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Helpful Plumbing Tips for Homeowners From a North Charleston Plumber

From dripping faucets to clogged drains, plumbing problems can quickly interrupt your day. While not every issue can be prevented, a few simple habits can help protect your home and plumbing system. Knowing when to handle a small task yourself—and when to call a North Charleston plumber—can also help you avoid more serious damage.


Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Is

Every homeowner should know where the main water shutoff valve is located. If a pipe bursts or a major leak develops, turning off the water quickly can reduce the amount of damage to your home.


The shutoff valve is often found where the main water line enters the home. Common locations include:

  • Inside the garage
  • In a utility or laundry room
  • Under the kitchen sink
  • In a basement or crawlspace
  • On an exterior wall near the front or side of the home
  • Near the water meter by the street or sidewalk


The exact location will depend on your home’s age and layout. Once you find the valve, make sure it turns properly and show everyone in your household where it is. You do not want to search for it while water is spreading across the floor and you are trying to contact an emergency plumber.


Do Not Ignore Small Leaks

A dripping faucet or a little moisture under the sink may not seem urgent, but small leaks can worsen over time. They can also damage cabinets, flooring, drywall, and other areas around your home.


Check underneath sinks regularly and watch for damp spots, musty smells, water around the base of your toilet, or unexplained increases in your water bill.
Professional leak detection and same-day plumbing repairs can help address the problem before it becomes more expensive.


Protect Your Drains

Be mindful of what goes down your sinks, toilets, and garbage disposal. Grease, coffee grounds, food scraps, wipes, paper towels, and hygiene products can contribute to plumbing blockages.


Using
drain strainers can help catch food, hair, and debris before they enter your pipes. If water continues to drain slowly, professional drain cleaning or clogged drain repair may be needed. Avoid repeatedly using chemical drain cleaners, which may provide only a temporary solution and could damage certain plumbing materials.


Pay Attention to Your Water Heater

Your water heater works quietly in the background, so it is easy to forget about until you no longer have hot water. Rust-colored water, unusual noises, inconsistent temperatures, or moisture around the unit can all signal a problem.


Annual maintenance may help remove sediment buildup and identify worn components. If you notice a change in your hot water, schedule water heater repair before the problem gets worse.


Choose a Plumber Before You Need One

Finding a plumber is easier when water is not actively leaking inside your home. When comparing plumbing services in North Charleston, look for a licensed and insured company with strong local reviews, clear communication, and experience with residential plumbing services.


Keeping the number of your preferred local plumber saved in your phone gives you one less thing to worry about when an unexpected problem happens.


If you need help with a leak, clogged drain, water heater, toilet, faucet, or another plumbing concern, Goose Creek Heating & Air + Plumbing is here for our North Charleston neighbors. Request an
appointment online or call (843) 863-0967 to schedule plumbing service.


