December 15, 2022

As the days get colder, air quality in the home tends to decrease. Cold and dry air traps additional pollution, which can negatively impact air quality and cause irritation, allergies, or other difficulties.

To help offset the impact of winter air, here are some things that can be done at home to increase air quality during the colder months:

Changing Air Filters

Most air filters are recommended to be changed roughly every 90 days, but this can vary due to a variety of factors. Households with pets should change their air filters roughly every 60 days, and possibly sooner if someone living in the households has allergies or any respiratory conditions.

Air filters remove impurities from the air, and also help protect an HVAC system from potential damage. Make sure to check your air filter regularly to inspect it for particle buildup. An air filter that appears to have an excess amount of dust or debris should be changed.

Air Duct Cleaning

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that air ducts should be cleaned as needed. Air ducts should be cleaned if there is visible mold growing on the ducts or heating equipment, if they are infested with mice or other animals, and if dust buildup is released from the ducts.

Cleaning cooling coils, fans, and heat exchanges may also help improve the efficiency of the system.

Home Deep Clean

A deep cleaning of the home can help eliminate dust and other particles that may impact the air quality in the home. Remove clutter to clear space in order to make the cleaning process easier. Wipe down hard surfaces to remove dust, ensuring to get all fans and vents in the home. Sweep, mop, or vacuum floors to eliminate particles built up in corners and baseboards.

Ventilation

Fans can help improve ventilation in the home. This includes exhaust fans, such as ones above a stove or in a bathroom. Even if windows are not open and the exhaust fans do not vent outdoors, fans can still help to improve air flow.

A high-efficiency particulate air cleaner can also help improve ventilation. When purchasing a HEPA cleaner, ensure its Clean Air Delivery Rate meets the square footage of the room you intend to utilize it in.

Air Purifiers

Air purifiers can improve air quality by filtering pollutants and allergens. They can help eliminate harmful chemicals, reduce the spread of airborne diseases, and prevent unpleasant smells.

Air purifiers can kill airborne microbes, remove chemicals from the air, and eliminate dust, smoke, and mold. An air purifier should be placed away from the corner of a room, and away from furniture, so the air can be evenly circulated. Ensure the air purifier’s size is appropriate for the room it is intended to be used in.

More questions? Give us a call. The team at Cerrone Plumbing & HVAC is happy to help! (518) 798-6560.

November 4, 2022

QUEENSBURY — As colder weather approaches in Upstate New York, it becomes even more important to ensure heating systems are working properly. That’s where Cerrone Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning comes in.

Cerrone provides installation, maintenance, and repairs for heating, air conditioning, and plumbing systems, and also helps deal with air quality.

The company, which has primarily dealt with residential properties, has been increasingly providing commercial services. Joe Cerrone, the manager and owner of Cerrone, said this is mainly due to an increase in construction in the Glens Falls area.

“Over the years, we’ve slowly grown, mainly doing new construction and residential service and repair and installations,” said Cerrone. “Just due to the recent Glens Falls renovation projects that are going on right now, we’ve been getting our foot more in the door for commercial projects.”

Dealing with commercial heating is different from residential heating, Cerrone said.

“(Commercial heating is) a bit more in-depth, I would say,” said Cerrone. “There’s a lot more things going on.”

The company had taken on what Cerrone described as “light” commercial projects in the past, but has focused more on the commercial side with the growth of Glens Falls and its surrounding areas.

“We’ve done commercial projects, like light commercial projects, before,” said Cerrone. “But more recently, there’s just been a lot more construction going on in our area that we’ve had the opportunity to bid on the jobs.”

As winter nears, Cerrone said routine maintenance is important to keep heating systems working properly.

“Routine maintenance is a big one. We do offer fall and spring services, preventative maintenance services. Those kinds of things are pretty big, because we can catch issues before they happen, so they’re not left in the middle of winter without heat,” Cerrone said. “We do offer 24/7 emergency service, but just to catch the issues before they happen and prevent them is pretty big.”

Cerrone’s service area stretches from Bolton Landing to Saratoga Springs, according to their website.

“We’re right in Queensbury, so we’re very local for a lot of businesses in Glens Falls,” said Cerrone.

The company provides service to locations such as Glens Falls, Queensbury, Hudson Falls, Warrensburg, Fort Edward, Lake George, Gansevoort, and Wilton.

