Carney All Seasons Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Lansdale’

Happy Holidays from Your Local HVAC and Plumbing Contractor!

Monday, December 24th, 2012

Everyone at Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling wishes you a very happy holiday! We want to take this opportunity to thank all of our wonderful customers who make our business possible. We look forward to working with you in the future. Have a wonderful celebration, and enjoy this time with friends and family!

And a quick reminder, if you haven’t yet scheduled a maintenance visit for your heating system, you could be losing money. Annual maintenance will not only cut down on repair costs, but it also ensures that your system is running as efficiently as possible, which lowers utility bills. A comfortable, efficient home is a gift that everyone can appreciate.

Happy Holidays from Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling!

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Why You Should Get a Water Treatment System

Monday, December 3rd, 2012

In Lansdale, many people have begun to realize the benefits of a water treatment system for their home. At Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we’ve been offering comprehensive water treatment systems for many years. We thought it would be helpful for our customers if we provided a short list of some of the important benefits to water treatment systems.

How to Tell if You Need Water Treatment

The only good way to tell if your home needs a water treatment is to conduct testing on the water at your house. Whether you get your water from a municipality or a well, proper testing will most likely show contaminants, PH imbalance and unwanted minerals in your water. Knowing what’s in your water is critical to your overall comfort and health.

Cleaning

You wash pretty much everything in your home with water. Your clothes, your dishes, your floors and your body all get washed with the water that comes into your home. When you have your water filtered and conditioned, soaps, shampoos and shaving creams will foam and lather better. Your skin will also most likely feel cleaner and softer. Another benefit is that laundry and dishwashers typically require less soap to properly clean.

Less Build-Up

One of the biggest problems for home plumbing systems and appliances is hard water. The minerals in hard water tend to build up inside pipes and appliances parts. This can cause clogs and blockages inside your pipes. In some cases, it can damage your equipment. In particular, mineral deposits and sediment can build up on the bottom of your water heater and prevent it from heating your water. This can also happen if you have a boiler in your home for heating.

If you’re interested in learning more about water treatment systems or if one is right for your home, contact the experts at Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. Give us a call today!

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Considerations for Oil to Gas Conversion

Monday, October 29th, 2012

If you’re considering switching your house from oil to natural gas fuel, it is a huge decision that requires careful consideration. Whether your boiler needs to be replaced or if the price of oil in your area has skyrocketed, switching to natural gas can be a good option for some homeowners. Below we outline some of the major considerations you should think about before switching over.

Availability of Natural Gas

While the United States is experiencing a boom in natural gas production, it still isn’t available everywhere. Depending upon where you live, you might be out of luck simply because the infrastructure isn’t there yet.

Cost of Conversion

This tends to be the area that discourages some homeowners from making the jump. The cost of converting your home from an oil-fired furnace to natural gas can expensive. However, some homeowners make that up in energy savings within 5 years. Obviously, that time-frame can vary drastically by region and your specific situation. If you don’t have a natural gas line right now, one will have to be installed. That involves digging up your yard and part of the street to bury a line and connect it to the main line.

Incentives

To encourage people to make the switch to natural gas, some gas companies will offer certain rebates or other incentives to reduce the initial cost of installation. These vary by region and company, but some will pay for a new gas-fired heater or pay to remove your old oil tank from your property.

If you have questions about switching to natural gas from oil, call the experts at Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. We have years of experience helping our customers in Lansdale make the switch from oil to natural gas. Our friendly heating experts are available to talk to you and discuss your situation.

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Benefits of Heating Maintenance for Your Furnace

Monday, October 1st, 2012

Your furnace is like any other piece of equipment in your Langhorne home in terms of what it needs to continue to function at a high level – namely, routine professional maintenance. Even if your furnace is relatively new, it’s never too early to start planning to keep it in good working condition for years to come. Routine heating maintenance is the best way to ensure your furnace will always work when you need it to.

Better Energy Efficiency

One of the most immediate benefits of regular furnace maintenance is the boost you’ll see in your system’s energy efficiency as reflected in lower energy bills going forward. Even the newest, most efficient furnace will lose a measure of its energy efficiency every year. While this drop might not be noticeable at first, it will quickly add up to create higher heating costs for you. But a simple tuneup every year from a Langhorne heating technician can almost completely eliminate this loss in efficiency.

