Carney Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Why Schedule a Necessary Heating Repair as Soon as Possible?

December 16th, 2013

If your heating system—whether it’s a boiler, furnace, heat pump, or hybrid—starts to malfunction and show signs that it needs to have repairs done, you have to schedule those repairs ASAP. Delaying will only cause you more grief. In this post, we’ll explain why it’s so important that you get those repairs done the moment you can.

Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling has developed a large and loyal client base during our 30 years providing heating repair for Blue Bell, PA and throughout Bucks and Montgomery County. With our same-day service and satisfaction guarantee, we should be your first call when you need to schedule those necessary repairs.

Reasons to Schedule Heating Repair ASAP

Prevent energy inefficiency: Your heater may still continue providing you with heat when it needs repairs, but it will lose its energy efficiency because it will need to work harder to maintain its regular temperature. Whether it’s broken ducts, loose fan belts, or rust, that repair requirement will force your heater to drain more power—and you’ll end up paying for that on your heating bills.
Fend off larger repairs—or a full break down: Malfunctions in heating systems tend to spread to other components as they worsen. The longer you delay, the more likely you will need more repairs done. You also risk the worst case scenario: your heater shutting down entirely. Any flaw in the system could threaten to bring all the components to a halt, so get the work done before your heater gets pushed to the edge.
Avoid work crunches for technicians: The winter is a busy time for HVAC specialists. If you schedule your repairs early, you won’t have to worry about long delays waiting for service when the trouble has turned serious enough that you’ve lost your heating and are stuck in a chilly house.

Call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling for Repairs

At Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we guarantee satisfaction with our work. All our technicians are NATE- and EPA-certified, so you will know you’re getting quality service. We won’t leave you in the cold this winter: call us as soon as you need heating repair in Blue Bell, PA, and we’ll do our best to get right out to you and get your heater healthy once more.

A Brief Guide to Some Essential Plumbing Components

December 13th, 2013

The more water-using appliances we have in our houses, the more we need to rely on the experience of professional plumbers to handle maintenance and repairs. When you need assistance with your plumbing in Villanova, PA, don’t rely on amateurs or a few on-line “how-to-guides”: look to the expert plumbers at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling.

Here are some of the basic components of your plumbing, from the large (water main) to the small (p-trap). If you encounter trouble with any of these, such as leaks or clogging, you need to contact a plumber immediately.

Water Main

This is the line the runs from the municipal water supply into your home and delivers fresh water to you. It must be kept in good repair or you risk contamination of your water supply or the possible loss of all your running water.

Sewer Main

This is opposite component to the water main. The sewer line runs the waste water from your home out to the municipal sewer system. Damage to this line can result in sewage flooding into your home, as well as smaller but still troublesome issues such as sinks backing up and pest infestations.

Copper / PEX pipes

Pipes are, of course, essential for home plumbing. However, the material from which modern pipes are constructed is key to how well they perform their function. Pipes used to be constructed from galvanized steel, which is strong but inflexible and prone to corrosion with age. Today, PEX and copper are the most popular material for pipes. Copper is durable but less costly than steel, resists corrosion, and won’t crack and crumble from age. PEX (crosslinked polyethylene) is a synthetic material that is more flexible than rigid plastic or steel, won’t corrode, and is resistant to limescale and chlorine.

P-traps

You probably see the p-traps of your sinks more often than any other part of the piping of your home: they are the curved pipe right below the drains. P-traps are responsible for maintaining a barrier of water in the piping near the drains, and this water serves as a plug to prevent sewer odors from escaping through the septic system and into your home. P-traps can often become clogged with debris and food particles and require cleaning.

There are many more components that make up the plumbing in your home. It takes years of training to know and understand them all. This is why it’s important that when plumbing issues start in your home that you call up a trusted professional plumber for repairs. Make sure you contact knowledgeable plumbers when you need help. Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling offers same day service and a satisfaction guarantee: make us your first call for Villanova, PA plumbing service.

Why Is My Hot Water Discolored?

December 9th, 2013

Turning on a sink faucet and discovering the water is colored a rusty brown is something you might expect if you have returned from a long vacation and no one has turned on the water in a few weeks. In less than a minute, this discoloration will go away. But what if this happens to your hot water during a regular day? Does it mean that the hot water heater has developed a malfunction and needs repairs or replacement?

