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Clogs or drainage blockage are common occurrences in homes.

You may have noticed signs of the restricted flow of drains in your bathroom or kitchen sink but took them with a pinch of salt.

Poor drainage can cause more harm in the home and environment than you can imagine.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “poor drainage can lead to flooding, resulting in property loss, and people may even be forced to move to escape floodwaters. Flooding may also damage water supply infrastructure and contaminate domestic water sources.”

Your kitchen sink drains slowly, of course, it may not appear to you as a thing of concern, but one thing is sure, you never can tell the level of plumbing emergency it could grow into, without professional drain cleaning service.

With the current state of the world’s economy, everyone is looking to spend as little as possible. With professional drain cleaning, you have a chance at avoiding plumbing emergencies that can cost you a lot.

In addition to saving you money in the long run, professional drain cleaning has a lot of key benefits.

From safety to eliminating malicious odors. Please note that there is, of course, an endless list of ways in which professional drain cleaning can benefit you and your family.

This article features 10 key benefits of professional drain cleaning. Let’s get started.

 

1). Professional Drain Cleaning Eliminates Nasty Odors

Most of what goes down your drains are not fit for housekeeping. A lot of waste products are flushed down your drains.

From hair, soap scum, to the organic matter in your bathtub. All the dirt you wash away each day, not to mention what goes down the toilet.

When there is a clog in your drains, regardless of how small the clog is, these waste products get stuck in the pipe. Bacteria act on the stuck materials in the pipe, causing the materials to degrade.

This bacteria action will, no doubt produce disturbing and foul-smelling odors, that can find its way up and into your home. I don’t think anyone would enjoy using a foul-smelling bathroom.

Professional drain cleaning ensures that this problem is quickly spotted and eliminated, even before it produces bad odors.

This way, you can conveniently use your bathroom or kitchen sink, without having to wear a nose mask.

 

2). Reduces the Chances of a Clog

In addition to stuck waste in pipes, clogs can cause the wastewater you flush down your toilet to stay afloat, spreading throughout your bathroom.

Clogs start with warning signs like slow drains. If these signs are ignored, it turns into a clog and this becomes a major problem.

Without flowing drainage, house activities like washing dishes and taking your bath are affected.

Before you put on the feeling of self-sufficiency, with the attitude of “I will plunge the clog away”. Let me inform you that plunging is limited and only a temporary fix. Stubborn clogs do not respond to plunging at all.

Of course, there are over the counter drain cleaners, but most of these products are made of chemicals that can be harmful to your health and that of the environment.

Would you rather take your chances with harsh chemicals, or go for the proven and safe professional drain cleaning.

 

3). Protects Floors and Walls from Damage

 

Clogged drainage means that wastewater overflows and runs onto your floors and walls. Aside from the nasty odor that this comes with, it can also damage your walls and floors.

Your walls and floors were designed to take the weight of its occupant, along with, other external loads.

But when these walls and floors are continuously exposed to water, whether flowing or stagnant, the walls grow weak and can suffer water damage.

Water can seep through the walls and floors, creating a habitat for mold and causing the walls to lose its stiffness.

Fixing walls and floors is an expensive venture. If you don’t take care of the clogs, you’ll have to settle for fixing your walls and floors over and over again.

With professional drainage cleaning, you can avoid all this problem, eliminating the clog before it exists.

 

4). Improve the Health of Your Family

As earlier stated, clogged drains mean bad odors, as well as habitats for bacteria and mold. Without taking care of the clogs, the bacteria and mold will continue to grow.

The presence of bacteria and mold in the bathroom or kitchen sink can affect your family’s health.

Some illnesses and diseases that can arise from bacterial infections. Molds are not at all friendly. There are reports of it causing breathing problems.

However, professional drain cleaning will ensure a clog-free drain. This way you can keep bacteria and molds away from your family. Hence ensuring your family’s health.

