5 Huge Super Bowl Plumbing Tips
If you are hosting a Super Bowl party this year, you’ll want to start preparing your home’s plumbing for the influx of family and friends. As the second-largest day of food consumption in the United States, Super Bowl Sunday can be especially hard on your home’s kitchen and bathroom plumbing. Follow our 5 tips to prevent plumbing problems during the big game.
- Don’t Overload Your Garbage Disposal
With extra food and snacks in your home, it’s certainly tempting to rely on your garbage disposal to clean up your kitchen. However stringy and fatty foods, or too much food, can cause severe clogs or damage to your garbage disposal. - Avoid Greasy Foods
Fried and fatty foods are staples for Super Bowl snacking, but the grease from these foods is especially hard on your pipes. Avoid pouring any grease directly down your drain and wipe off greasy plates and pans before washing them or putting them in the dishwasher. - Utilize Your Trash Cans
Before your guests arrive, make sure your kitchen trash can is empty and easy to locate and add smaller trash bins in any bathroom your guests may be using. Then as your guests arrive, ask them to throw any items or food away rather than flushing them or putting them down the garbage disposal. - Watch What You Flush
Do a quick check of your bathrooms and remove any small items or decorations that guests could accidentally knock into the toilet. From here either remove items that should not be flushed, like tissues, wet wipes, and paper towels, or instruct guests to throw them away. - Locate Your Water Shut-Off Valve
In case something does go wrong with your home’s plumbing, make sure you know where your main shut-off valve is located and how to turn it off.
These 5 tips will help prepare your home’s plumbing and keep it in good working condition during the big game.
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
These Are Definitely Clogging Your Drain
Things That Are Clogging Your Drain
Clogged drain got you down? You’re not alone.
Clogs are one of the most common plumbing problems you can experience. You want to do the dishes, but the sink is already overflowing. You want to go to the bathroom, but the toilet won’t flush. You want to have a shower, but you don’t want to stand around in 4 inches of gross clog-water.
We get it clogs are annoying. And while they’re not completely preventable, there are a few things you should never, ever put down a drain.
Remember: If it can fit down a drain, it can clog a drain. Here are some of the worst offenders:
Coffee Grounds
Back in the day, people thought coffee grounds were good for their pipes. “It keeps them clear,” they would say, as they dumped their morning grounds down their delicate plumbing system. “And smelling fresh!”
Not true. So not true. Coffee grounds are as good as cement in pipes. When you dump a mass of soggy grounds down the drain, they’ll turn into an impenetrable nightmare.
What to do instead: Compost them, or spread them in your garden. Coffee grounds make excellent fertilizer!
Hair
Long, luxurious locks are the main culprits here, but even short hair can contribute to a clogged drain.
If left to its own devices, loose hair can quickly turn into a massive glob that’s tangled with soap scum, water deposits and whatever else happened to find its way into your drain. Not pretty.
What to do instead: Fit all of your tubs and shower drains with strainers to catch the hair (and other particles). Just make sure you clean the strainer regularly!
Grease
When you pour hot grease down your drain, it transforms into a lovely hard substance that sticks to the inside your pipes. Then food sticks to the grease, and grease sticks to the food and grease sticks to the grease and eventually, you have yourself a big greasy nightmare. You’ll never want to eat bacon again.
So, never pour grease down your drain (or any fats and oils, for that matter). It’s a good idea to pour boiling water down the drain on a regular basis. This should help liquefy the grease and help it move along the pipes.
What to do instead: Pour the grease into a can, jar or another container, and put in the fridge or freezer. When the container is full, toss it in the trash.
Paper
Toilet paper is designed to break down when wet. Other kinds of paper, like paper towels, tissues and feminine hygiene products are not! Sure, they’ll flush, but instead of disintegrating they’ll leave you with a clogged drain.
What to do instead: Recycle, if possible, or toss ‘er in the trash.
Even if you’re not in the habit of flushing these things down the drain, your pipes can still clog up from time to time. If you have a clog, resist the urge to pour Drano (or any caustic liquid drain openers) down the drain. If the clog is complete, the caustic ingredients will become trapped in your pipes and cause major damage to them.
