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

How Does a Reverse Osmosis System Benefit My Water?

Friday, March 28th, 2014

If you are looking to improve the quality of the water in your home, you have a number of different options for water filtration, such as water softeners to combat hard water and acid neutralizers to balance pH levels. To increase the quality of your drinking water, you can install filters to remove particles that can enter the municipal water system. However, one of the best ways to have cleaner drinking water in your home is to call in a professional to install a reverse osmosis system. We’ll explain how this works and how it can benefit you.

At Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling, we take the quality of water in the homes of our customers seriously. That’s why we offer installation of many different types of water treatment systems in New Hope, PA. To find out what water treatment system will work best for you, set up an appointment with us today.

Reverse Osmosis Systems

A reverse osmosis water treatment system is a water purification technology that removes much smaller particles than standard filters. The way it works is to create two areas of water under different pressure, with a semi-permeable membrane between them. The water in the high pressure area is forced through the small pores of the membrane to the low pressure area, and the membrane filters out contaminants.

Reverse osmosis can trap particles that would escape standard filters, resulting in healthier water that also tastes fresh… much fresher than you might get from store-bought bottled water, which is not only expensive but frequently is nothing more than regular municipal water run through a gravel filter.

Reverse osmosis can remove bacteria, pesticides, viruses, sulfates (no more smelly water!), sodium (helpful if you also have a water softener installed), chlorine, calcium, and all the other larger dirt particles that can enter drinking water.

Find the Right Purification System for Your Home

Although reverse osmosis systems are excellent for water filtration, they may not match your home’s specific needs. Call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling to have water testing done. Our analysis will help us find out what problems need addressing in your water supply, and then we can match you with the ideal water treatment system that will take care of it.

Whether you have hard water or acidic water, Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling will find the water treatment system in New Hope, PA that will give you the freshest water supply possible.

Tags: New Hope, Reverse Osmosis System
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Ways to Prevent Drain Problems

Wednesday, March 19th, 2014

Slow drains and clogged drains are something that most homeowners accept as inevitable, unavoidable hassles. They keep a plunger on hand and maybe a bottle of acidic drain cleaner to fix the occasional plugged-up kitchen sink or shower drain, groan at the inconvenience, and then simply go on with their normal routine. Sometimes, they can’t fix the clog and have to call a plumber to take care of it.

It doesn’t have to be this way, however. Although there’s no way to completely avoid drain troubles, you can reduce them to rare occurrences with a few precautions. For drain cleaning in Blue Bell, PA to help you eliminate most clogs, call up Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling.

Methods that will reduce your drain troubles

Don’t pour F.O.G. down the drains: “F.O.G.” stands for “fat, oil, and grease,” three common products of cooking that people often pour down kitchen drains. Although liquid when hot, all three will transform in waxy solids when they cool down, leaving a coating inside drainpipes. This build-up will eventually cause clogging and slow drains. Deposit all F.O.G. into a separate container and remove it to the trash.
Don’t pour liquid cleaners down the drains: It sounds like a solution to the problem, but it actually creates more problems. Commercial liquid cleaners are acidic and will damage the interior lining of pipes and can cause drain problems worse than clogs. If you can’t clear a clogged drain with a plunger, call a plumber.
Use drain covers on bathroom drains: One of the common troubles that bathroom sinks and showers face is clogging from hair and soap scum. You can reduce this with drain covers that prevent unwanted debris from going down the drain.
Have regular professional drain cleaning: Drain cleaning services done either every one or two years, or as necessary, will keep your drains in excellent condition and free from the debris that can build up along the drainpipe walls. Professional plumbers use video inspection equipment to target cleaning and ecologically safe (and non-acidic) additives to help keep the pipes clean in the future. Special hydro-jetting safely washes out the insides of drain pipes with blasts of high pressure water.

You’ll need experts in drain cleaning in Blue Bell, PA to handle the drain cleaning because of the precision equipment required. Call up Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling and talk to our plumbers about scheduling a drain cleaning visit to help you make clogs a “Once in a Blue Moon” hassle.

