Is Your Central Air Ready For A New Season?

Prep the AC Unit

Get your exterior air conditioning unit ready for summer by removing its cover and clearing any surrounding debris. Check for any weeds, leaves, or limbs around the unit. If there appears to be any damage, contact your Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ technician to assess the situation.

Change the Air Filters

While you should already be changing your air filters every one to three months, opting for fresh ones when switching over to AC is a good rule of thumb. Your AC’s air filter is an essential component that makes or breaks your home’s indoor air quality. Just be sure to keep changing the filters as needed, especially if you have pets.

Clean the Vents

Along with changing the air filters, you should also vacuum or wash the vents throughout the home. Dirty vents can inhibit airflow or even blow dust back into the living space. If you’ve cleaned the vents and replaced the air filters but you still experience poor indoor air quality, you may need to have your ducts cleaned.

Check the Thermostat

Thermostat batteries do wear out, but they’re easy to forget. Remember to change your thermostat’s batteries at the start of the cooling season when switching over to AC. This helps you enjoy maintenance-free thermostat function for the rest of the year, which is one less thing to worry about.

Schedule Your Annual HVAC Service

The prime time to schedule your HVAC maintenance is between the heating and cooling seasons. Not only will your Green Apple HVAC technician ensure your air conditioner is prepped for summer, but they can also spot any issues before they become costly problems.

Get your central air ready for the cooling season. Call Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ toll-free at 888-611-7191 to schedule your next tune-up. Green Apple 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 Want A Trouble Free Toilet, Follow These Rules

  1. Teach your household to follow the basic rule of proper toilet bowl maintenance: “The only good paper is (regular-thickness) toilet paper.” Disposable diapers, wipes, paper towels, feminine products, and even ultra-thick, extra-strength TP can get in there and clog up your drains. Place a handy covered bin in the bathroom for disposal of these items.
  2. Don’t try to flush leftover food, either. Large, hard particles can get stuck, while grease and oils will tend to harden and contribute mightily to drain clog. Besides, all that unnecessary flushing will add up to many gallons of wasted water over time.
  3. Consider replacing any old-fashioned water hog toilets with the low-flow variety, to save even more H2O. If you’re still using a toilet manufactured prior to 1994, it may be quaffing as much as 7 gallons per flush. Compare that with today’s water-sparing models, at only 1.6 gallons per flush.
  4. Install a toilet lid lock if you have small children in your family. Besides its vital function of helping to keep your sweet babies safe, this handy device will prevent mischievous toddlers from conducting their own brand of science experiments.
  5. Equip your bathroom with a convenient plunger. Unlike the standard model made for use in flat bathroom or kitchen sinks, a dedicated toilet plunger is manufactured with a flange – picture a broad rubber lip — that seals to the curved shape of your toilet bowl outlet for the most effective plunging. If the toilet threatens to overflow, bail out some of the water with a bucket or similar container so you have room to plunge.
  6. 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

Be Pro-active With Installing Central Air

If you’re looking to beat the heat, it may seem logical to wait until the summer comes before you begin thinking about installing your central air unit. But if you’re familiar with the market, you know that’s the last time you want to be dealing with your HVAC needs. In the spring, there are fewer buyers in the market and that will work to your advantage in a couple of ways. Not only will you be able to find better deals, but you’ll also have more Green Apple professionals available at your disposal and as a result, better customer service and support. Summer, unfortunately, runs rampant with homeowners looking to purchase, repair or install new units and it’s easy to find yourself paying higher prices and experiencing longer wait times for your installation. With the increase in demand, it should be no surprise that prices increase, too. For this reason, alone, it’s a great idea to get a head start, make a deal and install your unit early.

It should also be noted that taking the seasonal temperature into consideration can help immensely. If your region is experiencing an unseasonably warm spring, for example, you can be sure the rush will start much earlier than you may anticipate. In this case, an early spring installation is ideal. 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

Refreshing Spring Maintenance That Is Essential

Most people wait to have their furnaces serviced at the beginning of fall, as temperatures are falling and the house needs to be heated. That makes sense, and the busiest time for any company that services HVAC systems is the fall. But here’s the thing: if your furnace isn’t working, and you have a cold night coming up, you might have to wait a week or more to get it working again. If you perform regular maintenance after winter, it’ll be ship-shape by the time fall rolls around again.

Indoor

First and foremost: replace the furnace filter. After a long winter, it needs it. And replace the filter every three to four months. If you have trouble remembering, write the date you replaced it on the filter box. You should also vacuum or dust any vents in your house, as they’ve probably accumulated a fair amount of dust over winter.

The indoor flue system should be inspected as well. Make sure it’s sufficiently attached to the furnace and shows no sign of rust or corrosion.

The fan and blower both likely need some dusting as well.

When we’re talking about the actual furnace unit, here’s the thing: get it professionally checked by a Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ professional.  Let one of our certified technicians look at everything, to check for gas leaks, to inspect all the many parts that make a furnace work. They know what to look for, and what doesn’t look right.

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

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

Preventative Measures For Your HVAC

Spring is a great time to conduct preventive maintenance to help you reduce energy costs and avoid emergency calls during the warmer months. Here are the main HVAC maintenance tasks you shouldn’t skip:

  • Clean Floor Registers. Dust, pet dander, and other debris can collect in your floor registers. They can be cleaned using a vacuum, but during spring upkeep, you will want to do this thoroughly. To do so, remove the vents and wash them with soapy water. Use a sponge to clean off the dirt and dry the vent before reinstalling it.

