area is the Daikin Fit series. Available only since February, it features exceptionally cool comfort, a small footprint and high energy efficiency ratings.

“The Daikin Fit has many advantages that families value,” said Spears. “Here are the top three that our customers rave about.”

• Half The Size — The outdoor unit is half the size of a traditional condenser, which makes it perfect for pool and patio areas.

• Exceptionally Quiet — It is quiet great for sleeping because you don’t hear a compressor kicking on and off during the night.

• Energy Efficient — It has an energy efficiency rating of 16 SEER that lowers your power bill.

The Daikin Fit series also has the tech conveniences people want, including Wi-Fi connectivity and thermostat controls that are accessible from a phone, pad and laptop. Plus, Cornerstone offers great financing terms and rebates, and works with local utility companies to qualify customers for additional rebates. Finally, the Daikin Fit has one of the best warranties in the industry, with a 12-year parts and labor warranty included in the price of the unit.

Home Generators
Many families install a home generator to keep their family comfortable and safe in case the power goes out during a summer storm or hurricane.

“Families of all sizes and incomes are installing home generators, especially when a family member has medical issues that require treatments needing power,” said Miguel Silva, plumbing manager for Cornerstone Pros.

Cornerstone installs Generac generators, the country’s largest manufacturer of backup generators, which automatically activate when there is a power outage.

Generac generators run on natural gas or liquid propane, and automatically activate when there is a power outage.

“Choosing the right size generator for your home is just as important as the quality of the generator. Our technicians do a full load calculation on every home we quote, and specify a generator that best meets a family’s needs and budget,” said Silva.

Cornerstone Pros offers permanent and portable generators, and has low-interest financing available to make monthly payments affordable.

“We want to encourage everyone who wants to protect their family’s health, comfort and safety to give us call,” said Silva. “We do everything possible to make a generator fit their budget.”

Modern generators are compact, quiet and able to power some or all of a home’s electrical appliances. A generator prevents almost all of the problems associated with power loss, including spoiled food, extreme temperatures, sickening mold, and no running water if a home is on a well.

For homes with natural gas, Cornerstone Pros technicians do the plumbing that ties the generator directly into the home’s natural gas line, so the homeowner never has to worry about filling a gas tank. Homes without natural gas require a propane tank, which Cornerstone Pros connects to during its installation.

“Generators provide protection 24/7, whether you’re home or away, and turn themselves off when utility power returns, so there is no need to monitor the unit during an outage,” said Silva. “Plus, most models today offer Wi-Fi connectivity, so no matter where you are, you can monitor the status of your power and generator’s operations from a smartphone, tablet or computer.”

Cornerstone Pros offers 24-hour heating and cooling assistance. Its phones are answered 24/7, and technicians are available weekends and holidays. Call (813) 990-0561 anytime, day or night. For more information, visit the website at CornerstonePros.com.

Published July 29, 2020

Tax Refund Is A Great Way To Fund Home Improvements

January 29, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

You may already be thinking about how to best use your tax refund, which most people get in February and March, a few weeks after filing their 2019 tax returns.

Tax refunds are substantial income for many families. The IRS reports that 90 percent of American taxpayers receive a refund, with $2,725 being the average refund in 2018.

And, while it’s fun to fantasize about blowing your refund on a shopping spree or vacation, it’s much wiser and more beneficial to your family to use the money to update your home’s mechanical systems.

“If your home was built in the past 20 years, it is likely overdue for a new A/C system, water heater and electrical panel,” said Miguel Silva of Cornerstone Pros Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electrical in Land O’ Lakes.

“A tax refund will often cover the full cost of converting to a tankless hot water heater or replacing your electrical panel. Plus, it can be a significant down payment toward a new A/C system. If you take care of these home improvement projects now with your tax refund, we’ll get your job done within a day or two, and are offering some great coupons to reduce your cost,” Silva added.

Replacing your aged A/C system with a high-efficiency air conditioner can lower your energy bills significantly, prevent energy waste and perhaps most importantly, give you peace of mind that you will have consistent, chilled air-conditioned relief all year-long.

“Many people wait until their A/C system completely fails, or end up spending too much money on repairs trying to keep it going,” said Silva. “Use your tax refund to be proactive and upgrade your home’s mechanical systems before there are problems that impact your family’s health and comfort.”

Silva explains that replacing your home’s mechanical systems typically pays for themselves within a few years. “Folks don’t realize that their hot water heater and A/C unit are appliances, just like their refrigerator, and all appliances have a life span. If you’re getting close to the end of their warranty periods, give us a call and be proactive, instead of waiting until you have no hot water or air conditioning on the hottest day of the year.”

Many families are upgrading their home’s electrical panel to a 200-amp service because they want to add LED light fixtures, electrical outlets with USB ports, outdoor lighting, and power for generators, hot tubs and pools.

“Most panels in older homes are wired for just 100 or 150 amps, which is not enough wattage for today’s myriad of home electronics,” said Silva. “Most tax refunds will easily cover the cost to replace your entire electrical panel with a new one.”

Cornerstone also sees many households converting to a tankless hot water heater because they want endless hot water.

