Should I Choose a Window Air Conditioner or a Conventional Unit?

Are you thinking about installing a new air conditioner but you’re not sure if it’s worth the process of putting in a whole central A/C system with ductwork and everything? At Turner’s Service Co, we get a lot of questions from people about what would be best for them. We always recommend that they base their decision off answers to a couple of questions.

Can Your Building Support Central A/C Components?

If your building was built without ductwork or other components required by a central air conditioning system, you’ll need to get it evaluated to determine whether or not it could support these. If it cannot, then we can help you determine the best A/C solution for you. That may be a window unit air conditioner or it may be another type.

If the building can support central A/C, we can install it for you as soon as possible!

How Often Do You Use Your A/C?

If you don’t like air conditioning or you wouldn’t use it very often, a window unit or a portable air conditioner might be the best option. That way, you don’t have to pay to install a whole system for just a couple of weeks of use every year.

If you would like to have air conditioning for most of the summer, though, then central A/C or one of our other air conditioning solutions might be a better choice for you.

Call us at Turner’s Service Co today to get the best air conditioner for your home.

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Common Water Heater Problems

Running out of hot water is no fun! Sometimes you’re even right in the middle of a shower, and all of a sudden all of the water is cold! Here are some resources, just in case that ever happens to you. 

No Hot Water

When there’s no hot water, it means that your hot water heater has stopped functioning entirely. This can happen quickly or it can fade out over time, but no matter how it happens, there are several things that could go wrong. 

First, check the voltage coming into your hot water heating system. If there’s no voltage at all, you may have a bad circuit breaker or a bad switch. 

Breakers can suffer damage over time, or the breaker that you have for your hot water heater might be too small. If it can’t handle enough amps to keep your water heater running, it will flip and your hot water will disappear. That answer to both of these is simple: replace the breaker with one that works and that can handle the required amperage. 

Hot water heaters also fail when there are grounding problems. Something may have accidently grounded or shorted a wired connection in your heater, or your thermostat or heating element could have grounded out. If you can’t find any accidental groundings, you may want to try to get these two parts replaced.

You could also have a problem with the reset button on your hot water heater. If it is tripped, it  makes a definite click when you push it. You may have just had a power surge, in which case resetting it will start your heater again. However, continued problems may mean that you have a faulty thermostat. If it seems to reset constantly, try replacing this piece of the system. 

Wire shorts and water leaks are also common causes of hot water heater failure. If you can replace the damaged wires or stop the leak, you may be able to repair your system. Otherwise, you may need to purchase a new water heater. 

Lukewarm Water

Sometimes, your hot water won’t disappear altogether, but you will notice that it doesn’t get as hot as it used it. Often, this means that the lower heating element in your hot water heater isn’t working. 

To test this, first turn off all electricity to your heater. Remove all access covers. There are usually two, one for the upper part and one for the lower. Use a voltage meter to be absolutely sure that the power is off.

Check the elements by simply touching the tank near where they are located. For both the upper and lower heating elements, the tank should be hot to the touch, especially right next to the element. If one tank is significantly cooler than the other, then you know which heating element is not working. 

If you have a plumbing professional working on your hot water heater, they will also test each element with an electric meter. This will determine whether the element has electrical continuity and whether it is drawing the right amperage and voltage. 

You may need to replace a heating element even if you only have water temperature problems when the weather is cold. Colder outdoor temperatures mean that the water coming into your home is colder, so your hot water heater has to work harder to keep it at the temperatures you desire. If one element isn’t working well, the heater may not be able to keep up during times when you are using a lot of hot water, simply because of the amount that the temperature has to rise to warm the water. 

Tankless Vs. Tank Water Heaters

What most of us think of as a water heater – the large, cylindrical object that you were told not to touch as a child – is a tank water heater. The cylinder is the tank, and it stores and heats water for your home. 

Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, do not store water. They are on “on demand” system, only heating water when it is needed. They are much more compact, since they don’t have to store water, and usually take up only a few square feet of space on a wall somewhere. 

It can be hard to believe, but tankless water heaters are actually more efficient than traditional water heaters with tanks. They use less energy, because there is less energy lost by storing and reheating the water in the tank. While they are more expensive, most people find that they can easily recoup that extra cost in energy savings. 

