Is My Furnace Big Enough for My Rochester, NY Home?

November 18, 2013 Andy Leone HVAC No comments yet

Is My Furnace Big Enough for My Rochester, NY Home?

In the middle of a Rochester, NY winter, your furnace may easily become your favorite appliance in the house. Home should always be a place that is warm and comfortable. If you don’t feel this way about your furnace in the Winter, there are some things to consider. Furnaces are only designed to heat houses of a certain size. If you paying a ton of money running your furnace and it is going all the time and you still aren’t warm and toasty, then perhaps you may consider researching if your furnace is big enough for your house.

Newer Construction, Older Furnace

Things happen to old houses over the years. People redecorate, renovate and change things completely. Another thing that happens is that people expand their home. Utilizing more space and land, people will add bedrooms, bathrooms and more to their home. Oftentimes, people undertake these expansions without thinking of the added workload for their features like the furnace. You may not even be aware of the problem if the house was expanded but the furnace was never updated with the renovations.

Open Concept Means More Space to Heat

One of things that is en vogue with homes and renovations is moving from a traditional floor plan to an open concept. This can involve removing walls and doors and keeping space as open as possible. However, there is another side effect of the open concept: more space to heat. Walls often contain insulation, or, at the very least, they are not given direct access to the heat, for obvious reasons. When you remove these walls, you create more open space for the heat to dissipate into and, thus, a greater workload on your furnace. With a renovation like this, you are adding workload to your furnace without even thinking about it. Thankfully, there is a way to get a definite answer. Many plumbing contractors and hvac specialists will come see you and give you an estimate at little to no charge. They can give you more information on the capacity of your furnace. It is also possible that your furnace needs maintenance to perform at its optimal level. With the help of a professional, you can be sure to stay warm in the winter and not flush a bunch of money down the toilet in wasted energy. A warm home is a happy home!

HVAC Rochester NY: How to Select the Right Company

May 23, 2013 Andy Leone HVAC No comments yet

HVAC Rochester NY: How to Select the Right Company

In Rochester, NY the winters are really cold and the summers are often very hot, with temperatures sometimes nearing the one hundred degree mark. Even if the temperature is not too extreme, the high humidity in Rochester can make the summers uncomfortable for homes and businesses without a reliable heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Being able to control the climate in your home or business is necessary for safety, as well as comfort. When it is time to install a new HVAC system or your current system is need of repair, it is important to choose the right company for your HVAC needs. Here are some tips for choosing an HVAC company:

Ask your friends, family, or neighbors which HVAC companies they would recommend. Getting the opinions of people you trust can help you to select the right HVAC company for you.
Research by reading online reviews for HVAC companies in the Rochester area. Try to find a good number of reviews that will allow you to look for patterns. Any company can have one or two dissatisfied customers for some reason and still be an excellent and reputable company. However, if a company has a significant number of bad reviews, then you should probably skip it.
Also, look for a company that has been in business for a long time. The fact that it has been open for so long indicates that it is likely to be dependable and plans to remain in business.
Don’t consider an HVAC company that is not licensed and fully insured. Since it is normal for homeowners to be concerned about people working in their homes, a quality HVAC Rochester, NY company will also perform background checks on their technicians before hiring them to protect the safety and property of its customers. Find out what sort of screen process a company has for its technicians before you choose it for your HVAC needs.
You also want to make sure that any HVAC company you decide to hire provides extensive training to its technicians. Proper installation is the key to performance, so it is crucial that technicians be well-trained and experienced.
Be sure to look for a company that offers 24-hour emergency service. You do not want to stuck with a broken furnace during the bitter Rochester winter and find yourself unable to get in touch with anyone from your HVAC company to send help.
Make sure that any HVAC company you contact is willing to visit your home or business to assess your needs before giving you a quote.
Also check to make sure that the company you are considering is knowledgeable about energy efficient heating and cooling systems. These can pay for themselves in energy savings over time.
Narrow your selection down to 3 potential HVAC companies and contact them for a quote. Don’t just automatically choose the one that gives you the lowest price. Look for the best value. If you go with a really cheap price from a less-experienced company you will probably end up having to pay much more to have their work repaired down the road. Plus they may fail to properly install your HVAC system, which will cause it to be less efficient and cost you more in energy costs over time.

Choosing the right HVAC company for your Rochester home will ensure that you and your family stay comfortable, no matter what the weather is doing outside. Also finding one that provides quality Rochester plumbing is a benefit. If you are a Rochester business owner, selecting a quality HVAC company for your business will keep your employees productive and your customers happy.

7 Household Tips from Leone Plumbing & Heating in Rochester NY

February 18, 2013 Andy Leone Bathroom Remodeling, HVAC, Plumbing No comments yet

7 Household Tips from Leone Plumbing and Heating in Rochester NY

Main water shut-off valve: Everyone in the house should know where this is in case of an emergency. The valve should operate smoothly and should shut-off water completely. Many older valves fail to operate due to internal deterioration from lime and calcium buildup. Check the water meter periodically: The meter is usually located under a concrete lid out by the sidewalk. With no water running in the house, the dials on the meter should remain stationary. Any movement indicates a leak of some type which, at best, wastes water and costs money, and may be causing damage to your home and foundation. A warm spot on the floor is also an indication of an underground leak. Angle-stops: These are the small shut-off valves at each toilet, and under each sink. Examine these for signs of corrosion, as they hold back water pressure. Corroded valves and connectors often become the source of leaks, ruptures, and resultant flooding. Guest bathrooms: Turn on all faucets and tub/shower valves at least once weekly. Faucets in guest baths commonly seize up from mineral deposits when not used for a period of time. Also, running water into each fixture keeps the traps full, thereby preventing sewer gases from entering your home. Washing machine hoses: Check hoses and connections for corrosion and signs of “blow-out”, which is a bubble caused by reinforcement failure. We recommend stainless steel re-enforced hoses which are rated to withstand much higher water pressure. Ruptured washer hoses are a primary cause of flooding in residential homes. When buying faucets and fixtures: Certain brands withstand the water related issues common to Rochester better than others. Availability of repair parts is also an important consideration. Please feel free to call us if you have questions, or would like our recommendations. Water Pressure: Every good doctor checks your blood pressure, and every good plumber checks your water pressure. Many homeowners describe high pressure as good pressure. Much like your blood-pressure, high water pressure can eventually cause great damage. Symptoms of high pressure may be running toilets, noisy or banging pipes, and water that comes out of the faucet strong at first, then slows down. A failed pressure regulator is usually the culprit and can be replaced at a reasonable cost. Leone Plumbing and heating provides bathroom remodeling services, plumbing and emergency services, and heating and cooling to the Rochester, NY area. Contact us today for assistance.