The Truth About Flushable Wipes and Your Plumbing

July 20, 2022

Do you have a package of flushable wipes in your bathroom at home? If so, there are some things that you should be aware of before you decide to flush them down the toilet. Though the word “flushable” appears on the package, these wipes can definitely create plumbing problems. What Happens When Flushable Wipes Are Flushed? If one flushable wipe drops into the toilet instead of the trash can, it may not cause an issue. But more than one can add up to a big problem for your system. When you flush toilet paper down the toilet, it’s designed to disintegrate in a septic system. However, flushable wipes aren’t designed to dissolve. As a result, these wipes can start to clump together inside your pipes, eventually causing a clog. When you flush, the clog stops the water from traveling through the pipes, and you could end up with a toilet overflowing with contaminated water. How to Remove a Clog Caused by Flushable Wipes First, get a toilet plunger. This type of plunger has an extension or cup, which helps you to get a good seal over the opening in the bottom of your toilet bowl. Put the end of the...

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Understanding the Drawbacks of PEX Plumbing

June 14, 2022

Installing PEX plumbing in your home might seem like a good idea since it doesn’t require soldering like galvanized steel and copper pipes do. Moreover, given that these colorful tubes of cross-linked polyethylene naturally expand, they’re also believed to be more resistant to freezing than other options. PEX pipes are resistant to corrosion which makes them seemingly ideal for water supply lines and radiant heat flooring systems. However, before you purchase and install PEX plumbing, there are a few major drawbacks that you should know. PEX Plumbing Is Known to Leach Toxic Materials One of the most common uses for PEX plumbing is at water supply lines. This is problematic given that this material is known to leach both BPA and many other harmful chemicals. There are three different types of PEX that can be used in residential plumbing systems: type A, B, and C. Of the three, only B has consistently proven problem-free in this area. PEX Is Semi-Permeable PEX has a noteworthy level of permeability which means that water and other liquids can enter PEX pipes. For water supply lines, this poses the constant threat of contamination. While copper piping is inherently antimicrobial, PEX is most certainly not....

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3 Tips for Unclogging Drain Lines in Your AC

May 19, 2022

Your air conditioner is one of the most important appliances in your home. Having a cool room is a luxury that most of us take for granted. But if your air conditioner is constantly getting clogged, it will be a continual source of frustration until you find a professional to unclog your AC. If you’re looking for some tips for unclogging your drain lines in your AC, you’ve come to the right place. Follow these tips to unclog your AC drain lines. 1. Access the Clog A drain line can be clogged by leaves, debris, algae, or other foreign objects. If you see signs of a clog in the drain lines, then you should unplug your AC and remove the front grille. After that, look for any debris. If you find any debris in the drain line, clear out those substances. 2. Use Suction From Wet Vacuum The first thing a professional will do is to suck the water out of your drain lines with a wet vacuum. This will eliminate any debris that may have built up in your drain lines. If you don’t have a wet vacuum, then you can use a shop vac to suck the water...

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How Do Ductless Air Conditioners Work?

April 11, 2022

How Do Ductless Air Conditioners Work? There are many reasons why you would want to check out ductless air conditioners. Some homes can’t fit ductwork into them, while other homes with central cooling have an additional room or an outbuilding that the ducts don’t reach. Whether you need one room or several cooled, you can hardly go wrong with ductless ACs (also known as mini-splits). How a Heat Pump Operates The first thing to know about mini-splits is that they’re basically heat pumps without the ductwork. They’re composed of the same two indispensable units: an outdoor compressor and the indoor air handler, with a refrigerant line to connect them. The refrigerant courses back and forth, absorbing heat from inside and releasing it outside (and vice versa when in heating mode). What Makes Mini-Splits Different The air handler for a ducted heat pump usually goes in the attic or the basement, but mini-splits are mounted on the wall of the room they’re supposed to cool. Installation is very easy; all you need is a three-inch hole drilled into the wall for the refrigerant line to pass through. The distance between the air handler and compressor can be as much as 50...

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3 Easy Ways to Assess the HVAC System of Your New Home

March 17, 2022

Moving into a new home is an exciting time in your life and the perfect way to start over new. However, before you get settled in, you should consider the health of your new HVAC system. You’ll want to make sure everything is in tip-top shape before the hot months of summer arrive. Here are three simple ways you can assess the health of your new HVAC system. 1. Schedule a Tune-Up and Inspection Self-assessment is a great starting point, but hiring our team to thoroughly assess and to tune-up the system is a necessary part of the process. We’re able to more accurately gauge the age of your system, how well it’s been cared for, and whether you’ll be in need of any replacement units in the near future. 2. Visually Inspect the System A quick visual inspection can tell you a lot about the condition of your new HVAC system. Check ductwork for cracks, gaps, or other signs of damage. Do a walkthrough of each room, and see if the temperature seems consistent throughout the home. Check the air conditioner and heating system for signs of leaks, rust, or other damages. Lastly, try to determine how much, if...

