AllTech Services, Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Ashburn’

How NOT to Treat Your Plumbing

Monday, April 13th, 2020

pipe-with-blue-cloth-tied-on-itDid you know that the #1 plumbing problem plumbers get called for is drain clogs? Just about every homeowner, at some point, has dealt with a clogged up or slow-moving drain. Our professionals manage to unclog drains in homes all the time!

We know it’s tempting to reach for a bottle of store-bought, chemical drain cleaner when this happens. That’s the easiest and quickest solution after all, right? Well—let us give you a different perspective.

Chemical drain cleaners are caustic! Sure, this means they may eat away at your clog enough to restore water flow. But it will be temporary at best and will eat away at and corrode your plumbing at worst. This is exactly how not to treat your plumbing—and down below we’ve shared some other “don’ts” when it comes to how you’re treating those pipes.

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How to Choose the Right Plumber for the Job

Monday, March 16th, 2020

technician-with-tools-in-pocketLet’s face it, it is cheaper to hire a general handyman to repair a leak or unclog a drain right? Better yet, why can’t you just do it yourself?

We know like these both seem as though they’re appealing options, but you may actually end up regretting this choice. An ineffective or incomplete plumbing repair job can leave you calling a professional plumber anyway, and costing you more than you would have ultimately spent, to begin with.

Our professional plumbers have been on the job for years, and we’ve seen what can happen when homeowners choose to go for the deal rather than the tried and true professionals. However, when you are ready to hire a professional plumber, how do you know what traits to look for? How do you actually choose the right plumber for your repair or even an installation job?

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Why Ductless Heating Installation Requires a Pro

Monday, March 2nd, 2020

technician-installing-ductless-air-handlerIf you’ve come across this blog post and decided to read through it, there’s a good chance you’re looking to accomplish comfort and savings out of your HVAC system. A ductless heating (and cooling) system, is definitely a good choice, then!

This system’s setup is similar to that of a standard central air conditioner in that it involves an outdoor unit and refrigerant lines that transfer heat in order to bring cooling into your home. But wait, we’re talking about heating right?

That’s the difference with the ductless system, right there. The refrigerant process can be reversed to bring in effective heat! And of course, another thing that makes the setup different is that there isn’t one single indoor unit, rather there are up to 4 individual air handlers connected to one outdoor unit.

This is where the unique needs of a ductless system come in—unique needs you might not ever need to face so long as you have your ductless system professionally installed. Read on to learn more!

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“My Heater Is Making Funny Noises, What’s Up?”

Monday, February 3rd, 2020

woman-covering-her-earsThe last thing you need right now is for your heating system to fail on you, right? If it starts making unusual noises, however, it could be a warning sign of trouble brewing.

You likely know what noises to expect from your furnace or heater when it’s operating normally—the whoosh of air through the vents, the sound of the system cycling on and off, and even ductwork fluctuating due to the temperature changes. Anything outside of these sounds is at least cause for investigation.

Below, we’ve covered some of the most common “funny” noises you might hear, and what they mean. Read on!

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A Dirty Air Filter and Its Impact on Your Furnace

Monday, January 20th, 2020

man-holding-air-filterTelling our customers to replace their HVAC air filters every 1-3 months isn’t just a suggestion—we’re saying this because it’s the only way you’re going to get the most efficient and effective use out of that HVAC system. And considering how much we use our furnaces during these winter months, chances are you’d like to do whatever you can to avoid high heating bills or potentially even unexpected repair needs.

One way you can do this is by performing one small maintenance task—yes, there is one maintenance task you can do on your own—change your air filter! You might be surprised to find just how important this small component is. Many homeowners think it’s just there to protect their indoor air quality, but this is not its intended purpose. Read on to learn more!

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Call Us If Your Furnace Makes These Noises

Monday, December 9th, 2019

woman-covering-her-earsWith the holiday season approaching and the hustle and bustle that goes along with it, it’s really easy to ignore subtle noises coming from your furnace. But we really have to urge you to stop and listen. Are those noises anything beyond the normal sounds of the system starting up, ductwork fluctuating, or air rushing through the vents?

If you’re hearing sounds you never have before coming from your heating system, it means there is a problem. Strange or unfamiliar furnace noises should never be ignored—but are there certain noises you should be concerned about more than others? Any unusual noise is cause for concern, but the following are particularly ominous:

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Have You Tested Your Sump Pump This Season?

Monday, November 25th, 2019

sump-pump-systemWhen you think of winter, what comes to your mind? Colder weather may be one, but you also probably think of rain, storms, and even snowmelt. Winter is quite the season for us here, and weather events can lead to flooding dangers that can lead to significant damage to homes in our area, including yours. Of course, you can protect your home against flooding with one very important system—the sump pump.

If your home already has a sump pump, you’re in good shape! But, you need to check and make sure it’s actually ready to do its job if needed. Since your sump pump only comes on occasionally, during an emergency, it’s important to know if it’s ready to do its job at any giving moment. Keep reading as we help you give your sump pump a short inspection and a test. You’ll learn ahead of time if you need sump pump repairs, or even if you should start looking into an upgrade.

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Ductless System Facts You Need to Know

Monday, October 28th, 2019

ductless-system-air-handler-with-remotePerhaps you’ve already heard of the many benefits of ductless systems. How they are year-round systems that are highly efficient, saving energy and money. How the reverse flow of refrigerant allows them to be efficient air conditioners as well as very effective heaters, depending on the time of year.

There are many reasons to have a ductless system installed in your home. There are also quite a few reasons you should only ever trust a professional for that installation job. Keep reading to learn about what you should know about these systems—particularly, what type of unique repair needs that can crop up if the ductless system isn’t professionally installed.

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Winter Is Coming: How Will You Protect Your Pipes?

Monday, September 30th, 2019

pipe-with-iciclesOkay, so Fall just started—why are we already talking about winter? Well, because this subject is important, and the further ahead you can plan, the better! Once temperatures drop to a point where they can easily reach below freezing, your pipes are susceptible to problems. Sure, this doesn’t seem like a problem right now, but if you’re in the middle of January and all of the sudden find yourself with a plumbing disaster by way of a burst pipe, it would be unfortunate that you could have taken precautionary measures.

And that’s what are post is for today. To help you take measures to ensure that frozen and subsequently burst pipes won’t become a problem in your home. We’d like to warn you now so that it won’t even be a concern later when winter comes. So, what can you do to protect your pipes?

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Heed These Signs You Need Water Softener Services

Monday, June 10th, 2019

hand-opening-faucet-tapWe’ve talked in previous posts about the importance of good water treatment, and what hard water can do to your drains. Hard water, as a reminder, is water with high levels of minerals in it. These minerals include calcium, magnesium, and sometimes even iron—all of which are harmless to ingest (after all, we see them in multivitamins quite often!) but can do serious damage to your plumbing.

Unfortunately, these minerals create what’s called limescale, and this builds up within your plumbing pipes. It can not only create clogs, but because of its hardness, when it breaks off the lining of your pipe it can hurt the integrity of your plumbing, leading to eventual corrosion and leaks. So you know this—but do you know how to spot the signs of hard water? We’ve shared a few of the most common below.

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