What Are Slab Leaks -And How Are They Repaired?

/0 Comments/in /by

 

Builders often construct houses atop a large concrete slab foundation. Over time, these slabs and the pipes running under them can become cracked or otherwise damaged, causing leaks. It’s essential as a homeowner to understand what these leaks are and how to recognize them early. When left unattended, costly and extensive damage can result from slab leaks.

Identify A Slab Leaks

Begin by finding out how your home’s foundation was constructed—this will shed light on potential risks. If you have a slab foundation, there are a few symptoms to keep watch for if you suspect a leak.

  • Some people hear running water even when all faucets are off.
  • Cracks may develop in the floor from increased pressure.
  • Hot spots sometimes develop in the floor, resulting from leaks in hot water lines.
  • If you notice moisture or mildew forming beneath carpets, it’s a sure sign of leaking.
  • When leaks are severe, you may notice a large increase in your water bill.

If you notice any of these symptoms at your house, call your plumbing professional at McLay Services, Inc. right away. We’ll find and address the issue for you.

Tracking And Repairing Damage

Before starting on any repairs, our professionals will pinpoint the source of your slab leak. We consider the construction of your home and line placement to approximate the source of the water leak. Next, we employ electronic amplification equipment, which uses sound to identify the precise location of each leak without having to rip up large portions of the property while doing so.

There are two primary methods for repairing slab leaks, and they depend on the age of your home. In most buildings – especially older locations with an ongoing history of leaks – it’s necessary to reroute or replace the entire damaged line. Only a plumbing professional can decide how best to approach your unique circumstances but it is best to reroute your pipe for better access outside of the slab.

Important Note: It is always advised to check in with your home insurance company for compliance before beginning a project like this!

Call On Us For Slab Repair

If you have a slab leak and live in or around La Verne, San Dimas, Glendora, Claremont, or Rancho Cucamonga, McLay Services, Inc. is here to help! With our highly trained professional technicians and the best in plumbing technology, we’ll have your home back to normal quickly. Contact us today if you suspect a leak.

Do HVAC Systems Emit Greenhouse Gases?

/in , /by

Most scientists and environmental experts believe that greenhouse gases are responsible for depletion of the ozone layers. It’s a well-known fact that all heating and air conditioning systems release the harmful substances into the atmosphere. This applies for all equipment types, from central cooling unites to portable air conditioning units and window-mounted air conditioners.

What is the Ozone Layer?

Located in the upper atmosphere, the ozone layer is responsible for safeguarding the earth from harmful ultra-violet radiation from the sun. As this layer continues to deplete, more radiation seeps through. This consequently leads to a rise in the earth’s atmospheric temperature. The effect is referred to as global warming.

To reduce the detrimental effect of greenhouse gases on the ozone layers, authorities have initiated policies that mandate production of better equipment. Manufacturers are instructed to ensure that their devices are more energy efficient. Newer devices are also required to have a minimal environmental impact.

Do HVAC Systems Emit Greenhouse Gases?

An AC system is comprised of an electrical pump and a network of coils that transfer air between the exterior of a building and the indoors. Warm air is moved outside by the condenser while cool air is released indoors using an evaporator. A refrigerant constantly moves through the system while transforming its state from gas to liquid and vice versa. This refrigerant is what facilitates air movement, and is one source of the harmful greenhouse gases.

Previously, air conditioners used a liquid refrigerant whose components included chlorofluorocarbons, known as CFCs in short. These were found to contribute towards the depletion of the ozone layer. With time, AC manufacturers began to use halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). These have a lesser impact on the ozone layer, though they still cause harm. As a result, HCFC production is scheduled to be phased out by the year 2030.

To contribute towards environmental conservation, all consumers are encouraged to purchase better systems that are certified to be energy efficient. The government runs various programs which set energy efficiency standards and certify all new HVAC models. Such ACs use about 10% less energy, which helps save the environment and also saves homeowners money on energy bills. Other steps to improve efficiency include improving insulation and sealing ductwork to reduce heat losses. Follow us for more articles that will keep your heating and cooling systems running efficiently.

What It Means To Be A Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer

/in /by

Carrier Factory Authorized Dealers are experts in the heating and cooling industry specializing in tailoring heating and cooling systems that make homes as comfortable as they can possibly be. As such, the Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer (CFAD) initiative ensures that standards are rigorously held high and that this is done on a national basis. Therefore, a Carrier Factory dealer authorization is not to be taken lightly as approval is only given to those companies who are able to successfully meet these rigid requirements that lend to quality control within the air conditioning, heating and plumbing industry. As a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer, we at McLay Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing are able to offer you our valued customer(s) a guarantee that all the products and services you receive from us are of the highest possible quality – barring none.

