Your air conditioning system is comprised of a number of components, but there are three key components that are responsible for much of the work: the condenser, the evaporator and the compressor. Of these three components, the compressor would be considered the most mechanical, as it is responsible for pressurizing the refrigerant in your system. Compressors do a great deal of work, and operating day in and out under great pressure can lead to repair issues, particularly if your air conditioning system hasn’t been properly maintained. Any repair issues that develop with your compressor should only be handled by a trained expert to ensure that the diagnosis is correct and that the repair is handled properly. The experts at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling have been helping customers in the North Wales, PA, area with their air conditioner repairs since 1976 and we can help you with yours. Just give us a call today and schedule an appointment.
Carney All Seasons Blog: Posts Tagged ‘North Wales’
3 Common Problems That Can Develop with Your AC’s Compressor
Tuesday, June 9th, 2015How Long Will My Home’s Water Line Last?
Thursday, January 8th, 2015Having an older home or fixer-upper can be a very rewarding experience, but there is always a concern about the water lines coming into the home. Water lines are quite study, but they do age, and if you have a property that has been around since 1950 or before, you could be looking at a water line that needs replacing. Following are some average lifespans from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for the different types of metals used for main water lines:
- Brass – 40-70 years
- Copper – 50 years
- Galvanized steel – 20-50 years
- Cast iron – 70-100 years
- PVC (polyvinyl chloride) – indefinite
- Lead – 100 years
So how do you know if your water pipe has blown? Here are some common signs:
- Yard puddling – water main lines run under the ground and directly into your home; if a leak has developed in the area of your yard, the ground surrounding the leak will become saturated and the water will rise to the surface, creating very soggy areas or puddles.
- Very high water bill – if you notice a sudden, big increase in your home’s water bill and haven’t increased your water usage, you may have a water main leak.
- Significant decrease in water pressure – have you noticed that all the faucets and showerheads seem to have a lot less pressure when the water comes out? A significant drop in pressure means a leak has developed somewhere, and if the water pressure loss is across the board, then it’s likely to be a problem with the main water line to your home.
- Water discoloration – are you noticing that your water has become brown, or that dirt is in it? This can indicate that soil is getting into your water from a break somewhere in the water line.
- Water around foundation of your home (slab) – if your home sits on a slab, and your main water line is embedded in the concrete of the slab, a leak can still develop. Because the pipe is encased, the leaking water may escape to the outside of the foundation, where it will puddle.
If you have concerns that the main water line to your home may be aging, or you think you may have a leak, call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling today.
3 Methods of Drain Cleaning Used by Professionals
Friday, May 9th, 2014The 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.
Why Use a Whole House Humidifier This Winter?
Monday, November 5th, 2012Winter is a great time of year, provided that you have prepared your home to ensure your comfort throughout the season. Obviously an effective heating system is a great benefit to your home during the winter season, but heating your home can also lead to excessively dry air. If the air in your home is too dry comfort levels can plummet quickly. A whole-house humidifier allows you to heat your home while retaining moisture in the air for total comfort. Here is some more information about the operation of whole-house humidifiers, as well as some indicators that you may need one in your home. If you have any further questions about whole-house humidifiers call Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling today.
A lack of humidity in the air in your home can cause a lot of problems, ranging from minor annoyances to actual physical damage. Static electricity thrives in environments lacking humidity. Static shocks are a minor problem for people, but they can actually damage expensive electronic equipment. Excessively dry air can also cause your sinuses to dry out, leading to sore throats and bloody noses. Allergy and asthma symptoms can be aggravated. Because many viruses thrive in environments with low humidity colds and sickness can increase. All of these problems can be alleviated with a whole-house humidifier.
Low humidity levels can also negatively affect your home. Wallpaper can loosen and peel away from the walls, drywall may crack and wood paneling can develop gaps between the seams and even crack. Dry air can also damage wooden furniture and fixtures in your home, loosening joints and compromising the wood.
