Treat Your Plumbing Better In 2020
Happy 2020 Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical customers! If you haven’t already it’s time to start making your soon to be broken resolutions now.
But not all resolutions were made to be broken! We think part of everyone’s resolutions should be initiatives to take better care of yourself, your family and friends and your home. This includes your plumbing too. So what can you do to ensure your plumbing functions better this year? We’ve got a few of our crew together and we started to brainstorm a list of easy ways to avoid a plumbing mishap. Here is what we were able to come up with:
Be Kind To Your Garbage Disposal:
Don’t just throw everything from your plate at your disposal. Learn what can go into your garbage disposal and what you can’t. Also, be sure to run water whenever you use your disposal to eliminate waste buildup that causes unwelcome odors in the house.
Quit Treating Your Toilet Like A Trashcan:
Your toilet isn’t a dumpster. Flushing things such as Q-Tips, hair, tissues, wet wipes, plastic medication containers should not be tossed in the toilet to be flushed later. There are bathroom trashcans for a reason!
Cut Down On Your Water Usage:
It’s easy to scale back on how much water you use on a daily basis. Even simple adjustments such as turning the water off when brushing teeth can save as many at 3,000 gallons of water. You’ll suddenly notice that your wallet grew a few inches at the end of each month.
Give Your Bathroom A Different Style:
It’s nice to change your bathroom’s look a little bit. Switching up the decor can be refreshing to everyone in your house and guests that regularly come over. Even small updates such as replacing faucets or installing cabinets can have a significant impact on your bathroom’s utility and value. However, larger jobs are most likely best left to the professionals at Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ.
Warm Up Your Pipes For The Winter:
Don’t let your pipes get beat up in the winter by cold temperatures. Burst pipes can be an extreme inconvenience and a very expensive fix. Make sure they’re properly installed to avoid such disasters.
Hopefully, this list gives you some insight on how you can take better care of your home in the New Year. Follow this advice and you should have minimal plumbing problems around your house. However, if you’re ever in a pinch and need the help of a professional plumber give us a call here at Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ. 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
Happy New Year From Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ!
Everyone here at Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ would like to wish all of our loyal customers a very happy and healthy New Year! We look forward to taking care of all your HVAC and plumbing needs in 2020.
Prepare Your Furnace For 2020
Increase Ventilation
If you’ve taken steps to seal air leaks or insulate your attic and foundation, you’re already one step ahead of many homeowners. Tightening your home’s building envelope translates to savings on your household’s energy consumption, but you might find that this envelope tightening also limits the airflow in your home.
Fortunately, we have an easy solution for keeping your home’s air supply fresh and clean. Our energy-recovery ventilators work with your home’s HVAC system to pull in the fresh air and flush out stale air on a continual cycle. With one of these devices, you’ll never have to worry about breathing in yesterday’s air again. Since energy-recovery ventilators precondition the incoming air, they also improve your HVAC system’s energy efficiency and have a minimal impact on your utility bill.
Add Zoning Systems
Many New Jersey homeowners struggle with keeping the temperature comfortable throughout the house. If your home has more than one level or you have family members with strong temperature-related preferences, you’ll find that keeping everyone comfortable is an especially tall order.
If this scenario sounds familiar, adding zoning systems to your home. Our heating and cooling experts install dampers in your HVAC system’s ductwork and connect them to a series of electrical sensors. You can then program a different temperature for each zone, ensuring that the kitchen, family room, and bedrooms will always be perfectly comfortable. We’ll walk you through the smart thermostat options that give you the greatest or most streamlined control over your new zoning systems.
Upgrade Your HVAC System
If your HVAC system is reaching the end of its lifespan, which is generally 10 to 15 years for air conditioners and 15 to 20 years for furnaces, start thinking about an upgrade. While a new HVAC system is a big investment, it offers a range of benefits for your home and family.
When you start looking for a new HVAC system, ask our team about Energy Star–certified heating and cooling options. These systems offer superior energy efficiency and will help you lower your utility bill every month.
Our team can also introduce you to the latest HVAC tech innovations, such as variable-speed blowers. Available with both heating and cooling systems, these blowers operate at a low level for most of the day and run at a higher level only when necessary. This feature results in improved energy efficiency and better comfort for your family.
Plan Ahead
If you’ve made any New Year’s resolutions before, you know that creating a plan and sticking to that plan are the keys to success. When working with your HVAC system, planning ahead can be especially beneficial.
Scheduling preventive maintenance before the heating or cooling season starts lowers the chance that your HVAC system will have a major breakdown at the peak of summer or winter. Similarly, investing in a new furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump during the off-season can mean better prices, a more convenient installation schedule, and extra time to consider the best option for your family.
