It is critical to routinely maintain an air conditioning unit’s filter in order to ensure that it functions efficiently at all times. Clogged and dirty filters block the air conditioner’s air flow, which means that air that bypasses the filter may carry dirt directly into the evaporator coil and impair the coil’s heat-absorbing capacity. This may raise your air conditioner’s energy consumption by as much as 15 percent.

Every home is different, so the life of each air filter will vary. If you are constantly running your air conditioner, are subjecting your home to very dusty conditions, or have furry pets in your home, you may need to change or clean your air filter as frequently as every one to two months. In other homes, you may only need to change your filter every six months.

It may seem strange, but the better your air conditioner filter is, the more often you will have to clean or replace it. This is because if your filter is doing its job well, it will accumulate dust and dirt. A traditional pleated air filter will simply need to be replaced once it accumulates grime. However, other types of filters, such as electronic and HEPA filters, can be cleaned.

The collector cells of an electronic filter must be removed and cleaned using a special HVAC cleanser. HEPA filters, because of their effectiveness, can become clogged very quickly and should be checked monthly. For both electronic and HEPA filters, it is best to enlist the help of a professional service technician to make sure that your filter is being cleaned properly and thoroughly, therefore ensuring the effectiveness of your air conditioning unit. Wm. Henderson Heating and Cooling has been helping people keep their air systems functioning at top efficiency for over 35 years. Call us today to get started.

The most effective way to upgrade your bathroom is to replace the main focal points, beginning with your sink, flooring, toilet, and bathtub and/or shower. Whether you are aiming for a traditional or contemporary design, you can find fixtures to suit your tastes. Since these fixtures are at the center of your bathroom and are highly functional necessities, it pays to invest in designs which you love.

If you want to make your bathroom appear larger, you may wish to consider a sleek porcelain pedestal sink, or a very modern and stylish cut-glass vessel sink. However, if more storage room is your goal, you may wish to consider a sink that includes storage space, such as cabinetry, and built-in shelving. For a luxurious appearance, consider a sink basin and countertop in granite, marble or quartz. If you wish to create an eco-friendly bathroom retreat, choose a sink and floor tiles made of recycled glass, and cabinetry made of sturdy and sustainable bamboo.

Once you have decided on the look and functionality you desire, the hard part is finished! You can rely on the professionals at Wm Henderson to complete your bathroom remodeling project with the greatest attention to detail, from planning to design and installation. We’ll fix the leaks and weak water pressure that you’re tired of living with, and leave you with a gorgeous upgraded bathroom that you’ll love. We’ll even guarantee our work for one full year.

If you’re considering a bathroom upgrade, contact us at Wm Henderson today. We’ll make the process easy, and you’ll be well on your way to a beautiful and functional new bathroom for your home.

Wm. Henderson wants you to be informed about the current refrigerant standards. For those who are not aware, R22 production will be slowly phased out, and by 2020 R22 production will cease. A 2020 phase out date may seem far off, but with R22 prices skyrocketing, why would you buy an R22 unit? It’s still possible to purchase dry R22 units in 13 S.E.E.R, but why would you? You would be investing in something that will only exist for 8 more years. Furthermore, it already is prohibitively expensive to recharge R22 units. It’s like buying a car that runs on leaded gasoline: It makes no sense!

If you are looking at replacing your existing cooling system, you should be installing an R410A Puron system. These systems have been around since 1996 and are tried, tested and true. They utilize thicker-walled tubing, new, quiet compressors, and a higher grade of oil. With R410A being an ozone-friendly refrigerant, we can fairly safely assume that these systems will be around for a long time. Since the inception of R410A, unit efficiency has increased substantially. Pre-R410A 14 S.E.E.R was a very high-efficiency unit, now 13 S.E.E.R is the government minimum requirement. It is now possible to have units up to 21 S.E.E.R installed in your home or business. But, what does 21 S.E.E.R. mean, exactly? Basically, if you are running a 10 S.E.E.R unit (a fairly standard efficiency until recently), and it costs you $100 per month to cool your home, a 21 S.E.E.R. unit running the unit the same amount of time would cost you only $49. This means HUGE SAVINGS on the cooling your home when you install high-efficiency units!

