How To Always Keep The Air Flowing

 CLEAR THE AREA FOR AIRFLOW

Clear out junk, heat traps, and airflow blockers from your heating and cooling unit.  This means that you need to make sure that there isn’t anything flammable near your furnace.  That furnace gets incredibly hot while it’s running, and dry cardboard, papers, and fabrics are all a fire risk if they’re too close.

On the other hand, you need to be sure that the area around your air conditioner’s condenser unit is always kept clear as well.  The condenser operates on airflow, with a fan drawing cooler air over the heated condenser fins.  If brush, trash, or other materials are in the way, air cannot be pulled over the fins to cool it, impeding your unit’s ability to cool your home (this is also why an iced-over air conditioner cannot cool your home).

 IMPROVE AIRFLOW

For forced air climate control systems (which most heating and cooling systems for modern homes are), the most important thing is regulating airflow.  When your system was installed, it was designed to heat or cool your home.  The power of your system should have been sized to match how large the rooms are and how far the air needs to move through the ducts to reach the individual rooms.

Closing off rooms and vents can actually impede airflow for your system by generating backpressure that your blower fan has to fight against.  Backpressure can force open seals, leading to heating or cooling losses in the ventilation ducting.  Open doors and vents leave all open to keep maximal airflow for the highest efficiency of your unit.

Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the NJ area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priority. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call toll-free @888-315-5564

What To Look For If Your AC Is In Distress

Central Air In Distress

 Change your filter. Most people let them get too dirty, and this is one of the most common reasons for poor performance in air conditioners. An unclean filter adds resistance and reduces airflow. Go ahead and check it now. Don’t Wait.

 Improve airflow. In addition to the air filter, your AC may have other types of air flow problems. If the evaporator coil is dirty, not enough air moves across it and your home doesn’t cool off as well as it should. If the condenser coil is dirty, it won’t dump enough heat to the outside. If your condenser coil is crowded with vegetation or other obstacles, clear it out. You can trim the bushes yourself, but you should probably call a Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ professional to clean the coils.

 Look for disconnected ducts. If your ducts are outside of the conditioned space in your home, check to see if anything has come loose. Fixing a supply duct that’s sending all its cool air to the attic or crawl space can have an immediate impact on your comfort. This problem is more common than you may think.

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 Not To Stress Out Your Plumbing

  Leak protection

Leak protection can save you big on both hassle and cash. For $200-$300, you can get a system that provides both an alarm and the main water shut-off in the event of a leak in your dishwasher, water heater, and even sink.

 Stressing your food processor

Your garbage disposal can and will get clogged if you pour grease, fibrous foods like celery, or bulk amounts of garbage in all at once. Feeding garbage into the disposal slowly, while running cold water, is the best way to avoid a clog.

 Keeping the same water heater Forever

 Water heaters tend to lose their effectiveness at the 15-year-mark or before and may cause a flood if you’re not careful. Do yourself a favor and invest in a new model before trouble strikes and your home becomes an indoor flood plain.

If any of these plumbing practices sound familiar, don’t panic. All you can do is move forward with new strategies that don’t harm your plumbing. Be sure to contact our experienced team at Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ with any questions, concerns, or to schedule a house call. Call toll-free @888-315-5564

Troubles With Airflow & Air Quality With Your Central Air

It is a common problem for ac units to lose efficiency with age. Using the AC for many years makes parts get worn, and components tend to lose the ability to supply maximum power. In the early stages, it is not understandable. However, you can compare your energy bills. You will notice that your energy bills are going up month by month, but it is not too much amount that alarms you. In the long run, you will notice a significant uprise in energy costs. It is one of the common signs that the AC unit system is slightly slowing down. It means that it is not going to run as efficiently as it should. Regular AC maintenance keeps all of the components of the HVAC system running at peak operating efficiency. You can not stop entirely the ravages of time, but you are going to get the most out of the HVAC until it is time to replace it.

