Schoonover Plumbing & Heating

Schoonover Accelerates Growth with Opening of New Office in...

ericschoon — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 14:54:55 -0400

Schoonover Accelerates Growth with Opening of New Office in Williamsport

Schoonover Plumbing and Heating, answering the strong demand for HVAC, mechanical and plumbing services in Northern Pennsylvania, today announced the opening of its second office to be located in Williamsport. The new 3000 square foot facility will feature a showroom, meeting space, storage, on-site staff and will serve as a logistics hub for sales, service and operations in the Lycoming Valley Area.

“This new office will enable us to accelerate our growth and meet the demands of both new and existing customers in and around the Williamsport area,” said President Thomas Schoonover. “This expansion illustrates our commitment to service and will provide the quality customer-interaction that our clients demand.”

The new office will be located at 1309 Washington Boulevard. The news of the expansion comes on the heels of Schoonover’s recent 70^th Anniversary.

In addition to the new office in Williamsport, Schoonover maintains an office in Canton, PA.

For information on how to visit the new Williamsport Office or to schedule a free in-home estimate, call 1-800-634-1038 or email sales@schooninc.com. For updates and events at all Schoonover locations, please follow the Schoonover HVAC facebook page at www.facebook.com/schooninc.

About Schoonover Plumbing & Heating:

Founded in 1947, Schoonover Plumbing and Heating has been serving residential and commercial customers for over 70 years. Schoonover depends upon our long-term employees to maintain the highest level of training, experience, and quality for our customers.

Coming Soon! Schoonover’s Williamsport store is nearly open. ...

ericschoon — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 20:57:12 -0400

Coming Soon! Schoonover’s Williamsport store is nearly open. The signs were hung with care today. This office is going to serve as a showroom, conference area, and logistics hub for our ever-growing Lycoming Valley customer base.

We are starting regular open hours on Monday September 17th. We will have the showroom open weekdays from 9AM-2PM. Stop by and see what we are up to!

Keep an eye out for upcoming events (open house, happy hours, etc) as we get going.

Attending the Home Show

ericschoon — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 08:13:51 -0400

How to Make The Most of Your Visit to the West Branch Susquehanna Home Builders Association Home Show

This weekend, March 16 - 18, Schoonover Plumbing and Heating, as well as many other vendors will all gather at the Keiper Rec Center at Lycoming College for the West Branch Susquehanna Builders Association Home Show. Home shows like this one are fantastic places to visit if you are thinking about building a new home, or considering ways to make your existing home better. We at Schoonover have a few tips to help you make the most of the Home Show experience.

Before the Show:

Identify Your Goals: If you are considering a new home or a home improvement, think about what services you will need to achieve that goal. Will you design your own home from scratch or would you prefer an all-inclusive experiences in an established neighborhood. What is it that you want to change or improve about your existing home? Do you have rooms that are uncomfortable? Do you want to add a three-season room or finish a basement? Vendors at the show don’t expect you to arrive with blueprints or established plans (although many people come with them in hand) but it is helpful to have a general idea of what services you will and will not need so you can narrow your focus.

Take Photos, Measurements, and Notes: If you have an old furnace that you think may need replaced, take a photo of it. If you have a room that needs air conditioning, measure the space. It will help the vendors at the event to visualize what your needs are and quickly provide options for you.

If you have contractors that you are interested in, visit their webpages or facebook pages to see if they have any specials going on during the show. Check out Schoonover’s page here: https://www.facebook.com/schooninc/

Grab a canned food item. Admission to the show is $5, but there is a $1 discount if you bring a donation for the Central PA Food Bank.

At the Show:

Ask Questions! The vendors are happy to talk to you as long as you need!

Take a break for lunch: There are some delicious lunch options being served up by Chef Hosch up on the second floor of the Rec Center. Lunch is a great time to organize your thoughts, look through the show program and plan your next step.

Don’t forget the balcony! Many vendors are located upstairs as well as the main floor.

