Furnace Maintenance & Your Family’s Health
Furnace maintenance is important for your family’s health.
While your furnace circulates air throughout your home, you don’t want it circulating dust and other airborne pollutants along with it. A dirty air filter (and a dirty furnace) make it harder to remove pollutants from your home’s indoor air (contaminants like dust mites, mold, pet dander, dead skin, allergens, viruses and more). During your furnace maintenance appointment, your Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical technician will be sure your unit is clean of mildew, mold, dust and other contaminants that can affect your indoor air quality and your family’s health.
Furnace maintenance is essential for the life of your HVAC system.
Even if everything is working well, this kind of preventive furnace maintenance is important for the life of your HVAC system, addressing any issues before they turn into expensive repairs or replacements. Remember the better shape your furnace is in, the longer it will last. A properly maintained furnace can last for 15-20 years.
Make sure your furnace is in peak condition and ready to run all fall and winter long. For more tips on maintaining your furnace or to schedule a furnace maintenance appointment with Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ. 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 toll-free @888-315-5564
Safeguard Your Toilet Against These Hazards
Educate Your Family About the Toilet
The best way to avoid clogs is to make sure everyone knows what can and cannot go down the toilet bowl. Make a list of do-not-flush items including:
- Feminine hygiene products—even if they say flushable, don’t flush them!
- Paper towels
- Toys of all sizes
- Cotton balls
- Ashtray debris
- Cooking grease
If you have little children or pets who get curious about the toilet, consider installing a lid lock to keep them from flushing the wrong things down the bowl. Flushing things down the toilet that are not meant to be flushed can cause some very expensive problems and cause serious damage. Green Apple Plumbing and 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
Spring Into Action For Your HVAC System
Spring cleaning should apply to your HVAC unit as well. Be sure to clean the outside of the furnace; dust is a fire hazard and removing it also helps improve the quality of the air circulating through the system.
Before the summer heat arrives, take the time to clean around your outdoor unit. Air conditioning systems need 12 to 18 inches of clearance space in order to work properly. Prune bushes, trim back any plants and grass growing near the unit and clear away leaves, twigs, and dirt which can all enter into your system and slow it down.
CLEAR THE AIR
Spring is a good time to vacuum registers and air filters to clear out any dust that has accumulated. You should replace the used, worn-out air filter before turning off the heat for the season. Remember that HVAC system filters should be replaced at least every 90 days. If you have pets, or if someone in your family suffers from allergies, filters can be changed more frequently – about every 30 days.
For optimal indoor air quality, now is the time to schedule annual maintenance. Before turning on the A/C, it’s good to free ducts of dust and allergens that have built up during the winter.
Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the New Jersy 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
Breathe Easy With These HVAC Tips
Heating and air conditioning systems offer improved comfort and air quality when they’re operating at peak efficiency. Without regular annual maintenance, your HVAC system has to work harder or stay on longer to keep your home at the same temperature. Regular maintenance can help your HVAC system save energy and last longer before replacement is necessary. To keep up that efficiency, you should have your HVAC system inspected by a Green Apple professional at least once per year.
Check your air filters once per month and change them at least every three months or as soon as they get dirty. Changing them regularly keeps dust and dirt from building up in your system and leading to expensive problems. Airborne pollutants will also stay in your home as your filter loses its effectiveness. You can even add an air filter monitor that measures air pressure differences in your HVAC system so you can tell exactly when to change your air filter. Some monitors can send a wireless reminder to your smartphone or tablet when it’s time to change your filter.
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 at 888-315-5564
Small Clues That Could Lead To Big Problems
Gurgling noises from your water-using appliances
A gurgling noise coming from your toilet, shower or any other water-using appliance may be your system trying to ‘find air’ in a clog. This can potentially cause a system backup. In addition to gurgling – these appliances may drain very slowly, signaling a blockage somewhere in its pipes.
Stubborn clogged drains
Appliances or facilities with continuously clogged drains despite your best efforts signal a much larger problem at hand. Most homeowners repeatedly attempt to fix this issue themselves, inadvertently putting more stress on pipes and making the problem worse.
Harsh cleaners like Drano can eat away at the inside of your plumbing system and make the piping brittle. When attempting to fix a clogged drain, the best thing to do is boil some hot water and pour it into the source to clear the clog. If the drain is still plugged, leave the job to a professional.
Very low water pressure
Prolonged low water pressure in any water-using appliance in your home could signal a broken or cracked pipe. To investigate the source of the issue, Call a certified Green Apple Mechanical technician. Another hint to the source of the problem is the color of the water coming out of the affected faucets. Any brownish discoloration of the water indicates a water line break.
Sewage / Sulfur Odor
A sulfur or sewage odor is typically an indication of dried up debris in specific drains; however, this issue may also point to a broken vent or sewer pipe. In addition to odor, be on the lookout for sewer flies, backed up drains and malfunctioning toilets. A sewer line backup needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. If you don’t have the issue repaired in time, it can cause a backup of raw sewage, which can cause serious damage to your home.
Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ are the professionals you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call toll-free at 888-315-5564
This Is How To Make Your Furnace Last
Changing the filter is an easy task that is often overlooked; so if it’s helpful for you, put a reminder on your calendar or electronic device to help you remember to regularly do this. The frequency of filter changes often depends on how often the furnace is running; but it’s probable that during the winter months, the filter needs to be changed every month. Not only does this help increase the overall life expectancy of your furnace by keeping the inside clean, but it helps your furnace run more efficiently so that your utility bills will be lower.
