Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing Blog

Did you know August is Water Quality Month? We often take water for granted. It simply comes out of our faucets or hose, but there are a few steps we can take to ensure good quality water in our neighborhoods.

1. Pick up after your pet. You may think is no big deal, but pet waste becomes part of the runoff that enters our streams and rivers. Better safe than sorry and just pick it up.

2. Watch what you put on your grass. Fertilizers and pesticides can be harmful to our water systems. Look for natural treatments for your yard.

3. Wash your car and other things outside sparingly. You probably didn't realize all the soap and suds can harm your drinking water. You can also use a car wash that has special drains.

4. Be careful about what you put down the drain. Harmful things like motor oil and household cleaners can be a problem.

If you are having any water issues with your plumbing, give the G-Man a call! 

With the summer heat in Richmond, VA you may be thinking about investing in a programmable thermostat. There are some great benefits, including:

1. Saving Money. This is the top reason most homeowners choose to make the switch. 

2. Comfort. Keeping your thermostat at the consistent temperature you want will keep your house comfortable all summer.

3. Time Saver. Not having to get up and change your thermostat is a great time saver. 

4. Less Worry. You won't need to worry about your home's temperature with a programmable thermostat.

With the rising cost of running air conditioning units and your busy schedule, a programmable thermostat could be a great improvement to your home. There are a ton of great options out there. If you need help choosing, give the G-Men at Gilman a call today!

It's no secret that the summer heat in Richmond is hot! With temperatures already in the 90s, the G-Man is sharing the top tips to survive this summer!

1. Start outside. Landscaping your yard to provide shading on your house helps your air conditioning. A shaded home is a cooler home, which means your air conditioning unit has to do less work.

2. Give your air conditioning a boost with ceiling fans. Make sure you have your fans set on the summer setting and keep them on throughout the day.

3. Seal up all the cracks in windows and doors. You don't need to cool down the outside. Keep all that lovely air conditioning inside for your family. 

4. Keep your filters clean. A dirty filter is a less efficient filter, which makes your air conditioning work harder. Making your air conditioning work more efficiently will always keep your home cooler.  

5. Call a professional. If your air conditioning is not performing at it's best, give us a call. We can perform a maintenance check and get you cooled down.

Additional tip: cold ice cream always helps you cool down!

We often think of cold weather being the only cause of plumbing problems. Frozen pipes are certainly a common plumbing issue, but the summer heat also creates some hazards. The G-Man shares a few tips on keeping your plumbing in tip-top shape as the temperatures rise.

1. Be careful with your garbage disposal. As we gear up for outdoor parties and grilling, we tend to put our garbage disposal to work a little bit more. Oils can quickly clog up the disposal. Anything you used oil on for the grill should go straight to the garbage can, not the disposal. Running water through the disposal before and after each use will help keep your pipes clean as well.

2. Dry ground can cause scorched pipes. Believe it or not, if your dirt has dried out where your pipes are located underground, that can make them more susceptible to UV rays which can cause damage. Make sure you are regularly watering your yard. Not only will your grass look great, but your pipes will stay protected.

3. Summer storms can be hazardous to your sewer lines. With these warmer temperatures often come afternoon storms. They come in quick and bring with them lots of rainfall. This rain can seep into the sewer lines tiny cracks and create some big issues. This is harder to detect. The best solution is to schedule regular inspections.

We hope you have an awesome summer without any plumbing issues!

You may think a dripping faucet is not really a big deal, or a small leaky pipe won't cause a problem. But, you are wrong. Just because a plumbing problem looks small, does not mean it cannot create massive damage.

Here are 4 reasons small leaks can become big problems:

1. Mold. Mold is one of those issues that you cannot see right away. It has a slow and steady growth, but once it's there, it is tough to remove. Little pipe leaks can cause massive mold issues.

2. Pests. Bugs and other creatures love moisture. By allowing that faucet to keep leaking, your drain stays wet. That creates a perfect breeding ground for insects. Not something you want in your home.

3. Ceiling and Wall Damage. Water can damage your ceilings and walls. Once the water starts to get into these spaces it can cause dark spots that left, untreated, will break and tear open leaving ceilings and walls exposed. Leaving the water to sit in these spaces can leave stains in these areas as well.

4. Electrical Risk. Everyone knows water and electricity do not mix. If small leaks continue in your home, you risk them reaching any number of electrical outlets or sources in your home. This is a dangerous situation for you and your family.

If you are worried about your plumbing, give us a call today (804) 329-1800, or visit our plumbing page.