Carney All Seasons Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

Warminster Heating Guide: Ways to Improve Furnace Efficiency

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014

As temperatures dip to uncomfortable lows, you keep your furnace running for longer periods of time throughout the night and day. This can drive up your utility bills, and if you have an inefficient system, it may take longer to heat your home and will have a negative impact on the environment. Sometimes, it seems like the only way to save money is by leaving your furnace off for large portions of the day. However, there are a few simple ways to improve the efficiency of your system without sacrificing any comfort.

Change the Filter

Experts recommend you change the furnace filter about once a month if you use a standard one-inch fiberglass filter, and to clean a washable filter every month as well. Three-inch filters only need to be changed every three months, though this number may vary depending on usage. A dirty filter can restrict airflow to the unit causing your furnace to become overworked, which may lead to various repair needs and could cause the system to overheat.

Schedule Regular Heating Maintenance

Heating maintenance is a service that you can schedule every year with a trained technician. The standard steps of a heating system tune up include cleaning key components, adjusting some of the parts, and performing a full inspection. And if this is done by a trained professional, there is a chance that your system will gain back a large portion of the efficiency that is lost over the course of a year. The parts of your furnace may have worn down slightly since the last heating season. This is standard for any heating system, but a thorough cleaning and adjustment can restore it to an efficient state and ward off repairs for years to come.

Consider a New System

Sometimes a maintenance visit cannot help to overcome the wear and tear accrued by an older system. When your unit is beyond help from heating maintenance, you may consider an entirely new unit that offers greater efficiency and can give you a return on your investment throughout the years. Look at the AFUE (Average Fuel Utilization Efficiency) to determine how much energy your unit uses to heat a home and how much is lost to the surrounding environment.

Call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling to schedule a heating system tune up in Warminster today!

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Montgomery County Heating Guide: How Ductless Heating Works

Monday, October 13th, 2014

Ductless systems have been around for a while, having mostly been used in commercial properties. However, over the last few years they have become very popular choices for homeowners. There can be some initial confusion over how a ductless system works, especially in regard to how it provides both heating and cooling for your home. We’ll explain more about that below, but remember that for any of your ductless heating needs in Montgomery County, there’s only one company you should call: Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling.

How Does Ductless Heating Work?

Ductless heating has two important components:

  • Outdoor unit
  • Indoor blowers

It is the heat pump technology that allows the system to offer both heating and cooling for your home. Heat pumps come equipped with a reversing valve that allows the system to change the flow of refrigerant, thereby creating the two modes of heating or cooling.

The way a ductless system works is that the outdoor unit is connected to the indoor blowers via a conduit that is placed in an exterior wall. The outdoor unit contains the compressor and condenser, and each indoor blower has a small set of coils, air filter and blower fan. The indoor blowers are about 35” long and can be mounted flush against walls or hung from ceilings. The conduit contains a refrigerant line, power cord and condensate drain pipe that runs between each blower and the outdoor unit. An outdoor unit can support up to 4 blowers.

The heating (or cooling) cycle begins when you turn on a blower. This signals the refrigerant to flow and the other motors to start. Each indoor blower operates independently.

Benefits of a Ductless System

We’ve already mentioned that a ductless system can offer you both heating and cooling, but here are some other benefits to consider:

  • Easy installation – there is no need to install ductwork, and installing the equipment is straightforward: the outdoor unit is secured outside and the indoor blowers are mounted. A small 3” hole is drilled into an exterior wall and the two units are connected.
  • Customized comfort – because the blowers of a ductless system work independently, a ductless system allows you zone control.
  • Energy efficiency – with a ductless system, you use only the heating and cooling you need. This helps improve energy efficiency.

If you think a ductless heating system in Montgomery County is a good fit for your home, call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling today and schedule an appointment.

 

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When is the Right Time for a Heating System Tune Up?

Monday, September 29th, 2014

Preventative maintenance is always faster, cheaper, and more convenient than replacing or repairing an entire broken system. That is why it is so important to have regular maintenance done on your heating system. The recommendation is that you get your heating system tuned up at least once a year. What is the best time to actually get it done, though? Read on for the benefits of getting your maintenance done during the fall season.

Timing

Fall is the ideal time to have your heating system checked for a number of reasons, timing being foremost among them. Any system is most susceptible to breakdowns during periods of heavy use. Therefore, it is prudent to have your heating system checked right before you plan on using it regularly. Since your need for heat will likely be greatest during winter, it is best to have a tune up shortly before the winter months begin.

Convenience

The benefit of convenience flows directly from the above point on timing. Inevitably, there will be many people who fail to get their heating system tune up before winter. When their heating system begins to have problems, the demand on service professionals in the area will spike. As you can probably imagine, this slows down the rate of service significantly.

