The 3 Ways To Prevent Furnace Failure

It’s cool to pay attention to your furnace while it’s still only cool outside.

Prevention is really the best policy and knowing the signs of a furnace about to go on the fritz will prevent your family from experiencing an uncomfortable surprise this winter.

However, if you haven’t maintained your furnace and the temperature is dropping, it’s not too late to ask for some professional help from Green Apple.

Regular maintenance visits from your oil company will preserve your investment, prevent furnace failure, and keep your family warm for many winter seasons to come.

This article describes three ways to prevent furnace failure in your home.

 

1. Prevention, Extend the Lifespan of your Furnace

The worst time for your furnace to malfunction is in the middle of this coming winter’s first snowstorm.

Prevention, prevention, prevention!

Last year’s heavy snows should have lodged in your memory prompting you to arrange for heater maintenance and cleaning of your heating system.

The hidden cost of neglect

Your neglected furnace will have been silently paying you back by steadily collecting debris, dust, and dead insects.

Over time, grime from the air filter can migrate to the blower motor causing it to overheat and burn out the fuse. When the fuse itself becomes encrusted with soot and debris, the connection will break, causing the fuse to fail.

Dealing with an old furnace

If your furnace is aging, and particularly if it’s more than fifteen years old, it’s time to consider replacing it before it begins to turn into a fossil.

 

2. Know the Signs of a Failing Furnace

So, the cold season has arrived, and your furnace is busy trying to keep frigid nights from invading your home.

If your furnace is trying to tell you that it’s in need of repairs, ignoring the following warning signs could deliver a cold and expensive surprise to you and your family.

Some rooms are hotter than others

If you are sweating in one room and freezing in another, this is a sign that warm air is not being distributed efficiently.

You are hearing popping, rattling, groaning, whining, or banging

If your furnace is providing you with a symphony of odd noises, this is your furnace’s cry for help!

The only acceptable sound from your furnace is that of the blower turning on and off.

However, if the blower is doing this constantly, your furnace is not running efficiently. If you constantly have to press “reset,” this also is not a good sign.

You are experiencing rising energy bills

If you have complained about saving money on heating with rising utility bills but have laid the blame on the price of energy. However, the increased expense may be because your furnace is having to work harder to provide the same amount of heat.

Your burner flame is yellow

This is not a matter of aesthetics it should be blue. If it’s yellow, this is a sign that your furnace may be leaking carbon monoxide. Other omens include sooty streaks around the furnace, moisture on cold surfaces such as walls or windows, and rust on the flue pipes.

Your family has increased health problems

Members of your family have seen a rise in breathing-related health issues such as allergies and asthma. A poorly functioning heating system may be putting mold, dust, and other irritants into the air circulating through your house.

 

3. Keep Your Vents and Pipes Clear of Snow for Oil Deliveries

A weekend storm has dumped more than a foot of snow on your property, and your kids are in a high state of excitement. However, before joining them in a snowball fight, it’s more important to keep their safety in mind.

Blocked vents and pipes can cause a buildup of carbon monoxide inside your home.

So, pull on your high boots, put on your down jacket, grab your shovel, and get out there to clear snowdrifts and ice away from your furnace intake and exhaust pipes. Make sure that all vents coming out of your house are clear.

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 Essential Garbage Disposal Checklist

8 Signs of a Failing Garbage Disposal

A functioning garbage disposal helps keep your sink and pipes clean. But when problems arise with your disposal, the issues could impact the way you cook, wash up or keep your kitchen clean.

While some garbage disposal problems respond to repairs, others require a full replacement. In this blog, we list eight indicators that you need a new garbage disposal.

  1. Abnormal Noises

If you’ve ever had a piece of silverware slip into your garbage disposal unnoticed, you know just how loud disposals can be. When a new noise occurs, especially any metal-sounding noise, use your hand and a light to check for an obvious source like a lost spoon.