For this reason, if you are in need of a substantial repair on an older unit, you should really consider replacement costs. Many times, we see a real advantage, with a great return on investment, to replace your current system with a high-efficiency R410A Puron system. If you are considering replacing your system, ask Wm. Henderson for a free estimate. We can show you all your options and find the best system for your needs. After all, your needs are what are important to us. Call Wm. Henderson today for more information: 610-879-8458.

The first order of business is to make sure that the air conditioner was not visibly damaged during the winter season. Hopefully, it was covered during winter, which goes a long way to protecting the casing and the innards of the appliance. A quick check of the outside should let you know if your AC unit experienced wind damage or any other kind of physical abuse.

On the inside you will want to check the drain tray. Many times this can become stuffed with leaves, dirt and other debris. The drain tray is an important part of the air conditioner and must remain clean at all times. Pull out the tray and use a shop vacuum to get at any dirt or debris inside. Once the tray is clean, replace it.

Next, check to make sure that the filter is new and clean. A dirty filter will cause your AC unit to work harder than it needs to. Diminished air flow wears down the heat pump and other moving parts and also causes the unit to use more energy, costing you more money.

Finally, clean the coils with warm water and mild detergent. Hardware stores also sell a coil cleaning solution if your coils are really dirty. Like a filter, clean coils allow the AC to function at peak performance. After the coils have soaked for a while, rinse them with clean water and let them dry.

If after all this your AC unit is still not working correctly you may need to hire a professional to check to make sure your heat pump is functioning properly. If you find yourself looking for heat pump repair in Delaware County, look no further than William Henderson heating and cooling. With over 30 years experience, we know how to get your cooling system up and running in no time.

Water in your basement can cause all types of problems from mold and mildew to unpleasant smells. Both of which lead to pests. To keep away from having these problems your best bet is to make sure that your basement is waterproof. Although it’s not difficult to waterproof the walls of your basement, it does take a bit of knowledge to understand where to start and where to go.

The first step is to take a survey of your basement walls. Hopefully you have a fully exposed basement wall and hopefully it is made out of modern concrete. A modern concrete wall with no cracks has the best protection against leaks. Cobble foundation walls and older concrete walls are susceptible to cracks and breaks. Even the smallest crack will allow water through.

Walk the basement wall and locate any cracks you can find. Repair those cracks with concrete filler according to the directions on the package. Let the filler dry. It is not enough to just fill in the cracks in your basement wall however. After the filler is dried you then need to apply a coat of sealer all the way around your basement. The sealer is a waterproof brush or spray applied substance that will create a waterproof barrier. This will keep water from permeating your basement wall and getting into your basement.

Many plumbing contractors in Delaware County can suggest a method for waterproofing your basement, but only William Henderson Plumbing has 35 years of experience helping Pennsylvania homeowners in Delaware County and the Mainline. We are ready to inspect and suggest a fix for any leaking basement problems you may have.

Wm. Henderson suggests you have your cooling system checked at least once a year by a professional. A trained professional will clean the air conditioning coils and the evaporator, check the refrigerant level, clean the blower and other moving parts and make an in-depth check of all the controls to make sure they are functioning properly.

Individually you can increase the life of your cooling system by checking the filter regularly. A quick monthly checkup during the peak cooling season is best. Pull the filter out and make sure it is clean and clear of debris. Excess debris in the filter will cause your cooling fan to run longer and harder using more energy and wearing down the moving parts. At a minimum, you should check your filter every three months.

A quick search for HVAC cooling services will bring up many companies that can perform cooling system maintenance. However, none of these companies have 35 years of experience servicing Delaware County and the Mainline like William Henderson Maintenance. We know we can keep your systems functioning properly, and keep your home cool and clean in the heat of the summer.

You will know you have hard water in your home if your faucets and pipe joints show signs of calcification. Calcification is the buildup of minerals where the water is screened or where the water evaporates. Many times you will find calcification where the water leaves a fixture like the faucet on your kitchen sink or in a shower. These buildups can cause long term damage to your pipes as they restrict the flow of water and in some cases corrode the pipe and cause leaks.

