Is Your HVAC System Experiencing Either One Of These?
Strange Sounds
Squealing, grating, grinding sounds from your air conditioner might be a sign that you need a replacement unit. These noises imply that something is wrong inside the unit. Failure to service the unit could result in a pricey breakdown.
A squealing noise means that the belt has slipped out of place. It may also indicate that a metal component in your air conditioner requires more lubrication. A grinding sound may mean that your motor’s bearings are broken.
Strange Odors
Pungent or foul smells from your air conditioning vents normally mean that your conditioner’s wire insulation has burned out. Musty smells generally indicate that there is mold inside your unit or ductwork which must be taken care of without delay.
Are you experiencing either one of these problems? Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priority. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call toll-free @888-315-5564
Leaky Pipes & Sewer System Backups
Leaky Pipes
Leaky pipes can be more than just a nuisance, they can cause damage to furniture and floors, and the dampness can encourage bugs like cockroaches. Leaks almost always happen at the pipe joints. Tape, compounds, and fillers can often provide a temporary fix, but for something more permanent replace a piece of pipe or the related fittings.
Leaks are more common in the winter when water can freeze, expand, and cause pipes to burst.
How to prevent pipes bursting in winter
- When the weather is very cold, allow the cold water to drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water, even just a trickle, helps to prevent the pipes from freezing.
- Keep the thermostat set at the same temperature both day and night.
Sewer System Backup
Sewer system backups are, frankly, a nightmare. They are smelly, nasty, inconvenient, and can be expensive to fix. If you have multiple drains and toilets not working and a bad odor of human waste, this is likely your problem.
Responsibility for fixing the issue really depends on the location of the blockage. If it is on your property, then it’s your problem. If it’s out on the public road, then your water company should fix it. Unfortunately, you may have to pay for a plumber just to locate the blockage, though it’s often worth calling your water company first, as they won’t charge you if it’s their fault.
There are three common causes. First, the main sewer is clogged. To minimize this happening, watch what you flush down your toilet (no diapers, facial tissues, napkins) and avoid tipping grease down your drain. Second, tree roots have invaded the pipes. Roots can push through cracks in pipes or surround a pipe and crush it. Third, old sewer lines may break or collapse. Modern sewer lines are made from plastic, but they used to be built from cast iron, or clay, which are prone to decay over time.
Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priority. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call toll-free @888-315-5564
Help Your HVAC System Turn Over A New Leaf
The calendar officially says we have entered autumn and we all know what comes next: winter. It won’t be long until the mild fall weather is replaced by plunging temperatures, snow, and ice.
This means that it is time to start planning HVAC care. Making sure your home’s furnace and overall heating system is ready for the cold weather months is crucial in New Jersey. Here at Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical, our HVAC professionals stand ready to help you make sure your furnace is in top working condition. The best way to prevent a breakdown is with regular maintenance, so call us today to find out more information.
Our furnace inspection and tune-up will give your system a thorough once-over as we will check, clean and lubricate all moving parts and make sure all gas or electric connections are secure. We will also inspect your carbon monoxide levels to make sure your furnace is properly vented.
Meanwhile, here are a few handy homeowner furnace tips to help with maintenance throughout the season:
- Change the furnace filters. The frequency of air filter replacement usually depends on the quality and brand of the filter, but generally speaking, they should be inspected and changed every other month.
- Basic furnace cleaning. While the heavy-duty cleaning should be performed by one of our professionally-licensed HVAC technicians, there are a few things homeowners can do in-between regularly scheduled maintenance calls:
- Clean the vents. Clean the surface debris, then remove the vent cover and clean the inside using a vacuum extension.
- Scheduling an air duct cleaning is also a good idea for deeper cleaning of your home’s ductwork system.
These tips should help your system keep running smoothly and efficiently but remember: your system should be inspected and professionally by qualified service technicians, so let Mast take care of your furnace and give you peace of mind. Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priority. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call toll-free @888-315-5564
How Frequent Should Your HVAC System Be Serviced?
The heating and cooling professionals at Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ say that even if you do not suspect that your air conditioning unit has problems, you need to have it serviced and inspected at least once every year. This will ensure that it operates at maximum efficiency. It will be ready to cool the house in the months when you require it most.
As the air conditioning unit runs, it tends to accumulate dirt and dust in critical areas such as the air filters and the condensing coils. This can adversely affect its efficiency. The buildup of dirt and dust, if not checked, reduces your machine’s operating efficiency by 5 %. This means that that your air conditioner cannot cool the house as much as it should when clean.
You can also wash the condenser of the air conditioner and this can save you a lot of headaches as well as money in the future. Although it is a simple thing, failing to wash your condenser could cause it to malfunction and even ruin it totally.
