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Plumbing:
Leaks
Gas Water Heaters
Cleaning Plumbing Fixtures
Outside Faucets
Toilets
Common Problems
Heating
& Cooling:
Thermostats
Registers & Grills
Heat Pump Maintenance
Gas Furnace Maintenance (with Air Conditioning)
Common Problems
Electrical:
"Hard
Wired" Smoke Detectors
Switched Receptacles
Circuit Breakers
Polished Brass Fixtures
Common Problems
Water
Conditioning:
Life
of a Water Heater
Water Softening Systems
Water Conditioning Systems
Reverse Osmosis System vs. Bottled
Water
Common Problems
Plumbing
Tips
Leaks:
To prevent minor leaks in pipes or fixtures from causing major water
damage, make yourself aware of area shut-off valves throughout your
home. Most new houses will have shut-off valves for each fixture,
and all homes have a main water shut-off valve. The main shut-off
is usually in the basement where the water line enters the house
from either the borough or your well. If a leak does occur, close
the appropriate shut-off valve to prevent further water damage,
and then call Haller Enterprises to schedule a service call.
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Gas
Water Heaters:
A clean and unobstructed vent is very important for a gas water
heater to operate safely. Keep obstructions (snow, leaves, etc.)
clear of the outside vent of a power vented water heater. If your
water heater has cycled off due to a power outage, breaker trip
or some other similar reason, first unplug the power vent and then
plug it back in again. The water heater should restart. If it does
not, call Haller Enterprises to schedule a service call.
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Cleaning
Plumbing Fixtures:
When cleaning tubs, whirlpools, sinks, faucets, etc, make sure to
use non-abrasive cleaners. Abrasive cleaners may scratch or crack
your new accessories. To prolong the shine of polished brass fixtures,
wipe off any excess moisture. When finished using your sink or tub/shower,
use a dry towel to wipe off the excess moisture. This, too, will
prolong the finish of the brass. Clean acrylic fixtures with multi-purpose
or glass cleaner, as foaming cleansers tend to damage the finish
and cause the fixtures to crack. If you are looking to replace old,
damaged faucets and fixtures, call Haller Enterprises to discover
what is available.
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Outside
Faucets:
During winter months, never leave a hose hooked up to an outside
faucet. A connected hose prevents proper drainage, causing the faucet
to freeze and split. New style outside faucets, connected to a hose,
may spray you if not turned off properly. With the hose still attached,
slowly turn the faucet handle off. Water will run out of the faucet
head until all the pressure has been released. The faucet sprays
to release excess water, thus making it frost proof.
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Toilets:
The federal government requires the installation of 1.6 gallon per
flush toilets in all new construction and remodel applications.
This saves water but also has caused toilets to become easily clogged.
Avoid dropping foreign objects into the toilet. Toys, pencils, rags,
diapers, even excessive amounts of toilet paper can clog your toilet.
If a clog does occur, the use of a plunger may resolve the problem.
If you face consistent clogs with your toilet and do not like using
a plunger, installing a power flush toilet (air pressure system)
may be a solution for you. Call Haller Enterprises to find out more
about this option.
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Common
Problems:
Q. I have no hot water!
A. If you have an electric water heater, push the reset button
on the thermostat. If it does not restart, call Haller Enterprises
to schedule a service call. If you have a power vented gas water
heater (a motor on top of the unit forces the vent gases out of
the house), unplug the motor, wait 15 seconds, then plug it back
in to reset the unit. (Some units may have a power switch. You will
need to turn the switch completely off, wait 15 seconds, then turn
it back on.) These two solutions are a temporary fix, and could
be due to a power surge or some similar scenario. If you have to
reset the water heater a second time within a one month period,
you may have a more serious problem and should call Haller Enterprises
to schedule a service call. If you have a B-vented gas water heater
(which relies on gravity to exhaust the vent gases out of the house)
and you have no hot water, the problem will require professional
attention. Call Haller Enterprises to schedule a service call.
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Q.
My garbage disposal won’t work!
A. You may have jammed the disposal, in which case it will shut
down. Try to remove any jammed items, then hit the reset button
located on the disposal and try to turn the disposal back on. If
you continue to have problems, call Haller Enterprises to schedule
a service call.
