Posts Tagged ‘Lakewood’

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Cleveland Air Conditioning Tips: Get Your AC Ready for Summer

Monday, May 20th, 2013

Getting your air conditioning system ready for summer is an important part of taking care of your home. But many homeowners don’t exactly know where to start. Fortunately, the majority of maintenance duties need to be carried out by a professional, although there are some things that need to be taken care of by the homeowner on a routine basis. You rely heavily on your AC during the hot summer months, and maintenance is a great way to improve performance and energy efficiency, as well as reduce the need for repairs.

  • Enroll in a maintenance program: This is without a doubt the single best way to get your AC ready for summer. There’s simply no substitute for professional inspection, cleaning, and precision tune-ups. During these maintenance visits, your AC technician gets a good look at the way your system currently operates. He can clean the coils and adjust the level of refrigerant as needed. He will also be able to recognize problems that may be in their early stages.
  • Check your air filter: Your air filter is designed to prevent the accumulation of dust and other debris on your sensitive mechanical components. But it needs to be regularly changed in order to work properly. When debris builds up on the air filter, it can become clogged and this can lead to airflow issues. Frozen evaporator coils and inadequate cooling can both result from a clogged air filter.
  • Duct cleaning:  If you have a forced air distribution system, you already know how important your ducts are to your air conditioning. Over time, your ducts can accumulate lots of debris, such as dust, pollen, and dander. These can block airflow and lead to indoor air quality issues. Duct cleaning is a great way to improve system longevity in addition to energy efficiency.

Call Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating today if you need air conditioning maintenance in Cleveland! 

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Lakewood, OH Plumbing Repair Tip: Common Water Main Line Repairs

Monday, March 25th, 2013

Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating  can take care of all your Lakewood, OH plumbing repair needs, including water main repairs. Whether you have a major break, leaks, or other issue, call us for prompt service. Our plumbers are trained to repair water mains throughout the area. We are here to serve you, so call any time if you have questions or concerns. First, we’ve put together some common repair needs for main water lines.

Incorrectly installed water lines that supply your home with fresh water can cause any number of issues.  Poorly-located lines can be susceptible to tree root intrusion and other problems with poor soil conditions. If the line isn’t insulated properly, then it could burst during freezing temperatures. Make sure you hire a plumber you can trust to install or repair water lines in your home.

Some signs that you are in need of a water line repair are pools of water in your yard, sudden high water bills, drips in water pressure, or other noticeable issues with your water system, you could have a broken water main. At Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating, we use the latest in technology to pinpoint leaks and repair any problems we find. While damages to your water lines are not always evident, call a plumber if you have any suspicion that your water line is broken. You can also call the water department to see if there’s been an issue with the municipal system outside your yard.

If you notice any of the above signs or having trouble with your plumbing system in general, give the Lakewood, OH  plumbers at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating a call. Our professional plumbers can take care of all your main water line repair needs.

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What Causes Slab Leaks? A Cleveland Plumber’s Guide

Monday, February 11th, 2013

Slab leaks are one of the most dreaded plumbing repairs that homeowners in Cleveland  have to deal with. At Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating, we wanted to put together some of the more common causes of slab leaks. We hope that this will be able to help our customers be able to detect the signs and know when to call a plumber. If you do start to notice any of these signs, call a plumber in Cleveland. If you let a slab leak continue with intervention it can cause considerably more damage.

What Is A Slab?

For those that are unfamiliar, the slab is the cement block on which your house is built. You can see why the stability and structural integrity of your slab is critical to your home’s safety and health.

Common Slab Leaks in Cleveland

In most homes, the plumbing and sewer lines are buried inside the cement slab. Water leaks and the plumbing lines inside your slab are often the culprit for slab leaks. Here are a few of the common causes slab leaks.

  • Dented pipes – During the installation process, the copper water pipes in your slab can get dented. Over time, as water flows of the dent it will gradually wear away and form a small pinhole.
  • Pressure – If your water pipes weren’t installed correctly there can be unnecessary pressure on them. With time, the pressure can cause the pipes to crack and leak.
  • Corrosion – While copper is resistant to corrosion, it can still happen. The condition of the soil on your property can determine when your pipes will corrode.
  • Hard water – The mineral deposits that result from hard water can fill up your water lines. This can form blockages and clogs in your water lines that can build up pressure.