Enter the Giveaway at Schoonover Plumbing and Heating’s booth. We are giving away Mitsubishi Split Ductless Heat Pump (installation not included). It is just the thing for that room in your house that is too cold in the winter and too warm in the summer. It is quiet, efficient, and you could have one for free!

Keep an open mind. There may be solutions that you haven’t even thought of.

After the Show:

Follow Up: If you left your information with a contractor, you should expect a call within a week or two, but if you didn’t give them your contact information you will have to reach out to them. For most contactors a call is your best bet.

Schedule an In-Home Estimate: Even if you had pictures and measurements, it is always best to have the contractors come to your existing space and take a look around. There might be new ideas or potential challenges that are hard to spot unless we see the space.

Compare Prices & Equipment & Schedule Your Work

Live happily ever after in your improved home!

The hours of the home show are Friday, March 16th from 3pm to 8pm, Saturday, March 17th from 10am to 8pm and Sunday, March 18th from noon to 4pm.

We are at it again. Back by popular demand, we are giving away a...

ericschoon — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 11:18:44 -0500

We are at it again. Back by popular demand, we are giving away a Mitsubishi split ductless heat pump this Spring. What is a Mitsubishi heat pump you say? Check out our “informative video” below to see.

To enter, stop by our store, come and see us at the Home Show at Lycoming College March 16-18, or send us an email or post card with name, address, phone, email, and where you would install this magical unit. Drawing April 2nd.

For more information and contest rules, check out our website (www.schoonover-hvac.com).

New Year’s Resolutions

ericschoon — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 16:00:32 -0500

Happy New Year! Making Resolutions? We have some for you:

2018 HVAC New Year’s Resolutions

5 Actions to help your home run more effectively and comfortably in 2018

1. Check/change filters - clean filters guarantee that your equipment gets enough air and getting enough air allows your equipment to work as designed. Filters are very inexpensive and they can make a big difference in how well your system performs.
2. Get equipment professionally cleaned - In addition to changing filters, we at Schoonover can clean coils, check condensate pumps and give your system a good once-over to ensure that it is working correctly and likely will continue to operate correctly for the rest of the season. A good cleaning can increase efficiency and help with longevity of equipment. We can also help you spot upcoming maintenance needs before they elevate to expensive service calls.
3. Consider a whole home surge protector integrated into your electric service to protect your home from the country’s aging electric infrastructure. Surge protectors are a great way to protect all of those great electronics that your received for Christmas! For a few hundred dollars, you can protect your whole house from fluctuations in the electricity coming into your home.
4. Upgrade to internet-connected Smart thermostats. Internet thermostats allow you to monitor conditions in your home, set alerts for problems, and modify your heating and cooling settings from anywhere in the world. Have someone in your life that struggles to use the thermostat and you want to guarantee that they remain comfortable? Internet-connected thermostats allow you to monitor the comfort of aging relatives from your phone or tablet.
5. Treat-yo-self - add zone heating or cooling to that room that is never comfortable. It is not as expensive as you may think to add a system to your home to better reflect how you use your space. Don’t let the cold keep you out of your favorite room. A wall-hung heat pump can make any room comfortable year-round.

Whole-Home Standby Generator Rebate

ericschoon — Mon, 01 May 2017 10:51:27 -0400

There is no better time to think about that generator you always wanted. For the month of May, Kohler is offering a $600 rebate on the purchase of a 20KW natural gas or propane standby generator.

A standby generator will automatically detect a power outage, turn itself on, and begin powering your house. When the grid power comes back, the generator automatically powers down and returns your house to normal operation. You can size a generator to cover only the essential items or power up the entire house. For most homes, the 20KW generator Kohler is offering the rebate on will power everything.