Tankless water heaters also have long lifespans. While they are a newer technology, many are well made and, when installed and maintained properly, can provide you with hot water for a very long time. 

If you need a new water heater, the type you buy is completely up to you. At Turner’s Service Co, we would be happy to come talk to you about what might work best for your home. Call us and we will help you make your decision and give you a free estimate on your water heater repair or replacement.

Is My Water Heater Going Bad?

Sometimes, water heaters fail quickly. Other times, though, there will be signs that your water heater is about to give out. If you take note of these, you can avoid inconvenient and annoying problems with your hot water. 

• Your water heater makes noise. If you hear banging noises or even rumbles coming from your water heater, it probably has sediment buildup inside. By the time that starts causing noise, your heater is likely damaged. 
• You see water surrounding your hot water heater. This usually indicates a leak or a crack in the tank. Over time, this leak will expand and your water heater will no longer hold water. 
• There is rust in your water. This usually means that one of the metal parts in the tank has been exposed to water and is oxidizing. If these parts are getting wet, something is not working right in your heater.

Not sure if your water heater is working properly. We’d be happy to take a look. If you see these signs or symptoms, call Turner’s Service Co and we will come out and see what’s going wrong. 

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Why is My A/C Blowing Hot Air?

Oh no! It’s a terrible feeling when you turn on your air conditioner only to find that the air coming out of your vents is hot instead of cold. It’s especially bad when you’re in the middle of a heatwave or a hot summer day and you just want to get cool.

There are a few things you can look at before you call for A/C repair. If you don’t want to do these yourself, call us at Turner’s Service Co and one of our air conditioning repair techs will be out soon! Before long, you’ll have the cool air you need once again. 

Call Now!

Check the Circuit Breaker

Did your circuit breaker flip without you knowing it? If something overwhelmed the circuit or the breaker needs replacing, this can happen a lot. In fact, it likely happens more often than you think! We get a lot of calls where the breaker is the problem instead of the A/C, so it’s worth checking yours before you get professional A/C repair!

Look at Your Thermostat Settings

Did someone accidentally bump up the temperature setting on your thermostat or, even worse, turn it to “Heat” instead of “Cool”? Make sure your settings are just where you want them before you panic about your air conditioner. 

If you have a programmable thermostat, make sure each setting is right. If you exchanged an “AM” for a “PM” that could explain your issues. If you can change your thermostat settings via your phone, make sure someone didn’t do just that as a joke or because they didn’t know what they were doing. If you’ve let a kid play with your phone recently, they could have wreaked havoc on your thermostat programming!

Change the Filter

All of the air that your system uses has to come through the filter. If the filter is clogged, the system won’t get the air that it needs and the results may feel like warm air coming out of your vents. Most filters need changing somewhere between once a month and once a quarter, depending on the particulars of your system and how often you use it. If you let it go too long, your A/C will struggle. 

Clean Your A/C

Dust and debris can gather on the evaporator coils in your outdoor A/C unit. Pull off the cover and clean these gently. Since these do the actual work of cooling air for your home, take time to get them good and clean, then run your system again. This small task can significantly improve your A/C’s functioning and its ability to effectively cool your home. Be sure to clean them gently so you don’t damage the unit. 

If these don’t work, call us for air conditioning repair right away. If yours can be fixed, we’ll get it done fast. If it can’t, we’ll have your A/C installation completed before you know it. Get cool at home again with Turner’s Service Co!

Book An Appointment Now!

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Steps to Save Your Home in a Plumbing Emergency

Water can damage your home and it can do it fast! If you have a pipe that bursts or another plumbing emergency, you can end up replacing floors, walls, furniture, clothing, and more. However, there are a few things you can do to save your home. Take action at the first sign of an emergency and you can save yourself thousands of dollars worth of damage. 

Call Now!

Turn Off the Water Supply

If your emergency is in a sink or a toilet where there’s a knob to shut off the water just to that area, turn it off as fast as you can. If your leak is somewhere else or you can’t find the knob, get to your main shut-off valve as soon as possible. This can be a round knob or a lever and is usually located close to the rest of your utilities. If you have a basement utility room, look there first. If you can’t find it, look through the rest of your basement. It may also be in your garage or even outside your house, especially in older homes. 

