Not all heating systems use an air filter, but if you have a heating system that does, it is important that you, or a trained technician, change it every three months. The systems that use air filters are furnaces (both electric and gas), and any system that uses a heat pump (including geothermal and high velocity systems). Why is it so important to change your air filter? We’ll explain more below.
Carney All Seasons Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category
Why You Need to Change Your Heater’s Air Filter Regularly
Monday, December 7th, 2015Why Isn’t My Heat Pump Switching to Heating Mode?
Monday, November 9th, 2015If you use a heat pump HVAC in your home, you know how versatile the system can be. However, every once in a while a heat pump may have trouble switching modes, and there can be a few reasons for this. It is never advisable that you tinker with your heat pump yourself; these are complicated devices, and you are likely to do more harm than good when you don’t have expert training, like the HVAC professionals at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling have. If you have tried to switch your heat pump system in New Hope, PA to heating, and found that it isn’t working, it’s time to give us a call.
If You Need a New Heating System, Now Is the Time to Install
Tuesday, September 29th, 2015Many homeowners look at replacing a heating system in a pretty negative light. While it isn’t the most enjoyable way to spend your money, you shouldn’t overlook the opportunity replacement offers. Not only will you be getting a reliable system, you’ll also increase your overall energy efficiency and your home’s comfort. But, you also have the opportunity to explore using an entirely new type of heating system, one that may better fit the needs of you and your home.
Fall = A Great Time to Schedule Heating Maintenance
Monday, September 21st, 2015We know you don’t want to think about the fall, but the equinox is already here. Fall brings lots of nice things, though, like harvest time, apple baked goods, and beautiful fall foliage. It’s also the time when we turn on the heat, at least in the mornings, to get rid of the growing chill. Make sure your heater is in the best shape it can be in for this fall and winter by scheduling maintenance for your heating system now.
Reasons to Convert Your Heating System to Natural Gas
Thursday, March 5th, 2015Have you been getting frustrated with your oil or electrically-based heating system? Do you wish to have other appliances on natural gas? Then it may be time to consider a natural gas conversion in Doylestown. Converting to natural gas is a process that involves several steps, the handling of heavy, complex equipment and managing the correct piping for the natural gas to flow safely into your home. What does this mean? You need an expert to handle your natural gas conversion, and the experts at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling are here to help.
The Process
The process of converting from oil to natural gas involves a number of steps, including:
- Site evaluation – this typically includes evaluating the current heater and how much gas piping will be needed to reach your home.
- Estimate for scope of work – your technician will provide you with a scope of work and an estimate for the work to be done.
- Coordination with the gas company – a lot of paperwork has to be processed in order to move forward with the conversion, and this is something the experts at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling will handle. The paperwork will involve issues such as who owns the property, where the property is located and other administrative issues that pertain to the conversion, including permits.
- Installation of the gas piping – once all the paperwork and permits have been completed, the technicians will move forward with installing your gas piping from the street to inside your home.
- Inspection – once all of the piping has been installed, the gas company will need to inspect the work and approve it before any appliances can be connected to the gas.
- Installation of gas heater – as soon as the piping clears inspection, your new gas heater can be installed.
Why Convert?
While the process may seem a bit cumbersome, there are some important benefits to converting your heating system from oil to natural gas:
- Convenience of a fuel – with natural gas, there is no more need to manage fuel deliveries
- You can fuel a number of appliances with the new gas line – you can add a water heater, a dryer, etc., to use your new gas fuel line
- Clean-burning fuel – if you’ve had concerns about using oil, natural gas is the cleanest-burning of all the fossil fuels
If you have been thinking of converting from gas to oil, call the people you can trust: Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling.
Tips to Help Your Heating This Winter
Friday, February 20th, 2015Sometimes it can be pretty amazing to see how a small change can make a big difference. When it comes to saving money on your winter heating, there are some small changes that homeowners can make that can have a positive impact on their winter heating budgets. None of these heating tips for your Warrington home are very difficult and some are things you can manage to do on your own. However, if you need repair, replacement or maintenance for your heating system, call the experts at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling today!
Winter Heating Tips
Here are some winter heating tips to help you become more energy efficient this winter:
- Install ceiling fans – ceiling fans help circulate the air and help keep the warm air in your home from trying to settle toward the floor, where the cooler air is. This can help keep your home warmer and more comfortable.