Let us come out and see what a generator can do for you. Act fast to take advantage of the rebate. For a free in-home estimate, give us a call at 800-634-1038 or email us at sales@schooninc.com

Lennox Rebates are Here

ericschoon — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 16:10:49 -0400

Summer is coming… quicker than you think! All to quickly we will be going from “open window” weather to “turn up the AC” weather. Lennox is offering some fantastic spring rebates to be sure that you don’t get caught without an efficient home comfort system this summer.

Here are the Lennox spring rebates that will run from March 13 until June 9, 2017:

· Up To $1,300 in Rebates for a Complete system* – Save on a complete qualifying Lennox home comfort system that includes air conditioner or heat pump, gas furnace or air handler, and thermostat.

· Up to $150 Rebate on a Wi-Fi Thermostat* – With the Schedule IQ feature, you only need to program the thermostat once. Whenever there’s a change in your routine, the iComfort©360 adapts heating and cooling to match.

· Up to $100 Rebate on Zoning* – Purchase iHarmony© zoning, a major advance in precision climate control and enjoy savings and custom comfort.

· Up to $150 Rebate on Pureair™* - Cleans the air in your home better than any other single system you can buy. Doesn’t produce ozone and that means cleaner air in every room!

For more information about how to take advantage of these great rebates, and for a free in-home estimate, call Schoonover Plumbing and Heating today at 570-673-5123.

To see more current promotions visit us at http://schoonover-hvac.com/

*Some restrictions apply. System rebate offers range from $250–$1,700. Rebate offer is valid March 13, 2017 through June 9 with the purchase of qualifying Lennox products. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Additional add–on rebates for iComfort® S30 Thermostat, iHarmony® Zoning System and PureAir™ Air Purification system valid with a qualifying system purchase only. See your participating Lennox dealer for complete details.

Lennox Live Wrap Up 2017

ericschoon — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 21:45:26 -0400

This past weekend our sales team of Eric & Lee attended Lennox Live 2017, an industry event sponsored by our supplier, Lennox International. Lennox manufactures and markets a range of furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, packaged heating and cooling systems, equipment, and accessories to manage indoor air quality, comfort control products, replacement parts and supplies and related products for both the residential and commercial markets. Eric and Lee had a first-hand opportunity to explore new products, chat with industry experts and network with fellow contractors from all over the North East.

Schoonover Plumbing and Heating were honored at the conference as Centurians. This designation is reserved for only the top 6% of contractors in the country in growth and performance.

Lennox representatives detailed their newest top of the line products that have recently hit the market and even a few new products that are expected for the coming months. In heat pumps, Lennox highlighted the XP25, which was labeled “Most Efficient” in 2016 by Energy Star. The XP25 remains the leader in the industry, as the most precise and efficient heat pump in the market. Presenters also introduced the CBA27UHE Air Handler with a high-efficiency All-Aluminum Quantum^TM coil. This unit also includes an antimicrobial drain pan to inhibit mold and mildew grown. Its programmable constant torque blower motor delivers cooling and heating efficiencies while maintaining proper air flow.

In addition to exciting new products, Lennox offered breakout sessions for dealers to learn everything from social media marketing skills to how to train and retain talented employees.

The conference culminated in a moving speech by former NBA player Walter Bond. Bond’s message of hard work and strategies for success left all who attended feeling ready to get back to work and bring their customers the best products and service available in the marketplace.

Win a Mitsubishi Heat Pump

ericschoon — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 18:02:01 -0400

Schoonover is giving away a Mitsubishi ductless mini-split heat pump in conjunction with the West Branch Susquehanna Builder’s Association Home Show in Williamsport this weekend! You can come by our booths (42 and 43) for an entry form or email us with your contact information and what room you in which you would install this unit.

The Home Show is Friday from 3PM-8PM, Saturday from 10AM-8PM, and Sunday from 12PM-4PM. The Home Show is at the Keiper Rec Center at Lycoming College. Admission to the show is $5 per person and children under 12 free. Bring a canned food item and receive $1.00 off of your entry fee. All entries must be received by Monday, March 20 to be eligible for the drawing which will take place at Schoonover’s office on March 20^th at 3:30PM.

