Plumbing HVAC & Water Conditioning Blog | MarGo Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Inc.

The Expansion Valve: A Critical AC Component

June 10th, 2024

Air conditioners are complex and fascinating machines. When we use them in our homes, we simply turn them on and enjoy the cool air. The part we’re probably most aware of is the fan, which pushes that cool air through our ductwork to come out our vents. But there’s a lot more going on in the system.

Knowing more about your air conditioner can help you understand how to take better care of it. We’d like to explain some of the lesser-known workings of the AC system. In particular, we’ll tell you all about a component called the expansion valve.

All About Heat Pump Water Heaters

May 27th, 2024

Heat pumps are amazing appliances. They work as air conditioners, and they do an excellent and efficient job at that. But they’re even more impressive as heating systems, using a tiny amount of energy compared to what a furnace requires to accomplish the same task. So, if heat pumps are so great at heating air, can they also be used to heat water? Yes!

Heat pump water heaters are a great way to use this remarkable technology. But if you’ve never heard of heating your water with a heat pump, you’ve probably got some questions. We’ll tell you all about heat pump water heaters and how you could benefit from having one installed in your home.

The Importance of Prompt AC Repair

May 13th, 2024

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Life is full of so many urgent concerns that it’s understandable for people to try to put things off whenever possible. After all, you can’t always deal with everything immediately. But when it comes to a struggling air conditioner, you don’t want to postpone repairs.

Imagine a car tire that is leaking air. If you pretend that nothing is wrong, the leak will get worse and worse. Eventually, you’ll be driving on a deflated tire, causing massive damage to the rim! This basic principle is true of other systems as well. If you know something is wrong with your air conditioner and you don’t have repairs done promptly, you’ll end up regretting it. Here’s what could happen.

Toilet Overflowing? Don’t Panic!

April 15th, 2024

Emergencies don’t always bring out the best in everyone. It’s easy to be frantic when something goes suddenly wrong, and that never helps with resolving the situation. And of all the possible household emergencies, ones that involve a flood of toilet water can be particularly distressing.

If your toilet overflows, what is the most important thing to do? Stay calm! But of course that’s easier said than done. The best way to avoid panic and calmly resolve an issue with an overflowing toilet is to have a clear plan to follow. Here’s what to do.

Get Ready for AC Installation

April 1st, 2024

Congratulations! You’ve chosen a new air conditioning system for your home. These days, new air conditioners work so well and are so efficient, we’re sure you’ll be delighted with it. And you’ve made an appointment for the installation! That’s great. But do you know what to expect?

It may have been quite a long time since you’ve had an AC system installed. With proper maintenance, your last one might have lasted twelve years or so. Or perhaps you purchased your home with an air conditioner and have never been through this process. We’d like to tell you what to expect at your AC installation appointment and what you can do to help things go as smoothly as possible.

Does Your Boiler Really Need Annual Maintenance? Here’s the Answer

March 18th, 2024

Annual maintenance is strongly recommended for many things. Your air conditioner, gas or electric furnace, water heater and more will all function better when they get a professional check-up every year.

If you heat with a boiler rather than a furnace, does it also need annual maintenance? It does. We’ll explain why, and how boiler maintenance will benefit your system.

How Drain Cleaning Prevents These 3 Big Pipe Problems

March 4th, 2024

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How are things going in the drainage portion of your home’s plumbing pipes? Chances are, unless you’re currently dealing with a major clog, you haven’t thought about it in quite a while. Here’s the thing: drain pipe problems are not usually caused by one catastrophic thing, like a single item going down a drain. They’re caused by gradual buildup.

The good news is that gradual buildup is something you can deal with before serious issues develop. How? With professional drain cleaning, you can prevent major pipe problems. Here are three of the big ones and how drain cleaning keeps them from happening.

Why You Should Treat Your Water

February 19th, 2024

Your body is more than half water. And in a younger person, the proportion is even higher. A child’s body is 65% water, and an infant’s is 75% water. This is why infants and young children are at more serious risk from problems that lead to dehydration, such as diarrhea and vomiting. Being able to drink plenty of water is critical for keeping your body healthy.

But what if the water you drink is contaminated? If you drink water that contains germs, you might put yourself in harm’s way. You can even contract the very illnesses that lead to that dehydration, meaning your water is doing more harm than good. What contamination could be in your water? What can you do about it? Let us tell you all about UV water filters.

Furnace Repairs You Probably Didn’t See Coming

February 5th, 2024

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Some furnace repairs are more common than others. Even if you don’t know anything about heating systems, you probably wouldn’t be surprised to hear that there’s an ignition system that lights the fuel, or a blower fan motor that forces air to move. If you were told one of these things needed to be fixed, it wouldn’t come as much of a shock.

But sometimes there’s an unusual situation that causes a problem with your heating system. What kind of furnace repair needs might surprise you? Here are some odd ones that you probably wouldn’t see coming.

How to Keep Your Older Furnace Going for as Long as Possible

January 22nd, 2024

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Wouldn’t it be lovely if your furnace just lasted forever? Unfortunately, there will come a time when it needs to be replaced. If you have a gas furnace, that will happen after about 15 years, and if you have an electric furnace, you can hope for about 20.

Keep in mind, though, that these estimates are based on furnaces which receive maintenance annually. Furnaces that don’t receive maintenance might last half as long.

If your furnace is getting on in age, the prospect of replacement may be looming large in your mind. But replacement is a big cost. Naturally you’d like to put it off for as long as you can. What can you do to keep your older furnace running for as long as possible? We’ve got three tips that can help a whole lot.