Fewer Repairs

A regular checkup also allows an experienced technician to go through your entire heating system to find any parts that need to be replaced and other issues that could cause problems later on down the line. Addressing these small issues early makes it less likely you’ll need emergency repairs in the middle of winter when your heating system suddenly shuts off. And that saves you both money and aggravation.

Avoid Premature Replacement

Keeping up with regular furnace maintenance will also extend the life of your system, making your initial investment go farther and allowing you to postpone replacement. And that’s always a good thing for your budget as well as for your peace of mind.

With so many benefits stemming from routine maintenance for your heating system, there really is no reason not to get it done. It’s actually quite a quick and inexpensive process, and you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that you did everything you could to make sure your family is warm and comfortable all winter long.
To schedule a heating maintenance visit in Langhorne or the surrounding area, give Carney Plumbing, Heating and Cooling a call!

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Students Awarded $1000 Dollars Through the Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Plumbing and HVAC Scholarship.

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

Lansdale, Pennsylvania -Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has awarded two outstanding students $500 each toward their education in the HVAC and plumbing industries.

Scholarship | Lansdale | Carney Plumbing, Heating & Air ConditioningThe winners are:

Ryan Paradis of Candia, New Hampshire – Ryan is attending Manchester Community College of New Hampshire to get his HVAC Associates Degree.

Ryan remarked about green living in his essay: “My future goals entail starting my own HVAC business based off of green, renewable energy sources for alternate heating and air condition solutions. The idea of harnessing the power of our environment really appeals to me.”

Clayton Foxx of Jonesboro, Georgia – Clayton is studying Air Conditioning Technology at the Atlanta Technical College.

Clayton remarked about starting his own business in his essay: “My long term goals are to eventually open my own Air conditioning business to award others the opportunity to improve the field as well.”

Kevin Carney, owner of Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling said, “We were excited to read what motivates students to become leaders in the HVAC and plumbing industries, and how they plan on changing and improving the field.”

Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling created this scholarship to help motivate students to become HVAC technicians and plumbers, as well as to encourage students who are already pursuing rewarding careers in these industries. Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is a growing company, so they are always in need of bright, hardworking people.  By making these funds and future scholarships available, Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling hopes to motivate students entering the work force to contribute to the HVAC and plumbing industries.  With emerging green technologies in HVAC and plumbing, future students have the opportunity to shape their industry and the homes we live in.  Now more than ever we need the brightest and most ambitious students to step up to the challenging and rewarding careers available in these fields.

Congratulations to the winners!

About Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling:

Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling was founded in 1976 by Kevin J. Carney and Diane Carney. Although the operations are now in the hands of sons Kevin and Ryan, Kevin – or “Senior” as he’s referred to by co-workers – remains involved in the company. The company is now in its third facility, located at 900 Bethlehem Pike, Line Lexington, PA 18932 on the border of Bucks and Montgomery Counties.

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Features to Look for in Geothermal Heat Pumps

Monday, July 30th, 2012

Geothermal heat pumps are a wonderful technology that is now being used more and more in both the residential and commercial HVAC industries.  Carney Plumbing, Heating and Cooling has a team of Lansdale geothermal technicians that can help you understand the various features to look for in geothermal heat pumps, as well as being able to aptly perform geothermal installation and repairs.

There are a number of geothermal features that make this type of heating and air conditioning system a wise choice if you want to save energy and money on your monthly utility bills. Geothermal heat pumps utilize the more stable temperature found in the ground or from a nearby water source in order to produce either heated or cooled air, depending on the time of year and the need; therefore, geothermal heat pumps provide year-round comfort in one system.

Geothermal systems can utilize one of three main types of heat pumps: a closed loop system, an open loop system, or a hybrid system. The hybrid option utilizes a dual-source heat pump, which combines the use of a traditional air-source heat pump with a geothermal heat-pump (ground-source heat pump).

While the initial cost of installing a geothermal heat pump system tends to be more expenesive than other HVAC systems, they are easy to maintain and are some of the most efficient ways to heat and cool your home or business. Many on the market today have been awarded the ENERGY STAR label. With these models, there are often government incentives, such as federal tax breaks, for purchasing geothermal heat pump systems.