Tags: Blue Bell, Drain Problems, Plumbing
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What an Acid Neutralizer Water Treatment System Does

Friday, March 7th, 2014

The water our homes receive from the municipal supply can sometimes bring with it some problems. Although you can combat some of these issues with filters on faucets, the best way to deal with low quality water is to have professionals install a whole-house water treatment system that takes care of all the water that flows into your home.

There is no single type of water treatment system, because there are numerous types of problems that can afflict your water. With the help of professional plumbers who specialize in water treatment, you can find out what needs to address in your water supply. Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling has technicians who can help you determine the water treatment system in New Hope, PA that will give you the purest water possible.

One water treatment system we often install is the acid neutralizer.

The basics of an acid neutralizer water treatment system

High levels of acid entering your plumbing can turn into a serious problem. Although usually not dangerous to drink, high acid content water can cause corrosion in copper plumbing, a metal resistant to normal forms of corrosion, and pinhole leaks. Acidity will also cause ugly green and blue stains to form on your fixtures.

High levels of acid in your water can be detected with a pH test (ask your plumber to do this). A low pH number indicates too much acidity. To counteract this, a whole-house acid neutralizer can be installed. There are a number of different types of neutralizers. The most common is the calcite acid neutralizer tank. A calcite system injects reactive magnesium oxide into the water supply which dissolves into the water and neutralizes the acid. The calcite in the tank must be replaced routinely, although this is a simple task.

Using a calcite acid neutralizer may cause an increase in the hardness of your water (increased levels of calcium and magnesium), and some homeowners will also opt to have a water softener, which raises the sodium level of the water, installed to help balance the water.

Have professional water testing done

If you aren’t sure if you need an acid neutralizer, bring in plumbers with experience with water testing. Using samples of water taken from around the house, these water tests will tell you what sort of water treatment system will help you have the best water, whether it’s a water softener, an acid neutralizer, or some other system like a chemical feed pump.

Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling offers many different types of water treatment systems for New Hope, PA homes. Call us today to schedule an appointment.

Tags: New Hope, Plumbing, Water Treatment System
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Signs of a Sewer Line Break

Monday, March 3rd, 2014

The wastewater in your home moves through various pipes to a central sewer line, which runs underneath your home and out to the center of the street to connect to the municipal sewer system. And for the most part, that’s all you really need to know about your sewer line—until a break occurs in it and threatens your home with sewer odors, numerous drain clogs, basement flooding, and foundation damage.

Sewer line breaks can occur because of corrosion (a problem for older homes with galvanized steel plumbing), shifting of the ground due to construction or natural disasters, and the pressure from growing tree roots. Whatever the cause, sewer line breaks require professionals to excavate the sewer trenches and replace the damages lines as soon as possible. Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling can deliver fast and dependable sewer repair in Lansdale, PA when you have problems with a broken sewer line.

Here are warning signs of sewer line break:

Sewage odors from drains: One of the earliest signs you’ll encounter if the sewer line breaks are foul smells coming from your drains. If the smells are accompanied by gurgling in your drains, it means that sewage gases are being forced up through the water plugs in the p-trap (the curved pipe below a sink) of your drainpipes.
Persistent clogs: Along with the sewer odor, you will start finding clogs in drains around the house, none of which react to a plunger or other kinds of clog removal.
Foul-smelling lawn: When the sewer line breaks, the sewage will seep into the ground and rise up into your lawn. If you lawn has a similar sewage smell to the drains, it almost definitely points toward a damaged sewer line.
Water stains in the basement: If you have a basement, water damage from sewage backflow will start to appear here first. If you notice water stains around drains in the basement, call for professional plumbers.
Rats and other pests: The sewer odors will begin to attract pests such as rats. If you begin to notice vermin in your basement or in your yard, look for other signs that you may have a broken sewer line.

You’ll need the best professional help you can find

Sewer line replacement requires extensive digging; it is something you should never delegate to amateurs. The potential for even greater damage to the sewer line is high unless you have professionals handle the task.

Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has years of experience with sewer repair in Lansdale, PA. Our plumbers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help you with sewer line emergencies.

Tags: Lansdale, Plumbing, Sewer Line Break
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How Plumbers Use Snakes for Drain Cleaning

Monday, February 17th, 2014

The drain snake, also called a drain auger, is one of a plumber’s best friends. These devices, based on simple principles, are powerful at clearing out some of the toughest clogs that can afflict drains. The only tool more effective at eliminating heavy drainpipe clogs is the hydro-jetter, a more complex machine that blasts out high pressure water to clear away clogs.

If you cannot clear a drain clog on your own with a plunger, then you need to call up a professional plumber to address the problem with a drain snake. Don’t reach for liquid cleaners: they are acidic and can cause damage to the interior lining of your pipes. Let the experienced plumbers at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling take care of your drain cleaning in Doylestown, PA.

How the Drain Snake Works

Drain snakes come in two basic types: manual and powered. The only difference between the two is the power source; otherwise they use the same mechanics to remove clogs.

The drain snake is made up of a long coil of metal wires that attaches to a crank on one end. The wires are flexible and can easily “snake” down the curved pipes of drains. A plumber runs the end of the drain snake down into the clogged drainpipe until it contacts the plug. The plumber then turns the crank (either by hand or with the motor), and the coil of wires screws into the clog. The action is similar to a corkscrew going into the cork of a wine bottle. Once the coil is imbedded into the clog, the plumber can either pull it back up through the drain to remove it, or move the wires around to break up the clog so it will wash down the drain.

Some drain snakes have multiple attachments for different kind of clogs. A plumber can determine which type will work best, as well as deciding if the job requires a motorized auger rather than a manual auger.

Call For Professional Drain Cleaning Service

Manual drain snakes are available in some hardware stores as well as online. (Motorized models are also available, but are usually too expensive for consumer use.) However, we don’t advise that you attempt to use a drain snake without training because you can potentially damage the pipe interior. Let a skilled plumber do the job, and it will be over fast with no problems.

A drain snake is only part of effective drain cleaning in Doylestown, PA. For comprehensive cleaning of all the build-up in your drains, call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling. We offer complete drain cleaning services that will restore your plumbing to like-new condition.

Tags: Doylestown, Drain Cleaning, Plumbing
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Look for These Warnings You Need Water Heater Repair

Friday, February 7th, 2014

Running hot water isn’t something people are willing to negotiate. Like indoor plumbing and electricity, it’s an essential for daily life, keeping you clean and helping with cooking and washing. If your water heater begins to show signs that it requires professional attention, you need to act on the knowledge fast and call a technician for repairs. We’ll list some of the warnings you may receive that your water heater is failing.

Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling is “The Plumber That Other Plumbers Recommend.” We’ve served Bucks and Montgomery Counties with excellent plumbing services since 1976. Give us a call when you notice any of these signs that indicate it’s time for water heater repair in New Hope, PA.

A drop in hot water levels: If you notice that you’re receiving less hot water during the day than you are accustomed to (such as the hot water stopping early during your morning shower), don’t shrug it off as a temporary issue that will fix itself. This is often a sign of a disruption in the power source for the heater, whether electric or gas, and a professional will need to look into the cause and find a way to fix it.
A heating bill increase: If your water heater is working ineffectively because of a malfunction, it will draw a larger amount of power to provide you with the same level of hot water. A sudden increase in your power bills that you can’t account for because of a problem with your HVAC system may stem from a broken heater.
Rust-colored water from the taps: Rusty water is a common sight if you turn on a faucet after it hasn’t been used for a few weeks. But if you spot this same reddish-brown coloration in your hot water during normal use, then rust has started to infiltrate the hot water tank. This needs to be investigated right away before the corrosion damages the tank enough that it needs replacement.
Leaks: If you notice water pools around the water heater’s tank, you definitely have a problem. Any leaking from a water heater is a serious concern that needs attention right away.

