January 2014 – Wilbur Henry

What Is Really Done with A Furnace Cleaning? Can’t A Homeowner Just Do It On Their Own?

Furnace and Heat Systems, Heating, Question and Answer / Tom Henry

Regular furnace service or Check & Clean is vital to the long life of your furnace. Many older furnaces are vented into the chimney flu. Along with caring for the inside workings of your furnace, the flu must be checked and cleaned as well. Check out our blog post titled “Older Homes In York PA? Check Your Chimney Annually For Debris Build Up”

Newer furnaces are vented through the sidewall of your hour with PVC plastic. However, the furnace has an internal secondary gas exchanger which is not accessible without taking the furnace completely apart. If the gas is not firing correctly and there is too much carbon in the furnace, everything gets covered with soot which jams up the secondary heat exchanger and causes the furnace to shut down, which is bad.

Furnace service requires specialized equipment and specific knowledge of the internal structure of the furnace and should not be attempted by a homeowner without training.

So What Goes Into Servicing Older Furnaces?

Check and oil bearings on the motors
Check and replace worn belts
Check the chimney flu, especially if there is no flu liner
Take the top off the furnace and run cleaning brushes through the heat exchangers

What About Servicing Newer Furnaces?

Check CO2 levels and make sure gas is firing correctly
Ensure all vents and draft inducer motors are open and clear
Check the blower motor

So what CAN the homeowner do?

The most important part of furnace maintenance – check your furnace filter monthly!

Don’t cheat on the furnace filter.

That $2-3 filter will save your heat exchanger from cycling and you needing a possible new furnace. Change them in the summer and winter. Also, make sure vents stay clear by putting wires or screens over them to keep the vents clear of pests like nesting bees and stink bugs. If that works and doesn’t impinge drafting, you can leave them on year-round.

Need Furnace Service?

When your furnace needs serviced you can trust Wilbur Henry Plumbing, Heating and AC to do the job right and charge a fair price. Give us a call at 717-755-5461 or use our contact form.

What Is Really Done with A Furnace Cleaning? Can’t A Homeowner Just Do It On Their Own? Read More »

Why Are My Water Lines Sweating and Why Is There Water On the Outside Of My Toilet Tank?

Plumbing, Toilet Repair, York PA / Tom Henry

Have you ever looked at the water lines running under your subfloor, through your basement, and noticed condensation on the water lines? When water enters the house, it is cold from being underground, and when it enters your basement, the basement is warmer. So if you are using are large amount of water the water in those lines never has a chance to warm up.

As For Condensation On The Outside of the Toilet

There is most likely water leaking from the toilet tank into the bowl of the toilet. Again just like the water lines in the basement, the water never has a chance to get warm, since there is always a flow of water running through it.

You may also be flushing the toilet more often and that would keep the water in the bowl cold.

How To Checking a Toilet for Leaks:

A bigger plumbing issue is water leaking through the tank into the toilet bowl. There should be a shutoff valve for the toilet at the floor. To check a toilet for leaks, turn off the toilet water valve and wait an hour. The flapper in the tank acts like a plug and should be watertight. If the water level in the tank runs out or goes down then the flapper is leaking.

One other thing to check is if the water level in the tank is OVER the overflow tube. That means the fill valve is leaking and the extra water is going down the overflow tube. Ideally, the water level in a toilet tank should be about an inch below the overflow tube. You might not hear or see either leak regularly, but a toilet leak needs a toilet repair!

Want More Leaking Toilet Information?

For more on checking for leaks in your toilet check out our post and video by Dave Henry called Why Is My Toilet Running When Not In Use, Dave discusses doing a simple dye test that any homeowner can do, yes anyone.

Need Plumbing Help or Toilet Repair?

If you need help with your plumbing repairs or to change the flapper in your toilet, we are the York PA plumber to call at 717-755-5461.

Why Are My Water Lines Sweating and Why Is There Water On the Outside Of My Toilet Tank? Read More »

Should I Leave the Water Valve To My Boiler Open All the Time?

Furnace and Heat Systems, Heating / Tom Henry

The short answer is yes. Boilers have an automatic fill level with a built-in check valve. They are set to maintain a constant 15 pounds of pressure in your hot water boiler. No matter how long you leave the water on, this valve will keep the pressure at the recommended 15 pounds.

Usually, a hot water-based heating system is a closed system. This means the water is kept separate from potable or drinking water and can’t leak back into it. It also means you do NOT have to add additional water to your boiler. A good rule of thumb – just leave the water on and let it take care of itself.

So what happens if you DO turn the water off? Air rises faster and higher than water and you can end up with air in the radiators on higher floors. This stops the flow of hot water. You then have to use the bleeders on the boiler to bleed the air out which makes the pressure drop.

To keep the pressure constant in your boiler and to maintain the best function in your heating system, leave the water on.

Need Boiler Service?

Wilbur Henry is the expert to call to service your hot water radiators and boiler in York PA, call 717-755-5461.

Should I Leave the Water Valve To My Boiler Open All the Time? Read More »

How Do You Know You Need A New Hot Water Heater?

Hot Water Heater, Plumbing, Question and Answer, York PA / Tom Henry

There are a few ways to determine if you need to have your hot water heater replaced.

The most apparent is when you notice leaks. Chances are, if your feet are getting wet it is time to take a serious look at the cause of the problem.

hot-water-heater-leaking

Relief Valve Leaking?

If you notice that the relief valve is dripping, there is over 150 pounds of pressure built up which indicates that either the expansion tank is bad, or the pressure-reducing valve at the meter is not operating properly. If you notice that the relief valve runs continuously, it’s probably not good. If it comes on and then goes off every so often, it’s because too much pressure is being built up.

Rust On The Exterior Of The Hot Water Heater?

Visible rust on the exterior of the unit will indicate a need for hot water heater replacement.

If you notice rust marks on the side it’s likely because the heater is leaking from the top. If there is rust at the burner, the unit may be leaking, but the water is evaporating before it makes it to the floor.

Water Heater Leaking By Burner

Expansion Tanks Help Relieve Pressure and Can Prolong The Life Of The Hot Water Heater

The expansion tank (if you have one) is located on top of the water heater. It can prolong the life of your water heater by taking the hammer shocks out of anything that uses a Expansion Tank For Hot Water Heater solenoid valve (like washing machines and dishwashers).

Water will expand as it heats which causes a rise in the pressure.

A Quick Water History Lesson

Years ago, the water would expand back into the street, but more recently the water companies have been using backflow preventers at the water meter. This gives the pressure no way to be relieved. The resulting build-up of excess pressure is then transferred to your pipes, appliances, fixtures, and hot water heater.

What An Expansion Tank Does

With the installation of an expansion tank and maintaining it, you give the pressure a way to be relieved. Maintain it by pressing in the Schrader valve every couple of years or annually to see whether air is in it or not. If water comes out of this valve, the rubber bladder inside has ruptured. Water is now against the steel in the expansion tank which inevitably will lead to leaking.

In Summary, A Leak Is Not What You Want To See.

Again, the most obvious sign that it’s time for hot water heater replacement is when you notice leaks.

If your feet get wet, it’s time for a hot water heater replacement. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact a professional plumber in York PA.

How Do You Know You Need A New Hot Water Heater? Read More »