Additional geothermal features that are available include dual stage scroll compressors, chlorine-free and environmentally friendly R-410A refrigerant, quiet water valves, high quality blower motors, suction line accumulators, and heat exchangers. It is also good to look for a geothermal heat pump that is covered by a good warranty.

Carney Plumbing, Heating and Cooling supplies quality geothermal services in Lansdale, Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas.  As fully licensed geothermal contractors we have the field-experience and proper education necessary to work with complete geothermal heat pump systems. Let us help you understand the features to look for in these systems so that you can determine which geothermal energy system is right for your specific needs. Call us any time!

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Air Conditioning Tip: Indoor Air Conditioning Components

Monday, July 16th, 2012

Air conditioning in Lansdale is a modern convenience that we can easily take for granted as long as all the parts are working well.  In every unit, no matter the size, the basic process is one of extracting heat from the conditioned space and moving it to the outside, leaving cool air in its place.

This process easily divides into indoor and outdoor components.

Air Conditioning 101

Based on the principal of thermal energy which states that heat gravitates toward cooler temperatures, compounds known as refrigerants are moved through a closed loop system, repeatedly contracting and expanding between liquid and gas forms, alternately releasing and absorbing heat along the way.  The particular chemicals are selected for their abilities to transform from one state to the other at low temperatures.

While the refrigerant evaporates into a gaseous state within the looped system, it absorbs heat, removing the stale air from the space being conditioned and evacuating it to the outdoors. The warm air is pulled through ducts to meet with the cooling loop.

Ductwork

The cooled air is distributed through ducts or tubing and released into individual spaces.  Additional ductwork is required to remove the stale air and pull it back to be reconditioned as it passes over the loop containing the refrigerant.  The air is moved in both directions by a blower, usually electric and sized to handle the amount of air no matter the building.

Ductwork is also sized to handle appropriate volumes of air. To maintain efficiency, large trunks distribute along central lines to smaller ones reaching farther out. The return air is usually taken from common areas.

The grates are found in the walls, floors and often as part of the dropped ceiling. When combined with a forced air heating system, the total energy use is much more efficient.

Looped Coils

The refrigerant is enclosed in a loop where it can expand and contract to make its transformation from gas to liquid and back again.  To change into a heat-absorbing gas, it travels through the evaporating coils, an intricate series of delicate fins that meets with the ductwork to regenerate the conditioned air.

An exchange valve allows just the right amount of liquid refrigerant into the evaporator coils.  If there is too much, the tube is flooded too tightly to allow expansion of the molecules and room to attract the heat.  If too little, the process is inefficient.

Cool Maintenance

When set up and maintained on a regular basis, the system functions with little attention and over sight. To schedule a maintenance appointment today, give Carney Plumbing, Heating and Cooling a call!

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What’s it Like to Work With Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling?

Friday, June 29th, 2012

Customer Review | Lansdale | Carney Plumbing, Heating & Air ConditioningA wonderful customer details their experience with Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling .

“I called to get estimates for a heat pump and an air conditioning unit. Joe Hill came to our home to assess our needs. Within a few days, he called to ask whether or not we would like to have a back-up heat option in the event of choosing a heat pump. He said this would require an upgraded circuit box. I told him I didn’t want the back-up heat, and he put together the proposals for both a heat pump and A/C soon after. I believe I received an email with both proposals within a week of Joe’s first coming to our home. Before I received the proposals, I called Joe with questions regarding duct work as well as financing. He answered all my questions completely and assured me that we would be much more comfortable in our home regardless of which option we selected. When we decided to use Carney to meet our climate control needs, Jose contacted us to begin the application process for financing our purchase. This process took a couple of days, and Jose answered further questions we had regarding financing. Another associate called us to schedule installation, and within about a week of letting Carney know we were interested in their services, a crew was here to begin installation of a Trane XR15 AC system. The crew removed our old heat pump and installed the new system over the course of 2 days. They had to make a slightly larger opening in our ceiling to get the new unit in our attic. But before they did this, they asked our permission. They explained that without doing this, they would have to use a smaller and less efficient unit. They covered the opening in the ceiling with a cut-to-fit piece of foam, and they cleaned up each day before they left. They explained the operation of the thermostat to my wife and left the written instructions with us. They also provided us with the paperwork for financing. We are now much more comfortable in our home during the hot summer weather. I would definitely recommend Carney to anyone with climate control needs. Thank you.”