You can avoid a “cold water surprise” during a morning shower if you have repairs on your water heater done as soon as possible. With Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling, we always have actual people answering our phones 24-hours a day to send technicians when you need them. There’s no reason to delay your water heater repair in New Hope, PA!

Tags: New Hope, Plumbing, Water Heater Repair
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How UV Lights Give You Higher Quality Water

Monday, January 27th, 2014

Finding quality water is a major concern with homeowners today. Increasingly, people have turned to whole-house water treatment systems to ensure they have the best water quality possible.

In this post, we’ll talk about one of the major tools for water treatment: ultraviolet (UV) lights. This may sound a bit odd as a way to clean water; most people associate water treatment with filters and water softeners. What can lights do to improve water quality? We’ll explain what UV lights do and how they can benefit you. If you are interested in having a UV light system installed in your home, call our Hatfield, PA water treatment system specialists at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling.

Ultraviolet (UV) lights

UV lights are used to eliminate microorganisms that can enter your water and threaten your health. Chemical disinfectants are rarely effective against these contaminants.

A UV system destroys these organisms through ultraviolet germicidal irradiation. Light at a very short wavelength destroys the nucleic acids inside microorganisms and disrupts their DNA. This destroys them and also prevents them from spreading.

Using UV lights to disinfect water has become increasingly popular since the middle of the last century because it does not risk putting chemicals into the water. UV lights are also easier to install and take up less room than other water treatment systems. UV treatment is approximately 20,000 times more energy-efficient than boiling water to remove contamination.

UV radiation does pose some risk to humans if their skin is exposed to its direct light, so installation of ultraviolet water treatment systems should be left to professionals who will make sure the lights are installed safely so they will only affect the water supply.

Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling has years of experience installing UV light systems and we carry and service the major brands. If you want the cleanest drinking water possible in your home, contact Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling today for installation of a UV light water treatment system in Hatfield, PA.

Tags: Hatfield, Water Treatment
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What Causes Bad Smells from Your Drains

Monday, January 20th, 2014

Having bad odors enter your home is unpleasant and potentially embarrassing. If you detect a sewer-like odor emanating from your drains, it’s something you will want eliminated as soon as possible. Sometimes the fix is simple. At other times, it will require calling for plumbers to resolve the trouble.

Here are some reasons for those bad drain odors. For any assistance you need with plumbing in Wayne, PA, contact Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling. We offer same-day service, satisfaction guaranteed.

Reasons for bad-smelling drains

Dry p-trap: This is the simplest problem, and easy to fix. If you only notice a sewage smell coming from one of your drains, the trouble might be a dry p-trap. The p-trap is the curved section of the drainpipe underneath the sink. It is responsible for capturing water to form a plug against sewer gases coming back up the pipe. If the bad-smelling sink is one that hasn’t been used in a while (for example, in an unused guest bedroom), this is probably the reason for the smell. The solution is to pour water down the sink to restore the plug against the sewer gas. Try to regularly run water down sinks that don’t see much use.
Sewer line issues: If the odors are coming up from sinks all around the house, the trouble might be a break or block in the sewer line that carries wastewater out to the municipal sewer system. The odors will probably be accompanied by clogs and gurgling sounds from the drains. This is a major repair issue that needs professionals to take care of right away, since it can lead to sewage flooding into your home’s basement or foundations.
Venting problems: Along with the p-trap, your plumbing probably has another method of preventing sewer gas from entering your house: venting pipes. These pipes remove back-flowing sewer gases and run them up to the roof of the house. They can become clogged from debris, animal nests, and snow, and this will force the sewer gases back down and up through your drains. Don’t try to clear the roof yourself; call for assistance.

A dry p-trap is an easy fix, but sewer line breaks and blocked vents are work for professionals. If you can’t stop the problems with your drains using simple methods, you will need to call for expert plumbing in Wayne, PA. Turn to Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling, “The Plumber that Other Plumbers Recommend.” We are fully licensed, bonded, and insured so you know you are getting quality service.

Tags: Drains, Plumbing, Wayne
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What Are My Options for a Water Treatment System?

