Maintenance Tips
 

Plumbing Maintenance Tips 

Can I increase the water pressure in my bathroom faucet?
What should I do to take care of my faucets and sinks?
Can I replace my two-handled faucet with a single-handle faucet?
How can I prevent clogged drains?
What causes my kitchen sink and washing machine drains to clog?
Should I close and open the main water supply shutoff valve periodically?
Why do I hear a vibrating noise in my pipes?
What can I do about a sewer line blockage?
Are caustic liquid drain openers (like Drano or Liquid Plumber) harmful to pipes?
Why doesn't my old water heater work as well as it used to?
What’s the best way to extend the life of my garbage disposal?
What should I do if my garbage disposal stops working?
What’s the best way to check for toilet leaks?

 

HVAC Maintenance Tips

How often should I replace the air filters in my home?
Why are clean air filters so important to my heating and cooling system?
When I turn on my air conditioner it blows warm air from the vents before the air starts to get cold, why is this?
What can I do to help keep my house cool on the hot summer days?
What temperature should I set my thermostat to during summer usage?
There is water leaking from my air conditioning unit, what does that mean?
What does SEER mean to me?
How cool should I be able to keep my home on a 100 + degree day?
Is there anything I can do to myself to help the efficiency of my air conditioner?
There is a Smokey smell coming for my vents when I turned on the heater for the first time in the winter, is this a concern?
What is carbon monoxide?
How can I prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?
What can I do if I suspect a carbon monoxide leak?

Can I increase the water pressure in my bathroom faucet?

First, check the emergency shutoff under your sink to make sure it’s fully open.  If rubber washers or seals have begun to deteriorate, you’ll also lose water pressure, so check those.  Calcium and lime buildup will also cause low water pressure.

What should I do to take care of my faucets and sinks?

Even small drips can waste thousands of gallons of water, as much as 150 gallons a day! Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or small leaks. And always repair leaky faucets right away to avoid paying for wasted water, and also to avoid water damage to your fixtures and pipes. Remove and clean your faucet aerators annually to ensure an even flow of water. Make sure overflow holes on tubs and vanities are clear and open to prevent water damage to floors and ceilings.

Can I replace my two-handled faucet with a single-handle faucet?

Usually, faucet dimensions and sink openings are standard throughout the plumbing industry, so the answer is usually yes.  There are a few exceptions, so check the size of the sink opening before you buy new fixtures.

How can I prevent clogged drains?

Do not rinse fats or cooking oils down the kitchen sink.  Liquid fats solidify in the cold pipes and create clogs.

To help prevent clogs, fit all your tubs and shower drains with a strainer that catches hair and soap chips, and clean the strainer regularly.

What causes my kitchen sink and washing machine drains to clog?

In most homes, the kitchen and laundry drains are connected. When the lint from the laundry drains meets the grease buildup from soap and food products, a nearly solid substance is formed, causing blockage.

Using filters and strainers will help, but you’ll also need to get the drains snaked periodically as well.

Should I close and open the main water supply shutoff valve periodically?

Yes. You want to make sure they’re not stuck in the open position just when you have a water emergency!  Do the same periodic check for the shutoff valves on your sinks, tubs, and toilets, too. 

Why do I hear a vibrating noise in my pipes?
Noises can be fairly common in plumbing supply lines. If a washer in a faucet or valve is loose, you’ll hear it rattling or knocking.  If the sound occurs when you open and close faucets rapidly, it generally means pipes are loose, and can be corrected by anchoring pipes more securely. If it really bothers you, you can add air chambers at the end of long pipe runs.  Their installation will probably require a plumbing professional.

What can I do about a sewer line blockage?

The main culprit is tree roots, and once they’ve blocked the line, there is very little you can do.  A plumbing professional can snake the line to get it as clear as possible, and then use copper sulfide products to kill the remaining vegetation.  But odds are the sewer line will most likely need to be replaced.

 

Are caustic liquid drain openers (like Drano or Liquid Plumber) harmful to pipes?

