Look Out For Hidden 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 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.

New Season, New Furnace Filter

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 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 888-611-7191

Read This Before Starting 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 888-611-7191

Experiencing Rust In Your Hot Water?

If you’ve ever turned on your tub to run yourself a hot bath and you noticed rust in the tub, this is a sign you’ll need a new hot water heater soon. Hot water heaters work by a flame heating a metal tank filled with water. Over time, the expanding and contracting of the metal from heat causes wear on the tank and the constant presence of water can cause rust to develop. When you begin to see it in your hot water, it is a sign that the wear has become significant.
You may begin to notice other issues with your hot water heater as it begins to age. You may notice you’re getting less and less hot water and it takes longer to heat the water up. You may begin to hear popping sounds from the heating element of your heater. This is a sign that sediment within the heater is reacting to the heat. You may also notice water around the base of the heater. You may notice a little moisture or a small puddle. This indicates that there is, in fact, a leak within your heater and it will need to be replaced.
A quality water heater can last 8-10 years or longer. It is important to regularly have your heater serviced to expand its lifespan. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs call Green Apple Mechanical NJ toll-free at 888-611-7191

Running The Air Conditioner During The Fall

By switching off your air conditioner at night, the temperature in your home gradually rises while you’re sleeping and by the time it hits mid-day, your home’s internal temperature without the A/C turned on will hit the point where you’re starting to feel the warmth. Once you turn your air conditioner back on it takes more energy to cool your home than it would have, had you left your air conditioner on the entire time.

To combat this problem we suggest that you leave your thermostat at a temperature you find bearable during the day and using ceiling fans to circulate the cool air throughout your home. If you don’t have ceiling fans, oscillating fans work great too. By doing this you’re cutting the cost on the amount of energy it takes to run your air conditioner at maximum performance to cool your home. Now all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy that cool air brought to you by Green Apple Mechanical NJ.

Green Apple 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 concerns please feel free to call toll-free at 888-611-7191

Are You Experiencing Any Of These Plumbing Issues?

How To Manage Your Central Air This Fall

With the temperatures rising during the day, you naturally want to keep your home cool and while temperatures drop at night, nature takes care of that for you. We know it’s tempting to turn your air conditioning unit off at night since you don’t need it to keep cool, but you might actually be using more energy to cool your home the next day than you thought.

By switching off your air conditioner at night, the temperature in your home gradually rises while you’re sleeping and by the time it hits mid-day, your home’s internal temperature without the A/C turned on will hit the point where you’re starting to feel the warmth. Once you turn your air conditioner back on it takes more energy to cool your home than it would have, had you left your air conditioner on the entire time.

To combat this problem we suggest that you leave your thermostat at a temperature you find bearable during the day and using ceiling fans to circulate the cool air throughout your home. If you don’t have ceiling fans, oscillating fans work great too. By doing this you’re cutting the cost on the amount of energy it takes to run your air conditioner at maximum performance to cool your home. Now all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy that cool air brought to you.

Green Apple are the professionals 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 call toll-free at 888-611-7191

Liquid Plumbers- A Cautionary Tale

Repeatedly using liquid plumbers on drains that clog frequently can deteriorate your pipes and do more damage in the long run. If you experience repeat clogs in the same drains, nix the use of liquid plumbers and call in the Green Apple professionals instead. It will save you time and money in the long run.
Liquid plumbers are corrosive and can cause injury if handled or used improperly. Always observe the safety precautions on the container and never combine them with other ingredients. If you have used a liquid plumber in your drain and later call in a plumber, show them the container and tell him you have used it in the drain. If your Green Apple plumber is unaware and uses an industrial cleaner in the drain, the chemicals may interact causing an explosion or releasing dangerous gases.
Green Apple Mechanical NJ are the professionals 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 us toll-free at 888-611-7191

Everyday Ways To Maintain Your Plumbing

In the Kitchen

Kitchen drains often clog due to debris or wastes going down the sink that shouldn’t. To prevent clogged drains in this room, never put grease or oils down the sink. This includes cooking oils and fats, such as butter, that can congeal in the pipes, blocking water flow.
Improper use of the garbage disposal is another common reason for clogged kitchen drains. Follow this kitchen plumbing maintenance checklist to help you avoid this problem:

• Always turn your water and disposal on before adding food.
• Never put fibrous or stringy food wastes down the disposal. These include banana peels, celery, potato peels, and other foods that are difficult to grind up.
• Always allow the cold water to run for at least 15 seconds after using the disposal. This ensures food wastes are flushed down the main line.
• Run your dishwasher at night to conserve hot water and maintain good water pressure throughout the day.

In the Bathroom

The bathroom is another room where drains often become clogged. You can reduce clogs and even prevent them by following this plumbing maintenance checklist:

• Keep shower and sink drains flowing freely by reducing your use of bath oils and installing screens over drains to prevent hair from going down the drain.
• Avoid toilet clogs by not using it as a trash can. Ideally, only human waste and toilet paper should be flushed. While tampons and some wipes are labeled as flushable, it is better not to do so.
• Wait about 10 minutes between showers to help maintain proper water pressure and hot water throughout the day. Maintaining proper water pressure helps prevent unwanted stress on your home plumbing system.
• Avoid using chemical clog removal products that can cause more harm than good. These products can corrode your pipes!

Think of all the products you use to wash, moisturize and condition. They are often oily or greasy in order to provide moisture for your skin and hair. Once they make their way down your drain, however, they can cling to pipes, attract other debris and cause blockages.
If you have any questions or concerns call toll-free at 888-611-7191

How To Care For Your HVAC System This Fall

Key HVAC Maintenance Tips for Fall

During those cold fall nights, your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system becomes the most valuable equipment in your home. But if it’s running poorly, that means less comfort and higher energy bills for homeowners. Heating your home and producing hot water are generally the largest energy expenses for any homeowner, so you can ensure your home heating bill remains as reasonable as possible by supporting your HVAC system and keeping it running properly.
Complete these tips in the fall to help your HVAC system operate efficiently throughout the winter. This way, you can save money to be enjoyed in other ways during the holiday season.

Change the Air Filter and Clean the Vents

Changing the air filter every month is one of the most important things you can do to support your HVAC system. It’s also one of the easiest. The filter should be checked every month and replaced if it is dirty. Filters should be replaced at the very least every three months – no matter what. Keep up with this simple project by choosing a regular day to check the filter, such as the first or last day of the month.
The same day the filter is replaced is also a good time to vacuum off the air vents. This keeps them clean and allows warm air to flow freely, easing temperature regulation throughout the home.

Have It Inspected

Yearly service of your HVAC system ensures it runs properly. Homeowners should have the system inspected in the fall to best prepare it for the demands of winter. The Department of Energy website offers a list of helpful instructions to help homeowners.

If Your HVAC System is Ancient, Replace It

Replacing the home’s HVAC system can be an expensive proposition, but if your system is old and inefficient, the added comfort and financial benefits of a new system can be very real. If your system is more than 10 years old, ask a Green Apple technician’s opinion on the longevity of your system. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing it with a new high-efficiency model could reduce your home’s annual energy bill by as much as 20-40 percent.
Call Green Apple toll-free at 888-611-7191 with any questions or concerns you may have.