Monday, January 13th, 2014

Whole-house water treatment systems are an excellent way to get fresh, clean water without the worries about the contaminants that can filter in from the municipal water supply. Instead of spending money on bottled water or ineffective local filters, you can treat all the water entering your home at one time. You will not just get water that’s healthier to drink, you’ll get water that’s better for your appliances and fixtures.

There are many different options available for your whole-home water treatment system. We’ll go over some that Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling offers. If you are thinking of installing a water treatment system in Doylestown, PA, contact us and we’ll help you find the right one.

Water treatment system options

Water softeners: If the problem that afflicts your water supply is hard water—water with high levels of minerals such as magnesium and calcium suspended in it—then you will want to have a water softener installed. Hard water isn’t usually harmful to drink, but it can create serious problems in plumbing because of mineral deposits, and it can damage appliances like dishwashers and laundry machines. A water softener balances the chemicals in your water to add salt to soften it and eliminate the trouble of hard water.
Reverse osmosis systems: These units remove many small particles out of water that standard filters won’t catch. They work by creating two separate sections of water with different pressure levels, which forces the water through a semi-permeable membrane that filters out small contaminants. Reverse osmosis is especially helpful for water with high salinization levels.
Acid neutralizers: Acidic water is bad news all around, but there are special acid neutralizers that can eliminate this threat to you and your pipes. They won’t add excess minerals to your water if they receive a proper professional installation.
UV water disinfecting systems: The use of ultraviolet radiation is a safe and powerful way to eliminate bacteria, viruses, mold, e. coli, and other biological contaminants that can enter into your water and have a negative effect on your health. These systems do not introduce other chemicals into your water such as chlorine.

Have water testing done today

The first step you should take when you are thinking about having a water treatment system installed is to schedule water testing. Contact Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling to perform this service, which will discover what issues in your water require treatment. Using this information, we can help you select the water treatment system that will provide you with the cleanest, safest water possible. Make us your first call for a water treatment system in Doylestown, PA.

Tags: Doylestown, Plumbing, Water Treatment System
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Some Upgrades to Consider for Your Bathrooom Remodel

Friday, January 10th, 2014

If you’ve decided to remodel your bathroom, you have more options available to you than just the design choices. Your bathroom remodel can go beyond the surface looks and include upgrading your fixtures.

Here are some suggestions for ways to upgrade your bathroom during the remodel. At Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling, we are proud to offer bathroom remodeling that combines design with practical plumbing considerations. We can help you realize the ideal bathroom for you that is more than just an upgrade in appearance, but an upgrade in function, comfort, and even safety.

Upgrades for your bathroom remodel

Hand-held showerheads: If you’ve used a standard showerhead, fixed to the wall, for years, now is the time to switch over to the convenience and stronger cleaning power of a handheld unit.
Heated towel racks: These are very popular in Europe, and if you have one installed you’ll see why. They are useful for both humid and cold climates, providing warmth to dry your towels and warm you up as well. They also add a terrific visual finishing touch to any bathroom.
Exhaust fans: Older bathrooms were usually constructed without exhaust fans, so venting out the room required opening up windows. Installing an exhaust fan means you no longer have to open up to the cold outdoor air to properly ventilate the room.
Grab bars: If you have elderly people living in your home, or people with special needs, grab bars in the shower or around the toilet can be enormously helpful and provide an extra level of safety.
Low-flow faucets: One of the best ways to reduce your water usage is through new low-flow faucets and fixtures, which use 30% less water without any reduction in performance.

Schedule bathroom remodeling and plumbing from the same contractor

To get the most from your bathroom remodel in Wayne, PA, make sure you look for a remodeling company that also handles plumbing, instead of relying on two contractors who may not communicate well. Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling has both remodeling specialists and expert plumbers on staff, and we know how to coordinate our work to bring you the bathroom remodel you dreamed of.

All our work comes with a guaranteed parts and labor warranty for a full year. We use only the best products available—and we are committed to going “green” in all our plumbing services. Contact us today to begin your bathroom remodel and upgrade.

Tags: Bathrooom Remodel, Wayne
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