Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing Blog: Archive for August, 2014

Warning Signs That You Have Leaky Pipes

Wednesday, August 27th, 2014

If you’re not a professional plumber, you are probably not able to pinpoint the source of a leak anywhere along your intricate home plumbing system. However, it’s important for homeowners to know the warning signs of leaky pipes so they can call for plumbing repair at the first sign of damage. Here are some of the common ways you can tell whether there is a leak in your home.

  • Pooling Water: Perhaps the most obvious sign of a leaky pipe is pooling water, but it’s vital to know that pooling water may indicate a serious problem. Only a certified plumber can locate and repair the leak and find out whether damage has extended to other areas of the pipes.
  • Low Water Pressure: When you need a hot shower, you expect a certain amount of water pressure when you turn on the tap. Unusually low water pressure is not just an inconvenience. Your water supply is pressurized so that it can flow freely from faucets, so this problem may indicate a leak in the pipes that prevents water from reaching your showerhead quickly enough.
  • High Water Bills: Even the smallest of leaks can have an impact on your water bills. If you notice a spike in your water usage, you may have a hidden leak somewhere in your system.
  • Odors: A musty, moldy smell may also me a sign that water has leaked into your home. In this case, it may be a difficult and unpleasant experience for the average homeowner to locate the source of the problem, so call a plumber to find the exact location.

Water leaks can cause serious problems for your plumbing, your home, and your health. Leaks may damage the structure of your home, allow for the growth of harmful mold and mildew, or lead to more costly plumbing repairs if left alone for too long. If you have a leak anywhere in your home, you need to call a professional as soon as possible. When you need plumbing repair in Silver Spring, the people at Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing can find and repair leaks to get your plumbing back to normal. Call us today!

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How Long Does Geothermal Installation Usually Take?

Wednesday, August 20th, 2014

If you have any familiarity with how residential geothermal systems operate, then you may have an image in your head of the installation process: large trenches dug into the ground around your home to lay down a series of refrigerant loops that will harness the stable energy of the earth. It seems like an immense amount of work, and it is. This is why you have to hire trained professionals experienced with handling geothermal installation so the job will get done speedily and with no mistakes.

With Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing handling your geothermal installation in North Potomac, MD, you can expect the quality job that will ensure your new geothermal heat pump will work for many years. It’s a small investment in time that will pay off for decades.

But… how much time?

We understand why many people envision that geothermal installation can takes weeks of work to complete. But the process goes fast when professionals handle it.

The planning for geothermal is the part that takes the longest. You need to first have geothermal specialists survey your property and determine if the available space and the soil conditions make installation practical. After that, the installers must decide what type of system will work best (vertical loops, horizontal loops, open loop system, closed loop system) and the layout. This usually takes a week.

Once the actual installation starts, the physical process will usually only last for two days. The time can vary up or down depending on the hardness of the soil and the depth at which the loops must be placed. If you need a vertical loop configuration, which requires deep drilling, the installation may take a day longer than the shallower digging for horizontals loops, which requires larger and more extensive equipment. However, softer soil will make vertical drilling easier. At the most, in extreme conditions, installation could take up to five days. But for the most part, you should expect the process to last only two days. After that, you’ll have loops that can endure for more than 50 years!

And is it worth it?

Yes! If geothermal specialists identify that your house will benefit from installing a loop system for a heat pump, you will enjoy advantages such as performance that works 3–6 time more efficiently than other heating and cooling systems, and reliable heating through the coldest outdoor temperatures. You will also help the environment by lowering emissions.

To get started with geothermal installation in North Potomac, MD, call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing. Schedule an appointment with our geothermal professionals to learn if your property is ideal for a geothermal heating and cooling system.

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How New Installations Can Reduce Water Use in Your Bathroom

Wednesday, August 13th, 2014

The bathrooms of your home use more water than any other location in the house, even more than your kitchen. Showers and baths require enormous amounts of water on a daily basis, and toilets can account for 33% of your indoor water use every year. If you are searching for methods to conserve water in your home, you should start with the bathroom.

Installing EPA-approved (WaterSense) low-flow fixtures for your bathroom plumbing in Bethesda, MD is a great way to lower your water use—sometimes by drastic amounts. You will not only save money on your water bills, but you’ll help the environment. Reducing water use in the bathroom will also lower your energy bills, as we’ll explain below.

To get started with water conservation in the bathroom, schedule an appointment with our plumbing team at Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing. We can help you find the best options for low-flow installations.

The Water Savings With Low-Flow Fixtures

A bathroom toilet can use between 1.6 to 6 gallons per flush, depending on its age. A WaterSense low-flow toilet only uses 1.28 gallons per flush, a 20% savings over even the most efficient standard model, and without any sacrifice in flushing power. With new installation of a low-flow toilet, you can save 20–60% off your water bills a year and reduce your water use by approximately 13,000 gallons.

Low-flow water faucets lower water use by 30% without any noticeable reduction in quality. According to test done by the EPA, the average faucet uses 2.2 gallons per minute, while a low-flow model uses 1.5 gallons per minute. Accounting for all the bathroom faucets in a home, the average-sized family will save 700 gallons of water per year using low-flow faucets, which is the equal to 40 showers. Replacing the showerheads with low-flow models will give you similar benefits.

How can this also save you on your energy bills? With faucets, and even more so with showers, the reduction in the volume of water when hot water is turned on means the home’s water heater will need to work less, so you can expect lower electric/gas bills, as well as a longer life for the water heater.

Low-flow models do cost more than standard ones to install, but when you consider the savings over their lifetimes, they will payback their price tags many times over.

When you join in the fight for water conservation, you will benefit yourself along with the planet. At Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing, we want to assist you with water conservation and savings with new bathroom plumbing installation. Call us today to find out more about low-flow fixtures for your bathroom and other plumbing services in Bethesda, MD that we offer.

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Why Hire a Commercial Specialist for Commercial HVAC Services

Wednesday, August 6th, 2014

If you own or manage a commercial property in Rockville, your clients, customers, employees, or tenants are important to you. But if your commercial property is not kept cool in the summer and warm in the winter, you may begin to get complaints. It’s important to maintain your air conditioning and heating system and schedule repairs as soon as possible so that your building is always as comfortable as it can be. However, if you call an HVAC technician with little experience in dealing with commercial systems, you may not get the services you need. This guide details the services offered by commercial technicians and why calling someone experienced for commercial HVAC services is vital.

Commercial Installation/Replacement

Commercial systems are larger and more complicated than residential systems, as they cover a larger area. With any air conditioning system, you need to ensure it is sized properly so that it won’t run into problems later on. With a system that is not the correct size, your business may never reach the desired temperature, or your system may overheat. So many factors go into sizing such a system—such as the number of floors, the needs of the business, the number of occupants, and the building’s insulation—that an inexperienced technician may be incapable of determining the proper size.

Commercial HVAC Repairs

The components of a commercial HVAC system are often combined into one cabinet. These packaged systems may be unfamiliar to some technicians, who may take longer to locate and repair faulty components, leaving you without a working heating or cooling system for a longer period of time.

Commercial HVAC Maintenance

You should call for professional maintenance at least once a year to ensure the system continues to perform well throughout the year. Commercial HVAC maintenance can improve performance, restore efficiency, and prevent the need for repairs. A technician cleans dirty components, adjusts parts, and notifies you of any problems, but an inexperienced technician may be unable to identify crucial repair needs.

For commercial HVAC services in Rockville, trust the experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing. Give us a call today!

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