 

5). It Saves You Money Over Time

One of the main reasons people run away from getting professional draining services is the fear of cost. Nothing is quite free on this earth.

And what people fail to understand is the fact that getting a regular draining cleaning service saves you more than half of the plumbing cost you might incur in trying to fix bad drainage.

Of course, there is a cost, but it’s a small price to pay, considering the problems a clog would cause. Because you may need an earthmover if the clog is located further down an underground pipe.

Leaks accompany clogs, and an underground pipe can only be replaced by having to dig it up. This incurs a cost, not to mention the inconvenience. Drain cleaning will help you eliminate the need for all this.

6). Keeps Your Pipes Healthy

When chemicals and organic material get stuck in your pipes, it most times results in corrosion and pipe leakage.

A small leak must be attended to, and sometimes it is difficult to spot. Not to mention the consequences of a large leak.

These chemicals need time in the pipes to break down the pipes, getting professional drain cleaning will mean that the chemicals are stopped in their tracks. And it doesn’t get the chance to corrode the pipes.

Everything requires maintenance, and pipes are no exception. If pipe maintenance is on point, it can last a long as possible with no issues. However, a corroded pipe will have to be replaced.

 

7). Speeds up Drainage

Clogs give warning signs and one of these signs is slow drainage. Slow drainage is also a problem. You might be washing dishes, and you need to cut off the tap to allow wastewater to drain since the drain can’t keep up with the water flow.

You then resolve to consistently plunge multiple times a day, or week. This is inconvenient.

With professional drain cleaning, you need not worry about this at all. This way, the speed of the drain is maintained. Eliminating overflowing sinks and showers.

The drain speed no longer controls your shower time or the pace of your dishwashing.

 

8). Long-term Effectiveness

Your plumbing at home will only stand the test of time with routine maintenance. This is exactly what professional drain cleaning offers.

Getting a team of professionals to regularly maintain your drainage system will afford you the luxury of long-lasting pipes.

Additionally, trusted professionals can understand your plumbing system, and help draw out a plan for regular visits, with the needed time interval.

The combination of trusted service and routine maintenance ensures that your home plumbing stands the test of time.

 

9). Professional-Only Solutions

The use of technologies by professional drain cleaners offers the kind of solution you can get from them. Most companies employ the use of hydro-jet cleaner for drains and sewer cleaning. The hydro-jet is a technology that utilizes high-pressure water to clear drains.

With the right service team, you can save money and time on the right equipment and efficiency.

 

10). Improved Drainage Systems

Of course, the overall aim of the professional drain cleaning is to improve your overall draining systems.

Poor draining systems is a troubling issue for most homes. With the professional drain cleaner, your draining system can only improve.

By quickly removing blockages with efficient technologies, that provide very close to a hundred percent work done.

The ability of a professional to weigh the intent or degree of issues your draining system is facing is another reason you should join this train.

Without these professionals, it is nearly impossible to measure the severity of the drainage problems.

 

Conclusion

You want all these benefits right? Do you want to avoid spending much on repairing plumbing? Then contact a professional drain cleaning service.

The importance of regularly maintaining your drainage system cannot be overemphasized.

Remember the saying, a healthy drainage system, is a healthy family. Therefore, keep your drainage clean and healthy with professional drain cleaners. This way, you can keep your house healthy for as long as possible.

This post first appeared on https://blog.antaplumbing.com

Old houses are vulnerable to an array of problems, including ungrounded outlets, outdated cooling and heating systems, and, one of the most insidious problems, plumbing issues.

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It’s nearly the end of August, the kids are about to head back to school, and you’ve started to think about cool fall days ahead. Almost as if on cue, you’ve started to notice something strange about your air conditioner. Maybe it’s making a whirring, buzzing, or banging noise. It could be that it’s working harder to cool your rooms. Some rooms in your home might feel warmer than others, and other rooms might be too chilly. Since summer’s drawing to a close, you might figure that you can hold off on scheduling air conditioning service in Pittsburgh, PA, until next year.

