With the cooling season nearing its end, now is a good time to evaluate your air conditioner’s performance. As cooling systems age they gradually become both less efficient and less effective at maintaining temperature levels.
With colder weather setting in, residents of northern Indiana and southwest Michigan are starting to look for cost-effective ways to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. With that in mind, here are a few easy ways to button up your home for the chilly weather ahead:
A clogged drain is something that we have all dealt with at one point or another. Attempting to clear the blockages from the drain can be frustrating, time-consuming, and cost a considerable amount of money. While calling a seasoned plumber is the best way to find a reliable solution, it’s not unheard of to try some methods out for yourself.
From using items that are around the house to tools that were designed to deal with these specific problems, there are a few things you can do before calling a plumber. By utilizing resources readily available in your home and other solutions, you can attempt to clear your drains before the problem gets too large and too expensive.
1. Use the Same Tools as Plumbers
When you encounter the trouble of a clogged drain, a good bet to remedy the issue is utilizing the same tools that plumbers use. If your problems lie in the toilet, a plunger is an economical and effective tool that should be your first course of action. This simple device has the power to work wonders in removing blockages and restoring your plumbing to its normal flow.
Is your clog not in your toilet but instead in a sink or another drain? If so, a plumber’s snake might be a promising solution to your problem. Depending on how deep and heavy your blockage is, you can purchase a snake specific to your needs. While a tad pricier than plungers, these snakes are more affordable than calling a plumber to unclog the drain. So, if you have a simple buildup of hair or other debris, a snake might be the right tool for you.
You’ll need to be careful when using these items so you don’t cause further damage to your pipes. Make sure you inspect your drains to the best of your ability and read the instructions for these devices before use.
2. Flush Out Debris With Boiling Water
Sometimes, the solution to a complicated plumbing issue can be as simple as boiling water. This straightforward drain cleaning method can be incredibly effective in relieving clogs, and it’s a technique that requires nothing more than the contents of your kitchen.
For instance, if you’re wrestling with a clogged sink, consider this approach: boil a pot of water and then pour it down the affected drain in a steady stream. By doing this, you have the potential to melt away accumulated grease and grime, allowing the water to flow freely once again.
If you’re dealing with a double sink, a smart tactic is to stuff the drain on the unaffected side with a cloth or rag before you begin. Focusing on the clogged side enhances the water’s force and effectiveness, ensuring it’s directed right where it’s needed most. This uncomplicated remedy might just be the solution needed to dissolve your plumbing predicaments.
3. Use Baking Soda and Vinegar
When it comes to clearing a sink drain, don’t underestimate the power of everyday household items. A box of baking soda and a bottle of white vinegar can be combined to create a strong, quick, and cheap solution.
Here’s what you should do:
- Begin by pouring a cup of baking soda down the drain.
- Follow this step by adding a cup of white vinegar, creating a mixture that will produce bubbles.
- The foam from this mixture will dissolve trapped debris within your pipes.
- After allowing the mixture to work its magic, pour boiling water down the drain.
- Maintain a steady flow of boiling water for approximately 15 minutes to ensure effective clearing.
This DIY solution of baking soda and vinegar, combined with the power of boiling water, can be surprisingly effective in tackling minor clogs and restoring proper flow. While conducting this method, be careful to clean out the drains with the water and not leave any baking soda and vinegar behind.
4. Try Store-Bought Products
In the face of stubborn clogs, your local store offers a variety of commercial drain-cleaning products that promise quick fixes. There are various forms and formulas of these remedies, each with different benefits. While they can offer a viable solution to clogs in sinks and other drains, it’s important to examine the severity of the blockage before relying solely on these products.
It’s important to note that these products often provide a temporary fix and might not address the root cause of the issue. Additionally, many commercial drain cleaners contain potent chemicals that require cautious handling. It’s crucial to carefully read and follow the provided instructions, as improper use can lead to serious health risks. Always prioritize safety and proper usage to ensure the effectiveness of these products while minimizing potential risks.
When to Call a Plumber for A Clogged Drain
Have you tried multiple methods to clear your drain? If all else fails, turn to the professional plumbers at Home Comfort Experts and allow them to carefully inspect and service your clogged drains. We will find the root cause of the problem, remove the contaminants, and provide you with advice on how to keep your pipes clear. It’s beneficial to learn the importance of plumbing maintenance and take preventative measures to ward off these annoyances in the future.
If you need a plumber to unclog your drains in Northern Indian or Southwestern Michigan, contact us by calling (574) 319-7445 to schedule an appointment with our experts.
Air filtration and purification is necessary to maintain a good air quality in the home. Although filters do a good job of catching particles and preventing them from circulating through the air, they don’t kill biological contaminants, which include things like mold spores and bacteria.
Think it’s too early to start thinking about furnace maintenance? Think again. With fall just around the corner, now is the best time to have your furnace serviced; you can beat the winter rush and rest assured that your heating system will be ready to go when the cold hits Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan.
Cutting back on energy use can be done in both big and small ways. Using a programmable thermostat is a small way to add to energy savings. But the control that this small piece of equipment gives a homeowner can result in big savings and greater efficiency.
One of the easiest parts of your home heating and cooling system to ignore is the ductwork. This simple but important part of your system conveys the heated and cooled air from your air-handling unit to the various rooms of your house. Tucked away in walls, attics and basements, it’s a part of the system that few people really think about.
If you want to get the most years and lowest energy consumption out of your hot water heater, it’s a good idea to perform regular maintenance on it. Preventive maintenance on water heaters isn’t very hard, but forgetting to do it can reduce the efficiency of the unit.
Many homes are inadequately ventilated and improper air exchange is a direct cause of low indoor air quality. Air exchange is simply the introduction of fresh air from the outdoors to a home and the expelling of stale indoor air, but opening your windows simply isn’t enough. Homes need specially designed ventilation systems to circulate air properly and ensure that air exchange levels are meeting minimum requirements.