Schoonover Plumbing and Heating is a Mitsubishi Elite Diamond Contractor. Diamond Contractors are the most highly trained installers who are authorized to offer extended warranties on Mitsubishi products.

Please see our webpage for giveaway rules.

Home Show

ericschoon — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 15:49:11 -0400

It is almost here! One week to the West Branch Susquehanna Builder’s Association Home Show. We will be displaying our awesome products on Friday from 3-8pm, Saturday from 10am-8pm, and Sunday from 12-4pm. You can find us at booth 42 and 43 in Lycoming College’s Keiper Recreational Center. Admission is $5/Person, children under 12 free. Bring a canned food item and receive $1.00 off of entry fee!

When you stop by our booth, be sure to enter to win a FREE Mitsubishi split ductless heat pump! We will have forms available for entry!

See you there!

Mitsubishi Mini-Split Ductless Systems: Indoor Units

ericschoon — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 20:47:05 -0500

In a previous blog post, we discussed the differences in the outdoor components of the Mitsubishi Mini-Split Ductless Systems. In this post, we are going to move indoors and discuss the various types of indoor units. The diversity in these indoor units is what makes the Mitsubishi Systems so easily adaptable to many different new-build and renovation scenarios. These indoor units, in combination with either the Hyperheat or regular Mitsubishi condensers, result in some of the most efficient and flexible systems available.

Wall Mounted – By far, the most common indoor component of our Mitsubishi systems is the indoor wall-mounted unit. These sleek units can be configured for either cooling-only or heating and cooling applications. They also monitor room conditions and adjust their fan speed to fine-tune your comfort. A multi-functional wireless remote controls these units and they are available with a variety of features to enhance air circulation. Stylish advanced models are available in white, silver, and black to blend in with any décor.

Wall-Mounted units are the most common indoor choice and often the most efficient option because they only require a three-inch lineset from the outdoor condenser to each unit. This means no cumbersome ductwork.

The newest and highest-end wall mounted unit, the FH series offers many exciting features. These units employ triple-action filtration, including an anti-allergen enzyme filter for enhanced air quality. Their double-fane air delivery allows for enhanced circulation. Most excitingly, these units use the i-See Sensor™ 3D to continuously analyze the temperature profile of a room and detect hot and cold spots. These intelligent sensors scan the room and detect the exact position of the occupants based on their heat signatures and then customize the heating and cooling based on preset preferences. These sensors can also detect the absence of occupants and can adjust the room temperature accordingly, raising or lowering the set temperature and saving energy.

Ceiling-Cassette – Ceiling-Cassette units are perfect for bedrooms, sunrooms, offices, and additions. They have a wide four-way airflow pattern for better air distribution and a less intrusive style. They do not require ductwork, but they do require that there be 18 inches of available space above the room in which they are being installed, so they cannot be used in existing rooms that do not have attic space above. They can be ideal units for basements with drop ceilings.

Ducted Air Handler – The Mitsubishi ducted air handlers use less ductwork than traditional systems and can be hidden either above the ceiling or below the floor to cover multiple rooms. Unlike most of Mitsubishi indoor units, these units do require ductwork to be installed and, therefore require space in attics or crawl spaces, which is not always feasible in renovations. These units are typically used to cover two or more adjacent rooms. In some cases, these units can also connect to existing ductwork in place of your existing air conditioner or furnace for an easy upgrade.

Floor Mounted – Floor-Mounted units are ideal for areas that are small or don’t have as much wall space available. They also work well in rooms with low walls. We find that we install these units most often in three-season rooms that are predominantly windows.