Not so fast — if you think there’s something up with your air conditioner, the time to do something about it is sooner, rather than later. Letting your air conditioner continue working with any issues or problems it’s having now can make those issues worse over time. Even if you plan on switching off your AC for the season tomorrow, it’s a smart move to schedule one last AC repair in Pittsburgh, PA, before summer comes to an end. Here are three reasons why.

An Inefficient Air Conditioner Costs More to Operate

It might be that the thing that lets you know something is up with your air conditioner isn’t the unit itself or a notable change in your home’s comfort level. Instead, it could be your home’s energy bill. The average home in Pittsburgh spends about 5% of the energy it uses on cooling the home.

If you’ve seen a sudden uptick in your electricity bill, and you haven’t made any other dramatic changes to your lifestyle, such as buying an electric car or installing new appliances, your air conditioner could be the culprit. When an AC is wearing out, has dirty, clogged filters, or has other problems, it needs to use more energy. Your home’s not any cooler, but your energy bill sure is higher. 

Scheduling an appointment with a technician for air conditioning repair in Pittsburgh, PA, can mean that you see a notable drop in your home energy costs during the remaining months of summer.

Summer’s Not Over Yet

Although people often think of August as the last month of summer and Labor Day weekend is considered summer’s last hurrah, the season actually continues until nearly the end of September. As summer goes on, so do its warm temperatures and muggy conditions. It’s not unheard for Pittsburgh to see 80-degree or hotter days even as the calendar gets closer to October.

It’s also not unheard of for the area to experience a snap warm spell in the middle of fall. There have been days when it’s felt like summer, even when it’s been close to Halloween. That can mean that you might end up needing to use your air conditioner unexpectedly in the autumn. You want it to be there for you, in good working order, and without any issues.

Small Problems Can Snowball into Big Problems

Left alone, small issues with your air conditioner have a tendency to balloon into major ones. That faint buzzing you hear now could be a full-on roar by next spring due to loose fan blades that became looser over the winter or debris that was allowed to build up in the condenser. A dirty air filter not only means your air conditioner needs to work harder, but it can also reduce the overall indoor air quality of your home, contributing to asthma and allergy problems.

Major problems with your air conditioning in Pittsburgh, PA, typically cost more to fix than small issues. If you let your AC sit over the winter without giving it the attention it needs today, you might find that you’re facing a significant repair bill when late spring comes around again.

Late-Season Preventative Care for Your Air Conditioner

What should you do if you notice any problems with your AC in August or September? Your best option is to have a technician come out to inspect your system. After working hard to keep your home cool and your family comfortable during the summer, your air conditioner might have a clogged filter, dirty coils, or low refrigerant level.

During their visit, the technician will take a look at your air conditioner and diagnose the issue. It might be a quick fix, such as replacing the air filter or cleaning the coils. The issue might also be easily amended by replacing the fan motor belts or fixing bent fins.

If the problem is more serious, the technician will let you know and will review your options with you. You might choose to have the issue repaired, or it might make more economic sense to replace your air conditioner with a new model. Depending on the age of your system and the overall condition of it, a replacement can be more cost-effective in the long run.

It might also be that the problem with your air conditioner has little to do with the unit or system itself and more to do with its surroundings. If the compressor is located in a sunny spot, it can easily overheat, causing it to work harder to keep your home cool. Planting a tree or shrub nearby (but not too close) can give the unit shade, lowering its overall temperature.

Another factor that can make your air conditioner act up is the thermostat. It’s possible for a thermostat to be miscalibrated, meaning it doesn’t accurately read the temperature in the room. A miscalibrated thermostat can cause your AC to run when it doesn’t need to or can prevent it from running when it should. The fix is often to readjust the thermostat or replace it.

It’s never too late in the season to schedule an inspection or tune-up of your home’s air conditioning. Stahl Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning offers AC service in Pittsburgh, PA. If your air conditioner is making strange noises, not cooling effectively or if you’ve noticed an unexplained increase in your home energy bills, give us a call, and one of our technicians will come out to inspect your system and recommend what to do next.