A Guarantee Of Customer Satisfaction

The end goal of being a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer is to ensure that you the customer are completely satisfied with the product. That is, from installation to use, our products do what we promise and you have no complaints. You can rest assured that when you use our Carrier Factory authorized products that you will enjoy the benefits of secure insurance requirements, warranties, EPA certifications and liability coverage to name a few. In other words, we are here to make your experience using our products be as pleasant as possible.

A Guarantee of Support

In addition to warranties and other guarantees of an excellent product, a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer seal of approval is also a guarantee that you have the support of competent technicians. Our technicians are here to assist you from order to installation and of course continued use of our product. The staff members are dedicated, friendly, competent and eager to assist you by any means necessary to ensure you have the best experience. With McLay, you will find that you will have no problems getting the assistance you need.

Be sure to follow us for more articles that help you keep your home as comfortable as can be.

Myth: It Is Not Necessary To Have Air Return Grilles In Every Room

/in /by

 

If your house has only central air return grille then you will notice that the return air will struggle in order to find a way back to the furnace. As a result, the pressure in each room will vary and you’ll experience uneven room temperature. This problem may also cause moisture build-up in ceilings and walls, not to mention contribute to high energy bills!

Having a single air return grille is not effective because it wouldn’t be capable of conveying the air back to the furnace effortlessly so that it can be re-heated. After all, a single return-air grille will face a lot of pressure as it has to serve the entire house! Thus, it causes a break in the loop and prevents the furnace from functioning optimally.

In most cases, if the doors of the room are closed then it would be impossible for the central return-air grille to pull in air. Because of the fact that the living room and the hallway are depressurized, due to the lack of new air to pull in or air returns, the return-air grille would attempt to pull in air from the attic into the hallway via the cracks present in the ceiling. While this is definitely disadvantageous, it becomes a double whammy as the air from the attic is cold, which in turn increases the heating load of the furnace.

Does Every Room Need Air Return Grilles?

While it is a myth that air return grilles are required in each and every room in the house, it is definitely necessary to have more than one of these grilles installed at strategic places in the house. The most important place to have these would be the bedroom. You should definitely ensure that there is an air return grille which connects the bedroom to the hallway adjacent to it. Likewise, you can also install these in rooms that have a high footfall or usage in the house.

In order to resolve the problem of room-to-room pressure imbalance, it is necessary to have air return grilles properly installed around the house.

For all your HVAC needs, including this one, all you need to do is give us a call at 909-326-6106 and our experts will take care of them!

Myth: High Efficiency Air Filters are Better

/in /by

These days, the buzz accompanying the purchase of residential heating and air conditioning systems is indoor air quality. Much has been made about how indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air and how unhealthy interior air can be detrimental to your health. Many contractors recommend that you use high efficiency air filters and change them regularly to maintain good air quality inside your home.

What’s the Purpose of an Air Filter?

The primary purpose of an air filter inside your HVAC system is to protect the equipment itself, not clean the interior air as you may believe them to. Although virtually all industry professionals recommend that you should change filters regularly, not everyone agrees what type is best. Some recommend inexpensive fiberglass filters that you can easily replace, but many smaller particles easily pass through fiberglass. Others indicate that high efficiency filters are the best. The latter, however, may actually slow airflow across the heat exchanger that can ultimately reduce efficiency, raise energy bills and possibly cause furnaces to overheat, thus damaging the system. Similar problems can occur in central air conditioning units with high efficiency filters resulting in frozen condenser coils.

Furnace filters actually do little to reduce the number of harmful particles in the air. Part of the reason is because neither furnaces nor air conditioners run continually throughout the year. The second reason is that these particles tend to congregate in the air where there is human activity, not necessarily near registers or ductwork that leads to the air filter.

Consider using permanent, washable electrostatic air filters for your HVAC system. These filters may be trimmed to fit most filter cabinets and may be reused for 5 to 10 years before they need replacement. Simply rinse the electrostatic filters once a month and dry thoroughly prior to re-installation. Carbon for odor removal may be a component in some electrostatic filters to aid in odor removal.

Still Need Help Finding the Right Air Filter For Your HVAC System?

Call Our Experts Today!

(909) 326-6106