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Heating
& Cooling Tips
Thermostats:
During the heating and cooling seasons, find a temperature that
is comfortable (we recommend a range of 68-72 for the heating season
and 74-78 during the cooling season) and leave the thermostat set
there. Continually adjusting the thermostat will decrease the efficiency
of the heating and cooling system and therefore increase your energy
costs. Another way to lower energy costs is to purchase a programmable
thermostat. Setting the thermostat at a reduced temperature for
long periods of time (at least eight hours, such as while you are
at work) can significantly reduce your energy costs (up to 10%).
Call Haller Enterprises to find out more about adding a programmable
thermostat to your heating and cooling system.
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Registers
& Grills:
Make sure not to block heating and cooling registers and grills
with furniture, carpet or drapes. This will obstruct the air flow.
Do not close off grills completely. This will restrict air flow
through the system causing loss of efficiency. If your home is equipped
with "High/Low" return air registers (registers that are
located in line with each other, one close to the bottom of the
wall and the other close to the top of the wall), during the heating
season, open the bottom return air registers and close the top.
During cooling, close the bottom and open the top registers. During
the heating season cool air will be drawn off the floor and during
the cooling season warm air will be drawn from the ceiling. This
will allow for better air flow throughout your home and maximize
your system’s efficiency.
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Heat
Pump Maintenance:
For a heat pump we recommend a bi-annual "clean and check"
by a trained professional. Haller Enterprises, Inc. offers service
agreements for this purpose. The outside unit of a heat pump should
be clear from obstruction such as leaves, grass and shrubbery. Also,
during winter months make sure that snow is cleared away from the
outside unit. Checking the filters once a month and cleaning or
replacing them if necessary will greatly increase the efficiency
of your heat pump. During the winter months, customers often tell
us their outside unit is smoking and that the fan on the outdoor
unit is not running. This is a normal mechanical process of heat
pumps. The smoke is steam rising off the unit while it is running
in the defrost cycle. The defrost cycle heats up the outside coil
and removes ice from the unit (allowing it to run more efficiently)
and in the process will temporarily shut off power to the outdoor
fan.
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Gas
Furnace Maintenance:
With a furnace make sure that the furnace vent pipes stay clear
from obstruction (snow, leaves, etc) at all times. A clogged exhaust
vent will lock out the furnace and shut it down. This is a serious
situation and requires a service call immediately. By checking the
filters once a month and cleaning or replacing them if necessary,
you will avoid a potentially dangerous situation and greatly increase
the efficiency of your furnace. We recommend a bi-annual "clean
and check" by a trained professional. Haller Enterprises offers
such service agreements to ensure the safe operation of your gas
furnace.
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Common
Problems:
Q. My unit is iced over!
A. If your unit is frozen (air conditioner or heat pump),
you could have either a clogged air filter or the unit may be low
on refrigerant. Check and clean the unit’s filter, and if this
does not solve the problem, call Haller Enterprises to schedule
a service call. Our certified technicians will check the refrigerant
level and refill as needed.
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Q.
I have no cooling!
A. Is the unit running? If not, have you reset the breakers?
Sometimes a storm will cause them to shut down and resetting the
breakers is all that needs to be done. If the unit still does not
start, call Haller Enterprises to schedule a service call.
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Q.
My air conditioner is running but there is no air coming out!
A. Have you changed the filter recently? Clogged filters
will restrict airflow and sometimes even cause an air conditioner
to stop running. If the filters are clean and you still have no
air coming from your system, call Haller Enterprises to schedule
a service call.
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Q.
My air conditioner is turned off but the unit in the basement is
still running!
A. Have you checked the thermostat? Is the fan switch in
the on position or auto? If it is in the on position the fan will
continue to run. If you switch it to auto when the air conditioning
is off, the fan should stop running. The auto position brings on
the fan only when your thermostat calls for air conditioning.
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Q.
There is water leaking from my inside unit!
A. You may have a condensate leak, which means that water
may be backing up in your air conditioner or heat pump, or if you
have a 90% gas furnace, the water may not be draining away. The
drain line on your unit may be backed up and will need to be cleaned
for proper drainage. (Regular servicing of equipment generally prevents
this problem.) Call Haller Enterprises to schedule a service call
and consider a Service Agreement to avoid such problems in the future
and extend the life and efficiencies of your equipment.
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Electrical
Tips
Hard
Wired Smoke Detectors:
This type of smoke detector is tied into the wiring system in your
house and comes equipped with a 9 volt DC battery back-up. When
one detector is activated they all work together to signal a potential
fire hazard in your home. To test the smoke detector, firmly press
the push-to-test button for at least 5 seconds. The smoke alarm
should sound as well as all other smoke detectors throughout your
home. Batteries should be replaced once a year, or as needed. If
the battery grows weak, the detector will chirp about once per minute.