A whole-house humidifier is the best way to avoid these problems in your home. Portable humidifiers are fine for one room, but a whole-house humidifier is preferable as it restores proper humidity levels throughout your entire house. They are installed directly into your central heating and cooling system, and the humidity is dispersed throughout your existing ductwork along with conditioned air. A distribution tray of water adds just the right amount of humidity to the air being circulated throughout your home. Of course, too much humidity is also a problem that can reduce indoor air quality and overall comfort. This is another reason to opt for a whole-house humidifier. A portable unit is simply turned on and left alone. A whole-house humidifier offers you much more control over the amount of humidity that is introduced to the air in your home, removing the danger of excess moisture in the air.
If you have any more questions about how a whole-house humidifier can benefit your home, call the humidity experts at Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling for answers. We have the expertise and training necessary to provide you with all the information necessary to decide if a whole-house humidifier is right for you. Call today to schedule a whole-house humidifier installation from our professional team.
Basic Home Heating Safety Tips
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012While you should schedule a yearly maintenance visit with a qualified HVAC technician to check for any safety concerns, you can also reduce potential safety hazards in the heating system of your North Wales home. Whether you have a furnace, heat pump, or boiler, you can substantially decrease the chances of dangerous situations with a few minor routine tasks.
If you have any questions about how to better maintain your heating system, give Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling a call to speak with one of our expert HVAC technicians. Here are a few guidelines to get you started.
Ventilation in Forced-air Systems:
- Regularly vacuum and clean out your heating vents and fan blower.
- Check the condition of your chimney and vent pipe to make sure that none of the parts are damaged or show signs of deterioration.
- Test the thermostat occasionally to make sure your heating system is working at optimal levels. There could be a safety concern if your heater is not properly heating your home.
Heat Exchangers:
- Heat exchangers should be inspected often to prevent carbon monoxide leaks. Check for any obvious issues, such as rust or other damages.
- The heat exchanger for furnaces should be inspected by a professional once a year in case there are hidden problems with the equipment, or if any of the components need to be replaced.
- Check the pilot light in gas furnaces for any flickers or changes in color. Have someone turn up the thermostat while you watch the light, but turn off the system for five minutes first. If there are any changes, there could be a problem with the heat exchanger. Call a professional if you suspect issues with your heat exchanger.
Heating Equipment Inspections and Adjustments:
- Boilers should be drained regularly to reduce sediment buildup, in addition to testing the water level safety controls. It’s best to have a North Wales professional perform these tasks if you aren’t sure how to do them on your own.
- Adjust the temperature settings if you suspect that the heater isn’t working properly, and if it doesn’t work call a professional heating technician, or if you aren’t sure how to locate or adjust the controls.
- Check the overall equipment for cracks, rust, or any other obvious signs of damage or deterioration that could create safety hazards.
In addition to performing these tasks, call a licensed heating contractor to inspect your heating system at least once a year.
Do I Need to Supplement My Heat Pump With Another Heating System?
Monday, January 2nd, 2012People often turn to heat pumps as a solution for their North Wales home heating and cooling needs because they want a single, all-inclusive system that covers all the bases. The convenience and simplicity is part of the allure of choosing a heat pump to begin with.
However, it’s not always that simple. There are situations where a heat pump is not enough to handle the needs of the whole home. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the whole idea goes out the window, but the heat pump may need some help in the form of a supplementary heating supply.
Here are some reasons/situations that may call for a supplemental heat source in North Wales in addition to a heat pump:
- A Cold Climate – Although heat pumps can serve as the primary heating system when temperatures drop as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit, they have trouble keeping up when the cold snap lasts longer than a few days. In any climate where temperatures dip below this mark for a length of time, a supplemental heating system is recommended.
- A Large Home – Heat pumps come in many different sizes, but if yours does not have the capacity to match the size of your home, then it won’t be able to heat the whole house. It’s as simple as that. If you are installing a new heat pump, be sure to get one that is properly sized. But, if you have an existing heat pump that is overmatched by your home’s size, simply supplementing it may be the easiest solution.
