Have you been thinking about air conditioning options for your South Shore home? If your home uses a boiler for heating, it probably doesn’t have the ductwork required for central air conditioning.
Please note that if you decide to install ductwork for central air conditioning, it could raise the total cost of the project by several thousand dollars.
Until recently, homeowners who did not have ductwork had to choose between paying a considerable amount of money for installing ductwork and central air conditioning or opting for cheaper but less efficient window air conditioning units.
What if we told you there’s a better solution? Williams Energy offers ductless mini-split installation and service!
A ductless mini-split system consists of an outdoor compressor unit and an indoor air handler or evaporator. These two components are connected by tubing that contains power lines, communication lines, and condensate drain lines.
As its name implies, the compressor compresses the refrigerant vapor, making it easier to move into the condenser. In the condenser, the vapor releases heat into the air and turns into a liquid. Then, the liquid goes through an expansion valve that greatly reduces the pressure. After that, it enters the evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the low-pressure coolant. When the indoor air passes over it, the cooling process takes place, and the air exits the supply registers and cools your home.
One of the benefits of using ductless mini-splits to cool your home is their cost-effectiveness when it comes to installation, as they don’t require the installation of ductwork, unlike central air conditioners. Here are some other ways installing mini-splits in your home is a great idea.
Fast and easy installation – Installation of ductless mini-splits often takes less than a day, whereas installing central A/C with ductwork can take several days and be a messy process.
Zoned cooling – Ductless mini-splits can help you achieve zoned cooling, saving energy and money on your bills. Simply cooling the parts of your house that you’re currently using is a more efficient and cost-effective way to stay comfortable.
Adding cooled space – Ductless mini-splits can cool (and heat!) additional spaces in your home apart from the main living areas. These spaces can include workshops, garages, guest houses, pool houses, gardening sheds, over-the-garage apartments, she-sheds, and other accessory dwelling units.
Get a longer life expectancy – Regular, professional maintenance can extend the lifespan of mini-split systems to more than 20 years, while central A/C units typically have a shorter lifespan.
Supplement your central A/C – Even if you already have central air conditioning, your home may benefit from adding ductless mini-splits. If you have made any additions to your home, such as a or a home addition, after installing your central air conditioning, it’s worth installing a ductless mini-split to cool those spaces. This decreases the workload on your central A/C and can help it last longer with less wear and fewer repairs.
Each year, homeowners with window air conditioning units are faced with the dilemma of whether or not to keep the units installed during winter. Leaving them installed may cause heat loss, but removing them can be difficult and risky, especially if your windows are above ground level. Getting someone else to remove them could end up costing hundreds of dollars annually.
There are several reasons why window A/C units may not be the ideal option. They are not energy efficient, and tend to be less effective in cooling bigger spaces. They can generate notable noise. Additionally, they might serve as an easy access point for burglars if installed on the ground floor. Moreover, they can block light and let in unwanted things from the outdoors like bugs, dust, dirt, and pollen into your home.
Are you ready to kick your window A/C units to the curb? Get a FREE estimate from Williams Energy for adding ductless mini-splits to your home!
One of the main reasons for heating system problems is sludge in your heating oil tank, which is a mixture of dirt, rust, and old fuel that appears thick and dark. It can block filters, causing your heating system to work harder to generate heat, leading to decreased efficiency and increased energy costs.
Ignoring sludge buildup in your heating system can lead to blockages and decreased efficiency. Over time, it may even completely block your furnace or boiler supply line, causing the heating system to fail, ultimately leaving you without heat. Fixing the issue could be expensive.
If the sludge inside your heating oil tank builds up, it can cause corrosion and make the tank fail eventually. In such a case, you may have to bear costly expenses for emergency tank replacements and remediation of any spilled heating oil.
During spring and summer, if your heating oil tank is not filled completely, the inner wall of the tank that is exposed may condense moisture. This water, which is denser than oil, will move down to the bottom of the tank. Over time, the water will be turned into sediment or sludge by bacteria and microorganisms, which will cause corrosion in your tank.
To ensure your tank remains in good condition and avoids costly repairs, it is recommended to hire a waste-oil contractor for safe and efficient sludge removal. They will quickly drain your tank to improve its performance.
Nothing lasts forever, including your heating oil tank. If you are concerned about your oil tank, Williams Energy offers expert oil tank replacement. We are a certified Roth dealer.
