The Myth of the “Small Leak” (No Such Thing!)

June 17th, 2019

Lpipe-copper-leakingeaks are what most people think of when they hear about “plumbing problems.” (Well, that and clogged drains.) Leaking faucets are wastes of water that often go without repairs for far too long. But the truly harmful leaks are pipe leaks that occur out of sight around a home, behind walls, in the ceilings, etc.

All pipe leaks need to have the professional attention of a plumber in Irvine, CA as soon as a homeowner starts to notice the signs of leaking—water spots on the walls, higher water bills, changes in water pressure, higher humidity indoors, mold and mildew growth. Because there is no such thing as a “small” leak that can be ignored. A leak may not be large and send out geysers of water that can be immediately seen, but it can still create significant damage.

Continue Reading

AC Not Off to a Good Start This Season? Let’s See Why

June 3rd, 2019

air-conditioner-evaporator-coilThe first serious week of warm weather for the middle of the year in Southern California is a good time to watch carefully the performance of your AC. If the air conditioner is starting off with poor performance that doesn’t keep your home cooled down the way it should, you want to have the proper AC repair in Orange County, CA done right away. You can trust our experienced team to handle whatever you need. And that job starts out with discovering why your AC isn’t keeping up the way it should.

Here are a few of the most common reasons we find an air conditioner isn’t up to its job:

Continue Reading

Is a Tankless Water Heater the Best of All Possible Water Heaters?

May 20th, 2019

tankless-water-heaterHomes in Orange County rarely need to worry about their heating systems. The weather is warm most of the year, with only an occasional cool stretch in the winter and scattered days of rain.

But there’s one heating system that does plenty of work and does it almost every day of the year: the household water heater.

The water heater accounts for a large amount of household energy use per year, and it’s an essential item for a home’s plumbing. This is why we urge people to make upgrades from older water heaters to newer ones (especially if the current water heater is more than twenty years old). A newer water heater can make significant changes in energy savings.

Continue Reading

Why Your AC Keeps Stopping and Starting

May 6th, 2019

ac-with-toolsAir conditioning systems get to work early in the year in Southern California. Unfortunately, that means they’re also likely to start showing signs of malfunctions earlier as well—extra time for the stress to set in.

The best way to help protect your air conditioning system is the have it professionally maintained before the hottest weather arrives. Even the best maintenance can’t stop all problems, and in this post we’re going to look at one of the major malfunctions you may run into that’ll require you call for air conditioning repair in Orange County, CA in early summer.

Continue Reading

Should I Put More Refrigerant in My AC Before Summer?

April 22nd, 2019

air-conditioning-manometer-pressure-refrigerantIn our last post, we wrote about why it’s important to schedule air conditioning maintenance service before the summer weather arrives. There are many potential AC malfunctions a maintenance inspection can catch, and one of these is noticing that the pressure of the refrigerant in the air conditioner has dropped. This usually means a leak a sprung somewhere, allowing refrigerant to escape. If this is the case, your technician can patch up the leak and put in the amount of refrigerant that was lost to restore pressure. You can trust our technicians with these services for your air conditioning in Orange County, CA.

But what about routine refrigerant replenishing? Is this something to have done before the summer, just to give the AC a bit of a boost?

Continue Reading

AC Maintenance Is Always Smart in April

April 8th, 2019

Daffodils_field

When is the best time for you to call up HVAC professionals to schedule air conditioning maintenance services? Choose one of the following:

  1. Any time before the summer weather arrives
  2. Any time during spring
  3. Any time as long as you don’t skip it for the year
  4. April

Although none of these answers is incorrect, (d) is the best answer, while (c) is the worst. Yes, you should have maintenance for your air conditioner each year, but it’s also best to have it done before the summer weather and during spring—and April is the best month of spring to have it done.

Continue Reading

The MVP Value Plans Help Your AC Each Year

March 25th, 2019

Maintenance-plans-logoAt Saddleback, we offer membership in our Member Value Program (MVP). We offer different program levels depending on your needs: a Plumbing Value Program, an HVAC program, and the ALL STAR Value Plan for Comprehensive Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing System Coverage. Of course, we recommend customers take advantage of the extensive ALL STAR Value Plan so they can have three major home maintenance services taken care of annually.

Right now it’s time to think about air conditioning maintenance in Orange County. There are few regular service jobs more important in our climate than ensuring cooling systems work at their best. Our hottest days are extreme, and even the milder summer weather puts a strain on central air conditioning in homes.

Continue Reading

Water Savings Tips As We Head Into Spring

March 11th, 2019

faucet-drippingWater usage usually goes up for a household during the spring because of gardening—you’ll likely notice an uptick in your water bills for the first months of the season. However, if you’ve been dealing with higher water bills than normal, or you think your current bills could be lowered, you can take steps to save water.

Some of these tips are basic, common sense ones. Others will require you call a plumber in Irvine, CA for repairs, replacements, or new installations.

Continue Reading

THUMP! Water Hammer Is Hitting Your Plumbing!

February 25th, 2019

woman-shocked-by-loud-noiseWater hammer—it’s an intimidating name. But it’s appropriate, because the sound that water hammer makes in your plumbing can be quite intimidating. It’s the sound of a shockwave going through the pipes, an alarming thump! noise as if someone took a hammer to the piping. Water hammer has sometimes made people believe ghosts were behind the activity. The reality is much less spooky, but it’s something that requires attention from plumbers.

Continue Reading

Corrosion vs. Your Water Heater: A Fearsome Tale

February 11th, 2019

rusty-home-water-heaterHow long can you expect the water heater in your home to last? The average lifespan for storage tank water heaters is around 20 years, although with the best possible care, they can last longer.

The biggest threat that can bring a water heater’s service life to an early end is corrosion. Corrosion is the enemy of any metal in contact with water, but a water heater is designed to resist corrosion for many years. We’re going to look at what corrosion can do to your water heater, how to prevent it, and what to do if it starts.

Continue Reading