- The Power Goes Out – A heat pumps’ use of electricity is a benefit in most situations, but unfortunately it means they are helpless when the power goes out. To avoid suffering in the winter chill when a blizzard takes out a local power line, have a backup/supplemental heat source on hand to use until the power comes back on.
Those are a few situations you may encounter in which supplementing a heat pump is a good idea. Remember, though, that each situation is different. When installing a new heat pump, consult with a North Wales installer beforehand to see if you should also have a supplemental heat system in addition to the heat pump. This is especially important if you live a cold climate.
The Hardest HVAC Maintenance: Some Pointers from Sellersville
Monday, November 14th, 2011Do you hate to work on your own mechanical equipment in your Sellersville home, like furnaces and plumbing fixtures? You aren’t alone. Many people are not cut out to be do-it-yourselfers (DIYers). They prefer to hand off their maintenance and repair chores to qualified professional. That’s not a bad thing. But there are lots of DIYers who prefer to work on their own home repairs – and those are the people who aren’t afraid to take on the most challenging jobs.
If you are looking for good ideas on how to maintain your home’s heating and cooling (HVAC) system beyond the normal filter changeouts, here are some good things to check – things that will help with the overall performance of your HVAC system.
- Check the ventilation system. The ventilation carries conditioned air from a main source throughout your home. It takes a little time and effort to check your ventilation system for things like cracks or leaks around joints, but it is an important maintenance task. You may even find separations between joints or holes caused by nails. A leaky ventilation system could be sending conditioned air into attics, walls, or crawlspaces and making your furnace work extra hard just to keep your living areas warm and comfortable. Take time to visually inspect as much of your ventilation system as possible – usually metal or flex duct – and repair using joint glue, metal filler, or duct tape.
- Inspect the insulation. Your heating system works in conjunction with the insulation in your home to provide comfort and warmth while saving you on high utility bills. A home that is poorly insulated or not insulated at all will cause a furnace to work harder and not only send utility bills higher, but increase the possibility of mechanical failure. Replacing or adding insulation in walls and crawlspaces is a relatively easy, yet time-consuming task. You can roll down or tack up fiber insulation or blow in insulation into walls. You can also seal up cracks on your home’s walls, roof, or foundation with a number of different products. Once again, your goal is to make your heating system work less and save you money.
- Check the visible components of the furnace. A build-up of dust and dirt can make the moving components of your furnace work even harder, such as the motors, fan belts, contactors, etc. If you live in an area where there is lots of dust and humidity or if your home has several occupants and/or animals, it is particularly important to check your system on a regular basis. This can be done by removing the access panels and taking a vacuum cleaner hose into as many areas as possible. A good, thorough vacuuming should produce immediate results and make your furnace run much more efficiently.
Try these three steps and you may not have to repeat them for another year or so – possibly not ever again while you live in your home.
How Often Should I Replace My Furnace Filter?
Wednesday, November 9th, 2011Just like the filter in your air conditioner, replacing your furnace filter is the key to a healthy and comfortable Willow Grove home. By keeping a good filter replacement schedule, you will reduce wear and tear to the furnace and keep your home warm, while keeping your family healthy and controlling energy costs all winter.
But when does your furnace filter need to be changed? Well, each system is different, but there are some general guidelines and recommendations to follow that can help you keep it all straight and stay on top of your furnace filter situation.
Conventional Wisdom
The long-standing rule of thumb on furnace filters is to change them every month. This is good practice if you are using older fiberglass filters, but for newer, more efficient filters, you should do it a little differently. These should be inspected and cleaned at least once a month, but you may need to replace them that frequently also.
Sometimes it is a little more complicated than these general guidelines, so it pays to be aware of some factors and conditions in your home that may affect how frequently you need to change your filter.
Things to Consider
As mentioned above, the first thing to consider is the efficiency of the filter. Because new filters are so efficient, when they get dirty or clogged with dust and debris, they actually restrict airflow, making your furnace bog down and work harder. So, it is important to stay on top of a monthly inspection and cleaning schedule with these filters.