For minor clogs, they’re fine, but never use them on a drain that is completely clogged. The caustic ingredients are trapped in your pipes, and it can severely damage them.  If you can’t snake the drain yourself, contact a professional to do so.  Never use caustic drain openers in a drain that has a garbage disposal.

Why doesn't my old water heater work as well as it used to?
This is usually due to a sediment buildup in your tank. As water heaters grow older, they accumulate sediment and lime deposits. If these deposits are not removed periodically, the sediment will create a barrier between the burner and the water, greatly reducing the water heater's performance level. At least once every three months, drain water from the tank. Draining a gallon or so on a regular basis helps remove the sediment.

You should also periodically inspect your water heater burner. The flame under the heater should appear blue with yellow tips.  If it’s mostly yellow, or if it’s sooty under there, your flue may be clogged, which is a dangerous situation.  Contact a professional to check it out.  At least once every two years, have your water heater inspected by a service technician. He or she will also check the drain valve for signs of leakage, and the anode rods for corrosion

What’s the best way to extend the life of my garbage disposal?

Always use plenty of cold water when running your disposal, and avoid overloading it.  Never dispose of very hard items like bones or corn husks.  And never use a caustic drain opener. You can extend the life of your hands by never using them to remove items dropped inside – use tongs instead!

What should I do if my garbage disposal stops working?

Before calling a professional, be sure to try the reset switch located on the bottom of most disposals.

What’s the best way to check for toilet leaks?

Toilet leaks can be wasteful and expensive.  At least once a year, check your toilet for leaks by adding a small amount of red food coloring to the tank, and then check the toilet bowl later. If the toilet bowl water is colored red, water is seeping through from the tank. If it is leaking, you should replace the tank ball.

 

HVAC Maintenance Tips

How often should I replace the air filters in my home?
It really depends on the amount of time you run your system and the areas of the home where your filters are located, normally you should replace the filters at a minimum of every 90 days. However, during peak heating and cooling seasons the system will filter air more frequently and you should visually inspect filters every 30 days for signs of dust build up.

Why are clean air filters so important to my heating and cooling system?
Heating and cooling system efficiency and operation is directly affected by the amount of air the unit can deliver. The manufactures design systems based on proper airflow. Restricted air filters or blocked intake vents will dramatically decrease efficiency and even cause major system malfunctions.


When I turn on my air conditioner it blows warm air from the vents before the air starts to get cold, why is this?
In some cases this is normal operation; if your air ducting is in the attic. During the hot summer months attic temperatures can reach as hot as or exceed 130 degrees F. If the system is off for a period of time, the air ducts will heat up causing the air to warm when the unit is turned on.  This can also be caused from leaking air ducts that will actually bring in hot attic air and dust in to the air duct. A good way to minimize this is to have your air ducting inspected for deteriorated or leaking ducts.

What can I do to help keep my house cool on the hot summer days?
Keep the shades and curtains drawn to reduce the radiant heat of the sun. Minimize tasks that create a lot of heat such as cooking with the oven on hot days, install awnings or plant trees that will shade southern-facing windows. This keeps the hottest rays of the sun from shining directly into the house.

What temperature should I set my thermostat to during summer usage?
The recommend setting for your thermostat is 78 degrees. The higher you set it the more energy savings you will have. Avoid leaving the thermostat off and turning it on late in the day to cool the home, the AC unit will work harder and consume more energy. It also depends on your comfort level if you want to keep your house very cool you will have to sacrifice some energy savings, find a good compromise for your temperature setting. Some things you can do are to consider an upgraded air conditioning system if your unit is 10-14 years or older, new technology has great energy saving rewards while keeping you cool. Install a digital setback thermostat and program a schedule to raise the temperature a few degrees when you are not at home.

