Carney All Seasons Blog: Archive for October, 2013

What Causes a Toilet to Run?

Monday, October 28th, 2013

A constantly running toilet is one of the most frequent plumbing problems we encounter in our work. People often ask us what causes a toilet to run and what they can do about it. There isn’t one simple answer to this question; a number of issues can occur in the tank of your toilet that will make it continually run water after it has last been used.

There are two things about a running toilet that you should know upfront: First, don’t panic—a running toilet is rarely a cause for flooding in your home. Second, you need to get it taken care of as soon as possible because of the enormous waste of water it causes. A running toilet can use 2 gallons of water a minute, so imagine the amount of water that will go to waste if it stays running for a few hours.

A plumber will then go down a list of the reasons for that nonstop running. The plumber will lift off the lid from the tank (very carefully, because lids are expensive to replace should they break) and point out the various places where the trouble might lie:

  • The flapper: This seal on the bottom of the tank can become loose from age deterioration. Since it’s supposed to stop water from flowing out of the tank, it will need to be replaced to create a watertight seal.
  • The chain: The chain to the flapper can be tangled or too tight, in which case the flapper won’t be able to close.
  • The ballcock: This valve device, usually near the handle on the tank, controls the flow of water. When the float (see below) rises high enough, the ballcock will shut off the flow. A malfunctioning ballcock won’t prevent the water from continuing to run.
  • The float: This balloon-like object rests on the top of the water, and when it rises high enough, it will cause the ballcock to close off the flow. If the float breaks, it can’t measure the water level.

Hopefully, this advice will help you get to the bottom of what’s happened. If you find yourself confused or worried about your running toilet, don’t hesitate to contact a Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling professional. Our plumbers can fix most running toilet problems in a short time, so you won’t have money going down the drain.

We’re available with same-day service when you need plumbing assistance. Feel free to ask one of Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling’s plumbers in Blue Bell, PA anything: we wouldn’t offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee if we weren’t confident in our answers!

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Causes of Uneven Heating

Monday, October 21st, 2013

The heating trouble people worry about the most is that their heaters will stop generating the same amount of warmth that they used to. However, a problem people consider less—and which ends up confounding them more—is when the heater appears to be operating normally, the heat amount seems unchanged, but some rooms are much colder than others.

There are a few reasons that you might be suffering from uneven heating. Our technicians at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling have seen this often, and here are the most common reasons for why it occurs. Contact us for more help with heating in Doylestown, PA if you need it.

Trouble with vents

Let’s start with a simple explanation: blocked vents. If you use a forced air system like a furnace that blows air from vents, the problem might be with the vents themselves. Check to see that they are open in the rooms where the temperature feels lower. Furniture might have been moved to block the vents, or other objects may have been placed in their way.

A poorly sized heater

Now we’ll switch to a complex explanation: the heater is the wrong size for your home. This can be a problem if you had a poor installation service or if you added onto your house after your heating system was installed. A heater which is too small for the requirements of your home will not be able to reach all the rooms and warm them. A heater that’s too large will shut off before it can finish its cycle, and that can also lead to unheated rooms. An improperly sized heater will either need to be replaced or supplemented to keep your home comfortable.

Inferior home insulation

Is your home properly winterized? Because if you have poor insulation, all the heat your system can pour out won’t mean much: the heat will escape through the walls and windows, around the cracks of doors, and through the attic. Uneven heating is a warning sign that this is happening, since the poorly insulated rooms will feel much colder. Have new insulation put in or have the older insulation patched with work from a professional.

Uneven heating can be a simple fix—or a major project. Whichever way it goes, you can trust the trained staff at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling to get to the bottom of the problem and offer a way to fix it. We’ve helped with heating Doylestown, PA for over 30 years, and we’d love you to join our family of satisfied clients.

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Plumber Tip: Why Your Toilet Keeps Running

Friday, October 18th, 2013

You know the scenario: you’re sitting peacefully in a room of your house, reading a book, watching television, or sorting laundry… and then you realize the sound of the toilet running has been going on for a while. Much longer than it should considering when it was last used. That can’t be right. But what’s causing it? And is it an emergency?

Fortunately, a toilet that keeps running isn’t normally a sign to panic. Often, it’s a small glitch that’s easy to take care of. And if it’s something you can’t fix on your own, it’s usually an issue that a professional plumber can repair fast and without much difficulty. But you should get a run-on-toilet taken care of as soon as you can, because even if the malfunction isn’t threatening your plumbing or on the verge of causing flooding, it is wasting water—using up to 2 gallons a minute! If you’re looking for a Lansdale, PA plumber to handle a problem like this, contact Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling right away—and get the proper repair done right away!

