Winter is HERE !! The temps are getting low !!

Frozen Pipes !

 

Why Pipe Freezing is a Problem  .

    Water has a unique property in that it expands as it freezes. This expansion puts tremendous pressure on whatever is containing it, including metal or plastic pipes. No matter the "strength" of a container, expanding water can cause pipes to break. Pipes that freeze most frequently are those that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines, and water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets. Pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation are also subject to freezing.

  

 Preventing Frozen Pipes 

Before the onset of cold weather, prevent freezing of these water supply lines and pipes by following these recommendations:

 

-Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Open the outside hose bibs to allow water to drain. Keep the outside valve open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break.

-Check around the home for other areas where water supply lines are located in unheated areas. Look in the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be insulated.

-Consider installing specific products made to insulate water pipes like a "pipe sleeve" or installing UL-listed "heat tape," "heat cable," or similar materials on exposed water pipes. Newspaper can provide some degree of insulation and protection to exposed pipes – even ¼” of newspaper can provide significant protection in areas that usually do not have frequent or prolonged temperatures below freezing.

 

-Open all doors to cabinets  and closets that may contain pipes and let the heat get to them. 

 

Seems SUMMER IS HERE!...if not a lttle late to the Party.

Image by"hin255" at freedigitalphotos.net

AHHH SUMMER! Here it is June 18th and it seems to finally be showing signs that it has arrived.
It might be a short heat wave(predictions say it is going to cool down to the 70's this weekend) but it is hot and we haven't seen much of that this year.

With that being said you're probably not thinking too much about air conditioning. But now is the best time to consider servicing or replacing your air conditioning system.While it is going to be a spectacular weekend - weather wise - in the mid seventies, dry and not a cloud in the sky you should still consider calling Simmons to make sure your air conditioning system is ready to go.

Now that you can relax and know that your A/C is being taken care of, not to mention your plumbing and, dare we say, heating go out there and enjoy the weather we are having now. Lord knows we deserve it after the winter we had. Lots going on this weekend from Hampton Beach to the Vintage Bazaar at Pettengill Farm.

Enjoy and remember - SUMMER IS HERE! and the HEAT IS COMING:)

May 2014 and the Heat is Still Kicking In!?!?

Here it is a day in late May and I just saw a person ride by on a bike wearing a winter jacket. With the exception of a few days teasing us with eighty degrees, and thankfully a Memorial Day Weekend with fairly warm and sunny weather, it feels more like a cold wet autumn than spring. It does not seem like it now but the hot weather will be here before you know it. According to the Farmer's Almanac it is going to be a hot,humid and oppressive summer.

Even as you may be contemplating turning your heat back on you have to ask yourself  is your air conditioning system is up to the task of the coming summer months? Now is the time to get it up and running, not when you, your family or your employees are sweltering in the unrelenting heat that can be a New England summer in July and August. Our friends at the Farmer's Almanac are also predicting a warmer than normal early fall.

Also, as has been mentioned before, this spring is seeing a brutal allergy season and maintaining and improving the air quality in your home or office can go a long way in alleviating the suffering brought on by spring allergies. So have your whole HVAC system looked at now because let's face it before you know it winter will be here again and the heating system will be running 24/7.

Image by Simon Howden  freedigitalphotos.net

So no matter what your plumbing, cooling, ventilation, air conditioning or, dear we say, heating needs give Simmons a call and you'll be breathing easier in no time!!

Image by photostock  freedigitalphotos.net

Simmonsplumbing.com ● 978-478-5505

H........V........A........C

It's been a crazy Spring. We have had a little bit of everything, weather wise!

And we at Simmons Plumbing can help with any issue you may have.

H..........Heating.

Yes unfortunately it has still been cold enough to find the need to use your heat.

Don't freak out though.

We're still here if you require any repair on maintenance on your boiler or furnace.

V..........Ventilation.

With all the wet and humid(if not altogether warm) days we have been having allergy season is hitting with a vengeance. There is not much we can do to help you when you are out doors, but we can when it comes to your indoors. Give us a call.

A.........C.........Air Conditioning.

Believe it or not it WILL GET WARMER and it WILL BE HOT!
So make sure that air conditioner is ready. To help you along with that we are now offering(for a limited time) an "Early Bird" Special on Air Conditioner Tune Ups. So "Dont Wait For The Heat!"

