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Is It Time for an Air Conditioning Replacement?

Posted on July 10, 2015May 5, 2023 by Larry & Sons

You rely on your air conditioner to take care of you and your loved ones when the temperatures are just too much to bear by providing you with cool air when you need it most. Summers are especially toasty, and it’s important that you keep cool and comfortable all the time.

But after many years of working tirelessly to help you maintain a comfortable temperature, your air conditioner is exhausted. It’s possible that it may just need some serious TLC, but there’s also a good chance that you’re in need of an air conditioning replacement.

3 Signs and Symptoms That You Need an Air Conditioning Replacement

1. Age of Your Air Conditioner

Nothing lasts forever, not even an plumbing or air conditioning. If you’re lucky, though, you’ll only have to replace your air conditioner a few times in your life. If your air conditioner or heat pump is older than 10 years, put some serious consideration into having it replaced. Call Larry & Sons today for the most energy-efficient air conditioning replacement options available to you.

It’s been a good run so far, but using an old air conditioner could be costing you more than you think. Replace your old, inefficient air conditioner with a new, energy efficient unit and save up to 20 percent on your cooling costs! Replacing your air conditioner might seem like a daunting and expensive venture, but you’ll notice a decrease in costs and an increase in how comfortable you are.

2. Frequent A/C Repairs

If you’re having to call a technician out frequently for air conditioner repair in Frederick MD, you’ll want to look at the benefits of having it replaced. Don’t take this the wrong way, we love repeat customers, but we care more about saving you money and helping you maintain a comfortable home – in the most efficient way possible.

We hate to see customers constantly drop their hard earned dollars on air conditioning repairs. You’ll find that replacing your current air conditioner with a new Energy Star model will diminish repairs and lower your utility costs!

While an air conditioning replacement will more money upfront, you’ll soon discover that the money you save on frequent repairs and utility costs will actually cover the cost of that installation!

3. Uneven Temperatures

It’s all about a healthy, balanced flow. If one room in your home is consistently hotter or colder than other rooms, have a professional come out and inspect the situation. In some cases, a replacement won’t be required, however, it’s important to address the issue promptly to diagnose the underlying cause.

Uneven heating or cooling is usually due to improper equipment operation, duct problems, or poor insulation. Have a professional inspect the situation to determine what steps you should take in moving forward.

Another thing you can do is use EnergyStar’s HOME ENERGY YARDSTICK tool. If your score is below 5, that means that your home is not very energy efficient and you could probably benefit from an air conditioning replacement and/or other home upgrades.

If you have answered YES to any of the above 3 signs and symptoms, now is the best time for Maryland homeowners to replace their HVAC system.

We are currently offering a HUGE Air Conditioning Replacement Promotion:

At Larry & Sons, we’re equipped to handle all your HVAC problems, no matter how simple or complicated. When you need an air conditioning expert, give us a call.

You can reach us online or at 301-733-5428.

You can also keep in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

How to Cut Water Heating Costs

Posted on June 21, 2015December 20, 2023 by Larry & Sons

You may think that the only way to cut hot water usage is to use less hot water, but there are other ways to save money and energy. Although heating and cooling the air in our homes takes up most of our home’s energy costs, second on the list is hot water heating.

Water heating accounts for roughly 20-25% of our home energy consumption. Learn how to reduce your water heating costs with these 3 energy saving tips:

1. Lower Your Water Heater Temperature

Source: The Family Handyman

Most water heaters are automatically set to 140 degrees, which is often way too hot for most uses. Thousands of people go to the hospital every year from water water burns. Not only is it dangerous, but it is also inefficient to have the temperature set that high.

Most plumbers recommend a setting of 120 degrees, but you should experiment with the temperature to get it exactly where you want it; hot enough, but not too hot that it causes burns.

If your water heater does not have temperature numbers on the dial, you may have to do a little testing. First, test the temperature of your hot water by filling a glass with hot water and measuring it with a thermometer. Keep adjusting the dial until you get a glass filled with 120 degree water.

2. Install Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

Source: truevalueprojects

You can always save water and money by simply using less water, especially hot water, but you can continue to spend the same amount of time in the shower and still save on hot water costs by installing low-flow fixtures.

It is cheap to replace your fixtures with low-flow options and can reduce your hot water consumption anywhere from 25-60%!