Signs of Slab Leaks in Cleveland

There are a few signs of slab leaks that homeowners should watch out for.

  • Warm floors – If you notice warm spots on the floor of your basement it could indicate that you have a water leak in your slab.
  • Water pressure – A sudden or steady drop in water pressure in your home can indicate that water is leaking out somewhere. While it doesn’t always mean that the leak is in your slab it still is something that a professional plumber should look at.
  • Puddles – If you see water spots in strange places, it could indicate that you have a water leak in your slap or in one of your other pipes.

If you suspect that you have a slab leak in your home in Cleveland, call Pompeii’s Plumbing and Heating.

 

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Choosing a Gas Furnace For Your Avon Lake Home

Monday, October 29th, 2012

If you’re thinking about replacing your furnace, there are a lot of things to think about. We’ve put together some of the most important considerations to think about as you choose which gas-fired furnace to buy for your home in Avon Lake.

Efficiency

Furnaces are rated based on the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). This measures how much fuel is actually converted into heat over a season. Older furnaces have an AFUE rating of 60%. That means that 40% of the fuel is wasted and not converted into heat. Newer furnaces have an AFUE rating of up to 96% or 97%. If you’re interested in increasing the overall efficiency of your heating system, getting a newer furnace with a higher AFUE rating is a great place to start.

Safety

If you have an older furnace, it may lack several important safety features that newer furnaces have. Furnaces burn fuel to create heat. There are several things that can go wrong and cause extreme danger to your property and to your personal safety. Gas leaks, fumes leaking, overheating and fires are just some of the dangers that new safety features are designed to detect and prevent. For example, in the case of a fire or overheating, there are limit switches that detect the heat and shut off the furnace.

Space

Newer furnaces typically are smaller than older models which can free up space in your storage area or basement.

More Reliable

As your furnace ages, you might start to notice that it needs repairs more often or that it provides inconsistent heat. This is just part of the natural aging process for your furnace. With a newer model, you should experience less repairs and more consistent heating throughout your home.

If you have any questions about your current furnace or if you’re interested in replacing it, call the Avon Lake furnace experts at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating.

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Cleveland Air Conditioning Tip: Save Energy and Save Money This Summer

Monday, July 16th, 2012

Though we hate to admit it, we all do it without thinking: turn our Cleveland AC higher instead of turning on a fan, or forget about the thermostat settings which are set to full-blast when we are not at home.  Oftentimes it is the simple things which can have the most impact, and with saving energy this is true as well.

With the cost of living in many areas of life skyrocketing, it’s nice to know there are some easy ways to lower at least one household bill: the energy bill.  Of course, some of these fixes are free, and some cost a little time and energy, while others must be paid for as long-term investments.

Free, Do-It-Yourself Energy Solutions

These quick and easy, do-it-yourself, no cost solutions produce energy saving results almost immediately!

  • Adjust the air conditioning thermostat to higher numbers, such as 78 while at home and 85 or higher when away.  Supplement AC usage with a ceiling or room fan, as moving air feels cooler on the skin.
  • Eliminate wasted energy by turning off appliances, lights, and equipment when not in use, unplug electronic chargers when not in use, and get rid of spare appliances such as refrigerators which are plugged in but not in use.
  • Put those dishwashing gloves away and let the dishwasher do the dirty-work!  Dishwashers use less water than washing by hand.  In addition, let the dishes air-dry rather than running through the heat-cycle to save even more.
  • Do laundry more efficiently by washing and rinsing in only cold water, and line dry instead of using the dryer.
  • Use the microwave to cook and not only speed up the cooking process, but use two-thirds less energy than a stove or conventional oven.

Low-Cost, Economical Energy Solutions

Most of these energy saving options can be procured at the local hardware store, are fairly inexpensive, and can be easily done by any competent home-owner.

  • Replace HVAC filters regularly, according to manufacturer’s specifications.
  • Weather-proof your home by plugging air leaks on doors and windows with weather stripping, sealant, or caulk where applicable.
  • Purchase and install ENERGY STAR® certified products such as porch lights, floor and table lamps, pocket lights, and even programmable thermostats to ensure energy using items are using as little energy as possible.