The post Why You Shouldn’t Avoid Late Summer Air Conditioner Issues appeared first on Stahl Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.

If installing a toilet brings you dread, breathe a sigh of relief – DIY toilet replacement is surprisingly easy! If you have the right tools and a few hours to spare, toilet installation is not as difficult as it sounds. 

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Working from home and maintaining social distancing efforts means a house full of people, putting added strain on your plumbing system. You may be wondering if you can still call your local plumber and schedule services while adhering to the safety guidelines of social distancing. The answer is yes!

Len The Plumber understands that the current disruption to daily life shouldn’t be compounded by plumbing issues in your home. Our essential plumbing services remain fully operational during this time, and we are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of both our team and the community we serve.

Safely Performing Essential Plumbing Services in MD, DC, VA, PA & DE

When our expert technicians visit your home, you can rest assured that they will adhere to the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene – before, during, and after their visit. We are strictly following the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19, including the following precautions:

• Wearing additional protective equipment
• Maintaining social distancing
• Thorough & frequent hand-washing with soap and water for 20 seconds
• Utilizing hand sanitizer
• Using disinfectants to ensure all touchpoints are clean (workspace, equipment, vehicles)
• Frequently sanitizing devices used, such as tablets and clipboards

In order to perform our essential services as quickly and effectively as possible, we will contact customers prior to their appointment to assess whether there are any risks of exposure in their household. We will ask if there is any reason we should not enter the home, especially in relation to COVID-19, or if anyone in the house exhibits symptoms such as fever or shortness of breath. If the answer is yes, our team will work diligently with you to decide the safest course of action to resolve your plumbing issue, while protecting everyone involved.

If you have urgent plumbing needs or would like to schedule maintenance for your home, give the experts at Len The Plumber a call at 800-950-4619, or contact us online today! Whatever your problem may be, we can fix it quickly and safely.

Important Plumbing Reminders While You Shelter in Place

While Len The Plumber is fully staffed and operational should you need maintenance or emergency plumbing services, here are a few tips for keeping your plumbing system in good shape while you are sheltering in place with your loved ones:

1. Never flush anything besides toilet paper down your toilet. Only toilet paper will properly break down in your plumbing system, so avoid flushing things like wipes, napkins, or paper towels.
2. Stagger your showers throughout the day. If you have a house full of people and are trying to figure out a showering schedule that works for everyone, consider staggering your showers throughout the day. Alternate the schedule from day to day if there is one particular time that is more desirable amongst the group.
3. Get familiar with your plumbing system. If you’re a complete novice when it comes to your home’s plumbing system, take the opportunity to get to know how things work. Watch our video on common household plumbing problems, and if you want to know more, contact Len The Plumber with your questions!
   

Providing Essential Plumbing Services While Social Distancing

While these are unprecedented times, Len The Plumber understands the ongoing need for professional and local plumbing services. We are proud to be fully open and operational to offer our customers high-quality service that they can trust.

If you need plumbing services, contact us online or give us a call at 800-950-4619 today, and rest assured that safety and excellent service are our guarantee!

This post first appeared on https://lentheplumber.com

While modern air conditioning is a relatively recent development, humans have spent thousands of years finding new ways to cool off. From massive blocks of ice to waving palm fronds, historic methods of air conditioning can help us appreciate the modern technology we often take for granted.

Our journey begins near the beginning of human history, where early humans gradually learned that there was more to comfort than a warm fire.

The Need for Comfort in Early Humans

The use of fire is often touted as mankind’s first and, potentially, greatest technological advancement. While the first-ever use predates recorded history, it’s believed that harnessing fire marked a major turning point in human evolution and social structures.

By harnessing fire, humans were then capable of cooking food and staying warm in almost any environment. This capability allowed then-nomadic humans to transition into permanent year-round settlements, marking the first stages of human society.

