American Plumbing Blog
Furnace Tune Up | Oct.05, 2011 By admin
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Prevent Costly Home Heating Repairs

Keeping warm for the winter can be challenging even in the sunny state of California. It may not snow in California, but during the winter month the winter temperatures tend to drop so much that keeping your home warm becomes a top priority. For home owners who are always current with the furnace tune up maintenance the odds are that your home will be quite cozy over the winter holidays.

Unfortunately, many home owners and renters neglect to check the furnace. The importance of tuning up the furnace in your home is crucial if the heating in your home is to function at its best. Neglecting to have the maintenance on your furnace is what most home owners and renters are guilty of. Trouble with the thermostat is a good indication that the furnace is functioning under par. Poor air quality could mean that there is a clogged blower motor.

What is Furnance Repair?

If you are one of many who have neglected to have their furnace tune up for the winter then now is as good a time as ever. A furnace left untuned can present your home with a gamut of problems that simply you could do without. Furances that are left untuned cause problems in the home such as cracked heat exchangers, temperature variations, premature system failure and poor air quality. If you are already experiencing any of these problems in your home then you definitely require a furnace tune up immediately.

Damage Caused by Neglecting Your Furnace?

Neglecting your furnace over time will lead your home requiring heating repair services to resolve the matter once and for. When you enlist a qualified furnace repair service firm to tackle the task of heating repair jobs or furnace tune ups the heating in your home will functioning at the very best capacity. Waiting to the last-minute to conduct maintenance on your furnace is what most home owners and renters are guilty of.

Furnace Tune Ups

To extend the life of your furnace, always have regular furnace tune ups at least once a year. Furnace tune ups could help you avoid costly furnace repair bills in the future. When in doubt, setting up an annual furnace tune-up on your furnace yearly can save you both time and money in the long run. Avoid system breakdowns when you arrange for your furnace to have maintenance repairs from a qualified professional.

Dealing with Clogged Drains | Jul.30, 2010 By admin
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Clogged Drains
Kitchen sink drains can get clogged easily if particles of food slip past your drain strainer. And unfortunately most garbage disposals don’t always do their job as we all homeowners would like. Cooking grease seems to be one of the worst culprits for clogging a sink drain. The grease hardens as quickly as it dries, ever time you can experience slow draining sink drain, some will become completely clogged with too much grease buildup. The best advice is to dispose of the grease before washing pans and disposing of these materials using an alternative method. Avoiding putting things like grease and peels down the drain will prove to be less of a headache in the long run.

Clogged Bathroom Sinks – Clogged Bathtub Drains & Showers
Bathroom sinks, showers, and bathtub drains can become clogged when hair gets caught in the pipes and clumps up. Substances that leave a thick residue, like shampoos, soaps, toothpaste, and hair gel, add to the blockage. If left untreated, months of added build up in clogged bathtub drains or clogged shower drains can lead to water backup and more serious plumbing problems. The best solution is to keep hair free of tub drains and shower drain. Regular cleaning can help to prevent these issues but if you run into backed up drains in the bathroom call on your local American Plumbing Drain Expert for assistance.

Clogged Toilets
Toilets that have minimal water flow during a flush often have the worst problems. If the substance being flushed is not dissolvable then a backup will most likely occur. Some people mistakenly assume all tissue-type of products are safe to flush, when actually it is important to buy wipes that say “flushable” on the label. Even those should be flushed down one at a time. Children are notorious for flushing things out of curiosity. Our American Plumbing Drain Experts see a lot of children’s toys and things that just don’t belong in a toilet.

However, not all clogs are contributed by humans. Old drain pipes can become deteriorated from rust, be cracked by tree roots, and can be impacted by moisture. It can be difficult to find the “root” of a clogged drain problem and that is why our drain experts use state of the art technology to find and fix your drain issues.

Fixing a Clogged Drain Yourself
You can attempt to clear clogged drains yourself by using chemicals designed for this purpose. Some can actually become harmful to your pipes if the acids are too strong. Chemicals are also bad for your health and the environment. Luckily, there are also natural methods of clearing drain blockages.

You can periodically run boiling water through the drains. Some people use baking soda and vinegar by pouring the vinegar into the clogged drain, and then sprinkling a large amount of baking soda on top. The mixture should sit in the drain for at least 15 minutes before flushing it with boiling water. If none of these methods work then it is time to call the right plumber.

Professional Help Fixing a Clogged Drain Line
American Plumbing Drain Experts are always available to fix any of the following types of clogged drains:

  • clogged sink drains
  • clogged toilet drain
  • clogged tub drains
  • clogged shower drains
  • clogged kitchen drains
  • clogged sewer pipe
  • main clogged drain line

Our plumbers are experienced in helping home owners in North County, San Diego and Southwest Riverside County. We will come to your home, nights, weekends, and even holidays for no extra charge so call us at 1-877-854-6007.

Air Conditioning Tune Up Facts for San Diego Home Owners | Jul.06, 2010 By admin
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There’s a tell tale sign that summer is under way in San Diego, the May Gray and June Gloom have burned away and the humming sounds of air conditioning units feel the air. Not the summer picture most think of but for those stuck with a failing ac unit know just how much living without ac can effect the comfort level in your home.

For many San Diego homes, regularly scheduled maintenance in the way of a Home Air Conditioning Tune Up can save money and ensure you stay cool during the hottest summer months.

Q: When should I recharge the refrigerant in my Home Air Conditioning Unit?

A: A properly functioning air conditioning unit should not require a Refrigerant recharge, ever. So if you do suspect low refrigerant levels than most likely your central air unit is suffering from a leak. San Diego home owners that own newer AC units will notice far less leaks because newer units use welded connections instead of the old style flared fittings.

Impact of low refrigerant:

Reduction of Air Conditioning unit efficiency.
Leaks can literally freeze your home ac unit.
Refrigerant can have harmful environmental effects.
Can cause your AC Unit to overheat.
Q: Does my San Diego Home Need an AC Tune Up?

A: American Plumbing Heating Air Conditioning recommends annual check up of home ac units to prevent costly repairs or replacement. Regularly scheduled maintenance will help to spot minor issues within your central air unit and make certain that the unit is running as efficiently as possible. An AC Tune Up can help you save money by making your home more energy efficient.

Q: So, What is an Air Conditioning Tune Up?

A: American Plumbing offers a 20 point check that includes the following:

Check Freon Levels
Calibrate thermostat.
Check condenser
Test for Leaks
Check electrical components to ensure proper function
Clean evaporator and condenser coils, as needed.
Check & add motor oil
Check filters.
Q: Can an unmaintained AC Unit effect Global Warming?

A: The more efficient the air conditioning unit is, the less electrical energy that is needed. Even refrigeration or air-conditioning equipment with a relatively small charge of refrigerant that never leaks out may have a great impact on global warming if the equipment is undercharged or overcharged. The equipment would be very inefficient under these conditions, and the carbon dioxide generated form the longer run times created by these inefficiencies would contribute to global warming more than the refrigerant leaking out. This is an example of an indirect effect of global warming.

DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME!

It’s easy enough to find DIY tips online but you want to be certain to leave your Air Conditioning Tune Up to a certified HVAC technician. The risk of injury to your self and further damage to your AC unit is not worth saving $79.

Schedule your home AC Tune Up today for just $75

Check out our AC-Tune up info here.