Schoonover is an Elite Diamond Dealer with Mitsubishi. This allows us to offer 12-year of parts and compressor warranty to our customers, an extension from the standard 10-year warranty

Product Comparison: Mitsubishi Wall-Hung Mini-Split Systems – Regular vs. Hyperheat

ericschoon — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 15:18:27 -0500

The Mitsubishi Wall-Hung Mini-Split system is ideal for many applications in existing homes where adding ductwork may be impractical or impossible, but with the addition of the new H2i hyper-heating inverters, the Mitsubishi systems are even more adaptable. Hyper heating units are more expensive than regular units, so it is important to know if the additional features of the H2i technology are necessary before you spend the additional money on these more advanced features.

The Mitsubishi systems consist of wall-mounted indoor units (evaporators) that are attached to an outdoor condenser. The outdoor portion of the system operates, ideally, at a temperature above 5 degrees. When temperatures go below 5 degrees, the unit loses efficiency until approximately -5 degrees, at which point the unit shuts off. This lower limit isn’t a problem if you have an additional source of heat, such as hot-water baseboard, a wood stove, or electric baseboard. These standard units are ideal for applications when the unit is used primarily for cooling or for only supplemental heating in a room that tends to be chillier than the rest of the home. A standard unit is also perfect in homes that have a wood or oil boiler, to prevent the owners from having to turn on the wood in late spring or early fall (not the dead of winter).

Mitsubishi H2i technology increases the low temperature heating capacity of these systems and allows the units to continue to heat until -13 degrees. These Hyper heat units are ideal for cabins or homes where owners want to rely more heavily on the heat pumps in heating mode or in rooms without additional sources of heat. They are also perfect if you are trying to turn your three-season room into a four-season room by warming it up during winter.

As with all Mitsubishi units, multiple indoor units can be linked to properly-sized outdoor units. Indoor units are controlled independently of one another, and the standard home thermostat. Units that are linked to the same outdoor unit cannot heat in one location and cool in another.

Schoonover is an Elite Diamond Dealer with Mitsubishi. This allows us to offer 12-year of parts and compressor warranty to our customers, an extension from the standard 10-year warranty.

That One Uncomfortable Room: Mitsubishi Giveaway!

ericschoon — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 11:06:58 -0500

Unless your house was designed by an HVAC professional, you probably have that one room that is never quite comfortable. In the winter, the room is always a few degrees colder than the rest of the house. In the summer, it always feels humid and warm. The room might be your bedroom, your TV room, guest spaces, or a sunroom that you wish you could use during the winter. We at Schoonover have a solution to your uncomfortable room dilemma, and this March, it might be a solution that is MUCH less expensive than you would expect!

We would like you to meet the Mitsubishi Ductless Mini-Split Heating and Air Conditioning Systems. And this March, you could win one of these versatile systems FREE!

The Mitsubishi Mini-Split System consists of two parts; an indoor evaporator that hangs on the wall and an outdoor condenser that operates like your air condition coil or heat pump. These two units are piped together through your wall with minimal intrusion to siding and drywall. The indoor unit is then controlled, independently of your home’s HVAC system, using an easy-to-use remote control. Additional indoor units can be piped to the same outdoor unit to bring additional heating or cooling to more indoor spaces.

Schoonover Plumbing and Heating will be giving away a one-head Mitsubishi system at this year’s West Branch Susquehanna Builders’ Home Show. The show runs from March 17 – 19 at the Lycoming College’s Keiper Rec Center. We will be there with all the latest in HVAC technology, along with our experienced professionals to answer all of your questions about mini-split systems, geothermal heating and cooling, radiant in-floor heating, high-efficiency systems, water heaters, generators, and much more!

Admission to the show is $5 per person and children under 12 free. Bring a canned food item and receive $1.00 off of your entry fee. Come to the Schoonover booth at the festival and fill out an entry form to be entered. If you cannot make it to the Home Show, simply send a post card, containing your name, phone number, address, email, and what room you would put the Mitsubishi system in if you won, to Schoonover HVAC, Attn: Mitsubishi Giveaway, 51 E. Main Street, Canton, PA 17724. All entries must be received by Monday, March 20 to be eligible for the drawing which will take place at Schoonover’s office on March 20^th at 3:30PM.