If you wait until your heating system begins to have problems, you won’t just have to deal with not having heat during the cold season. You will also be competing for attention with all the other people who are having similar problems. Getting your heating system tuned up in the fall prevents this whole mess from happening.

Efficiency

Of course, you don’t have to wait to get your heating system checked in the fall. In fact, we highly recommend that you have your system checked as soon as possible if you haven’t already done it this year. However, the earlier in the year you have maintenance conducted, the greater length of time between having your heating system in top condition and putting it under heavy use. The closer your heating system tune up is to winter, the more you can be certain that your heating system is ready to face the cold season.

If you have not scheduled a heating system tune up, call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling. We’ll make sure that your heating system runs smoothly all winter long.

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3 Benefits of Heating Maintenance

Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

No one wants to think about preparing for winter, but it is coming. With the Fall Equinox passed, winter will be here before we know it, and with it, your need for heating. No one likes to experience that first flick of the heating switch and hear nothing, and one of the best ways to prevent this from happening is by scheduling heating maintenance in Doylestown. Since 1976, Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has helped our customers stay comfortable through the cold Pennsylvania winters, so call us for a maintenance appointment today.

Why Schedule Maintenance?

There are 3 key things that happen during a maintenance appointment:

  • Inspection
  • Cleaning
  • Adjusting

During a maintenance appointment, your entire system is thoroughly inspected so that any existing or developing problems can be detected. Once the system is inspected, the different components are cleaned. Dirt and dust can build up on a system, and a system that is dirty simply doesn’t run as well as it should. Removing this dirt and dust allows the system to operate as it should. Lastly, there are components that may need adjusting and tightening, and your technician will handle this during the appointment.

So what are some of the benefits of scheduling maintenance? Here are a few:

  • Better performance – a clean, lubricated system runs much better than a dirty, worn one. This helps reduce energy usage.
  • Better comfort – when a system doesn’t run well, it doesn’t heat well. By doing the proper maintenance, you help your heating system work as it’s supposed to, which means it will heat as it’s supposed to.
  • Helps extend life of the system – allowing your system to operate while it’s dirty and not well-maintained contributes greatly to premature aging. No one wants to replace their furnace earlier than expected, and maintenance can help you avoid this scenario.

Maintenance can sometimes be underrated, but the truth is, it really does make a difference to the operation and life of your system.

If it’s been more than a year since your last heating maintenance appointment in Doylestown, call Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling today and speak with one of our trained specialists.

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What is Involved in Replacing an Old System?

Monday, September 22nd, 2014

No heating system can last forever, and if your unit has been in your home for many years, it may be nearing the end of its life. Whether rust and corrosion has rendered your current unit unusable, or if you simply want to find a more efficient furnace, boiler, or heat pump, professional heating system replacement is the right choice for you. In this guide, we’ll go over a few of the steps of replacing an older system and why it’s important to choose a company with experience selecting and replacing heaters.

Choosing a New System

The first step of heating replacement is choosing a new system. This is probably not a task you can take on by yourself. Technicians stay up to date on the latest technology, as well as which types of systems are most efficient. A specialist will be better at calculating which type of system uses more fuel as well as the lifespan of your new unit, which can help you decide on a heater that won’t break your budget as time goes on.

Sizing Your Unit

A technician must also determine which size unit is right for your home. This usually requires making careful calculations to account for the various rooms in your home as well as some other factors such as architectural design and insulation. With a heat pump, the technician must also account for cooling capacity. Undersized systems simply will not get the job done, while oversized units will be more costly, and may cost more to operate and have a shorter lifespan.

Installation

Of course, the final step of heating system replacement is installation. This is where you’ll want to make sure you’ve chosen the right technicians for the job. The installation process ensures that your unit is as efficient as possible. And improper installation means you may need repairs early on. Look for a company that offers warranties and optional maintenance coverage for your new system.

Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling has been repairing, maintaining, and replacing heating systems for over 30 years.

Don’t trust just any company for your major heating decision. For heating system replacement in Norristown, call our dedicated staff of trained technicians today.

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Furnace Repairs to Take Care of Before Heating Season

Wednesday, August 27th, 2014

Is it already that time of year again? Or close to it? The end of summer has arrived, and with it comes concerns about keeping homes warms during the fall and into winter. If you haven’t given much consideration to your home’s furnace over the summer—and you likely haven’t—now is the time to ask yourself if the furnace is prepared to handle the cold days that will arrive within a few months.

The best way to know if your heating system can tackle another winter is to schedule a maintenance session for it. A professional technician will inspect your furnace to locate any repair needs that you should have taken care of before the chilly weather arrives. Don’t delay with furnace repairs, since a sudden cold snap could strike and leave you in a freezing house.

