Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing Blog: Posts Tagged ‘North Potomac’

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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How Do Boilers Heat Homes?

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014

Boilers are an increasingly popular option for central home heating in the U.S. Though boilers have long been an option for home heating, they have been eclipsed by furnaces for quite a while. This has led to a widespread ignorance among homeowners regarding how boilers actually heat homes. Read on for an explanation of what a central boiler can do to heat your home.

Radiant Heating

Radiant heating involves the installation of water pipes in every room of the house you want heated. These pipes can be installed in the walls, or between the floor and subfloor. Occasionally, the pipes will be connected to external systems like baseboard heaters and radiators. These pipes are then connected to a boiler. The boiler heats and distributes water through the house using these pipes. Heat then radiates through the pipes, or the external systems, and into the room.

This kind of heating provides a couple of unique advantages when compared to forced air heating systems. When a forced air system blows air into a room, the heat causes the air to rise to the ceiling. As the air cools, it will sink to the floor of the room. This causes uneven and uncomfortable heating, where one part of a room may be warm while another may be quite cold. Radiant heating solves this problem by transmitting its heat through solid objects instead of through the air. Because radiant heating is often installed in the floor, the heat it gives off stays near the floor of the room where it is most effective.

Radiant heating is also much more efficient than most forced air systems. Standard forced air systems lose as much as 30% of their heat on average to duct leaks. Radiant systems avoid this problem completely, delivering more heat to the intended areas. Water is also a much better conductor of thermal energy than air is, providing a medium that can store and deliver heat more efficiently.

If you are thinking of installing a boiler in your home, call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing. We professionally install boilers in the North Potomac area. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

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Ways to Tell You Need Duct Repair in North Potomac

Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

We are in that small seasonal window where you don’t need your air conditioning full-time any more, and haven’t switched to heating yet. It’s a great time of year to perform maintenance on your system, including duct repair in North Potomac. Your ductwork isn’t visible like other parts of your HVAC system, which can make it difficult to decipher the signs of problems with your ducts. As such, the technicians at Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing have put together a list of common signs that indicate it may be time to repair your ductwork.

Signs of Faulty Ductwork

Here are some signs to look for if you think your ductwork may be faulty:

  • Whistling sounds – are you hearing pronounced whistling noises every time your HVAC system runs? This can be an indication that air is leaking though holes and cracks in your ductwork.
  • High energy bills –  faulty ductwork can account for up to 30% of total air loss in your home. When you lose this much air, your system has to compensate for it, and does so by working harder. If your system has to work harder, it will need more energy to do so.
  • Uneven heating and cooling – are you experiencing numerous hot-and-cold spots in your home? This could be a sign of broken or disconnected ductwork.
  • Decrease in indoor air quality –with faulty ductwork, not only does air escape from your system, outside air and particles can also get into your system through the holes and cracks. This can compromise your indoor air quality and also increase the amount of humidity in your home.

Duct Testing Helps Pinpoint the Problems

Determining exactly where your ductwork is failing can be challenging, which is why our technicians will conduct duct testing. With duct testing, your ductwork is pressurized, which allows the technician to check for the parts of your ductwork where the air flow is interrupted. Once the problems are assessed, steps can be taken to repair them.

Faulty ductwork can cost you money, compromise your comfort and decrease your indoor air quality. If you suspect your ductwork may be faulty, schedule an appointment by calling Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing today and ask us about our professional duct repair service in North Potomac.

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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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Can I Still Run My Air Conditioner with Low Refrigerant?

Monday, July 21st, 2014

Your air conditioner would not be able to cool your home without refrigerant. As long as your air conditioner is turned on, refrigerant cycles throughout your air conditioning system, playing a vital role in heat exchange. The chemical has the ability to change from a gas to a liquid and back again as it reaches the various mechanical parts of your system, absorbing heat from your home and releasing it outdoors.

However, while refrigerant helps heat to dissipate, the refrigerant itself is not supposed to leave your system. If you have low refrigerant levels, it most likely indicates that there is a leak in your system. If you notice signs of low refrigerant levels, turn off your system and call an AC professional today for air conditioning repair in North Potomac, MD today.

Signs of a Refrigerant Leak

Leaks form along the refrigerant line because of corrosion or loose connections. Sometimes, refrigerant leaks are small and may go undetected for long periods of time. However, a hissing sound from your AC system is usually a good indicator of a refrigerant leak. Another sign that you may have a leak is reduced cooling power, since low refrigerant has a significant impact on heat exchange.

The Dangers of Low Refrigerant

Hissing noises and reduced cooling may seem like minor issues, but low refrigerant can cause major damage if you continue to run your system and do not call for air conditioning repair. One risk is that your system will break down when you need it most. Your system is designed to meet a certain refrigerant “charge,” and, if this charge changes, your system cannot keep up.