Roth is the industry leader in quality and innovation when it comes to heating oil tanks. Their double-walled tanks feature a weld-free galvanized steel outer tank and a seamless high-density polyethylene inner tank for maximum durability and protection against tank failure.
Get an annual tune-up of your oil-fired heating system. Our affordable service plans include an annual maintenance check by skilled and experienced Williams Energy technicians. During this check, they can detect and solve any issues related to sludge to prevent future problems. Also, our service plans provide a tune-up.
Inspect your heating oil tank regularly. To prevent any issues, keep an eye out for signs of wear and tear on your old heating oil tank like rust, small holes, or moisture on the outside after receiving an oil delivery. It is recommended to plan to replace your tank if it is over 20 years old.
Keep your tank full year-round. To prevent condensation, we advise arranging for a heating oil delivery during the spring. Not only will this protect your tank, but you won’t need to worry about how much heating oil you have if there’s an early cold snap in the fall.
Don’t let sludge sneak up on you! Contact Williams Energy today for your heating oil delivery and oil tank needs.
Will you be hosting the Fourth of July cookout this year? In that case, you may be making a to-do list which can include buying burgers, hot dogs, rolls, coleslaw, condiments, paper plates, etc.
However, don’t forget to add one more item to your list: getting a full propane grill tank from Williams Energy!
Our Tanks to You bottle exchange makes it easy as pie to always have propane when you want to grill, have a fire in your propane firepit or outdoor fireplace, use an insect trap to keep mosquitoes away, and more, with our Tanks to You bottle exchange and refill services.
Williams Energy takes all the work and hassle out of getting a full propane cylinder. No more schlepping the tank to and from the car. No more driving around looking for an exchange station.
Tanks to You bottle exchange is as easy as 1-2-3!
At Tanks to You, you can both exchange your empty propane tank for a full one and purchase a full propane grill tank. It’s common for people to prefer having a second full tank as a backup.
Want a full grill tank fast? You can also bring your empty cylinder to our Braintree or Marshfield office to get a quick, easy propane tank refill.
Make sure your grill is turned off and the valve on the current propane grill tank is closed before disconnecting it from the grill.
To connect your new tank to the grill, follow these steps: First, place the new cylinder into the storage compartment and use the restraining bolt (if available) to secure it. Then, attach the pressure regulator to the cylinder valve and turn it all the way to the right until it’s fully tightened.
There’s one more thing to do: a link test. Here’s what to do:
Ready for the best propane cylinder service on the South Shore? Contact Williams Energy for our Tanks to You bottle exchange!
Whether you are new to having propane in your South Shore home or have been enjoying the benefits it provides for a long time, you may not know everything there is to know about propane.
Williams Energy is here to help! We’re a full-service propane company and provide dependable propane delivery, propane tank installation and leasing, wireless propane tank monitoring, our Tanks to You propane cylinder exchange, and propane appliance installation and service.
We also are here to help with information about propane so you can learn more about it, and propane safety so you have peace of mind about having propane in your home.
Is propane a liquid? A gas? It can be both, just not at the same time! Propane, which is also called liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), is a gas that is typically compressed and stored in liquid form. Once it leaves your propane tank and travels via the gas lines into your home, it is a gas again.
In 1864, an English industrial chemist and academic named Edmund Ronalds discovered propane (C₃H₈) while studying volatile chemicals in crude oil.
Walter O. Snelling, an American chemist, found out in 1910 while studying the evaporation of gasoline that some of the gases in it could be turned into liquids. He discovered that propane was the most plentiful of these new gases.
Snelling devised and patented a way of bottling the liquid gas which ultimately established the propane industry. Today, the term “bottle gas” or “bottled gas” is still utilized to refer to propane. Frank Philips, from Phillips Petroleum, bought Snelling’s patent for $50,000, which is worth $1.4 million today. This happened three years after Snelling’s patent was created. It was a wise business decision by Frank Philips.
Propane, a type of fuel, is primarily produced in the US through natural gas and crude oil processing. As a result, 90% of our country’s propane supply comes from domestic sources.
Natural gas production. Currently, around 70% of the propane we use domestically is obtained through natural gas extraction. This is because natural gas consists of various gases, including propane, which can be separated.