Spring and our thoughts turn to...Air Conditioning

Yes it is Spring in New England! 

Winter is over and our Boys of Summer are back. Everything is right with the world... well not quite.
Yes that was snow we saw on the ground the second week of April and our returning World Series Champs haven't even made it to 500 ball.

But we at Simmons Plumbing know that both of these situations are temporary. While there is not much we can do for the Red Sox other than root for the home team with the rest of you, we can offer solutions for your comfort in the heat we know is coming.

Air Conditioners are an integral part of the way we live today. They offer comfortable spaces where we live, where we work and in the vehicles we use to go back and forth between both. From portable wall units to massive industrial systems, air conditioning not only makes modern life comfortable but in some cases possible where it was not before. Environments from air planes to hospitals and many spaces in between would not be possible without modern air conditioning systems. 

And they are not only for cooling the air but for keeping the air in these facilities at a constant temperature year round. They are responsible for the Heating and Ventilation as well as Air Conditioning. In fact that is what HVAC stands for - Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

Here is a list of some of the different types of Air Conditioner units you may be interested in.

The air conditioners that most people are familiar with are the portable window units we see in homes and sometimes the larger units recessed in walls. But there are many others.

Central Air Conditioners are the next type that people are also familiar with since they are becoming more and more common in new home construction.  Central air conditioners come in two basic set ups: Split System and Packaged.

Split Systems are what homeowners are more accustomed to seeing. They are called split systems because the compressor/condenser part of the a/c is housed in a unit outside the home and the evaporator is inside and sends the cool air through the home via ductwork(most likely the same as heats the home). Since the compressor/condenser makes the most noise and is outside these systems have the benefit of being quiet.

Packaged central air conditioners are used on larger buildings and if you have seen units on the roof this is most likely a packaged variety.

Ductless or Mini Split Aair Conditioning Systems - These ac units are kind of a cross between a Split System unit and a portable air conditioner, if you will. If your home does not have duct work and you are looking for something more than a window unit this may be what you are looking for. It consists of an outdoor unit similiar to a split system central air conditioner that is attached to many smaller wall units through out the home.

 Image courtesy of "twobee" at freedigitalphotos.net

Bag of Ice and a Fan, just kidding ;) but it can work if you have no other choice - we recommend the above units however!

Happy Spring from Simmons Cooling, Plumbing & HVAC

Winter is finally over and spring is on the way. With the change in seasons, we move away from worrying about the cold and keeping our heating systems  running, to allergy season and how to survive the day to day dilemma of  itchy eyes and runny noses.

Image by Stuart Miles at freedigitalphotos.net

We here at Simmons can only sympathize with your plight with dealing with allergies while outdoors and leave what ever help you may find to your doctor. When it comes to helping you find relief and comfort indoors we are more than qualified to offer both advice and solutions to this seasonal issue.

It may not at first seem obvious but it is a fact that the indoor air quality in your home or office can be worse than the air outside. This is because the allergens that are present outside this time of year are also inside. Add to this the indoor particles caused by mold, pet dander, dust mites and fumes from appliances such as water heaters or ovens and you can see why the air inside can potentially be worse. Also it is worth mentioning that these irritants, unlike the seasonal variety outside, can be present year round.

Unlike the outdoor air quality, however, there is plenty that can be done to control the quality of air inside. There are many appliances and systems around your home or office that we at Simmons are qualified to maintain and repair. There are some steps, however, that you can take yourself to improve the air quality in your home        

• Add houseplants  -  One Houseplant for every 100 square feet of indoor living space will greatly increase the quality of the air in your home.
• Do not smoke indoors  -  This one should go without saying but still good advice.
• Fight against dust-mites  -  Clean bedding frequently(at least weekly), keep pets off of furniture.
• Check your Radon Level  -  The EPA can provide you with a do-it-yourself testing kit. For more information you can find the kit here.

For anything that requires professional assistance give us a call. We can help with everything. Cleaning out the gas jets of your gas oven, will cut down on the fumes that may cause poor air quality. Or we can install a complete ventilation or indoor air quality system. Give us a call or contact us and we will be happy to help you enjoy the bright warm weather ahead.

Happy Spring from Simmons Cooling, Plumbing and HVAC!!