Carney All Seasons Blog: Archive for November, 2012

Water Heater Tip: Reduce Energy From Your Hot Water Heater

Monday, November 19th, 2012

Are you looking to lower the energy use for the hot water heater in your Blue Bell, PA home? While your water heater may not be an obvious source of energy waste, there are small improvements you can make that will add up over time. Feel free to call the energy experts at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling if you have further questions about how to reduce the energy use of your water heater.

Meanwhile, we’ve put together a short list of things you can do to get started today!

Use Less Hot Water

Conserving water in your home is a green practice that the entire family can help with. Once you get into the habit of conserving water, it will be even easier to think about how much hot water you use. Even if you don’t have Energy Star appliances, you can use cold water instead of hot in many instances. For instance, try using cold water to wash clothes. Not only does this save energy by using less fuel to heat the tank in your water heater, but it will also help your clothes last longer. Take shorter showers, or lower the temperature in the shower while you are bathing.

If you own a tankless water heater, consider installing low flow faucets and plumbing fixtures. Tankless models are highly efficient water heaters, but they are even more efficient when used in tandem with low-flow fixtures. Repair dripping hot water faucets and other small leaks. These add up over time, and if you get them repaired as soon as you notice them, the less hot water will be wasted.

Lower the Water Heater Thermostat

While no one wants an ice cold shower, you also don’t need the shower to be scalding hot. Not only is this dangerous, especially for small children, but it is also a waste of energy. You could save up to 5% in water heating costs if you lower your water heater thermostat just ten degrees. Many manufacturers use the default setting of up to 140°F; however, you don’t need to set your water heater thermostat above 120°F to get an adequate temperature for all the hot water applications in the home. Call one of the Blue Bell plumbers at Carney if you aren’t sure where to locate the thermostat or have questions about the proper temperature settings.

Install a Water Heater “Jacket”

If you own a storage tank water heater, make sure that the tank is insulated for maximum energy savings. You can install a water heater “jacket” that fits your specific water heater tank. Call a plumber if you would like to know whether or not your water heater has enough insulation. One of our plumbers can also provide other tips to help you save water and energy.

Start saving water and lowering your energy costs today! Call the Blue Bell plumbers at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling for more advice and tips.

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What to Do If Your Furnace Keeps Turning On and Off: Warrington Heating Tip

Monday, November 12th, 2012

If the Warrington home’s furnace turns on and then a short time later shuts off, this is known as short cycling. Not only is short cycling hard on your equipment, but it also greatly reduces the efficiency of your furnace. Below, we describe what you should do if your furnace is short cycling.

Causes of Short Cycling

There are a number of reasons that your furnace might be short cycling. Here are just a few of them:

  • Furnace is too big – In this case, your furnace will heat your home very quickly and then shut off. As your home cools again, the furnace will turn on and heat up your home once again. Having a properly sized furnace is critical to your home’s comfort and efficiency.
  • Clogged air filter – This is by far the most common cause of short cycling. When your air filter clogs, it restricts air from getting into your furnace. As your furnace heats up the heat exchanger, air is supposed to blow over the exchanger to carry the heat into your home. Without that air flow, your furnace will overheat and shut off.
  • Thermostat – Sometimes, the cause of short cycling is a malfunctioning thermostat. If the thermostat isn’t working properly, it could be turning the furnace on and off mistakenly.

Why Short Cycling is a Problem

  • More wear on your furnace – With all the constant turning on and off, it puts extra strain on your furnace. This increases the rate of wear and can also potentially increase repair costs.
  • Reduced efficiency – With the furnace turning on and off, it doesn’t get the chance to realize any kind of efficiency that comes from running for an extended period of time.

What To Do If Your Furnace Is Short Cycling

The first thing you should do is check your air filter. If it’s dirty, you should change it out immediately. Not only can a clogged air filter cause short cycling, but it can also be the cause of other serious issues with your furnace.

If that doesn’t fix the problem, then you will most likely have to call a heating contractor. Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling offers complete furnaces services in Warrington. If your furnace is short cycling we can come to your home, diagnose the problem and offer a solution.

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Why Use a Whole House Humidifier This Winter?

Monday, November 5th, 2012

Winter is a great time of year, provided that you have prepared your home to ensure your comfort throughout the season. Obviously an effective heating system is a great benefit to your home during the winter season, but heating your home can also lead to excessively dry air. If the air in your home is too dry comfort levels can plummet quickly. A whole-house humidifier allows you to heat your home while retaining moisture in the air for total comfort. Here is some more information about the operation of whole-house humidifiers, as well as some indicators that you may need one in your home. If you have any further questions about whole-house humidifiers call Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling today.

A lack of humidity in the air in your home can cause a lot of problems, ranging from minor annoyances to actual physical damage. Static electricity thrives in environments lacking humidity. Static shocks are a minor problem for people, but they can actually damage expensive electronic equipment. Excessively dry air can also cause your sinuses to dry out, leading to sore throats and bloody noses. Allergy and asthma symptoms can be aggravated. Because many viruses thrive in environments with low humidity colds and sickness can increase. All of these problems can be alleviated with a whole-house humidifier.

Low humidity levels can also negatively affect your home. Wallpaper can loosen and peel away from the walls, drywall may crack and wood paneling can develop gaps between the seams and even crack. Dry air can also damage wooden furniture and fixtures in your home, loosening joints and compromising the wood.

A whole-house humidifier is the best way to avoid these problems in your home. Portable humidifiers are fine for one room, but a whole-house humidifier is preferable as it restores proper humidity levels throughout your entire house. They are installed directly into your central heating and cooling system, and the humidity is dispersed throughout your existing ductwork along with conditioned air. A distribution tray of water adds just the right amount of humidity to the air being circulated throughout your home. Of course, too much humidity is also a problem that can reduce indoor air quality and overall comfort. This is another reason to opt for a whole-house humidifier. A portable unit is simply turned on and left alone. A whole-house humidifier offers you much more control over the amount of humidity that is introduced to the air in your home, removing the danger of excess moisture in the air.

If you have any more questions about how a whole-house humidifier can benefit your home, call the humidity experts at Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling for answers. We have the expertise and training necessary to provide you with all the information necessary to decide if a whole-house humidifier is right for you. Call today to schedule a whole-house humidifier installation from our professional team. 

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