- Upgrade your thermostat – if you are using a slide or dial thermostat with your heating system, you may be missing out some significant savings due to less energy efficiency. With a digital thermostat, you can set a precise temperature instead of aiming for a range, and if you install a programmable thermostat, you can create a program that will power down your heating when your home isn’t occupied.
- Change the air filter regularly – if you heat your home with a furnace or heat pump system, your system has an air filter. It’s recommended that air filters are changed every three months because they gather dirt and dust fairly quickly. Having a clean air filter keeps the air flow in your system at the level it needs to be to perform optimally.
- Close the fireplace damper – if you have a fireplace in your home, leaving the damper open is akin to leaving a window open. A simple check of your fireplace damper can save you from sending valuable heat out your chimney.
These simple steps can help reduce your energy usage, which you’ll see in your monthly heating bills. Need more in-depth help? Call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling today and schedule an appointment with one of our experts.
How Will Oil to Gas Conversion Benefit My Heating?
Friday, December 19th, 2014If you’re one of the few homeowners that still uses oil in your heating system, you may want to consider making a switch to natural gas. Oil is expensive, takes up space in your home, and tends to be far less efficient at heating a home than natural gas. Let’s take a look at some of the ways an oil to gas conversion can help your heating system.
Oil is Expensive
Compared to natural gas, it costs almost half-again as much to heat a home with oil on an average year. You aren’t really getting any extra benefit for that cost, you’re simply paying more money for a fuel that comes with a bunch of disadvantages and doesn’t even heat the home as well as other options. No homeowner wants to pay more money for no reason. That’s why it’s advisable to convert your heating system to natural gas.
Oil is Inconvenient
Oil must be stored by the homeowner who uses it. This means that it has to have physical space dedicated to it, either in your home or somewhere nearby, where it can be readily available if needed. Oil must also be stored carefully, not next to anything remotely flammable. Contrast this with natural gas, which is piped directly into the heating system with no need for additional safety or storage concerns.
Natural Gas is Versatile and Effective
Compared to oil, natural gas has quite a lot going for it. It is the most widely used fuel source in the country, and that makes it quite a bit cheaper than oil. It’s a more efficient fuel source, which makes it better for actually heating your home, as well as saving you money. It’s also safer than oil, with no need for you to store large quantities of flammable fuel in your home just in case there’s a cold day. For all these reasons, you should seriously consider converting your home heating system to run on natural gas instead of oil.
If you’d like to know more, call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling. We provide heating services throughout Blue Bell.
Will a Heating Tune Up Really Save Me Money?
Thursday, December 4th, 2014It’s an oft-asked question: does maintenance really save me money? The answer is yes. We’ll explain more below about how and why a heating tune-up in Pipersville can save you money, but more importantly, if you haven’t scheduled maintenance yet this year, it’s time to do so. It’s recommended that you schedule your heating system for maintenance every 12 months; if it’s been longer than that since your last maintenance appointment, call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling today and schedule a maintenance appointment with one of our experts.
What Happens During a Routine Maintenance Appointment?
A maintenance appointment doesn’t involve a simple once-over of your system. Instead, it is a full tune-up complete with inspection, cleaning and adjusting as needed. Small repairs are made, and if a large repair is discovered, you’ll be notified about the problem and given the opportunity to schedule repair to correct it. Here is a general overview of what to expect from a routine maintenance appointment:
- Thorough inspection of entire system
- Cleaning of components
- Changing of air filter, if needed
- Lubrication of all moving parts
- Safety testing
- Electrical testing
- Performance tests
- Visual inspection of ductwork
- Small repairs (frayed wires, belt changes)
How Does Maintenance Save Money?
Maintenance can save you money in the following ways:
- Increases energy efficiency – your system was made to operate at a certain level of energy efficiency. When it is dirty, dusty and worn from last season, it can be very challenging for your heater to achieve its normal level of efficiency. The tune-up your system receives during a maintenance appointment allows the system to operate optimally, which helps it reduce its energy usage.
