When it comes to a new air conditioning installation, including replacing an outdated system, it’s very important to take a few steps before purchasing and installing your new system. One of these steps is determining what size of air conditioner you really need for your home. Many people go by the “rule of thumb” that you only need the square footage of your home to correctly estimate this; this is not correct. To correctly determine the right-sized AC, you need to determine what is known as the cooling load.
Carney All Seasons Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category
Why Correctly Sizing Your Air Conditioner Is Important
Monday, May 25th, 20153 Common Types of Air Conditioning Repairs
Monday, May 11th, 2015There are many components and moving parts in your air conditioner, which leaves quite a bit of latitude for problems. However, there are some key areas that our technicians see problems with more often than other parts. This doesn’t mean these parts are faulty; rather, it indicates that these parts are sometimes put to more use than others, and as such, they can develop more wear and tear. No matter what your repair issue, though, it’s important to always call an expert for help, like the ones at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling. We’ve been helping customers in the Fort Washington, PA, area with air conditioning repair since 1976, and we bring this experience and expertise to every job we do. Call us today, and let our AC specialists get your air conditioner back on track.
Common Misconceptions About Air Conditioning Costs
Monday, April 27th, 2015With summer on the way, residents of Bucks & Montgomery Counties, PA, are gearing up for heat and humidity. That means keeping your air conditioning unit maintained and ready to go, but it also means keeping an eye on costs. We all want a cool comfortable home in the summer months, but we also want to avoid paying an arm and a leg for it. Sadly, common misconceptions about air conditioning costs can be quite pervasive, and while you may think you’re saving money, the opposite may actually be true. Here’s a brief list of some common myths to be aware of.
Is It Time for Air Conditioning Renewal This Spring?
Monday, April 13th, 2015Spring is the time of renewal, and if you ended last cooling season in Harleysville, PA, with an air conditioner on its last legs, now is the perfect time to see what kind of AC replacement system will best fit your home. Many people look at air conditioning replacement with little enthusiasm, but the truth is that replacement offers you and your home a great opportunity to improve energy efficiency and comfort, and you may find that your replacement system fits your needs better than your current one. There are a number of options available to homeowners for air conditioning replacement, and sizing is always a critical aspect of good installation. The trained experts at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling can help you determine which type of replacement AC will be best for your home and then install it correctly the first time around. If your air conditioning system needs renewal this spring, call your Carney expert!
Have You Scheduled Your Air Conditioner for Maintenance Yet?
Monday, April 6th, 2015Spring gives homeowners a window of opportunity to get their homes ready for summer, and part of your spring cleaning should always include scheduling a maintenance appointment for your home’s air conditioning system. Why? The wear and tear from last season, coupled with potential debris and dirt that may have accumulated over the winter, provides ample opportunity for your system to perform poorly or malfunction. The air conditioning experts at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling are scheduling spring maintenance appointments now for Doylestown and the surrounding areas, so call us today and get your AC system ready for summer.
Why Schedule Maintenance?
Maintenance for your air conditioner isn’t a quick visual review of the system; it’s a full tune-up that entails cleaning, adjusting, lubricating and small repair, plus a thorough inspection of the system. Checks are performed as well as performance testing. Why is this appointment so involved? To provide you and your AC system with the following kinds of benefits:
- Better energy efficiency – your air conditioner was made to operate at a specific level of energy efficiency, but when maintenance isn’t performed annually, your system can lose up to 5% of this efficiency every year.
- Improves comfort – when your system is in optimal shape, as it will be after a maintenance appointment, it will be better able to achieve your set temperature.
- Helps prevent repairs – the reason your technician thoroughly inspects your AC system is to discover any developing or existing problems. This helps get you ahead of potential repairs.
- Extends life of the system – keeping your system in good working order means that your system doesn’t operate under stress. This helps extend the life of your air conditioning system because it reduces and/or eliminates premature aging, which can contribute to malfunction, breakdown and early replacement.
Always Hire a Professional
To gain the benefits maintenance has to offer, it’s always best to hire a trained expert to perform the work. The professionals at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling have been helping customers with their ACs since 1976, so call us today and schedule your spring maintenance appointment!
How Effective is Geothermal Cooling?
Monday, September 15th, 2014Geothermal cooling is relatively new to the residential cooling and heating market, but the science behind it has been around for decades. Geothermal systems are very effective in two important ways: first, they are very energy efficient and second, they are excellent at providing comfortable cooling and heating for your home. If you are considering geothermal cooling in Warminster, but have some questions about how the system will work, call the experts who can help: Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.