Another problem that you can face may be poor airflow through the ductwork. The primary duty of the HVAC system is to blow the air throughout the house, whether it is hot or cold. It means you use the indoor air and circulate it throughout the home. It is possible all the dust and debris collects in the HVAC components as well. Increase in dust and debris can hold moisture. As a result, this moisture can become a dirt layer which is damaging to inner runnings of the HVAC system. All of these problems emerge as little inconveniences. But they can become significant problems quickly if you do not keep an eye on them. Understanding why regular AC maintenance is so essential and scheduling regular HVAC maintenance can help you avoid a lot of these 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

What Size Central Air Do I Need?

1. What size central air conditioner should I have?

Too big? It will not be energy efficient. Most will turn on quickly, cool your house, then turn off. Then repeat the same cycle.

Too small? Your A/C will constantly run trying to cool your home. This will increase the wear and tear on the unit.

Just right? a properly sized central A/C will run through the required amount of cycles to keep your house comfortable, but will not run inefficiently. Let Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ help you make the proper assessment.

2. Should I close the registers and doors to areas of the home that I do not use on a regular basis?

The short answer – closed vents increase pressure.

When you start closing vents in unused rooms, you make the duct system more restrictive. The pressure increases, and that means an ECM blower will ramp up to keep airflow up whereas a PSC blower will move less air. Most homes don’t have sealed ducts either, so the higher pressure in the duct system will mean more duct leakage.”

3. What is the SEER Rating? 

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It is the ratio of the amount of cooling produced (BTU) divided by the amount of electricity (watts) used.

The ratings measure an A/C unit’s energy efficiency. The higher the rating, the most efficient.

The ever-present federal EnergyGuide label can help you determine a unit’s SEER rating at a glance. The label helps identify high-efficiency A/C units.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ toll-free @888-315-5564

How Often Should Your Plumbing Be Inspected?

Homeowners should make sure their plumbing is inspected frequently. As with many things, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and preventing major plumbing disasters on your property is well worth it. Even a small leak, over time, can lead to foundation issues, mold and mildew, rotten wood, and other expensive water damage. Avoid this by keeping up with an annually scheduled inspection from Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ.

What Happens in an Inspection?

A plumbing inspection is about a lot more than looking for leaks. The pipes may have cracks or leaks in them, but that is only one small part of the process. In addition:

• Check for running toilets, which can cost hundreds on your water bill
• Check water pressure. High water pressure can adversely affect plumbing fixtures. Low water pressure could be an indication of an underground water line leak.
• Inspect the water and drain lines in the crawlspace and look for any effects of leaks under there, like mold, dripping, and rotting wood
• Sinks and drains are checked for blockages and proper flow
• Washing machines, dishwashers, and other water-using appliances are inspected
• The water supply, shut-off valves, and vents are checked for problems
• Drain cameras are used in exit pipes to make sure waste isn’t building up and causing clogs
• The inspector searches for code violations that may have been overlooked
• Old pipes are inspected to see if they need to be replaced
• 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

Get Shady With Your Central Air

Stay Shady

When the sun enters through a window and heats a room, it can feel wonderful during the winter. In the summer, however, it can make your A/C work harder. When temperatures start to rise, keep your energy costs and heat gain low by shading your window with:

• Awnings on the exterior of your home.
• Trees a safe distance from your home. Trees will also help keep the ground around your home cooler.
• Blinds or solar shade screens on the windows. Keep the blinds or shades on the southern and western windows closed during hot afternoons.
• Blackout curtains. Like the blinds, keep the curtains closed on warm afternoons.

When installing a new central air conditioner, place it away from the dryer vent and on the north side of your home, in a shady spot. If your air conditioner is already in a sunny spot, purchase a cover to help block the sun’s heat.

Consider Replacing Your Central Air Conditioner

Sometimes the best thing you can do to maximize the efficiency of your A/C is to purchase a new unit. This is particularly true when:

• The cooling unit is over 10 years old. New units with high efficiency (SEER) rating of at least 13 are about 25 percent more efficient than their older counterparts and can save you up to 30 percent on your energy bill.
• The A/C frequently needs repairs.
• The central air conditioner does not cool your home evenly.
• Your energy bills steadily increase.
• It’s not the right size for your home. A unit that’s too big needlessly uses too much energy to cool your home and costs more to install. One that’s too small has to work harder to cool your home and may not dehumidify it well.
• Your unit uses the HCFC-22, or R-22, coolant, which is harmful to the environment and will become obsolete in the near future.

