Max Sr & Paul Schoenwalder Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, A Corp. Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

Reasons a Furnace Will Short-Cycle

Monday, November 19th, 2018

Man looking cold in front of thermostatNo matter what time of the year it is, there is one thing that you deserve—to be comfortable in your own home. You aren’t going to get that, however, if your HVAC systems aren’t functioning the way they should. There is a lot that can go wrong with any mechanical system or large piece of equipment. Your furnace is no exception. Remember, just because it seems to be running fine, doesn’t mean that’s actually the case.

Spotting the signs of problems with your furnace isn’t always easy. A heater that won’t start is certainly a clear sign that it needs repair—or replacement even if it’s an aging system—you’ll definitely want to call the pros for furnace repair in Chatham, NJ if this happens. But you should also recognize a more subtle sign, and know that it’s bad for your furnace—short-cycling.

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Could a Boiler Work for Your Home?

Monday, October 22nd, 2018

Industrial boiler gas regulation and metering moduleWith temperatures already cooled down to a point that you need your heating system on a daily basis, we hope yours is working as well as it sh. But what if you’ve skipped maintenance, or you have an aging system that just can’t keep up with the heating demand in your home anymore? Well, then it may very well be time to invest in a new heater.

We discourage you, though, from rushing to buy the biggest heater within your budget and just being satisfied with that. If your system is still operational for now we really urge you to take a few considerations into account for your next heating system purchase. And if you don’t already have a boiler system in place, it may be time for you to consider one! But what are the benefits? What makes them better than furnaces or other forced-air heating systems?

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The Top 3 Signs of Furnace Trouble

Monday, October 8th, 2018

A heating/cooling vent register on the wall of a home, with open/close leverWinters are harsh in our area. Or, at least they can be without an effective and efficiency furnace in place. And yours is about to be put under a lot of stress. The strain our furnaces go through during the coldest part of the year increases the chances of problems cropping up over time, which is why you should be particularly vigilant for signs that it is struggling and in need of furnace repair in Union, NJ.

Early detection of heater problems means prompt repairs and better damage prevention. Take a look below at the top 3 signs that something is amiss with your system, and be sure to give us a call right away once you do.

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“Help, My Furnace Won’t Start!”

Monday, September 24th, 2018

Technician looking over a gas furnace with a flashlight before cleaning it.Temperatures aren’t quite cold enough to start using a furnace on a daily basis just yet, but you may have already tried turning yours on to discover it wouldn’t start at all. With cooler weather right around the corner, this is certainly not a problem you want to have to face, and certainly not one you can sit around waiting to have repaired.

This is actually one of the most common service calls that professional HVAC technicians get, in addition to a furnace that won’t stop running (which we’ll get to below). Keep reading to learn more about what’s happening when your furnace behaves in this way, and give us a call for reliable heating services!

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Do You Really Need Maintenance for Your Furnace?

Monday, September 10th, 2018

Technician looking over a gas furnace with a flashlight before cleaning it.It may seem odd that we’re already talking about heaters. But think about it—sure it may be hot this week, but cold weather is right around the corner. As such, you’ll be relying on your furnace very heavily, and sooner than you may really realize.

But is maintenance really necessary?

Well, yes.

This is absolutely a service you want done before the cooler temps come and you need to turn your furnace on for the first time. We say this not only for furnace functionality, but also for your home safety. Keep reading to learn more!

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4 Common-Sense Ways to Save Money on Heating

Monday, March 12th, 2018

hot-house-air-conditioningWe could all use a bit of extra spending money, but those monthly bills get in the way. Often, homeowners are paying a lot more than they have to on home necessities without realizing it. Some small changes to the way you use and maintain your heating system can help it to run more smoothly and reduce your monthly spending on energy and fuel costs.

As heating experts, we know of many ways to upgrade a heating system and help your home to operate more efficiently—things we wouldn’t recommend homeowners try on their own. However, there are also some small things you can do which, when you think about it, just make sense!

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Why You Cannot Afford to Wait for Heating Repair

Monday, February 12th, 2018

piggy-bank-dollarYour heater has started to act strangely, making weird noises or having trouble at startup, but you’re not sure you should get it serviced just yet. You don’t want to spend money fixing a heater that is still working, after all, and you feel you might as well wait and see what happens. But this logic is flawed: your heating system won’t fix itself!

In fact, a problem is likely to get a lot worse over time. And in the end, this might cost you. Don’t wait to schedule heating repair! Find out what might happen if you do in the guide below.

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The Difference Between Two-Stage and Regular Furnaces

Monday, January 29th, 2018

furnace-burner-litWhen you’re shopping around for a new furnace, you might start to develop a new vocabulary. There’s the AFUE—Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency—that helps you determine the efficiency of your new system. And another set of terms you may see used often are as follows: “one-stage,” “two-stage,” and “modulating” furnace.

You might notice that modulating and two-stage furnaces receive a higher rating for efficiency and performance (or simply find that the price for these units is higher). Wondering why this is? Does a two-stage or modulating furnace really make that much of a difference? Find out in today’s guide to these powerful systems.

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What You Should Know about Boilers and Scaling

Monday, January 15th, 2018

gauge-boiler-water-heaterThe boiler is an incredibly reliable heating system. Many people keep their boilers for decades (although this can be unsafe, and we recommend replacing them before their 15-20 year lifespan is up). Yet, boilers can still run into their share of trouble. One of the most common issues our customers come across in a gas hydronic boiler has to do with something called scaling.

If you hear noises from your boiler, notice a drop in performance, or want to have routine maintenance to ensure your system is in good shape, give us a call! Otherwise, read on to find out what scaling, or mineral buildup, can do to affect your system.

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Troubleshooting a Gas Hot Water Boiler

Monday, December 4th, 2017

boiler-system-residentialIn general, we don’t recommend that you attempt to troubleshoot a boiler on your own, and certainly don’t believe the average homeowner should attempt to make repairs to a hot water boiler. This could be dangerous, and time-consuming when you don’t know what to look for. Technicians with the proper training can come to your home and make a quick assessment with all the tools they need to do so.

Still, it’s useful to know what can go wrong. That way, you know why it’s so important to take care of issues quickly and have a better idea of what to expect.

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