The best way to clear up those pesky clogs is to have your pipes snaked. Call Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ and we’ll have them up and running in no 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
What to Do If Your Furnace Is Blowing Cold Air
The furnace or heat pump blows cold air
New Jersey is known for cold, bitter weather during the winter season, you need to know when to contact your Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ HVAC technician for emergency furnace repairs. One of the most critical times is when your furnace only blows cold air. Based on the age of the furnace and its overall condition, Green Apple can repair your present unit or recommend a new heating unit to avoid problems with the family suffering from cold icy temperatures in the home.
Also, if your furnace is blowing cold air, you may find that there are a number of different other issues that can affect the temperature of the air that is released in the room. In some cases, you may need to have the filter cleaned from clogs or replaced so that more warm air will enter the room. By making these repairs, the heating systems will not overheat nor shut off completely. Cleaning the air filters from clogs will also prevent the unit from blowing only cool air out.
Rapid Cycling Occurs – Problems with Thermostat Controls
Some problems that you discover with your furnace is not necessarily an emergency that needs to be fixed immediately. However, there are some furnace repair jobs that need to be fixed as soon as the family can address them. For instance, when the family begins to hear sounds from the home’s furnace that turns off and on quickly, they are usually dealing with a thermostat problem called rapid cycling.
Rapid cycling is considered to be a safety precaution feature for the furnace and its control. So, even though it may not be compared to a hazardous emergency electrical heating repair problem, it still needs to be repaired relatively quickly to prevent this safety feature from failing altogether.
Significant amounts of Dust Collecting in the home
When you are responding to the question, when do I need a furnace repair? You may find that the answer can vary greatly based on the situation and the circumstances involved. As referenced earlier, some of the signs are easy to identify, and others are not as apparent. Therefore, you need to know a little about both so that you address them as they occur. For instance, if you are keeping a relatively decent home that is usually free from dust and debris on your furniture, you may find that significant amounts of dust collecting in your home are not normal for you.
In some of these cases, you may track down the source of your problems to a malfunction in your heating furnace. This is because your furnace is designed to pull in dirty, dusty air from the outside of your home. This air is filtered, heated, and then blown into the atmosphere to warm the home throughout. When this process works as it should, little to no dust is left behind. On the other hand, if your air filtration process does not work properly, particularly in older furnaces, dust will be left behind on the surfaces of your furniture, floors, and other things in your home.
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
Ignoring Your Plumbing Could Be An Expensive Mistake
If you have a running toilet or dripping faucet, don’t delay in fixing them. Although these might seem like minor problems, they can cause expensive damage to your plumbing. There could also be other underlying problems that could be putting pressure on your system and causing the leak. Additionally, updating your plumbing fixtures can help you save money on your utility bills and extend your system’s life. For example, newer, water-saving toilets flush easily and reduce clogging problems.
Problems with your plumbing system can cause serious damage to your home. Scheduling an inspection with Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ can help identify and reduce problems before they escalate. We can assist you with repairs and maintenance of your system to increase its longevity. there’s a lot of truth in the saying “A stitch in time saves 9”.
We 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 us toll-free at 888-315-5564
Are The Rooms In Your Home All Different Temps?
YOUR ENERGY BILLS AND EQUIPMENT REPAIRS ARE STEADILY INCREASING
Older furnaces have to work harder to produce heat, and as a result, your energy bills and repair costs steadily increase. Even if there isn’t a noticeable repair that needs to be made, you’ll still come out cheaper in the long run if you purchase a more efficient furnace unit.
THE ROOMS THROUGHOUT YOUR HOME ARE DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES
As a furnace gets older, it can become more and more inefficient until it loses the ability to distribute heat evenly throughout the house. As a result, some rooms can be colder than others.
YOUR HOME HAS SOOT AROUND THE REGISTERS
A furnace register is a ventilation duct cover that can be opened and closed. Although the terms “register” and “grille” are used interchangeably, registers differ from furnace grilles due to possessing dampers that allow them to control the airflow within a duct.
If you find soot (or dust/rust) around these areas within your home, then it means that your furnace has too much CO2. Difficulty keeping a clean house aside, this can cause excessive dryness which can damage furniture, flooring, and plants. It can also cause itchy throats, dry eyes, as well as respiratory issues when inhaled. If you ever see a build-up of soot near your registers, it’s probably time to get a replacement.
