Max Sr. & Paul Schoenwalder Plumbing Heating Air Conditioning -

Do You Need Professional Drain Cleaning?

January 27th, 2020

The holidays may be over but they could still have their lingering effects, and no, we don’t mean on your credit card bill.

We’re talking about your plumbing! If you hosted any big meals this past holiday season, you likely made a lot of use of your kitchen sink and garbage disposal system. As such, you may have a buildup of FOG (fats, oils, and grease) and other food items.

Kitchens aren’t the only victim of the holidays, either, when it comes to your plumbing system. Visiting guests means excessive use of your bathrooms as well, where clogs are just as likely.

But how do you know if you need professional drain cleaning? Read on as we uncover some of the signs.

Noises You Never Want to Hear from Your Furnace

January 13th, 2020

The thing about household noises is sometimes they can be easy to ignore or brushed off. It’s easy to deny that anything is wrong, and often desirable to do so since nobody wants to pay for unnecessary repairs.

However, there are some noises that just shouldn’t be ignored, and often they come from your furnace. Now, not all are serious. For instance, a rattle from your furnace might indicate a loose panel that needs to be tightened. But it may instead suggest you have a cracked heat exchanger, which can lead to a hazardous carbon monoxide leak.

On our team, we understand how important it is to protect yourself and your family. If you hear suspicious noises coming from your heating system, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or schedule service on our website. Read on as we uncover some of the noises you never want to hear coming from your furnace.

Frozen Pipes: What to Do to Prevent and Treat Them

December 30th, 2019

We won’t go as far as saying frozen pipes are inevitable, but if you don’t take the proper steps to prevent against them then they may very well be inevitable. Unfortunately, they can cause quite a bit of damage if they’re not dealt with the right way. This is because as the water in the pipes thaw, a negative pressure buildup occurs, putting pressure on the walls of the pipe and leading to cracks or even burst pipes.

To protect your plumbing from freezing in this way, there are a few steps you can follow. Keep reading to learn more about what you can do to prevent this in the first place, and be sure to contact our team if you do wind up with damaged plumbing.

Is Your Boiler Experiencing Problems?

December 16th, 2019

The only way your boiler can be as efficient as you need it to be is if you properly care for it. This means having it professionally installed, repaired, and expertly maintained by experienced technicians who will help it perform at its best.

Another important factor to remember is that even with quality heating services from a company that has been around for over a century like ours, your boiler or any heating system can experience problems from time to time. Eventually, your boiler will wear down to the point that replacement will be imminent.

“Help! My Heat Pump is Stuck in Cooling Mode”

December 2nd, 2019

Let’s face it, it gets cold around here in the winter! Have you gone to turn on your heat pump for the first time this year only to discover that it seems to be stuck in cooling mode? This can of course be a frustrating issue—after all, you need a reliable heating system!

The first thing you should do if your heat pump seems to be blowing out cold air when it should be sending out heat is to check the thermostat. Do you actually have it set to heat? This might seem apparent, however there is always a chance that a family member switched it back over, preferring a different temperature in the home than you do.

Assuming you checked this and the heat pump is blowing out cold air even when you’ve switched the thermostat to heat, it means your heat pump is stuck in cooling mode. But how does this happen and what can be done?

How to Test Your Sump Pump

November 18th, 2019

Can you believe that in some parts of the country, people have no idea what a sump pump even is? You practically have to know here—if your home is ever in a position that flooding is likely, the sump pump will be what saves your property, and your wallet.

There’s no denying that an expertly installed and well-maintained sump pump is necessary for our homes, and with winter coming, we are approaching the time of the year where they’re often needed. Is your sump pump ready to work if needed?

This Holiday Season, Care for Your Kitchen Plumbing the Right Way

November 4th, 2019

Can you believe that the holiday season is right around the corner? There are so many things for you to start thinking about as November begins—will you be taking any vacations? Did you have your heater maintained yet so it’s ready to get you through the chilly temperatures? Are you hosting Thanksgiving or any other holiday parties this year?

This last one is what we’re going to talk about today. Hosting holiday parties can be a whole lot of fun, but they can also be a whole lot of trouble if you aren’t properly prepared. Part of that preparation is ensuring you avoid certain plumbing problems that are pretty common this time of the year. Keep reading to learn more.

How Humidifiers Help During the Winter

October 21st, 2019

Winters here in New Jersey can get quite chilly, and also quite dry.

When you think of “humidity” you probably think of hot summers made even hotter by the excess moisture in the air. However, humidity is actually something we want more of when winter hits. Balancing the humidity levels in your home can help you in a number of ways.

You know the dry hair, skin, nails, and frequent colds you contend with each winter? This can be alleviated with one simple purchase. We’re talking about professionally installed humidifiers in Union, NJ. If you’re thinking about such a purchase or want to learn more, read on!

The Importance of Servicing Boilers Before You Need To

October 7th, 2019

“What do you mean by that?” you might ask.

Well, what we mean is, rather than waiting for a sudden need for boiler service in Union, NJ, such as an emergency repair, you should be proactive and pre-emptive, and schedule boiler maintenance soon.

“Wait, does my boiler really need to be maintained?”

It may seem like a simple enough system—way less complex than a furnace, for example. Boilers are often found in homes that don’t have a network of ducts, since they operate by circulating hot water through pipes to terminal points such as radiators and baseboard heaters, where the heat then radiates into the rooms of your home. And yes, boilers have fewer moving parts than furnaces or heat pumps so they wear down slower and will require fewer repairs over their extended lifespan.

But that doesn’t mean they won’t ever wear down or need a repair!

Is It Already Time for Furnace Maintenance?

September 23rd, 2019

It’s officially fall, and homeowners throughout our area are looking forward to cooler temperatures and fun fall activities. But have you thought about the state of your furnace?

This is the time of year to plan for heating maintenance, if you haven’t already made an appointment or aren’t already part of our maintenance service agreement. Heating maintenance is best performed during the fall, before you need your system the most—though it’s worth noting that it’s more important you have this service done consistently each year (or twice a year if you have a heat pump) than it is the time of year you have it done.

Keep reading as we look into one of the most common types of home heating systems—the furnace—and explain just why scheduling routine preventive maintenance is so important.