Dirty Air Filter in Charlottesville, VA

Common AC Problems in Summer

There are several common problems air conditioners have during the summer. The problem you’re having can be a sign of what part in your cooling system isn’t working correctly. Some of these problems you can solve yourself, while others require the attention of a technician. Dirty Air Filters Dirty air filters can lead to all sorts of problems. A dirty air filter reduces the efficiency of your cooling system, which leads to higher energy bills. If it gets filthy, it can even shut your cooling system down as there isn’t enough airflow. You should check the air filters at least once a month and replace them whenever they appear visibly dirty. Faulty Capacitor Your air conditioning system has a capacitor that powers its motor. A faulty capacitor can cause many problems. Your system may not blow cold air or turn on at all. Your AC system may work but take a long time to turn on, or it makes a humming sound. in Charlottesville, VA, can repair your air conditioning system. We replace capacitors and other parts that have quit working. Our NATE-certified technicians can service all makes and models. Clogged Drain Line There’s a drain line below the evaporator...

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How To Reset Air Conditioning Unit

The sweltering summers in Charlottesville, VA, will have you turning to your air conditioning system for relief. If your air conditioner starts short-cycling, won’t respond, or won’t turn off, you may need to reset it. A simple reset may be all that’s needed to fix the issue, and you could avoid a service call by following these steps. Reset the Thermostat Smart thermostats connect to your home’s Wi-Fi router. They regularly receive algorithm and software updates. If your AC unit won’t respond or starts cycling in an unusual way, begin by resetting the thermostat. To do this, wait until the end of a cooling cycle. Turn off the power to the air conditioner. Hold down the reset button for several seconds. Your touchscreen may also have an option for a reset. Log into the thermostat’s app and request a reset. A final option to reset the thermostat is to remove its batteries for 30 seconds, then reinsert them. Turn Off the AC Unit’s Power If the thermostat is functioning without any issues, you may just need to reset the air conditioner. If it’s running a cooling cycle, wait for it to finish. Locate the unit’s power switch, and then turn...

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Indoor plumbing pipes

Do Chemical Drain Cleaners Work?

Obviously, when the drains in your Charlottesville, VA, home are slow, foul-smelling, or completely blocked, there’s a problem. Your natural instinct may be to drive to the big-box or home improvement store and purchase a bottle of chemical drain cleaner. In some cases, these DIY products can clear a mild drain clog. Here’s how they work and when you should call in a professional plumber for thorough drain cleaning services. Caustic Drain Cleaners There are three types of chemical drain cleaners you might consider when you need to clear a clog from an obstructed drain. The first type is a caustic drain cleaner. It has a strong base with a pH of 10.0 or higher. Its hydroxide ions have a chemical reaction with the ions in the material that makes up the clog. The chemical reaction breaks up the obstruction, usually within 15 minutes. These drain cleaners are well-suited to greasy clogs. Oxidative Drain Cleaners Oxidative drain cleaners use bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or nitrates. The oxygen ions remove electrons from the material in a clog. The chemical reaction creates some heat, which liquefies waxy, oily, or greasy messes. An oxidizing chemical drain cleaner works best on clogs caused by food....

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Ceiling Fan

What Way Should My Ceiling Fan Turn During Summer?

There are a few reasons to use your ceiling fan during the summer. The wind chill effect from doing so makes a room feel up to 8 degrees cooler. It can save you a lot of money on air conditioning. But which way should it turn? Ceiling Fan Direction in Summer Many people aren’t aware that ceiling fans can turn both clockwise and counterclockwise. You should have it go counterclockwise in the summer. This creates a downward breeze below the fan, so the room feels cooler. How Do You Change a Ceiling Fan’s Direction? Older ceiling fans have a switch on them, usually on the motor housing. Flip the switch to change the direction of the blades. New ceiling fans often come with either remote control or wall control to change direction. Which Way Is Clockwise? When going clockwise, the fan blades will turn right. They turn left when going counterclockwise. If you’re not sure which way is counterclockwise, just stand under the fan to see if you feel a breeze. You won’t feel a breeze if the blades are going clockwise. Set Your Thermostat Higher If your ceiling fans are going counterclockwise, you can set your thermostat higher. The...

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bathroom

Why Does My Bathroom Smell Like Sewage?

You may have walked into your bathroom and smelled an unusual odor. If that odor smells like sewage, you should take action as soon as you can. Of course, the sewer smell is unpleasant and annoying, but it could also be a safety hazard if left unresolved. You might notice headaches or experience other serious health issues. Various problems might cause this sort of odor, so let’s examine the possibilities. A Buildup in Your Sink’s Overflow If your sink has an overflow mechanism and the overflow builds up grime, it could cause this annoying odor. The sink should have a hole to relieve it if the basin is overfilled. A buildup of dirt, debris and scum in the overflow hole can contribute to this sort of sewage smell. You can clean the overflow hole with a bottle brush to correct this problem. The Shower Drain The products you use to shower can form a biofilm. If you have noticed a pink or orange coating, it could be the reason why the shower drain makes your bathroom smell like sewage. Since the biofilm is largely composed of bacteria, you can get rid of the smell by cleaning it. Do that by...

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Pipe Leak

Can Too Much Rain Cause Plumbing Problems?