Keeping your home comfortable and saving energy is simple. If you have any questions about making your central air conditioner run more efficiently or purchasing a new cooling system, call Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ today and call toll-free @ 888-315-5564

How Many Of These Plumbing Mishaps Have You Had?

A pipe is leaking

If you develop a leak in a pipe, the very first thing you need to do is to turn off the water supply to the pipe. Wrap a sheet of rubber around the section of the pipe that is leaking. Ideally, a sleeve clamp should be used to tighten the rubber, but an adjustable hose clamp should also stop the leak. Most major leaks are beyond the ability of the average homeowner to repair, but small drips or leaks can be stopped temporarily until you can call Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ plumbers.

Should I open and close my shutoff’s regularly?

Yes. Opening and closing your shutoff’s on a regular basis, ensures they are working properly and able to shut off in an emergency.

Why is my water bill so high?

Even the smallest leaks can have an impact on your water bill. Check around the house for any visible leaks, water, and/or water damage.

My pipes are clogged, should I use store-bought, liquid drain cleaner?

No, never use liquid drain cleaners. Not only do they damage your pipes, but can cause harm to your plumbing.

The showerhead seems clogged

Mineral deposits from hard water can clog the small holes in your shower head and make it spray ineffectively. You can remove them using warm vinegar and an old toothbrush. Remove the showerhead and put it in a bowl of warm vinegar for approximately an hour. Most of the mineral deposits should dissolve. If any remain, use an old toothbrush to gently scrub away the remaining deposits. Rinse the showerhead and re-attach it.

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 toll-free @ 888-315-5564

How To Throw Your Central Air An Assist

 Change your filter. Most people let them get too dirty, and this is one of the most common reasons for poor performance in air conditioners. A clogged filter adds resistance and reduces airflow. Go ahead and check it now. 

 Improve airflow. In addition to the air filter, your AC may have other types of airflow problems. If the evaporator coil is dirty, not enough air moves across it and your home doesn’t cool off as well as it should. If the condenser coil is dirty, it won’t dump enough heat to the outside. If your condenser coil is crowded with vegetation or other obstacles, clear it out. You can trim the bushes yourself, but you should probably call a Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ professional to clean the coils.

 Look for disconnected ducts. If your ducts are outside of the conditioned space in your home, check to see if anything has come loose. Fixing a supply duct that’s sending all its cool air to the attic or crawl space can have an immediate impact on your comfort. This problem is more common than you may think.

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

Cool Your Air The Cost Efficient Way

It’s Cost-Efficient

In the last 10 to 15 years alone, central air conditioners with an Energy Star rating have become between 30 and 40 percent more efficient. This means more savings for you!

A central air conditioner will use anywhere between 3000 to 5000 watts an hour. This may sound like a lot, but it is important to remember that this is what it takes to cool your whole house.

By comparison, multiple window units would draw just as much energy, but actually, be less efficient. Their position in windows is not airtight, meaning cold air is actually escaping outside instead of properly cooling your home. And no one wants to pay to air condition the outside.

Coupled with some steps you can take to make your central air conditioner even more cost-efficient than you thought.

 It’s Quiet

Central air conditioners were designed with you in mind, and that includes considering noise levels. A central air system is located outside the home, which means a reduced level of noise when you’re trying to sleep or get work done.

Window units are not as considerate. They make a lot of noise right in the room, which is irritating, to say the least.

 It’s Safer

Having a window unit means your window is constantly open. This increases the risk that someone could break into your home, particularly if the window unit is at ground level.

A central air unit doesn’t interfere with any other part of your house, meaning that you can continue to lock up as usual without worrying about sacrificing safety for cool air.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call toll-free @888-315-5564