Cerrone, who grew up in Lake George, said it is “great” to be able to provide services to the local community and watch it grow through the years.

“It’s great, watching this area grow throughout the years,” said Cerrone. “Glens Falls, 15 years ago, wasn’t anything like it is today, with the new restaurants popping up that we’ve done a lot of work in.”

September 7, 2022

The colder, winter weather is coming and before you know it, you’ll be reaching for the thermostat. It’s time to get ready for the dreaded drop in temperatures, snow, and higher heating costs. Before you fire up your home heating system, there are some simple and affordable things you can do before the cold weather strikes to help keep the rise in your heating bills under control. Here are some tips to help get your home in winter-ready condition:

Thermostat Upgrade or Reprogramming

The best way to control the temperature in your home is with a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats allow you to keep your home cooler and save energy when you’re either sleeping or not at home. The Environmental Protection Agency says that installing a programmable thermostat can save homeowners anywhere from 10 to 30% on the space heating and cooling portion of their energy bills.

Seal Any Cracks or Gaps

It can be hard to find leaks in your home on a mild day, but if your home is leaky, you could be losing the heat inside your home to the outdoors on a cold day. Before winter makes its quick arrival in the coming months, while walking through your home, stop in front of your windows and doors to see if you feel a draft and make sure that all weather stripping isn’t cracked or missing. However, it can be difficult to identify all leaks or gaps in your home if you don’t know where to look or what you are looking for. The home heating specialists at Cerrone can help you find and seal any leaks in your home.

Check Your Heat Ducts

If your heat ducts aren’t sealed, you could be losing a lot of hot air even if you’ve sealed the rest of your home. Ducts are usually out-of-sight, out-of-mind in your basement, attic or inside walls, so checking for leaks is not an easy task for a home repair DIY enthusiast. The HVAC professionals at Cerrone can help you save over $100 on your annual heating bill just by fixing any leaks in your duct system.

Make Sure Your Vents Aren’t Blocked

Did you move your furniture recently and forget about your heating vents? When colder weather comes, your heating system may be functioning correctly and everything may be sealed, but if your air vents are blocked, the hot air will never make it into your home. Locate all of your heating vents. Make sure they are not being blocked by furniture or rugs. You can also save on energy costs by closing vents in rooms that you aren’t using in the winter months.

Schedule a Maintenance Appointment and Replace Your HVAC Filter

Extend the life of your system and make a maintenance appointment with Cerrone to have your heating system professionally serviced and cleaned. Catching any problems early, before the cold weather hits, can save you time, money, and a broken heating system in the middle of winter. And don’t forget to replace your HVAC filter. As a general rule, this should be done every season because filters collect dust, dirt, allergens and dander, and can’t filter the air in your home as efficiently.

Interested in learning more about what we recommend to do before colder weather comes? Give us a call at (518) 798-6560.

August 3, 2022

Water damage can cost a homeowner thousands of dollars in home repairs. But thanks to smart home technology, detecting and stopping a water leak before it becomes costly just got easier.

One of the most common causes of water damage is the appliances in your home, most commonly water tanks, washing machines, and toilets.

Picture this:

You leave town for a much-needed vacation to visit your second home in the Adirondacks where you plan to enjoy a week of pure relaxation and joy. You arrive expecting to find that everything is as it was when you left the year before, but that is not the case. You discover that a water line broke in your basement during your time away, spilling gallons of water into your finished basement. The water is about knee high and has ruined sheetrock, baseboard, door trim, and furniture. Don’t forget about the potential mold situation this could create. Sure, insurance helps, but you have a serious situation to deal with that has no immediate remedy.

That vacation zen you worked so hard to obtain? Gone.

Don’t worry, we have an answer. We have a preventative solution to give you peace of mind and the ability to hold onto the vacation zen a while longer the next time you leave town.

We offer Protect by LeakSmart® to all of our customers.

What It Does

Paired with sensors, Protect by LeakSmart, detects all water leaks and water damage throughout your home. The difference can be having a puddle of water to mop up rather than causing irreparable damage.

How It Works

The LeakSmart system sounds an alarm, sends an alert, and shuts off the water main to your home within seconds! No sheetrock ruined, no trim to be replaced, no musty furniture, or mold issues. Just peace of mind knowing that you have done everything you can to protect your home. Also, LeakSmart’s sensors use a radio signal, so if there is a power outage or your WiFi is down, the sensors continue to monitor your pipes.

