Carney Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Stay Away From Chemical Drain Cleaners

September 13th, 2021

Chemicals sometimes feel like magic. We don’t really know how toothpaste cleans our teeth, or how refrigerant cools our homes, it just does. This can lead homeowners down a dangerous path where misconceptions arise and misinformation begins to flow. While a quick online search can give you most of the information you’re looking for, it can also make matters worse! Add some companies into the mix that are trying to sell you their brand-name chemicals, and it can be downright hard to know if chemicals are good or bad for your plumbing system.

Today, we’d like to talk specifically about chemical drain cleaners from the perspective of your local plumber in Lansdale, PA. They’re not good for your drains, your health, or your sanity, but homeowners still don’t really know why. We’re going to use some cold, hard facts and a bit of the scientific method to show you why chemical drain cleaners are an awful selection for clearing drain clogs.

Why Is My AC Grinding?

August 16th, 2021

Most of the time we’ll take a spread-out approach toward air conditioners that are making noises. We talk a lot on this blog about the different types of noises and what they could mean, but we rarely ever into a single noise. That’s because, at the end of the day, it’s hard for us to diagnose your particular AC repair in Montgomery County without a proper visit by a professional. No matter what we say here in this blog post, you should always call for professional help when it’s required.

That being said, it’s time to talk about one of the most common AC noises we run across. This is the “grinding” noise, and one that can be both uncomfortable for homeowners to hear, and devastating to the functionality and efficiency of your system. If you’re wondering why an air conditioner might start making a grinding noise, then you’re in the right place. Keep reading as we uncover the truth.

3 Ways to Detect a Leak in Your Home

August 2nd, 2021

Water leaks can be very bad for your home. They increase your water bills and can pose a risk to your home over time, not to mention that they will only continue to worsen as days go by. While some water leaks are visible and quickly identified, a hidden leak can result in serious problems because you won’t even notice it until serious problems pop up.

If you suspect that your home’s plumbing has developed a leak, then you should consider calling a plumber in Doylestown, PA to get it fixed. You can also make several checks yourself to find the source of the problem.

4 Ways You Might Be Neglecting Your AC

July 19th, 2021

It seems like each summer after the last is getting hotter here in Pennsylvania, and this year seems to be one of the hottest yet. As the temperatures rise, it is only natural that you will rely more on your air conditioner to keep your home cool and comfortable.

Unfortunately, your air conditioner will have to work a lot harder to keep your home cool. With all the hard work it goes, you might not realize that you could be causing a lot of harm to your AC. As with any appliance, too much strain can cause additional wear and tear, leading to extensive damage that can shorten its life.

Modern air conditioners are designed to last for 10–15 years. Not using yours properly could cut its operational lifespan in half and leave you with hefty bills for repairs and utility costs. Are you taking good care of your air conditioner?

It is possible to get better use out of your air conditioning in Bucks County if you can learn about ways you might be neglecting your air conditioner and take steps to reduce your bills without compromising on comfort.

A Larger AC Isn’t Always Better

July 5th, 2021

Is it time for you to change your air conditioner and upgrade it to a new unit? When choosing a new air conditioner, many people make the mistake of going for a larger unit, thinking that it will be better for their home. Unfortunately, bigger doesn’t always mean better.

Choosing the right sized air conditioner can make a world of difference in keeping your home cool and comfortable. A unit that is too large for your home might not be as good at keeping your home cool without giving you any problems as you might think. It could result in doing more harm than good to your cooling system and burn a hole in your pocket with all the extra costs.

We have prepared this guide to help you understand the importance of choosing the right-sized air conditioner for your home. And if your current air conditioner just needs repairs instead of a replacement, you can always call us for air conditioning repair in Chalfont, PA, to come and fix it for you.

Put Down Those Chemical Drain Cleaners

June 21st, 2021

We’ve all been there. You’ve had a long day and you’re tired of dealing with a clogged drain in your kitchen or bathroom. So you head to the grocery store and see the aisle full of “plumbing chemicals” that guarantee your clog will be removed. Some of them even say that they’re “natural chemicals” when they’re probably the furthest thing from natural in the world!

Basically, we’d like to spend this blog post as a PSA to keep homeowners away from these chemicals. We see people use them in their kitchens, their bathrooms, and even when it comes to toilet plumbing in Bucks County. Your pipes aren’t built to handle these corrosive or caustic chemicals, and we’ll get into all the details below.

Just remember one thing—nothing can replace old-fashioned craftsmanship delivered by a quality plumber. Our team has the necessary tools to clear your drain without harming your plumbing system or you!

What Does “Short Cycling” Mean?

June 7th, 2021

Imagine that your air conditioner is starting to sound funky. It’s running in short, frequent cycles for some reason and it’s really struggling to keep your home cool this summer. What gives?

You ask a friend to take a look and the first thing they say after hearing that noise is, “it sounds like your air conditioner is short cycling.” Now, you might be a bit embarrassed to ask your friend about it, but it turns out there are a lot of homeowners who don’t exactly know what this means.

More importantly, there are many homeowners who don’t know how serious short cycling can be without calling for proper air conditioning repairs in Bucks County.

Well, you can save face for now because we’re going to go over everything you need to know about short cycling. We’ll talk about how it happens, what’s going on, and why it’s so important that you call for a professional!

Our Guide to Replacing Your AC

May 24th, 2021

If you’re the owner of an air conditioner, then it’s probably not news to you when a professional tells you that it won’t last forever. We’d be hard-pressed to find a piece of machinery that will last forever, so this technically shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. But many homeowners wish their air conditioners lasted a lot longer than they do, and they end up paying for that.

If you had to guess how long your air conditioning in Montgomery County was supposed to last, what would you say? Five years? Ten years?

An air conditioner is supposed to last between 10 to 15 years and that depends on a lot of different factors. Let us walk you through the different things to consider when dealing with an aging air conditioner, so you’re prepared for the inevitable cost of AC replacement. We can answer any additional questions you have if you call our team today!

Is Your AC Leaking Refrigerant?

May 10th, 2021

This is a good question, and one that needs to be answered quickly. Refrigerant leaks are not fun to encounter, and they can spell disaster for an air conditioner. While homeowners like to think that they can just call up their neighborhood technician to get the refrigerant recharged, it’s just not that simple.

Your air conditioner doesn’t run on refrigerant. Refrigerant isn’t a fuel like gasoline is in a car. Your AC relies on refrigerant to cool temperatures, but it runs on electricity, which is why it’s so important that your refrigerant leak gets patched up. An AC is not supposed to lose any refrigerant in any of the years that it’s functioning.

So, if you keep reading and suspect that you’ve got a refrigerant leak, then reach out to us for AC services in Montgomery County. We can help get that leak patched up and make sure your system is good to go for the future.

Why “It Just Works” Isn’t Good Enough Anymore

April 26th, 2021

When you think about your plumbing system, what thoughts come to mind? Through all the clogs, the pipe leaks, and constant headaches which require emergency support, do you think it “just works” so it’s fine? Well, we’re here to tell you that a plumbing system that “just works” isn’t good enough anymore. The time of your galvanized steel pipes constantly leaking and a plumber telling you that it can’t get any better is over. Our team is ready to help.

We’re huge proponents of preventative plumbing and providing systems that homeowners feel good about. We’re plumbers in Montgomery County who are focused on making sure you’re happy with your plumbing. So, let’s start by talking about some of the problems your plumbing system has, and talk about why having it “just work” should be the first prerequisite out of many.