Please see our webpage for giveaway rules.

On Demand Water Heaters

ericschoon — Sat, 11 Feb 2017 16:55:48 -0500

We here at Schoonover get many questions about On Demand or Tankless water heaters. While we are very comfortable installing these products, it is important to know some of the disadvantages and challenges when using on demand water heaters instead of traditional water heaters (a tank of standing hot water).

The first disadvantage is that in on demand water heaters there is no tank of standing hot water. “Of course!” you exclaim. “That is exactly what I am trying to get away from!” But let’s remember that “on demand” water heaters cannot create hot water instantaneously. You will still have to turn on the spigot to create the demand, the gas will begin to flow, the heater will turn on, the cold metal in the heat exchanger will heat up and then the hot water will begin to flow from your water heater to your tap. This all happens very quickly, but if you wait 10 seconds for hot water with a traditional water heater, you may be waiting 20-30 seconds with an on demand system. It is possible to pair an on demand water heater with a very small 5-10 gallon traditional water heater to speed up your hot water response, but defeats the purpose of getting away from a hot water storage tank.

Second, the minimum flow rate for an on demand water heater could mean that you will struggle to get warm water when you want it. For most on demand water heaters the demand on the system must be over half a gallon of hot water per minute for the unit to turn on. This means if you want warm water that is only drawing a small amount from your system, the draw may not be enough to turn on the heater. Even worse, the on demand system may begin making hot water, then determine that the draw is too small, so it will shut off, allowing cold water to flow past the heater until it is triggered to turn back on. This is called a “Cold-Water Sandwich” and it is a common complaint of on demand users. This also can be remedied with a small storage tank, but again we are returning to a larger system when on demand users usually want to do away with their storage tanks.

Third, the maximum flow rate for an on demand water heater may not be adequate for your household needs. On demand systems have a maximum flow rate of between 5 and 8 gallons per minute. If you have a bathtub with three two-and-a-half-gallon per minute spigots, you will not be able to fill the bathtub with hot water using a five-gallon-per-minute on demand system. The constraints on your system are not tied to how large your soaking tub is, but instead how quickly you want to fill it. On the flipside, if you know that your household demand will not exceed the maximum flow rate, and your household often uses hot water for an extended period of time, an on demand system means that you will never run out of hot water. As an example, we often say that if you have a large family and a home with three two-gallons per minute shower heads, an 8-gallon-per-minute on demand system will allow the whole family to shower, at the same time, for as long as they like without running out of hot water.

Fourth, the success of an on demand system in your home is very closely tied to the quality of your water. On demand systems operate with a capillary heat exchange, which means that the water is pumped through very small tubes for heating. If you have any hardness or sediment in your water, those heat exchangers can very easily experience scale buildup. The scale from poor water can be removed using an acid flush, but the heat exchangers can only withstand one or two flushes before they become damaged beyond repair. Homeowners can find themselves replacing on demand systems every few years which is an expensive proposition. We recommend that homeowners place water softeners and filters in line before the water heater to protect the system from damage from less-than-ideal water. This increases the price of your entire system.

Fifth, on demand water heaters require more maintenance than traditional water heaters. When budgeting for an on demand water heater, homeowners should factor in yearly maintenance to guarantee that gas burners are operating properly and scale is not building up on the heat exchanger. Traditional hot water heaters do not require regular maintenance, and therefore do not incur this recurring yearly cost.

If you still decide that you want an on demand hot water system, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Be sure that the unit is properly sized to do what you will ask of it. If multiple people in your household regularly shower at the same time, or if you do laundry and shower at the same time, be sure that your maximum usage rate meets that of your water heater.

2. Be sure that your water is adequately soft and free of sediment.

3. Mind your warranty. Many warranties require a qualified technician to service your unit frequently if you want to make a claim against the warranty. Be sure to read the fine print and service your unit regularly.

