Posts Tagged ‘Washington County’

« Older Entries

Hagerstown AC Guide: Air Duct Components and Controls

Monday, May 14th, 2012

By way of various types of systems, cool air is distributed through a series of passages called ducts to create comfort and a feeling of luxury so common today we could easily take it for granted.

While the purpose of your Hagerstown air conditioning is to provide invisible comfort, the components under the floor, behind the walls, alongside of the house or up on the roof are very real.

Basic Conditioning

Based on the principal that heat gravitates to cooler temperatures, most systems of air conditioning utilize a process of making a chemical rapidly transform from gas to liquid and back again to absorb and redistribute unwanted heat.  Known as refrigerants, these chemicals are chosen for their properties to expand and contract at low temperatures.  Pressure is added by a compressor or released in coils to accelerate the transformation.

Likewise (and more obviously), heat is produced typically by a controlled flame and transferred to eagerly awaiting air.  In both cases, at an exchange point, the air is conditioned and blowers circulate the air to and from the rooms through the ductwork.

Ducts

Forced air heat in many older homes has ductwork hanging between the joists.  They are commonly made of metal, take up a lot of space and are prone to rattle.  The one big advantage, it was discovered, was that they were all set in place to distribute cool air as well as heat.

Advances in technology have increased the insulation capacities and decreased the sizes of ductwork so that more and more space can be treated with better value and less structural impact.  This is due in large part to the highly efficient heating and cooling systems which are available today.

Enhancing Control

Although the movement of air is fairly simple (creating a “breeze”), efficiency is increased by controls that monitor, increase and decrease the amount and temperature, isolate sections and filters and adjusts humidity.  What began as a simple manual turn of a lever, technology again now makes possible fully automatic control of everything from a remote location with a smart phone.

In between are thermostats, dampers, zone controls and relay switches to accommodate all of the many varieties we have found to take care of our most basic creature comfort.

For more information about how to best utilize your Hagerstown air conditioning system, give Larry & Sons Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning a call today!

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off

Common Problem Areas for Frederick HVAC Systems

Monday, May 7th, 2012

No one wants to have to call a Frederick AC contractor in to inspect their HVAC system. Problems in heating or air conditioning tend to be costly and time consuming to fix. But, the longer you wait, the bigger the problem is likely to get. So, it’s important to act quickly when you suspect a problem with any of the following common sources in an HVAC system:

  • Power Lines – Your HVAC system uses a lot of electricity so if it stops working, turns off suddenly or frequently shuts down, it may be a power issue. If the system stops working at any point, check your breaker box for a blown fuse or tripped breaker. You should also check the electrical line to your HVAC system. If you see any damage from animals, weather or otherwise, call a professional immediately.
  • Gas Lines – if you have gas furnaces and appliances, gas supply problems can be a major issue for your HVAC system. There are a number of safety measures in place in a gas line system. The gas valve connecting the gas line to your furnace has as safety shutoff switch. Your home has a carbon monoxide detector. A pressure drop in the system will also cause a shutoff. So, the most common problem you would face with a gas line is that is stops providing gas, usually because there is a problem in a component. If this happens, call the gas company immediately to check your system, and of course if you smell a leak, leave the house and call the emergency line for your gas company.
  • Drains – Air conditioners have drain pipes that release the condensed water that builds up inside as they run. However, over time, that drain can clog up if it’s not properly maintained. If you have a central air conditioning unit, check the drain pan once every week or so to make sure it is draining properly. Frequently, this drain pipe will be located higher in your home so that it can drain properly away from the property. Call a Frederick AC professional if it continues to clog or fails to drain at all.
  • Venting – Vent problems can result in more than just stuffy air. Clogged or dirty vents are fire hazards and they can decrease indoor air quality, making it both uncomfortable and unhealthy inside. Vents and ductwork should be cleaned annually to avoid the buildup of debris and sediment. Additionally, you should do a visual inspection once a month to check for debris and vacuum the space where possible.

Most of the problems commonly associated with your HVAC system need to be checked and repaired by a professional. However, by remaining vigilant and checking them regularly, you can avoid a much bigger problem and subsequent repairs. Call Larry & Sons today if you need any HVAC service in Maryland, Pennsylvania or West Virginia.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Air Conditioning, Heating | Comments Off

Hagerstown Plumbing Question: What Is a Whole House Water Filter System?