If you have hard water in your home, it is possible (and recommended) to use a water softener to remove the calcium and other minerals before it enters your main plumbing system. Water softeners use complex science to remove minerals, but basically it is a drum with a thick filter of resin that the water passes through. As it travels through the filter, the minerals are captured and suspended, while the water passes through to travel safely through the system until it reaches the faucet.

There are many Plumbers in Havertown that can help you determine how hard your water is and what, if any actions you need to take. However, William Henderson plumbing services has 35 years of experience helping Delaware County and Mainline homeowners troubleshoot and repair their plumbing problems. We understand the science behind soft water and can recommend a good system to ensure that your plumbing system stays safe and operates smoothly for a long time to come.

The most common cause of odor from you sink is because your traps have run dry. Your plumbing has many traps, but a trap that you can see is under any sink in your home. It is the portion of the pipe that curls up towards the ceiling. The purpose of this trap is to collect water, which then acts as a stop for sewer gas coming back into the home. If a trap in your system goes empty, sewer gas can enter the home.

The second, most common reason for sink odor, comes from the pop-up section of your drain. This is the part that contains your trap and connects to the sink. Within the first few inches of the pipe is a drain stop. This is the device that is inside the pipe that stops the water from draining when you don’t want it to and it is the number one cause for plumbing services. The drain stop traps hair and other debris heading down the drain. As this material starts to decompose, it starts to stink. Plumbers know all too well that besides working to unclog sinks, cleaning off the drain stop often stops odors.

William Henderson Plumbing can help you with any of sink odor problems you may have. Let our 35 years of experience work for you to get your drains running clear and clean.

On Dec 31, 2011, the federal tax credit expired, but many heating products that you purchased for your home in 2011 are still eligible. One thing to note is that the $500 credit is for your lifetime. This means that any heating system related product that you purchased from 2006 through 2010 count towards this lifetime credit. So, if you spent $200 in 2008 and another $300 in 2011 you would have maxed out your credit after claiming the $300 on your 2011 taxes.

There are a number of appliances and heating equipment that will earn you a credit and the official IRS website contains a detailed list, but some items include:

• Any water boiler system that uses oil, propane or natural gas fuel.
• High efficiency fans that circulate air within heating ducts.
• Any type of heat pump that moves air throughout the home to increase efficiency.

In order to claim your credit you will have to file IRS form 5695 in addition to your regular tax forms.

Remember that Wm. Henderson Plumbing and Heating not only has 35 years of experience in heating services, but we also have 35 years of experience saving you money. If you have any questions about potential tax credits related to newly installed heating systems give us a call and let us help you get back what you can this tax season.

Because a plumbing system does not have moving parts, many homeowners don’t consider the way they treat their fixtures and drains. The fact of the matter is that there are rules to how you should use the system you have in your home.

It’s important that you never pour liquid fat or animal fats down your drain. As the liquids cools it congeals and clogs up the pipe. This combined with other sinuous fibers, such as from fruits and vegetables flushed down the drain by your garbage disposal, can quickly clog your drains. In high traffic homes or during the holidays when our drains are at peak flow, this especially becomes a danger.

In order to keep the drains in your kitchen clean and clear, make sure you run cold water while the garbage disposal is running, as well as for a while after you have turned it off, to ensure that any solids make it all the way out to the sewer main.

The drains in the bathroom have the same rules as those in the kitchen. It may seem perfectly alright to put waste materials into the toilet to flush them away, but only human waste and toilet paper belong in your toilet. Human waste is biodegradable, normally softened by water, and is easily flushed. Toilet paper is designed for septic systems, and it is capable of making the journey from your bathroom to the sewer main. Food and other items which often get flushed are not in this same category and will eventually cause many problems.

Following these simple rules will ensure that you have less plumbing emergencies. But if you do find yourself on Thanksgiving with a turkey-grease-clogged kitchen drain, Wm Henderson Plumbing is here to help.