A malfunctioning water heater is one possibility. We’ll go over some other reasons, and whether they mean you’ll need repairs for your heater or plumbing. Whatever the cause for the trouble, you can call on Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling to fix it. When it comes to water heater repair in New Hope, PA, we are “the plumber that other plumbers recommend.”

Reasons for hot water discoloration

Corrosion in galvanized iron plumbing: The problem might indeed be rust, the same as when you turn on faucets after a long absence. If you have older plumbing, this is often the cause. (Plastic and copper tubing do not encounter this issue.) You may consider repiping.
Disturbances in the municipal water system: The trouble may come from the city’s water supply and have nothing to do with your home at all. Try running cold water from another tap in the house. If it comes out discolored as well, then it is likely a municipal issue—and you’ll know your water heater is not at fault.
Sediment in the water heater: Now we come to issues inside the water heater. Sediment can build up in the heater’s tank (usually because of breaks in the underground pipes) and enter the water, causing discoloration. You will need to have a professional flush the tank to remove the sediment, and you should enroll in regular maintenance to prevent it from re-occurring.
An aging water heater: If your heater is approaching the end of its manufacturer’s expected lifespan, discoloration is usually a final sign before it breaks down completely. Corrosion and dirt infiltration are starting to override the water heater. You should have it replaced as soon as possible.

Call in the experts

If you can’t solve the problem with discolored water on your own, look to Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling for quality hot water repair in New Hope, PA. We provide a 2-year labor warranty along with a 6-year tank and part warranty through the manufacturer. Schedule an appointment with us today for an honest assessment of your water heater’s situation and an expert opinion on what you can do. We offer free estimates.

Should I Schedule Regular Drain Cleaning or Wait for a Backup?

December 2nd, 2013

This bit of advice about the plumbing in your home is used so frequently that it’s almost a cliché: “You should treat your plumbing no differently than you treat your car.” However, it’s the most apt comparison to convince people to schedule regular cleaning for their drains. You don’t want to risk your car breaking down in the middle of a lengthy drive, stranding you with a long wait for a tow truck, followed by a series of expensive repair bills. Likewise, you don’t want your plumbing to back up, preventing you from taking care of basic household tasks, until a plumber arrives to do possibly pricey repair work.

So take the question, “Should I schedule regular drain cleaning or wait for a backup?” and rephrase it for an automobile: “Should I schedule regular tune-ups on my car or wait for it to die in the middle of the street?” The answer should be clear.

The good news is scheduling drain cleaning is easy: you can call the experts at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling. We offer top-quality cleaning in Hatfield, PA, and your satisfaction is guaranteed.

And we need to emphasize how important it is to get professional drain cleaners to do this work. You shouldn’t rely on a bottle of liquid “drain cleaner” to take care of the job. These products don’t so much clean your drains as they do violently scour them with acidic chemicals. They can harm your pipes, the environment, and you.

Professional drain cleaners use a variety of sophisticated tools to get your drainpipes into shape without harming them. Hydro-jetters, mechanical drain snakes, and video camera pipe inspection systems are basic parts of the toolkits of modern professional plumbers. A drain cleaning is more than just solving your current clogging and slow drain problems; expert plumbers will identify potential problem areas and repair them, as well as apply ecologically safe products to your water supply to keep clogs from forming.

Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling has more than three decades of experience in plumbing and HVAC. Over that time we have built up a dedicated client base who use our services annually to keep their plumbing in prime health. Turn to us when you decide to get your drain cleaning in Hatfield, PA, done before you run into a worst-case scenario. Take the same precautions about your plumbing as you do about your car: schedule regular inspection and cleaning.

The History of Thanksgiving

November 25th, 2013

Thanksgiving is upon us: a time to get together with relatives, eat some great food, watch a little football or the parade, and stop to appreciate the good things we have in life. Beyond all that, however, there’s a fascinating history to the holiday and its traditions.

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 in the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. Records are spotty at the time, but indicate that the harvest was particularly good that year due to help from the local Native Americans. The meal was probably much different than the one we’re used to, with venison and fish more likely than turkey, but the general principle was unchanged.

It wasn’t a few centuries later, however, that Thanksgiving became an annual tradition. George Washington called for a “national day of Thanksgiving” in 1789, and again in 1795, but they were both “one shot” declarations, rather than a call for an annual tradition. Individual cities and states picked up the ball, but it wasn’t until 1863 that Thanksgiving became a national once-a-year event. President Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November to be a Thanksgiving “to heal the wounds of the nation and restore it.”