“Nothing is worse than running out of hot water when your family is getting ready for school, work or play,” said Silva. “After comparing the cost of replacing their old water tank, which is 100-year-old technology that is very energy inefficient, most homeowners switch to a tankless system because it costs 50 percent less to operate, plus gives them hot water on demand with absolutely no fuss.”

Cornerstone Pros was founded in 2006 as an air conditioning service company. It moved to its 4-acre site on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard in 2011 and, the following year, added plumbing services. In 2014, it expanded again with electrical services, and in 2017, with generators.

In 2018, Cornerstone Pros built a 6,000-square-foot warehouse next to its headquarters on U.S. 41, to store air conditioning units of all sizes and stock high-demand service items for its air conditioning, electrical and plumbing operations. It also stocks tankless hot water systems, and portable and permanent generators, including whole-house systems by Generac.

“Every morning, our vans are fully stocked with everything our technicians need, which means on most calls, we are able to solve a customer’s problem on the first visit,” said Silva. “Please call us today to get a quote for your home improvement project, so you’re ready to go when your tax refund comes in.”

Tax Refund Specials:
FREE A/C Estimate
+ $150 off installation

$100 OFF Tankless
Water Heater Installed

FREE Nest Thermostat
With any 16 SEER A/C replacement

$50 Off LED
Lighting Upgrade

No Payments First 3 Months
With low-interest financing
up to 120 months

Published January 29, 2020

Protect Your Family If Your Power Goes Out

August 28, 2019 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

With almost daily afternoon thunderstorms, and the busiest months of the hurricane season upon us, many local households are installing whole-house generators to keep their family comfortable, safe and secure if their power goes out.

“Families of all sizes and incomes are installing generators in their homes in case their power goes out,” said Miguel Silva, plumbing manager for Cornerstone Pros Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electrical in Land O’ Lakes. “We are installing an average of 10 whole-house generators a month, and will install many more units during the storm season.”

Cornerstone installs Generac generators, the country’s largest and most-advanced manufacturer of backup generators that run on natural gas or liquid propane, and automatically activate when there is a power outage.

“Experience matters when it comes to generators, because in addition to the install, Cornerstone is qualified to service and maintain these systems, which can have a life span of 30 years, if properly maintained,” said Silva. “It’s no different than maintaining your vehicle — generators must be serviced to ensure they work properly, and to protect the homeowner’s investment.”

Because today’s technology is essential to most families, it is critical to have electricity to power these devises that families count on.

“While you obviously need power to keep your lights on and fridge running, you also need power to keep your cellphones, computers and home security cameras going,” said Silva. “Plus, electricity is especially important if a family member has medical issues that require equipment needing power to operate.”

A generator will prevent almost all of the problems associated with power loss, including spoiled food, extreme temperatures, sickening mold, and no running water if a home is on a well.

The American Red Cross recommends permanently installed backup generators, because they are a safer way to provide backup power to a home than a portable generator.

“Because all generators emit carbon dioxide, an odorless gas that can kill, proper installation and venting is imperative for all generators,” said Silva. “Our technicians are trained to specify the safest location for a generator.”

Because generators can be costly, Cornerstone Pros offers permanent and portable generators, and has low-interest financing in place to make monthly payments affordable.

“We want to encourage everyone who wants to protect their family’s health, comfort and safety to give us call,” said Silva. “We do everything possible to make a generator fit their budget and payment ability. Plus, we’re currently offering $150 off all generator installations.”

Modern generators are compact, quiet and able to power some or all of a home’s electrical appliances, all at the same time.

“Many people think of backup generators as giant, noisy units that can be heard all around the neighborhood. This is no longer the case,” said Silva, who adds that Cornerstone Pros pulls all the permits needed to install a generator.

“Generators provide protection 24/7, whether your home or away, and turn themselves off when utility power returns, so there is no need to monitor the unit during an outage,” said Silva. “Plus, most models today offer Wi-Fi connectivity so, no matter where you are, you can monitor the status of your power and generator’s operations from a smartphone, tablet or computer.”

Call Cornerstone Pros with your generator questions and to request a quote at (813) 990-0561.

Published August 28, 2019

Enhance The Comfort Of Your Home With Energy-Efficient Systems

July 24, 2019 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Almost everyone wants their power bill to be as low as possible, especially during the summer months. But, a number of people don’t understand what impacts their electric bill the most.

“The cost to run your A/C is the biggest factor — around 50 percent. Not far behind is your hot water heater, which accounts for 20 to 30 percent of you power bill,” said Miguel Silva, plumbing manager for Cornerstone Pros.

A homeowner can save hundreds of dollars a year by replacing both with energy-efficient systems, which also make their home more livable with endless hot water and cooler air with reduced humidity, said Silva.

Many homeowners decide to upgrade their hot water tank to a tankless system at the same time they upgrade their air conditioning system.

“It’s not unusual for the A/C system and hot water tank to need replacement at the same time,” said Silva. “Both have a life span of 8 to 12 years, and a homeowner can save a lot of time and money if they replace them together.”

Doing both at the same time also allows homeowners to take advantage of Cornerstone’s financing packages — securing one loan for both systems.