As a homeowner, the best thing you can do for your air conditioning unit is changing your filter. Ideally, you should change the filter at least once every 30 days.
Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ are the experts you can trust. We have been servicing the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priority. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call toll-free @888-315-5564
5 Early Warning signs That You Need A New Toilet
1. Constant Clogging
Nobody likes to deal with a clogged toilet. While they’re not uncommon, random or recurring clogs can indicate an issue. If you have an old, low flush toilet, you may experience stoppages far too often. If you experience clogs more than once a week, or the clogs seem random and odd, you should probably replace your toilet.
If you don’t want to lose the water-saving benefits of a low-flush toilet, simply replace your current toilet with a more efficient and effective commode. Modern technologies have come a long way, and low-flush toilets are much better than they used to be.
2. Cracks
When you notice puddles of water around your toilet, you may want to check for cracks in the porcelain. While the toilet may work fine, leaks can waste a lot of water, and that water exposure can damage your flooring over time. It can also result in mold or mildew growth.
Look for cracks in the bowl or the tank of the toilet. If you notice any, or if you hear constant running from your toilet, replace it right away before the situation gets worse. If you can’t tell if there’s a crack, put dye in the water of the tank or bowl and see if the dyed water makes it to the floor.
3. Plentiful Repairs
Toilets shouldn’t need to be constantly repaired. If you find yourself regularly calling for a plumber to fix the toilet, replace it. Frequent repairs can add up, and you can save yourself a bit of cash over the years if you invest in a new toilet.
Or, if your toilet requires numerous repairs all at once, it may be cheaper to replace the toilet instead. Discuss the situation with your Green Apple plumber, and they can help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.
4. Excessive Age
Even if your toilet is a little old, it may work just fine. But older toilets are often more inefficient than the newer models, so it may be a good idea to replace your toilet and save some money and water. Consider a toilet with a dual-flush feature. It allows you to partially flush for liquid waste and fully flush for solid waste. That way, you can maximize your savings both in water use and utility costs.
5. Wobbling
If your toilet wobbles, it may be a simple problem of loose screws. A Green Apple plumber can easily tighten the bolts and ensure everything is properly placed. But wobbling can also signify a bigger problem. The floor beneath the toilet may be rotting away or water damaged, so if you notice wobbling, call a professional Green Apple plumber to check it out.
Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priority. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of you plumbing or HVAC needs call toll-free @888-315-5564
When Is The Best Time To Buy A New HVAC System?
Shop for an HVAC System During The Off-Season
Most people have been led to believe that the best time to buy an air conditioner is during winter and the best time to buy a heating system is during summer. The rationale is that air conditioners will sell at a lower price during winter and heating systems will be cheaper during summer. This isn’t always the case.
Winter and summer are when homes use the HVAC system the most and when HVAC companies are at their busiest selling new units, performing maintenance, and conducting repairs. As business is generally booming during the busy summer and winter months, HVAC companies are less likely to offer discounts and sales.
It is possible to find a good deal in winter. However, to stand a better chance of finding a great deal, the best time to buy an HVAC system is in the offseason, i.e. spring or fall.
During spring and fall, most people aren’t running their HVAC systems as often which, in turn, means HVAC companies are not as busy and are not selling as many new units. They may be sitting with unsold units they are desperate to sell. To move stock quickly, many HVAC companies will reduce the price of the units. Suppliers and manufacturers also lower the price of units to clear older stock before new models arrive for the next season. That lower price is passed down to the contractor who, in turn, can pass the savings along to the customer.
Moreover, because HVAC technicians are not that busy on callouts in the offseason, HVAC companies may also offer discounted installation rates. So keep an eye out during the offseason. You could score a great deal on a new air conditioner or heating system as well as lower installation rates!
Buying an HVAC system during the offseason also means less inconvenience. If you’re replacing an air conditioner during summer and you have to wait weeks for the installation to be completed, you’ll suffer the discomfort of sweltering days with no cool air. Not a pleasant thought. If, however, you’re replacing it during offseason when temperatures are more tolerable, you’ll cope just fine without air conditioning for a few days.
Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priority. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call toll-free at 888-315-5564
2 Crucial Tips For Your Plumbing
Step 1. Avoid Putting Chemical-Laden Products Down the Drain
When the kitchen sink or shower fills with water and it just won’t seem to go down, it’s easy to reach for the nearest bottle of whatever unclogging solution you have on hand. While this may seem like the fastest and simplest solution, it may just be a temporary fix that will do more harm than good in the long run.