Effective Cooling
A geothermal system is very effective at cooling your home for a couple of reasons. First, the system uses a heat pump, which transfers the heat and humidity from your home and transfers it into the ground where the loop resides. The cooling is a constant, low level disbursement of air that creates a nice, even temperature throughout your living spaces. Second, geothermal systems typically dehumidify the air up to 30% more than traditional air conditioners, naturally balancing the moisture levels in your home.
Highly Effective for Energy Efficiency
There are several reasons a geothermal system is so effective at being energy efficient. First, the system doesn’t use any fossil fuels at all. Second, the heat pump for the geothermal system uses very little electricity to run. Third, a geothermal system uses a source for energy that isn’t just renewable, it’s nonstop: the constant, steady temperature of the Earth just below the frost line. This resource will never run out, making it beyond sustainable. Fourth, the savings you will realize over time due to the energy efficiency of the system is significant: a reduction up to 60-70% of annual cooling and heating costs. These are the main reasons why geothermal systems are so effective in significantly increasing your energy efficiency and decreasing your carbon footprint.
Geothermal systems are incredibly energy efficient, and with average life spans of 25-50 years, they are also incredibly durable.
If you think geothermal cooling in Warminster may be the right choice for your home, call Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling today and schedule an appointment with one of our experts.
Upgrades to Think About When Replacing Your Air Conditioner
Monday, July 7th, 2014When your AC in Warrington starts to fail, it’s probably time to consider air conditioning replacement. While selecting a new system may seem like an overwhelming task, you may be able to upgrade your new system for increased efficiency and comfort. New AC installation can be a positive experience when you upgrade to a high-efficiency system or invest in zone control.
High-Efficiency Systems
If you’ve had your AC for a long time, you have probably seen your seasonal energy bills increase over time. Luckily, new AC systems are generally far more efficient than they once were. When you purchase your new AC system, consider upgrading to a high-efficiency system that will save you more every month.
Look for a system with a high SEER rating or with the ENERGY STAR label. The SEER rating, which is given to all air conditioners, is a measure of an air conditioner’s Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. All air conditioners sold in the U.S. are required to have a SEER rating of at least 13. A system with a higher SEER may cost more initially but will probably save you more every month on your energy bills. Systems with the ENERGY STAR label must have a SEER of 14 or higher.
Zone Control
Another upgrade to consider when replacing your AC unit is zone control. Zone control can be added to any existing system, but replacing your air conditioner gives you the opportunity to consider whether it will be useful in your home. Zone control allows you to adjust the temperature in specific rooms or areas of your home with separate thermostats in each zone. An AC technician will install dampers in the ductwork of your home that open and close to control the temperature in each room. You should consider this upgrade if you have a large home and often experience varied temperatures throughout the house, or if your family members each have different temperature needs.
Replacing your air conditioner can be a positive experience when you upgrade to a system with higher efficiency or add zone control.
Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling offers these upgrades and more for your Warrington air conditioning replacement. Contact us today to set up an appointment.
Should I Call for Maintenance if My AC Is Having Problems?
Friday, June 27th, 2014When you’re having problems with your AC, you might have a hard time figuring out what service to ask for from an HVAC contractor. Many air conditioning service providers also offer air conditioning maintenance, but you may not be sure which service you need.
Problems with your air conditioning system require immediate repair. For any issues, an AC repair service is needed to assess the specific problem. Air conditioning maintenance, on the other hand, provides inspection, cleaning, and adjustment services that may prevent such problems in the future. The following guide details the differences between AC repair and maintenance, so you know what to ask for from an HVAC specialist.
AC Maintenance
Air conditioning maintenance is a service offered by many HVAC specialists to check whether your system is running smoothly and to recommend any additional services you may need. We recommend maintenance once a year to check your system for any deficiencies that may drive up your bills or cause issues in the future.
During AC maintenance, your system will be thoroughly inspected. You may not know if you have a loose or damaged part in your system, and it could be reducing your system’s energy efficiency. With a thorough inspection, these issues can be located, and the technician will recommend any additional parts or services you may need. The technician will also check refrigerant levels and perform any necessary adjustments. Furthermore, your AC system will receive cleaning wherever necessary. A technician will clear out any dust or debris that may be affecting the efficiency of your system.
AC Repair
If you’re having problems with your AC, contact a technician immediately for AC repair. If you are experiencing little or no cooling, uneven cooling, short cycling, loud noises, or a broken thermostat, you want a technician to repair the problem as soon as possible to get your system back to normal. It’s important to contact a technician for repairs at the first sign of a problem, because these issues could mean an eventual system breakdown.