From there, it remained a tradition until Franklin Roosevelt signed a law in December of 1941 making it a federal holiday. The law also changed the date from the last Thursday in November to the fourth Thursday in November, making it a little earlier in some cases (which Roosevelt hoped would give the country an economic boost).

Wherever you celebrate the holiday and whoever you choose to celebrate it with, we wish you nothing but happiness and joy this Thanksgiving.

How Professional Drain Cleaning Protects Your System

November 18th, 2013

Sooner or later, enough food, hair or other particles builds up in your pipes enough to cause a back-up in your sink, requiring a good Hatfield, PA plumber to fix. In some cases, you may be tempted to try cleaning the drain yourself, using either a cleanser or a snake bought from the store. In all but the most benign cases, this is a mistake. Professional plumbers can do the job much more safely and effectively than a store-bought method. Here’s how professional drain cleaning protects your system.

The key lies in a professional plumber’s experience and the variety of resources he has at his disposal. Store-bought solutions, whether chemical cleansers or snakes, tend to be one-size-fits all approaches. They don’t differentiate between the kinds of materials that make up the clog. Hardened grease, for instance, has a much different consistency than toothpaste and hair. Applying a general solution to each clog runs the risk of not working, while possibly causing damage to your pipes in the process.

A professional on the other hand, can apply different chemicals, and/or has access to much more flexible equipment than the average layman. For instance, a professional plumber’s snake often comes with interchangeable heads, letting the plumber tailor it to fit a specific clog. That lets him break up the clog without scratching or damaging the pipes in the process. In the event a pipe needs to be removed or replaced, the plumber knows how to do that as well: conducting the operation quickly and efficiently, while ensuring that the pipe doesn’t spring a leak at the fittings or cause some other problem.

If you’re having problems with a slow drain, call upon Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling to help. We can explain how drain cleaning works, and implement the right solution to fix your particular needs. Don’t waste time and money adopting quick-fix solutions bought off the shelf. Call us today to set up an appointment, and make sure your drains are cleaned properly.

3 Tips for a Successful Bathroom Remodeling Project

November 15th, 2013

Bathroom remodeling can be a great way to improve your Hatfield, PA home. It lets you get rid of an ugly or unwieldy bathroom space in favor of something newer, fresher and hopefully easier to get around in. It allows you to move sinks and even bathtubs to more convenient spaces, while adding amenities like venting fans and improving the overall flow. If done properly, it can also improve the resale value of your home, though you need to plan carefully and hire the right contractor for that to happen. Here are 3 tips for a successful bathroom remodeling project: applicable no matter what your individual circumstances are.

Measure your space carefully. This includes not only the raw square footage, but the amount of existing counter space, the dimensions of alcoves and cubby holes, and the like. An expert should also note the placement of plumbing lines in and out of the bathroom, which will have an impact on where individual components can be placed. The square footage defines the parameters of the project and you want to know exactly how much space you have to play with.
Determine what features you want and prioritize them. When remodeling your bathroom, it’s tempting to develop a “Christmas list” of all the features you want. That probably isn’t feasible in the space you have available. Instead, draw up a specific list and rank them in order of importance. The contractor can go over the list with you and determine how much of it is possible given the space and budget involved.
Don’t forget wiring. In addition to plumbing, you want to make sure you have enough electricity to power your devices in the bathroom. If you currently use multi-plugs or other devices that stretch your electrical load to the breaking point, you should consider adding more outlets to handle things better. A remodel is the perfect time to do that.

For other tips for a successful bathroom remodeling project, talk to Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooler for help. Contact us today if you are interested in our Hatfield, PA bathroom remodeling services!

What to Do if Your Hot Water Heater Runs Cold

November 11th, 2013

It’s one of the more unpleasant surprises you can encounter in the morning: no hot water from your shower. Of course, losing your hot water any time of the day is a major inconvenience that limits your ability to cook, clean, and do laundry. When your hot water heater malfunctions and leaves you with cold water coming from the faucets, you need to have the problem fixed as soon as possible.

The best option for you when this happens is to call in professional technicians to find out what’s wrong and get the proper repairs done. Call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling when you need help with your hot water heater in New Hope, PA. We have the experience and certification that makes us a trustworthy name when it comes to plumbing repairs.

The reason you should get professionals on the job is that you won’t know where to look to find what has caused the problem. A number of different issues can occur with your hot water heater that will cause it to lose its ability to warm up your water, and it requires a skilled technician to diagnose what is actually wrong—and then figure out the best method to repair it.