  • Clean Air Vents. Just like your floor registers, your air vents are prone to dirt buildup. You can clean them by using a rag wrapped over a butter knife to wipe in between the tight areas. If there is loose debris, remove it with your vacuum.

  • Change Air Filters. To keep your home’s comfort and efficiency at optimum levels, it’s vital to replace your air filters every three months. Dirty and clogged filters can damage your HVAC system and increase your energy bills.

  • Remove Yard Waste. Twigs, leaves, and other garden refuse can infiltrate your exterior condenser unit, which can inhibit airflow. Have a Green Apple Mechanical expert remove debris if there is any, and trim the vegetation growing near the unit to avoid airflow issues.

These simple steps can go a long way in extending the service life of your HVAC system. For the best results, schedule a professional Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ maintenance visit as well. Your technician will be able to provide the necessary tune-ups that will prevent costly 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 at 888-315-5564

Seasonal Plumbing Tips You Need

One of the most common and perhaps most aggravating springtime plumbing issues is slower draining in sinks, showers, bathtubs, and floor drains. Slow draining can occur for numerous reasons.

In the spring specifically, sudden changes in fixture drainage may point to a root intrusion. If a large tree root has entered a drain line, water may have difficulty getting past the obstruction. In this case, you will likely notice slow water movement in most or all of your drains.

Drainage issues can also occur due to buildup within your pipes. Hosting guests, cooking holiday meals, and other winter activities can contribute to clogs that don’t seem to be a problem until spring. In this scenario, the slower draining may only appear in one fixture or one room, like a specific bathroom.

Because many obstructions occur out of sight and out of reach, it’s important to have a Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ plumber assess and remove the clog by using a power rodding machine with drain cable. Home remedies can damage your pipes and may fail to completely eliminate the obstruction.

If you notice any of these plumbing issues, call an expert from Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ

Even if you haven’t noticed any signs of the springtime plumbing problems listed above, spring is a great time for a routine inspection. Consider scheduling an appointment to ensure that your plumbing is protected during the upcoming summer season.

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

Refresh Your HVAC System This Spring

Spring is a great time to get the air conditioner inspected. Getting your air conditioner ready before you need it is important. You might want to schedule your HVAC maintenance during the transitional springtime. This way you are ready to flip on the air conditioner when the temperatures get warmer. If you are not sure when maintenance should be done to the HVAC system.

Replace Any Worn Parts

Parts wear out, no matter how durable modern HVAC systems are designed to be. If it’s been a while since your last maintenance appointment, call us. Spring is a great time to make that call. We can check the parts and components of your HVAC system. If there are any that have worn out, they will be replaced.

Annual HVAC maintenance is a must to keep your system running at peak efficiency. Scheduling spring maintenance ensures your system is properly lubricated and clean. This is essential after the long winter months. Regular maintenance also prevents breakdowns and avoids costly replacements, which is something you don’t want to have to deal with in the heat of summer.

Clean Your home

Our homes tend to get stuffy in the winter. Spring is a great time for opening the windows and letting in the fresh air. A good spring cleaning takes care of clogged air filters, dust buildup, and other issues preventing your family from enjoying the best indoor air quality possible.

One of the best benefits of scheduling your HVAC tuneup in the spring is that you probably won’t have to wait long for an appointment. Emergency calls are much more common during summer and winter when people need cooling and heating the most. But with a spring appointment, you can beat the rush of inspections. Schedule your tune-up with us today. By having the parts looked at now, you can save time, money, and stress in the long run.

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

Spring Into Action For Your HVAC System

    • Seal air leaks around doors and windows. Some people think that it’s only important to seal windows and doors during the winter months, but that’s not true! Air leaks will waste money all year long. During the cooling season, they allow cool air from your air conditioner to seep outside and warm air from outside to seep indoors. By sealing up your doors and windows with caulk and weatherstripping, you can keep your home more comfortable, lower your cooling bills and help your family’s allergy symptoms.

 

    • Perform spring cleaning. Spring cleaning is great because it allows you to declutter your home and make everything look fresh and new. It’s also a good way to improve your home’s air quality at the source because you can remove dirt and dust from around your home that would otherwise get caught up in your home’s airflow and clog up your filter (or even worse, build upon your cooling system).
  • If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call toll-free at 888-315-5564
  • 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.

No Bones About It, Don’t Put These In Your Disposal

What Not to Put in a Garbage Disposal

Some foods don’t grind up easily, so avoid putting the following items in your garbage disposal:

    • Grease or oil can solidify inside a garbage disposal and cause clogs in the drain pipe.
    • Potato peels contain starch which can cling to the sides of the disposal, making it difficult to flush out into the drain pipe.

 

    • Glass, plastic, metal, or paper can jam or dull the blades of a garbage disposal.
    • Big bones, seeds, or pits can also dull the blades, jam the disposal, or become lodged in the drain pipe.
    • Egg shells can stick to the pipes and having enough of them in there could result in a clog.
  • Expandable foods, such as pasta and rice, also contain starch which can cling to the disposal. In addition, water can cause them to expand in the disposal and cause a clog.

Following these tips can keep your disposal clean and fully functional. If you do run into problems with your garbage disposal, turn the power off at the circuit breaker before attempting to remove a clog or jam, or call a qualified Green Apple Plumbing & Mechanical NJ plumber to handle the repairs for you.

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