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By Logan Eppley • October 12, 2020
Buying a new home is an exciting time with lots to do between the time you enter into a purchase agreement until your closing date arrives. The same can be said for selling your home too. Because buying and selling a home is likely to be one of the biggest financial decisions of your life, it’s important to make sure that everything is up to par by having a home inspection. In addition to having your entire home inspected, did you know that it’s also essential to have the home’s heating and air conditioning system inspected too? Why Should You Have a Separate HVAC Inspection? Every homebuyer and seller knows how important a home inspection is for alerting you of any existing or potential problems with the home you are purchasing or selling. But the average home inspection does not include a comprehensive HVAC inspection. Typically a home inspector will only turn on the HVAC equipment to make sure they work but that’s the extent of their “inspection”. Unfortunately, this is not enough to ensure you get a detailed picture of the HVAC systems overall condition. When it comes to home inspections, problems with the heating and air conditioning systems are often missed. Even though the furnace and air conditioner appear to be in good working condition, there could be underlying problems that only professional HVAC technicians could catch during thorough heating and air conditioning inspection. Keep Your Heating and Cooling Costs in Check A proper HVAC inspection will let you know whether or not the home’s HVAC system is in good working order or if something is wrong. A heating and cooling system that is not in good working order can mean higher energy bills to keep your home warm or cool. Not only will your comfort be affected, but your energy usage will be increase with a wonky HVAC system. You will want to make sure that everything is working properly by having it checked out by an HVAC professional.  Replacing a HVAC System Can Be Costly When purchasing or selling a home, there are plenty of expensive that arise. The last thing you need or want is an unexpected and unpleasant surprise of having to replace a furnace or air conditioner. These major appliances can cost thousands of dollars to replace which is why you want to ensure they are working properly before purchasing or selling your home. HVAC Inspections are Worth It In comparison, the cost of a heating and air conditioning inspection is much less expensive than replacing or having major repairs made to your heating or cooling unit. Spending the necessary money on a HVAC inspection is well worth it as it can prevent you from purchasing or selling a home with heating and cooling problems! If you’re looking to buy or sell your home, protect yourself from a bad investment or losing an opportunity to sell your home with a professional HVAC inspection. Contact the experts at Goose Creek Heating & Air to schedule a complete inspection or your prospective home’s heating and cooling system before finalizing any purchase.
By Logan Eppley • September 16, 2020
Did you know that the majority of the heating and air conditioning system problems that we encounter here at Goose Creek Heating & Air are typically because of dirty air filters? This is unfortunate because changing out your dirty air filters is an extremely easy and do it yourself task. Most Charleston, SC homeowners don’t realize just how damaging a dirty air filter can be. Continue reading below to learn more about just how damaging a dirty air filter can be for your Charleston, SC heating and air conditioning system. Decreased Comfort Dirty air filters are clogged air filters and when your air filters are clogged, they are essentially suffocating your heating and cooling system. A dirty air filter is almost like trying to breath with your hand clamped over your mouth and nose. Your HVAC system works the same way with a dirty air filter. The layer of built up dirt and dust restricts the amount of air that your heating and cooling system can “breathe in” and “breathe out”. That means your home comfort will inevitably suffer because your HVAC system has to work even harder to heat and cool your home. HVAC System Issues & Potential Breakdowns Like we mentioned above, clogged air filters make it harder for your HVAC system to work properly. The amount of strain caused by a dirty air filter means that your systems’ motors are working harder than needed. This adds unnecessary stress and wear and tear to your system which can lead to an earlier breakdown or a costly repair. Increased Energy Bills With your HVAC system working harder than necessary to heat and cool your Charleston, SC home, your energy usage will simultaneously increase. This results in higher than normal utility bills. A clogged filter can even lead to a 15% increase in energy usage! That’s a lot of money going down the drain from ignoring your air filters. Poor Indoor Air Quality Finally, a clogged air filter means you will see a decrease in your Charleston, SC home indoor air quality. Your air filters are designed to trap and catch pollutants, such as pollen, dust, dirt, dander, etc., from circulating throughout the air in your home. When they are dirty, they can no longer catch these contaminants which means they will now going straight to the air in your home. This has a negative impact on your indoor air quality. Poor indoor air quality can lead to chronic allergies and it can be dangerous for those with asthma and other preexisting respiratory problems. Did reading the above problems scare you? Don’t worry, you can easily prevent these painful problems. Because every Charleston, SC home environment is unique, we recommend checking on your air filters once a month and then assessing whether or not you should change it. If you have further questions about your air filters or your heating and air conditioning system in general, give Goose Creek Heating & Air a call today!