YOUR FURNACE IS EXTRA NOISY
Furnaces can be extra noisy but if that noise gets louder over time, then you may want to consider a replacement. Possible telltale signs can come in the form of:
- Rattling: This can indicate unsecured ductwork, loose screws, sheet metal, or even the lower furnace motor not being properly balanced.
- Popping: This happens when parts inside of your furnace heat and cool in response to temperature changes.
- Humming: Your fan motor is probably going to make a bit of noise, but if it’s to the point of disruption, you might need a furnace blower motor replacement.
- Screeching/Squealing: If you hear these noises, you should probably assume your blower motor or inducer is damaged or worn out. It could also be caused by a loose bearing, deteriorating belt, or an issue with the pulley holding the belt.
- 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
Keeping Your Furnace Free From Obstacles
Make sure all household vents are free
In order for your heating system to work properly, the air in your house must circulate completely throughout the system. That means your furnace should be fully operational. It also means your vents are clear and working properly. Are all vents in your home open, adjusted to allow air to flow freely, and free of furniture, boxes, or other household items blocking the path? Closing a vent down or blocking it can cause the furnace to work hard and less efficiently, eventually damaging it before its time.
For gas furnaces, verify the exhaust flue to the outside is clear
There are three main reasons an exhaust flue needs regular attention: carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. These three components can be found in the fumes from your furnace, especially if it hasn’t been serviced in awhile. If the exhaust flue is blocked and isn’t allowing air to freely move from inside the system to the outside of your home, problems occur quickly. And they can cause very nasty health effects:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Heart palpitations
- Collapse
- Unconsciousness
- Death
Combustion gasses might not be drafting safely up your flue because of blockage or back-drafting. If you suspect a problem, call immediately and have it checked out.
Remove all flammable objects from around your furnace
Your furnace is usually located in a separate area of your home the basement, a crawl space, a storage room. However, your furnace isn’t designed to operate with storage containers built around it. Anything flammable, clothes, paint, aerosols, gasoline, boxes, and other household items should never be placed in the general vicinity of your furnace or water heater.
Clean your heating systems vents and ductwork
As with all systems, your entire heating and cooling system needs to be cleaned and regularly maintained to ensure it’s in good operating condition. Take a quick walk around at the start of each season. Are all vents accessible? Are floor registers free of debris, pet hair, dust and scraps of paper? Anything inside the vents can move down into the ductwork and reduce efficiency. Remove floor registers and use a vacuum to clean up any messes that occur near them. You can also consider having your ductwork cleaned, especially if you have made significant renovations to your home, or it’s been several years since they were cleaned.
Maintaining your furnace doesn’t take too much time or effort to keep it in perfect working condition. A little common sense and a small amount of TLC each year can keep a lot of the issues at bay. If you have a question, we are here to help. Just give us a call. 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
8 Major Plumbing Problems You Need To Be Ready For
Plumbing Problems can be an inevitable part of owning a home. While some problems come with aging fixtures or normal wear and tear on plumbing equipment, others may be caused by how certain systems are used and maintained.
At Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ, we’ve seen and fixed all types of plumbing problems big and small alike! Here’s a look at some of the most common issues our expert plumbers handle and what usually causes them.
If you’re dealing with any plumbing problem at your New Jersey home and you need help now, don’t hesitate to call Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ for same-day service.
1. DRIPPING FAUCETS
Dripping faucets are annoying, wasteful, and costly. Sometimes, these drips can be caused by a worn-out washer or O ring, which can easily be replaced. In other cases, corrosion or even improper faucet installation can be the problem causing the drip.
If your faucet is dripping:
- Drips are expensive and are definitely costing you.
- Let our expert plumbers diagnose the problem if a simple washer or O ring replacement doesn’t fix your drip!
2. LEAKY PIPES
Leaky pipes can be caused by all sorts of problems, including:
- Stubborn clogs
- Incorrect pipe laying
- Pipe corrosion
- Pipe joint damage
- Cracked seals or cracked pipes
- Excessive water pressure
No matter what’s causing leaky pipes, this common plumbing problem needs to be fixed fast! The longer leaky pipes are ignored, the more damage they can cause both to your plumbing system and to your home itself!