Now, you can take that vacation without worrying about coming home to water damage from leaking pipes.

Have questions about LeakSmart? Reach out to the professionals at Cerrone Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning to learn more!

July 6, 2022

You may ask, ‘why would I want to choose a ductless AC unit?’. Well, maybe your home doesn’t have any existing ductwork for an AC unit, or you only want to heat or cool only certain areas of your home while still having access to all windows. Each ductless AC unit has its own thermostat, so you can regulate the temperature throughout your home. Not convinced? Below, we give you a few reasons why a ductless system may be the right choice for you, your family, or your business.

1. Easy and Flexible Installation

Installing traditional HVAC systems is a complex, lengthy and costly process if you need to add new ductwork into the walls of your home. Installing a ductless air conditioner, on the other hand, isn’t as labor-intensive. With easy-installation comes lower install fees! Ductless air conditioning systems require only mounting a wall unit and running piping from the outdoor compressor to the wall-mounted unit.

2. Personalized and Precise Comfort with Greater Humidity Control

Each unit has its own thermostat, allowing for temperature control to be zone-specific. This means that specific temperatures are reached for individual small spaces, instead of one unit working to cool your entire home, requiring less energy. Zoned temperature control

3. Improves Air Quality

Having a ductless system means that no allergens (dander, hair, or other debris) make their way back into your home through the unit. The air comes directly from outside and goes through a filtration system before entering your home. Your air is always clean and healthy.

4. Energy Efficient

As previously mentioned in reason #2, each unit has its own thermostat. This allows you to switch off units in rooms that are not currently in use, so you don’t have to cool your entire home. With a traditional HVAC unit, you may run into leaking air ducts, which would reduce the efficiency of the unit. Avoid this problem entirely with a ductless AC unit.

5. Silent, Small and Minimal

Traditional window units are notoriously obtrusive and loud, and HVAC systems are bulky and complex. They take up space in your home and require an extensive installation of ductwork. One of the best things about a ductless unit is that it is compact in size and can fit anywhere. Also, none of the loud, distracting noise generated by the main portion of the unit reaches the interior of your home.

6. Minimal Maintenance

No more worrying about sealing leaks or cleaning out the debris that makes its way inside ductwork. Simply clean the filters, make sure vents are clear, and keep the area around the outside unit clean to maintain the unit’s airflow.

We’re Here to Help

Now that we’ve told you about the simpler, quieter and more compact way to cool your home, it is important to keep in mind that we are here to help no matter what kind of air conditioning system you choose. At Cerrone Plumbing, Heating & HVAC, we know air conditioning systems inside and out. Each home or office requires its own solution, and that’s where our certified technicians come in. Save yourself the hassle of figuring things out yourself and give us a call today.

June 16, 2022

Many homeowners try to take the DIY route when it comes to home maintenance and installing important components like HVAC units as a way to save money. However, this home repair project is not meant for a weekend install by even the best DIY homeowner. One skipped step can lead to costly repairs over time that you weren’t expecting. Here are a few reasons why you should have a professional like the team at Cerrone Plumbing, Heating & HVAC install the A/C unit in your home.

1. Calculating the Proper Size Needed for Your Home

Professional HVAC installers are able to calculate which A/C unit will work best for the size of your home. They will analyze your home, locate any problem areas that may have excessive humidity, and help you find the best system within your budget. Buying a system that is too large or small for your home will end up costing you more in the long run.

2. Efficiency

As previously mentioned, one skipped step can lead to costly repairs over time. A/C installation requires a detail-oriented process that includes steps involving electrical wiring and seals. If you don’t have the proper equipment or knowledge base, you may end up putting strain on parts of the system and overwork the entire system. Hiring a professional like Cerrone Plumbing, Heating & HVAC to install your unit will ensure that your unit runs at maximum efficiency and lasts the average lifespan or longer.

3. Safety

HVAC system installs involve sharp pieces of metal and electrical components. If handled improperly, you may become injured while working on the system or end up damaging your home. HVAC technicians are trained to work safely and follow all necessary local and state code regulations.

The professionals at Cerrone Plumbing, Heating & HVAC are always available for all of your HVAC questions and needs – from tune-ups to installs, we do it all. Give us a call at (518) 798-6560 today, and we will find the best system for your home and budget.

