Maintenance Equals Prevention When It Comes To Plumbing
- 1-Grind ice cubes to help maintain your unit. Grinding a few ice cubes once a month will help sharpen your unit’s blades and clear away waste that’s stuck on the walls of your disposal.
- 2- Don’t use drain cleaners on your disposal. The chemicals in drain cleaners can damage your disposal. If you have a clog, give a Green Apple Mechanical NJ plumber a call or try the step below to fix it instead.
- 3- Hand-crank the disposal to break up jams. One of the best ways to fix disposal jams is to stick an Allen wrench in the slot at the bottom of your unit and manually crank the blades to free it up.
- 4- Don’t forget about the reset button. If your disposal is acting up, check and see if the reset button at the bottom of the unit has tripped. If it’s popped out, press it back down and try running it again.
- 5- Exercise caution when retrieving something from your disposal. If you accidentally drop something down your disposal, be very careful when trying to retrieve it. Always make sure your unit is unplugged before attempting anything and try grabbing the object with pliers or a bent coat hanger instead of your hand.
- We 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 call us toll-free at 888-611-7191
Why You Should Keep Your Furnace Free From Debris
1. Make Sure all Registers are Open and Free of Debris
In order to work efficiently, a furnace needs to be able to freely circulate air around your home. Make sure none of your registers are blocked by furniture or have trapped dust on the cover. Be careful when purchasing decorative registers – they look great but can restrict as much as 50% of the air flow.
2. Keep the Area Around the Furnace Clear
Most furnaces are kept in the basement, where we also love to store extra belongings. It’s really important to keep a three to five-foot area around your furnace completely clear of stored items. This is a safety issue because there is burning gas in the furnace. But it also helps the furnace run smoother because air can circulate freely.
3. Curtains are a Great Way to Save Energy
Strategically using your curtains can make a noticeable difference in your energy bill. By closing them at night, you can prevent heat loss to the cold outdoors.
Opening them in the day on south or west-facing windows allows warm sunshine to enter and heat the inside of your home, just like with a car left in a parking lot. On any north windows, try to keep them closed, even during the day.
We 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 call us toll-free at 888-611-7191
Don’t Overlook These Important Tips For Your HVAC System
1- Invest in a Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats are affordable and they allow you to automatically control the temperature in your home, throughout the day, without ever touching your device.
2- Reduce the Heat Generated in Your Home
Dry clothes at night when the temperature is cooler or hang dry outside. Try cooking a little later in the evening or grilling outdoors.
3- Seal Air Leaks
Sealing air leaks around windows and doors keep cool air from escaping during summer and warm air from escaping during winter months.
4- Know when it is Time to Replace Your Existing System
According to experts, in the best case scenario most components of HVAC systems only last 15-25 years, and that is taking into consideration that proper and regular maintenance has been a factor. The average lifespan of a furnace and boiler is 15-20 years. Some units last longer with regular maintenance. By the same token, if you have had repeated problems and a system has been repaired frequently you may have to replace sooner.
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 needs call us toll-free at 888-611-7191
Check These Before You Call A Professional
Here are a few quick things you can do yourself before calling in the HVAC pros. Remember, before doing anything involving electricity, shut off the breaker to your HVAC system. And, if you’re ever uncomfortable, call up a Green Apple Mechanical NJ HVAC pro. We will be more than happy to help.
1. Check your filter
If you’re noticing that air flow doesn’t seem to be as strong as it was or there is an odor coming from your vents, take a look at the filter in your furnace. Each model is different, but generally, you can unscrew an easy-to-find hatch and replace the filter. This should be done about every three months and more often if you’re an allergy sufferer.
2. Check your return(s) and registers
Quite often, problems with simply come down to a register (where the air comes out) or a return (where the air goes back to the furnace) being clogged or covered. You should not cover any of these vents with furniture or wall coverings and make sure they are cleaned of dust and debris regularly.
3. Is it on?
Seems obvious, but make sure the breaker that controls your air conditioning and furnace are in the on position. If they are, and things aren’t working or if they seem to be working sporadically, it’s a good idea to shut everything off and call a Green Apple Mechanical NJ HVAC pro toll-free at 888-611-7191
The Two Best Ways To Care For Your Plumbing
Clean your drains.
If you have a slow drain, this could be a clog waiting to happen. By regularly cleaning your drains, you can help reduce accumulation of waste, dirt, and debris. While there are many drain cleaners that you can get in the stores, using them too often can damage your system. A safe and simple homemade cleaner is white vinegar and hot water. Add baking soda down the drain beforehand for an added boost. Plunging can also help break up a clog but if you have a persistent clog that keeps on coming back or a severe clog, call your Green Apple Mechanical NJ plumber.
Maintain your water heater.
Your water heater is an important part of your system and should be drained at least annually to increase its efficiency and lifespan. Check the water to verify you don’t have any flakes, rust, or unusual discoloration. For gas heaters, verify the flame of the water heater is a blue color and if you see a yellow color, make arrangements to clean the jets.
