Carney All Seasons Blog: Archive for November, 2013

The History of Thanksgiving

Monday, November 25th, 2013

Thanksgiving is upon us: a time to get together with relatives, eat some great food, watch a little football or the parade, and stop to appreciate the good things we have in life. Beyond all that, however, there’s a fascinating history to the holiday and its traditions.

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 in the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. Records are spotty at the time, but indicate that the harvest was particularly good that year due to help from the local Native Americans. The meal was probably much different than the one we’re used to, with venison and fish more likely than turkey, but the general principle was unchanged.

It wasn’t a few centuries later, however, that Thanksgiving became an annual tradition. George Washington called for a “national day of Thanksgiving” in 1789, and again in 1795, but they were both “one shot” declarations, rather than a call for an annual tradition. Individual cities and states picked up the ball, but it wasn’t until 1863 that Thanksgiving became a national once-a-year event. President Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November to be a Thanksgiving “to heal the wounds of the nation and restore it.”

From there, it remained a tradition until Franklin Roosevelt signed a law in December of 1941 making it a federal holiday. The law also changed the date from the last Thursday in November to the fourth Thursday in November, making it a little earlier in some cases (which Roosevelt hoped would give the country an economic boost).

Wherever you celebrate the holiday and whoever you choose to celebrate it with, we wish you nothing but happiness and joy this Thanksgiving.  

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How Professional Drain Cleaning Protects Your System

Monday, November 18th, 2013

Sooner or later, enough food, hair or other particles builds up in your pipes enough to cause a back-up in your sink, requiring a good Hatfield, PA plumber to fix. In some cases, you may be tempted to try cleaning the drain yourself, using either a cleanser or a snake bought from the store. In all but the most benign cases, this is a mistake. Professional plumbers can do the job much more safely and effectively than a store-bought method. Here’s how professional drain cleaning protects your system.

The key lies in a professional plumber’s experience and the variety of resources he has at his disposal. Store-bought solutions, whether chemical cleansers or snakes, tend to be one-size-fits all approaches. They don’t differentiate between the kinds of materials that make up the clog. Hardened grease, for instance, has a much different consistency than toothpaste and hair. Applying a general solution to each clog runs the risk of not working, while possibly causing damage to your pipes in the process.

A professional on the other hand, can apply different chemicals, and/or has access to much more flexible equipment than the average layman. For instance, a professional plumber’s snake often comes with interchangeable heads, letting the plumber tailor it to fit a specific clog. That lets him break up the clog without scratching or damaging the pipes in the process. In the event a pipe needs to be removed or replaced, the plumber knows how to do that as well: conducting the operation quickly and efficiently, while ensuring that the pipe doesn’t spring a leak at the fittings or cause some other problem.

If you’re having problems with a slow drain, call upon Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooling to help. We can explain how drain cleaning works, and implement the right solution to fix your particular needs. Don’t waste time and money adopting quick-fix solutions bought off the shelf. Call us today to set up an appointment, and make sure your drains are cleaned properly.

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3 Tips for a Successful Bathroom Remodeling Project

Friday, November 15th, 2013

Bathroom remodeling can be a great way to improve your Hatfield, PA home. It lets you get rid of an ugly or unwieldy bathroom space in favor of something newer, fresher and hopefully easier to get around in. It allows you to move sinks and even bathtubs to more convenient spaces, while adding amenities like venting fans and improving the overall flow. If done properly, it can also improve the resale value of your home, though you need to plan carefully and hire the right contractor for that to happen. Here are 3 tips for a successful bathroom remodeling project: applicable no matter what your individual circumstances are.

  • Measure your space carefully. This includes not only the raw square footage, but the amount of existing counter space, the dimensions of alcoves and cubby holes, and the like. An expert should also note the placement of plumbing lines in and out of the bathroom, which will have an impact on where individual components can be placed. The square footage defines the parameters of the project and you want to know exactly how much space you have to play with.
  • Determine what features you want and prioritize them. When remodeling your bathroom, it’s tempting to develop a “Christmas list” of all the features you want. That probably isn’t feasible in the space you have available. Instead, draw up a specific list and rank them in order of importance. The contractor can go over the list with you and determine how much of it is possible given the space and budget involved.
  • Don’t forget wiring. In addition to plumbing, you want to make sure you have enough electricity to power your devices in the bathroom. If you currently use multi-plugs or other devices that stretch your electrical load to the breaking point, you should consider adding more outlets to handle things better. A remodel is the perfect time to do that.

For other tips for a successful bathroom remodeling project, talk to Carney Plumbing, Heating & Cooler for help.  Contact us today if you are interested in our Hatfield, PA bathroom remodeling services!

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What to Do if Your Hot Water Heater Runs Cold

Monday, November 11th, 2013

It’s one of the more unpleasant surprises you can encounter in the morning: no hot water from your shower. Of course, losing your hot water any time of the day is a major inconvenience that limits your ability to cook, clean, and do laundry. When your hot water heater malfunctions and leaves you with cold water coming from the faucets, you need to have the problem fixed as soon as possible.

The best option for you when this happens is to call in professional technicians to find out what’s wrong and get the proper repairs done. Call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling when you need help with your hot water heater in New Hope, PA. We have the experience and certification that makes us a trustworthy name when it comes to plumbing repairs.

The reason you should get professionals on the job is that you won’t know where to look to find what has caused the problem. A number of different issues can occur with your hot water heater that will cause it to lose its ability to warm up your water, and it requires a skilled technician to diagnose what is actually wrong—and then figure out the best method to repair it.

One of the best ways to deal with a loss of hot water is to find ways to prevent it from happening in the first place. Watch for signs that trouble might be brewing in the heater, such as intermittent changes in running water temperature or bizarre noises like rumbling coming from the water tank. If you detect leaks anywhere around the water tank or the pipes coming from it, get on the phone right away to a professional.

But the best way to avoid a cold water surprise one morning is to schedule regular maintenance for your water heater. We recommend an annual maintenance visit to inspect the system and perform any tune-ups necessary to keep to operating smoothly.

To protect your supply of hot water, contact Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling the moment you think you need a repair. We’ll make sure your New Hope, PA home’s hot water heater gets back to giving you the hot water you need.

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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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