Category: Blog

If you’re looking for a cheap solution to keep your home cool this summer, you might be considering window air conditioning units. These units may seem like the economical choice to some homeowners who see the higher cost of installing a central air conditioning system.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, our air conditioning contractors are here to tell you that this simply isn’t the case. Not only are window AC units far less efficient than central air systems and even swamp coolers, they come with several specific risks beyond just the additional money you’ll pay each month to power them. Let’s go over several of the reasons why you should almost always stay far away from window AC units.

Home Safety and Security Concerns

For starters, there’s the practical placement of a window AC unit: It goes in your window, as the name implies, which means the window itself must be left open at all times. If the unit is installed even slightly improperly – or even in cases where it’s installed optimally – the risk of break-ins or other home security concerns goes way up.

Experienced thieves will know exactly how to remove this kind of unit from your window, even if you think you’ve fastened it in well. From here, entering the home during a period when you aren’t around and burglarizing it will be easy.

Human Health and Mold Growth

Another potential issue with window AC units: The possibility of mold growth. For these window units to operate, they pull humidity out from the air and use it as part of their output to cool the area – but this kind of collection of humidity also increases the potential for mold to grow in or around the unit, threatening several areas of human health. Those with allergies or asthma could see these conditions aggravated, and even fully healthy people could become sick due to mold exposure.

Fire Hazards

There are a couple potential issues when it comes to window AC units and fire hazards. For one, if the unit is installed in the only window in a given room where a fire starts, escaping through that window will be more difficult and the unit could be a life-threatening hazard. For another, window units may become dislodged or fall during a fire or other major home event, leading to further safety risk and damage.

Air Quality and Efficiency Issues

Finally, window AC units are highly prone to imperfect seals between the unit and the window. This allows outdoor air inside, leading to major air quality issues in many cases. In addition, this outdoor air will make the unit work even harder just to cool the space, raising your monthly utility bill significantly.

For more on the issues with a window AC unit and why you should stay away from them in favor of central AC, or to learn about any of our heating, air conditioning or plumbing services, contact the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

Your toilet is one of the most regularly-used pieces of plumbing in the home, and if you enter the bathroom to find water collecting on the floor around the toilet’s base, you’ll naturally be concerned. These kinds of leaks can both signal trouble with the toilet itself and lead to significant water damage concerns, including mold formation if water is allowed to seep into certain areas.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, our plumbers are here to help if you discover this issue in your home. We’re also here to provide basic DIY tips for handy homeowners who want to attempt to assess the issue on their own – here are a couple possible causes to take a look at, plus how you should respond if you find out these are the culprit in your issues.

Tightening Tee Bolts

The first area to check if you notice leaks around the base of the toilet is those little plastic caps we’ve all seen on the toilet base. Have you ever wondered what those little things are? They’re called tee bolts, and they’re meant to hold the toilet in place so it doesn’t rock or sway during use.

Over time and with enough pressure, however, the tee bolts can become loose or even break. In many such cases, the toilet’s seal is then broken as a result, leading to your leak issues. If this is the case, you can simply level and center the toilet, then tighten any loose bolts and replace any broken ones. Tee bolts are available for an affordable cost at any home improvement store.

Assessing Wax Ring Damage

If you have addressed your tee bolts and they are not the cause of the issue, the likely culprit is the wax ring. The wax ring is a sealing device between the base and the flange, one that attaches to the waste line and creates a barrier between the outside of the toilet and the sewage being flushed. If you require assistance, our team is happy to help you assess and replace your wax ring – but if you’re looking to perform this service yourself, here are the basic steps:

• Take a picture of your toilet’s base, then bring it to a hardware store to find a compatible replacement.
• Return home, and begin by shutting off the toilet’s water using the shut-off valve on the back. Then flush the toilet to remove sitting water, and plunge the base for a few seconds to make sure as much water as possible is removed.
• Unscrew the water supply line and remove the tee bolts. You can now lift the toilet and place it on its side gently, before removing the old wax ring and any leftover wax.
• Install the new wax ring over the flange, with tee bolts secured.
• Finally, reposition the toilet and push it into the wax ring to create a new seal. Screw your tee bolts into place over the toilet and ensure everything is level before reconnecting the water line and turning the valve back on.
• Give the toilet a flush to make sure there are no additional leaking concerns.

For more on what to do if your toilet is leaking at its base, or to learn about any of our plumbing or heating and air services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

If you’ve made the choice to move your home or building from a previous cooling system to a modern central air conditioning format, you’ve made a great decision. Central cooling systems are a quieter, more efficient alternative to other cooling formats out there, especially expensive window units.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical we’re proud to offer central air conditioning installation as part of our comprehensive central AC services, which also include detailed repairs and tune-ups. Are there are particular areas where you should prepare your home or building for an upcoming installation of a central air system? The answer is yes, though most of these preparation areas are very simple. Let’s take a look.