If there doesn’t seem to be anything blocking the blades, the disposal components may be misaligned so that they grind together when you run the appliance. In most cases, a quick adjustment can resolve the problem. It’s important to address new disposal noises as soon as possible because obstructions damage the motor.

  1. Frequent Resets

The reset button on your garbage disposal is intended to help the appliance recover from unusual situations, like large loads or clogs. But if your garbage disposal is in good shape, you shouldn’t need to use the reset button very often.

If you have to reset the disposal frequently, or even every time you switch it on, your garbage disposal may be aging out. Another common cause of frequent resets is loose wiring which you will need a Green Apple plumber or electrician to resolve safely.

  1. Inexplicable Clogs

You know that you should wash food particles down the drain in small amounts to avoid clogging the garbage disposal. But if you start to notice that no matter how small your loads are they always seem to jam the appliance, the problem may not be with your cleaning habits.

In some cases, clogs can indicate that you simply need a higher-capacity model. In other situations, these clogs may indicate a malfunction in the device.

  1. No Power

If your garbage disposal refuses to turn on or tends to shut off by itself while in use, check to see if the connected circuit has blown. If your electrical system seems to be working normally, schedule a garbage disposal inspection as soon as possible.

Generally, these unexplained power issues indicate a failing motor. The motor may be on its last legs or may have blown out entirely.

  1. Persistent Odors

Garbage disposal odors can be unpleasant since they usually stem from the breakdown of wet food. However, most of these smells should respond to gentle and thorough rinsing or cleaning.

If nothing seems to help eliminate the odor, you may need professional help. Your Green Apple plumber can take the appliance apart to find and remove any trapped particles that could be causing the issue.

It’s important to note that you should not resort to chemical cleaners when working with your disposal. Not only are most drain cleaners too hard for your plumbing, but all of these solvents can also damage disposal blades and components.

  1. Planned Renovation

While your disposal may not be strictly failing by the time you decide to remodel your kitchen or replace your sink, you should consider replacing this appliance during a renovation. An old disposal may not often the functionality you expect from a brand new kitchen.

If you should especially consider replacing your disposal if it’s been at least a decade since your last renovation or garbage disposal installation project. Most disposals have a life expectancy of about 10 years, after which they may start clogging more often.

  1. Poor Performance

Most loads should run through your disposal quickly. If it seems to take an excessive amount of time for your garbage disposal to break down food particles, the blades may need to be sharpened or replaced.

In some cases, extensive blade deterioration may actually require replacement of the entire unit so be sure to have a Green Apple professional assess the condition of the appliance.

  1. Water Leaks

Over time, water may seep through some of the areas where your disposal connects to the rest of your plumbing system. Often, by the time a disposal becomes large enough to be noticeable, it will require full appliance replacement.

These leaks may leave puddles under your sink, pool on the floor by your cabinet, or drip from under the garbage disposal itself. It’s easy to mistake a dishwasher or sink leak for a disposal leak so have a plumber find the cause of any leak that seems like it could be coming from your disposal.

If you notice any combination of the signs listed above, contact your trusted Green Apple Mechanical plumber for a garbage disposal assessment.

When you need help with a problem disposal, trust Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ. We can provide the services you need as well as recommendations for caring for your garbage disposal to prolong its function for the future. Green Apple 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 of your plumbing or HVAC needs call toll-free 888-315-5564

The Best Ways To Keep Your Furnace Happy

Spring isn’t here just yet, which means your furnace is working hard to keep your home warm. Soon, though, temperatures will start to rise. But that doesn’t mean your furnace gets the summer off. Your furnace works every day of the year. During winter, it warms and circulates the air. During summer, it still has the important task of circulating cooled air. Help keep it running at its peak with these helpful tips.


Regular Filter Changes

Have you ever tried drinking a milkshake through a straw? It’s not so easy, is it? That’s the same effect a clogged air filter can have on your home heating and air-conditioning system. And the harder your furnace has to work to pull the air through, the more it will cost you in energy. And lost comfort.