Monday, April 30th, 2012

When you think of water filters, you may imagine a faucet attachment or a pitcher with a filter installed. But there is an easier and more convenient way to provide filtered water to all areas of your house, and that is a whole house water filter system. These units are becoming more and more popular as people begin to realize that it is not just the water you drink that needs to be filtered. In fact, there are many reasons that you may want to filter the water you shower and wash your clothes in as well.

Impurities in your water can affect you and your family even if you do not drink it. And that is why whole house water filtration systems remove contaminants from your water before it even comes near any of the faucets in your home. These types of systems are attached by your Hagerstown plumber to the main water source for your home and can treat the water as it comes in and before it is distributed elsewhere.

These are generally simple systems, which makes them relatively inexpensive to install and maintain. Of course, your filter will need to be changed on a regular basis and that is an ongoing expense. But most of these filters are designed to filter between 10,000 and 100,000 gallons of water. While each filter will come with a recommendation for how often it needs to be replaced, it is important to remember that you may need to replace yours sooner rather than later depending on the amount of contaminants in your water supply.

You can also get different types of filters depending on the kinds of contaminants you are most concerned with removing from your indoor water. For instance, some water filters are better for removing bacteria and viruses, while others will do a better job of eliminating things like iron or other specific types of minerals and chemicals.

There are many good whole house water filtration systems out there, but finding the right one for your home can be tricky. For that reason, it is a good idea to consult with a professional Hagerstown plumber like Larry & Sons who can help you determine which product is right for your home.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off

Hagerstown Plumber’s Guide: How to Read a Water Meter

Monday, April 16th, 2012

Do you know much about water meters and their main function? The answer is probably too obvious, the main function of your water meter is to meter the amount of water usage by your Hagerstown plumbing.

Easy to check, unless you don’t know where your water meter is, that is. In most cases, the water meter is located at the front of your property near the street – located there for easy reading by water department utility “meter readers.” The meter could also be located in a home’s basement, too.

To take a reading of your meter, locate the white numbers on the right side of the meter dial with the black background. These numbers count the number of gallons of water that have passed through your meter since it was installed or reset. Don’t be surprised to find a lot of numbers, particularly in an older home. The American Water Works Association estimates that the daily use of water per capita is 69.3 gallons. Multiply that by several years and the numbers become very big.

If you want to take a sampling of your daily usage, do the following:

  • Select a day to take the initial reading.
  • Write down the numbers on the meter odometer.
  • The next day (or week or month) at the exact same time on the 24-hour clock you took the initial reading, write down the new odometer reading.
  • Subtract the initial reading from the new reading and you get the consumption for that sampling time period. When you water bill comes from the city, you may want to “compare notes” to see if your billing is accurate.
  • Remember that events like overnight guests, filling a pool or hot tub, or excessive showering will impact the readings.

If you take the time to understand the numbers, it may also help you decide on ways to conserve water. It may also provide a hint to any possible water leaks in your home from sources like a toilet valve or garden hose. A meter reading can lead to you calling your Hagerstown plumber for a repair.

Reading a water meter may not require rocket science mentality but understanding the numbers could be very beneficial to your wallet and your well-being. For more tips about how to maintain your home’s plumbing, give Larry & Sons a call!

 

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off

Your Hagerstown AC: Why it Is Important to Stay Cool

Monday, April 9th, 2012

Ask a hundred people what the primary role of air conditioning in Hagerstown is and I’ll bet you they say “comfort”. We seek out AC to stay cool and beat the summer heat, but did you know your air conditioning is a lot more than just a convenience – it is a safety feature in the midst of heavy heat waves.

Heat Is More than Just Uncomfortable

We tend to think of heat as this massive, uncomfortable inconvenience. In reality, it is quite dangerous. According to the Center for Disease Control, heat waves killed 8,015 people between 1979-2003, more than hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning, earthquakes and floods combined in that time period.

Why is heat illness so dangerous? It comes on quickly and it’s easy to ignore the warning signs, especially when you are already uncomfortable. While hydration is important, the real risk occurs after you’ve become dehydrated – when your body can no longer keep itself cool. This is known as heat stroke and can lead to a number of life threatening conditions, especially for the elderly, infants and those with chronic conditions.

That’s where air conditioning comes in. On the CDC’s extreme heat preparedness webpage, air conditioning is listed as the number one preventative factor against heat related illness. Simply put – if you have an air conditioner, there is a much smaller chance you will get sick from the heat. Dehydration happens less frequently when you’re in an air conditioned environment, meaning that your body can regulate temperature internally and you feel comfortable – not a bad deal for a simple installation.