To avoid condensation inside natural gas pipelines, they extract propane and butane during processing. Propane is more useful because it can be transported and stored as a liquid because it’s denser in that state compared to when it’s a gas.
Crude oil refining. Propane is produced as a by-product during the stabilization process of crude oil refining, when the heavier hydrocarbons are separated. Propane is lighter than gasoline and diesel, making it easy to separate from other petroleum derivatives. There are other products that can be derived from this process, such as kerosene and heating oil. Propane plays a significant role in energy production worldwide, on both small and large scales, thanks to efficient extraction methods.
Ready for propane delivery and service you can count on? Become a Williams Energy customer today!
As the technology of heat pumps continues to evolve, many South Shore homeowners are discovering the benefits of them.
They often have questions about heat pumps, especially in terms of electricity consumption and the impact of heat pumps on energy bills. Williams Energy is here to help with expert heat pump installation and service.
We have also compiled some common questions about heat pumps to provide answers to them.
Heat pumps are not a one-size-fits-all piece of equipment. Our team of HVAC experts will carefully go over your home’s needs to make sure that your heat pumps will provide efficient, comfortable heating and cooling for your home.
The more you use a heat pump, the more your electricity usage will increase. The extra cost will vary depending on factors like how long you use it, the electricity rates in your area, and the number of air handlers you have at home.
Obviously, your electricity bill will go up, potentially significantly. That increased cost will be balanced somewhat as your fuel consumption will go down dramatically as you won’t be running your boiler or furnace much, if at all. Some heat pump owners opt to retain their furnace or boiler in addition to their heat pump. This serves as a backup heat supply during the coldest weeks of the year.
Choosing the right size for your heat pump is crucial to avoid increased energy bills and expenses for repairs and maintenance. Even though a small pump can provide cooling and heating for a large area, it may not be cost-effective as it will need to run more frequently and use more electricity. It will also have greater wear, resulting in increased repairs and a decreased life expectancy. Therefore, it is important to select a pump that is accurately sized for your needs.
There are many factors to be considered when determining which size heat pump will work best for your home. These factors include the square footage of your home, how well insulated it is, and the number of people living in your home.
We’ve put together some general guidelines regarding the BTU output homes need based on size. This will give you an idea of what size heat pump your home will require.
Using heat pumps is not exactly the same as using a central cooling or heating system in your home. These tips will help you maximize the energy efficiency of your heat pump while keeping your home comfortable.
Ready for the comfort and energy efficiency of a heat pump in your home? Contact the heat pump experts at Williams Energy today for a FREE estimate!
Even the most energetic and confident home do-it-yourselfer has projects they won’t tackle. It’s good to know your limits when it comes to taking care of the biggest investment you have – your home.
If you are not experienced in plumbing or don’t feel comfortable doing some plumbing tasks, Williams Energy is here to help with our expert plumbing service! Our team of licensed, skilled, and experienced plumbers will get your leak repair job done right so you have peace of mind.
This is one of the most common reasons for a dripping faucet. The washer gets worn out because it is repeatedly pressed against the valve seat during use, creating constant friction.
Repetitive use can cause the seat washer screw to loosen, resulting in a dripping or chattering faucet. If you have a newer faucet, it might feature plastic valve cartridges which may require replacement. Additionally, plastic seats with springs might need replacing too.
Another cause for a leaky or dripping faucet is if the washer was not installed properly or is not the correct size.
When dealing with a leaky sink faucet, checking the O-rings is a usual place to start.
If you’re unsure about what an O-ring is, it’s a small rubber ring positioned around the valve stem of your faucet that can loosen or get damaged due to regular use. If you’re observing leakage below the handle of your faucet, then it’s likely that the O-ring is causing the problem. You can fix this issue by replacing the O-ring, which is a simple task.
A frequently occurring issue with sink faucets is leakage around the base of the spout. The spout needs to be removed, and normally, the two O-rings must be replaced. However, sometimes, the faucet spout might be severely pitted due to hard water or an ignored leak. In such cases, replacing the O-rings won’t be enough to fix the issue, and it will be necessary to replace the entire faucet. If the pitting is not severe, replacing the O-ring should fix the leak. Apply plumber’s grease on the O-rings before reinstalling the faucet on the base. It’s possible that this repair might require professional help.