3. RUNNING TOILETS
Did you know that a running toilet bowl can waste up to 200 gallons per day? That’s a lot of water waste! In most cases, the issues that cause running toilets include:
- Refill tube problems
- Worn out flapper seals or flush valves
- Improperly sized flapper chains
- Corroded toilet handles
4. LOW WATER PRESSURE
Weak water pressure can make it challenging to use pretty much any plumbing system in your home! Often, low water pressure is a symptom of bigger plumbing problems, like:
- Pipe corrosion
- Hidden water leaks in your home
- Drain or sewer clogs
- Cracked or blocked sewer lines
5. LEAKING HOSE BIBB
A leaking hose bibb is very common. After a long, cold winter, many hose bibbs that aren’t protected can crack and begin to leak. We advise our customers to invest in a frost-proof hose bibb, which can reduce the chances of having future leaks.
6. SLOW OR CLOGGED DRAINS
Drainage problems can cause health hazards and even plumbing disasters if they’re not addressed quickly! In general:
- One slow or clogged drain in a home usually means that a problem is localized to that area of the home. Commonly, these drain clogs happen because hair, soap, and other foreign objects have simply built up in a drain over time. Routine drain cleaning can be the ideal solution for addressing this issue!
- Multiple slow or clogged drains are a red flag that you may be dealing with sewer line problems To prevent a sewer backup in your home, it’s crucial you call Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ whenever you notice multiple slow drains in your home especially if the problem starts with the drains in the lowest areas of your home!
7. SUMP PUMP FAILURE
Sump pump problems can be related to a problem with the unit or an external issue. Usually, the causes of sump pump failures include:
- Stuck switches
- An overwhelming amount of water, like after heavy rain
- Clogged discharge pipes
- Improper sump pump installation
- Aging, with sump pumps around 10 years old being prone to failure
8. WATER HEATER PROBLEMS
Hot water is a necessity in any home. So, when water heaters can’t provide enough or any hot water, homeowners can be dealing with a plumbing crisis! Usually, water heater problems are caused by issues like:
- Heating element failures
- Corrosion or sediment buildup in systems
- Loose or broken electrical connections
- Improper water heater installation
- The wrong size or type of system to support a home’s needs
Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ HAS ALL OF YOUR PLUMBING REPAIR NEEDS COVERED
Whether or not you’re dealing with a common plumbing problem, the trusted plumbers at Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical can help! We have the expertise and state-of-the-art equipment to diagnose and repair any plumbing problem. Plus, we offer same day and emergency service. 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
A Little Maintenance Goes A long Way
Dirt is one of your furnace’s biggest enemies. A dirty furnace can not only cause unexpected breakdowns of your heating system, but it can also have a direct effect on the health and energy consumption of your home. Today we’re going to take a look at some of the top reasons you should keep your furnace clean and the two best ways you can go about doing it.
- Better air quality. If dirt is making its way to your furnace, there’s a good chance it’s also getting into your home’s airflow. Dirt particles and other airborne contaminants can make you sick and aggravate symptoms of asthma and allergies. By taking steps to keep your furnace clean, you’ll also improve the quality of air that you and your family breathe.
- Improved efficiency. If you don’t keep your furnace clean, dirt can build up on different components of your heating system and reduce its efficiency. A dirty air filter, for example, will restrict your furnace’s airflow and cause your blower motor to work harder than normal to compensate. When dirt builds up on your blower’s blades, it can weigh them down and reduce their efficiency. In either scenario, your furnace will have to work harder and consume more energy, which will cause your heating bills to rise. Keeping your furnace clean will avoid these problems and allow your heating system to operate efficiently.
- A safer home. When your heating system has restricted airflow due to dirt buildup (as described in the point above), your furnace will overheat and put extra stress on your heat exchanger. That extra stress can cause your heat exchanger to crack and allow carbon monoxide to get into your home’s air. Keeping your furnace clean will help avoid this dangerous problem.
- Less unexpected repairs. Lack of cleaning is one of the top reasons a furnace unexpectedly breaks down. Often times, these breakdowns lead to expensive repairs that could have been avoided if the furnace was cleaned properly. Some of these problems can also take years off of the operating life of your heating system.