The compressor increases the pressure of the refrigerant so it can give off heat at the condenser. Loss of refrigerant can cause the compressor to overheat, which may lead to a costly replacement. Low refrigerant may also cause your indoor evaporator coil to freeze, further preventing heat exchange until your system fails entirely.

For professional air conditioning repair in North Potomac, speak to an AC specialist at Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing and let us help you get your AC up and running again. Give us a call today to set up a service appointment!

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What Is Clogging My Kitchen Sink?

Friday, June 27th, 2014

Sink clogs are unfortunately a common occurrence in kitchens; even kitchens with the best regular maintenance and cleaning done on their plumbing can experience an accident that will result in a slow sink drain or even a full blockage. Professional plumbers can help clear out your drains no matter the problem—although some types of clogs are worse problems than others.

Here are a few common reasons you may encounter clogs in your kitchen plumbing that our team at Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing can fix. We offer quality plumbing service in North Potomac, MD that will help keep your kitchen’s plumbing and the plumbing in the rest of your house in top shape.

Common Reasons for Kitchen Sink Clogs

  • Fat, oil, and grease (FOG): These three substances, commonly used in cooking and food preparation, are the #1 enemy of sink drains. When FOG is in hot, liquid form, people tend to think it offers no potential to harm pipes­—no worse than any other liquid. But FOG only remains in liquid form when it’s hot. After cooling down, FOG changes into a solid: waxy and tough. This will start to coat the insides of your drainpipes, and eventually will cause clogs and a dangerous increase in water pressure. Plumbers can use scouring technology to clear out FOG deposits. You can also take steps to keep from pouring these substances down your drains and instead place them in separate receptacles for the trash.
  • Soap scum: This is a common foe of kitchen and bathroom sinks. Soap does not often wash down a drainpipe completely, and it leaves behind a residue that can release acid into the pipes and create damage. This soap scum will also start to close off the drains and trigger clogs. Full drain cleaning services are often necessary to eliminate soap scum build-up.
  • Sewer line problems: Here is one of the more serious troubles that can assault your plumbing. You may notice it in your sink first, but sewer lines breaks or blocks will eventually cause clogs throughout your plumbing, and will lead to worse problems with sewage back-up in your house’s foundations. If the blocks in your sink are accompanied by foul odors and gurgling sounds, then you may have a sewer line issue and must call for professionals immediately.

When you encounter a kitchen sink clog, you should try to remove it using a plunger if you have one handy. Plungers are safe for your pipes and easy to use. If the sink plunger does not work, don’t resort to any other home remedy or store bought chemicals for clogs; most of these will damage the pipes. Call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing instead and look to our assistance with your kitchen plumbing in North Potomac, MD.

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Some Common Plumbing Repairs for Bathroom Toilets

Friday, May 30th, 2014

Toilets are an essential of daily life, but in general we don’t like to think about these useful items much. But when a toilet experiences problems, it becomes imperative to think about it and call for repairs as fast as possible. Please don’t try to tinker with the inside of the toilet tank to solve possible problems! You might make the situation even worse. Instead, call up Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing. We can take care of your bathroom plumbing in North Potomac, MD—as well as any other plumbing problems you might encounter.

Toilet plumbing repairs we often perform

  • Replacing the wax ring seal: One of the areas of greatest concern for leaking in a toilet is at the base, where it seals onto the floor. A key part of this seal is a wax ring underneath the base, out of sight. Should this wax ring deteriorate, it can cause water to start to escape and leak onto the floor. These leaks are especially hazardous because they can weaken the floor material, and in extreme cases will cause the toilet to plunge through the floor! When you see leaks developing around the base of your toilet, call for plumbers right away. They will pry up the toilet, replace the wax ring, and then re-seal the toilet to the floor.
  • Replacing a worn-down flapper: If your toilet starts to run continuously, which is an enormous waste of water, the issue might be a decaying rubber flapper inside the tank. This flapper controls when water moves from the tank and into the bowl. If it starts to deteriorate due to age, it will lose its seal and water will leak from the tank continuously, and the tank will constantly draw more water from the main feed to fill up again. Have a plumber locate the right sized flapper and replace the older one.
  • Bowl replacement: This is one of the larger repairs that a toilet can need, but it is sometimes necessary. If you notice water dripping out of the bowl from what seems like a crack, and the water level of the bowl has dropped, call for a plumber to look into it. If the problem comes from a crack in the bowl, or a crack in the interior colon or piping in the bowl, there is usually no other option except to have a new bowl installed—a job you should definitely leave to an experienced plumber.

You can trust Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing with your bathroom plumbing. We also offer free estimates on replacement equipment, free second opinions, and a variety of other plumbing services in North Potomac, MD. Make us your first call to solve all your plumbing woes. Contact us today.