With permanent settlements, however, humans could no longer move with the seasons; while cold winters called for fire, hot summers called for something else.

Keeping Cool in Early Civilizations

Whether nomadic or tribal, early humans—much like ourselves today—kept cool by instinct. On hot days, trees, caves, and gentle breezes allowed for a much-needed reprieve from the scorching sun. Meanwhile, those in cold environments didn’t need to keep cool as often but could still rely on nearby glaciers or other semi-permanent ice formations when needed.

Other solutions included the occasional swim and wearing lighter clothing if any. However, as society became more advanced and humans moved into permanent dwellings, more flexible solutions were needed. After all, not everyone could go swimming or run around naked!

Small, handheld fans or plant fronds were among the first types of portable air conditioning available to most early humans. Now, instead of waiting for the lucky breeze, people could simply fan themselves cool at a moment’s notice. As societies saw the first social hierarchies, ruling figures were able to employ servants just to fan them all day!

However, fans quickly proved insufficient. The related shortcomings were especially apparent for early civilizations in warmer climates, particularly Ancient Egypt.

Ancient Egyptian Air Conditioners

While the epicenters of Ancient Egypt were likely lusher than the sandy remnants we see today, the desert heat was just as brutal back then. Where shade and fans weren’t enough, the Ancient Egyptians employed the first form of modern air conditioning on record: evaporative cooling.

Evaporative cooling is an effect where sitting water evaporates and cools the surrounding air in the process. The Egyptians were quick to devise a system of hanging wet reeds and cloths in their windows. As breezes flowed through the wet reeds, the water would evaporate and cool the nearby air. The cooled air was then carried even farther by the breeze, thereby cooling entire rooms and households.

With the combination of fanning, shades, and evaporative cooling, the Egyptians could stay cool and comfortable in an otherwise hot and uncomfortable environment. Evaporative cooling also helped to humidify the dry desert air

As Rome’s shadow grew across Ancient Egypt, wealthy Romans began devising their own methods of early air conditioning.

Ancient Roman Air Conditioners

Like the Ancient Egyptians, the Romans weren’t unfamiliar with hot, dry environments; throughout its existence, the Roman Empire straddled much of the sun-parched Mediterranean coastline.

While the Ancient Romans also used evaporative cooling, running water produced by aqueducts and early plumbing allowed for more novel applications; instead of soaked reeds or cloths hung in the windows, the Romans circulated cool running water throughout their homes, thereby lowering the temperature.

Rome’s wealth and vast trading network also allowed for the import of exotic goods, particularly snow and ice. Where the wealthiest Romans could import large blocks of ice for themselves, most Roman citizens could purchase snow at local ice stores. In either case, ice and snow were kept in underground caves and pits, often selling for more than wine!

Of course, the Romans had other means of cooling, such as early forms of the bikini and cold swimming pools known as “frigidarium.”

Once Rome fell, air conditioning technology went into a state of dormancy throughout medieval Europe. In the East, however, developments had only just begun!

The Middle Ages

Despite being the “dark ages” for medieval Europe, civilizations throughout Asia and the Middle East continued to experience rapid technological advancement. One of these areas of technological advancement was, of course, in air conditioning.

Medieval Persians, for example, continued to utilize evaporative cooling through cisterns and other forms of running water. Perhaps more interesting were their wind towers, which functioned like primitive HVAC systems to provide buildings with natural ducted ventilation.

Medieval Asia would develop the first known mechanical air conditioner in the second century AD, taking the form of massive rotary fans powered by waterwheels. Rotary air conditioners became widely used throughout medieval Asia.

Air Conditioning in the Age of Enlightenment

From the Renaissance and into the early 19^th century, modern air conditioning took on its first recognizable forms.

In 1758, Benjamin Franklin and his colleague, John Hadley of Cambridge University, utilized evaporative cooling as a way to rapidly cool objects. Unlike ancient applications of evaporative cooling, however, Franklin and Hadley’s application used the evaporative of volatile liquids such as ether and alcohol. Here, they were able to cool objects to temperatures well below freezing.