When you notice the problem start, remove the lid of the toilet tank and watch the internal mechanisms at work when you pull the handle. (Please, please be careful with the lid—replacements can be expensive, far more than any of the interior components.) This should help you identify where the problem lies. The flush valve might be sticky. Perhaps the tankball is damaged and incorrectly gauging the level of the water. The ballcock might not be closing properly. The chain to the flapper could be too tight. If you’re familiar with the basic operations inside a toilet tank, you should be able to see if anything is working incorrectly.

Sometimes you can do a quick adjustment by hand (don’t worry, the water in the tank is clean) to fix a misplaced chain. However, if you’re not sure what to do, don’t fiddle around in there too much and risk causing a problem that might lead to overflow. A professional plumber can diagnose the trouble in only moments and will know what parts will need replacement or repair.

Because a running toilet can rapidly cause your water bills to mount—imagine wasting a 120 gallons in just an hour!—getting a plumber to analyze and fix the trouble with a few replacement parts is a worthwhile investment. Don’t just let the toilet continue to run and think it’s no big deal. Get a Lansdale, PA plumber on the job. Contact us at Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling: same day service, satisfaction guaranteed!

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Plumber’s Guide: Common Shower Problems

Monday, October 14th, 2013

Your daily shower is a routine you can’t miss. If you’ve got trouble with the plumbing in your shower, whether in the drain, showerhead, or faucet, you need to get it repaired as soon as possible. In this post, we’ll share with you some of the most common shower problems that plumbers deal with. This will help you prevent some of these issues and recognize how best to get them fixed.

If you find your shower suffering from any of these problems, then all you need to do is contact Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling and we’ll solve it for you.

  • Hair and soap scum clogs: By far the most frequent trouble people encounter with showers are drains that are slow or completely clogged. The main cause of this is a collection of hair and soap scum in the p-trap (the u-shaped curved pipe below the drain). Sometimes a plunger can clear the drain, but be cautious about trying to use liquid cleaner or a drain snake to fix the problem, since both can cause damage to the pipes. An obstinate shower clog will need a professional plumber. But you can help prevent these clogs with a drain cover that will prevent excess hair from getting down into the p-trap.
  • Reduced water flow: If the water from the showerhead isn’t coming out at the pressure you expect, there may be a problem with the faucet. The best fix for this is to get a high-flow faucet installed: ask a plumber about having this done. However, the problem may be in the pipes, such as silt and dirt that has gotten in through a break. Only a trained plumber has the tools and knowledge to remedy this.
  • Faucet leaks: Like any faucet, the one in your shower can start to develop problems like leaks. If you experience extensive leaking from the shower faucet, it may need new rings, seals, or gaskets. Unless you are trained to take apart and repair a faucet, don’t attempt to do this on your own because of the risk of causing further damage.

We know that shower problems can be extremely frustrating; getting professional assistance as soon as possible will ease your mind. At Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling, we back the work we do—whether on a shower or any other part of the plumbing in your home—with a satisfaction guarantee. Contact us today when you need a plumber in Doylestown, PA.

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Heating Guide: HVAC Systems to Consider

Monday, October 7th, 2013

Fall is the right time to install a heating system, either as a replacement or for a new home. It comes between the crunch times for HVAC technicians during the summer and winter, and the Pennsylvania weather is pleasant enough that you can get through a few days without a heater to keep you cozy.

But even though you’ve picked the right time for installation, have you thought much about picking the right heating system? You’re probably interested in getting the same system you had previously because you’re familiar with it but it may be time for a change. If you consider some of the systems available today, you may discover a new option that will give you superior heating power and greater energy efficiency.

If you need help selecting the right system for heating your Blue Bell, PA home, call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling. We’ve done heating installations since 1976, and we can guide you to the best choice—and install it as well.

Here are a few heating system possibilities:

  • Furnaces: This is one of the most common options for home heating, and you probably grew up with one. Furnaces can use gas, propane, or electricity to power them, but they all distribute heat the same way: forced air through ducts and vents. If you already have ductwork in your home, furnaces are not difficult to install. The newer models also have high AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) ratings, and are much more efficient than older furnace types.
  • Boilers: Boilers send hot water around your home which then radiates heat from baseboards, pipes, or radiators. Boilers provide even and efficient heating, and they operate with little noise. Since they don’t use forced air, they pose no danger to air quality.
  • Heat pumps: This unit combines a heater and an air conditioner into one. A heat pump functions in the same fashion as an air conditioner, moving heat from one place to another. During the winter, the system moves heat from outdoors and puts it indoors; during hot weather, the process reverses. Heat pumps can have trouble with extreme temperature lows, however.

We hope you’ll contact experts to help you make your heating choice. Professionals can also give you invaluable assistance getting the right size of system to effectively warm your home using a heat load calculation. Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling will take you through all the necessary steps, from picking a heater to installing and maintaining it, so that you get the best from your Blue Bell, PA  heating system for years to come. Contact us today!

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