If your furnace uses disposable filters, a good rule of thumb is to change them every 1-3 months unless you have an annual filter. Homes in dusty or dry climates should change their filters more frequently to preserve furnace performance and air quality.

Regular system checkups by a professional.

If you don’t perform regular maintenance on your car, eventually it will break down. Your furnace is the same way. Regular inspection by a trained Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical technician will make sure your furnace runs at its best. This has several benefits:

  • It costs less energy to heat and cool your home
  • Small problems are detected early before they turn into big problems
  • Your home stays more comfortable

Keep your intake pipe clear

Modern condensing furnaces operate with higher energy efficiency, generating more heat with less fuel. However, in order to do so, they require an external intake pipe for their air supply. If this pipe becomes clogged or blocked, that will not only affect your furnace’s efficiency, it can also cause a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide.

If you have a high-efficiency furnace, look for the intake and exhaust pipes on the exterior of your home. Make sure they’re free of ice, snow, and other obstructions like bird nests or insects. If you cannot easily check the status of your pipe, contact a qualified Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ technician to do it for you.

Use a programmable thermostat

Thermostats help you keep a tighter hold on your energy savings by matching the heating and cooling output of your system to the demands of your home. In other words, when nobody is at home during the day, the system will run less often because there’s nobody there to appreciate the comfort.

Reduce use even when you’re home.

Programmable thermostats can be used to save energy and make your furnace work less hard even when the home is occupied. When outside air is very cold, your furnace has to work harder to keep inside air warm. By lowering your thermostat’s set temperature at night, you can reduce the load on your furnace. And since everyone’s asleep, the temperature difference won’t be felt as much.

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

Everything You Thought About Plumbing Was Wrong

Water Heaters
Many people believe that if their water heater kicks on and there is loud rumbling noise that it is going to explode. This isn’t actually the truth, as this noise is just a result of sediment that has collected in the tank. It is made up of loose materials, but mostly calcium, from the hard water inside. It then sinks to the bottom of the tank where it is heated up, and the sediment prevents the heat from rising properly, therefore making bubbles that cause a popping sound. When there is sediment collected in the bottom of your tank, it’s a waste of gas and it makes your water heater inefficient. If your current water heater is more than 15 years old, you may want to consider purchasing a new one. If this is happening and your water heater is newer, you can just drain and flush it on a regular basis to get rid of the sediment.

Leaky Faucets
“Oh, it only drips every once in a while, I’m not going to get it fixed!” This is the outlook that many homeowners have, but unfortunately, a leaking drain can cause large scale plumbing disasters if gone untreated. This is also not good for the environment either. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, household leaks account for 1 trillion gallons of wasted water a year. A leaking faucet will lead to a higher water bill, and it can cause larger issues. If a drip continues for a while, it can begin to stain the plumbing fixtures, meaning you will spend more money on repairs or replacements.

Toilets
There is a common myth that putting a brick in the back of your toilet tank will help save on your water bill. The truth is that bricks will begin to deteriorate over time, and can cause items in the tank to break. Also, the reason for doing it can also backfire and you can end up displacing too much water.
Another common myth associated with toilet systems is that if you use wipes that are labeled as “flushable” then you can still put them down the toilet. While you can do this, any plumber would advise you not to. They don’t biodegrade like toilet paper and are beginning to cause many plumbing problems.

One last myth about a toilet system is that toilet bowl tablets containing bleach will keep the toilet clean for a long period of time. While bleach can clean a toilet bowl, it shouldn’t be kept in the system for too long. The bleach can begin to destroy the parts of your toilet within six months. Bleach in the toilet bowl is fine, but don’t let it hang around in the tank for more than 10 minutes. Make sure that you flush it through to prevent any kind of preventable damage.
Garbage Disposals
Some people believe that putting a lemon peel down the disposal will make it smell nicer. While this is true, it isn’t exactly the right solution to odor control unless you know that your disposal can handle cutting through the peel. If your disposal is older, you may want to skip out on the lemon peel and reach for a bottle of vinegar instead. Vinegar will freshen up your garbage disposal, and it is liquid, so no damage will be done to the blades in the process.

