Tag: Gettysburg

Frederick, MD Air Conditioning Why Install a New Air Conditioning System

Posted on by Larry & Sons

Is your AC old? Does it require frequent repairs? Are you tired of high energy bills and think you can do better? There are numerous systems on the market today if you’re considering installing a new air conditioning system in your home, and it can be difficult to know which ones are right for you. Call Larry & Sons today for excellent consultation and AC installation services in Frederick, MD.

  • Old age and frequent repairs: If your AC is old, then you should at least be considering the possibility of replacement. After all, you don’t necessarily want to wait until it has completely broken down to make your decision. But if it’s old and also requires frequent repairs, you should probably consider replacing it with a new model, whose performance would give you the comfort and confidence you deserve this cooling season.
  • Energy efficiency: Another consideration relates to energy efficiency. This is the ratio between the electrical energy input and the total cooling output. You need to make sure that the operation of your AC is efficient or else you will simply be paying too much to keep your home cool. The energy efficiency of today’s central air, ductless and heat pumps are considerably higher than those systems of even just 10 years ago.
  • Ducts, ductless, or heat pumps? Which brings us to the next question: what type of system do you want? If you already have ducts installed in your home, then you may want to consider a forced air distribution system like central air. But if you’re looking for something that doesn’t use ducts, then a ductless mini split is a great way to improve your energy efficiency.

Call Larry & Sons today for more information and for Frederick, MD air conditioning services. 

Frederick Air Quality Tip: How to Reduce Dust in Your Home

Posted on by Larry & Sons

Dust can be an irritant for some people who suffer from allergies and asthma. It can also carry harmful bacteria and viruses. We put together a quick list of some strategies that can help you control the dust levels in your home.  Some of these are pretty easy and others require the services of a Frederick air quality professional.

Vacuum Thoroughly

Vacuuming your house regularly and thoroughly is a terrific way to get rid of dust. Dust naturally settles on anything that it touches and your floor is no exception. If you can, use a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter. This will make sure that more contaminants and dust are trapped in your vacuum.

Manage Your Textiles

A big part of your dust is the result of the natural breakdown of the clothing, bedding, furniture and drapes. All of these textiles break apart and release tiny shreds of material into the air. Managing these items is a great way to reduce dust. You should wash your bedding once a week. The collect a lot of dust over time and washing them will remove that.  Also, using leather furniture as opposed to couches and chairs covered with fabric will also reduce the amount of dust created in your home. Another good idea is to beat or vacuum your cushions and rugs once a month.

Upgrade Your Home’s Air Filtration System

There are a number of great products on the market that are specifically designed to improve that air quality in your home. If you have a duct system in your home then your air handler most likely has an air filter in it already. However, this filter is not typically designed to improve air quality. It’s usually there to keep large pieces of dust or dirt from building up on the moving parts in the handler. Installing a separate air filtration system can potentially decrease the amount of dust and allergens that are in your home. These systems use a series of high quality filters and ultra-violet light to trap dust, pollen and pet dander and also kill bacteria, viruses, and mold spores.

If you have any questions or concerns about the air quality in your home in Frederick, call the specialists at Larry & Sons. Our technicians have more than three decades of experience working with all kinds of  indoor air quality issues and can answer any questions you might have.

Gettysburg Plumber’s Guide: Environmental Benefits of Trenchless Repair

Posted on by Larry & Sons

Pipe replacement is a messy business. For decades, the only real way to do it was to rumble in with a big machine (or men with plenty of shovels) and dig up your Gettysburg property to access the leaking, cracked pipe. However, with modern technology, trenchless pipe repair and replacement is now possible and while the biggest benefits are to your wallet and your lawn, you might also be interested to know how environmentally friendly the process is.

Less Resources Needed

Have you ever seen someone digging up a pipeline? The equipment needed is impressive. Backhoes, trucks and multiple workers to get the old pipe out of the ground and a new one in. And once the process is completed, the concrete and lawn destroyed by the digging need to be replaced. It’s a very invasive procedure.

With trenchless technology, most of those resources are not needed. This means less fuel used to power large machines, less destruction of your property and no impact on the roadway or sidewalks that would require paving once completed.

Existing Pipe Pathways

Have you ever considered the impact a pipe line being laid has on the ecosystem beneath your property? Digging up all that space and displacing plants, animals and insects alike can have a tremendously negative impact on the micro-ecology on your property.

Trenchless replacement allows a plumber to use the existing pipe pathway beneath your property, which avoids displacing anything with fresh digging. It also doesn’t impact the plants or trees growing on your property. You gain a new pipe line without any damage to the carefully manicured landscaping you’ve done on your property.

Minimal Subsoil Impact

Even when laying new pipes, trenchless technology only affects the space underground where the pipe will be laid. This tears up far less of the subsoil which has a less extensive environmental impact on the water shed around your home.

There really is no reason to use a traditional exhume and pull pipe replacement method when trenchless technology makes it possible to just as easily replace the pipes for the same or less money and minimal environmental impact. Depending on your circumstances and the scope of the work that needs to be done, your pipe repair or replacement may be significantly better served with trenchless technologies.

If you have any questions about trenchless or no-dig technologies, give Larry & Sons Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning a call today!

Shippensburg Indoor Air Quality Guide: How Electronic Air Filter Works

Posted on by Larry & Sons

For a long time, the most frequently used kind of air filter in Shippensburg has been the mechanical variety. This is the kind you probably think of when you hear the terms air filter, air cleaner or air purifier. They use pleated fibrous filters in-line with an air handler to trap particles in the air before circulating it back out into the home.

Many models of these work very well and have for many years. They have the added benefit of being flexible because you can put in whatever filter you need depending on what size particles you need to trap.

However, these traditional devices are not the only option. A second kind of air filter exists for trapping particles in the air– one that does not use a fibrous filter that physically snags them out of the air on the way through.

These electrostatic — or electronic — air filters work in a different way to produce a similar result. The filtering component is still a fibrous sheet, but the difference is that the fibers are made of plastic, which becomes charged when air passes through it and causes friction.

(Think something like when you rub a balloon and stick it to the wall.)

These friction-charged fibers carry an electronic charge, which attracts the ions in the air around it. These ions — and the particles that they are a part of — get trapped in the fibers and stay out of your air supply.

Electronic air filters are generally very good at trapping particles that are 1 micron in size or higher, putting them about on par with a mechanical air filter that carries a MERV rating of 12. The electrostatic method works well for many common household air pollutants, such as dust, pollen, mold and pet dander.

As with many ventilation-related decisions, the choice of what kind of air filter is right for you depends on your needs and those of your family. If you are having trouble deciding, then a consultation with Shippensburg plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractor Larry & Sons is  can be a good way to reach a decision.