Don’t worry about performance, because while low-flow fixtures can reduce the rate of flow by 50% or more, you still feel as though you are getting the same amount of water as before.

Contact Larry & Sons for more information on low–flow faucets, fixtures, and toilets.

3. Insulate Your Pipes (Maybe Your Tank Too)

Source: DIY Network

A lot of heat is lost through your pipes. Insulating your hot water pipes save you money on costly heat loss, but while you’re at it, you might as well insulate those cold water pipes to prevent dripping condensation.

Although there are several types of insulation to choose from, we recommend Tubular Sleeve Insulation.

If your pipes require more than one sleeve, make sure that you duct tape the seams that connect the two sleeves.

For more ways to save on your water heating bill, read energy.gov’s 15 Ways to Save On Your Water Heating Bill.

If you need help changing your hot water heater setting, insulating your plumbing, or installing low-flow fixtures in Maryland, give Larry & Sons a call at 301-733-5428.

If you haven’t already, don’t forget to schedule your annual heating tune-up. We offer installation, maintenance and repair of boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, and geothermal systems.

With our maintenance plan, we’ll remind you of your annual tune-up, provide 15 % off all repairs, and much more!

Save Water and Go Green for Spring

Posted on April 5, 2015May 5, 2023 by Larry & Sons

When it comes to implementing eco-friendly solutions in your home, the word intimidating is more than likely coming to mind. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. You may be thinking, “Where do I even start? Isn’t it more expensive?”

But the amazing thing about going green is that the opportunities are endless. Whether it’s using natural air fresheners, homemade soaps and detergents, conserving water, recycling paper and plastic or installing low-flow shower-heads, every little bit makes a difference and you can start right now. Even though it might not seem like you play a significant part in the green movement, you do and your influence does as well.

How to Save Water at Home

Let’s tackle the first question, “Where do I even start?” If you feel overwhelmed, start out small. As they say, “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” so don’t stress out. Begin by adjusting your routines. For starters, unless you’re washing towels or items that need are in need of serious disinfection, switch the washer knob to “cold.” See, this isn’t so bad! We’re just going to continue easing you into this.

What else can you do in your laundry room to save money and conserve water, you ask?

Wait until your hamper is completely full to wash a load. Just because your washing machine has “small” as a load option doesn’t mean you should use it.
Jeans that have been worn a couple of times or a shirt that is worn once don’t need to be thrown in the hamper just yet.
- Sheets, every 5 to 7 days
- Jeans, every 4 to 5 wears
- Bras, every 3 to 4 wears
- Pillows, every 3 to 6 months
Inspect the water fixtures connected to your washing machine for leaks. If there’s moisture, you more than likely have a leak.
When replacing your washing machine, look at Energy Star and other high-efficiency models. Depending on the model you have, you could save up to 20 gallons of water per load!

Let’s shift our attention to the bathroom.

Are you guilty of running the sink while brushing your teeth? We aren’t judging, but if you do turn the water off, you’ll save 4.5 gallons each time! Think about it. If you brush your teeth twice a day, that’s nine gallons a day. Now, who else in your family does the same thing? Make it a goal for everyone in your household to turn the sink off.
Test your toilet for leaks by adding a couple drops of food coloring into the tank. Once you place the drops in the tank, don’t flush. If the dye appears in the bowl, you have a leak. If you don’t know the first thing about fixing a leak, read our blog for How to Fix a Toilet Leak. If you are still having difficulties, give Larry & Sons a call – (301)733-5428. We’ll be more than happy to address the issue!
If you shorten your shower by even just a couple minutes, you’ll conserve up to 150 gallons per month! Now add that to each family member.
Keep a bucket under the faucet and use it to water your plants.
Choose low-flow shower-heads. In just a few short years, the gallons per minute (GPM) standards have changed. A standard shower-head from two years ago would have had a 5-8 GMP while today’s have a 1.5 or below rating.

For ways to make your kitchen Green and energy-efficient, see our blog, Energy-Efficient Kitchen Tips.

See, a majority of the things listed above require simply altering your daily routines. For beginners, we believe this is a good place to start. Water is such a critical component of our society and is necessary for sustainment. Let’s conserve and be smart wherever we can.

