Make Sure To React When You Experience Any Of These
Slow drains around the house
A single slow drain is a nuisance, but you can often take care of it with a sink plunger. If that doesn’t work, arrange for drain cleaning with a Green Apple plumber. ( Don’t use “drain cleaning” chemicals from the store, since these can harm the pipes.) If drains are slow all around the house, you may have an emergency down in the sewer line or blocked sewer vents and these will become serious problems if you don’t have Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical plumbers locate and fix them.
Hearing running water when nobody is using water
If you can hear water moving through the pipes in your house, and you’re certain that nobody has a tap open or is running an appliance like the dishwasher, it’s often a warning sign of a leak. A way to double-check this is to look at the water meter and write down the reading. Don’t use any water in the house for an hour, and then recheck the meter. If the reading has gone up, call a Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical plumber for leak detection.
A knocking sound in the pipes
This knocking noise is called water hammer, and it often means there’s too much pressure inside the plumbing or valves have come loose. This may eventually lead to leaks, so have a Green Apple plumber look at it right away.
A drop in water pressure
A water pressure decline in the house often means something is wrong with the municipal water supply. We recommend checking with your neighbors to see if they’re having the same problem. But if it looks like it’s just your house, there may be trouble with your water line or a major leak elsewhere in the plumbing. Get a professional Green Apple plumber to help right away.
A steep rise in water bills
Check your water bills so you have a good idea of the average number of gallons your household uses each month. If the cost of bills starts to rise, take a look at the usage. Is it higher than normal, but you cannot think of any reason for it? If so, you may have hidden leaks. Contact Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical as soon as possible. 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 plumbing or HVAC needs call toll-free at 888-315-5564
Why You Shouldn’t Humidify In The Summer
Match the Indoor and Outdoor Units – If you have to change the outdoor air conditioning or condensing unit consider changing the indoor coil to match it. Ask your Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical technician if the indoor or evaporator coil is compatible or if it also needs to be changed. Mismatching a high efficient condensing unit with a low efficient indoor coil can not only cost you most if not all of the added efficiency but can also damage your compressor valves and cause your compressor to wear out much sooner than it normally would.
Adjust the Thermostat – Set your thermostat a few degrees higher in the summer and a few degrees lower in the winter. Many experts agree that 78°F is a good starting point in order to save money. Every degree below 78°F that you set your thermostat for AC will increase your energy usage by around 8 percent.
Don’t Humidify in the Summer – Don’t use a dehumidifier at the same time your air conditioner is operating because it will force the air conditioner to work harder.
Properly Seal your Ducts – Have your ductwork checked to see if it needs any repairs or if it needs to be replaced. If some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold, if the insulation is peeling or if there is a buildup of contaminants inside consider having your ducts evaluated to see if they need replacing. Also, return grilles and grills in each room should be evaluated to see if they are properly sized and working correctly.
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
Protect Your Home & Your Plumbing
We frequently talk about extending the life of HVAC with preventative care but what about your plumbing system? It’s not too often that we think about the complex infrastructure of pipes and drains that keep things in our homes going with the flow. However, just like we perform maintenance on heating and cooling systems, you need to be giving the same care and attention to your plumbing.
When it comes to your home plumbing maintenance is critical. Why? One of the most expensive home repairs you may face during the course of homeownership is plumbing-related. Take the time and make an effort to keep your plumbing in good shape. It’s a win-win you’ll see the water savings and prevent plumbing disasters.
The good news? You have Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical who are always here when you need us the most.
Conquer drain clogs
Stubborn clogs are a hassle and damaging to pipes. Avoid chemical drain cleaning solutions in favor of a snake to clear a drain clog. Prevent future clogs by watching what goes down the drain. Follow the rule of only flushing waste and toilet paper down the toilet and always be mindful of the bathroom as well. Using sink stoppers and drain strainers is an easy and inexpensive way to catch food debris, hair, soap scum and everything else that wreaks havoc on our drains.
