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

10 Facts You Should Know about Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 27th, 2014

Thanksgiving has been celebrated as an official holiday in the United States for over 150 years, so you may think you understand all there is to know about this family feast. Most of us have heard the story of the pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving in 1621 after arriving in North America on the Mayflower. But did you know that only about half of the people on this ship were actually pilgrims? This fact is one of ten things that may actually surprise you about the Thanksgiving tradition!

  1. Although we often consider Thanksgiving a holiday unique to the United States, many other countries and cultures celebrate their own set of harvest-time and thanksgiving traditions. In Korea, Chu-Sok (or “fall evening”) is put on in remembrance of forefathers on August 15th of every year. Brazil celebrates a contemporary version of the U.S. holiday. Chinese, Roman, and Jewish cultures all have a history of harvest celebrations as well.
  2. President Harry S. Truman began the tradition of a ceremony held before Thanksgiving during which the president receives a turkey. George H.W. Bush was the first to pardon the turkey instead of eating it.
  3. In Minnesota alone, farmers raise over 40 million turkeys a year. In fact, U.S. farmers produce about one turkey for every one person in the country.
  4. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the average American will gain about one to two pounds every year during the holiday season.
  5. On the other hand, turkey is naturally high in protein and has been known to support and boost immune systems to protect against illness and speed up healing. So feast on!
  6. Abraham Lincoln issued a “Thanksgiving Proclamation” in 1863, but a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale can be credited with the idea. While Thanksgiving had been celebrated at different times of year in many areas of the U.S. for years, it was Hale, prominent magazine editor and author of the rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” who urged Lincoln to finally establish the national event.
  7. President Franklin D Roosevelt once tried to change the date of Thanksgiving to the second-to-last Thursday of the month in order to extend the holiday shopping season and boost the economy.
  8. Only about half of the people on the Mayflower were what we would consider today as “Pilgrims.” The other (approximately) 50 people were simply trying to find a way over to the New World.
  9. Gobble, gobble! Click, click? While male turkeys make a gobbling noise, females (hens) do not; it’s often described as a clicking.
  10. Even though we celebrate Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November, the month of June has been declared National Turkey Lovers’ Month by the National Turkey Federation so you can continue the celebration in the summer as well!

From our family here at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating, we’d like to wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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Common Problems with Electronic Ignition

Wednesday, November 19th, 2014

Strides are always being made to make heating systems more reliable. One step that has been taken with combustion furnaces is electronic ignition. With electronic ignition, you no longer have to worry about constantly fueling a standing pilot light because there isn’t one; instead, there is either a hot surface igniter or an intermittent pilot. Electronic ignition is usually standard on today’s furnaces, and you may be able to retrofit your existing furnace with electronic ignition. Let’s take a look at each type below.

Intermittent Pilot

An intermittent pilot works by having a small gas line that is just for your system’s pilot light. When the thermostat cues the furnace to start, the gas is allowed to flow from this small pilot gas line. A small electronic device creates a spark that shoots across the gas jet, lighting the pilot. A flame sensor monitors the pilot flame to see if it is lit and running properly, and when it senses that the pilot light is operable, the flame sensor allows the main gas valve to open and the burner to be lit. Some of the common problems that can develop with an intermittent pilot are:

  • Failure with the electronic spark
  • Loose connection with the thermostat
  • Incorrect positioning of the pilot gas pipe
  • Dirty nozzle

Hot Surface Ignition

A hot surface ignition probe works similarly to a light bulb. When the thermostat sends the cue to begin ignition, two strips of differing metal heat inside a silicone casing. Once the metal strips heat to the correct temperature, the gas ignited and the burner lights. One of the main problems that occurs with a hot surface ignition probe is that it gets dirty; even a fingerprint on the casing can impede ignition. Another common problem is cracking. The probe is exposed to very high and low temperatures, and eventually develops cracks, which effect its ability to ignite the gas.

Delayed Ignition: A Common and Potentially Dangerous Problem for Both

One common problem that can develop with either igniter is delayed ignition. Electronic igniters are designed to light immediately; any delay in ignition results in an excess of gas accumulation. This is usually characterized by a boom or banging sound right before ignition occurs. This can be a potentially dangerous situation and should be repaired immediately.

