Carney Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

3 Methods of Drain Cleaning Used by Professionals

May 9th, 2014

The term “drain cleaning” has unfortunately developed a link to “drain cleaners,” those plastic bottles of toxic, acidic chemicals that sell for $8.99 on grocery store shelves between the laundry detergent and the insecticides. Using this sort of caustic agent is a bit like trying to clean the leaves off your driveway by blasting the drive with a flamethrower: sure, you’ll get rid of all the unwanted debris, but you can seriously damage the surface and may seriously injure yourself.

Drain cleaning requires professionals who use methods that not only effectively cleanse drains and pipes, but safely cleanse them, leaving behind zero toxic residue and protecting the interior of the plumbing. For this level of expert drain cleaning in North Wales, PA, call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling.

Here are some of the ways that professional drain cleaners handle their job:

I. Motorized drain snakes

Drain snakes, a.k.a. drain augers, are available commercially in manual models. But these cannot do the thorough job of a motorized, pro-grade drain snake. Drain snakes operate like long corkscrews: a coil of wire goes down into a drain pipe, bores into clogs and blockage, and then either draws the clogs up or breaks them apart. A motorized drain snake can handle almost any obstruction with the right technician operating it.

II. Hydro-jetting

A hydro-jetter is a motorized device that sends hot, high-pressure water through a hose and out a small nozzle. When the hose is fed down into a drain, the scalding blasts of water can break through clogs and clear away all contaminants like grease and oil from the interior of a pipe. This is one of the most thorough ways of cleaning drain pipes, and makes it harder for debris to return. Because of the dangers of high-pressure water (most hydro-jetters blast out water at 7,000 psi), only professional should do hydro-jetting.

III. Video Camera Pipe Inspection

Cleaning out pipes often requires plumbers to know exactly what they are up against, and the only way to find that out without the disruption of accessing buried and hidden pipes is with video pipe inspection. This equipment consists of miniaturized camera and LED light mounted on the end of a fiber-optic cable. Once sent down a drain pipe, the camera returns a video feed to a monitor so a plumber can pinpoint areas that need cleaning, and what sort of cleaning will do the job.

Leave the chemicals on the store shelf (the flamethrower as well) when it’s time for drain cleaning in North Wales, PA. Instead, contact Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling.

The Advantages of Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioning

May 2nd, 2014

The hot weather is almost here. For some, the heat is just what they’ve been waiting for, but for others, it can be downright uncomfortable. Air conditioning is great for cooling off and keeping your body temperature regulated during the summer months, but if your property doesn’t have a duct-based heating/cooling system, your air conditioning choices have been limited – until now. Consider a ductless air conditioning installation in Bucks and/or Montgomery County.

The Ductless Air Conditioner

Your first thought may be that a ductless air conditioner equals a window air conditioner. You wouldn’t be wrong, but we’re talking about something much better: a ductless mini split.

A ductless air conditioner, also known as a ductless mini-split air conditioner, is a unit that allows for controlled air conditioning in your property without having to install a fully-ducted air conditioning system.

There are two components to a ductless air conditioner: the indoor unit, which blows and controls the cool air, and the outdoor unit, which contains the compressor/condenser. The outdoor unit can power up to 4 indoor blowers.

Indoor units can be placed on a wall or ceiling inside a room, and a conduit between the indoor and outdoor units holds the refrigerant tubing, suction tubing and condensate drain, and links the two units together.

Why Choose a Ductless Air Conditioner?

Ductless air conditioners are a great choice for properties that have non-ductless heat, such as older homes or multi-unit properties, where installing ducts is costly. They are also excellent for spaces that require retro-fitting.

Installation of a ductless air conditioner is much simpler as compared with a ducted system. First, the conduit length that runs between the components can be quite long – up to 50 feet apart – allowing for the indoor unit(s) to be installed in front rooms while the outdoor compressor resides in the back of the property. There is no messy ductwork to contend with, just the simple install and connection of the two components.

Second, the placement of the indoor unit(s) is/are also very flexible. The indoor component can be installed flush against a wall or ceiling, or suspended from a ceiling, including drop ceilings. There are also floor-standing models if needed.