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Is There a “Best” Option for Heating?

Tuesday, November 12th, 2013

When we go shopping for anything we need, whether it’s a car or a bottle of dishwashing liquid, we want to get the best option we can for our money. We would like to believe that somewhere out there exists a “best option” for everything we want to buy—but that’s not often the case.

Take heating your home, for example. You need to have an effective heater in your home to get you through the chilly North Potomac, MD heating season. But is there a “best” choice out there, a single answer to your heating needs?

The answer is: yes and no.

Don’t get frustrated yet! There’s an explanation to that seemingly ambiguous answer, and after you think about it, you’ll see that you have a path toward getting effective and efficient heating in your home for this winter. Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating is here to help guide you down that path.

“No”: There is no general best option for heating

The reason there isn’t a best option for getting home heating is because every house has unique needs. The way to heat a home depends on factors such as size, insulation, age, the number of windows, how many people live there, and the availability of fuel sources. Also, each homeowner will have different goals regarding his or her long-term energy budget. With the variety of different kinds of heating systems available, any attempt to offer a single “best” option would fail.

“Yes”: There is a best option for you

However, if you get experts to look over your house and measure its heating requirements (using an algorithm known as a heat load calculation) and then work with them regarding your specific plans, you can end up with the best option for you. This is why you should never attempt to make a choice for heating system on your own: there are many issues that need the outlook of professionals to discern. If you go from general suggestions found on DIY websites or from the advice of amateurs, the chance of getting the best heating system for your needs will be far less likely.

You don’t want to find out too late into the cold months that you picked the wrong system for heating your North Potomac, MD home. Contact Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating for advice from HVAC experts. Whether a furnace, boiler, or heat pump, we can locate the system that will do the best job possible keeping your family warm this winter.

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Air Conditioning Repair Tip: Simple Changes to Keep Your AC Working Right

Wednesday, June 26th, 2013

Occasional problems with your air conditioning system are to be expected. No AC is perfect. That being said, a some of the service calls we receive for  air conditioning repairs could have been avoided with some simple changes to usage habits. A lot of North Potomac, MD homeowners fail to realize that the way in which they use their air conditioning system, or misuse it, are actually doing harm to the system. The air conditioning repair pros at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating have some advice for you about how to get the most consistent, reliable performance possible from your AC. Make these simple changes and get the cooling performance that you need this summer.

One way in which homeowners put their air conditioner at risk is by not changing their air filter regularly. You must understand that your air conditioner may be operational while still suffering from issues which can lead to serious problems. A dirty air filter may not cause your AC to break down right away, but it will force it to work harder in order to compensate for the increased airflow resistance caused by the dirty filter. Plus, the dirt and debris that may bypass a dirty filter can accumulate on the inner components of your HVAC system, reducing efficiency and the effectiveness with which it cools your home.

Another way in which you can keep your air conditioning system operating properly is simply to pick up the phone and schedule routine air conditioning maintenance. There are a number of different components within your air conditioning system, and if any of these components are compromised then your system as a whole will suffer. Any problems with a lack of lubrication, faulty electrical contacts or even tears and dirt in your air ducts can lead to a subpar air conditioning performance. Keep up with routine maintenance to keep your AC in great working condition.

For more information about ways in which you can keep your AC operating properly, just call the  air conditioning repair technicians on our team. We have the training and experience necessary to keep your North Potomac, MD home cool consistently and efficiently. Call now to schedule service.

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Why You Need a Professional to Fix a Refrigerant leak

Wednesday, June 12th, 2013

A very common problem with air conditioning systems is a refrigerant leak. Obviously, if there isn’t enough refrigerant in the system then your AC won’t be able to do its job properly. If you have a refrigerant leak and need air conditioning repair in North Potomac, MD, make sure that you call the experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating. We have years of experience working with all kinds of AC systems. We wanted to let our customers know about why they need to let a professional handle any refrigerant problems.

  • Legal Concerns– It is actually illegal for someone to dispose of certain types of refrigerants unless they are certified by the EPA. Refrigerants can be very dangerous and having the proper certification and training to handle them is critical to your home’s comfort and to your safety.
  • Quality of service – Another great reason why you should leave the dandling of refrigerants to professional is the quality of repair you will receive. Your air conditioning system is an expensive piece of equipment that is critical to your home’s comfort. Simply adding refrigerant will only temporarily fix the problem – a technician should examine your system and repair the source of the leak before recharging the unit.
  • Speed – When your air conditioning system has a refrigerant leak or if it just has low refrigerant, you want it to get back up and working again quickly. The air conditioning repair pros at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating have years of experience diagnosing and quickly resolving any AC problem you might have.

Give the friendly North Potomac, MD air conditioning repair, installation and maintenance pros at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating a call today to talk with one of our friendly professionals.  

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