While chemical-laden products used to unclog drains will do just that, these same products can eat away at the pipes that compose your plumbing system. Even worse, most of these products don’t get rid of the clog completely. In many instances, it will only make the blockage smaller temporarily. This means that you will be reaching for the bottle again soon, only to slowly disintegrate your pipes more.
Step 2. From Food Scrap to Cleaning Products, Be Mindful of What Goes Down the Drain
It can be difficult to be mindful about what can and can’t go down the drain in your home but it’s important to do so to avoid a seriously damaging clog in your home’s plumbing system. Make sure to keep as many food scraps as you can out of your sink even if you have a garbage disposal, and avoid letting hair build up in the shower drain. When clots form within the drains of your plumbing, it can increase water pressure and put unnecessary stress on your pipes.
Garbage disposals are convenient, but they need to be treated with care to prevent them from clogging and breaking prematurely. They need regular maintenance. Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priority. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call toll-free @888-315-5564
Enhance Your HVAC Efficiency
More Ways to Enhance HVAC System Efficiency
During the service call, your Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical HVAC technician will thoroughly clean your HVAC system. Before leaving your home, the Green Apple technician will turn on the heat, and let it run for a few minutes to make sure everything is working properly. During this time, it may smell a bit odd from disuse, but that’s normal. The real goal is to make sure that it is blowing out heat. In addition to scheduling preventive maintenance and staying on top of filter changes, there is more you can do to further aid air conditioning efficiency:
- Ensure you are using and programming your thermostat correctly. The preventive maintenance visit is a perfect time to check with your Green Apple technician if you are unsure about how to correctly program your thermostat.
- Keep all vents/registers open so heat will circulate properly throughout your home. Keeping vents closed can damage the ductwork and HVAC system.
- To help your furnace to do its job, you will also need to check the windows and doors around your home and seal air leaks that could allow drafts to enter your home. Caulk and weatherstripping are simple and inexpensive materials that go a long way toward reducing energy waste.
Taking preventive action is important for efficient HVAC performance and to help your system to live up to its expected life. Our skilled technicians at Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ can provide service and advice that will guarantee comfort throughout the colder months. Give our experts at Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ a call at 888-315-5564 to learn more about getting your furnace or other heating systems ready for fall, or about our energy-efficient HVAC systems.
Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priority.
HVAC Maintenance For Homes With Pets
HVAC Maintenance Tips for Pet Owners
Our pets are our family, they bring us joy, companionship, and love. However, with the wagging tails, playing and countless petting, pets can cause a few issues with air quality in regards to your HVAC system. Here are some HVAC maintenance tips to consider if you own pets.
Changing the HVAC Filter
Pets are like family, however, they shed like crazy. If you have any furry critters taking up occupancy in your home, then you’ll have to change the filter more often. Cat and dog hair, as well as dander, gets everywhere in your home- including the air filter! It’s also important to note that depending on the season, you may need to change the filter more often. For example, animals tend to shed more when the weather is hotter.
Seal Ducts
The air ducts main purpose is to transport the air throughout your home. Now, if the air ducts are dirty and filled with pet dander, this can make it relatively difficult to breathe. This is because the pet dander will continuously circulate throughout the air and your home. Making sure air ducts are sealed properly can remove the dust, dander and debris and keep it from circulating throughout your home.
Lastly, if there are gaps and/or cracks in your air ducts be sure to get them fixed. All that unwanted dander and dust can easily make its way into the ducts. Thus, the pet hair and dander will circulate throughout the home. Once these cracks are sealed and those portions of the air duct replaced, this will help stop the dander and dust entering the air ducts.
Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priority. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call toll-free at 888-315-5564
Experiencing Clogged Drains & Water Temp Changes?
What’s the Best Solution for Clogged Drains?
When drains are clogged in your home, it can throw off the entire flow of the day. One common solution is buying a liquid formula that flushes through the pipes and removes the debris blocking the water’s flow. That may solve the problem temporarily, but you have to be concerned about damage to pipes and recurring clogs when you use these chemicals. It’s better to talk to a Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ plumber about clearing the pipes with specialized equipment. Our professional plumbers will then advise you on how to avoid clogged drains in the first place.
Is There Any Way to Avoid Water Temperature Changes?
It can be quite a shock when the water temperature drops abruptly while you’re in the shower. The problem may arise when someone turns on a faucet in a neighboring room, or when someone flushes the toilet in the bathroom. This problem occurs when the same pipe feeds water to the shower, the sink, and the toilet. It’s not a cause for concern other than your comfort level and a Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical plumber can advise you as to whether it’s possible to add pipes for maximum comfort in the shower.
Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priority. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your plumbing or HVAC needs call toll-free @888-315-5564