For a comprehensive list of things you can do inside and outside your home to save water, money, and the environment, see this list of 100 Ways to Conserve Water.

One of the biggest sources of home water waste is water leaks in and around your home. You can find out how to read your water meter to determine if you have a leak from smarthomewaterguide.org.

Essentially, to save water and money, you should:

switch to energy-saving appliances and plumbing fixtures
repair leaks in and around the home
practice water-saving behaviors

For more ways to save water, give Larry & Sons a call at 301-733-5428.

If you are still having trouble finding or repairing your water leaks, or need help finding/reading your water mete, give Larry & Sons a call at 301-733-5428. We’d be more than happy to help!

Check out our maintenance plan; we provide annual HVAC tune-ups, 15 % off all repairs, and much more!

New Water Heater Regulations for April 2015

Posted on March 28, 2015December 22, 2023 by Larry & Sons

The U.S. Department of Energy’s new water heater regulations go into effect this April 16, 2015!

What this means for you depends, but we do know that after April 16^th, water heater manufacturer prices will increase $100-$200 and the stricter installation requirements will increase your upfront costs even more.

The graph below shows us that the new water heater regulations will mostly affect larger gas and electric models. If you already have a solar, tankless, or small water heater, these new regulations won’t affect you as much. In fact, your water heater might already meet these new standards.

Source: mechanical-hub.com

The larger gas and electric water heaters (greater than 55 gallons) will need to significantly increase their Energy Factor (EF) in order to comply with the U.S. DOE’s Final Rule.

Starting April 16^th, all new water heaters will need to be made more efficient and installed in a specific way. Manufacturer prices could increase upwards of 30%, raising the cost of your new, larger, energy efficient water heater over $200.

New requirements, such as vent piping and possible relocating, will also increase installation and maintenance costs on the new system.

Basically, the new water heater regulations will increase your home energy efficient (remember, water heating accounts for about 20% of your home’s total energy uses), but the larger upfront costs may offset the savings. Basically, do you want $100 now or 27¢ every day for a year?

So you have two choices:

Buy an older, smaller water heater now and save on all the new, higher upfront costs and avoid having to find a new home for your water heater.
Wait until after April 16^th and purchase a larger, more energy efficient water heater and reap the energy efficiency savings over the period of your water heater’s lifespan.

Our recommendation is that if your water heater needs to be replaced soon, save on the upfront costs of the new models and install an older, but still energy efficient model now.

Here are some signs that you water heater needs replacing, courtesy of AngiesList.com:

1. How old is your water heater?

It’s crucial to know the age of your water heater. Find the age by looking for the serial number on the manufacturer’s sticker on the upper portion of the water heater. Generally, most water heaters that are more than 10 years old should be considered for replacement.

2. Rusty water

If you discover rusty water coming from your water heater and it only comes from the hot side piping in your home, this can be a sign that your water heater is rusting away on the inside and it may begin to leak soon.

3. Rumbling and noise

As a water heater ages, sediment will build up on the bottom of the tank. As the sediment is heated and reheated, it eventually will harden. When this happens, you can often hear rumbling or banging sounds coming from the water heater as it is heating up. This is a sign that the water heater is at the end of its useful life.

4. Water around the water heater

If you notice moisture around your water, you may have a small leak or a fracture in the tank. If your water heater is in a location that will not cause damage if there is a leak, you can wait until it develops a leak before replacing it, but that really is not recommended.

If you do install an older, less energy efficient model, there are some things you can do to increase its energy efficiency, such as lowering the temperature and installing and insulation blanket.

Consider Tankless

A tankless water heater only operates when water is turned on so that it’s not using any energy when not in use, but just on standby waiting for you to turn on a faucet. The natural or LP tankless heater has up to a 15 year warranty with enough capacity to supply any hot water demand and any size home with proper professional sizing of the tankless unit.

If your Hagerstown water heater is nearing the end of its life expectancy period, you can consider replacing it with a new one, so that you can stop wasting money on your energy bill every month.

Call Larry & Sons Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning today to learn about our Hagerstown water heater replacement services!

If you are having trouble figuring out how old your water heater is or if it is need of service or replacement, give Larry & Sons a call at 301-733-5428. We’d be more than happy to help!

Check out our maintenance plan; we provide fall and spring HVAC tune-ups, provide 15 % off all repairs, and much more!