Natural gas is an efficient and natural way to heat and power your home, but when burning is incomplete in your heater, furnace, stove, or other household gas appliances, it becomes carbon monoxide (CO) — an odorless, colorless, tasteless, and deadly poisonous gas if breathed for a few minutes.

The predicament occurs when there is a leak in the natural gas coming into the house or if there is too much CO built up in the home — caused by a lack of proper ventilation.

Symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to food poisoning and the flu; confusion, headaches, dizziness, vomiting or faintness are all signs of exposure to carbon monoxide. If you have these symptoms and suspect CO poisoning — especially if more than one person in the house comes down with these symptoms suddenly — vent your house and find an emergency room immediately. Let the doctors know you suspect CO poisoning.

To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not run your car, lawnmower, chainsaws or other gas powered engines inside a closed space or garage, don’t use charcoal grills indoors, and don’t sleep in a room with a gas or kerosene space heater, as all of these devices emit carbon monoxide.

The professionals at Hooper Plumbing and Air Conditioning in the Park Cities recommend several ways to help you prevent natural gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning in your home. 

1. Installing a carbon monoxide detector should be your first line of defense. Detectors can be found at the local hardware store and easily installed, just like a smoke detector, but are specifically designed to detect dangerous levels of CO. (Carbon monoxide detectors are NOT replacements for smoke detectors, but there are some models on the market that serve a dual purpose.) 
   
   
2. Hooper Plumbing offers preventative maintenance and inspections for all of your gas appliances and lines. They can test for leaks and detect problems before they become deadly complications. 
   
   
3. While natural disasters can’t be prevented, Hooper Plumbing offers a Natural Disaster Safety Valve, a device that connects to the gas lines going into your home and can shut off gas if lines become broken or damaged. 

For more information on natural gas and carbon monoxide detection please visit www.hooperplumbing.com or call Hooper Plumbing at 214-306-8020. 

Another great source for more information on CO poisoning and prevention is www.epa.gov/iaq/pdfs/co_factsheet_en.pdf. 

For more information call Hooper today!

Hooper Plumbing & Air Conditioning
6725 Hillcrest Ave., Suite A
Dallas, TX 75205

214-306-8020
www.hooperplumbing.com

The Texas summer isn't kind to your air-conditioning system. And no one is thinking about their furnace when temperatures soar over the 100-degree mark. Are you going to be OK over the next few months or is a system failure in your future?

You can answer this question by scheduling a HVAC inspection and fixing problems before the system gives out.

“Too many people call us in a panic,” said Tracy Rodden of Dallas-based Hooper Plumbing & Air Conditioning. “They’ve waited until their system failed and now they are miserably hot or freezing cold and the repair is going to be expensive. Smart homeowners will schedule regular maintenance to keep their systems going year-round without a hitch.”

An HVAC inspection will tell you whether you need to replace or repair your heating and cooling systems as the warm days slowly transition to cooler ones. And if your system does need service, you can schedule repair work quickly so that you won't be surprised by a sputtering furnace on that first chilly evening of the winter season.

Scheduling an HVAC inspection can also keep your family safe. A malfunctioning furnace can emit carbon monoxide, putting you and your family at risk. A furnace that's not operating properly might result, too, in a potentially deadly electrical fire.

During an inspection, an HVAC professional will tighten electrical connections and make sure that your furnace is properly vented. This will reduce the chance of either an electrical fire or a dangerous gas leak.

HVAC technicians will also check to make sure that your heating and cooling systems are properly moving the air around your home. This, too, is an important safety matter. Better air flow can reduce the build-up of mold, bacteria and dirt in your home and in your heating and cooling vents. This is especially important for family members who may suffer from asthma or allergies. A build-up of mold, dust and dirt is hardly healthy for such family members.

Then there's energy efficiency. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR program lists a yearly HVAC tune-up and inspection as a must-do for homeowners hoping to cut down on the size of their heating and cooling bills.

Like many Texas residents, you probably noticed your utility bills rising this summer. Malfunctioning heating and cooling systems often have to work harder to cool or heat your home's rooms. And when HVAC systems are working harder, they're consuming more energy, leaving you with higher utility bills.

The same can happen with older furnaces and air-conditioning systems. Today's high-efficiency HVAC systems are designed to heat and cool rooms while consuming as little energy as possible. The same can't always be said of older systems. An HVAC technician inspecting your system might recommend that you upgrade to a newer, more efficient heating and cooling system.

Yes, you'll have to pay for that new system. But your heating and cooling contractor should be able to give you an estimate for how dramatically your yearly utility bills will fall thanks to a more efficient HVAC system. You can then calculate how quickly you'll be able to cover the cost of your new HVAC equipment. You might be surprised at how short the payback period can be.