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

The Dangers Of Not Replacing Your Furnace Filters

Furnaces are very important, especially for those who live in very cold areas. Changing the filter in the furnace is critical for the appliance to work efficiently. Not replacing the furnace filter can cause a lot of problems. Here are some reasons why changing out the filter regularly is so important.

Efficient Heating

High energy bills can be caused by a dirty filter. Furnace filters filter the air that enters the appliance. These filters prevent particles, dust, allergens, and other items from entering the furnace and damaging it, and then from being circulated into the air in the home. Replacing the filter regularly can help furnaces run more efficiently. This is because when the filter is full or clogged with debris, the furnace has to work harder to pull air into the system. The increased force causes an increase in energy used by the furnace to work properly, and still produce the wanted heat. Replacing the filter at least once a year is recommended, but most professionals suggest changing it even more often than that. For help with changing a furnace filter, make sure to contact a Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ professional.

Air Quality

One of the most dangerous consequences of not changing an air filter is the polluted air that is allowed to circulate in the home. Dirty filters not only obstruct the amount of air that is able to flow into the furnace, but they also allow the particles, allergens, dust, and other items, to be released into the furnace and then circulated with the heated air. Therefore, an old filter greatly reduces the amount of clean air in a home. A clean filter is very important for those who struggle with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory problems. Those who live in highly polluted cities may also find themselves struggling with some respiratory problems if they haven’t changed their filter recently.

Operating Problems

Along with bad air quality, there are some dangerous operating problems that can be the result of not changing the furnace filter. One of the biggest of these problems includes the possibility of the furnace overheating. This is usually caused by the furnace having to work extra hard to pull air in through the obstructed filter, and then overheating from the exertion. Any overheated appliance runs the risk of starting a fire or causing major problems, but furnaces are especially prone to some of these issues. Other problems can include appliance malfunction, inefficiency, and even complete failure. Making sure the filter is changed regularly in the furnace can help keep homes and loved ones safe.

Not changing the furnace filter can be dangerous. Furnaces are very important, but if they aren’t maintained correctly they can become hazardous, and this can certainly be the case if the filter inside is old. Keeping the furnace filter clean can change how efficient the furnace is, and even lower utility bills. It can also prevent operating problems, which can lead to fires or other serious issues. A clean filter can filter air better, and prevent the circulation of dirt, allergens, or dust in the home. Making sure the furnace filter is changed regularly can prevent danger and the exacerbation of health 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

How To Tell If Your Furnace Is Dying

  1. How old is your furnace?

The average life expectancy of furnaces in homes today is between 16 and 20 years. If your furnace is close to this age or older, you should begin shopping. Don’t wait for an emergency never a time to make your most informed decision. It’s wiser to replace a furnace as a planned home improvement rather than as a panic replacement when your furnace conks out in the middle of winter. By the way, if your furnace has a pilot light, it is almost certainly 25 years or older.

 

  1. Are your utility bills rising?

Furnaces often lose efficiency as they age, especially if they have not been properly maintained. Your utility bills rise because your furnace may run longer to provide the same amount of heat.

 

  1. Have you been repairing the furnace lately?

It doesn’t take long to spend a significant amount of money just to keep the old furnace running. Another downside to an older furnace: As it ages, replacement parts get harder to find. While you’re waiting for parts, your house could be getting more and more uncomfortable.

 

  1. Are you comfortable?

Are some rooms are too cold while others are too hot? Are you constantly adjusting the thermostat to get a good supply of heat? Your furnace may have lost its ability to properly distribute the air to keep you comfortable.

 

  1. Is your burner flame yellow instead of blue?

A yellow or flickering flame may be a sign that the furnace is creating poisonous carbon. Other possible signs of carbon monoxide:

  • Streaks of soot around the furnace;
  • Absence of an upward draft in your chimney;
  • Excess moisture found on windows, walls, or other cold surfaces;
  • Excessive rusting on flue pipes, other pipe connections, or appliance jacks;
  • A small amount of water leaking from the base of the chimney, vent, or flue pipe;
  • Rust can be seen on the vent pipe from the outside.