Also take into account air quality and sources of allergens both inside and outside your home. If you live in an area with a lot of pollutants in the air, you’ll want to replace your filters often to keep those out of your home. If you own a lot of pets, the dander and hair will wind up in your furnace filter and you may have to replace it more often.
Complicated enough for you? It doesn’t have to be. Simplify the whole process by doing the following: check your filter monthly and be prepared to change it that often, clean high-efficiency filters regularly, replace the filter at least every three months and again at the start of heating season.
If you do those things at a minimum, you will be in pretty good shape. If have any questions about furnace maintenance, contact your local contractor.
Plumbing Noises: Determining What They Mean
Friday, September 30th, 2011Under ideal conditions, you would hear nothing from your Lansdale home’s plumbing system except the sound of running water when you turn on the tap. Unfortunately, that is not always what actually happens. In fact, your plumbing can make all types of funny and sometimes alarming noises for no reason that you can easily discern.
For instance, one common plumbing noise sounds like a hard knock or hammer blow. This usually occurs when you turn off a tap and can be rather alarming. Sometimes you can even feel the reverberation of the impact that caused the sound. But why is this happening? Usually, this “water hammer” noise is the result of the dramatic shift in pressure in the system when you suddenly stop the flow of water from a faucet.
This sudden stop creates a kind of shock wave, which then travels back through the pipes and causes the loud knocking sound that you hear. This is easily fixed with a device that is known as a water hammer arrester. These devices help to dissipate the force of the pressure shift and can keep the noise from occurring at all.
There are also all kinds of whistling, squealing and squeaking noises that your plumbing can make under certain circumstances. These types of sounds are often caused by a worn out washer somewhere along the line that is having trouble regulating the flow of water. It can be a little difficult to pin down the source of these noises sometimes, especially if they occur no matter which faucet is turned on. But with a little hunting and trial and error you or your plumber can usually track down the source.
Rattling sounds are also common and generally occur when your water pipes are not well secured to a rigid surface. If this is the case, the force of the water running through the pipes can cause the pipe to vibrate, creating the sound you hear as it bangs against whatever solid surface is nearby. For problems like this, simply securing the pipes in place better can put an end to all of your rattling issues.
Steps to Take When Your HVAC System Breaks Down in Jamison
Friday, September 9th, 2011Imagine this – it’s a sweltering summer day in Jamison. The humidity outside is obscene, hitting you like a wall when you open the door. So, the only place you want to be is on the couch with the cool air conditioned air being blown across your face. Sounds pretty good doesn’t it? Now, imagine what happens when that cool conditioned air stops flowing.
A breakdown in your HVAC system is the absolute last thing you want to experience on a day where the mercury dings 90+ but it can happen, and the only way to ensure things don’t get out of hand is to take the following steps.
- Check Common Problems –While the system itself could be broken, make sure there are no other issues involved. Frequently, the electricity supply can be interrupted by a power surge or a tripped breaker. In both cases, you can usually get the system back online by yourself. However, you should call an electrician to inspect it as soon as possible.
- Does it Turn On – If the air conditioning system turns on and simply doesn’t provide enough cooling for your home, it is likely a problem in the unit. In this case, check other common problems. Clogged filters can severely reduce efficiency and if the system freezes over, it may stop providing enough cooling.
- Still Not Working? – If the system refuses to turn on and there are not clear problems that you can fix yourself, it’s time to call a professional. A professional HVAC contractor should be available almost any day of the week for emergency calls like this. Of course, in the middle of a heat wave or cold snap, it’s very likely that they may be booked up for a couple days. To avoid this happening, have routine maintenance done as often as recommended to avoid the possibility of being without cooling or heating indefinitely.
A good HVAC system is the only thing standing between you and discomfort, or worse, danger to your health. Don’t let the system go into such disrepair that you can’t use it at all.