Is the leak coming from a dripping faucet? If your faucet is dripping, a corroded valve seat could be the cause. The valve seat is where the valve or cartridge connects in the compression mechanism. Very often, sediment can weaken or corrode the valve seat. Brass valve seats used to be repairable, but the newer plastic seats require the entire unit to be replaced.
Incorrect water pressure levels can lead to leakage in faucets and other water fixtures. Water may not flow smoothly through pipes if there is low water pressure. This can result in water backing up and eventually escaping through various points, including faucets and your toilet tank. Although high water pressure may not seem like a major issue, it can cause leaks in valves and corroded pipes that are not properly secured. Get in touch with Williams Energy so our plumbers can audit your plumbing system and figure out the appropriate water pressure setting for your requirements.
Don’t let a leaky faucet add to your water bills. Contact Williams Energy today and we’ll come fix it!
Choosing between a central air conditioner and a heat pump is an important decision –one that depends greatly on your needs and home.
In many ways, the systems are similar: both are powered by outdoor units, and both use thermal energy to transfer heat from one place to another. Each also uses indoor and outdoor coils to transfer refrigerant, too.
But how they do it marks the difference between the two systems: while A/C units limit the expansion of refrigerant to their indoor coils, a heat pump allows this process to reverse – which enables the indoor coil to be used for either expansion (cooling) or compression (heating).
The heat pump’s main advantage is it can both cool and heat your Massachusetts home efficiently (a heat pump is typically 3-4 times more efficient than an electric heater), so you can use it much of the year without supplemental heating. If you already have an efficient home heating system, a heat pump can be integrated with it to give you a hybrid system with superior efficiency (and lower bills).
A heat pump is also a very “green” way to heat and cool your home, since it draws its heating and cooling from a sustainable source (air, or the ground in geothermal models).
The main advantage of modern, high-SEER central air units are that they do one job exceedingly well: they provide a cost effective, quiet, and reliable way to cool your house.
A central A/C also costs less upfront than a heat pump – sometimes significantly so. They do not, however, offer the option to heat your home.
Still need help deciding between central air and a heat pump? Contact Williams Energy today for a FREE consultation and estimate on A/C and heat pump installations in the South Shore!
With spring finally here, air conditioning season is not far behind.
Invest in your home’s comfort this summer with an air conditioning service and protection plan from Williams Energy!
The Williams Energy air conditioning service and protection plan protects both your central air conditioning system and your wallet.
Every one of our service plans includes an annual maintenance tune-up. This gets your home’s air conditioning ready for its summer work and provides other benefits and protections.
However, even air conditioning systems that are well-maintained can still have parts wear out or have a breakdown. Our service and protection plan helps you out there, as well! That’s because our plans also include coverage for repair labor costs and a 15% discount on parts. The following parts are covered.
Our highly skilled, knowledgeable service technicians are here to ensure that your central air conditioning system is functioning perfectly. An annual tune-up helps do just that so you have peace of mind that your home will be cool and comfy all summer long no matter how bad the heat waves get.
So, when you choose us for a maintenance tune-up, these are some of the things we do:
Getting an annual professional tune-up provides many benefits. Here are some of them.
Prevent breakdowns. Did you know that four out of five A/C system repairs could have been avoided with regular maintenance? During our tune-ups, we complete a thorough inspection as well. This enables us to recognize issues and address them before they become worse – thereby saving you from big repair bills!
Lower your energy costs. Maintaining your air conditioning system means it will run at its most efficient, requiring the least amount of energy to keep your home comfortable and saving you money on cooling costs. Considering that air conditioning accounts for about half of your home’s energy usage in the summer, our service and protection plan can save you some big bucks!
Protect your investment. Taking proper care of the A/C system in your house not only boosts its performance and efficiency, but it also ensures that it will last for years to come, a sound investment into the value and comfort of your home.
Preserve your HVAC system warranty. To ensure your air conditioning system remains under warranty, many manufacturers require professional yearly tune-ups. Without one, you may find yourself shelling out a hefty sum for repairs after the cancellation of said warranty. Invest in preventive maintenance now to save costly future headaches.
Be sure your home’s A/C is ready to go when you need it! Contact us to enroll in a Williams Energy air conditioning service and protection plan today.
With Spring finally here, it’s time to start planning for the warmer weather to come. One thing to add to your planning is to contact Williams Energy to schedule your central air conditioning system’s annual maintenance tune-up.