Several traditional factors may contribute to problem problems, such as clogs, leaks, and corrosion. Does rain factor into any of these issues? Light rainfall won’t likely create many concerns, but heavy rain may bring with it equally substantial problems for a home’s plumbing system. Overflows Become Possible A local region’s sewer system might only hold so much. Massive amounts of water might flow into the sewer lines; then, the excess may find its way into a home. A basement’s drains, for example, might experience overflows and flooding. Rain Gets Overflow “Help” When rain lands on the ground, the water it sends to the sewers and drains might not travel alone. Leaves, twigs, trash, and other debris might follow. If the waste finds its way into pipes, clogs could follow. Water levels might drop, but the debris could remain. The clogs may stay until a plumber clears things. Beck Cohen wants local Charlottesville homeowners to know that our team is available. Plumbing work includes assistance with slab leaks, draining cleaning, and more. Sump Pump Assistance A sump pump works to get rid of excess water. If the sump pump fails, then correcting the problem may require repairs. Maybe the home needs...

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Looking to Winterize Your Home? Look No Further

Depending on factors like size and model, HVAC systems typically cost between $5,000 and $10,000, usually lasting anywhere from 10 to 20 years. These heating, cooling and ventilation systems help you stay comfortable all year long. Although they’re designed to withstand heavy workloads, you should never forgo home and HVAC winterization. Add Some Extra Insulation Around Your Home Although you might not often see insulation, arguably the most well-hidden component of any home, the material is one of your home’s most important features. Typically sold in paper-backed rolls, insulation is wedged inside exterior-facing walls before closing them with drywall or wood paneling. Tearing open your walls to add more insulation is, quite frankly, a waste of resources. However, adding insulation to areas that don’t require busting open walls is often a worthwhile endeavor. Crawl space, basement, foundation, attic and duct insulation are five great places to start insulating. Rather than trying it alone, consider calling us, , for home insulation solutions across the greater Charlottesville, VA, area. Lower Your Water Temperature The U.S. Department of Energy tells Americans to leave their water heaters at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, these appliances readily stifle the growth of bacteria, keeping American...

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Straight From the Professionals – Tips for Plumbing Winterization

Unless you’re a resident of South Florida or Southern California, all Americans are prone to plumbing problems when winter rolls around. Nobody should fear winter for the household issues the season might cause. These tips should help you winterize your plumbing against the upcoming winter season. Prepare Your Outdoor Faucets Called various names, including hose spigot, sill cock, and hose bib, outdoor water faucets make gardening, home improvement, and recreation easy. You’ve probably seen these covered up with Styrofoam during the winter. Believe it or not, this step isn’t sufficient for preventing freezing. Crawl underneath your home and find the sill cock’s shutoff valve. After turning it off, open the valve to let any remaining water drain. Unroll hoses to clear them of water, too. Store hoses in any indoor space, including sheds or garages. Now, it’s time to cover the spigot with the ubiquitous Styrofoam faucet cover. Look Into a Pipe Heat Cable Unlike your home’s living spaces, your crawlspace probably isn’t insulated. Home to most of your home’s plumbing, its lack of insulation leaves pipes vulnerable to freezing. Rather than beginning a full-scale insulation-installation project on your own, a pipe heat cable is a much more convenient solution...

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Are There Benefits to Whole-House Surge Protection?

If you have expensive electrical equipment in your home, it can easily be damaged during a storm. A simple way to ensure your appliances don’t get fried during a thunderstorm is to simply unplug them. However, what happens if you are not at home and a storm hits your area? This is where whole-house surge protection comes in. Whole-house surge protection is designed to protect your equipment from both large and small surges. Here are some benefits to having this kind of protection in your Charlottesville residence. Protects Against Lightning and Thunderstorm Damage Having a hurricane or powerful thunderstorm in your area can be frightening, not just for your pets or the trees on your property but for your electrical equipment, too. Lightning can destroy anything that is plugged into your outlets, such as your computers, your laptop, your charging phone, and more. If you live in an area that gets plenty of storms, you will want to invest in whole-house surge protection. Protects Against Small Internal Power Surges Often, the power surges in your house will be small and a result of internal appliances, such as your air conditioner. Although these kinds of surges will not fry your electronic...

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HVAC Maintenance Tips All Pet Owners Should Heed

A majority of American households host pets, the most common of which are dogs. While they might be man’s best friend, they certainly aren’t good for allergies, asthma or HVAC systems. Fortunately, however, with these expert tips, you can care for your home’s central heating and cooling system—and the people you live with—without kicking your furry friends to the curb. Keep Urine Away From Your HVAC System Even with proper training, pets are still liable to urinate on your house. Male dogs and cats, for example, mark their territory by spraying urine on objects. Your furry friends may very well urinate on your HVAC unit without you knowing it, causing parts to malfunction or even the entire system to fail. Erecting a fence or enclosure around the HVAC unit is recommended; be careful, however, not to block airflow to the unit, which can cause other problems. Protect Wiring and Other Components From Damage Many pet owners don’t like placing their pets in cages while they’re at work or otherwise away from home. Without supervision, pets are liable to damage your home’s HVAC unit, external wiring, air filters, thermostats and other important HVAC system components. While caging your pets is one...

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