Whether you need repairs for problems with your AC or would like to schedule air conditioning maintenance in Warminster, call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling.
Why Is a Faulty Compressor Motor a Problem?
Friday, June 6th, 2014The core of an air conditioning system is the compressor, which is located in the outdoor condenser cabinet. When an AC switches into cooling, the compressor makes a noticeable humming noise that you probably associate with all air conditioners: that’s the indication the process that creates the heat exchange cycle to remove warmth from your home has started. The compressor increases the pressure of refrigerant by decreasing its volume; the refrigerant changes into a hot, high pressure gas and starts on its path through the air conditioning system until it returns to the compressor.
A compressor resembles a motor in the way it operates, but it needs its own motor to run. Compressor motor faults are serious because they threaten to stop the heat exchange cycle. If you suspect a failing compressor motor, contact Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling right away for air conditioning repair in Quakertown, PA. We offer same day service, your satisfaction guaranteed.
Why motor faults are bad news for the compressor
The compressor motor is similar to most motors: it can suffer from excess stress due to overwork, loss of lubrication, and dirty components. Other problems a motor can encounter include loose wires and a bad start relay. When the motor starts to suffer from extra strain, the air conditioner will begin to “hard start”—i.e. the compressor will struggle to turn on, and it may only work for a short period before it shuts off again. This puts stress on the compressor as well, and it drains large amounts of energy that will lead to an increase on your bills.
The biggest threat from a malfunctioning compressor motor is not that the motor will burn out and stop moving the compressor; that’s a serious issue that will require a technician change out the motor. The biggest danger is that the hard starting will cause the compressor to overheat and burn-out. A burn-out compressor can rarely be fixed. Replacing the compressor is costly, and often it means that the whole air conditioner must be replaced.
When you hear a grinding or screeching sound from the condenser cabinet, it probably means a motor is malfunctioning. Call for repairs immediately before the problem spreads to the compressor. Also call for technicians if the air conditioner begins to hard start.
If you act soon enough, skilled repair technicians can often fix the problem quickly and thoroughly so it will not start up again. However, in cases of aged ACs, sometimes a new installation is the best solution when the compressor and its motor have worn down too far.
Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling has served Quakertown, PA with air conditioning repair for over 30 years. Trust us with your AC’s motor trouble.
Ducted vs. Ductless Air Conditioning: Which Is Right for Me?
Friday, May 30th, 2014When it comes to modern forced-air air conditioning systems, you have two distinct choices in front of you. First, there’s the standard central air AC that uses a network of ducts hooked up to a single indoor unit to distribute cooled air. Second, there is the ductless mini split heat pump, which has a similar outdoor cabinet to the central AC, but connects to multiple indoor units, called blowers, that are mounted in different rooms of a house. These blowers send conditioned air directly into the rooms, bypassing the need for ductwork or any sort of ventilation system entirely.
You have the choice. Which one will you pick?
If it seems like a hard choice, don’t worry.
Our technicians at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling are ready to assist you with deciding on the right system, whether it’s ducted or ductless air conditioning in Conshohocken, PA.
But to get you started, here are a few of the basic pros of the two.
Ducted (standard central air conditioning) advantages
- Ideal if you already have ductwork in your home. A new system will easily hook up the the ventilation system with minimal installation work.
- The cost less to install than ductless systems and take significantly less time.
- They are easy to centrally control as well as service.
Ductless mini split heat pump advantages
- A fine choice if you are planning new construction, such as remodeling, adding on a room to your current house, or building a new house entirely. You won’t have worry about duct placement or planning construction around ductwork.
- Excellent for older homes that lack ductwork. You can retire those inefficient window units and have centrally-controlled powerful air conditioning.
- Lack of ducts means no air contamination from dust or dirt gathering inside them, plus no loss of cooling through the duct walls.
- The separate blowers allow for zone control, so you can adjust the temperature in different rooms without changing the temperature in all of the rooms at the same time.
- All ductless mini splits are heat pumps, so you’ll have heating as well as cooling.
It may look like the “pros” of the ductless system easily outnumber those of the ducted system. But some of those “pros” for central AC are persuasive—especially if your home simply isn’t set up for a ductless system to work well with it.
If your still debating about whether to go ductless or not, call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling. One of our experts in ductless air conditioning in Conshohocken, PA will set up an appointment with you to look over your options when it comes to an AC for this summer. You can trust to our experience and integrity when it comes to home comfort.