Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Thank You! (Talk of the Town)

Thank you for voting us Delaware County's Talk of the Town for Heating, Cooling & Plumbing!
 

Monday, August 15, 2011

Sump Pumps

With all of this rain that we had over the past weekend and in the forecast for the coming week, we wanted to give you some information on the importance of installing and maintaining a sump pump in your basement.   It has been estimated that 90 - 95% of basements will experience a problem with water penetration.  Basement flooding is most common in flat terrain area's where rain water, or melting snow does not have anywhere to go, often sitting against the outside of your basement wall seeping into the cracks in your foundation.

Flooding in your basement could cause damage to your flooring, drywall & appliances.  Excessive moisture building up in your home could also cause health problems for you and your family due to the growth of mold.  Installing a sump pump is the best defense to prevent basement flooding.  A sump pump will pump out water from the lowest section of the basement before the water level reaches the basement floor level. As groundwater level rises it is diverted into the sump hole. When the water reaches what is called ‘the critical level’, the sump pump begins to pump it out through a pipe that leads outside and away from your foundation.  Preventing the water from ever hitting the basement floor!

We recommend that the installation of a Sump Pump should be handled by a professional to ensure that it is installed correctly; if the system is not installed correctly it will not function properly.

Your Sump Pump should be checked for functionality every couple of month to avoid any failures in the system, there are a few things that you can do yourself to test the operation of the pump.
  1. Fill the pit with water
  2. Check the outside drain for water, sometimes the sump pump will run (make noise) but not actually pump the water out.
  3. Make sure the Float is not restricted in any way.
  4. Clean the air hole in the discharge line.
  5. Listen for any strange noises coming from the motor.
If your system has a battery backup, please make sure to replace the battery every 2 years; we also do recommend the installation of the Water Commander Backup Sump Pump - which will operate on water pressure in the event of a power outage, or sump pump failure.
For more information or to set up your free estimate to install either a sump pump or a back up system, please feel free to give us a call at 610-544-7999.

Since 1977, William Henderson Plumbing & Heating Inc has been providing quality plumbing, heating and cooling service throughout Delaware County and the Main Line. We can be reached in our office at 610-544-7999 or visit us on the web at www.wmhendersoninc.com.


Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Angie's List Super Service Award





WM Henderson Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award
Award reflects company’s consistently high level of customer service

William Henderson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling services has been awarded the prestigious 2010 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the companies rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service companies.

“Our Super Service Award winners are the cream of the crop when it comes to providing consistently high quality customer service, as judged by the customers who hired them,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List.

Since 1977, William Henderson Plumbing & Heating Inc has been providing quality plumbing, heating and cooling service throughout Delaware County and the Main Line. We can be reached in our office at 610-544-7999 or visit us at www.wmhendersoninc.com.

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their customers and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2010 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 1 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick tour of Angie’s List and view the latest Angie’s List news.





Saturday, June 25, 2011

What to do If your Air Conditioner freezes up

Summer officially kick started this past week, we are preparing our selves for a high volume of No Air Conditioning calls! One of the most common Air Conditioning calls that we receive involves a unit that has been Frozen Over. Typically you can tell a unit has been frozen over by looking at the air conditioner compressor and seeing chunks of ice forming on the unit. A Frozen Air Conditioner will decrease your cooling dramatically. The unit will not function properly if it has frozen over.

There are a number of factors that could cause the unit to freeze over;

Weak Air Flow - Is possibly the most common reason, whether it be under sized duct work, or a dirty air filter; you run the risk of preventing the chilled air blowing off of your cooling coil and into the rooms in your house. This in turn causes the temperature of your air conditioner cooling coil drop to below freezing. A frozen coil could ultimately result in refrigerant leaks, this should be corrected immediately to avoid costly repairs. One thing that you can do is replace the filter. After replacing the Filter, check the unit in a couple of hours. If the ice has melted; you have corrected the problem.

Refrigerant Leak - The levels of Refrigerant in your Air Conditioning system must be maintained properly. To much or to little Refrigerant running in your system could also cause the unit to Freeze. One of the benefits of Signing up for our Air Conditioning Preventive Maintenance agreement is that the Refrigerant levels are checked annually with the AC Service.