Freezeout frozen pipes
Make sure you’re taking all precautions to prevent frozen pipes. This includes adding pipe insulation to the plumbing in your garage, basement, utility rooms, any cold areas of your house that get little to no heat from HVAC. During severe temperature lows open cabinets underneath sinks to expose them to heat. If you’re away on vacation, you can turn down your thermostat temperature, but don’t shut it off entirely.
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
Incredible HVAC Cleaning & Inspection Tips
Keep the Sun Out
Another excellent way to keep the air conditioner from needing to run as often is to block the sun during the hottest part of the day. During the hours when the sun shines in the most, blinds or drapes should be closed.
This way, the home’s interior temperature will not rise as much. Additionally, consider planting trees or installing awnings to diffuse some of the sunlight.
Get a Professional Inspection and Cleaning Done Annually
Before each cooling season, it is a great idea to get a regular maintenance check and cleaning done on the unit by a Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ HVAC professional. Service professionals usually inspect the control box; coils; fan motor and blades; and compressor and tubing; among other things. Additionally, refrigerant levels are inspected and adjusted if necessary, and the unit cleaned.
As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you’ve ever had your central air conditioner quit working on the hottest day of the year, you fully understand that preventative A/C maintenance is definitely preferable to repairing or replacing it due to neglect.
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
Easy Way To Avoid Plumbing Trouble
Keep Your Sewer Lines or Septic Tank Clear
If you have municipal sewers, hire a Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical plumber to snake your main sewage cleanout every few years. This helps to remove tree roots that inevitably work their way into these pipes leading to messy sewage backups. If you have a septic system, get the tank pumped out every three to five years.
Other Ways to Avoid Trouble
1. Learn where your home’s main water shut-off valve is so if there’s ever a leak, you can go straight there and quickly turn off the water to the entire house.
2. Remove hoses from outdoor spigots in winter to prevent frozen water from cracking the pipes and causing a flood.
3. Add pipe insulation to the plumbing in cold parts of your house such as garages, basements, and crawl spaces to avoid frozen pipes (and to shorten the wait for hot water).
4. Never use an exposed pipe as a hanger rod for laundry. Doing so can loosen joints and fasteners.
5. Fix problems quickly. Even small leaks can make pipes corrode more quickly, and cause significant water damage or mold.
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
Best Way To Protect You Air Conditioner Coils
Air Conditioner Coils
The air conditioner’s evaporator coil and condenser coil collect dirt over their months and years of service. A clean filter prevents the evaporator coil from soiling quickly. In time, however, the evaporator coil will still collect dirt. This dirt reduces airflow and insulates the coil, reducing its ability to absorb heat. To avoid this problem, check your evaporator coil every year and clean it as necessary.
Outdoor condenser coils can also become very dirty if the outdoor environment is dusty or if there is foliage nearby. You can easily see the condenser coil and notice if dirt is collecting on its fins.
You should minimize dirt and debris near the condenser unit. Your dryer vents, falling leaves, and lawn mower are all potential sources of dirt and debris. Cleaning the area around the coil, removing any debris, and trimming foliage back at least 2 feet (0.6 meters) allow for adequate airflow around the condenser.
Green Apple Plumbing and Mechanical NJ are the experts you can trust. 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 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
Prevent A Plumbing Disaster
Plumbing Maintenance
One way to prevent costly repairs to your home is a regular maintenance schedule. Because many issues with your pipes sneak up on you, a thorough inspection is a key to catching small problems before they grow. Hidden leaks in sink drains or below water heaters are more than just a nuisance; over time, they can cause structural damage. Water that seeps into sheetrock or plaster contributes to mold growth. Porous tile or wood flooring can discolor or warp when wet.
Professional Inspections
Inspections from a certified Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical plumber give you a more in-depth look at your home’s pipes and drains. Your inspector will check the water heater, garbage disposal and every area of your home’s plumbing system.
- Drain treatment to maximize the flow rate
- Cleaning of garbage disposals and water heaters
- Pressure tests to detect hairline leaks
- Water pressure assessment and adjustment
- 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. 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