What happens during the yearly HVAC check-up? According to ENERGY STAR, an HVAC technician should tighten all electronic connections, lubricate all the moving parts of your system, make sure that your system's condensate drain is not plugged and determine if operating controls are working properly.

Your HVAC technician won’t focus solely on your furnace during the yearly inspection. To make sure that your air-conditioning system will be ready for the following summer, your technician will clean your cooling unit's evaporator and condenser air-conditioning coils, check your central air-conditioner's refrigerant level and clean and adjust your system's blower components.

You can take steps on your own, too, to make sure that your HVAC system is working properly. This includes inspecting, cleaning and changing the air filters in your central air-conditioner, furnace and heat pump. ENERGY STAR recommends that you do this once every month.

For more information about your heating and cooling systems or to schedule an HVAC inspection call Hooper today!

Hooper Plumbing & Air Conditioning
6725 Hillcrest Ave., Suite A
Dallas, TX 75205

214-306-8020

http://www.hooperplumbing.com/

It's bound to happen at some point; clogged drains. Although we take the necessary precautions to avoid this problem, after time and build up we are faced with the challenge of unclogging a drain. Most plugged drains can be fixed on your own, but when faced with some serious plumbing issues call Hooper Plumbing and Air Conditioning.

Here are some tips to handle clogged toilets, sinks and showers.

1. Remember toilets are not trash cans. Toilet paper and/or women’s sanitary products should be the only items put in your toilet. Hair, small items and other paper products can get stuck causing a backed up toilet.
2. Human hair and/or soap scraps and scum are a real problem when it comes to your shower and sink drains.  Check your strainers often in your sink and tub to clean the excess hair and residue. You can also take some needle-nose pliers and dig the hair out.
3. Food is the enemy for kitchen sink clogs. Although they are there for a purpose, many home owner abuse the garbage disposal. Throw away as much food as you can in the garbage and make sure to keep fruit pits, seeds, bones and grease out of the disposal. Also do not pack food into your disposal and continue to run cool water while the disposer is on and let the water keep running a bit after.

These will all save you the stress and time of not having to deal with a clogged drain. If you have other clogs, leaks and/or other plumbing problems, please give Hooper Plumbing and Air Conditioning a call today.

Are you feeling the heat yet? Summer is here and between the boiling sun and the rising humidity we all will be cranking our air conditioners day and night. Hooper Plumbing & Air Conditioning wants to remind you that this is the time to get you’re A/C units checked and/or replaced before the big heat wave arrives.

Here are a few tips to keep your home cool in the summer without breaking the bank.

• Set your air conditioner for between 76 and 78 degrees, especially when you are not home.
• Maintenance of your air conditioner will ensure that your unit will work properly and efficiently.
• Use your ceiling fans! Air circulation will keep your home and yourself feeling cooler.
• Remember to keep all doors closed to seal in the cooler air.
• Use shades/blinds to keep the heat out by not letting the sunlight shine through your home.

Call Hooper Plumbing & Air Conditioning to make sure you’re A/C is prepared for the summer months.

Click here to get 45% OFF your Air Conditioning Service. 

The snow is gone, the sun is shining and lets hope the short lived Dallas winter is over and done with. The cold weather we had may have done a number on your water heater and pipes, so if you are starting to spring clean, it’s time for some springtime maintenance.

With spring finally starting to kick in it is a great time for those home improvements you pushed to the side during the holidays. One important task that must be done is checking that water heater and pipes. If you spot these signs post winter weather it is probably time to call an expert.

• Age – Inspect your water heater’s age. If you know it is time to replace that water heater, don’t wait any longer.
• Rust – If you notice the water in your water heater has a tint to it, this could be caused by rust build up.
• Temperature – If your hot water is not hot, or you are running out of warm water a lot quicker than usual you need your water heater inspected. No one likes being the person in the shower with a head full of shampoo when the hot water runs out.
• Leaks – If you notice water surrounding your water heater you may have a small leak, which could potential lead to a HUGE problem. One small leak could eventually lead to flooding, a problem that you don’t want to deal with.

This is a small checklist to ensure that you are ready for the spring. Along with checking your water heater you should always check your pipes for any leaks and rust that may be caused by the colder weather.

If you have any problems with your plumbing or need a routine check up call Hooper Plumbing & Air Conditioning. BubbleLife Deals is offering a FREE service call from Hooper Plumbing & Air Conditioning until 3/31/2011. So don’t waste any more time and give us a call:

Hooper Plumbing & Air Conditioning

6725 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
214.363.2543