Invest in Energy Solutions

If it is important to you to save energy and money long-term and on a larger scale, there are a number of durable energy-saving investments to consider.

  • Purchase new windows, a new air-conditioning unit, refrigerator, or other household appliances which use less energy than older units
  • Install window and house shading such as patio covers, or strategically plant trees to shade the home during peak times of heat
  • Install a whole house fan which can suck cool air into the home after sundown or in the early morning in order to cool the entire house thus reducing air conditioning usage
  • Seal and insulate all household ducts in crawl spaces and attics
  • Increase or upgrade attic insulation to higher than the standard grade to keep housing temperatures more constant

To save energy also means to save money, and by following any of the simple steps listed above the average consumer can save energy and save money almost immediately. To schedule a air conditioning maintenance visit in Cleveland today, give Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating a call!

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Repairing Common Sump Pump Problems: A Troubleshooting Guide from Avon

Monday, April 30th, 2012

The sump pump in your home is an important piece of equipment that pumps out excess groundwater, which prevents flooding hazards in basements and water damage to your Avon home. If the pump stops working or won’t shut off, you can usually solve the issue yourself. During times of heavy rain and potential flooding, it’s best to check your pump on a daily basis to make sure it’s running properly.

You can maintain your pump by having it inspected by a professional plumber, and keeping the pump clean and the well free of debris. Feel free to call Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating if you have questions about how to maintain a sump pump, or to make an appointment for an annual inspection and professional cleaning.

Most issues can be repaired easily and without the help of a Avon plumber. Here’s a troubleshooting guide to help you solve minor issues with your pump.

Check for Electrical Problems

Always check to make sure the sump pump is fully plugged in and that there aren’t any fuses that have burned out. If there is standing water in the basement, you should take extra precautions when handling any electrical equipment, even a plug. Call a plumber or electrician for advice if you have any safety concerns.

Check the Float Switch

Just like the float in a toilet tank, the float attached to the side of your sump pump acts as a guide for turning the pump on and off. This is called the float switch, and it usually has a large bulb or other floatation device attached to a metal arm. This float detects the water level inside the well, and it turns the pump on when the water reaches a certain height in the well.

If the pump is plugged in and there are no blown circuits, move the float switch up and down to see if it will turn the pump on. Debris can get trapped underneath the float causing it to stick. If the motor is constantly running, this switch may be stuck in the “on” position if debris is lodged underneath it, or if there’s substantial corrosion.

You can actually move the entire pump around to change the position if there’s no apparent debris causing the issue. Sometimes the pump gets shifted around slightly, and the float switch cannot work properly if the pump isn’t plumb or level. Be careful not to move it too much, since it could damage the drain line attached to the pump motor.

If your motor is constantly running, and none of these steps work, the motor could overheat and stop working. Unplug the pump while you’re investigating the problem, and if none of these steps work, call a professional plumber.

Check for Clogged Filters

In addition to causing issues with the float switch, debris trapped in the screen can also cause the motor to overheat or shut down. If your filter is dirty, try to get out as much of the debris as possible, but if this doesn’t solve the issue, you could have a clogged drain line. In this case, you will need to call a professional plumber to snake out the line.

Preventative Maintenance Tips

You can prevent issues with the sump pump in your Avon  home with a few preventative maintenance tasks. Keep debris from falling into the well as much as possible, and clean out any particles that could clog the screen or affect the operation of the float switch. Occasionally inspect the pump and well for any corrosion or other concerns. If you are comfortable with the operation of your pump, drain and clean the entire well and pump at least once a year.

Lastly, call a qualified technician at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating for a yearly sump pump maintenance visit.

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Warning Signs of a Broken Furnace: A Guide from Lakewood

Friday, November 4th, 2011

How do you know when your furnace is “on the fritz?” There are warning signs of a broken furnace and some are recognizable – but not all. A broken furnace not only deprives your Lakewood home of heat and comfort, it also can be deadly, too.

Let’s look at some of the warning signs.