Third, a single outdoor compressor can handle up to 4 indoor air blowers, and each blower can be programmed to maintain a consistent air temperature, boosting efficiency and saving you money.

Lastly, ductless air conditioners are safer than window units, as they do not provide a potential entrance to your property.

Stay Cool Without the Ductwork

A ductless air conditioner may be just what your property needs to stay cool and comfortable during the warm weather months. Interested in find out more?

Talk to a Carney cooling expert about your air conditioning needs today and see if a ductless air conditioner in Bucks or Montgomery County, PA is right for you.

Replace a Centralized Furnace with a New Air Conditioning System

April 29th, 2014

You may look at the title of this post and squint your eyes. “Huh? Why would I replace a furnace with something that does the exact opposite of a furnace? Besides, I already have an air conditioning system.”

However, what we’re proposing makes more sense than you may realize… if the air conditioning system you use to replace your furnace is a heat pump. A heat pump is, essentially, an air conditioner: it operates through the same action of cycling refrigerant from a compressor and through two sets of coils to move heat from one place to another. But there is this important difference: through a component called a reversing valve, a heat pump can change the direction it moves heat and work as a heating system as well. Instead of removing heat from inside of a home, it moves heat inside from the outside. You won’t need a furnace (or boiler) with a heat pump in your home.

When you’re looking for air conditioning system replacement in Doylestown, PA, come to Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling first. We will help you determine if a heat pump will work as your year-round comfort solution.

Why replacing a furnace with a heat pump is a good idea

We’ve already mentioned the main heat pump advantage: you have cooling as well as heating. This means you only need to install one system and it takes up less space than having an air conditioner and a furnace packaged together.

A heat pump, aside from delivering cooling at the level of the best air conditioners, provides more energy-efficient heating than a furnace. A furnace must burn fuel to generate heat, where a heat pump uses a modicum of electricity to run its mechanisms to move heat. Government studies have shown that a family of four will save, on average, 30% from their heating bills over a winter after the switch from furnace to heat pump.

Heat pumps are also safer. If you have concerns about a gas furnace overheating or leaking toxic carbon monoxide, you won’t have any worries with a heat pump. Heat pumps don’t even have hot exteriors that children might hurt themselves on.

Professional installation of heat pumps

So many home comfort systems receive improper installation, and this accounts for the majority of their repair needs. If you want to replace your furnace with a heat pump, only rely on trained professionals with a long history of air conditioning system replacement in Doylestown, PA. Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling has handled installations for over 30 years, and we can do the job for you fast and right the first time.

Ways to Avoid Paying Too Much for Air Conditioning This Summer

April 18th, 2014

Spring is here and that means summer can’t be too far behind. In Lansdale, air conditioning systems are an absolute godsend in keeping high temperatures at bay. But because you will probably use your air conditioner every day, monthly bills are apt to be higher than normal too. That’s to be expected of course, though the high temperatures might hide some unnecessary waste in the bill. You’re already paying a lot, so you shouldn’t have to pay any more than is absolutely necessary. Here are some ways to avoid paying too much for air conditioning this summer.

Schedule a maintenance session. Air conditioning systems build up dust and debris over time, which can increase friction and wear and tear on moving parts. Loose fittings, low refrigerant levels and unclean filters can also interfere with your air conditioner’s ability to do its job. A maintenance session can address all of that, improving efficiency and helping your unit perform at its very best.
Consider a cost-saving upgrade. Smart thermostats and zone control systems can help you cut down on monthly costs considerably, the first by analyzing your cooling habits and helping you make the most of them and the second by allowing you to turn off the cool air in parts of the house you aren’t using. Over time, the savings could very well pay for the cost of the upgrade.
Add insulation. Most people think of insulation as something that keeps the heat in, but the same principle works for keeping heat out as well. If you can, add more to your home before summer hits. You’ll be surprised how much you can save.