One of the best ways to deal with a loss of hot water is to find ways to prevent it from happening in the first place. Watch for signs that trouble might be brewing in the heater, such as intermittent changes in running water temperature or bizarre noises like rumbling coming from the water tank. If you detect leaks anywhere around the water tank or the pipes coming from it, get on the phone right away to a professional.

But the best way to avoid a cold water surprise one morning is to schedule regular maintenance for your water heater. We recommend an annual maintenance visit to inspect the system and perform any tune-ups necessary to keep to operating smoothly.

To protect your supply of hot water, contact Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling the moment you think you need a repair. We’ll make sure your New Hope, PA home’s hot water heater gets back to giving you the hot water you need.

Benefits of Natural Gas over Oil for Heating

November 4th, 2013

Natural gas is one of the most popular options for home heating today. It has surpassed oil, which was once at the same level of popularity. Oil heating still exists in homes today; you might have oil powering your boiler or furnace right now. However, oil has declined in popularity for a number of good reasons. We’ll go over the main benefits you’ll get if you change from oil to natural gas in your house.

Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling specializes in converting homes from oil to natural gas. Although this can be a large task, if you put it in the hands of professionals with years of experience, you should have few problems making the switch. You’ll have better heating in Hatfield, PA with a proper oil-to-natural gas conversion.

Why natural gas is superior to oil

It’s domestically produced. The U.S. gets the majority of its oil from overseas, while natural gas is primarily a domestic product. If you’re concerned about reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil, then natural gas is a good way to go.
It’s more convenient. As natural gas becomes the more popular option, it also becomes easier to obtain. Oil and propane must be delivered to your home, but natural gas comes to you through pipes. This means you don’t have to worry about forgetting to schedule delivery of oil and finding out too late that you don’t have sufficient fuel for your heating system.
It’s more efficient. Oil is more wasteful when it burns, since it doesn’t burn as completely as natural gas. You get more energy from natural gas than from an equal amount of oil, and that means savings on your energy bills. To give you a specific example, in 2011 the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that the average U.S. homeowner paid $732 to heat their homes with gas during the winter, while homeowners using oil paid $2,535!
It can get you a rebate. Some utility companies, to encourage the switch from oil to gas, offer rebates to residents who decide to make the conversion. These rebates can range up to $400, still more savings to go along with a more efficient fuel source.

If you still use oil to heat your home, we hope we’ve given you something to think about. Making the conversion won’t have to be a headache if you hire experts who have done the job many times before. Contact Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling to make your Hatfield, PA heating the best it can be with an oil-to-natural gas conversion.

What Causes a Toilet to Run?

October 28th, 2013

A constantly running toilet is one of the most frequent plumbing problems we encounter in our work. People often ask us what causes a toilet to run and what they can do about it. There isn’t one simple answer to this question; a number of issues can occur in the tank of your toilet that will make it continually run water after it has last been used.

There are two things about a running toilet that you should know upfront: First, don’t panic—a running toilet is rarely a cause for flooding in your home. Second, you need to get it taken care of as soon as possible because of the enormous waste of water it causes. A running toilet can use 2 gallons of water a minute, so imagine the amount of water that will go to waste if it stays running for a few hours.

A plumber will then go down a list of the reasons for that nonstop running. The plumber will lift off the lid from the tank (very carefully, because lids are expensive to replace should they break) and point out the various places where the trouble might lie:

The flapper: This seal on the bottom of the tank can become loose from age deterioration. Since it’s supposed to stop water from flowing out of the tank, it will need to be replaced to create a watertight seal.
The chain: The chain to the flapper can be tangled or too tight, in which case the flapper won’t be able to close.
The ballcock: This valve device, usually near the handle on the tank, controls the flow of water. When the float (see below) rises high enough, the ballcock will shut off the flow. A malfunctioning ballcock won’t prevent the water from continuing to run.
The float: This balloon-like object rests on the top of the water, and when it rises high enough, it will cause the ballcock to close off the flow. If the float breaks, it can’t measure the water level.

Hopefully, this advice will help you get to the bottom of what’s happened. If you find yourself confused or worried about your running toilet, don’t hesitate to contact a Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling professional. Our plumbers can fix most running toilet problems in a short time, so you won’t have money going down the drain.

We’re available with same-day service when you need plumbing assistance. Feel free to ask one of Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling’s plumbers in Blue Bell, PA anything: we wouldn’t offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee if we weren’t confident in our answers!