Best Way To Keep Your Furnace Clean
The two best things you can do to keep your furnace clean are keep up with your filter changes and have your furnace tuned- up once a year. By keeping up with your filter changes, you can prevent dirt from building up on your furnace, improve indoor air quality and prevent airflow issues. During an annual tune-up, your furnace will be completely cleaned and prepared to run safely and efficiently for the heating season to come. 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
Outdoor Winter Protection For Your Pipes
Outdoor Protection
Some homes have quite a bit of ancillary household plumbing that’s outside, and this is even more vulnerable to freezing. In some cases, freezing in exterior plumbing can affect indoor pipes. Here are some examples.
- Garden hoses left outdoors may still be filled with water from the most recent use. Garden hoses with nozzles or other terminators at one end and connected to open faucets are particularly hazardous to your plumbing, as water pressure created by ice formation in the hose may back into the home’s water supply and damage pipes. Disconnect garden hoses, and drain them during freezing weather.
- If your outdoor faucets have indoor shut-off valves in the basement, crawl space, or elsewhere, turn off the water to the faucet during freezing conditions, and open the outdoor faucet to drain residual water out of the line.
- Check the owner’s manual for your home sprinkler system, and follow the procedures to winter-proof the sprinkler pipes and protect them from freeze damage.
- If you have a sump pump in your basement to prevent flooding, keep an eye on the sump pump outlet pipe, usually somewhere behind the house. Make sure the outlet is not blocked by fallen snow or an iced-over puddle. If the pump should activate when the outlet is blocked, water flow may reverse into the basement.
- Other outdoor water lines that may freeze include pipes leading to a swimming pool, fountain, or garden pond. The general plumbing maintenance rule is to shut off water to these uses at the source, then drain the lines.
If Worst Comes to Worst
If your pipes freeze despite proper plumbing maintenance measures, you need immediate professional help from Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ. Don’t wait for the pipes to thaw so you can verify the damage. Pipe ruptures may occur someplace distant from the actual site of ice formation and may be concealed within inaccessible spaces. Water damage can be extensive before you are able to locate and evaluate the problem. During freeze conditions, be alert to any unexplained decline in water pressure or complete cessation of water at any faucet or other outlets. These are red flags that should not be ignored. Turn off household water at the main supply valve, and contact Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ immediately. 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
Your Most Common Furnace Problems
-
What Are the Most Common Furnace Problems?
Below are the 10 most common furnace problems. Read on for advice on how to repair and fix future furnace problems.
- Lack of maintenance
- Dirty filters
- Wear and tear
- Electric Ignition or pilot control problems
- Malfunctioning thermostat
- The furnace doesn’t heat at all
- The furnace doesn’t heat enough
- Frequent cycling
- The blower continuously runs
- The furnace is too noisy
In the cool fall and winter weather, hundreds of people call Green Apple furnace repair experts because of a problem with their heating system. Whether it’s a commercial or residential setting, the same basic problems plague furnaces. By knowing what the most common furnace problems are, you can take proactive measures to prevent them.
1. Lack of maintenance: You fail to schedule annual furnace maintenance and inspections that could prevent unexpected problems and breakdowns. These routine inspections can help the appliance run more efficiently and reliably.
- Dirty filters: Dirty or clogged air filters reduce airflow, making a furnace work harder to circulate. In some cases, a clogged filter may damage the limit switch, which controls the fan.
- Wear and tear: Normal wear and tear can cause airflow problems, heat control-related problems or even overheating.
- Electric ignition or pilot control problems: A faulty ignition or pilot could make it difficult to heat a home or commercial space. Thermocouple problems, drafts or clogs in the appliance may result in an unlit pilot light.
- Malfunctioning thermostat: A faulty thermostat can lead to problems with the fan or comfort levels.
- The furnace doesn’t heat at all: A furnace that doesn’t perform its main task may have problems with the thermostat setting, power, gas or the pilot light.
- The furnace doesn’t heat enough: In addition to a clogged filter, a furnace may not produce enough heat if it’s the wrong size for the space.
- Frequent cycling: Cycling between the “On” and “Off” modes may indicate a dirty filter, improper airflow or a bad thermostat setting.
- The blower continuously runs: Blower issues may indicate a problem with the limit switch, which a Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical professional may need to replace.
- The furnace is too noisy: Rumbling, squeaking, and rattles aren’t normal. The sounds may indicate a mechanical problem, airflow reductions or a clogged burner.
- 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