Prior to Installation

In the days and weeks leading up to a central air installation, there are a few basic tasks to consider:

• Choosing the right HVAC partner: For starters, you want to ensure you’re receiving services from a company like ours – a reputable, licensed and insured group of HVAC professionals with extensive experience in the industry. We welcome any and all questions you have about our credentials or experience with your exact type of central air system. Any company that isn’t so open, or can’t provide detailed certifications and review information, should not be trusted.
• Space and access: Once you’ve arranged your installation partner, it’s time to ensure the space is properly organized for your appointment. Clear out the area where the new AC unit will be installed, plus do your best to limit any clutter or debris in common pathways that HVAC pros may need to navigate.
• Duct cleaning and sealing: This is a great time to inspect, clean and seal your air ducts throughout the home. We’re happy to assist you with any of these elements, including professional duct sealing to ensure your new system works optimally.

Day of Installation

• Ask plenty of questions: If you are unsure about any part of this process, whether it’s the installation time, warranty details or operation concerns, ask them! Our technicians are happy to answer and make things a bit simpler for you in any area where you have concerns.
• Payment: Find out the preferred methods of payment in advance, and have one ready at the time of service so everything moves smoothly.
• Maintenance and upkeep: If offered, it’s often a prudent move to sign up for a maintenance plan for your new central AC system. You can usually schedule your first maintenance appointment the same day as your installation, plus go over any warranty or related details that may impact this area.

For more on preparing your home for central air conditioning installation, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the pros at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

How to remove hard water stains from my water heater?

For homes and buildings that contain hard water supplies, the minerals like limestone, calcium and magnesium found in this water can create several issues. Hard water can lead to everything from faster appliance wear-down to uncomfortable skin effects and much more, and can also pose a problem that’s both visual and health-related: Hard water stains.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we have a permanent solution to prevent this risk for you and your family: One of our high-quality water softener products, which are designed specifically to remove hard water minerals from your water supply throughout the home. And while these products will completely prevent hard water stains and any other similar issues from arising moving forward, they unfortunately can’t do anything about any previous hard water stains that formed before you installed a softener – with that in mind, here are three different methods we can recommend for removing these stains.

Baking Soda and Scrubbing

If you’re looking to clean up the mess without involving many chemicals or solutions, the simplest way to go is to locate some baking soda and get to work with scrubbing. Simply apply the baking soda directly onto the stain area, then get a coarse cloth or the rough side of a sponge to rub it in with some elbow grease.

One thing to note with this method: It’s usually only effective for newer hard water stains, not older ones that have set into the material. It may also take a bit longer than our other methods, but it comes at no cost and without any chemicals.

Vinegar Solution

For another cheap solution, but one that does require a household liquid product, look for standard white vinegar in your home. Once you find it, mix it together with an equal amount of water, creating a 50-50 mix solution.

Mix these up well, then pour the resulting solution into a spray bottle. Grab a sponge or a toothbrush (depending on the size of the stain), then spray the area with the solution and begin to scrub. It will smell a bit weird, but you can always add an air freshener to the area later on. For light stains, including those that have set in just a little, this is a good option.

Hydrochloric Acid Cleaners

For deeper, more significant hard water stains, you may want to purchase a cleaning solution specifically designed or this purpose. Most of these cleaners, found at your local hardware store, will contain hydrochloric acid – this is a highly effective chemical for removing stains, but also requires care when using it. We recommend using it only as a last resort if other methods don’t work, and we also advise ensuring the room you use it in is well-ventilated.

For more on the options available for cleaning hard water stains, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

After enough repeated uses, whether we mean to or not, most of us develop a basic expectation for what the toilets in our home sound like when they’re flushed properly. And as it turns out, this can be valuable knowledge – when you hear noises that are not part of the usual routine, it can be a sign that something is wrong that requires further examination.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re here to help with any and all such noise-related concerns coming from the toilet as part of our overall plumbing services. Our plumbers have encountered every form of toilet noise and every related issue you could imagine, and we’ll help you diagnose the problem and repair it quickly. One common such noise you may hear coming from the toilet? A high-pitched whistling sound. Let’s go over what this sound might mean, plus what you can do about it.

Causes of a Whistling Toilet

In some cases, your toilet will give off a light, soft whistle that you can barely hear. In others, the whistle will be much louder and impossible to miss, often a violently loud whistle. Both these will begin directly after flushing and usually persist through the entire flushing process.

In most cases, the cause of a whistling toilet is a metal ballcock valve. These valves come with a ball and armature, which can begin to vibrate as the toilet tank refills. This is the event that causes the whistling sound you hear – the vibration itself is usually due to a damaged fill valve gasket, or could also be because of simple wear-and-tear that have worn down the valve itself.

Fixing a Whistling Toilet

Fixing this whistling noise, then, comes down to either replacing the gasket inside the fill valve or simply replacing the entire valve itself. Either of these are affordable processes, as modern toilet valves are made from inexpensive plastic materials that are easy to find at any hardware store.