In 2020, resolve to stay one step ahead of your HVAC system, and you’ll benefit from comfort, budget, and peace of mind. Of course, if the unexpected happens or if you need emergency repairs, our experienced HVAC technicians are always a phone call away. 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
All The Benefits Of A New Furnace!
Why not keep your older furnace? You will face frequent breakdowns, need furnace repair more often, and see increased bills with an older furnace. Also, ditching the old system has many perks. From greater efficiency to increased comfort, here are five benefits of upgrading to a new furnace in New Jersey.
1. Improved energy-efficiency
The latest furnaces are more energy-efficient than systems that were built a decade ago. They use less energy and are more efficient in heating the room. Newer systems have an annual fuel utilization efficiency rating of more than 90 percent. The higher rating means that the furnace costs less to operate, resulting in lower energy bills.
2. New furnace + programmable thermostat = big savings
Another perk of upgrading to a new furnace is that they’re compatible with programmable thermostats. These thermostats can be programmed to set temperatures automatically. You can program them to set temperatures according to the usage during different times of the day.
For instance, you can set the furnace temperature to be lower when no one is inside the house. Also, you can set different zones in your home. This will provide you with greater control over the temperature and your heating bills.
Aside from a more comfortable home, pairing a programmable thermostat with a new heating system will result in much lower energy bills. You can save up to hundreds of dollars annually.
3. Get optimal comfort for you and your family
Modern furnaces feature variable-speed technology. Unlike traditional fixed-speed technology, technology in modern furnaces is more efficient in heating the rooms. They can generate more consistent warm air and maintain the temperature at a more constant level.
Also, modern furnaces provide superior humidity control. By upgrading to a new furnace, your home’s comfort will be improved.
4. Make your home safer
Newer furnaces also come with more advanced safety features. They are less likely to develop leaks. By virtue of being new, they’re also not going to have problems that older systems might, such as a cracked heat exchanger.
5. Feel confident with your furnace
Lastly, the perk of upgrading to a new furnace is that you will have to face fewer breakdowns. As a result, you can remain perfectly warm inside the house all throughout the winter.
The above are reasons enough why you should consider replacing your old furnace. Also, it’s important that you connect with the professionals here at Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ for regular maintenance and repairs of the furnace. This is important to increase the lifespan and reduce the chances of emergency breakdowns. 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 HVAC System- Safety Tips For The Holiday Season
Don’t Cover Your Air Vent
Your home will surely be filled with so many items this Christmas. Decorations, presents, and Christmas trees are just a few of the things that might take up your space. But did you know that they can block the proper airflow and even increase your utility bills when placed near or in front of your vent? Be sure your vent is free from these items to keep your home warm and your energy bills low.
Don’t Cover Your Thermostat
You might be tempted to cover your thermostat with decorations so you can fully achieve a Christmas-themed home. It’s not a good idea, though! Hiding your thermostat will make it hard for the device to read the temperature accurately. In that case, your heating system can’t do its job as well. Have a little visual sacrifice by exposing your thermostat in exchange for comfort this holiday season.
Keep the Flammable Items Away
You’ll surely be using papers, fabrics, and other objects as part of your holiday backdrops. Be cautious about where you place them. Keep these flammable objects away from any heat-generating appliances such as an electric blanket, space heater, radiator, and more to avoid fire hazards.
Check Your Outdoor Unit
Don’t forget to check your outdoor unit this holiday season. Even though it is built to endure harsh weather conditions, it still needs proper care and maintenance to work properly. Take time to inspect your unit’s components for possible icing and clear out the debris that surrounds it.
Schedule Your HVAC Inspection
A malfunctioning HVAC system can spoil the fun of the Christmas evening. As soon as possible, contact Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ for expert inspection of your comfort unit. We will help diagnose and fix the problems long before they cause major trouble to your comfort and savings.
Christmas only happens once a year, so make the most out of it! Don’t let poor comfort compromise the joy that the holiday brings.
Here at Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ, our team will ensure that your unit is working in optimum condition so you can enjoy the holiday with your loved ones. Call us today, and we’ll provide solutions that are just right for your budget.
Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priority. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your plumbing or HVAC needs call us toll-free @888-315-5564
Do This To Get The Most From Your Furnace
Change Your Filter
Your HVAC unit works incredibly hard during the winter and summer months. With all that hard work, your systems air filter will most likely be clogged or dirty due to all the dust and particulate matter it collects from your home.
Most HVAC systems require that you change your air filter once per month, though some high-quality filters can last a few months longer. A clogged or dirty filter affects the air you breathe, as well as the performance and longevity of your heating and cooling equipment. In most cases, your heating and cooling systems share the same air filter (you may have one or more filters in your home), so it’s important to make your filter replacements in both hot and cold seasons.