Cleaning dust from the detector once a month with a wand or soft
brush attachment on your vacuum will help prevent false alarms.
The difference between this type of detector versus a simple battery
powered detector is that hard wired detectors are interconnected
and will activate all detectors in your home.
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Switched
Receptacles:
Switched duplex receptacles are normally installed in bedrooms,
living rooms, family rooms and dens or offices. Half of the receptacle
will work with the switch, (you can plug a lamp into this outlet
and turn it on or off from the switch) the other half will not be
wired to the switch and will have power at all times.
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Circuit
Breakers:
If a circuit breaker should trip in your breaker panel, try to reset
it by turning it all the way off and then back on. The circuit breaker
must be turned completely off in order for it to reset.
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Polished
Brass Fixtures:
A light wax or auto wax, used once a year, can help to prevent tarnishing
of outside light fixtures that are polished brass.
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Common
Problems:
Q. My electrical outlet doesn't work!
A. If an electrical receptacle in your bathroom or kitchen
is not working, search for a reset button on that particular outlet,
or on outlets in that room, other bathrooms in the house, or other
receptacles that may come in contact with water. These type of outlets
are called GFCI (ground fault circuit interceptors) and will shut
off if water comes in contact with them and are often wired together
with similar outlets throughout the house. If an outlet in an upstairs
bathroom does not work, it could be because it is wired to a downstairs
bathroom and was triggered off by that receptacle coming in contact
with water. There may be just one reset button on one of the outlets
protecting several bathrooms. Also, if an electrical receptacle
is not working, you should check the breaker box and reset any switches
that are off. You must turn the switch completely off, then back
on to properly reset the breaker.
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Q.
My smoke detector keeps going off!
A. If your smoke detector begins to chirp or continually
sets off the alarm, first check the battery, as it most likely needs
to be replaced.
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Q.I
have no electric in one room!
A. If you have loss of power to a particular room in your
house, first check the breaker box and reset any switches that are
off. Remember, you must turn the switch completely off, then back
on to properly reset the breaker.
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Water
Conditioning Tips
Life
of a Water Heater:
One key to extending the life of your water heater is soft water.
Hard water will build up in the tank of a water heater and cause
it to corrode, reducing the life of your water heater. A visible
sign of this is spotting on your plumbing fixtures. If this is evident,
a water softener may be your solution. This will also extend the
life of your faucets and plumbing fixtures. Another option would
be to periodically drain 7-10 gallons of water from your water heater.
This helps to remove the calcium build up in the tank. Consider
a Haller Enterprises’ Service Agreement for your water heater
to help extend the life and efficiencies of your equipment.
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Water
Softening Systems
Occasionally check to be certain that you have enough salt in the
water softening tank. Addition of salt will depend on the amount
of water used in your house and the level of hardness.
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Water
Conditioning Systems
If you have a water filtering system and your water starts to taste
bad or is filled with sediment, it is probably time to change your
filter(s). It is recommended that filters be changed once a year.
Call Haller Enterprises to purchase your replacement filters.
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Reverse
Osmosis System vs. Bottled Water
Regulations by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for water
filtration devices are much more stringent than regulations for
actual bottled water. For better than bottled quality water, look
no further than under your sink.
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Common
Problems:
Q. My water tastes bad and looks strange!
A. If you have concerns about your water quality or taste,
call Haller Enterprises. Whether you have municipally treated or
well water, we can test your water for iron, pH level and hardness
and propose treatment options. An independent water testing lab
can check your well water for bacteria and nitrates. If you have
high levels of either, we can recommend solutions to treat these
problems. If you already have a water filtering system and your
water starts to taste bad or is filled with sediment, it is probably
time to change your filter(s). It is recommended that filters be
changed once a year. Call Haller Enterprises to purchase your replacement
filters.
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Q.
I don't get any soap lather with my water!
A. If your soap does not lather properly and you notice white
build up around plumbing fixtures and hard water stains in your
toilet, sinks or bathtub, you may have hard water. Water softening
equipment can eliminate the white build up on fixtures, prevent
hard water stains and extend the life of appliances and your water
heater. Whether you have municipally treated or well water, we can
test your water for hardness and propose a solution. If you already
have a water softening system and your water starts to get hard,
check to be certain that you have enough salt in the water softening
tank. The amount of salt will depend on the amount of water used
in your house and the level of hardness.
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