For those without much experience replacing toilet parts, replacing the entire valve might be easier – it doesn’t require you to take the valve apart to find the gasket. All you usually have to do here is unscrew the old valve and screw the new one back into place.

When to Call Our Plumbers

When should you turn the reins over to one of our experienced plumbers here? Well, the answer really depends on your own comfort level. If you’re familiar with the insides of a toilet and know where the ballcock valve is, replacing it yourself is simple and easy. But if you’re unsure about your skills here in any way, or worried you might break important pieces or otherwise mess things up, you should call our team and allow our plumbers to perform this basic repair for you, at an affordable cost.

For more on the causes and solutions for whistling sounds coming from the toilet, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

Within the HVAC world, the misconception of “bigger is better” can be a damaging one in several different areas. One great example here is the air conditioner unit – many inexperienced home or building owners simply assume that the largest possible unit they can afford is the best choice for their property, but this simply isn’t the case and can create several issues if it’s your approach.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we’re here to point you in the right direction when it comes to any major decisions for your air conditioning system, including replacing the AC unit itself. Many who subscribe to the above theory will run into major issues with an oversized AC unit – let’s look at what some of these issues are, and how you can avoid them by purchasing a properly-sized unit.

General Cost Concerns

For starters, an oversized AC unit will lead to major cost concerns. Not only will you pay more for the equipment than you likely need to for a smaller unit, you’ll also see a higher energy bill because more power is required for these larger units.

Furthermore, cost issues will crop up in a long-term sense as well. Oversized AC equipment will not function optimally, and will break down faster than a properly-sized unit would in virtually every case. This means you’ll be looking at costly repairs or replacements far sooner than you should be.

Temperature Control Issues

Apart from the impact on your wallet, oversized units will also create a comfort issue. For one, they often lead to major problems with temperature variations throughout the home – one room will cool quickly while others stay far too hot, or vice versa. On the flip side, properly-sized equipment will cool various rooms evenly.

Humidity Problems

When a standard AC unit cools your home, it takes enough time and provides enough airflow that humidity is also controlled properly. But when an oversized unit is in place, it cools far faster and limits the cycle, which causes muggy, damp conditions in many cases due to high humidity. This can also lead to mold formation and a musty, uncomfortable smell.

Short Cycling

When the AC unit is too large, as we just noted, it will cool the space too quickly. This will result in the unit shutting off before completing a full cycle, which strains several components in the system and also leads to several of the issues we’ve already discussed.

Poor Filtration

Finally, an oversized unit will even impact your air quality. When short cycling, units don’t allow air the proper filtration, which leads to lowered quality and a higher risk for health concerns.

For more on why you should avoid purchasing an oversized AC unit, or to learn more about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

Washing your dog may be a fun experience for both you and the animal, but it’s significantly less enjoyable for your home’s drains. Your drains take the brunt of a shedding dog’s hair and dander, which can lead to significant clogging and blockage issues if you aren’t careful.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, our drain cleaning services are always available if you’re experiencing clogs for these or other reasons. But when it comes to bathing a dog, there are some simple steps you can take to keep the experience enjoyable while also significantly limiting the stress placed on your drains and pipes. Here are some general tips on bathing a dog without risking major drain clog concerns. 

Important Supplies

Before the bath begins, it’s time to gather the supplies you’ll need. These include:

• Multiple towels
• Dog shampoo (choose a brand that’s been recommended by your veterinarian if your dog has any special needs or skin conditions, or a type made for your breed if you’re just looking for general options)
• Cotton balls (for ears)
• Brush
• *Important: A drain blocker or piece of steel wool to filter the drain

Pre-Bath Tips

You may be wondering why we included a brush among your materials, and the answer will be found before the bath even begins. During this period, whether outside or in another designated location, brush your dog down completely to remove all their loose or hanging fur or dander.

If you haven’t done this before or recently, you might be shocked at how much hair comes off. This is hair that won’t risk entering your drain or making a mess anywhere else in the home once you throw it out.

Bathing Time

Just before putting your dog in the bath, place your drain blocker or steel wool over the drain. This will stop the vast majority of hair or other clogging items from entering, while allowing water to pass through.

Once this is in place, begin by rinsing your dog off with water, then apply their shampoo all the way from the neck down to the paws and tail. Scrub them thoroughly while watching out for fleas or ticks that try to escape. Then rinse them down and remove the shampoo completely.

Cleaning and Drying

An important tip for the back section of the bath: Never let your dog out of the bathtub before you drain the water from the tub. Letting the tub drain first will make drying them without a major mess far simpler – you just place a towel down for them to stand on, plus another across their body to dry them off.

Through this entire process, continue making efforts to block hair from entering the drain area, even with drain blockers present (some small amounts of hair may sneak through these). For more on this or any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.