Carney Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

What Does It Mean If Your Air Conditioner Makes These Noises?

September 12th, 2022

There are sounds and then there are noises. When you hear your AC running, you want it to be a sound and not a noise. You may associate the gentle hum of the compressor and or the sound of air flowing through vents with summertime. But these sounds should ultimately seem more like background noise than something that makes you question if something is wrong with your AC unit.

Unusual noises don’t come standard with your HVAC system, and you shouldn’t write them off as being OK to hear. If you suspect that you need air conditioning service in Doylestown, PA, our team is ready to help. We can help troubleshoot any unusual sounds and let you know their source.

Know the Signs of a Slab Leak

August 15th, 2022

The slab of your home is also called the foundation. It’s usually a large flat slab of concrete that serves as the base for the rest of your home – from wall to roof and everything in between. Before pouring the concrete to create this slab, home builders set up your plumbing. Each pipe and connection tunnels into the ground and connects to some combination of water lines, sewer, and septic tanks.

A slab leak happens when the pipes located in your foundation begin to leak. Slab leaks are more common in older homes, but it is possible to have a slab leak in a newer home, too. If you suspect you have a slab leak and need plumbing service in Doylestown, PA, give our team a call. If you’re not sure how to identify a slab leak, you can use these seven tips.

5 Tips for Improving Your AC’s Efficiency

August 1st, 2022

Your HVAC has a single job – to maintain the temperature inside your home to your preferences. When it comes to cooling your home, your AC unit works hard to bring indoor temperatures and humidity down to a comfortable level. But is your AC working against other factors? Learn how you can improve the efficiency of your AC in five simple steps. Then give us a call for Trane or other model AC services in Bucks County, PA home.

Check Your Insulation

When HVAC can cool down the air in your home all day long. But if the cool air is escaping due to a lack of insulation, your unit will be working harder than it needs to. Insulation also serves to keep hot air out of your home when you’re trying to lower the temperature. The most common place to check for insulation is your attic. An expert can assess the amount of insulation you have and make a recommendation for blowing more insulation.

Change Air Filters Regularly

You should change your air filters monthly on average. However, you can check your filters regularly to get an idea of how dirty they are. If your filter looks like it needs to be changed, don’t put off getting a new filter. Clean filters help your HVAC work more efficiently by using less energy. As the filters get clogged with dust, dirt, and allergens, your unit has to work harder to draw air in through the filter.

There are many types of air filters on the market, and each home’s needs are unique. Talk to an expert about what type of filter to get for your HVAC unit. You can also ask if your thermostat has a reminder setting for the air filter. If it does, you can set a reminder to change your filter at the interval of your choice.

Ensure Vents are Clear

You see the vents in your home day in and day out. It’s easy to forget that they have a very important purpose. Placing boxes or furniture in front of air vents can make your HVAC unit work harder. These items can block airflow into and out of your unit, changing the temperature of air around your home. Your unit may begin to work harder to cool your home to make up for the blocked vents. Rearranging furniture and ensuring your vents are clear can make a huge difference in energy use.

Keep Your Air Vents Clean and Clear

Even though you have air filters, dust and dirt still find their way into your vents. Make it a regular cleaning practice to wipe down the inside and outside of the air vents in your home. You may be tempted to close off vents around your home in an attempt to control the airflow. Maybe you have one room in particular that you want to be cooler. Resist the urge to close off any air vents. If your HVAC isn’t cooling to meet your needs, talk to an expert. We can offer advice for how to improve airflow without closing vents around your home.

Schedule AC Maintenance

Don’t put off regular AC maintenance. An HVAC expert can identify small problems before they turn into big ones. When you improve efficiency in the short term, you also extend the life of your unit. This saves money on your monthly energy bills and also prevents you from having to replace the entire unit.

Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling does what’s right for our customers. Schedule an appointment today for AC maintenance to improve your AC’s efficiency.

You Might Need a Water Heater Upgrade

July 18th, 2022

We know that temperatures are high right now. That might lead you to want to think about anything other than your water heater, but it’s also important to remember that this heat will go away. And eventually, you’ll relish your opportunity to take a hot shower, which means that your water heater is just as important now as it will be in the winter.