Each year, hundreds of people die and many more are injured from the most common household poison: carbon monoxide. This colorless and odorless poisonous gas comes from several sources and the furnace is the most common source of all; more precisely a broken or malfunctioning furnace. Carbon monoxide is a result of incomplete combustion of a fossil fuel, which is when a fuel does not burn correctly or completely. In a furnace, carbon monoxide gas comes from a poorly operating burner or a cracked heat exchanger. A properly tuned and maintained furnace greatly reduces the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Since carbon monoxide gas is colorless and odorless, it can go undetected. It can make people sleepy and create flu-like symptoms. Sometimes a person may fall asleep and never wake up. But there are warning signs. Drowsiness, vomiting, or flu-like symptoms are a warning sign. Regularly scheduled maintenance of your furnace by a qualified heating and cooling professional and installation of carbon monoxide detectors can reduce the risk of falling ill to carbon monoxide gas.

Another warning sign is a higher energy bill. Sometimes you can’t detect a problem right away because, like carbon monoxide, there may be no obvious signs. Higher utility bills can be a sure sign of a furnace that is working too hard and running more than usual. This may be a result of clogged or dirty air vents, or dirty filters. If your monthly bills are higher than those of the previous year, it may not just be because gas prices are higher.

There are other warning signs of a broken furnace, too. The most obvious is the failure of your furnace to bring your home up to the desired thermostat settings or to maintain an even temperature. Cold or uncomfortable houses are sure signs of a broken furnace. The furnace may cycle on or off, causing an uneven or inconsistent flow of heated air. This can be because of a poor blower or a clogged furnace filter. If you don’t feel any moving heated air or detect any unusual odors or smells coming from your heating vents, that’s a sure sign of a broken or malfunctioning furnace.

A broken or cracked gas line can emit odors and can cause a furnace to malfunction, too.

Don’t take a chance of losing heat and comfort this winter. At the first possible warning sign, call your local heating professional for a heating system tune-up.

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Your HVAC System and Electricity: A Tip From Westlake

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

While not every HVAC system in your Westlake home requires electricity, many of them do. Your air conditioner, electric furnace or water heater and ventilation system all need access to the central power line. So what does that mean for your system and what problems should be you beware of?

How Your HVAC System Uses Electricity

How your HVAC system works depends largely on which components need electricity to operate. Here is a quick summary of how each system uses electricity:

  • Air Conditioning – Most air conditioners are electric and therefore use electricity based on the number of BTUs produced. For example, if your air conditioner produces 25,000 BTUs and has a SEER of 16, it can produce 16 BTUs for every watt of electricity consumed per hour. As a result, it consumes 1,562.5 watts per hour when the system is running at maximum capacity. If it runs at full capacity for 8 hours per day, 30 days a month in the summer, that’s 375 kilowatt hours – which is the measurement unit you’ll see on your electric bill.
  • Heating – Your heating system may not use electricity, as many homes today use gas or oil combustion furnaces or boilers to produce heat. However, if you have an electric furnace, that electric power is used to heat the filament in the furnace. Electricity also powers the blower fan motor which pushes air across the filament and into the air handler. An electric furnace sized to heat a 1500 square foot home can use up to 8,000 watts per hour to produce enough heat for your home. That converts to roughly 5,000 kilowatt hours per month. The current price of electricity will determine how much this actually costs, you but it can really add up quickly.
  • Ventilation – Your ventilation system is almost always going to use electricity to circulate and filter air. While mechanical filters rely on the movement of air to remove certain particles, ventilation systems have a variety of components including fans and possibly even condenser coils to conserve energy as air is exchanged between the inside and outside.

Electricity plays an important role in your HVAC system no matter how your system works. To ensure yours continues to operate as intended, have your power system checked on a regular basis when the rest of your HVAC system is serviced.

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Changes in Light Bulb Laws and Technology

Monday, July 18th, 2011

In 2007, Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act, which promoted many forms of renewable energy and energy conservation. Its provisions include changes to the minimum standards for light bulb efficiency. Although the new standards haven’t officially gone into effect yet, you many already have seen changes in the kinds of light bulbs on sale in your local hardware store.