Setback Thermostats: Can You Save Money?

ericschoon — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 10:30:44 -0500

There is a lot of debate on the internet about setback thermostats and what will and will not save you energy, and therefore, money. Let’s start from the beginning:

What is a Setback Thermostat: A setback thermostat is a thermostat that gives the user the ability to change the temperature of the house automatically at night or when the occupants of the house are usually not home. The basic premise is that you can save money by not running your heating or cooling systems when you are not actively inhabiting your living space.

Sounds obvious, right? If you don’t use energy to condition your space when you aren’t around, you will, overall, use less energy and therefore save money! Right?

The complex answer is…. Maybe.

The ability to save money using a setback thermostat depends on several factors and some may be easier to change than others.

First, how well insulated is your home? If your home is well- insulated and well-sealed, it is often difficult to realize dramatic savings with a setback thermostat. Simply put, your well-sealed house doesn’t require much energy to maintain temperature if you are well-insulated from the outdoors. Setting back the thermostat may cause it to run slightly less, but not appreciably so.

Second, is your equipment properly sized and configured for what you are trying to do? Heat pumps have back-up electric resistance heat to help bring up the temperature in your home when the thermostat determines that it needs additional help. Depending on your settings, your heat pump may determine that it needs that “additional help” anytime you ask it to raise the temperature more than a few degrees. The electric resistance heat (essentially a toaster in your duct work) is far less efficient than your heat pump and it will cause your energy usage to increase over the cost of running your usually-efficient heat pump without the electric resistance heat. Setbacks of more than a few degrees may cost you more than if you left the thermostat at a constant temperature.

Third, how efficient is your equipment? High efficiency equipment, by its nature, will save less money during a setback than equipment that is less efficient. Therefore, homeowners with low-efficiency products stand to save more money when they run less. Also, high efficiency equipment does not always run at peak efficiency. When a high efficiency boiler is idling along, keeping a room at temperature, it can operate as efficiently as 98%, but when the boiler switches to high-fire, or max capacity, the efficiency can drop to as low as 85%. Forcing your boiler to ramp up to bring a home back up to temperature, can cause you to spend more because the boiler is not operating as efficiently as it would be if it was maintaining a constant temperature instead of compensating for a cool down.

Fourth, how long will you be gone? If you have a seasonal or weekend home, setting back the temperature for the days or weeks that the home will not be occupied is an obvious way to save energy, but a dramatic setback for a 7-hour span, may just not be worth it.

Fifth, your comfort isn’t just about the temperature. As the old saying goes, “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity”. Homes that experience frequent set backs and warm ups can suffer from humidity problems, regardless of the temperature of the house. Treating the humidity problem can mean more run time. Again, more run time means more money spent and less savings from the setback.

So if you want to try a setback thermostat please remember this:

Our primary goal at Schoonover is to make you comfortable in your home at all times. We are confident that we can achieve this goal in an efficient manner. Please call us at 570-673-5123 (or 1-800-634-1038) to discuss the most efficient equipment and settings for your home.

Stay tuned for more blog posts on what thermostats we recommend and why.

The Pinterest Shower ProblemWho doesn’t love looking through...

ericschoon — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 13:43:16 -0500

The Pinterest Shower Problem

Who doesn’t love looking through beautiful home ideas on Pinterest?

An under-stair reading nook? Adorable! A DIY fire pit in the yard? What a great project! A barn door re-purposed as a coat rack? Love it!

That beautiful shower with half a dozen shower heads at all angles and heights? How luxurious!

But how practical is a shower with multiple heads?* The answer, if you want to take more than a 5-minutes shower is “Not very.”

According to the Alliance for Water Efficiency, the average American shower uses 17.2 gallons and lasts for 8.2 minutes at a flow rate of 2.1 gallons per minute (GPM). We can safely assume that the average shower in the US involves only one shower head.