- Helps prevent repair – the thorough inspection allows the technician to detect any existing or developing problems; additionally, the small repairs that can occur during a routine maintenance appointment help get you ahead of small problems that can become bigger ones. Reducing the level and incidence of repair of your heater can help you save money.
- Extends life of equipment – stress causes your system to prematurely age; a system can easily come under stress when it is dirty and worn out. Maintenance keeps your heater in good working order season after season, which helps extend the life of the equipment.
It is almost officially winter – have you scheduled your heating system in Pipersville for a tune-up yet? If not, contact Carney Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning today!
How Effective Is a Ductless Mini Split for Heating?
Tuesday, November 18th, 2014Ductless systems have become very popular with homeowners, particularly for cooling. However, some homeowners question the ability of a ductless system to effectively heat their homes. Understanding how a heat pump works helps to answer this question, but for any heating needs you may have, including repair, replacement, installation or maintenance, be sure to hire trained professionals. Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling technicians have been helping customers in New Hope with their heating needs since 1976, and we can help you, too. Call us today!
How Does a Ductless System Heat?
Ductless heating systems use heat pump technology to heat your home. Heat pumps work by transferring heat from one location to another. Refrigerant helps facilitate this transfer. During the winter months, the heat pump absorbs the heat in the surrounding air, concentrates it and then distributes the warm air into your home. During the summer, the heat pump absorbs the heat in your home and transfers it outside. The key to a heat pump’s ability to both heat and cool your home is a component called a reversing valve. This valve changes the directional flow of the refrigerant, which allows the heat pump to change modes. As the homeowner, all you have to do to change the mode is press a button on your dual-mode thermostat; the heat pump does the rest.
Can a Ductless System Heat Effectively?
The simple answer is yes, a ductless system can heat effectively. Here are some reasons why:
- Customized heating – the indoor blowers in a ductless system operate individually; this allows you to set the temperature as you want it per area. In essence, ductless systems offer zone control to your home.
- Great energy efficiency – heat pumps use only a small amount of electricity to operate, about a quarter of that of a whole-home air conditioner, and no fossil fuels. Additionally, using the indoor blowers allows you to use only the amount of heating you need, which can help reduce your energy usage.
- Easily expanded systems – should you add on to your home, or want to have additional heating in another space, it is easy to add on to a ductless system. A single outdoor unit supports up to 4 indoor blowers, so as long as you have the outdoor support, all you have to do is add another blower.
Ductless systems are convenient, durable, energy efficient 2-for-1 systems.
If you are interested in the installation of ductless split heating in your New Hope home, call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling today!
What Happens During a Professional Heating Tune Up?
Monday, November 10th, 2014It’s getting chilly here in Pennsylvania, and many of you may have already turned on your heating system for the winter. Before you turned your system on, did you schedule maintenance? Maintenance is a tune-up for your heating system in Yardley, and if you haven’t had your system maintained in over 12 months, it’s time to give your Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling technician a call and schedule an appointment.
What Happens?
Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling performs maintenance for all combustion heating systems, heat pumps and geothermal systems. Here is a general overview of what to expect from a routine maintenance appointment:
- Thorough inspection of system
- Check for corrosion, holes and/or cracks on components
- Cleaning
- Lubrication of all moving parts
- Adjustments made where needed
- Small repair (corroded wiring fixed, fan belts replaced)
- Safety tests
- Check and changing of filter (if applicable)
- Check of refrigerant (for heat pumps)
- Check of system pressures (boilers)
- Check and cleaning of burner assembly (combustion systems)
- Performance tests
Why Schedule a Tune-Up?
Here are the benefits you and your heating system can gain from scheduling a fall tune-up:
- Increased energy efficiency – your heating system was made to operate at a certain level of energy efficiency. When it is worn and dirty, it is very hard for the system to achieve this.
- Helps prevents repair – your technician conducts a thorough inspection of your system during a maintenance appointment to detect any existing or developing problems. This, coupled with the cleaning, adjusting and lubrication the components receive, helps prevent repair needs.
- Extends life of your system – maintenance keeps your system and its components in good working order; this helps reduce the level of wear and tear on your system, which can help extend the life of your equipment.
It is strongly recommended that you schedule a tune-up for your heating system in Yardley every 12 months.
Winter is just about here, so take some time to call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling and schedule an appointment with your technician today!