According to the law, starting in 2012, most standard general-purpose bulbs must be 30% more energy efficient than current incandescent bulbs. The new requirements will be phased in gradually, but the net result will be that by 2014, most of today’s incandescent bulbs will no longer be available for sale, and will be replaced by compact florescent light bulbs, or CFLs.

Of course, higher-efficiency bulbs are good for the environment. Moving to more efficient lighting is one of the easiest, lowest-cost ways for the U.S. to reduce electricity use and carbon emissions. But the changes will also benefit consumers – some estimates suggest that the average household’s utility bill will be reduced by as much as 12%. Even though CFLs cost more to buy ($3 compared to 50 cents for an incandescent), they use about 75% less energy and last five years instead of a few months. Depending on the cost of electricity, a homeowner that invests $90 to change 30 bulbs to CFLs will save between $440 and $1500 over the five-year life of the bulbs.

CFLs do have their detractors. Many claim that they don’t last anywhere near as long as the five years claimed by manufacturers – and this can in fact be the case you turn the bulbs on and off frequently. Energy Star recommends that all CFLs be left on for at least 15 minutes at a time. (Also, if you are using the bulbs in a dimmer, make sure that you buy bulbs specifically marked “dimmable”.) If you buy Energy Star bulbs, they come with a two-year warranty, so save your receipts and contact the bulb’s manufacturer if it burns out prematurely.

Others dislike the white – sometimes called “harsh” – light of CFLs. This effect can be mitigated by buying cooler-burning CFLs. Bulbs with Kelvin temperatures in the range of 2,700 to 3,000 emit a warmer light than higher-temperature bulbs with Kelvin temperatures of 5,000 or higher, which tend to have a white or bluish light.

Still other critics point out that CFLs contain mercury. While this is true, incandescent bulbs are not mercury-free in practice either. The increased power used for incandescent likely comes from coal-powered plants that produce mercury and many other types of pollution.

If you do break a CFL in your home, consult the EPA’s website for instructions on how to clean it up safely. http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.html

Of course, manufacturers are preparing for 2012 by developing new kinds of light bulbs that meet the more stringent standards, including high-efficiency incandescent and LED bulbs, so look for these options to arrive in stores over the next year or so.

The good news? A much less-beloved light bulb has already been phased out. The T-12 fluorescent tube – those humming, flickering office lights that give everyone’s skin a miserable greenish cast – has been replaced by T-8 fluorescent tubes, which are quieter, more efficient, don’t flicker, and make colors look much more natural.

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Comfort Options

Monday, July 4th, 2011

When it comes to finding the best way to keep your home comfortable all year round, there are quite a few options to consider. Of course, you first want to make sure that you have a good home heating and cooling system in place. But no matter how good they are, these systems can’t get the whole job done on their own. If you really want to obtain the optimal indoor environment for your home, you need to incorporate some other pieces of equipment as well.

Temperature Control Done Right

The best place to start building up your home comfort system may be with a state of the art programmable thermostat. These devices can be incorporated into just about any home heating or cooling system and will provide you with pinpoint control of your indoor environment. Not only will you be more comfortable indoors all year round, but you will likely save money by keeping your indoor temperature finely tuned.

Another great investment when you’re trying to create the most comfortable indoor environment is a zone control system. These products integrate with most home comfort systems and allow you to set different temperatures for different areas of your home at different times of day.

That way, you don’t have to heat your whole house to 70°F when you’re watching TV in your living room at night. Instead, you can simply turn up the heat in the area of the house you’re occupying and. This saves you both money on your heating bills and wear and tear on your furnace. Plus, it lets you keep areas like your kitchen cooler since you generate a lot of heat while you’re working in there.

The Air Your Breathe

Another factor that contributes greatly to your indoor comfort, whether you realize it or not, is your home’s indoor air quality. There are all types of pollutants that can find their way into your indoor air these days, and unless you have something in place to catch them, they can cause all types of problems for you and your family.

These pollutants trigger allergies and asthma or make the symptoms of these conditions worse. They also cause cold and flu symptoms to linger for longer, and some of the more noxious contaminants can make you sick all on their own. With this in mind, you’ll probably want to add an indoor air cleaner to your home comfort system as well.

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