Scheduling Consistent Maintenance Services
By having annual maintenance services completed on your HVAC system, you will ensure the best performance from your equipment, and save money on your utility costs in the long run. Most local heating professionals will provide you with a clear understanding of your heating and cooling system’s condition, whether any immediate or preventative repairs should be done, and if your filter is clogged. By having these routine maintenance checks completed, you won’t have to worry about why your house is too cold or overheated while saving money.
Home Energy Audits
Piggybacking off of consistent maintenance services, having a home energy audit done is also beneficial towards maximizing heating efficiency. A home energy audit allows you to learn how you’re using your energy, determine where it’s being wasted, and will help prioritize your efficiency upgrades. Once you figure out where your energy and heat is being used, Green Apple heating professionals can help review your HVAC system and suggest improvements on how to efficiently get the most out of your system.
Sealing Your Home
Sealing your home can be incredibly beneficial when it comes to maximizing your heating efficiency. The point of sealing your home is to prevent the warm air in your home from escaping, meaning that if you have specific areas in your home where air leaks, you run the risk of losing all the moisture in your home while the cold, dry air enters your home. After you or a Green Apple heating professional perform a home energy audit to find out where the leaks are, you can then take the necessary steps towards sealing 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
The Plumbing Fixes You Need
Plumbing affects many parts of your home and you want it to work well. When plumbing breaks down, not only is this an inconvenience. It also brings worries about costly repairs.
While many plumbing repairs do require professional service, there are a few simple problems you can check for yourself. Sometimes, a simple step will fix the problem. If not, a Green Apple plumbing professional can help you. By checking first for simple solutions, you will know when you call for a Green Apple plumber that it was not something simple you missed.
Often, it’s tempting to try deeper plumbing system repairs on your own. But be aware of the many ways you can damage your pipes. You will save money and aggravation in the long run by getting a Green Apple professional to help you.
Here are some common plumbing problems that can have many different causes. For each one, there is something you can check first before calling for plumbing repair. If the first solution doesn’t work, a Green Apple plumbing professional can make the necessary repairs and get your system back up and running properly.
Low Water Pressure
This can have a number of causes that trace all the way back to the water supply, or to water leaks, faulty valves, or sediment build-up in the system. This is not a problem you want to ignore.
You can start by checking your faucet. Sometimes, the problem is as simple as a build-up of debris inside the aerator the little screen that screws onto the opening of your faucet.
If you take off the aerator and the water pressure is fine, clean the residue off the aerator and put it back on the faucet.
That’s a simple solution. If you still have low pressure after checking the aerator, a Green Apple plumbing professional can help you isolate and repair the problem.
Sluggish Draining of Tub or Sink
A build-up of hair and dirt in the drain can cause sluggish draining. Check immediately around the drain for a visible clog and remove it. See if that solves the problem. Consider installing a drain basket to prevent future build-up.
If the drain is still sluggish, the problem is deeper in the pipes. A Green Apple plumbing professional can remove the clog and check on the system for any further causes of sluggish draining.
A toilet that Continues to Run
Sometimes a running toilet means the flapper didn’t close all the way. This is easy to check and fix. Look inside the toilet tank to see if the flapper is up. Try simply pushing it down so it fits securely over the opening.
If you are familiar with the inner workings of a toilet tank, you can also check the float ball or cup, and the overflow tube to see why the water continues to flow. Check with your toilet manufacturer for a diagram of the parts inside the toilet tank, their functionality, and simple tweaks to keep them working well.
Sometimes, a repair or replacement part is needed. If one part is worn out and needs replacing, there is a good chance the other parts are worn too. A Green Apple plumbing professional can locate the problem and help you determine the most cost-effective solution
Dripping Faucet
Sometimes, all a dripping faucet needs is a washer replacement. If that does not stop the dripping, the problem is deeper in the system. A plumbing repair professional can help. While a dripping faucet might seem like a minor inconvenience, it will run up your water bill and could indicate a bigger problem. It’s best to get help while the problem is still minor.
If you take regular steps to keep your plumbing clean, check for signs of problems, and try simple solutions, you will do a lot toward keeping your plumbing system in good repair. When simple solutions don’t work, a Green Apple technician can help you find the best solution and avoid bigger 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
Tips To Prepare Your HVAC Unit For A Snow Storm
As winter sets in and temperatures begin to drop, it is essential that every home, office and other places of work be sufficiently prepared to keep their occupants warm. During the season temperature does get extreme.
Being pro-active as well as having a routinely maintained HVAC system, there should be little worry about New Jersey winter storms. However, most people are caught off-guard by storms that seem to appear out of nowhere and little time to prepare. The results can range anywhere from spending more on heating costs to no power & heat at all!
Why maintenance and preparing your HVAC system before a potential winter storm is essential.
Preventive maintenance at any time of year and especially before a winter storm sets in is essential to ensure that your home & family are protected to keep their houses warm.