By Logan Eppley • August 13, 2020
Many things in life are necessities. Putting gas in your car, getting an oil change, buying groceries, etc. But have you ever thought about what is necessary for your heating and air conditioning system? If you’re a homeowner and have worked with a HVAC contractor here in the greater Charleston, SC area, chances are you’ve probably heard that it’s a good idea to get your air conditioner tuned up every year. And chances are you’ve probably said to yourself, “But my AC system is fine?” Then comes the question of, it AC maintenance absolutely necessary and the answer is no, it is not a necessity. However, if you want an air conditioner that functions properly and effectively and last a long time while costing you very little to own and operate then yes, regular AC maintenance is necessary. Below we will talk about some of the major reasons why regular air conditioning maintenance is worth the investment for you, your family, and your greater Charleston, SC area home. Regular Maintenance is Usually Cheaper than a Repair We can’t guarantee that your AC unit will break down if you skip your regular/annual maintenance tune up. However we can guarantee that if your air conditioner does in fact breakdown, the repair cost will cost more than your regular maintenance appointment would have. Regular maintenance can’t stop all air conditioning problems from happening in your Charleston, SC home but we’ve found that the majority of AC problems could have been prevented by annual maintenance. A Well-Maintained AC Unit Lasts Longer than One that isn’t It’s no secret that regular air conditioning maintenance leads to fewer repairs and a longer lifespan. With that being said, the reverse is also true – neglecting regular AC maintenance can reduce your AC unit’s lifespan. AC maintenance and car maintenance are very similar. If you never get an oil change or buy new tires, your car will eventually breakdown or your tires will burst. The same concept happens with your air conditioner. Keeping your Charleston, South Carolina air conditioner well maintained will help make it last as long as possible. Regular Maintenance Can Increase AC Efficiency and Lower Energy Usage Did you know that every year you skip air conditioning maintenance, your AC unit’s efficiency can decrease by up to 5%? That is insane! This is because dust and debris build up and collects on your coils. Your motor parts need lubrication to keep operating a high efficiency. Your condensate drain needs to be checked for any clogs, and so much more! Regular AC maintenance for your Charleston, SC air conditioner can improve your overall AC efficiency which will in turn, lower your energy usage and your energy bills! You’ll Gain Peace of Mind & Improve Your Home Comfort Finally, you’ll gain peace of mind that your air conditioner is working as efficiently and effectively as possible during the hot and humid summer months here in the greater Charleston, South Carolina area. There is no better feeling than knowing that you’re doing everything you can to keep you, your family, and your home’s comfort as optimal as possible. If you’re in the greater Goose Creek, SC & Charleston, SC area and are in need of air conditioning services to keep you cool, give Goose Creek Heating & Air a call today!
By Logan Eppley • July 7, 2020
Your air conditioner, much like your car, is not indestructible and will eventually need to be replaced. We know that is not something most Charleston, South Carolina homeowners want to hear but it is the truth. What’s even harder than facing the fact that your air conditioner will need to eventually be replaced is trying to figure out when your AC unit needs to actually be replaced. Knowing when your air conditioning system is due for a replacement and what kind of options you have for your next system is essential in maintaining your home comfort. But don’t worry, the Goose Creek Heating & Air team is here to help! We’ve listed the biggest indicators that you should look out for to figure out if and when you need to plan for an air conditioner replacement for your Charleston, South Carolina home. Your Air Conditioner is Old Your AC unit age matters. In fact, the age of your air conditioning system is probably the most important factor to consider when thinking about whether to repair or replace. A properly cared for and well maintained air conditioner operating here in Charleston, South Carolina can last around 10 to 15 years. If your AC unit is nearing the end of its life and isn’t bringing your home the cool comfort you want, it might be time to go ahead and replace it. Repairs are Frequent & Costly Another tell-tale sign that your air conditioner could use a replacement is if you are having to call in your local HVAC professionals consistently in order for them to repair your AC unit. Also, if your repairs are getting more and more expensive, that’s another sign that your air conditioner needs to be replaced. If your constant repairs aren’t doing the trick, you could end up saving more money in the long run by biting the bullet and purchasing a replacement immediately. Your Home is No Longer Comfortable Finally, if your home is no longer comfortable – no matter what you do, it could be time to replace your air conditioner. Your air conditioner’s sole purpose is to cool your home and if it cannot perform, something is wrong. When your AC system stops doing its job, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your Charleston, SC HVAC contractor. If you are in need of a heating and cooling company you can trust in, give Goose Creek Heating & Air a call today! We are always ready to provide the greater Charleston, South Carolina area with the best HVAC services around.