Avoid Caustic Chemicals With These Simple Tricks
UNCLOGGING WITH BAKING SODA AND VINEGAR
Some clogs can be resolved without the use of harsh chemicals. Using baking soda and vinegar to clear a drain clog is a more environmentally friendly way to get the job done. In addition, it is safer for children and pets, and costs less than commercial products.
To clear a drain with this method, first, pour a pot of boiling water down the drain. Next, pour one cup of baking soda down the drain, immediately followed by a solution of one cup of water and one cup of vinegar. Cover the drain with a plug and wait five to 10 minutes. Then, flush the drain with boiling water once again.
It is also possible to clear a drain manually using a pipe snake or other plumbing tool. These are long, bendy tools that can be inserted into a pipe from the drain end and maneuvered around inside to catch any debris within. Small versions of these tools are often sold with chemical drain cleaning agents. You can also purchase them at a hardware or home improvement store.
Another method for clearing a drain is to use a plunger, in the same manner, you would in a toilet. Repeated pressure on the top of the drain can sometimes work wonders on basic clogs.
If these solutions don’t work and you still have questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ toll-free at 888-315-5564
Why An Annual Furnace Inspection Is Essential
With cold weather soon to be upon us it’s very important to think about scheduling your furnace inspection. An annual inspection ensures that your furnace will work when you need it and prevents costly emergency repairs and health risks in your home.
Having your furnace inspected or “tuned up” gives your Green Apple technician an opportunity to check for possible issues and correct them before they turn into problems (or emergencies). Here are some reasons why you should schedule your furnace inspection now.
PROLONG THE LIFE OF YOUR FURNACE
The longer you put off having an annual inspection done on your furnace, the more likely you’re going to have a breakdown (usually when you need your furnace the most). During an inspection, a trained Green Apple technician may very well find small problems that if left unchecked could result in a major repair. Annual maintenance on your furnace guarantees that all the parts in your furnace work together to heat your home safely and reliably for years to come.
PREVENT CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKS
When the heat exchanger in your furnace becomes cracked, gases like carbon monoxide can escape into your home.
Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and potentially deadly. For your family’s safety, it’s important to inspect your furnace regularly to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s also wise to install a carbon monoxide detector outside of each bedroom to protect and alert family members.
CLEAN BUILT-UP RUST AND DIRT
A proper inspection includes checking for rust and dirt that can build up on the burners in your furnace. This type of buildup can create pockets that trap gas and cause hot spots on your furnace’s heat exchanger.
Even if your furnace is new, it still requires inspection as different factors can cause rust and dirt to accumulate. Call Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical with any questions or concerns you may have @ 888-315-5564
Three Extremely Important HVAC Tips To Remember!
Frequently Change Your Filters
Disposable filters keep your system clean and take out the large particles from your indoor air. Aim to change them every 1-3 months. If it is is allergy season or you have pets in your home, you may consider replacing your filters more often. We recommend picking a filter rated MERV 7-11. Anything more will reduce the airflow on your system which can put an unnecessary strain on your system and will negatively affect its efficiency, too. If you have an air purification system, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for servicing those filters, too.
Clean Your Condensing Unit
Most air conditioners have an outdoor condensing unit/heat pump sitting outside with a fan on top to disperse heat in the summer. The metal fins on the condensing unit frequently get clogged up with dirt, pollen, and grime. Once each season, spray the outside of the unit with a water hose to clean it. Warning: Do not use a pressure washer because it will permanently damage your unit.
Visually Inspect and Create Clearance Around Your Outdoor Unit
Remove the build-up of leaves and overgrown vegetation so they do not interfere with the airflow of your outdoor unit. You can trim any bushes or trees also so your unit has plenty of clearance, about 2 feet, on all sides. Keep a close eye if you have bushes or trees that give off excessive pollen, such as Cottonwood trees in particular. They are notorious for clogging up condensing units.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call toll-free at 888-315-5564
Is Your HVAC System Prepared For Fall?
FALL HVAC MAINTENANCE TIP #1: REPLACE YOUR AIR FILTER
It’s good to be in the habit of switching out your air filters at least every 90 days—and more frequently if you have pets or allergies. Clogged filters force your furnace work harder, which translated into higher utility costs for you. Plus, your air quality will be better when it’s not being pulled through a filthy filter.
HVAC MAINTENANCE TIP #2: REVERSE YOUR CEILING FANS
We all know that warm air rises. To extend the life of your furnace, it’s helpful to push that warm air down into the room. In cooler months, your ceiling fans should be turning clockwise at a low speed, drawing the cool air up and forcing the warm air down along the walls and back to your floors.
MAINTENANCE TIP #3: CLEAN AND ADJUST REGISTERS AND VENTS
Continuing along the hot-air-rises theme: If you have a two-story home, consider closing some registers on the second floor and opening more on the first floor. While you’re at it, take the dustbuster to your floor and ceiling registers and wall vents.
TIP #4: ADJUST YOUR THERMOSTAT
We recommend setting your heat at 68oF while you’re home and awake and pushing it down a few degrees if you’ll be away for several hours and while you’re sleeping. Not only will this save wear and tear on your HVAC unit, but it will also save you some money over time.