We 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 Green Apple Mechanical NJ toll-free at 888-611-7191
Spring Into Action For Your HVAC System
1. Schedule your seasonal HVAC tune-up
This is a simple task that only involves picking up the phone and calling your professional air-conditioning company and scheduling a preventative maintenance appointment. It’s extremely important to maintain your system year-round so it lasts for many years to come. You can’t skip an oil change for your car, so why miss a tune-up for your HVAC system? Your air conditioning system will run more efficiently this spring and you won’t have to worry about a break down on a hot day.
2. Check your furnace filter
Most filters have a one to three-month lifespan so you should be doing this all year long, but it’s especially important to check your filter before you start your AC unit for the first time. All the dust and debris the filter has collected will prevent your HVAC system from cooling efficiently. If your filter does not need to be changed quite yet, at least you checked and will be prepared when it’s time!
We 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 please call your friends at Green Apple Mechanical NJ toll- free at 888-611-7191
Helpful Ways To Adjust Your HVAC For Spring
Reprogram Your Thermostat
As the warm spring temperatures start to heat your home, you can save money by giving your furnace a break and setting your thermostat to a lower setting. The less you use your furnace to heat your home, the more you’ll save on your energy bill.
The settings on a programmable thermostat can keep your home warm and comfortable during the winter, but you should change the settings to correspond with the weather. You’ll need your furnace less as spring arrives, and you may not even need to heat your home while you’re away or while you’re asleep.
Rather than simply turning off your furnace as soon as spring arrives, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit to keep you comfortable during the warmer weather. As in the winter, you should still lower the temperature on your thermostat while you’re away and while you’re sleeping at night to save energy.
Spring temperatures can be unpredictable, and the weather can turn cold without warning. Keep an eye on the local forecast and adjust your thermostat as necessary to keep your home comfortable.
If you have any questions regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs please feel free to call Green Apple Mechanical NJ toll-free at 888-611-7191
3 Important Reasons Not To Neglect Your Leaking Faucet
1. You’ll save on your water bill.
Imagine throwing three gallons of milk down the drain every day—you’d never do it because that would be a phenomenal waste of money. Now imagine throwing three gallons of water down the drain. If you have a leaky faucet, that’s what you’re doing. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, fixing all the leaks in your home could save you 10 percent of your current bill, and that could be a nice chunk of change.
2. It could cause water damage.
A leaky faucet can escalate from an annoyance to a major problem, where mold grows on your ceilings, floors, and walls. And if your homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover a neglected or unresolved maintenance issue like a leak, you’ll have to shell out the money to pay for mold cleanup.
3. The constant dripping is driving you crazy.
You might not hear it until the house is quiet and you’re trying to catch some ZZZs, but then there it is Drip. Pause. Drip. Pause. Covering your ears won’t help. The only way to stop the noise is to stop the problem.
We 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 please feel free to call your friends at Green Apple Mechanical NJ toll-free at 888-611-7191
Is Your Furnace Making This Sound?
Metal Against Metal
If you hear loud clanking and scraping, you could have a serious problem with your furnace’s blower wheel. Turn off your furnace immediately and wait until a professional Green Apple Mechanical NJ HVAC technician has had a chance to inspect the system
- The blower fan may have come loose and is now hitting the blower house casing. If the blower wheel/fan isn’t too damaged, the repair should be quick and easy.
- The blower fan may be broken and need professional replacement.
- If the piece holding the motor and blower assembly together has broken, the whole assembly may have dropped and is now hitting the housing. A professional diagnosis is needed.
- Feel free to call your friends at Green Apple Mechanical NJ toll-free at 888-611-7191 with any questions or concerns you may have regarding any of your HVAC or plumbing needs.
Why You Should Never Flush “Flushable” Wipes
The best choice is not to flush wipes down the drain but to use toilet paper instead.
Many choose to use toilet paper and then finish off with a wet wipe, which gets thrown into the garbage. Those who continue flushing their wipes down the toilet will eventually have a problem with the clog, and this is not an if, but, or maybe, but a when, because this is something that will definitely happen.
The best choice is to look for wipes that have been proven to be quickly biodegradable and flushable, and it’s even wise to ask your Green Apple Mechanical plumber which type of wipes would be best for use in the toilet. You also will want to read the labels because many companies are being sued for misrepresenting wipes as flushable when they truly are not.
Get a Plumber to Come to Your Home
When you experience a clog, you may never know exactly what’s clogging your system, but if you know that you use wipes every day and flush them, then you can bet that it’s very likely that the wipes will eventually clog up your drains.
Getting a Green Apple Mechanical plumber out to do toilet repair and drain cleaning may be necessary, especially if you can’t flush the toilets because of the clog. The only thing you can hope for is that the clog is not too bad to where you’ll have to spend thousands of dollars to fix the problem, but it’s very likely to cost you hundreds of dollars when the problem has become bad enough to where there is a clog that’s caused by wet wipes.
Call us toll-free at 888-611-7191 with any questions or concerns