When we start adding shower heads to the equation, we rapidly increase the water usage. Three showers heads brings our total water usage to over 6 gallons per minute and an 8 minute shower now consumes 51.66 gallons of water.

The average home has a water heater that holds between 40 and 50 gallons of water. While your shower valve will dilute the hot water with cold to make a tolerable temperature for a shower, your 3-headed, 8 minute shower is still well on its way to using ALL of your home’s hot water in just one shower.

You had better hope that no one else wants to take a normal 17-gallon shower immediately after you, because they will be in for a chilly surprise!

Instead, consider shower heads that use a reduced water flow. Consider a shower head with a flow rate of less than 2.0 GPM. There are many great options on the market that go as low as 0.75 gallons per minute. Try shower heads that have an on-off switch to use while you are soaping, shaving or shampooing. This “navy shower” technique can reduce the total duration of water flow to 5 minutes or less.

In addition to saving water, any reduction in hot water usage saves your money in the form of heating additional water.

So keep pinning those beautiful spiral staircases, chalkboard painted walls and kitchen storage hacks, but remember Pinterest may not be the most practical resource when it comes to the shower!

* The Department of Energy limits shower heads to a maximum of 2.5 gallons per minute to conserve water and fuel. Multi-jet shower heads that are sold as a unit (“Shower towers”) comply with this 2.5 GPM limit. In fact, the 2.5 GPM limit has led to a steep decline in the sale of shower towers, which, prior to the current interpretation of this rule, often gushed an amazing 12 to 20 GPM. In this post we are addressing showers in which the plumber and homeowner have plumbed separate shower heads that were not sold as a unit.

Schoonover Plumbing & Heating, Inc. will have a...

ericschoon — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 10:25:41 -0400

Schoonover Plumbing & Heating, Inc. will have a Customer Appreciation Day on Friday, September 30^th at their office at 51 E. Main Street in Canton. Festivities will take place from 11am until 1pm and will include free lunch, treats, discounts on select products, specials, and free consultations with Schoonover’s sales force about how they can meet your heating and air conditioning needs.

Schoonover will be giving away a free furnace in a drawing that will take place at 12:30pm. All customers who have scheduled a fall clean & service over the last few weeks have been automatically entered into the giveaway. No purchase is necessary to enter the contest.

“We are excited to welcome the public into our store on Friday,” said Chief Operations Officer, Eric Schoonover. “Our experienced team will be on hand to answer questions and schedule free in-home estimates for homes and businesses. We look forward to seeing our customers and thanking them for their loyalty.”

Schoonover Plumbing and Heating, Inc., founded in 1947 by George Schoonover Sr. has grown to cover a large geographic footprint and offers residential, commercial and industrial customers professional services in plumbing, heating, electrical, and other mechanical trades. Schoonover has a retail store and a showroom with many fine products on display. They also have a working geothermal system in their showroom that heats and cools the building.

Everyone is welcome to attend this free event.

Bosch (with APR Supply) was kind enough to bring their demo...

ericschoon — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 09:39:32 -0400

Bosch (with APR Supply) was kind enough to bring their demo trailer to my shop yesterday to show the exciting new air-to-air inverter heat pump they have. It is a spectacular product and is very flexible, allowing us to use it in many retrofit applications. Give us a ring for more information!

Schedule your Fall Clean & Service between now and September...

ericschoon — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 14:44:40 -0400

Schedule your Fall Clean & Service between now and September 29th and be automatically entered to win a FREE LENNOX FURNACE.

Top Ten Things About Air Conditioning | ashrae.org

ericschoon — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 08:57:47 -0400

Top Ten Things About Air Conditioning | ashrae.org:

Learn more about Top Ten Things About Air Conditioning at ashrae.org

It is mid-July now and your air conditioning is working harder to keep your home cool and dry. Knowing a little about how your system works and what you can do to make it work better can help you be more comfortable in the coming weeks and save a few dollars in the process. This article provides some helpful information and tips. If you have any questions, just give us a call!