This comes on top of more straightforward ways to avoid paying too much for air conditioning this summer, such as dressing in light clothes and setting the thermostat for a few degrees warmer than you otherwise might. Here in Lansdale, air conditioning maintenance and upgrades can be performed by the experts at Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. Give us a call to make an appointment and let us show you what we can do!

Why You Need Regular AC Maintenance

April 11th, 2014

Here’s something you should have on your spring “to do” list: “Schedule regular air conditioning maintenance.” An annual inspection and tune-up for your air conditioner is vital for it effective and efficient operation, and the best time to have it done is during the spring. That way, the AC is prepared for the upcoming change to summer, and you can take advantage of the slower time of the year for HVAC technicians to schedule a convenient time for uour maintenance visit.

In Blue Bell, PA, air conditioning maintenance from Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling will make sure your AC is ready for summer, and that you receive the maximum value from the system. Our air conditioning technicians are all EPA-certified and have the necessary skills to make sure your cooling system is operating at maximum efficiency.

Why Regular AC Maintenance Is a Necessity

Catch potential repair needs: A key part of maintenance is prevention. Many faults inside an AC will not make themselves immediately obvious to you, but maintenance technicians know how to spot them. The technician will discover places where wear and tear in the system is developing into a problem and notify you of it so you’ll have time to fix it before it becomes worse—or before it causes the system to break down entirely and require more expensive repairs.
Increase system efficiency: As an air conditioner runs over a season, it will pick up dust and dirt. This will cause the AC to gradually run less and less efficiently, since it will strain to keep your home cool. This will mean higher bills. Here’s something to keep in mind: the average AC system in Bucks and Montgomery County runs for approximately 2,000 hours a year… more than enough time to build up plenty of dust and dirt contamination and deterioration on parts. Unless you have the system regularly tuned-up and adjustments and cleaning done, you can expect a continual decline in energy efficiency.
Ensure long system lifespan: Any air conditioning system comes with a manufacturer’s estimated lifespan, which is often in the 12–15 year range. However, this lifespan is only possible if the system receives regular maintenance. If you neglect routine visits to tune-up the system, all those 2,000 hours of work each year will shorten the AC’s lifespan. This is the biggest expense you can encounter with a cooling system: needing to prematurely replace it with a new one.

Sign Up for Maintenance Today!

When you sign up for a Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling maintenance plan, you will get more than regular visits that protect your AC’s operation. You also receive “Front of the Line Service” to assure that during busy times of the year, you’ll receive priority emergency service from your technicians. Our technicians can handle all AC brands, makes, and models. Put your trust in us for your air conditioning maintenance in Blue Bell, PA.

Kitchen Plumbing Components: The P-Trap

April 7th, 2014

Most of the plumbing in a house remains hidden behind walls, in ceilings and floors, or in rooms people rarely enter. Ironically, a part of the plumbing that people often see, the U-shape in the drainpipes beneath the sinks, is one that few people understand. Perhaps because we are so used to seeing this shape, we don’t stop to think about what it actually does.

That U-shape is called the p-trap, and it serves a key function in your plumbing. Sometimes it will require repairs and unclogging; when that happens, call for experts in plumbing in Blue Bell, PA from Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling. We offer same day service, satisfaction guaranteed.

The Basics of the P-Trap

The p-trap (so-called because it resembles a capital P when viewed on its side) traps water after it runs through the drainpipe. Water comes to rest in the dip, and this forms a liquid plug against the escape of sewer gas. The decomposition of waste further down the pipe will rise to exit the drain, but the water in the p-trap is sufficient most of the time to block it.

A p-trap can dry up if a sink isn’t used for a long period of time, such as a sink in a guest room. When this happens, sewer gas will start to escape from the waste water lines and enter the room, creating an unpleasant odor. You can fix this problem easily by running water down the drain for a minute to fill up the trap once more.

The p-trap can also trap other items aside from water: hair, soap scum, grease, and small objects like toys that fall down the drain. This will eventually lead to clogging. Sometimes a plunger will do the job of clearing the clog, but if that doesn’t work, you’ll need to call a plumber to use a drain snake, hydro-jetter, or even dismantle the p-trap’s pipes to eliminate the blockage.