Electronic ignition can save energy, but if it isn’t working correctly, a dirty or impaired igniter can leave you without heat. If you are in need of heating repair in Rockville, call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing today and schedule an appointment with one of our NATE-certified experts.

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Tools Used for Professional Drain Cleaning

Wednesday, November 12th, 2014

There’s no way around it—every plumbing system will develop a drain clog at some point or another. Most likely, you’ve experienced a drain clog at least once in your life: in the middle of a shower, while brushing your teeth, or while preparing food during an important family get-together. As a pool of water collects around the drain, you do whatever you can to try to clear the clog quickly. But if a plunger does not loosen the blockage, experts recommend scheduling professional drain cleaning before you decide to take any further action on your own.

In this guide, we’ll look at what types of “solutions” to avoid, and contrast these with the types of tools professionals use for drain cleaning. To clear a tough clog or to prevent clogs from occurring later on in the life of your plumbing system, schedule professional drain cleaning service in North Potomac with Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing.

Drain Cleaning “Solutions” to Avoid

Chances are that you’ve seen and perhaps even purchased a type of liquid drain cleaner from the grocery store or a local hardware store. However, these solutions often contain toxic levels of chemicals that may injure your skin and damage your eyes. Furthermore, most of these only work to dissolve a few common sources of blockage. While the liquid you purchase may be able to dissolve hair, for example, it may not be able to tackle soap scum or food particles. Besides, these chemicals can damage your plumbing and leave you with further repair costs. With professional drain cleaning, your pipes will not suffer any injury and clogs are eliminated for good.

Video Pipe Inspection

A quality plumber comes equipped with technology to help locate the exact source of a clog in order to determine the best plan of action to eliminate it. A long cable attached to a fiber optic video camera is fed through the pipes so that your plumber can see exactly which part of the plumbing is affected. The professional views a live feed so that they can select the type of tool best suited for the job, and from which drain pipe to tackle the problem.

Drain Snakes

One of the most common tools that professionals use is the drain auger, or drain snake. This is a long wire with a coiled end that can latch onto blockages and pull them up through the drain. Your plumber may also try additional attachments at the end of the wire, such as a sharp tool to break up tougher clogs like tree roots, so they can make their way into the sewer line.

Call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing today and schedule an appointment for quality drain cleaning in North Potomac.

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Reasons Your Furnace Needs a Pre-Season Maintenance Visit

Wednesday, November 5th, 2014

The cooler temperatures have arrived – is your furnace ready to heat your home for the season? One of the best ways to prepare for the winter is to schedule furnace maintenance in Bethesda. Maintenance for your heating system isn’t a quick once-over with a flashlight; it’s a full system tune-up that helps both you and your system throughout the winter months. If it’s been more than a year since your last maintenance appointment, call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing today!

Here are some of the reasons it’s important to schedule maintenance for your furnace:

  • Helps prevent future repair needs – during maintenance, your system is thoroughly inspected. This allows the technician to detect any existing or developing issues. If small problems are discovered, such as frayed or corroded wiring, the technician will repair these items during the appointment. Should a bigger problem be found, you’ll be informed of the issue and advised to schedule a repair appointment to remedy the problem.
  • Better energy efficiency – your system was made to operate at a specific level of energy efficiency. When the system and its components wear down, and its parts are dirty and dusty, your furnace can’t achieve the level of efficiency it should. The cleaning, adjusting and lubricating that occur during a maintenance appointment allow your system to work optimally, so it can achieve its normal level of efficiency.
  • Better comfort – a worn and dirty furnace will have a hard time achieving the temperature that you set on your thermostat. The tune-up your system receives during a maintenance appointment allows the system to function optimally so it can achieve the comfort level you need.
  • Extends system lifespan – a furnace that operates year after year without maintenance is far more prone to breakdown and premature aging. Keeping the system in good working order with annual maintenance helps to extend the life of your equipment.

Don’t let a lack of maintenance cause you or your furnace in Bethesda problems this winter. Call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing and schedule a maintenance appointment with one of our trained experts today.

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