Water heaters are not only a huge part of your energy consumption, but they’re necessary for a whole slew of appliances.

So, our focus today will be on proactively determining whether or not your water heater needs to be fixed, replaced, or upgraded. If you’re looking to spot the difference between those terms, then we’ve got your back. Just remember to call our team for all of your water heater services in Bucks County so we can get to work ASAP helping you stay comfortable.

Carney’s 2022 AC FAQ

July 4th, 2022

You’ve got questions about your AC, and we’ve got answers! Below are some of the most frequently asked questions we get from customers that we’ve curated in a handy list so you can have the answers to your queries right at your fingertips.

No, You Shouldn’t Use Chemical Drain Cleaners

June 20th, 2022

We understand the confusion when it comes to chemical drain cleaners. After all, there’s a whole aisle at the grocery store devoted to different shiny brands of cool-looking chemicals that promise to remove any and all drain clogs just by pouring them out! It sounds simple, but many things like these are too good to be true.

If you’re reading this blog, then we’re confident you’re smart enough not to be tricked and upsold by some cool brand logos and a bright-colored bottle that “promises” a lot of things. In fact, you’re probably here because you don’t trust this kind of plumbing solution, and that skepticism is good.

The truth is that many problems can come from these caustic chemicals. They do more harm than good and over time, they’ll push you to need plumbing repair in Montgomery County. We’ll talk about why down below, you just need to keep reading!

Is Your Plumbing System Over-Engineered?

June 6th, 2022

We get a lot of calls from new homeowners who have some questions about the existing plumbing work in their homes. Getting a home inspection can often feel like uncovering old ruins of a bygone era–finding out what previous owners, and the owners of the house before them, did to make sure they could live comfortable lives. While it can be quite amazing to look at the history and design of your home, it can also be frustrating if something wasn’t done correctly.

Firstly, you can always call us for a plumber in North Wales, PA. It doesn’t matter how extensive or simple the work seems, our team is full of master plumbers who can accurately and easily eliminate any problems with our trained eye and expertise.

Though, for everyone else, we’d like to explore answering this simple question that we think is worth investigating. Is your plumbing system over-engineered?

What to Do When Your AC Stops Working

May 23rd, 2022

Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence in homes with older or outdated air conditioning systems. Before you get stressed out or anxious about how much time you have before your home gets uncomfortable and you need to start analyzing your bank account, let’s walk through things. Air conditioners can break down, but depending on what you do at the moment and how you handle such an awful situation, you could see better results afterward.

The first step you should take is to call our team for support. We can provide you with exceptional and fast repairs for your air conditioning in Montgomery County that can get your system back up and running. Or, we can evaluate whether a full system repair is going to be the best choice in this situation.

Regardless of the situation you’re in, we implore you to keep reading so you have a better grasp on how to handle an AC breakdown!

Our Emergency Plumbing Checklist

May 9th, 2022

Some homeowners think that plumbing and emergency plumbing are basically the same things. We understand why, most people don’t even think about their plumbing systems unless it’s an emergency. Drain clogs and water leaks can be a big deal, especially if you’ve got a large family or you host people at your house often. We’re not here to tell you what’s an emergency plumbing situation and what’s not, we’re just here to help!

In order to be your most reliable plumber in Bucks County, we need to make sure we’re all on the same page. If you’re ever dealing with a plumbing problem, from a leak to just a dirty drain, then you can always call our number. Not only do we have plumbers on standby that are ready to help you, but we also can provide you with some advice and we’ll even walk you through some helpful steps if you’re stressed out.

Your Home Energy Breakdown

April 25th, 2022

As inflation rises and paychecks stay stagnant, we’re all looking for ways to budget and cut down costs. One area people are looking at is their home energy breakdown and how they can be more efficient and save money. In this article, we will lay out some tips and tricks that will help you keep track of your energy efficiency and keep a little extra cash in your bank account.

Carney All Seasons Blog