You can also help your furnace last longer by putting less stress on the furnace by better winterizing your home. This can be done by adding insulation to your home, lowering the thermostat a couple of degrees, and better insulating windows and doors. When less heat is transferred through the attic and windows of your home, your furnace can run less frequently while still being able to keep your home at the temperature you prefer.
It’s also important to have a professional Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical technician perform your annual furnace service in New Jersey to prevent breakdowns, identify needed repairs, and increase the safety of your heating system. A professional inspection will identify blockages of the outdoor combustion air pipe and exhaust pipe and problems with the burners and heat exchanger. Cracks or holes in the heat exchanger may not cause your furnace to stop running, but it can allow deadly carbon monoxide gas to enter your home. The flame sensor and gas pressure will also be checked. This inspection makes it much more likely that your furnace will last longer and perform as it should throughout the winter.
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 at 888-315-5564
Celebrate World Plumbing Day
World Plumbing Day is an international event, initiated by the World Plumbing Council, held on March 11th each year to recognize the important role plumbing plays in societies health and amenity.
The WPC, through its member countries and its partnerships with bodies like the World Health Organisation, works all year round to promote the benefits of safe plumbing, but in 2010 it decided to launch the concept of embedding a single day on the world’s calendar dedicated to plumbing. The idea was that on March 11th each year people all over the world would pause to reflect on the vital role plumbing plays in preserving their health and way of life – in the case of countries like ours – or in building sustainable disease free futures for millions in the developing world.
And so World Plumbing Day was born, and it is big and getting bigger all the time.
Today, on the continents of Australia, Europe, and Africa events are organized to mark the occasion and draw attention to the importance of good plumbing and sanitation. In China, England, Germany, India, Canada, North, and South America and many more places industry leaders – like us here today – governments, policymakers, and community-based organizations are promoting World Plumbing Day.
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
How Moving Furniture Can Make Your Furnace More Effective
Blocking vents with furniture. Sometimes a vent just happens to be in the same location you want to put your couch. But you’ll sacrifice the quality of heating and cooling in the room if you place it there.
You’re more likely to achieve an even distribution of warm air by keeping vents free of obstruction. But if you like your furniture where it is, you may benefit from exploring different heating options. Hydronic heating, which heats rooms with hot water pipes under the floorboards, may be a better fit to keep your design aesthetic from being dictated by vents. Some vents can be closed individually, but depending on your duct system, closing vents may make your furnace less efficient. We recommend consulting a Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ HVAC professional to determine what’s best for your home.
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
These Common Household Items May Be Destroying Your Plumbing
#1: Feminine products
Tampons, pads and other feminine products swell up and can easily cause blockages in your pipes. Never flush these – use the trash can instead.
#2: Wipes
Even if the package says they’re “flushable,” wipes can still clog up your pipes. They’re designed to absorb moisture, so when you put them in a pipe with running water, they blow up like balloons. Again, always throw them out. Never flush them.
#3: Paper towels
Paper towels are great for drying your hands or wiping off toothpaste stains on the mirror. But whatever you do, don’t flush them down the toilet! They’re not designed to dissolve, the way toilet paper is, so they can quickly create blockages. Dispose of paper towels in the garbage.
#4: Any type of leftover grease or oil
Dispose of oil and bacon grease in a closed container in your trash can. Or pour it out in the yard if you must. But never put it down the disposal, you’re just asking for a nasty congealed mess in your pipes.
#5: Pasta
Pasta swells up in water when you cook it well, it does the same thing when it goes down the drain. Avoid pasta-clogged pipes. Don’t let those noodles escape when you’re draining your spaghetti.
#6: Liquid drain cleaners
We saved this one for last because it’s especially dangerous: liquid drain cleaners are corrosive and can destroy pipes. If you need your pipes cleaned, don’t DIY. Call Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ. We can get rid of the mess without ruining your drains in the process.
If you read all these tips and you still managed to get your pipes clogged up, give Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical a call. We are the professionals 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
Pay Close Attention To These Warning signs
Some Rooms Are Warm, Others Are Cold
Ductwork is the pathway through your home that spreads warm air. A leak in the ductwork can cause uneven heating. Is your heater in the garage or on one end of the house? If so, the air has to travel farther, making some rooms warm and others cold.
Ask your Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical HVAC professional to help you identify the real problem. They can show you your options. Maybe you need some tests done, or a two-stage furnace. Two-stage furnaces blow at high and low speeds, instead of just “on” and “off”. This can help spread the air through your house more evenly. Our experts can also offer options for supplemental heating sources if your furnace isn’t centrally located in the home.
High Energy Bills
Have we mentioned to check the furnace filter? A dirty filter can make your energy costs go up by 15%!
Do you have a swamp cooler? In the winter, a damper needs to be placed in the ductwork leading to the cooler. Otherwise, the warm air you’ve paid to heat your home escapes to the outside and you’re just wasting energy and money.
Your Heater Makes Loud Noises
Banging, whirring or strange clicking noises are not a good sign. Your heater could be trying to tell you that the motor is going out. It may be slow and noisy to start up. There could also be something stuck in the ductwork like flapping tape. An HVAC Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical professional can help you pinpoint the noise. If you have any questions or concerns call toll-free @888-315-5564