We offer same-day service for repairs, satisfaction guaranteed!

Call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling and sign up for our maintenance program so you’ll get a head start on heating repair in Bucks County, PA.

Some repairs your furnace may need:

  • Cleaning the burner – If you have a gas furnace, the burner is the component where the gas jets ignite to raise the temperature. If the burner has developed dirt and grime across it during the summer rest period, it will struggle to draw oxygen and ignite. Technicians can remove the burner and clean it off so it runs at its best.
  • Replacing a malfunctioning igniter – Pilot lights are becoming less common for furnaces, and they instead use electronic ignition to start. If this igniter fails, the furnace’s burners will not activate. During maintenance, a technician will check that the igniter is working and inform you if you need to schedule a replacement.
  • Repairing the blower motor – If you also have a central air conditioner, it likely uses the same blower fan to distribute air as the furnace. The motor can start to wear down and lose lubrication over the summer, or dirt along its moving parts can create strain. If you begin to hear shrieking noises from the AC, you may also have a problem for your furnace; schedule a maintenance session and whatever repair work you may need.
  • Replacing broken heating elements – For electric furnaces, the heating elements are the critical part of creating warmth. If one or more the heating elements burns out, the furnace will lose its heating capacity. Technician can easily replace the broken heating elements.

When you sign up for our maintenance agreement at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling, you will receive two yearly inspections and tune-ups: one for your heater and one for your AC. You’ll also receive 10% to 15% off any HVAC service or repair and guaranteed 24 hour service, 365 days a year, so you’ll always have the heating repair in Bucks County, PA that you need to stay warm through to spring.

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Pros and Cons of Different Heating Fuels

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014

For heating, people once had to rely on the most basic choice of fuels: coal, wood, and oil. Modern heaters can still use wood for fireplaces and coal for grills, and oil remains popular for some boilers. But now there is the option for natural gas, propane, electricity, condensed wood pellets, and more when it comes to heating fuel. We’ll look at the three most common fuels for homes today to help you understand your choices.

Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling has over three decades of experience helping people find the heating in Hatfield, PA that will give them the best comfort and value. Contact us today to talk about your options for heating fuel.

Natural Gas

  • Pros: Natural gas is piped directly to your home, so you don’t need to worry about running out of your supply. It’s less expensive than either oil or electricity, so it provides high levels of energy savings. Natural gas systems have powerful heating ability that can handle most winter temperatures.
  • Cons: Your home must have a hook up to a municipal gas supply. Gas heaters require more maintenance and repairs than other systems. There is also a small—but possible—risk of carbon monoxide exposure and explosions.

Oil

  • Pros: Oil costs less on average than electricity, and doesn’t require you have any connection to a natural gas line. It is effective for back-up systems that don’t depend on outside fuel sources.
  • Cons: Oil burns less completely than natural gas, leading to extra waste that increases energy bills and leads to soot and pollution that is bad for both your home and the environment. Oil must be stored, so it may run out if you forget to schedule delivery, and it is generally less convenient than gas.

Electricity

  • Pros: Available everywhere—if you have a home, you have electricity, and an electrical heater will work for you. Electrical heaters usually cost less to install, last longer, and take up less space than other heating systems that use different fuels.
  • Cons: Electrical power is more expensive than natural gas. It also cannot reach the same levels of heating power as either oil or natural gas systems.

In general, we advise that homeowners who currently use oil for heating investigate the possibility of an oil-to-gas conversion. A home with a gas line opens up many more possibilities for heating, as well as hot water and kitchen appliances. And of course, electricity is always an option. Call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling today to ask about oil-to-gas conversions, or for any other help you need with heating in Hatfield, PA.

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Will a Heat Pump Provide Sufficient Warmth for the Winter?

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

Heat pumps are popular HVAC systems because they pack the power of a heater and an air conditioner into a single unit. Using the process of heat exchange—moving heat from one place to another in order to heat up or cool down the indoors—heat pumps provide effective cooling in summer and heating in winter without draining excessive amounts of power.

But you may have heard that heat pump suffer from a serious drawback: a loss of efficiency in heating mode when the temperature drops too low. If you live in Hatfield, PA, heating your home will be important to you, so you do not want to get trapped with a heater that will start to give up on the job when you need it the most.

However, don’t let this frighten you away from considering a heat pump, as we’ll explain. Call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling for more information about heat pump installation, as well as the personal attention to help you decide if a heat pump is the right choice for your home.