By following the tips below, you are sure to cut your power usage & lower electricity bills, as well as extending the lifespan of their HVAC systems.
Replacing old furnaces and heating elements.
When properly maintained and taken care of, most furnaces will function properly from 15 to 20 years. To last this long, the system must be maintained on a yearly basis. Without proper maintenance, the HVAC furnace can be an individual’s or family’s worst nightmare, especially during extreme snowstorms.
Signs if there is a problem:
- If the furnace is more than 15 years old.
- Electricity bills are often higher than expected or usual.
- The furnace is unable to warm your home sufficiently.
- The furnace makes noise when running.
- If the furnace has not been inspected and maintained for longer than 2-3 years.
The Basics:
- Keep your home’s exhaust pipes clear of snow and ice.
- Insulate any vulnerable pipes. Wrap them with insulation sleeves to prevent freezing.
- If you haven’t already, turn off all outdoor water lines (to hoses and outdoor spigots).
- If any pipes get frozen and burst, turn off your water supply to that pipe and drain it by opening the faucets. Leave faucets open until you can get the pipe repaired.
- If you have an oil tank, make sure that you have enough oil to last.
- 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
Hot! Hot! Hot! Furnace Facts
If you have or are looking at purchasing a gas furnace, there are five standard types
- Horizontal gas furnace
- Package gas furnace: also comes with an air conditioner
- Upflow gas furnace: airflow enters the bottom, and the heated air exits the top
- Downflow gas furnace: opposite of the upflow, airflow enters the top, and the heated air exits the bottom
- Lowboy gas furnace: shorter units designed for tight spaces
If your home has a gas furnace…you are not alone
Gas furnaces are the most common heating units found in homes across America. This is primarily due to the fact that they have such high-efficiency ratings and can be used in rural or remote locations. They can operate off of natural gas (if it’s available in the area) or propane, which makes them very convenient for homes with no natural gas lines.
You should always look at what’s covered in the policy
Contrary to popular belief, not every component of a furnace is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. In fact, it’s common for the more expensive parts to not be covered by the warranty. Make sure you do your research and read the fine print before making any purchase.
Never store things around your furnace
Heating units are typically located in the basement where many families keep seasonal items between uses. This is a bad idea for several reasons. If you need to get to your furnace in an emergency quickly, you have no quick route to access it. And if you have a gas unit that uses a burner, you could have a potential fire hazard on your hands.
Always, always commit to preventative maintenance.
If nothing else, preventative maintenance can help you spot small problems before they become significant problems. But regular maintenance on your furnace can also help prolong the lifespan of the unit and keep your energy costs down. In fact, most manufacturers require annual maintenance to maintain warranties. Make sure you add an annual check-up to your maintenance list, especially after the 5-year mark.
If you notice your furnace beginning to make strange noises or not performing as well as it should contact a Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ professional so they can also help you set up a preventative maintenance schedule so your system stays in tip-top shape and keeps your family warm for many years. Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. customer service and care are always our number one priority. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call toll-free @888-315-5564
How To Tell If Your Furnace Is Overworking
You manually adjust temperatures frequently
When it gets too cold, you turn the thermostat up, and when it’s hotter than you’d like, you lower temperatures or shut the furnace off. This may seem logical and like an efficient way to run the furnace only when you need it, but this simply isn’t the case.
Your furnace is designed to run in balanced cycles in order to keep temperatures just where they need to be. When you manually turn the thermostat on and off, you wear down the components quickly. Rather than turn the furnace up high and then lowering temperatures dramatically, it makes more sense to find a reasonable temperature and keep it there, letting the furnace run in its usual cycles.
You don’t change the air filter
Neglecting to change the air filter might not seem like a big deal to you, especially if you don’t have active allergies. But it’s not just there to clean the air. A dirty filter can actually harm a furnace (or air conditioner) because it blocks the flow of air through the system.
The blower fan has to work harder to try to suck in air through a dirty and clogged filter. Parts wear down, but what’s worse is that your furnace can overheat and shut off completely.
You don’t use a programmable or smart thermostat
Older thermostats tend to work just fine even with some brand new equipment. Many people don’t upgrade their thermostats when they replace a heating system, but we think this is a mistake. The wrong thermostat can easily overwork your furnace even if it’s working just fine.
You’ve probably left the heat on high by accident before leaving the home many a time. But a smart thermostat helps you prevent this. If you need to make an adjustment after you’ve left the home, all you have to do is open up an app on your smartphone.
You shut the vents
When you shut a vent in an unoccupied room in the home, you might think you are saving energy. After all, no one is using the room, and it only makes sense to keep from paying for that extra heat. However, closing the vent actually creates more work for your heater.
A furnace is designed and sized specifically to heat the amount of space in your home. Closing off space can lead to overheating or short cycling as the furnace may have to start and stop more often than it is meant to. 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