It’s a fact. Frozen pipes lead to burst pipes. And burst pipes lead to major plumbing emergencies and expensive water damage in your home.

The good news is, a little preventative action before freezing weather arrives for the season can assure that even your “at risk” pipes keep on flowing no matter how low temperatures may go. If you do experience frozen pipes, there are also a few ways to thaw them safely.

Of course, not experiencing a pipe freeze in the first place is the ultimate goal. That’s why we’re offering a closer look at how you can easily avoid a cold-weather plumbing emergency this year. Continue reading “How to Prevent Your Pipes from Freezing this Winter”

Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs), which provide both heating and air conditioning in your home, and also have the capability to heat your water (sometimes for free), have become increasingly popular in recent years. These HVAC appliances are amazingly efficient and “green” compared to traditional options, as they harness the nearly constant temperatures under the ground to keep your home comfortable in every season.

Geothermal systems deliver serious energy savings over time, too.

However, there are drawbacks and many things to consider as you look to install a GHP. These systems come with a hefty initial price tag, as well as a long list of site criteria that must be met before installation can take place. In other words, GHPs are not going to be right for every home or every homeowner despite their many advantages.

Today we’re taking a closer look at why the answer to whether geothermal heat pumps are worth the investment is, “it depends.” Your priorities, your budget, and your home’s physical location will ultimately help you make the best decision about what type of HVAC system is right for you. Continue reading “Are Geothermal Heat Pumps Worth It?”

Do you or your family members struggle with allergies caused by dust, pollen, and mold? Or does anyone in your home have other respiratory problems like asthma? Your central heating and cooling system, particularly your ductwork, could be causing unnecessary suffering for these sensitive individuals.

Many people don’t think about indoor air pollution, but it can be a serious problem based on many factors about your home. It’s true that there are lots of threats to indoor air quality. However, if you’ve never had your home’s ducts professionally cleaned, there could be harmful bacteria, mold, and other nasty pollutants hidden in places you can’t see. That hidden pollution could be circulating around your indoor environment through your heating and air conditioning system.

Today we’re taking a closer look at how ducts get dirty, what you can do about it, and why having professional cleaning performed by HVAC professionals who thoroughly understand your home’s heating and cooling equipment is the best choice. Continue reading “Why You Need to Have Your Ducts Cleaned”

Here in 2018, it seems like air conditioning is something that’s always been with us. It comes standard in our cars, is fully integrated into newer homes, and makes public buildings from schools to hospitals to movie theatres comfortable places to spend our time without a second thought. But modern air conditioning has only existed since the early 20^th century. And it actually hasn’t been widespread for very long at all, as central air conditioning systems for homes were not introduced until the 1970s.

Since those first days of AC, as we lovingly nickname it now, America was fundamentally changed. The ability to keep our interior spaces comfortably temperature controlled has been revolutionary, though it may not seem like it on the surface. Continue reading “How Air Conditioning Changed America”

For the avid DIY-er, it may be difficult to admit defeat and call a plumber when you’re having trouble fixing stubborn problems with toilets, showers, faucets, or pipes throughout your home. You know that you’re experienced with using tools and can address many common plumbing issues yourself. And you’d never dream of calling in a professional for simple things like plunging clogged toilets or remedying dripping faucets, though many people do. You may even have some bathroom and other remodeling experience under your belt at this point and have installed toilets, sinks, and drain systems yourself. The truth is that even the most experienced hobbyist plumber sometimes needs to consult the deeper expertise of a professional. The trick is determining when you’re in over your head and need to make that call.

So, what are some home plumbing jobs that you can expect to accomplish yourself, and which ones probably require professional assistance? You might be surprised. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common plumbing problems homeowners experience and separate the “easy” jobs from those that should be reserved for pros only. Continue reading “When Is It Time to Call a Plumber?”

It’s that time of year again, and one of our favorites here at Ressler & Mateer – air conditioning season! As the mercury rises and daytime temperatures are regularly in the 80s and 90s here in our Central PA service area, you’ve probably recently turned your AC on for the first time this year. Hopefully, it’s performing as you expect, but it’s possible you’ve noticed some issues that make you think it’s time to give your HVAC contractor a call. Especially if you haven’t had your system maintained regularly, you’re likely concerned that the problem you’re experiencing could lead to an expensive repair bill and uncomfortable downtime for your air conditioning. (Why do these machines always seem to have trouble on the hottest possible days?!)

Before you pick up the phone, though, know that there are some simple fixes to common problems that you can try before you summon the experts. In fact, even if these troubleshooting solutions do not entirely resolve your issue, trying them will help your AC service technician fix more significant problems faster since you may have already ruled out some things. Either way, our AC troubleshooting tips may save you money.

Go ahead and give our tips a try now. And, if you’re still having problems, don’t hesitate to give us a call 24/7. We’re always happy to help get your air conditioning system back into service as quickly as possible! Continue reading “Things You Can Do Before You Call for Air Conditioning Repair”

It’s that time of year again…the sun is shining longer each day, the weather’s warming up, and air conditioning will soon be on the minds of many homeowners. As summer approaches, is your home starting to get uncomfortably hot? If you’re like many people in Ressler & Mateer’s Southcentral PA service area, you live in an older home that was constructed before central air conditioning systems became widely available in the 1970s and you may rely on inadequate solutions like fans and open windows to cool your home. Even if you live in a newly constructed home, it’s possible your system doesn’t provide the same level of comfort for every room. Or perhaps your system is older now and you’re considering replacement; 15 years is the typical lifespan of a cooling system, so if your home’s air conditioning equipment was installed in the early 2000s, the hard truth is that it is likely getting ready to fail. Continue reading “How to Find the Best Air Conditioning System for Your Home”

Did you know asthma, emphysema, and other respiratory problems can be directly related to the quality of air you breathe? Most people think air pollution is strictly an outdoor concern, but the truth is indoor air quality is just as important as you spend more time in your home than anywhere else. Indoor air quality is often neglected by homeowners who instead focus on maintaining their HVAC system; but what many don’t realize is that there are a number of ways your home’s air quality can become compromised. Continue reading “Indoor Air Quality and Why It’s Important to Your Family”

Taking care of your HVAC system or plumbing can be taxing on the average person, mostly because of how hectic life can get. We lose track of when we replaced a filter last or forget to replace it completely because we’re busy with work or our families. It happens. Or the other worst case scenario: you forget to check or clean your air conditioner and come summer, it’s making strange sounds and not quite working like you expected it to. Trying to find someone to service anything at the last moment is stressful, and it can carry a bigger price tag than anticipated.

Investing in a 24/7 emergency service and maintenance program is the best way to keep your peace of mind and ensure that your heating, cooling, and plumbing systems are serviced when they need to be—whether it’s a scheduled maintenance visit or an emergency call. You’ll be able to rely on licensed and insured service technicians to keep everything running smoothly, so you can focus on other things. Continue reading “Why You Should Invest in a 24/7 Emergency Service and Maintenance Program”