Heat Pumps and Hybrid Systems

It is true that a heat pump can have difficulty with extreme lows: the refrigerant inside the heat pump must extract heat from outside and bring it inside, and once the temperature drops below the economic balance point (which varies depending on humidity, but is usually around 32°F), the heat pump will work harder to remove enough heat. If you expect temperatures below freezing for a good part of the winter, a heat pump alone may not be enough to keep you warm.

However, a hybrid heat pump offers a solution. These systems combine a heat pump with a back-up heater that uses a separate fuel source, usually a gas furnace. Whenever the temperature drops below the economic balance point, the second system turns on automatically to make up the difference. You get all the benefits of a heat pump, and only have to pay a slight bit more in fuel costs for the secondary system, which will only run occasionally.

You should always consult with heating experts before making a choice about a heat pump, or any heating system. Experts can perform a heat load calculation at your house to determine how much heating power you need for your comfort, and then match you with the ideal system. Perhaps a standard heat pump is sufficient, or maybe you should invest in a hybrid.

Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling has delivered quality comfort to our customers for over 30 years. Contact us if you need heating service in Hatfield, PA.

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Why Schedule a Necessary Heating Repair as Soon as Possible?

Monday, December 16th, 2013

If your heating system—whether it’s a boiler, furnace, heat pump, or hybrid—starts to malfunction and show signs that it needs to have repairs done, you have to schedule those repairs ASAP. Delaying will only cause you more grief. In this post, we’ll explain why it’s so important that you get those repairs done the moment you can.

Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling has developed a large and loyal client base during our 30 years providing heating repair for Blue Bell, PA and throughout Bucks and Montgomery County. With our same-day service and satisfaction guarantee, we should be your first call when you need to schedule those necessary repairs.

Reasons to Schedule Heating Repair ASAP

  • Prevent energy inefficiency: Your heater may still continue providing you with heat when it needs repairs, but it will lose its energy efficiency because it will need to work harder to maintain its regular temperature. Whether it’s broken ducts, loose fan belts, or rust, that repair requirement will force your heater to drain more power—and you’ll end up paying for that on your heating bills.
  • Fend off larger repairs—or a full break down: Malfunctions in heating systems tend to spread to other components as they worsen. The longer you delay, the more likely you will need more repairs done. You also risk the worst case scenario: your heater shutting down entirely. Any flaw in the system could threaten to bring all the components to a halt, so get the work done before your heater gets pushed to the edge.
  • Avoid work crunches for technicians: The winter is a busy time for HVAC specialists. If you schedule your repairs early, you won’t have to worry about long delays waiting for service when the trouble has turned serious enough that you’ve lost your heating and are stuck in a chilly house.

Call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling for Repairs

At Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we guarantee satisfaction with our work. All our technicians are NATE- and EPA-certified, so you will know you’re getting quality service. We won’t leave you in the cold this winter: call us as soon as you need heating repair in Blue Bell, PA, and we’ll do our best to get right out to you and get your heater healthy once more.

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Benefits of Natural Gas over Oil for Heating

Monday, November 4th, 2013

Natural gas is one of the most popular options for home heating today. It has surpassed oil, which was once at the same level of popularity. Oil heating still exists in homes today; you might have oil powering your boiler or furnace right now. However, oil has declined in popularity for a number of good reasons. We’ll go over the main benefits you’ll get if you change from oil to natural gas in your house.

Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling specializes in converting homes from oil to natural gas. Although this can be a large task, if you put it in the hands of professionals with years of experience, you should have few problems making the switch. You’ll have better heating in Hatfield, PA with a proper oil-to-natural gas conversion.

Why natural gas is superior to oil

  • It’s domestically produced. The U.S. gets the majority of its oil from overseas, while natural gas is primarily a domestic product. If you’re concerned about reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil, then natural gas is a good way to go.
  • It’s more convenient. As natural gas becomes the more popular option, it also becomes easier to obtain. Oil and propane must be delivered to your home, but natural gas comes to you through pipes. This means you don’t have to worry about forgetting to schedule delivery of oil and finding out too late that you don’t have sufficient fuel for your heating system.
  • It’s more efficient. Oil is more wasteful when it burns, since it doesn’t burn as completely as natural gas. You get more energy from natural gas than from an equal amount of oil, and that means savings on your energy bills. To give you a specific example, in 2011 the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that the average U.S. homeowner paid $732 to heat their homes with gas during the winter, while homeowners using oil paid $2,535!
  • It can get you a rebate. Some utility companies, to encourage the switch from oil to gas, offer rebates to residents who decide to make the conversion. These rebates can range up to $400, still more savings to go along with a more efficient fuel source.

If you still use oil to heat your home, we hope we’ve given you something to think about. Making the conversion won’t have to be a headache if you hire experts who have done the job many times before. Contact Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling to make your Hatfield, PA heating the best it can be with an oil-to-natural gas conversion.

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