Max Sr. & Paul Schoenwalder Plumbing Heating Air Conditioning -

“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.

Your 2019 Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite

September 11th, 2019

Max Sr & Paul Schoenwalder Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, A Corp. has been named a Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite for 2019!

Nextdoor enables those in your community to easily create private online groups for their neighborhoods in order to facilitate conversation surrounding local businesses, products, and services.

Neighborhood favorite winners are chosen by those communities through a voting process. That means we couldn’t have gotten here without you—our valued customers! Thank you and please join us in thanking our team for providing consistent and reliable service throughout the Union, NJ area and surrounding areas for over 100 years.

Contact Max Sr & Paul Schoenwalder Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, A Corp. for great HVAC service today!

Tips for Shutting Down Your AC for Winter

September 9th, 2019

Chances are, you’re still going to need your air conditioner to run for a little bit longer, even though the official end of summer is just a couple weeks away. In fact, even fall can introduce some surprise heat waves. Eventually, you’ll look at the upcoming weather forecast, see temperatures dropping, and know that winter is coming.

At this point, it’s essential that you have your heating system tuned-up and inspected to prevent problems with it. You can arrange for this with our team as soon as you want to! We provide comprehensive and thorough maintenance for all types of heating systems. But in addition to heating maintenance, there’s something else you’ll need to do with your HVAC systems this time of the year.

You’ll want to winterize your air conditioner! That’s right, we don’t recommend simply turning off the air conditioner and leaving it. It can suffer damage over the winter if this occurs, and that damage can jeopardize its functionality when you need it again next year. So, how exactly do you prep your AC for the off-season?

Know the Signs of a Struggling Cooling System

August 26th, 2019

Summer is progressing right along, and you’ve likely been using your air conditioner on a daily basis as a result. The last thing you need, then, is a sudden and unexpected breakdown and repair call when temperatures are at their highest.

The good news here is that most cooling system repair needs give out signs and symptoms well before the air conditioner actually breaks down. While you shouldn’t attempt to formally diagnose or even repair a faulty air conditioner yourself since they include potentially harmful components such as refrigerant—which requires formal training and licensing to safely handle—you can still spot these signs that you’re in need of AC repairs. So, what are the most common indicators?

How to Choose an Air Conditioning Repair Professional

August 12th, 2019

You can probably find a number of people who would be willing to do some work on your air conditioner for cheap. The problem is, many of these “handymen” or enthusiastic “do-it-yourself” folks don’t actually have any experience or training in the HVAC industry, and may even be hoping to learn a thing or to by working on your air conditioner—do you want your cooling system to be used as a guinea pig?

Do you want your wallet to suffer the consequences?

We’re guessing not—we advise that you not put the wellbeing of your HVAC system at risk—things like faulty installation and incomplete maintenance can certainly be detrimental to the functionality of your system, while a poor repair job can leave you without a functioning air conditioner at all!

So, how do you do your due diligence when choosing an air conditioner repair professional? We’ve shared some tips for what you should look for, below.