“We work with a third party that offers no-interest loans on systems financed for 12 months or less, and low-interest loans for up to 10 years, with no prepayment penalty,” Silva said.

Most homeowners have a general idea that their A/C system and water tank are near the end of their lives, Silva said, but often wait to call for service until the compressor or coil fails, or their tank begins to leak.

“The cost to replace broken parts can be pretty significant, and when a system is old, it will likely need more repairs down the road,” said Silva. “It’s almost always better to invest in a new system, because ultimately the old system will fail, and the money spent on repairs would be better invested in a new system that is more energy-efficient.”

All new air conditioning systems installed in homes today must have a SEER rating of 14 or higher. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and is set by the Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute that all manufacturers must abide by.

“The good news is that the higher the SEER rating, the lower your power bill, which means a new system typically pays for itself in less than five years,” said Silva.

Cornerstone Pro also installs two-stage A/C systems, which in addition to cooling, maintain a home’s inside humidity to 60 percent, compared to the 80 percent humidity found outside during the summer.

“Keeping humidity down makes it feel so much cooler inside your home, plus it prevents mold spores from growing and spreading,” said Silva.

In addition to its SEER rating, the energy efficiency of a new A/C system depends on the type and amount of a home’s insulation and windows. Cornerstone’s technicians include all factors when calculating the heat load of a house, before recommending a unit that best meets a home’s cooling requirements, as well as the owner’s budget.

Tankless Hot Water Tank
A tankless hot water system offers many benefits besides cost of operation, which is typically 15 percent less than traditional water tanks.

“In less than five years, a tankless system pays for itself,” said Silva. “Plus, endless hot water is something every family wants, no matter its size.”

Silva and his team of 11 plumbers install between seven and 10 tankless water heaters a month, and that pace is accelerating with the introduction of a new tankless system powered by electricity.

“Tankless systems for homes with gas have been around for many years, but it’s only recently that the technology has become available for electric heaters,” said Silva. “We work with a manufacturer out of Arizona called trutankless, which has a fantastic system that even has an app that makes it fun and easy to keep track of your water usage.”

The trutankless system is adaptable for homes from one bathroom to four. It provides endless hot water 24 hours a day. Another benefit of a tankless water system is that it mounts directly on a garage wall, freeing up space on the floor that a traditional water tank requires.

Cornerstone phones are answered 24/7, and technicians are available around the clock, including weekends and holidays. Call (813) 990-0561 anytime, day or night. For more information, visit their website at CornerstonePros.com.

Published July 24, 2019

Be Comfortable and Safe If Your Power Goes Out

June 26, 2019 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

With Hurricane season officially underway, many families are looking at installing a whole house generator to keep their family comfortable and safe in case the power goes out.

“Families of all sizes and incomes are installing generators in their homes in case their power goes out due to summer thunderstorms and hurricanes,” said Miguel Silva, plumbing manager for Cornerstone Pros Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electrical in Land O’ Lakes. “This is especially true when a family member has medical issues that require treatments needing power.”

Cornerstone installs Generac generators, the country’s largest and most advanced manufacturer of backup generators that run on natural gas or liquid propane, and automatically activate when there is a power outage.

Because generators can be costly, Cornerstone Pros offers permanent and portable generators, and has low-interest financing in place to make monthly payments affordable.

Modern generators are compact, quiet and able to power some or all of a home’s electrical appliances, all at the same time.

“Many people think of backup generators as giant, noisy units that can be heard all around the neighborhood. This is no longer the case,” said Silva.

A generator will prevent almost all of the problems associated with power loss, including spoiled food, extreme temperatures, sickening mold, and no running water if a home is on a well.

Plus, the American Red Cross recommends permanently installed backup generators because they are a safer way to provide backup power to a home than a portable generator.

“Because all generators emit carbon dioxide, which is a dangerous, odorless gas that can kill, proper installation and venting is imperative for all generators,” said Silva. “Our technicians specify the safest and most economical location for a generator, and pull all necessary permits from the county to complete the install.”

Silva adds that portable generators can also be dangerous if they are not properly installed.

“A new transfer switch is usually needed for portable generators, so that a home’s electrical panel is not blown up when the utility turns the power back on,” said Silva. “And, when that happens, the homeowner has no power until the panel is replaced, plus it can be a very dangerous situation if someone is near the electrical panel when it blows.”

Cornerstone Pros pulls all the permits needed to install a generator, and the permitting process typically takes between two and five weeks.

“Because of the time permits take, people need to call now to get their generator installed before the peak storm and hurricane season,” said Silva.

“Generators provides protection 24/7 whether you’re home or away, and turn themselves off when utility power returns, so there is no need to monitor the unit during an outage,” said Silva. “Plus, most models today offer Wi-Fi connectivity, so no matter where you are, you can monitor the status of your power and generator’s operations from a smartphone, tablet or computer.”

Call Cornerstone Pros with your generator questions and to request a quote at (813) 990-0561.

Published June 26, 2019

Be Comfortable and Safe If Your Power Goes Out

May 22, 2019 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

With Hurricane season officially beginning in just a week, many families are looking at installing a whole house generator to keep their family comfortable and safe in case the power goes out.