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Stay Cool and Safe with these Heating and Air Conditioning Tips!
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Stay Cool and Safe with these Heating and Air Conditioning Tips!

Hard pipe correctly used on a furnace

We are supposed to have another HOT weekend and at Bill Howe we want to keep our San Diego heating and air conditioning customers cool AND safe! A couple weeks ago we stressed the importance of checking your drip pan (aka your safety pan) on your indoor air handler to make sure it is not leaking. During this hot summer we’ve been having, our air conditioning units might be top-of-mind, but with the recent earthquakes in San Diego, heating units also need a little attention.

Typically, there are two types of pipe used when a new furnace is installed. While there are several brands for both of these types of pipe, they generally fall into two distinct categories: they are either a hard pipe that is black in color or a flex pipe with a yellow plastic covering. While the hard pipe is thick, rigid and safe, the flex pipe is generally thin, flexible and prone to breaking which can cause very dangerous gas leaks. In the case of an earthquake, which can cause your furnace to shift, a hard pipe will not break in the commotion, but a flex pipe is far more likely to break and cause a gas leak.

flex pipe used on san diego heating unit

Example of a flex pipe used on a San Diego heating unit, Bill Howe Heating & Air Conditioning replaced this pipe with a hard pipe.

If a flex pipe was used in your furnace installation, or if you are unclear about what type was used, we highly recommend that you have one of our expert San Diego heating technicians take a look in order to ensure your safety.
Our heating technicians adhere to strict standards. Our technicians are certified with the North American Technician Excellence (NATE). They also belong to the non-profit Institute of Heating and Air Conditioning Industries, Inc. (IHACI). They have completed the AC&R Safety Coalitions and have extensive training in the refrigerant known as R-410A. They must also adhere to the standards of the EPA and have been certified through the Esco Institute.

When it comes to cooling you down during these hot summer months, and keeping you safe with all of your needs in heating, San Diego residents count on Bill Howe Heating & Air. No problem is too large or too small for us and we guarantee your satisfaction and safety.

To schedule an appointment or for more tips on your heating, San Diego residents please contact us at 1-800-BILL-HOWE (1-800-245-5469).

 

Comments

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5 Comments

  1. The pic that shows a flex pipe is the vital component that needs utmost attention and care. Maintenance Tips mentioned in the post is very useful. It is the best technician who you choose matters in heating and air conditioning system maintenance.

  2. Thanks for the article i want to suggest one thing you can also me change the pipe with a hard rubber pipe to make it more reliable and as you know the pipe is fixed over the furnace so we that kind of material which not catching fire easily to make us safely to live.

  3. I had no idea that the pipe thickness used in my air conditioning unit could determine the safety of my home. It is disturbing to think that if my pipe breaks it could cause a gas leak. I am unsure what kind of thickness the pipe I currently have is but I will be sure to check and if needed to call an air conditioning technician.

  4. What useful information. Proper maintenance will definitely give you better output – plus less trouble in the future. Simple steps make it easy!

  5. Quality service is important to me as well as reasonable pricing. References and referrals are a great way to find a reliable contractor. Be sure to ask around and find someone you can trust! BTW, nice tip dude! Very informative indeed.

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Service for new garbage disposal. My ancient garbage disposal quit working, went online to get Bill Howe’s number, immediately received and accepted chat to describe my needs. Prompt call back to schedule an appointment, service tech Allen was out same morning, which was important to fit my work schedule. Job estimate was clear, work done fully to my expectations, area left clean, and price was very fair.
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Bill Howe never fails us! We had a drain overflow, and Scott came (on a Saturday) to look at it and offer solution. He was punctual, professional, and extremely helpful. I should also praise the main office for always being helpful and always finding solutions. Very grateful to have you in San Diego!

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Cory was our technician on this job. We had a time sensitive repair issue and Bill Howe understood and assisted with getting the job done quickly.
Cory was on time to start the job and finished it quickly. Upon his leaving our home he’s was courteous, very knowledgeable, explaining what the problem was and how he fixed it. Very good communication and this is the way it’s has always been when we use Bill Howe plumbing.
Great company to work with.
Thanks Cory.
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I had a shower that would not drain. The employee arrived on time and fixed the problem quickly and effectively at a very fair price. I was very happy with everything. Thank you and I highly recommend your plumbing service.

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I am extremely happy with the service we received from Bill Howe Plumbing. We were given an incorrect diagnosis of our main sewer line from another vendor, but Bill Howe’s servicemen came out for a second opinion, correctly diagnosed our problem and resolved our back up issues. We will continue to use Bill Howe for all our future plumbing needs!

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