Summer is coming, and that means you need to be on the lookout for air conditioner problems. The more you rely on your air conditioner to keep your home cool over the next couple of months, the strain you’re going to put on the system. Preventive maintenance can better prepare the air conditioner to cope with that level of stress, but the odds of problems developing are still going to rise. As you use your air conditioner to keep cool over the next few months, make sure that you keep an eye out for the following malfunctions.
Carney All Seasons Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Montgomery County’
Symptoms of Air Conditioner Malfunctions
Monday, May 28th, 20183 Ways to Make Sure Your Furnace is Short-Lived
Monday, February 19th, 2018
There are right and wrong ways to take care of your furnace if you want to last as long as possible. Most of the time, we talk about all the things that you should be doing to keep your furnace in top condition as long as you can. Today, though, we’d like to cover some of the things you should do if you want to waste your system’s life and replace it as early as possible. Let’s begin.
Be Careful of These Furnace Issues
Monday, January 8th, 2018
Winter is the time of year when furnaces are placed under the most pressure, which also makes it the time of year when those systems are most likely to develop problems. Considering the record low temperatures we’re currently experiencing across the country, you need to be especially vigilant for any signs that your furnace is having trouble this winter. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with the issues below, and the symptoms that indicate a need for furnace repairs.
Now is The Time for Heating Maintenance
Monday, December 11th, 2017
Hey, you know what would be terribly inconvenient? Having your heating system break down in the middle of winter. You know what’s fairly likely to happen in some fashion if you don’t do anything about it? Having your heater break down in the middle of winter.
The best way to make sure that this does not happen is to schedule preventive maintenance for your heater, regardless of what kind you’re using. Preventive maintenance doesn’t guarantee that you won’t have problems, nor does going without it guarantee that you will. However, preventive maintenance is a great way to lower the chances of problems developing as much as possible.
Montgomery County Heating Guide: How Ductless Heating Works
Monday, October 13th, 2014Ductless 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.
3 Factors to Consider with Bathroom Remodeling
Monday, July 7th, 2014The bathroom is a functional room in a house, not a social gathering place like a living room or a kitchen dining room. However, you still spend a good deal of time in this room, so enhancing a stale and lifeless old bathroom with a remodel will provide an enhancement to a part of your life. Remodeling a bathroom can add immensely to the ease of your daily routine, and with the right remodelers working with you, the new bathroom will help you save money as well with efficient appliances.
Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling is your one-stop contractor for comprehensive bathroom remodeling in Montgomery County, PA. We will handle the remodeling from top to bottom so you will end up with the ideal new bathroom to fit your needs and your personal style.
Here are 3 factors to consider for your upcoming remodel:
1. Have complete repiping done during the remodeling work
Remodeling a bathroom can go below the surface of redesigning the look and adding new appliances. It can also involve the more mundane—yet crucial—step of replacing the plumbing. Since the plumbing will be exposed during the remodeling anyway, this is the perfect time to remove any aging pipes (especially important if you have a pre-1970 home) and put in copper or PEX and CPVC pipes instead. Another advantage of repiping is that it gives the remodelers more freedom to design the new bathroom since the pipes will now work with them instead of something they must work around.
2. Install “green” appliances to save water and money
During a remodel is the best time to find ways to save water in your bathroom, so you will not only reduce your water bills, but also benefit the planet. Ask your remodelers about options for low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets. There are many energy-efficient enhancements available that will also provide you with extra comfort (like heated towel racks to keep your towels dry and remove excess moisture).
3. Indulge in a few luxury items
It’s your bathroom and your comfort: make the most of it! You can install a whirlpool spa tub or steam shower unit, multi-bowl sinks and vanities, showers with multiple shower heads and body sprays, and more. When you have the right remodeling contractor working on the job, you’ll have an easy way to combine functionality with an attractive design and luxury features.
You will be amazed at the possibilities we can provide for you when we enhance your home’s bathroom.
There are a lot of options for your remodeling project, so call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling and talk to our specialists in bathroom remodeling in Montgomery County, PA today.
How Do Tankless Hot Water Heaters Work?
Monday, January 7th, 2013Storage tank water heaters are still by far the most common models that you will find in most homes. Tankless water heaters, though, are certainly gaining in popularity. Many homeowners are either unaware of tankless water heaters and the potential benefits they have to offer or they simply dismiss the notion because they do not understand how tankless water heaters work.
At Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling, we understand that tankless on demand water heaters are not for everyone. It never hurts to familiarize with the water heating options available to you in Montgomery County, though, especially if you are considering the installation of a new water heater in your home. Consider this information about tankless on demand water heaters before making any decisions about your next investment.
Unlike storage tank water heaters, tankless on demand water heaters do not maintain a reservoir of hot water at all times. There are a few benefits that result from this. First of all, while maintaining a constant supply of hot water may be convenient, it also means that that water supply must be continuously heated. If your storage tank is not properly insulated it will suffer standby heat loss. This is not a problem with tankless water heaters. They also take up much less space than tank models, making them ideal for homes with limited storage.
When you open a hot water faucet in your home cold water is fed through the tankless water heater. A gas burner or electric heating elements will the heat only the water that you call at that very moment. This means that no water is heated except that which is being immediately used, eliminating standby heat loss. You are also never at risk of depleting the hot water in your storage tank. However, due to their need to keep up with your demand for hot water, flow rates may be affected by tankless hot water heaters.