If you are reading this in the middle of your plumbing emergency, stop now to turn off your water supply. Then come back for more instructions. If you aren’t having a plumbing emergency but you’re not sure where your main water supply valve is, go find it when you’ve finished reading. You’ll be glad you did if you ever have water spraying everywhere!

Stop Using Water

Once your water supply is turned off, water won’t be flowing into your house anymore. Stop using water entirely. This means no getting drinks from the fridge, no showers, no dishwashing or toilet flushing, NOTHING. Trying to use water when the main valve has been turned off can damage your home and your pipes even further. It can also harm appliances, like your dishwasher or washing machine. Instead, ask your neighbor if you can borrow their bathroom until help arrives or take your clothes to a laundromat for a few days. 

Call Turner’s Service Co

Once your water is off, give us a call. We will come to your house as soon as possible, address your plumbing emergency, and get everything fixed so you can turn your water back on and live life as usual. We promise that we will get there fast, so you won’t have to be without water for very long. We’ll also work as fast as we can without compromising the quality of our craftsmanship, so you can be sure your pipes are repaired well. Get back to normal quickly with Turner’s Service Co!

Call us for help with any plumbing emergency in Manassas today! Our plumbers are standing by to help you out. 

Book An Appointment Now!

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Can I Fix My HVAC System Myself?

We get a surprising number of calls from people who tried to fix their HVAC systems on their own, only to find out that they can’t do it or to realize that they only made the situation worse. While there are a few maintenance things that you can do for your HVAC system, most repairs and replacements require the services of an A/C expert. 

HVAC Maintenance You Can Do

You can start by changing your filters on the right schedule for your HVAC units. Our experts can tell you how often they think you need to do this, or you can test your fitler by holding it up to the light. If you can’t see daylight through it, it’s time to change it. 

You can also keep the areas around your outdoor HVAC unit clear and remove dust and debris from your vents. This helps your HVAC unit work without any extra stress and strain. 

Reasons to Call an HVAC Professional

If you need HVAC help beyond these few things, it’s time to call in a professional. Call a pro because:

• HVAC work often involves your gas and/or electric systems. These are systems that you shouldn’t mess with unless you have training or you know what you’re doing. Otherwise, you could injure yourself or put your family in danger. You could also create a much larger problem than the one you have right now. 
• You want expertise on your side. HVAC problems can be tricky to diagnose accurately and find the right solution to solve. Unless you’ve been solving HVAC problems for years like we have, you may not find the right solution the first time. DIY HVAC repairs can be more expensive than calling someone when you have to fix several things before you find out what is causing the problems. 
• You want your repairs completed fast. DIY HVAC repairs often take a lot of your time, even if you do manage to find the right solution the first time. If you want your HVAC system running again soon, contact an HVAC professional to get the job done as soon as possible and get comfortable again ASAP.

When you need any HVAC services in Manassas, contact us at Turner’s Service Co. We’ll work with you to make sure you get the heating or cooling power you need ASAP. Reach out today to get comfortable soon. 

Book An Appointment Now!

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INFOGRAPHIC: Is Your Home Ready for Winter?

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Inspect Insulation:

Quality insulation will keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Even small upgrades will save you money this season. 

• Examine exposed ducts in the attic, basement, and crawlspaces, and plug up any leaks.
• Insulate your pipes. Exposed pipes are prone to freezing.

Clean Your Ducts: 

Dust buildup in your ducts will negatively affect the energy usage of your home. 

• Clean your ducts to reduce dust, allergens, mold and mildew in the home. 
• Clean or replace the air filter in your furnace for maximum efficiency and improved air quality.

Get an Energy Audit An energy audit is the best way to identify the types of improvements that your home needs. An audit will assess things like door seals, insulation, and furnace efficiency. 

Tune-up Equipment:

Heating systems require tune-ups just like any other type of equipment. Yearly maintenance on your system can guarantee efficiency and reliability. 

• Check PVC vent pipes for any obstructions.
• Test your sump pump. 
• Flush your hot water tank to remove sediment. 

So is your home ready for winter? If you completed everything on this list, then you should be all set for a safe winter without surprises! If you still need help completing any of these tasks, go ahead and call Turner’s Service Co, we will come to you and get your home ready for winter!

Book An Appointment Now!

Call Now!

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