Max Sr & Paul Schoenwalder Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, A Corp. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Chatham’

Why You Should Choose a Licensed and Insured Plumber (Over a Handyman)

Monday, January 11th, 2021

plumber-using-wrench-to-tighten-pipeWe’ve been in the home services industry for quite awhile now—over a century, actually! This means that we’ve seen what can happen when you have the wrong team or handyman looking over your plumbing system. Plumbing services are a tough job. Even something seemingly easy, such as unclogging a drain, can turn into even a bigger problem if not done correctly.

Still though, we understand the urge to hire a general “handyman” in order to save money.

Our expert plumbers are here to stress how important it is that you hire a licensed and insured plumber, instead. Sure, you might save some money upfront by trusting an amateur. In the end though, hiring the wrong team for the work can cost you far more than it’s worth.  Read on to learn why it’s so important to trust plumbing jobs to the pros.

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“Do I Need to Worry about Frozen Pipes This Winter?”

Monday, September 21st, 2020

brown-pipe-with-icicles-drippingIf you’ve lived in the area for even just a year, then you know how chilly our winters get. And sure, we’re not quite there yet, but now is the time to start thinking about it so you can prepare. One way to prepare that we share often is to invest in maintenance for your heating system. This ensures you have trouble-free heating throughout our colder months, and your heater lasts longer too.

But your HVAC system isn’t the only thing that needs attention–so too does your plumbing system! Just a couple consecutive days of below-freezing weather can result in frozen pipes, which is a bigger deal than many homeowners realize. So yes, it is something you should worry about. But, it’s not something you can’t do anything about! Read on to learn more.

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3 Signs of an AC in Disrepair

Monday, August 10th, 2020

two-techs-with-tool-bag-by-outdoor-ac-unitDid you know that this is the time of year you’re most likely to experience an AC repair issue? Now, no air conditioner will last forever, but yours should be able to make it through this summer–especially if it’s under 10 years of age and it’s been routinely maintained.

What’s that? You haven’t scheduled maintenance yet?

That’s okay! It’s more important that you’re consistent with scheduling tune-ups each year than it is what time of the year you have it done. But regardless of whether you had maintenance done yet or not, it’s important to know the signs of an air conditioner in disrepair. Otherwise, cooling system problems can go unaddressed until they lead to much bigger emergencies, like a total breakdown.

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Heater Troubles: When to Repair Vs. When to Replace

Monday, April 6th, 2020

gas-jets-of-furnaceAre you worried about your heater breaking down at any given moment? If you aren’t aware of the signs that your furnace or heat pump system may need a repair, you probably are right to be concerned. It’s never fun to need heating repair, but it’s even worse when your heater just stops working altogether when you need it the most.

Sure, it may be spring and warmer temperatures are on their way, but for now, you still need your heater, which means you need it to function! So, how can you tell if yours needs repair? And at what point should you consider replacing the system altogether?

Read on as we uncover some insights into this.

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The Problem with a Cracked Heat Exchanger

Monday, February 10th, 2020

gas-jets-of-furnaceDo you use a gas-powered furnace? If you do, you’re certainly not alone—many homeowners in our area use these powerful and efficient heating systems to keep warm all winter long. But if you are one of these homeowners, there is one potential safety risk you should be aware of—a cracked heat exchanger.

Like any other powerful appliance or equipment that creates combustion gases, an ill-maintained furnace could potentially create health and safety hazards. This is true whether you skip maintenance or delay a necessary repair, especially if that repair is to a cracked heat exchanger! This isn’t a problem that typically occurs in newer heating systems, but rather those that are aging—around 10-15 years old.

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Do You Need Professional Drain Cleaning?

Monday, January 27th, 2020

plumber-cleaning-drain-with-drain-snakeThe 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.

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What to Do When You Have a Plumbing Emergency

Monday, July 1st, 2019

worried-homeowner-mopping-up-water-from-floorWe’re sure you’d agree that no plumbing problem happens at a convenient time—so to you, any plumbing problem may seem like an emergency. So, you want to work with a plumber that offers emergency services!

Fortunately, you can call us when you do have an emergency—we’re here for your plumbing needs whenever you need them. Sure there are some instances in which your plumbing problem isn’t actually an emergency, but for times of crisis, we’re here.

But what do you do while you wait for your plumber to get to your home? Surely you shouldn’t just sit there and watch water cascade through your kitchen or seep through your carpet in the case of a slab leak. Read on for what you should do when you’re facing a plumbing emergency.

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Common Plumbing Mistakes: Are You Wasting Water?

Monday, June 3rd, 2019

white-pipe-with-blue-cloth-tied-around-leakWasted water—it’s not something many homeowners give a lot of thought to. But what if we told you that you may be spending considerably more than you should have to on your utility bills because of that wasted water? Then would you want to change your water use habits?

The good news is, you probably don’t need to change your day-to-day habits much to make a significant difference. The even better news is that we have some solutions available for you that are guaranteed to help in this water-saving and subsequently money-saving endeavor.

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The Time to Prep Your AC for Warmer Temps Is Now

Monday, May 20th, 2019

technician-working-on-outdoor-ac-unitWe’re talking about air conditioning maintenance, here. While it’s never “too late” for this service—in the absence of a complete system breakdown, that is—now is generally the best time to have it done.

And we get it, when an HVAC professional recommends a service that you don’t see an immediate need for, it can be easy to dismiss, unless something is seriously wrong with your cooling system (like a loss of cooling power).

Just like maintenance for your car, however, routine AC maintenance is essential to the performance of your cooling system as well as repair prevention. Our team is a trusted resource, and because of that, we feel it’s our duty to share with you why routine maintenance is so vital.

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Is Your Sump Pump in Good Working Order?

Monday, December 17th, 2018

A sump pump installed in a basement of a home with a water powered backup system.Or rather, is it ready for winter? Sump pumps aren’t something that other parts of the country need—they don’t have the potential for flooding due to heavy rains and snowmelt like we do. Your sump pump is vital to your home during this time of the year—being able to pump water out of your basement or crawlspace as needed.

First off, we have to say that if you do need any service work done on your sump pump, it’s important to trust the work to a professional plumber in Chatham. Attempting the job on your own could do more harm than good, and leave you with an ineffective sump pump. However, there are some steps to take to ensure your sump pump is in good working order for the change in seasons.

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