May 12, 2022

Have you noticed that the only time you pay attention to your air conditioner is when it stops working? Like most people, you probably just turn on the air conditioner and go about your day. There is nothing worse than coming home to your A/C being broken when the temperatures are on the rise. A broken A/C can make your home feel like an oven, which, of course, is uncomfortable, but it can also be damaging to your home. A/C tune-ups are the simplest way to maintain your A/C unit and prevent it from breaking when you need it the most.

Here are four reasons why every homeowner should get an annual A/C tune-up.

1. Help Prevent Breakdowns

An A/C tune-up is a preventative maintenance measure. During tune-ups, we inspect the inside and outside of your A/C unit to check for any issues that could lead to a breakdown in the future and fix them before it’s too late. By getting your A/C tuned and checked for problems, you are preventing any unexpected breakdowns that might occur. 

2. Efficiency and Extended Life

Dust and debris build up inside the air conditioner’s coils and mechanical parts over time, and can impact your unit’s ability to function properly. This means that your A/C may end up working harder to produce the same amount of energy and cool air. With regular A/C tune-ups, your unit becomes more energy efficient – meaning that you save money on your energy bills.

3. Air Quality

The air filters in your A/C unit fill up with dust, dirt, hair, and other debri, much like any other filters in your home. During a tune-up, all air filters in the unit are replaced to ensure that you are breathing the best air you can while inside your home.

4. Lower Costs

As mentioned above, a dirty A/C has to work harder to cool your home, causing your energy bills to rise. During regular tune-ups, the inner workings of the unit will be cleaned to make sure it functions at its highest efficiency. Also, if there is a problem with your unit, our technician will catch it and prevent it from becoming a significant problem in the future. This means you pay less for maintenance fees, and you are less likely to have to purchase a new unit. 

Luckily, an A/C tune-up from Cerrone Plumbing, Heating & HVAC can increase your unit’s efficiency, reduce your costs, and guarantee that you can go the summer months without any unexpected breakdowns. Give us a call today!

March 31, 2022

The rainy season is here and so is the question: ‘why does my basement always flood when it rains?’ There are many reasons why a basement may flood, even in the driest weather. If you have experienced water in your basement, and if it is a consistent issue, it is important to find the source and fix the problem before personal property damage, structural damage or mold occur.

Some of the most common causes of a flooded basement are:

1. Water Pooling. The most common problem is water pooling around the foundation of your home. If there has been consistent rain, the ground becomes saturated and water pressure forces the water through your foundation and into your basement. If your home does not have proper grading, or the gutters get clogged with leaves and debris, water will run down, gather at the foundation and seep through existing cracks.
   
   HOW TO FIX: The grading or soil should always slope away from the home to prevent water from accumulating near the foundation. However, maybe the problem isn’t that complicated and the solution may be as simple as cleaning out your gutters and downspouts.
2. Poor Window Installation. If your windows are not properly installed, the window wells will fill with water from water pooling (flooded yard) or clogged gutters and the water will seep into your basement.

   HOW TO FIX: Remove exterior caulking, clean the window frame and re-caulk. Check the gasket between the window frame and the glass and reseal the glass to the gasket if needed.

3. Sump Pumps. If you have a sump pump installed, be sure to check on it frequently. Its purpose is to pump excess water away from the foundation. If the sump pump malfunctions, it is possible for groundwater to enter through the pump and flood your basement.

   HOW TO FIX: Make sure the connecting pipe that leads the water away from your home is not clogged. It also may be a good idea to install a backup power source for your sump pump for those unexpected electrical outages.

Your basement is best when kept dry – let’s make sure it stays that way! If you need help preventing or removing water from your home, be sure to give us a call at (518) 798-6560.

March 4, 2022

The heating systems in our homes and businesses keep us warm throughout the cold New York winters. Although routine maintenance keeps them running, you never know when an unexpected failure will leave you cold. One of the most common system failures we see is caused by a dirty air filter.

When was the last time you gave any thought to replacing the air filter in your home or business? If you can’t recall the last time it was replaced, maybe now is the time to start thinking about making the change. Your system’s filter needs to be checked and changed or cleaned every 1-2 months.