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When to Use an Air Purifier and When to Use a Dehumidifier

February 16, 2022

The air quality in your home makes a big difference in both the comfort and health of your family and guests. Two ways that you can improve the air in your home are purification and by helping to create the right level of humidity in your home. These are two different processes, so it is best to understand each of them to make the best decisions for your home air quality. Air Purifiers Air purifiers are designed to remove undesirable particles from the air you breathe. Included in this category are things like allergens, spores, mold, viruses, bacteria, pet dander, and smoke. If you are considering an air purification system, make sure that it is designed to filter particles from the air. Dehumidifiers A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air inside your home. You can determine if your home needs a dehumidifier with a few simple tests. Signs of too much humidity include the following: Musty smells Mold or mildew growing in small patches on your walls or ceilings Latex paint or wallpaper separating from the wall Laminate flooring starting to warp Most people do not need to dehumidify all year but, rather, just when the weather is warm and...

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Comparing Home Furnaces and Heat Pumps

January 10, 2022

A new heating system is a major investment for your household, and it’s important to seek out the investment that’s going to provide the best value in the long run. If you treat it well, your new furnace or heat pump will last you up to 15 years, so it would be wise to take your time and make an informed decision. Heat pumps and furnaces both have the primary goal of keeping you warm, but other than that they are quite different. Energy Cost Gas-powered furnaces burn fuel, such as propane or natural gas, to create the heat that they circulate through your household. Electric furnaces, on the other hand, blow air over a hot element and then distribute that heated air to the different parts of your home. Both types of furnaces generate heat, but heat pumps operate on a different principle. Instead of generating heat, heat pumps pull heat from the outside of your home using pressurized refrigerant coils. They don’t create warmth; they simply move warmth from one place to another. Because moving heat uses up less energy than generating it, heat pumps usually cost far less money to operate than furnaces do. Factoring the Climate...

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Reasons Why Rust Appears on a Furnace

December 20, 2021

Anything out of the ordinary could raise some alarms when dealing with furnaces and HVAC systems. The presence of rust, for example, isn’t something to ignore, as there may be a serious problem that requires attention. A “little rust” may indicate a potentially dangerous issue developing. Gas Meets Metal When hot gases cool, they turn into vapors. These vapors could cause corrosion on metal parts. The heat exchanger is one such part, and rust on this component could be dangerous. Cracks may develop, necessitating costly repairs. Worse, cracks and defects in a heat exchanger might result in deadly gases, such as carbon monoxide, flowing into the house. Charlottesville residents could place a call to to inquire about furnace repair, maintenance, and installation work. Our team handles cooling systems, as well. Water Hits the Metal Directly Sometimes, it is more than vapors that cause the metal to rust. A leaky pipe or roof may result in water coming through the ceiling and hitting the furnace. Once the metal inside the furnace gets wet, the metal may rust. Water could enter the system due to flooding. Burst pipes or floods from storms may result in a furnace taking on water and ending...

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What’s the Best Temperature to Set My Furnace to This Winter?

November 18, 2021

When temperatures start dropping as winter settles in, people often ask themselves what’s the best temperature to set their furnace to. There isn’t any one answer, as everyone has their preferences. However, there are best practices when it comes to saving energy and reducing utility bills. What Should I Set My Thermostat To? When you’re home, you should set the furnace to between 68 degrees and 70 degrees. When everyone is gone from home or asleep, reduce the temperature to between 62 degrees and 66 degrees. There’s no point in keeping an empty home comfortably warm and blankets warm you at night. But That’s Too Cold! You can ease into cooler temperatures over time, as the human body is great at adapting. If you’re used to 75 degrees in your home, try slowly setting it back to 70 degrees over the course of a few weeks. It’s likely you won’t even notice the cooler temperatures, and you can also dress a little warmer. Make Use of a Programmable Thermostat You can make it easier for yourself to change temperatures in your home by investing in a programmable or smart thermostat. Both of these types of thermostats eliminate the need to...

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Achieving Your Ideal Sleep Temperature

October 13, 2021

If the temperature in your bedroom makes it difficult to sleep, it can have effects that are worse than a grumpy morning. Over time, a sleep deficit can lead to clouded thinking, anxiety, and depression. The team at wants to be part of the solution when it comes to a restful sleep cycle. When you find the proper conditions for your best sleep, we will work hard to give you the consistent temperature you need. Determining Your Perfect Bedroom Temperature If you are looking for the perfect sleeping temperature, 65 degrees is a great place to begin. That thermostat setting may seem a bit cold for daily living, but your sleeping needs are different than your waking needs. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can set it to cool down the room about an hour before bedtime. That way, your room will be ready when it is time to slip under the covers. Your body is different from everyone else’s. While 65 degrees is the average, your ideal sleep temperature may fall somewhere between 60 and 67 degrees. A well-designed climate control system will help you experiment by letting you see how small temperature adjustments change your sleep patterns....

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