Check Your AC First Before Contacting An HVAC Repair Service

Leone Plumbing HVAC Repair ServiceHaving a malfunctioning AC can be stressful and can turn into a major headache! But that’s not the case all the time. A simple DIY solution can save you time and money. Before contacting an HVAC repair service, there are things that you need to look at on your air conditioner.

Simple Steps To Take Before Calling For An HVAC Repair Service

In some cases, the issue on your AC is just a simple fix that you can do without the help of a professional HVAC repair service. Here are the simple DIY steps before scheduling a repair service with an HVAC professional.
Look At The AC’s Power Supply
Check your circuit breakers to see if the circuit where your AC is on may have been accidentally flipped. If it is, switch the breaker on so that your AC unit has power again. If your circuit breaker regularly trips off, you need to call for a professional HVAC repair service. It is a safety problem that needs to be dealt with by an expert.
Check The Condenser Unit
For an outdoor AC unit, the condenser is concealed with vents that protect its sensitive coils. Over time, these vents can get blocked with dust or dirt and may trigger your AC to shut down due to limited airflow. Before picking up the phone to call for a professional, check your AC’s condenser and clear it off from debris. Your AC may work fine again after clearing the debris blocking the vents.
Check The AC’s Thermostat
You need to look at the thermostat’s settings and check that it’s not set to “heat,” “vent,” or even “off.” The thermostat should be in the “cool” setting. If you see that the screen is faint or does not come on, the batteries may need to be replaced. A new battery may make your AC work properly again.
Clean The Air Filters
Your AC can have difficulty flowing cool air if the air filters are dirty. There are types of ACs that turn off if there is limited airflow. Some may keep on running but with very little cool air circulating the room. If your AC filter is dirty, you need to clean it up or change it. Putting in a fresh filter may improve your AC’s cooling effect.
Check The Vents
If you have a running AC but your room is not cooling down, it can be that something is blocking the vents. You need to look around to see that there are no obstacles such as boxes, plants, furniture, or appliances that are preventing the air to flow adequately. HVAC Repair Service by Leone Plumbing and Heating

What Should I Do If My AC Is Still Not Working?

If your AC is still not working after doing these DIY steps, this is a perfect time to call for a reliable HVAC repair service. Do not let yourself be stressed! Contact us and our HVAC professional is here to fix your AC issues.
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Rinnai Tankless Water Heater: The Pros and Cons

Rinnai Tankless Water Heater Installation by Leone Plumbing

Rinnai tankless water heater installed by Leone Plumbing and Heating.

Tankless water heaters are growing popular with homeowners. Many homes are enjoying the advantage of going tankless. With the growing demand for tankless water heaters, we are picky in choosing the right unit for our installation service. One of the products that we highly recommend is the Rinnai tankless water heater.

Why Choose Rinnai Tankless Water Heater?

In your everyday domestic activities, there will be many instances in which you need hot water to get something done. You may need hot water every time you wash clothes, shower, bathing, doing dishes, and many others. Hot water can be highly on-demand in your home,  and you need a heavy-duty water heater. Rinnai tankless water heater has all the elements that a heavy-duty unit must have – available hot water on demand, durable, and energy-efficient.

The Pros and Cons of  Rinnai Tankless Water Heater

While we highly recommend Rinnai tankless water heater, there is no perfect product. Though we receive generally good points from this product, there are pros and cons too.

Pros:

Energy Saving
Rinnai tankless water heater only operates during the time you need it. That means less energy consumption. The traditional water heater, however, heats the water to a certain degree and stores the water in there (whether you need it or not). It will consume more energy to maintain the temperature throughout the day – which will translate to high energy bills. With a tankless water heater, you will save up to 50% of energy consumption.
Hot Water On Demand
It will take you several minutes to get hot water from a regular tank heater. But with a Rinnai tankless unit, hot water is available in seconds. The perk of having a tankless system is it provides a constant flow of hot water for as long as your household needs it.
Space-Saving
A tankless water heater is ideal for a home that wants enough space for other things. Rinnai tankless units don’t have large holding tanks so they can fit in any small spaces.
It Can Last Longer
Compared to a regular tank heater that can last for 10 years, Rinnai tankless units have a longer lifespan of about 20 years! That is how durable it is.

Cons:

Higher Purchase Cost
Rinnai tankless water heaters are costly to purchase and install compared to conventional heaters. Though the upfront cost is larger, it will save you money on energy bills throughout the year.
Large Units For Big Families
A small unit may not be able to keep up the demand of a household all at once. If you have a big family which uses the unit at the same time, you will need a large Rinnai tankless unit which costs more.

Go Tankless!

It is a wise investment to have a Rinnai tankless unit at home. If you want to go tankless or get your current unit serviced, we are always available for you! Talk to us today to find out more.  
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HVAC System

HVAC Service by Leone Plumbing and Heating

HVAC Service by Leone Plumbing and Heating

  You might have encountered the term HVAC many times and it may sound familiar to you. Most likely, the only thing that you know about the HVAC system is it provides cooling and heating on a home or building. What if there is more to it than that? In this article, take a moment to learn more about your HVAC system other than the cooling and heating it provides.

HVAC System: What is it and what does it stand for?

Basically, HVAC stands for “heating, ventilation, air condition.” HVAC is a generic term that refers to the technology used for moving air between the outside and inside your residence or place of work. The HVAC system keeps the summer-time cool and fresh and your winter-time warm. Aside from the comfort, it brings during summer and winter, the system is also responsible for filtering the air and minimize indoor humidity.

How does an HVAC System Work?

The HVAC system has four main elements that work together.

  1. The Furnace. It is a heating unit used to heat an entire building. Furnaces primarily run on oil or natural gas, and even electricity. It heats the air to the right temperature through a heat exchanger. This unit is usually installed indoor.
  2. The Thermostat. It is a device that controls the indoor temperature. This device also automatically adjusts your heating or cooling system to maintain the desired level. The thermostat is considered the “brain” of the HVAC system.
  3. Airconditioning (AC) Unit. The unit has a refrigerant that cools the air and it is powered by electricity. The AC unit has a mechanism to send out hot air that comes through it, while cool air is blown in. It is installed usually outside of the premises.
  4. Ductwork. This is a conduit or passages used in the HVAC system to deliver hot and cool air in a home or building. It also delivers ventilation air as part of the air supply. It ensures acceptable indoor air quality and thermal comfort at the same time. You can find it behind walls or above the ceiling.

HVAC Basics

The HVAC system is more than just heating and cooling your home or workplace. It delivers comfort for everyone by improving indoor air quality. The system uses mechanical ventilation to move air in and out. The work begins in the air handling unit once the air is brought in. The air then goes through the filters removing dust, dirt, and other particles. After this process, the air is either sent to be heated or cooled with excess humidity removed. Once the air achieves a comfortable temperature, it is directed clean and fresh into your home or workplace.

HVAC Service and Maintenance

Give your HVAC system the regular maintenance it deserves. Preventive care will extend the life of your HVAC unit and reduce expensive untimely repairs. Please feel free to contact us anytime for your urgent HVAC concerns.         | Photo Credits: Pixabay, Canva, Leone Photo Gallery
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Is My Furnace Big Enough for My Rochester, NY Home?

Leone Plumbing & Heating
Rochester NY Furnace Specialists

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!
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HVAC Rochester NY: How to Select the Right Company

HVAC Rochester NY

HVAC Rochester NYHVAC 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.
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7 Household Tips from Leone Plumbing & Heating in Rochester NY

plumbers Rochester NY

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.
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