Now is a great time for air conditioning maintenance. Heating season is over and air conditioning season hasn’t started yet, so our schedule is much more open and you’re more likely to get an appointment for a time and day that is most convenient for you.
Also, if any air conditioning repairs are needed, they can be done before it gets hot enough for you to need to use your air conditioning system.
By the way, an annual tune-up is included in all our air conditioning service plans. You’ll also get protection from big repair bills as many parts are covered.
Better energy efficiency. To ensure your central air conditioning runs at maximum efficiency, a yearly tune-up is essential. This not only guarantees comfort in your home, but it also saves you money on energy!
Prevent breakdowns. Not only is an annual tune-up vital for maintenance, but it also allows our service technicians to thoroughly evaluate all aspects of your air conditioning system. If any issue is spotted in advance, we can resolve it quickly and efficiently before it develops into a far more serious problem that not only leaves your home uncomfortable, but also causes an expensive repair bill.
Protect your warranty. Regular tune-ups from an HVAC professional are required by many central air conditioning manufacturers, in order to keep the warranty intact. With Williams servicing your AC system, you’ll have clear documentation of proper upkeep.
Longer life expectancy. Invest in the longevity of your central air conditioning system by scheduling a yearly tune-up. This simple act will ensure that you get maximum return on your considerable investment, allowing it to serve you for many years to come.
Although a professional technician should take care of your AC’s annual tune-up, you can assist in ensuring your air conditioning system runs efficiently and smoothly. Taking the necessary steps to maintain it will save money on energy bills down the line and help prolong its life expectancy.
Get in touch with Williams Energy today to schedule your AC maintenance tune-up. And don’t forget to ask about our service plans!
At Williams Energy, reliability is the cornerstone of all our services, including when it comes to propane delivery. We strive to ensure that customers can depend on us for their needs.
Let us do the hard work for you with Automatic Delivery. Our superior technology and precise calculations eliminate any guesswork, allowing us to accurately predict when it’s time for your next propane delivery. That way, we can ensure that your tank is never left empty, so you don’t have to worry about running out!
Customers love our Automatic Delivery option for its convenience and effortless delivery experience—there’s no need to track their propane tank levels or contact us for orders. It’s worry-free, full-service ordering at its finest!
Are you in need of more precise propane deliveries? Many customers are which is why we also offer a wireless propane tank monitor. With this cutting-edge system, we can guarantee timely and extremely accurate services!
Wireless propane tank monitoring is the key to your comfort, convenience, and peace of mind. With this technology, you no longer need to go outside to check your tank’s gauge levels. With wireless propane tank monitoring, there is nothing standing in the way of no worries about your propane supply!
Once you enroll in wireless propane tank monitoring, your work is done!
You don’t have to be home when Williams Energy arrives to install your new tank monitor, since the installation process is completely outdoors! In no time at all, this amazing monitor will be set up on your propane tank and you can start taking advantage of its numerous benefits immediately.
Williams Energy’s wireless propane tank monitor boasts the same advanced cellular and WiFi technology as your smartphone, giving them 24/7 real-time knowledge about exactly how much propane is in your tank. With this cutting-edge device, we’ll always be up to date on your propane levels without you having to constantly check the tank gauge.
Leave the work to us with wireless propane tank monitoring! Don’t worry about running out of fuel ever again; we will be instantly notified when your supply needs replenishing, and we’ll promptly schedule a propane delivery. This groundbreaking technology takes all the hassle away from keeping up with your propane levels!
Williams Energy customers deserve the ease of wireless propane tank monitoring – no manual work required and a full gas tank when you need it! Who could pass on that fantastic convenience?
However, there are some of our customers for whom wireless propane tank monitoring offers more benefits.
For those who travel often or live away from home for extended periods, such as snowbirds, they no longer have to stress over their propane supply or unneeded deliveries. Wherever life takes them, this worry is eliminated.
Owners of second homes and rental properties are another group that will gain greatly from this service. You won’t need to make frequent trips in order to check the tank gauge anymore!
If you manage affairs for an elderly parent or relative, wireless propane tank monitoring ensures that they’ll always have the propane they need to keep their home safe, warm, and comfortable.
Get the convenience and peace of mind provided by wireless propane tank monitoring. Contact Williams Energy today to get started!