Replacing your furnace’s air filter is crucial to your home and business and your HVAC system’s efficiency. Here are our top 4 reasons why:

1. A Clogged Filter = Inefficient System and Higher Energy Costs

You have to replace your furnace filter to help ensure that your system continues to run efficiently. When the air filter is clogged with dust, dirt, hair, and pet dander, your system works harder to move air throughout your home. This will drive up your energy bill and potentially drain your wallet from unnecessary (and unwanted) energy costs.

2. Health Risks Caused by Air Quality: Dirty Air Filters May Hurt Your Health

The primary purpose of an air filter is to trap and filter pollutants. A dirty filter becomes ineffective in trapping these harmful particles and allows dust, dirt, dander and other toxins/allergens to continuously circulate throughout your home or business because they have nowhere else to go. This means that the people exposed to that environment will breathe these particles in, worsening asthma, allergies and even the common cold.

3. Clogged Air Filters Reduce Your System’s Lifespan

A clean system lasts longer. Dirty and clogged filters cause a restriction of airflow in the system, making the system work harder and, in some cases, the system may overheat and shut down. Other parts of the system also end up spending more energy to move the same amount of air through the vents, which can lead to premature system failure or short-cycling – an issue that occurs after the system cools and starts back up again, but the problem still exists. Why pay for a new system when a low-cost air filter replacement can mitigate the problem?

4. Dirty Filters Increase Your Maintenance Costs

While a dirty filter doesn’t always lead to an outright breakdown, it does lead to costly, unscheduled system maintenance. When filters get clogged, your system continues to run and stresses other system components, damaging the equipment. Neglecting to regularly change your filter can lead to a blower not functioning, or the ductwork getting clogged with dust. Do yourself (and your wallet) a favor and consider making air filter replacement a part of your normal maintenance schedule to avoid the costly repairs we all dread.

Conclusion

At Cerrone Plumbing & HVAC, we want you to have an efficient heating system that allows you to stay warm, stay safe and save money. Air filter replacement plays an important role in long-term efficiency. Changing your air filter regularly is affordable AND you can do it yourself. It’s an easy task that does not require a service call, though we are happy to answer any questions you may have.

December 28, 2021

With the chilly weather comes the “No Heat Calls”- calls where people report losing heat. This issue can happen to anyone and is not only inconvenient, it is also dangerous. Although modern heating and cooling systems are generally reliable, they can still develop problems that threaten safety and comfort. Thankfully, there are ways that you can reduce the frequency of issues with your heating system, and if something does go wrong, we are here to help. Let’s take a look at some common causes of no heat calls, and what you should do if they happen!

Lack of Heating Maintenance

Often, we get calls about furnaces that are simply not turning on. Correcting the problem can be as simple as throwing a switch, but this often occurs because sensitive parts of the furnace system have become dirty during the time it wasn’t being used. Dirty burners, dirty flame sensors, dirty blowers, and dirty air filters can all cause a heating failure. To avoid these issues, make sure you have an HVAC technician over for yearly maintenance. If this issue does occur, a technician can clean out the affected areas and get things running properly with only minor maintenance!

Ductwork Issues

Sometimes, the problem isn’t with the heater itself, rather it is with the ductwork- for example: dirty, kinked, or leaking ductwork. This can cause long term airflow problems which over time, can cause the system to overheat and break down. When this happens, you need to have an HVAC technician fix the broken parts of the heating system, and redo the problematic ductwork to prevent the issue from repeating itself.

A Dead Blower Capacitor

The blower capacitor is the “big battery” part that starts the furnace when the thermometer instructs it to. Thankfully, this is usually a simple issue to resolve, as the blower capacitor just needs to be replaced with a short visit by our qualified technicians.

Thermostat Issues

If your thermostat is malfunctioning or working improperly, your heater may not turn on. Newer thermostats come with lots of programmable options that can get mixed up and mimic malfunction, so sometimes repair is not needed and correcting the problem is as simple as reprogramming the thermostat. If not, a malfunctioning thermostat can be fixed or replaced quickly by an HVAC technician.

Although there can be other reasons for “No Heat Calls”, these are some of the most common. Once you know what is happening, most things can be easily fixed. Even if you don’t know what the issue is with your heating system, you can rest assured that our technicians have got you covered.

Contact us at the first sign of an issue, so we can help you avoid a long and uncomfortable time without heat this winter.