#5: HAVE YOUR HVAC UNIT INSPECTED
There are plenty of preventive measures you can do yourself, but some tasks are best left up to people who know their heat exchangers from their draft inducer motors. By hiring a Green Apple professional to come to check your system—twice per year, ideally—you’ll lessen the chance of a major failure. We will inspect your filter, electrical components, motors, pressure, and more. (We’re pleased to offer affordable preventive maintenance plans to homeowners.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call toll-free at 888-315-5564
Why HVAC Maintenance Is Essential
We are positive that you have heard people say that you need to have your heating and cooling system (HVAC) serviced regularly. But how often do you need to have an HVAC tune-up and what maintenance is really necessary? We will answer these questions here.
Is Regular HVAC Maintenance Really Necessary?
If your HVAC system isn’t experiencing any obvious problems such as weird noises, you might think you can skip on the HVAC maintenance. But saving on the HVAC service costs now can end up costing you a lot later on.
Routine HVAC maintenance and tune-ups is meant to help prevent breakdowns later on. Breakdowns can be expensive to fix, especially when you’ve got to order a specialty replacement part. Aside from preventing breakdowns, routine HVAC servicing will help your unit last much longer.
Another important part of HVAC maintenance is to make sure your system is running efficiently. HVAC systems account for nearly half of all energy bills, so it is alarming to hear that most HVAC systems are losing about 20-30% of their efficiency from just leaks. They lose more efficiency from other problems like old thermostats which aren’t regulating temperatures properly and dirty air filters.
If you haven’t had your HVAC system inspected and you have some questions or concerns regarding your HVAC system or your plumbing call Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ
Protect Your Drywall Against Leaks
One common misconception or myth that is the unfortunate root cause behind the bitter fact that so many homeowners pay substantial utility bills every year. Only in certain circumstances are leaks visible and normally, this depends on the location of the leak as well. Plumbing connectors have pipes underground and behind the drywall as well, so if there is a leak then it will only be visible if the leak has caused considerable damage. Pipe leaks will gradually find its way to the drywall and will chip away the paint ruining the interior.
If you suspect that you might have a hidden leak in your home then be sure to give Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical a call. We are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. Contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing concerns.
How To Get The Freshest Air From Your HVAC System
All the heated air that flows from your furnace into the living spaces of your home must first pass through an air filter. If the filter is dirty, more polluted air will enter your home. Air filters don’t just help to improve the air quality in your home, they protect your heating system equipment from damage, too. The Environmental Protection Agency calls changing dirty furnace filters the most important maintenance task for optimizing your heating system’s energy efficiency.
BENEFITS OF REGULARLY CHANGING YOUR AIR FILTER
Energy savings, lower utility bills, and better indoor air quality are the three greatest benefits that you’ll enjoy when you replace your dirty furnace filters. An understanding of the role that air filters play helps explain why they’re so important:
- Airflow. Even the most energy-efficient furnace can’t keep your home snug and warm without a well-operating air distribution system. If an air filter becomes so clogged and dirty that it restricts airflow, the system will have to work harder to get conditioned air through the ductwork. Dirt can also accumulate on the coils and further restrict airflow.
- Heater performance. Dirty filters can cause dust, grime, and debris to build up on heater components, which can impair the efficiency of the entire heating system. Over time, the heater’s performance weakens while the energy usage steadily increases. Replacing a clogged filter can lower an HVAC system’s energy consumption by as much as 15 percent.
- Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. If you have any questions regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call toll-free at 888-315-5564
Pay Close Attention To This Common Problem
As you lie in bed and hear the annoying drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet, you are literally listening to money going down the drain. We should also not forget that only 1% of the water on the earth’s surface is used for human consumption, therefore saving water is critical to your survival. So how bad can a leaky faucet really be? Well, a slow drip can waste about 7-10 gallons of water per day, adding up to more than 3,600 gallons of water per year.
This simple small leak can cost you about $20 per year. A more significant faucet leak can produce 30 to hundreds of gallons of wastewater per day. The average costs of these fast dripping faucets will end up costing you $60 to $200 per year. If every American household had a leaky faucet dripping at just one drop per second, we would waste 928,000,000 gallons of water per day.
Don’t waste money or water. Green Apple 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 concerns call toll-free at 888-315-5564
Your Checklist Before You Start Up Your Furnace
Do Some Basic Maintenance
Maintaining your furnace is essential, so at the very least, you need to change the filter, to ensure that dust and debris don’t gum up your furnace’s inner workings. Once that’s done, turn the furnace up to a comfortable level and make sure that it’ll heat up the whole house. If you notice that your furnace is blowing cold air even after many minutes of running, call a heating and cooling specialist from Green Apple immediately to get it looked at.
Watch for Warning Signs
When the furnace is running, take a listen for any unfamiliar noises, any strange sounds in the blower, or any odd smells coming through the registers. Warning signs are often subtle, but they can give you the crucial warning you need to fix a problem before it becomes an expensive ordeal.
Do it Early
The biggest mistake most people make is waiting until the last second to test out their furnace for the winter. It’s understandable that you would not want to waste money running a heater that you don’t need, but it’s crucial that you diagnose any problems early.
For a comprehensive checkup that will ensure that your furnace is well-suited to the harsh demands of the season, Call toll-free at 888-315-5564