 

  1. Does your furnace make strange noises?

Aging furnaces often make some strange noises toward the end of their life banging, popping, rattling, or squealing. Or you may you hear the furnace blower running excessively, turning off and on frequently, or blowing cold air sometimes. These may mean your furnace needs to be replaced.

 

  1. How do you and your family feel?

As furnaces age, they can develop cracks in the heat exchanger. Carbon monoxide, if present, could leak into your home undetected. Signs may be frequent headaches, a burning feeling in nose or eyes, nausea, disorientation, flu-like symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, air out your house, open a window to the furnace room and immediately call a gas service technician.

  1. Is your house dry or dusty?

Old furnaces often fail to moisturize and clean the air in your home. Your house air may feel stuffy or stale, or your family may suffer from allergies to airborne dust, mold, pollen, viruses or dander, dry nose, dry throat, or dry skin. Other signs may be frequent dust accumulation, static shocks, drooping plants, furniture cracking and musical instruments that don’t stay in tune. Your old furnace may not be able to provide you with the comfort you and your family may want.

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

How To Use Your Senses To Care For Your HVAC

 Change Your Filter Regularly

This is probably the easiest and one of the most important regular maintenance items a New Jersey homeowner can perform. Clean filters allow air to circulate through your furnace efficiently and prolong the life of your system. Be sure to check the furnace and filter manufacturers’ recommendations on the frequency of filter changes.

This will also help improve your overall indoor air quality in your home. Furnace filter changes can reduce your energy bill by 5 to 15 percent as well.

Understand Your System and Recommended Maintenance

Although most furnaces in the United States are natural gas or electric, many other heating systems such as propane, geothermal, and heat pump are now available.

Understand what kind of system provides your home with its heat, and learn how that particular system needs to be maintained. Some systems may not require any maintenance while more common systems like natural gas heating need regular inspections and tune-up to operate efficiently and dependably.

 Think Safety First

If you decide to perform any other maintenance tasks beyond basic filter changes, be sure you put safety first. Turn off the power to your furnace before you begin to take things apart to protect yourself from getting injured. Consider hiring a Green Apple professional to help with any inspection, cleaning, tune-ups, or repairs that are more complicated or you are uncomfortable trying yourself.

 Use Your Senses

It’s easy to pass by your furnace every day and not notice it. Take the time to look at your overall system, especially in the fall, to see if you notice anything obviously amiss.

First, if you detect the odor of rotten eggs, call your utility company immediately. That can signify a gas leak, which can be extremely dangerous in your home.

Second, be sure the venting pipe is sitting at the correct angle and is secure. You should check to be sure all tubes are fastened as well. Listen for any unusual sounds or anything else out of the ordinary.

 Clean Drainage Tube

If you are running a natural gas or propane furnace, it will create some water as a by-product. Although some moisture becomes steam, you’ll also have some water drain out into a drip pan.

Be sure this drainage tube remains clean and clear. Backed up water can damage your flame sensor. You can use compressed air to clear the tube as well as white vinegar to reduce any residual.

 Get Tidy

Dirt and dust can hamper the performance of your furnace, so regular cleaning should be part of your annual maintenance. Although you can clean around your unit easily, be careful if you try to clean the inside of your furnace.

Some components are very sensitive and can become damaged if you don’t know what you are doing. You can use a soft brush to gently loosen dust before vacuuming or contact one of our Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ professionals to do the job.

 Perform More Thorough Inspections

If you are mechanically inclined, you can continue checking things like your burner flames to be sure they are even and blue. You can check your thermostat wires to be sure they are securely connected. Clean the flame sensor so it can continue to do its job well.