Problems with the p-trap are simple issues for plumbers to resolve, so don’t let mistakes from do-it-yourself solutions beyond a plunger make the issues worse. Call up professionals to handle your problems with your plumbing in Blue Bell, PA. Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling has 30 years of experience to bring to the job.

Am I Responsible for the Sewer Line from My House?

April 4th, 2014

The wastewater collected from around your home’s drainpipes ends up entering a lateral sewer line (also called the sanitary sewer line) that tunnels beneath your property toward the municipal line that runs down the center of the street. People often assume that anything that connects to a city sewer line—or indeed, anything having to do with a sewer system—must be the responsibility of the utility company and not the homeowner. Is that the case with the sanitary sewer line?

This is an important issue to understand, because damage to a house’s sewer line can turn catastrophic if it isn’t remedied quickly and correctly. The work involved requires extensive digging, and only people experienced with sewer repair in Hatfield, PA should take on this job. Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling handles sewer line repairs and replacements when the responsibility lies with the homeowner…

…which it almost always does.

According to Hatfield Township, the sanitary sewer line that runs from a home to the public sewer system is the responsibility of the homeowner up to the point where it joins the sewer main, after which it is the responsibility of the Hatfield Township Sewer Division, which maintains the 100 miles of sanitary sewers and 7 pumping stations. When you have problems that emanate from breaks, or blockages in the sanitary sewer line, you must call up a plumbing repair contractor to handle the work.

You need to do this as soon as you notice problems: sewer smells coming from your drains, clogging/slow drains throughout the house, low toilet bowl levels, soggy front lawn, noxious odors from the grass, or wet spots around basement drains. Blockage or breaks in the sewer line can lead to enormous problems in your house. Not only will all your drains block up, but sewage leakage can start in the basement or foundations, leading to major damage to your home.

You cannot take care of sewer line repairs on your own: it takes precision excavation and labor-intensive work. Save yourself back-breaking and most likely ineffectual repairs and call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling. We specialize in sewer and water line installation, and we can restore your plumbing in Hatfield, PA with sewer repair as soon as possible.

How Does a Reverse Osmosis System Benefit My Water?

March 28th, 2014

If you are looking to improve the quality of the water in your home, you have a number of different options for water filtration, such as water softeners to combat hard water and acid neutralizers to balance pH levels. To increase the quality of your drinking water, you can install filters to remove particles that can enter the municipal water system. However, one of the best ways to have cleaner drinking water in your home is to call in a professional to install a reverse osmosis system. We’ll explain how this works and how it can benefit you.

At Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling, we take the quality of water in the homes of our customers seriously. That’s why we offer installation of many different types of water treatment systems in New Hope, PA. To find out what water treatment system will work best for you, set up an appointment with us today.

Reverse Osmosis Systems

A reverse osmosis water treatment system is a water purification technology that removes much smaller particles than standard filters. The way it works is to create two areas of water under different pressure, with a semi-permeable membrane between them. The water in the high pressure area is forced through the small pores of the membrane to the low pressure area, and the membrane filters out contaminants.

Reverse osmosis can trap particles that would escape standard filters, resulting in healthier water that also tastes fresh… much fresher than you might get from store-bought bottled water, which is not only expensive but frequently is nothing more than regular municipal water run through a gravel filter.

Reverse osmosis can remove bacteria, pesticides, viruses, sulfates (no more smelly water!), sodium (helpful if you also have a water softener installed), chlorine, calcium, and all the other larger dirt particles that can enter drinking water.

Find the Right Purification System for Your Home

Although reverse osmosis systems are excellent for water filtration, they may not match your home’s specific needs. Call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling to have water testing done. Our analysis will help us find out what problems need addressing in your water supply, and then we can match you with the ideal water treatment system that will take care of it.

Whether you have hard water or acidic water, Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling will find the water treatment system in New Hope, PA that will give you the freshest water supply possible.