This experiment would lay the groundwork for the first truly modern air conditioning.

The Industrial Revolution and the First Modern Air Conditioner

The industrial revolution of the 19^th century saw perhaps some of the greatest early advancements in cooling technology.

In 1820, Michael Faraday discovered that compressed and liquified ammonia could, when evaporated, cool the air. A similar method was later utilized by James Harrison to produce an icemaker in 1851. This icemaker would result in the development of the first freezers and refrigerators.

In all of these cases, compression was largely responsible for the dramatic cooling effects. Evaporative cooling aided by compression would lead to the first developments of the modern air conditioners we use today.

20^th Century

American inventor Willis Carrier is most credited for the development of the first modern air conditioner. Curiously, Carrier’s air conditioners were first used to solve cooling problems in industrial applications, particularly printing plants in the first decade of the 20^th century.

By utilizing evaporative cooling, Carrier’s air conditioner was able to control both temperature and humidity. It would quickly find use in public buildings as a result, with one of the earliest major applications being used as a central air conditioner in the 1904 World’s Fair.

The first half of the twentieth century would continue to see various advancements in early air conditioning, especially as electricity became a widespread power source. In 1945, Robert Sherman of Massachusetts invented the first standalone in-window air conditioner.

Modern Air Conditioning

Modern air conditioners continue to utilize evaporative cooling aided by compressors. Instead of using ether or alcohol, however, most now utilize refrigerants—chemicals engineered specifically for evaporative cooling applications. Refrigerants were not the most environmentally friendly, to begin with, but later developments would gradually improve on this. Today, modern air conditioners use a combination of compressed refrigerants and evaporative cooling to produce steady supplies of cold air.

It’s incredible to think the evaporative cooling, an effect first used by the Ancient Egyptians, is still used today to keep us cool and comfortable. While we won’t hang wet reeds in your windows, our team of experts is here to help you with modern air conditioning installation and air conditioning maintenance in Texas. Call us today at 281-994-6698.

The post The Evolution of Air Conditioning Through the Years appeared first on Met Plumbing.

Federal Bureau of Plumbing Investigation here. We are here to let you in on some top-secret information regarding our Most Wanted list. Word on the street is that there are some bad guys out there, bad guys who want to clog your drains!

So below, we have given you a little insight into how these culprits operate. All you have to do is keep reading to find out more, and of course, remember to call us with any information, or if you are in need of plumbing repair in Orlando, FL.

Top Secret: The Four Biggest Culprits of a Clogged Drain

So, who are these bad guys?

1. Soap scum

When we say scum, we mean scum. It’s hard to stop soap from going down drains in the kitchen and bathrooms. Shower and bathtub drains, in particular, experience plenty of soap sluiced down them almost daily. Over time, soap scum will start to build-up on the drain walls, and it can become enough to slow down water flow and eventually stop it completely. Soap scum can also cause chemical reactions with the metal of a drainpipe, so cleaning it out helps protect the plumbing as well as clear the drain.

2. Hair

A drain cover will help stop hair from going down drains (just make sure you clean the covers routinely), but a hair clog can still develop down in the p-trap or the drain. Hair clogs are among the most obstinate and difficult to remove using standard plungers, and often you’ll need the assistance of professional drain cleaning to fix the problem.

3. Fats, oils, and grease

Collectively known as FOG, these cooking liquids are the bane of a kitchen drain. People often think they’re harmless because they are in liquid form when hot. But, as FOG cools down because of air from the drain vent pipes, it turns into a sticky and viscous substance that will build-up on pipe walls. Thorough drain cleaning using a hydro-jet is the best way to get rid of this build-up. FOG accumulation is one of the reasons we recommend routine kitchen drain cleaning each year.