Green apple 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 @888-611-7191

How To Maximize Your Furnace

1. Make Sure the Filter is Clean

The purpose of the furnace filter is to prevent dust and hair from clogging your furnace. But after the filter has been in place for a while, it gets full of debris. Your furnace then has to work harder to pull air through the densely packed filter, which places extra stress on the furnace.

How often you need to change your filter will depend on a lot of things. How often you clean, whether or not you have pets, and recent renovations can all make a difference. A good rule of thumb is to check the filter monthly for debris. If you can see hair and dust on the surface, then replace the filter or wash it if it’s the reusable kind.

2. Use a Programmable Thermostat

It’s still amazing how many people still don’t use programmable thermostats. They are one of the best ways of reducing your monthly gas bill, and they often pay for themselves in one year. They also reduce wear and tear on your furnace.

A simple 5-day/2-day programmable thermostat is not expensive, and it will allow you to set up a schedule for weekdays and weekends that will lower the temperature when you’re away from home or sleeping.

3. Make Sure all Registers are Open and Free of Debris

In order to work efficiently, a furnace needs to be able to freely circulate air around your home. Make sure none of your registers are blocked by furniture or have trapped dust in the cover. Be careful when purchasing decorative registers they look great but can restrict as much as 50% of the airflow.

4. Keep the Area Around the Furnace Clear

Most furnaces are kept in the basement, where we also love to store extra belongings. It’s really important to keep a three to the five-foot area around your furnace completely clear of stored items. This is a safety issue because there is burning gas in the furnace. But it also helps the furnace run smoother because air can circulate freely.

5. Curtains are a Great Way to Save Energy

Strategically using your curtains can make a noticeable difference in your energy bill. By closing them at night, you can prevent heat loss to the cold outdoors.

Opening them in the day on the south or west-facing windows allows warm sunshine to enter and heat the inside of your home, just like with a car left in a parking lot. On any north windows, try to keep them closed, even during the day.

6. Get Regular Furnace Tune-Ups

Make sure you have your furnace inspected and tuned up every year to ensure its running at peak efficiency. One faulty part can place strain on the rest of the system and can lead to sudden breakdowns.

7. Use Ceiling Fans

It may sound odd to use a fan in the winter, but they can help even out the overall warmth of your air. Heat naturally rises and tends to collect near the ceiling. Running your ceiling fan on low to push the hot air down to the floor works especially well in rooms with vaulted ceilings.

8. Bake More in the Winter Months

Give your furnace a break by using the oven more. It will heat the entire kitchen area and may help heat your entire ground floor. There are other benefits too: not only will you feel better with a nice home-cooked meal, but your house will also smell great.

9. Decorative Insulation

Carpeting and area rugs on floors help insulate against drafts. They also feel great underfoot, help with soundproofing, and make us feel warmer because they’re so cozy looking.

10. Keep a Good Humidity Level

Most people notice that the air in our homes tends to be really dry in winter. It’s not only drying on skin and throats, but it can make us feel colder than we really are. Using a humidifier to bring your humidity level up to about 40% will help transfer heat better. You can lower the setting on the thermostat and not notice it. More humidity is also better for wood floors and furniture and can help prevent asthma and allergy attacks.

11. Make Sure Your Garage Door is Sealed

The garage is one of the biggest culprits of energy loss in the modern home. Make sure the garage door is touching all the way down and there aren’t any drafts around the sides are top.
By following these tips, you’ll keep your furnace running smoothly all winter long. You’ll also stay cozy and warm for less money.

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

Experiencing Problems With Your Water Pressure?

 YOU HAVE LOW WATER PRESSURE

When your water doesn’t flow forcefully, it’s usually time to call a Green Apple plumber to look at the internal workings of your plumbing.

When it is a faucet in one bathroom, it could be something as simple as a clogged aerator. You can address this by unscrewing the aerator and cleaning out the sediment. This is usually done with a little scrubbing or a vinegar soak.