Outside Temperature is too low - Air Conditioning systems do not operate correctly If the temperature outside is around or below 60 degrees; this would also cause the compressor to freeze up.

Correcting the Problem
Turn the AC unit off and allow it the thaw out, check for dirty Air Filters; if they are in need of replacement, install a new clean air filter. If this does not correct your problem; you may be in need of our Services, Give us a call to set up a service call!

Preventing Air Conditioning Breakdowns & Service Calls;
Signing up for one of our Preventative Maintenance Agreement's provides you with the recommended annual service for your heating and/or cooling system. This includes a check of the refrigerant levels, a standard filter change, 1 LB of refrigerant (if it is needed.), They check the indoor evaporator pan for drainage, and also clean the indoor air handler, evaporator coil and condenser.

Since 1977, William Henderson Plumbing & Heating Inc has been providing quality plumbing, heating and cooling service throughout Delaware County and the Main Line. We can be reached in our office at 610-544-7999 or visit us at www.wmhendersoninc.com.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Bad Allergies - Pet Odors and Germs - Installing a UV Lamp

It's that time of year again, where allergies are starting to kick in again.  UV has been proven under numerous studies for its ability to destroy the DNA of germs: viruses, mold, spores, fungi, and bacteria. It works at different levels depending on what one wants to accomplish.

We offer multiple solutions, please review our options below and feel free to give us a call to set up your free estimate to have one installed in your heating and cooling system. 





Thursday, April 28, 2011

Back-up Generators

With heavy thunderstorms in the forecast today, have you ever considered installing a backup generator for your home or business to avoid power outages?  A backup generator would be able to detect a drop in line voltage or power loss; kicking in immediately to avoid a power outage, giving your family or business the opportunity to function normally in the event of extreme weather.  A backup generator for your home would be powered by your natural gas supply, which is the most effective and efficient fuel type for this type of system.  Also, choosing a natural gas powered generator would supply you with an endless fuel source, so you would not have to worry about refueling the system; it is also a quieter and cleaner burning motor.

The installation of a back up generator is best to be done by a licensed professional. 

Give William Henderson Plumbing and Heating a call today to schedule your free estimate for the installation of a back up generator for your home.

Since 1977, William Henderson Plumbing & Heating Inc has been providing quality plumbing, heating and cooling service throughout Delaware County and the Main Line. We can be reached in our office at 610-544-7999 or visit us at www.wmhendersoninc.com.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Pressure Reducing Valves

High water pressure could also be thought of as water with too strong of a "push" behind it.  High water pressure can erode or wear away many materials and cause water heaters to leak, banging water pipes, dripping faucets, excessive dishwasher/laundry noise and breakdowns.  It may also cause "water hammering"  and leaking water pipes.  Water Hammering is generally described as a noise caused by the shock of high speed water flowing through a pipe when a fixture is suddenly closed.  Some manufacturers may also void warranties for damage caused by water pressure being to high.   The recommended pressure for an average household system is around 60 PSI.

An increase in water pressure is typically caused by your water company boosting the pressure from their pump station, so the closer you are to a pump station the more likely hood that your pressure has been increased, as the pressure will die down over distance.

A solution to this common problem would be to install "Pressure Reducing Valves".  It is a valve that is commonly installed after the meter in your plumbing system that automatically reduces the high incoming water pressure from the city's water mains, to provide a lower more functional pressure for distribution with in the home.  They "regulate" by maintaining a set pressure in the home (usually around 50 PSI).  Thereby insuring that the home's piping and appliances operate under a safe, more moderate but satisfactory pressure.  By installing Pressure Reducing Valves; you are extending the life of your plumbing system as well as saving water on your water bill, as less water is being "forced" out of your system, lowering the amount of water you may waste will performing simple tasks (such as daily hygiene, washing dishes etc.)  The average house can save up to 30 to 40,000 gallons of water per year.

Since 1977, William Henderson Plumbing & Heating Inc has been providing quality plumbing, heating and cooling service throughout Delaware County and the Main Line. We can be reached in our office at 610-544-7999 or visit us at www.wmhendersoninc.com.