There is water leaking from my air conditioning unit, what does that mean?
Air conditioning systems will produce condensation when cooling a conditioning space, normally the water from the cooling coil will be routed with a drain line from the air conditioning cooling coil that can be attached to the furnace or if you have a package unit on the roof or ground it will have a drain connected to it. The amount of water coming from the drainpipe can vary depending on air conditioner run time and humidity in the air.  A steady faucet type drip is normal during summer months and at times it may be a little more. Often theses drain lines can become clogged with dirt and debris, it is always a good idea to check your furnace area periodically to look for any signs of water leaking or have your cooling system serviced by a professional, flushing the drain system is normal practice for a/c preventative maintenance visits.

What does SEER mean to me?
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is the measure of efficiency by which the cooling process of air conditioners and heat pumps are rated. The higher the SEER number, the greater the efficiency, which translates into greater energy savings. Today, California regulatory agencies require all new models to have a 13.0 SEER rating or better. Most major manufacturers offer a line of air conditioners and heat pumps that range from 13.0 SEER to 19.0 SEER.

How cool should I be able to keep my home on a 100 + degree day?
There are a lot of factors that determine the temperature you can maintain your home, including: insulation, windows, direct sunlight, efficiency and size of your air condtioiner, air ducting, and thermostat settings. In simple terms, an air conditioning system removes heat from the home. The less heat build up you have in your home, the easier it is for your air conditioning system to work. Generally speaking an air-conditioning system can cool approximately 25 degrees cooler than the outside temperature on hot days.

Is there anything I can do to myself to help the efficiency of my air conditioner?
Yes:
Be sure your air filters are clean and all intake and supply vents are free from obstructions.
Keep vegetation and debris clear of your air conditioning unit, obstructed airflow around an air conditioning unit will cause it to overheat and efficiency will be greatly reduced.
A licensed professional should perform any other maintenance; there are several electrical, mechanical components that must be checked properly and safely. Federal and state regulations also permit only certified technitans to handle any Freon for air conditioning systems.


There is a Smokey smell coming for my vents when I turned on the heater for the first time in the winter, is this a concern?
Anytime you smell smoke or a burning smell it should be of concern, however some systems will build up dust in the heating unit chamber and you may smell a smoky smell for a short period of time while the dust burns off. If the smell does not go away after normal running of system call a professional and have your heating unit checked. Dust in the air ducting and heating and air unit can be minimized with proper preventive maintenance and air duct cleaning.

What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that you cannot smell or see. It is produced as a common bi-product of the combustion (burning) of fossil fuels. Most fuel burning equipment (natural gas, gasoline, propane, fuel oil, and wood), if properly installed and maintained, produces little carbon monoxide. The bi-products of combustion are usually safely vented to the outside. However, if there is a shortage of oxygen to the burner, or the venting is not adequate, carbon monoxide production can increase to dangerous levels. Common sources of carbon monoxide include gasoline engines running in closed garages, fuel-burning space heaters, gas furnaces, water heaters with improper venting, and blocked chimneys or vent pipes.

 

How can I prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?
Have a qualified professional routinely maintain and inspect all heating systems and any fuel-burning appliances annually to ensure they are in good working condition.
Have a qualified professional routinely inspect appliance vents and chimney flues annually for blockages, corrosion, cracks or leakage.

Never run a vehicle or use unvented fuel-burning equipment in an enclosed space.

Consider installing and maintaining a UL approved carbon monoxide detector and alarm following the manufacturers instructions. These devices measure the amount of carbon monoxide in the air and sound an alarm at certain levels. They should be considered as a backup and not as a replacement for proper use and maintenance of your fuel-burning appliances. Preventing carbon monoxide from becoming a problem in your home is better than relying on an alarm.

What can I do if I suspect a carbon monoxide leak?
If it is safe to do so, immediately turn off and stop using the suspected gas appliance, and open the windows to ventilate the area. Do not use the suspected gas appliance until it has been determined to be safe.

Get out of the building and make sure that no one goes back into the building until you are assured that it is safe.

Call 9-1-1 and seek medical attention if anyone experiences possible carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms.
 
Contact qualified professional to have the appliance inspected.