4. Hard water mineral build-up

If your home has hard water, the minerals from it can build-up on pipe walls—not just in your drains, but freshwater pipes around the house. The pipes will need to be descaled to fix this problem. We recommend you look into having a whole-house water softener installed to attack this problem at the root since it causes many other types of plumbing issues.

You Need a Professional

If you notice any of these low-lives hanging around in your plumbing system, do not hesitate to give us a call. Our team has the tools, knowledge, and expertise to clean out your pipes and get things flowing as usual! And sure, there may be plenty of amateurs willing to service your system for a fairly low price, but don’t let them. See, sometimes an attempt to save money could end up costing you much much more in the long run.

Contact the team at Modern Plumbing Industries. Inc. to schedule an appointment with our plumbers!

This post first appeared on https://www.modernpi.com

While we might be starting to wind down our heating systems for the year, we’d be fooling ourselves if we didn’t admit that we are going to need them again next year. When contemplating efficiency for your heater in the next winter season, the earlier you start, the better.

That’s why we’d like to talk about some concrete steps you can take to maximize system efficiency and keep your bills low for the foreseeable future. Some of these pointers might include purchases that need to be made, but with your heater and bills on the line, these purchases can often start paying for themselves!

Don’t forget that if you have any other questions after reading our efficiency guide, contact the team here for heating in West Orange, NJ. We can provide solid tips, options, and schedule a maintenance appointment with you to ensure your system is in peak condition.

Steps to Take

Efficiency isn’t just a one-and-done thing. There’s not an “efficiency button” that you press on your heater to make it consume less energy, and if there were we’d be the first to know about it. Efficiency is more of a lifestyle change than anything else—it’s a combination of changes you can make to your life and your heating system in order to promote energy and monetary savings. Here are just a few of those.

• Purchase a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats are not just ways to conveniently control temperatures easily, they’re useful for limiting the energy usage from your HVAC system and monitoring heating trends. For instance, with Wi-Fi connectivity, you can control temperatures when you’re not at home, or program them to change automatically so that your heater works less when you’re not at home and more when you are. Day by day you’ll see a decrease in your heating bill and your system will be less stressed in regard to its condition.
• Change your air filter. Your air filter is key to having your heater function efficiently and effectively. Realistically, you’re supposed to change your air filter every 1-3 months, because any longer than that and you can begin to stifle the system, causing it to use more energy than it normally would. Change your air filter regularly for maximum efficiency.
• Seal your home. Have you ever seen a home with plastic wrap over drafty windows or a ceiling fan running during the winter? These are small ways to increase heating efficiency and lower the burden on your heater. Sealing your windows in particularly cold locations can reduce your heating cost overall. Also, running the ceiling fan in the opposite direction than you would in the summer, actually pushes heat down and creates a convection current that easily rotates heat through your home.

Schedule Maintenance

While these are great tools for keeping your home as efficient as possible, there’s one handy tool that we haven’t mentioned—scheduling routine maintenance. Maintenance ensures that your heater is running efficiently, and a professional can make minor adjustments and repairs if it’s not.

Contact the team at MarGo Plumbing Heating Cooling Inc. for quality efficiency tips and maintenance.

This post first appeared on https://margoplumbing.com

Most people take their plumbing systems for granted; however, for the plumbing system to work properly every part needs to do its job. One of the most common reasons why people need to call a professional plumbing service is for clogged drains. There are a few common reasons why the drains in a building might not be working properly.

The Drain Is Clogged With Hair

One of the most common culprits for a clogged drain is hair. Most people don’t realize it but our bodies are shedding hair all the time. When people wash their hands, hair comes off the hands and goes down the drain. During a shower hair comes off of our heads and bodies, going down the drain. Eventually, this hair gets piled and stuck in the drain and leads to a clog. This can be a frustrating problem to deal with, which is where professional drain cleaning services can help.