Staying Cool Is a Medical Necessity

So, air conditioning is about a lot more than just staying comfortable – it’s a health issue. Especially if you have small children or elderly adults in the house or if anyone in your family has a medical condition like obesity, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, an air conditioning system is an absolute must during heat waves.

If you have any questions about your home’s system, call the Hagerstown AC professionals at Larry & Sons!

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off

Clear Spring Heating Guide: Troubleshooting Furnace Air Flow Problems

Friday, January 13th, 2012

Whenever you notice furnace air flow problems in your Clear Spring home, you can usually do a little troubleshooting and solve the issue on your own. Most air flow problems can be fixed easily and quickly. Here are a few guidelines to get you started, but if you need help or notice other problems with your furnace, call a qualified Larry & Sons heating technician.

Furnace Filters:

Checking the furnace filter is the first step you should take when there are any issues with your furnace, but especially with air flow problems. If a filter is dirty enough, the furnace will not come on at all. Ultimately, a clogged or dirty filter restricts the air flow, and this is the source of air flow problems ninety percent of the time.

Supply Registars and Cold Air Returns:

Once you’ve replaced or cleaned the filter, check your cold air returns, which are the vents that draw in the cold air in forced air systems. When a cold air return is blocked  by furniture or other obstructions, they cannot draw in enough air to allow the furnace to put out an adequate amount of hot air. Make sure they are open if nothing is blocking them.

Next, check your supply registers, which are the vents that supply the warm air, and make sure they are open as well. Whenever your heat is on, all of your supply registers should be open. Closing some vents will not increase the air flow in other vents in the house. Closing off one or two in areas where heat is not always needed will not hurt your system; however, when you close too many supply registers, it can cause problems with the ductwork and eventually damage the furnace if the air pressure is not correct.

Clean Your Vents:

You should have a qualified HVAC technician professionally clean your ducts and vents at least once a year, which is another reason it’s important to schedule annual maintenance visits. A professional cleaning is typically part of the yearly heating system inspection. You can help by vacuuming your vents regularly, particularly during the months the heating system is not in use, or at least before you turn it on in the fall. Simply cleaning your vents can help air flow and extend the life of your entire heating system.

If you continue to experience air flow problems, call a certified Clear Spring heating technician at Larry & Sons. There could be a more serious issue, or if you have a newer furnace, your original ductwork could be the wrong size for that furnace model.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off

$79 Gas Furnace Tune-Up Special!

Friday, December 9th, 2011

Larry and Sons has a deal for you: a $79 Tune-Up Special for gas furnaces! The weather outside is only going to get colder, so have a heating system in tip-top shape is very important. Annual maintenance of your furnace has many benefits, including fewer repairs and lower utility bills, sometime as much as 40 percent! Your furnace will also last longer, and you can get the peace of mind from knowing that it is working as safely and efficiently as possible. And to make extra sure everything is working as it should, ask us about our free carbon monoxide test! Call us today to take advantage of this great offer!

Special Price for gas furnace only; per system. Oil and boilers are additional. Call for prices.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Promo | Comments Off

When Should You Replace Instead of Repair Your Heating? A Guide from Walkersville

Friday, November 18th, 2011

We all dread an expensive repair in Walkersville, whether it is a car that needs a new transmission, a leaky roof that needs new shingles, or electrical wiring that has been chewed up by a wild animal. We often try and put bandages on things that we know should be replaced but we just can’t afford to replace them.

The same can be said about your home’s heating system. When your heat goes out or your home just doesn’t seem to be heating up to the setting on your thermostat, your first inclination is to check and see if it is running. Some people will put their hand over a heating vent to check for hot air while others may go into the basement or mechanical room to listen to hear if the furnace is running. Maybe there is a blockage in the ventilation system or a blown circuit breaker, two relatively easy fixes.

If the furnace isn’t working after checking the obvious symptoms, your next move is to call for service. Any qualified heating professional would be able to diagnose your problem and offer suggested repairs. Something relatively minor like a bad circuit board or blown fan motor are not real expensive repairs and are the best option versus replacing the furnace. And you may keep experiencing the same problem and getting the same repair work done – anything to avoid an expensive replacement.

But at some point the vicious cycle will come to an end. Your repair bills will begin to inch their way past the cost of replacing the furnace. You can only bandage a problem so long before it becomes “unfixable.” You may not want to pay an expensive replacement bill but consider the alternatives.

