What Is Considered a Plumbing Emergency?
At one point, you may have dealt with a simple issue with your pipes. But how will you know when you need to call a 24-hour emergency plumbing service? Here are some tips on how you can properly handle a plumbing emergency.
Stay Calm
Getting into a plumbing predicament can sometimes incite panic. However, it’s best to keep calm so you can properly think of what to do. Also, damage can be minimized when you’re not worked up. Instead of feeling nervous, call a plumber immediately and head to the next steps.
Shut the Water Off
When it comes to major plumbing emergencies, quickly turn off the water source. For toilets, look for a valve located behind or at the base of the commode, then turn it off. Meanwhile, larger emergencies require shutting off the main valve. In case you can’t find it, shut off the main water supply, which can be spotted near your water meter.
Check the Water Heater
During a major emergency, turning off the water heater can prevent damage to your unit. When the main valve is shut, turn off the unit so the heat will not well up inside. Failing to do so may increase the risk of overheating and even bursting.
Find Small Leaks
When you’ve identified small leaks, stop them immediately. Do so by placing plumber’s tape on the cracks. You may also stuff cloth, towels, and rags around the pipes or place buckets under the dripping leaks. Inform the plumbing team about these leaks so they can address the problem immediately.
Clean What You Can
Before a professional plumber arrives, make sure to clean any excess water. Neglecting this can cause damage to the flooring, furniture, walls, and many more. You might find yourself spending more instead of paying for plumbing repairs only.
Let Home Comfort Experts Help With Your Plumbing Problems!
Remember that when it comes to major plumbing repairs, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. Doing so can potentially reduce further damage. If you need a 24-hour emergency plumbing service, Home Comfort Experts has you covered! Our trained and skilled plumbing team can assist you with quality plumbing repairs, installation, drain cleaning services, and more! Reach out to our professional plumbers today!
The temperature is getting warmer, so it’s crucial to have your air conditioning unit checked. Doing so will help you prepare for the hot seasons. But what if you suddenly notice that your AC unit has cooling problems? Here are some tips on what to do if your AC is not blowing cold air.
Check the Air Vents
When you feel that your home is not getting cool enough, inspect the vents. You should feel cold air blowing out of the vents when you put your hand in front of them. If little to no cool air is coming out, there could be a blockage somewhere within the vent system.
Change Dirty Air Filters
It is ideal to replace filters every three months or less. A dirty air filter may block airflow into the unit. When this happens, it can cause your HVAC unit to work harder and may eventually affect the system’s efficiency.
Additionally, dirty air filters tend to allow fine dust or other allergens through the vent system, resulting in harmful particles being distributed throughout your home. Do not hesitate to buy a replacement filter since this can help for better airflow.
Observe the Temperature
If you don’t feel cold air circulating throughout your home even when the vent system’s working fine, assess the AC unit. Sometimes, the unit lacks Freon which is also known as a refrigerant. This chemical allows colder air to be produced and distributed in your home. An HVAC technician can safely replace it for you.
Upgrade the Thermostat
Thermostats allow you to control indoor temperature. Some are programmable and let you set a specific temperature level at different times of the day. It is better to upgrade your current thermostat to a programmable one because it can save you money and give you more indoor climate control.
Home Comfort Experts Is Here to Help!
By following the tips above, you’ll know what to do if your AC is not blowing cold air. In case the need for an AC repair arises, call Home Comfort Experts immediately! Our professional technicians will assist you with all your HVAC concerns. Contact us any time since we provide 24/7 emergency services! Reach out to our team today and get a free quote!
Spring is almost here, and it’s the right time to spring into action when it comes to maintaining your HVAC. You’ll want to make sure your unit is up and running optimally for the upcoming warmer days. Here are some tips to ensure your unit is ready for the season.
Upgrade the Thermostat
Installing a smart thermostat is a type of HVAC tune-up that better prepares your home for spring. You may typically experience sudden or gradual weather changes during the season. These changes cause your home’s HVAC system to work harder so it can maintain the indoor temperature continuously throughout the day.
With a smart thermostat, you will be able to program your HVAC unit to run less often when you and your loved ones are not at home. This can help you save a lot of money on your energy bills while maintaining comfort.
Change the Air Filters
Early spring is the best time to have an air conditioner checkup and replace your unit’s air filters. Your home’s heating and cooling system relies on its filters to distribute cleaner air throughout each room. In this season, the amount of pollen and other airborne allergens usually increases. So, be sure to replace your HVAC unit’s disposable air filters or wash the reusable ones at least once every month during spring.
Check the Air Ducts
Another way to ensure that your unit runs smoothly is by checking your ductwork. See if it has any holes or cracks. If there are existing leaky joints, call a professional right away. They will test your ductwork for air-tightness and cleanliness, tell if you need air duct replacement, and fix any problems found.
Clean the Drainage Hole
Typically, air conditioners have a drainage hole found at their cabinet’s base. It must always be kept clear for the HVAC system to run effectively. If it’s clogged, your unit will not drain properly, and that will lower its efficiency.
Remove Dirt and Debris
Your outdoor unit also needs to be inspected every once in a while. Elements such as overgrown foliage, trash, dirt, and other debris may have already surrounded your unit. Clear any obstructions around the equipment to prevent HVAC issues from arising. Make sure to put a minimum of two feet clearance between your air conditioner and plants if you have any.
Home Comfort Experts: Your Trusted HVAC Professional
If you need professional preventive maintenance or an HVAC tune-up, turn to Home Comfort Experts! Our skilled technicians can help identify and diagnose any potential issues that your unit may have. Get in touch with us to learn more and how we can address your concerns.