If you are interested in learning more about tankless hot water heaters, their operation or installation options available in your area, just call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling. A member of our exceptional staff will be happy to answer all of your questions. Call today to schedule service in your Montgomery County home.
Benefits of Forced Air Systems
Monday, August 13th, 2012Forced air systems are usually hooked up to both a heating element and an air conditioning element, both of which send their pre-treated air through a series of ventilation ducts located throughout a building. Many times the heating and air conditioning devices are separate, such as a gas furnace for heating and a central air conditioning unit for cooling. Other times they can be one and the same unit like with packaged air conditioners and heat pumps which does both jobs with one machine. This makes for a great deal of variety in the choices of heating and air conditioning types that are available for use.
With use of a programmable or digital thermostat there is a high degree of control with a forced air system. You can Set time-of-day and day-of-week settings to accommodate when the building is in use and when it is not. There are also options for setting temperatures in certain sections of your home while other sections remain untouched. All of this allows for lower utility bills, since only the rooms which are used frequently are heated or air conditioned.
Air conditioners and heaters utilized today have much higher energy efficiency ratings than those of years past; couple this with a well maintained, properly sealed, insulated and balanced duct system and the energy-savings increase even further.
Forced air systems cost anywhere from 40% to 60% less to install than comparable radiant systems. They also offer special features such as filtration systems and ultra-violet germicidal lights, which can keep your indoor air clean and healthy.
Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is an air conditioning and heating company in Horsham that provides quality HVAC services to each client. Let us assist you in determining which forced air system is right for your unique needs.
Problems Caused by Low Refrigerant in an Air Conditioning System
Monday, August 6th, 2012Having the proper refrigerant level of an air conditioning system is one of the key components to having properly cooled indoor air. The AC specialists at Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling can easily diagnosis the AC problems which could be a result of low refrigerant levels get your system back up and running in no time.
Low Refrigerant Levels Mean AC Problems
One of the most common signs of low refrigerant levels is having an air conditioner that only blows warm air or one that does not sufficiently cool an entire indoor space, leaving some rooms which are warmer than others. This is because refrigerant is what creates the cold air, and without enough of it, you can never have enough cold air.
Frost build-up or icing around the condenser coils in the outdoor unit can mean a refrigerant leak has caused low refrigerant levels. Because ice build-up restricts air-flow, this can mean less cool air flowing into various rooms. Low levels of refrigerant can cause coils to drop in temperature which then creates frost or ice on the coils.
An AC system that will not turn on could also be a result of low refrigerant levels. Newer HVAC systems have built-in safety controls which detect certain changes in how internal systems function and as a safety precaution, shuts down the air conditioner in certain circumstances rather than continuing to run and further damaging other internal mechanical or electrical systems.
These are some of the main AC problems caused by low refrigerant levels. It is important to have a professional Harleysville air conditioning company such as Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling assist you with your air conditioning concerns. Our AC technicians provide air conditioning services such as air conditioner maintenance and repair, including fixing refrigerant levels and charging refrigerant.
Air Conditioning Tip: Indoor Air Conditioning Components
Monday, July 16th, 2012Air conditioning in Lansdale is a modern convenience that we can easily take for granted as long as all the parts are working well. In every unit, no matter the size, the basic process is one of extracting heat from the conditioned space and moving it to the outside, leaving cool air in its place.
This process easily divides into indoor and outdoor components.
Air Conditioning 101
Based on the principal of thermal energy which states that heat gravitates toward cooler temperatures, compounds known as refrigerants are moved through a closed loop system, repeatedly contracting and expanding between liquid and gas forms, alternately releasing and absorbing heat along the way. The particular chemicals are selected for their abilities to transform from one state to the other at low temperatures.
While the refrigerant evaporates into a gaseous state within the looped system, it absorbs heat, removing the stale air from the space being conditioned and evacuating it to the outdoors. The warm air is pulled through ducts to meet with the cooling loop.
Ductwork
The cooled air is distributed through ducts or tubing and released into individual spaces. Additional ductwork is required to remove the stale air and pull it back to be reconditioned as it passes over the loop containing the refrigerant. The air is moved in both directions by a blower, usually electric and sized to handle the amount of air no matter the building.
Ductwork is also sized to handle appropriate volumes of air. To maintain efficiency, large trunks distribute along central lines to smaller ones reaching farther out. The return air is usually taken from common areas.
The grates are found in the walls, floors and often as part of the dropped ceiling. When combined with a forced air heating system, the total energy use is much more efficient.
Looped Coils
The refrigerant is enclosed in a loop where it can expand and contract to make its transformation from gas to liquid and back again. To change into a heat-absorbing gas, it travels through the evaporating coils, an intricate series of delicate fins that meets with the ductwork to regenerate the conditioned air.
An exchange valve allows just the right amount of liquid refrigerant into the evaporator coils. If there is too much, the tube is flooded too tightly to allow expansion of the molecules and room to attract the heat. If too little, the process is inefficient.
Cool Maintenance
When set up and maintained on a regular basis, the system functions with little attention and over sight. To schedule a maintenance appointment today, give Carney Plumbing, Heating and Cooling a call!