First is the obvious – it costs too much to keep repairing the furnace. Secondly, you never know when the furnace may break down and its failure to operate could have dangerous effects on the people in your home, especially if someone is sick. Third, your furnace may not be able to keep up with the heating demand due to lifestyle changes, i.e. an addition put on the house, carpeting removed and wood floors exposed, a new window, door, or skylight added, etc. Your old furnace may not have been designed to keep up with these changes and the repairs are only delaying the inevitable.

Ask yourself if everyone in your home is comfortable during cold weather. If most answer no, it may be time to consider replacing that old furnace with a new, energy efficient model that uses today’s technology – and leaves a smaller carbon footprint – to keep up with the demand for heat, in any sized building or home. Your decision to replace your old heating system could be as simple as the need to use modern technology to solve your indoor comfort problems.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off

What Size Furnace is Right for My Home? A Question from Funkstown

Friday, October 21st, 2011

When it comes to your Funkstown home’s heating equipment, the right size is very important. If your furnace is sized correctly, you will enjoy a high level of indoor comfort, which you should. However, an incorrectly sized furnace may result in many cold spots in your home, an overworked furnace, or higher utility bills.

An undersized furnace will turn off and on frequently, which is called short cycling. Short cycling can lead to moisture in the system, causing less efficiency and damage to equipment from accumulating moisture in the heating system. The constant cycling adds to wear and tear on equipment, too. An oversized furnace may not be able to keep up with the demand for heat during the coldest days. The furnace may be constantly running and unable to keep up – adding to higher utility costs. So size really does matter when it comes to selecting the right heating equipment for your home.

But a big furnace does not mean it is right-sized. Have you ever seen a “five-way” gravity furnace? It was manufactured in the mid-1900’s and took up a lot of room – as much as half of a basement – while being extremely inefficient. The key here is efficiency. A furnace that works right is sized to the space it is heating, which does not include attics, crawlspaces, or uninsulated rooms (porches, mud rooms, etc.).

A furnace must make efficient use of its Btu’s, which is abbreviated for British thermal unit. Btu is used to measure a furnace size. Furnaces are often rated by input Btu, which is the amount of energy consumed when running. The output Btu may be different based on the system. And output Btu is the best way to select a furnace, since this is the actual heating capacity.

When sizing a furnace, the first thing to do is to determine the inside space that will be heated. If you are looking to heat your home, you can measure the square footage of each room (multiply width by length). The rooms should include bathrooms and hallways but exclude attics and crawlspaces. Add up the totals and match up the Btu output to the total square footage. If you aren’t sure of your calculations, call a qualified heating and cooling contractor.

There are many factors that go into heating a home and today’s energy efficient furnaces give homeowners many more choices. Whatever furnace you choose to purchase, make sure you do your homework and hire a qualified professional HVAC contractor to determine the best size furnace for your home.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off

When Should You Replace Your Existing Heat Pump? A Question From Clear Spring

Friday, October 7th, 2011

Nobody wants to think about having to replace their Clear Spring home’s heating and cooling system. It’s a big job and a new system probably won’t come cheap – not if it’s worth buying anyway. But in the end, you’ll be better off replacing your heat pump sooner rather than later if you start noticing signs that it may be on its way out.

So what are these signs? Well, they’re actually pretty easy to recognize if you know what to look for. For instance, if your heat pump is suddenly making more noise than it used to, there’s a good chance that something’s going wrong inside. This may only require a minor repair, but if minor repairs like this become a regular occurrence, you should start seriously thinking about looking around for a new system.

The cost of even minor repairs will certainly add up quickly over time, and you’ll have to seriously think about whether it makes financial sense to continue to repair an older system rather than simply replacing it with a new one. Chances are that you’ll have to invest in a new one anyway, and the sooner you do it, the less you’ll have paid for repairs to a system you were just going to get rid of anyway.

Also, if you’re starting to notice humidity problems in your home or if some parts of your house are being kept warmer than others, it may very well be a sign that you heat pump isn’t working like it should. Again, this can sometimes be rectified with repair work, but especially if your heat pump is 10 years old or more, it probably makes more sense to replace it.

Another item to keep an eye on when you’re worried about how well your heat pump is working is your monthly energy bill. If you notice a sudden or even a gradual but steady increase over time that you know isn’t a result of an increase in energy prices in your area, you should suspect that your heat pump isn’t working like it should.

Even if it’s still keeping your home at a comfortable temperature, the fact that your heat pump is using more energy to do it is a sign that there’s something wrong with your system. Plus, newer systems are generally more energy efficient anyway, so you’ll be making up for the initial investment of purchasing a new system when you start paying even less on your monthly energy bills.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Heat Pumps | Comments Off

« Older Entries