Ways to Prevent Drain Problems

March 19th, 2014

Slow drains and clogged drains are something that most homeowners accept as inevitable, unavoidable hassles. They keep a plunger on hand and maybe a bottle of acidic drain cleaner to fix the occasional plugged-up kitchen sink or shower drain, groan at the inconvenience, and then simply go on with their normal routine. Sometimes, they can’t fix the clog and have to call a plumber to take care of it.

It doesn’t have to be this way, however. Although there’s no way to completely avoid drain troubles, you can reduce them to rare occurrences with a few precautions. For drain cleaning in Blue Bell, PA to help you eliminate most clogs, call up Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling.

Methods that will reduce your drain troubles

Don’t pour F.O.G. down the drains: “F.O.G.” stands for “fat, oil, and grease,” three common products of cooking that people often pour down kitchen drains. Although liquid when hot, all three will transform in waxy solids when they cool down, leaving a coating inside drainpipes. This build-up will eventually cause clogging and slow drains. Deposit all F.O.G. into a separate container and remove it to the trash.
Don’t pour liquid cleaners down the drains: It sounds like a solution to the problem, but it actually creates more problems. Commercial liquid cleaners are acidic and will damage the interior lining of pipes and can cause drain problems worse than clogs. If you can’t clear a clogged drain with a plunger, call a plumber.
Use drain covers on bathroom drains: One of the common troubles that bathroom sinks and showers face is clogging from hair and soap scum. You can reduce this with drain covers that prevent unwanted debris from going down the drain.
Have regular professional drain cleaning: Drain cleaning services done either every one or two years, or as necessary, will keep your drains in excellent condition and free from the debris that can build up along the drainpipe walls. Professional plumbers use video inspection equipment to target cleaning and ecologically safe (and non-acidic) additives to help keep the pipes clean in the future. Special hydro-jetting safely washes out the insides of drain pipes with blasts of high pressure water.

You’ll need experts in drain cleaning in Blue Bell, PA to handle the drain cleaning because of the precision equipment required. Call up Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling and talk to our plumbers about scheduling a drain cleaning visit to help you make clogs a “Once in a Blue Moon” hassle.

Pros and Cons of Different Heating Fuels

March 12th, 2014

For heating, people once had to rely on the most basic choice of fuels: coal, wood, and oil. Modern heaters can still use wood for fireplaces and coal for grills, and oil remains popular for some boilers. But now there is the option for natural gas, propane, electricity, condensed wood pellets, and more when it comes to heating fuel. We’ll look at the three most common fuels for homes today to help you understand your choices.

Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling has over three decades of experience helping people find the heating in Hatfield, PA that will give them the best comfort and value. Contact us today to talk about your options for heating fuel.

Natural Gas

Pros: Natural gas is piped directly to your home, so you don’t need to worry about running out of your supply. It’s less expensive than either oil or electricity, so it provides high levels of energy savings. Natural gas systems have powerful heating ability that can handle most winter temperatures.
Cons: Your home must have a hook up to a municipal gas supply. Gas heaters require more maintenance and repairs than other systems. There is also a small—but possible—risk of carbon monoxide exposure and explosions.

Oil

Pros: Oil costs less on average than electricity, and doesn’t require you have any connection to a natural gas line. It is effective for back-up systems that don’t depend on outside fuel sources.
Cons: Oil burns less completely than natural gas, leading to extra waste that increases energy bills and leads to soot and pollution that is bad for both your home and the environment. Oil must be stored, so it may run out if you forget to schedule delivery, and it is generally less convenient than gas.

Electricity

Pros: Available everywhere—if you have a home, you have electricity, and an electrical heater will work for you. Electrical heaters usually cost less to install, last longer, and take up less space than other heating systems that use different fuels.
Cons: Electrical power is more expensive than natural gas. It also cannot reach the same levels of heating power as either oil or natural gas systems.

In general, we advise that homeowners who currently use oil for heating investigate the possibility of an oil-to-gas conversion. A home with a gas line opens up many more possibilities for heating, as well as hot water and kitchen appliances. And of course, electricity is always an option. Call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling today to ask about oil-to-gas conversions, or for any other help you need with heating in Hatfield, PA.