Food Waste Can Clog the Drain

Another common culprit when it comes to clogged drains is food waste. Many people do not like to put food in the garbage because of the smell this can generate. For those who have a garbage disposal, the sink is a convenient alternative; however, even with a garbage disposal, food waste can still be an issue. Not all of the food will make it past the garbage disposal. It can congeal into a resistant plug blocks the flow of water down the drain. Pizza crusts, vegetable peels, and pasta are common culprits.

Mineral Buildup Forms a Blockage

Finally, mineral buildup can also block the drains. When water comes out of the tap, it often has trace amounts of minerals and heavy metals. Over time, this can damage the pipes and catch on the sides. This can form of a blockage in the drain, preventing water from flowing smoothly. This can happen in the shower, sink, toilet, faucet, and more. While water filtration systems can help prevent this from happening, these blockages can be serious. It is important to rely on professionals who have experience cleaning drains.

Call A to Z Statewide Plumbing Today

These are only a few of the most common reasons why drains might get clogged. If you are having problems with your drains, call A to Z Statewide Plumbing today. Our professionals have a tremendous amount of experience with a variety of drain problems. Allow us to help you.

This post first appeared on http://www.atozstatewideplumbing.com

You may notice water dripping from your AC while it works overtime in the summer heat—or just the Texas heat any time of year! While some amount of dripping water is normal, certain telltale signs could indicate a serious problem requiring AC repair.

Dripping water is usually the result of condensation. While some condensation is normal in air conditioners, how much is too much?

What Is Condensation?

Condensation occurs when water vapor (steam) turns back into liquid water.

A common example of condensation is the “fog” on the surface of a cold glass of water in a hot room. Here, the heat of the hot room causes some of the water from the glass to evaporate and some immediately condenses back into liquid water. This reaction (condensation) forms the water droplets (or “fog”) on the outside of the glass.

Common Causes of AC Condensation

Condensation can occur in air conditioners for several reasons, one of the most common simply being hot weather. Air conditioners that only produce condensation during especially hot days usually don’t have an underlying problem.

However, your air conditioner may have a problem if it constantly produces condensation regardless of the temperature. Underlying causes of excessive condensation from air conditioning include:

Damage to Duct Insulation

Your air conditioner’s ducts are what allow air to circulate. When humid air from outside comes in contact with the cold air inside the ducts, water vapor from the humidity condenses into water droplets inside the ducts.

Insulation usually prevents water from forming inside the ducts. If this insulation is missing, however, condensation can form and cause damage to the air conditioner and surrounding surfaces.

Insulation damage can also occur around your air conditioner’s “boot,” which is the metal tube connecting the ducts to the outside-facing metal grille.

Clogged Condenser Lines or Pumps

Condensation can also occur when one of the lines connected to your air conditioner’s condenser becomes clogged.

Your air conditioner’s condenser helps dehumidify humid air through—you guessed it—condensation. Here, water vapor comes from the humid air being conditioned and is expelled as liquid water into your AC’s drip pan.

Of course, dripping is a natural part of this process. Here, the condensed water is usually transported into the drip pan through condenser lines and/or a condenser pump. If one (or both) of these devices malfunctions or becomes clogged, however, condensation and dripping water can accumulate in unexpected areas.

Evaporator Coil Problems

Condensation can also indicate a frozen evaporator coil. Common signs of a frozen evaporator coil are minimal airflow and water dripping a shortly after turning off the AC.

How Much Condensation Is Too Much?

Some condensation is normal in most air conditioners—after all, condensation is a natural byproduct of the air conditioning process. However, excessive condensation from air conditioning can cause serious damage over time.

The effects of excessive condensations are fairly obvious; depending on your air conditioner’s location, excessive condensation can cause water damage to your walls and ceiling. Other signs include rust and/or excessive dripping around the drip pan and air vents.

Fixing AC Condensation

Is your air conditioner unit leaking water? The root causes can be hard to diagnose. For a full diagnostic and complete repair services, call our experts at MET Plumbing & Air Conditioning for home air conditioning repairs at 281-599-3336.

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