We provide top quality heating, cooling, plumbing services in Bucks and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania. If you are looking for a service provider in the area, call Carney today for all of your plumbing and HVAC needs.

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Air Conditioning Q/A: Why Is My Air Conditioner Not Cooling?

Monday, June 4th, 2012

Your Lansdale air conditioner can run virtually trouble free with just a little maintenance annually.  If these little things like changing the air filter and cleaning the drain are not done regularly, the neglected units can really lose their cool.

The Basic Course

Through a process which involves the rapid evaporation and condensation of chemicals called refrigerants, air conditioners use compounds that have properties that allow them to change rapidly from gas to liquid and back again at low temperatures.

Heat is absorbed when the liquid evaporates and transforms into gas, making the space around it cooler.  Compressing it tightly together again, the heated gas condenses back into liquid with a residue of unwanted moisture that must be released and is vented usually to the outdoors.

The newly cooled air is distributed through the house by means of ductwork, pushed by fans driven by electric motors.  As the air moves along, it passes through a filter and can be further de-humidified.

Problems in the System

If the filter is clogged, movement of the cooled air is slowed to the point we might think the unit is broken.  If the condensate drain is plugged, the motor can get damaged and stop producing.  Regular maintenance performed by the home owner or as a service of Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling can avoid or eliminate these simple aggravations.

When the heat builds, however, and cool relief seems nowhere near the air ducts, it may be time to call a professional to dig deeper to find the reason and suggest solutions.

Back to Cool

If not serviced regularly, the amount of refrigerant in the coils may decrease over time or the coils themselves could get clogged and impede the evaporation/condensation process.  A leak in the coils could drain the system, rendering the unit useless and wholly unproductive.

There are belts on each of the two separate fan motors which may be worn or loose, causing the fans to blow less efficiently.  The motor may need to be oiled or have a broken part that doesn’t allow it to push the air at all.

Most of the time, these fixes are relatively minor and do not threaten the life of the air conditioning unit.  Schedule an annual inspection and service from a certified Lansdale HVAC company like Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling today!

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What Professional AC Maintenance Includes

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

Besides the cool air, what we like most about having air conditioning in Abington is that we don’t have to do anything to still live in a cool climate when it’s boiling outside.  With programmed thermostats adjusting the temperatures automatically, we don’t even have to turn it on.

Therefore, it is very inconvenient (not to mention uncomfortable) when our unit misbehaves and forces us to pay attention.  Our first inclination, suddenly over-heated,  may be to call for help, but often the expensive repair can be accomplished easily or avoided completely by checking the drain line that may be clogged.

When it gets more complicated, it is important to consult an Abington air conditioning professional.

Air Conditioning 101

Air conditioning is a process which involves the rapid evaporation and condensation of chemicals called refrigerants, compounds that have properties allowing them to change from liquid to gas and back again at low temperatures.

Simply stated: when the liquid evaporates and transforms into gas it absorbs heat.  Compressed tightly together again, the matter condenses back into liquid with a residue of unwanted moist heat that must be released to the outdoors.  Over the course of handling the air to cool it, air conditioners are able to filter dust and dehumidify the air as well.

Annual Service

Air conditioning units are designed to last for a decade or two of virtually trouble-free comfort, so long as they are maintained regularly.  A service contract with a reputable company ensures reliable maintenance and establishes a relationship so that if anything should go wrong, your call for help will be at the top of the list with a mechanic who likely knows the details of your particular unit.

You annual maintenance visit will include all of the following minimal tasks:

  • a check for the correct amount of refrigerant in the system;
  • a pressurized system test for any leaks using an actual leak detector tool;
  • a controlled evacuation and disposal of any excess refrigerant instead of an illegal toss in the dumpster;
  • a check for and seal of any duct leakage within the in central systems;
  • a measure of air flow through the evaporator coil;
  • a verification of the correct electric control sequence, making sure the heating and cooling systems cannot operate simultaneously;
  • an inspection, cleaning and maintenance of the electric terminals and applying a non-conductive coating if necessary;
  • a check of all belts for tightness and wear;
  • a check for oil in the motors;
  • a check for the accuracy of the thermostat.

To schedule your appointment today, give Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling a call!

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