JD's Prompt Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning

How to Set Your Air Conditioner Up for Success

March 21st, 2022

Spring is here! Soon enough, temperatures will be at a point where we’re using our air conditioners on a consistent basis. Is yours ready to work as powerfully and efficiently as possible this year?

If you haven’t scheduled professional maintenance in at least a year, then then you can’t really confidently answer this question. Professional maintenance is the best way to set your air conditioning system up for success!

During this service, our technicians thoroughly inspect, clean, and adjust the components that need it. All of this serves to reduce repair needs, lengthen the service life of your system, and boost efficiency. Read on to learn more!

The Role of an Anode Rod in Your Water Heater

March 7th, 2022

If we were to ask you what the most important appliance in your home was, what would your answer be? Many homeowners would respond with “water heater.” After all, this is the true workhorse of any home, being used all year long to provide households with the hot water that they need to shower, do the laundry, wash dishes, and so much more. If you’re using a tank water heater, then you depend very much on a particular component that you may have never heard of until now–the anode rod.

While “anode rod” isn’t exactly a household name, it really is important in any home that has a tank water heater. This component provides an essential function in order to protect the tank water heater from harm. It doesn’t last forever though, so it’s important that you know for sure the condition that yours is in.

How to Boost Furnace Efficiency

February 21st, 2022

Most winters, we don’t use our furnaces for a very long time around here, right? But when we do need them, boy do we need them!

This means they need to work as efficiently and effectively as possible. Also, given how much you use your air conditioner each year and how much that costs, it makes sense that you would like to save as much money as possible on your energy bills during the cooler months.

And maybe you think that the only way to make your furnace use more efficient is to not use it at all. But this is simply not the case, plus it doesn’t do much for your home comfort, right?!

Read on as we uncover some simple ways you can boost furnace efficiency without shutting it off altogether.

Have You Scheduled This Important Heating Service Yet?

February 7th, 2022

Do you know when the best time of year is to schedule furnace maintenance? Many HVAC technicians, including the ones on our staff, will tell you that it’s fall. So, since it’s now winter, does it matter that you haven’t had maintenance done yet–is it too late?

Nope, it’s not too late! Actually, what’s much more important than the timing of your heating maintenance is the consistency of this service. We recommend fall because this is when HVAC pros are less busy with emergency service calls and therefore you’ll find it more convenient to schedule maintenance during this time. But it’s actually most important that you have maintenance done once a year.

On that note, if you have a heat pump system instead of a furnace, you’ll want maintenance done twice a year. But for now, we’re going to talk about why furnace tune-ups are so vital to your comfort, home performance, and efficiency.

Heed These Signs That You Need Furnace Repair

January 24th, 2022

The last thing you want to do this winter is sit around wondering if your heater is going to break down at any moment. The good news is, unless you have never had your system professionally tuned up and don’t know any of the signs that your furnace is in disrepair, this likely won’t ever happen.

Oh, what’s that? You don’t know what signs to look out for? That’s okay, that’s what we’re here for!

We want to start by saying that T-word again–tune-up. Also called maintenance, this service is the best way to defend your system against heavy repair needs. Whether you’re utilizing an electric furnace or a gas-powered one, you should have professional maintenance done annually. This helps the furnace function as effectively and efficiently as possible for as long as possible. Plus, maintenance can help you avoid up to 85% of the repairs that a furnace might ever need!

Of course, there’s still that 15%–at some point your furnace will need repair, and so without further ado, here are some signs that it’s time for you to call us for just that:

Is It Time to Have a New Heater Installed?

January 10th, 2022

If your furnace looks anything like the accompanying picture, then, yes, yes it is time for you to replace your furnace. This system doesn’t just look outdated, it is outdated. Continuing to use a system that is decades past its useful lifespan is not going to operate efficiently, or safely.

Useful is the keyword here–you’ll often hear an HVAC professional say that furnaces last about 10-15 years. Of course, if yours is older than this and is still running, that can be hard to believe. Is that professional just out to make money?

No, not at all! What we mean when we talk about lifespan is how long a furnace can last, operating efficiently, powerfully, and safely!

So read on as we uncover some signs that it’s time to go ahead and upgrade that heater of yours.

Prevent Heating Repairs with This Important Service

December 27th, 2021

Heaters work hard to keep you warm and cozy. However, they’re one of those things we sometimes take for granted and always expect to have with the flip of a switch. It’s not until it doesn’t work properly that some people think to have it checked out.

With the coldest months approaching, it’s best to service your heater to ensure everything is running smoothly. Annual maintenance is recommended for all heating systems. Here are some of the key benefits:

Here’s Why All Water Heaters Need Maintenance

December 13th, 2021

tankless-water-heater-mounted-on-green-tiled-wall

Do you have a tank water heater in place? If so, then its main feature is a storage tank that holds gallons of water that gets heated up by a heat exchanger within the system. It has a component called an anode rod that absorbs rust and corrosion so that the rest of the system does not, and this anode rod must be checked on during each annual maintenance session.

But tank water heaters aren’t the only type of water heater that needs maintenance! Even if you have a tankless system in place, that needs a tune-up too. True, it doesn’t have standing water in it, but it can suffer from some of the same problems that a tank system can–like scaling. Wondering what scaling is? Read on to find out!

Common Causes for a Clogged Drain

November 15th, 2021

plumber-hand-putting-drain-snake-down-sink

In our previous blog post, we talked about how to protect your kitchen plumbing during the holiday season, citing FOG (fats, oils, and grease) as one of the leading causes of kitchen sink drain clogs.

This is true, but this isn’t the only type of drain clog you’ll ever need to worry about. The truth is, your plumbing system can suffer from a variety of different types of drain clogs, all of them varying in severity.

Read on as we uncover some of the most common causes for a clogged drain and what to do–and not to do–about them.

Don’t Be Haunted by this Common Plumbing Problem: Water Hammer

October 18th, 2021

When plumbing pipes start knocking behind your walls this season, but you don’t know that it’s your pipes making the noise, you might start to wonder if ghosts are real and if they are haunting your living space.

This is probably not the case! A more realistic culprit is something known as water hammer. This sounds mysterious, and truth be told of all the plumbing problems that can occur in your home, this is one of the most benign. But that doesn’t mean it should be ignored or that you should delay doing something about it.

If left unaddressed, water hammer can eventually cause your pipes to leak, and then you’re looking at potential water damage, not to mention water waste. Read on as we uncover what you should do if you’re being impacted by water hammer.