If cleaning out an aerator doesn’t do the trick or if the low pressure is in more than one sink, you may have a much more significant problem lurking beneath the surface. Low pressure is often related to cracked or broken pipes either in the walls or under the foundation of your home. These areas will leak every time you use any water in your home, creating a growing problem that can do major damage to your home.

If you’re experiencing low pressure that’s not located in a singular fixture, it’s time to call a Green Apple plumber and ask for immediate service.

YOUR DRAINS WON’T DRAIN

Clogs are common in plumbing, from tubs and toilets to faucets indoor and out. Some of these clogs can be undone with a plunger and a little muscle. But if you can’t unclog them after a little plunger work, or if there’s a clog that consistently backs up, you should call a plumber.

Plumbers can use special tools like cameras that can look deeper into pipes for something that may be causing a long-term problem. Hair, grease build-up, roots getting into underground systems and problems with your septic tank are a few possible issues.

Any repeat drain problem is worth a call because you might be facing a serious issue. Even if it’s something small such as a tub that clogs each time you give your dog a bath it can turn into a bigger concern if it happens repeatedly. You can perform remedies at home, but many times you’re simply delaying a problem or treating a symptom and allowing an underlying problem to fester.

 YOUR FAUCETS WON’T STOP DRIPPING

If your shower is dripping only 10 times a minute, you’re paying for an additional 500 gallons of water each year

Maybe you’ve been planning to fix that dripping sink as soon as you have the time. Before you know it, months pass and the problem persists. Sometimes a drip can be a quick fix with a little tightening, some plumbers’ tape or a new bracket, but that’s not always the case. A steady drip may come from a crack in a pipe or an element that’s installed incorrectly. Pressure buildups or other concerns may also play a role.

For these small issues, it’s wise to call a Green Apple plumber when you can’t fix it or when you have a few things on your to-do list. Having a plumber check your leaks also gives you an opportunity to ask questions or receive suggestions for upcoming remodeling and other projects. Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and experience. 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

Don’t Let Your furnace Go Unregulated

The work a furnace does goes largely unnoticed. That is until it stops in the middle of a cold day. When the air quickly becomes frigid in your house, you’ll be calling a Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical technician. If you take notice of your furnace now and do the necessary things to keep it running well, chances are that it won’t leave your house cold on a winter’s day.

Thermostat Check

The thermostat tells your furnace what to do. Bumping up the temperature on your thermostat should make a marked difference. But if nothing happens, then you might have a bad thermostat on your hands. This is a good thing to check before changing seasons bring cooler air and heat becomes a necessity.

Turn off the Power

Before you attempt any hands-on furnace maintenance, the power to your furnace should be turned off. There is a switch right by your unit that looks just like a light switch. Switch it to “off” and the power will be cut to the unit. This is very important if you are doing anything that requires touching the furnace itself. You are dealing with gas and electricity, both of which can be volatile.

Replace the Filter

Replacing the filter is a simple task that should be done every one to three months.

Often, a clogged filter is the reason a furnace isn’t operating efficiently. It’s similar to breathing through a straw. Air can’t be pulled through the furnace properly, which doesn’t allow heat to travel well from the furnace to your living space. If not addressed, it can ultimately lead to overheating and shut down. A clogged filter also wears out the blower motor.

Clear Vents

Sometimes, the look of a room is taken into account more than airflow. But when furniture covers up vents, it can cause problems similar to a clogged air filter. Even drapes can get in the way of air coming out of the vents. This could be the reason why certain rooms in your house are not as warm as they should be. Unblock air vents by moving obstructing furniture and drapes.

Clean Return Vents

Ever notice how the return air vents in your house get covered in dust? This clogs up the heating system. Take a vacuum cleaner and clean the vent. Then remove the vent and clean as much as you can reach with a vacuum brush attachment.

Maintenance by the Professionals

In addition to the tips above, there is much more furnace maintenance that can be done by a Green Apple professional HVAC company. Cleaning the blower and burners will make your system more efficient. A heating company can also check for harmful carbon dioxide gasses that may be leaking into your living space.

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