Are you considering furnace replacement, but worried about your energy bills? Compared to old furnaces, new heating systems are more efficient and help lower electric bills. While this is true, it’s also crucial to ensure that your new furnace isn’t consuming too much energy. Listed below are some tips that can help lower your energy bills.
Replace Filter
About every three months, replace your heating unit’s air filters. Clogged filters can’t effectively draw air. This causes your furnace to work extra hard which increases energy consumption. Air filters can easily be swapped out and they help your heating unit run efficiently especially during the colder months.
Seal Drafts
Drafts allow warmed air to escape from your home, causing your furnace to work harder to heat rooms. Areas where drafts occur include windows and doors. Specially designed shrink wrap kits could be used to seal windows. Be sure to replace crumbled window caulking and ineffective weather stripping on doors.
Insulate Your Home
A lack of effective insulation will cause your furnace to work harder and increase energy bills throughout the year. Some examples of insulation include blankets, loose fills, and foam. Cover areas that are susceptible to cold. Be sure to read the Department of Energy’s insulation fact sheet for more information.
Program the Thermostat
Programmable thermostats are highly recommended because they use less energy to heat your home. You may be able to save up to 15% on energy usage since your furnace won't need to work as hard throughout the day. Wi-Fi connected thermostats are quite intuitive too since you can adjust the settings from your phone or tablet.
Schedule Furnace Tune-ups
One of the best ways to reduce energy bills is to have your furnace regularly inspected and serviced by a professional. These can be done immediately once tune-ups became necessary. Furnace operations may become more efficient which saves you money over time. It can help prolong your heating unit’s lifespan too.
Turn to Home Comfort Experts!
Following the tips above can help ensure the efficiency of your furnace and lowered energy bills. When you need HVAC services such as furnace replacement, repair, installation, or maintenance, Home Comfort Experts has you covered! Reach out to our team today!
Summer is the most popular time for traveling and vacations. Many of our customers take family vacations. From road trips, to flying, no matter how you get there, we want to help make sure you have fun! The team at Home Comfort Experts put together this list of travel tips to help keep everyone happy and having fun.
Read Reviews Online
Before booking any hotels, resorts, side-trips, etc. read what others think about them. It’s the best way to get a real feel for the quality, price, service, potential problems, and anything you might want to know.
Related Read: Vacationing? Set Your Thermostat for Savings and Comfort
Safety Tips
Have a neighbor pick up any newspapers and check for packages from UPS or FedEx on your porch. It’s always good to have a neighbor check on the house while you’re away. Also, close all blinds and leave a light on in your home, or even better, a light on a timer to make it appear someone is home.
Turn Off Your Water
If a pipe breaks or a toilet decides to leak, the damage could be astronomical if it has days to leak without being detected. Play it safe and turn off your water at the main source to avert a potential disaster.
Stop Your Mail
It’s easy to stop your mail for few days to keep it from piling up in your mailbox and possibly alerting strangers that you’re not home. The post office lets you quickly put a hold on your mail online. You can schedule it to resume delivery the day you get home.
Snap a Pic
Your phone is a handy trip companion. Use it to record lots of information in a snap. If you have to check a bag, snap a photo (it will help you describe the bag if it gets lost) and a close-up of the airline's baggage tag (so you have a record of the airline's routing info).
When parking your car at the airport, an amusement park, or sports facility, snap a quick photo of the section and row you parked in. Also take pictures of passports, tickets, important papers, etc. They could come in handy if you lose the paperwork itself. Keep your charger handy, too.
Stash Extra Cash
Even if you plan to put everything on a credit card, it’s always good to have cash handy. What if your purse or wallet get stolen? Stash cash in a few different places. A couple hundred dollars worth should cover you in case of emergency. Don’t forget to carry some small bills for tipping. Great places to stash cash are in socks, under shoe inserts, or in a toiletry bag.
Make Copies of Important Papers
Keep both digital and physical copies of your passport, visas, driver’s license, birth certificate, health insurance card, serial numbers, and important phone numbers ready to go in case of an emergency.
Pack Earplugs
Earplugs are great for muffling the sounds of crying babies, barking dogs, whiny children (especially your own), honking horns, really anything that might be annoying you. Bring a pair for everyone.
Don’t Plan Too Much
Trying to cram too much into a short time period usually backfires - especially if children are involved. Crankiness, hangriness, and meltdowns will surely show up if too little downtime is scheduled. While theme parks are great fun, they are exhausting as well. Plan a day in between of just hanging at the hotel pool and relaxing.
Buy Insurance
Especially when planning big, expensive trips, travel insurance is worth purchasing. The typical plan will cover emergency medical expenses and baggage loss and delay, and recover at least some of the cost of your trip if your vacation has to be canceled or cut short.
Keep Medicines with You
Whenever you’re separated from your luggage, such as during your flight, keep medicines and any items you can’t do without in your carry-on so you don’t lose them if your luggage gets lost. Dramamine or other motion sickness medicine is always a good idea.
7 Must-Have Items
1. Suitcase - a durable, lightweight, smooth-rolling suitcase or bag that holds a lot and doesn't tip over easily.
2. Duct tape - it comes in handy for so many things. Packing a whole roll is annoying, so take a 2-foot strip and wrap it around a pencil.
3. A copy of your passport - you'll probably never need it, but if you lose your passport, having a copy greatly expedites the process of getting a new one. A scanned copy that you e-mail to yourself works fine.
4. One-quart resealable sandwich bags - for getting liquids, gels, and toiletries through airport security. Pack a few extra ones in case one rips or someone you're traveling with forgets to bring one.
5. A travel pillow and blanket or sweater if you tend to get cold.
6. Entertainment - a book, e-books, games for the kids, etc. This includes several sets of headphones for the kids and yourself.
7. Snacks - no one likes a hangry traveler!