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Think Before You Flush

Most people don’t think twice about what they’re flushing down the toilet. But some things should never be flushed. What you flush down the toilet can significantly impact your plumbing. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the items that should NEVER be flushed down the toilet – and why. Avoid plumbing problems and expensive repairs by following these simple tips!

Here are just a few items that should stay out of your toilet:

1. Disposable diapers:

Disposable diapers are one of the most common items found in sewer blockages. They’re bulky and absorbent, so they can easily clog pipes. In addition, diapers often contain harmful bacteria that can spread disease.

2. Feminine hygiene products:

Feminine hygiene products, like tampons and pads, are another common cause of plumbing problems. They’re often made of plastic or other materials that don’t break down easily and can absorb large amounts of water.

3. “Flushable” wipes and baby wipes:

Just because a product is labeled “flushable” doesn’t mean it’s safe to flush. These wipes don’t break down like toilet paper, so they can cause clogs. Baby wipes may be safe for your baby’s bottom, but they’re not safe for your toilet. Like “flushable” wipes, they can cause clogs.

4. Contact lenses:

Flushing used contact lenses down the toilet contributes to creating microplastics, a major cause of environmental concern. Contacts break down over time into tiny microplastics, which contribute to microplastic pollution in the water supply, eventually making their way into the food chain.

5. Paper towels and napkins:

Paper towels and napkins are made from different materials than toilet paper, so they don’t break down as easily. They can cause clogs and may even contaminate the water supply.

6. Cigarette butts:

Cigarette butts may be small but can cause big problems. They’re made of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that doesn’t break down easily. Plus, cigarette filters are designed to absorb toxins, so flushing them can contaminate your water supply.

7. Food waste:

Food waste doesn’t belong in your toilet either. It can cause clogs and may even attract pests. It can also release harmful bacteria into the water supply.

8. Grease and cooking oil:

Grease and oil harden as they cool, and that can cause serious clogs. Never pour them down the drain or flush them down the toilet.

9. Expired medications:

Flushing expired medications down the toilet may seem like a safe way to dispose of them, but it’s quite dangerous. These drugs can end up in the water supply, where they can contaminate it.

10. Pet waste and cat litter:

Pet waste should never be flushed down the toilet. It can cause clogs and may even contain harmful bacteria. Cat litter is not biodegradable and doesn’t break down in the water, meaning it can clog your pipes and cause serious plumbing problems. And if the cat litter makes it to a sewage treatment plant, it can damage equipment and pollute waterways.

So what CAN you flush? Toilet paper, of course! Only flush toilet paper down the toilet to protect plumbing from clogs. Everything else should go in the trash. This includes paper towels, flushable wipes, feminine hygiene products, and anything else that isn’t specifically designed to be flushed.

Even some “flushable” products can cause problems, so it’s always best to err on the side of caution. And if you have any doubts about whether something is safe to flush, just remember: when in doubt, throw it out! Your plumbing will thank you!

About Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning

Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning has been committed to serving the community of Sun Prairie, WI, and the surrounding areas since 1984. They provide honest advice, membership plans, and 24-hour emergency response. Call them today for plumbing services in Sun Prairie, WI.

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How a Whole House Surge Protector Shields the Home

Most people think of a power surge as coming from a lightning strike. And while this can be the cause, it’s not what homeowners should be worried about. Power surges often come through the power lines and travel through the house, destroying electronics as they go. The causes can range from a downed power line, fluctuating electrical demand on the local grid, faulty or old wiring, and even the cycling of appliances inside the house. These causes, plus the cost of not having surge protection for the whole house, are why one should prepare every home with a whole-home surge protector.

What Power Surges Can Do

Power surges can wreak havoc on a home’s electronics. And in an age where homes seem to accumulate more gadgets every year, the cost of not having protection increases all the time. A strong enough power surge can travel through the house faster than a heartbeat, frying all the expensive appliances plugged into the walls. This includes refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, computers, televisions, gaming systems, and even the HVAC system.

Not only do homeowners need to consider the cost of replacing all those appliances, but also the cost of losing things that aren’t replaceable. Things like family photos, business records, videos, or anything else stored on local computers can be gone instantly. While cloud storage can help, many homeowners underestimate how much information they have stored on the hard drive of their computers.

Whole House Surge Protector Benefits

Luckily, installing a whole house surge protector can prevent a power surge from wreaking havoc on the home’s electronics. These surge protectors are wired directly into the home’s electrical system, acting as a filter that keeps the surge from moving through the house. Doing this protects the sensitive circuitry in the home’s appliances.

Whole house surge protectors can also guard against surges inside the home. These are short transient surges caused when home appliances like HVAC systems turn on and off. These kinds of surges won’t cause damage immediately, but they can cause premature wear on electrical devices, causing them to need replacing sooner than they otherwise would.

Signs an Old Surge Protector Needs Replacing

Whole-house surge protectors aren’t expensive and are easily installed by a professional electrical technician. With this in mind, homeowners should replace their whole home surge protector every two to five years to stay protected. Given the low cost of these protectors, whole home surge protector replacement is a small investment compared to replacing all the appliances.

However, one should sometimes replace an old surge protector earlier than the two-to-five-year window. If there have been recent power surges or outages in the area, replacing the whole house surge protector is a good idea. Likewise, if the house has been struck by lightning or there has been significant construction in the area. Those who aren’t sure whether they need whole home surge protection repair should call a local electrician to discuss their options!

About Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning

Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning has served Sun Prairie, WI, for almost four decades. They provide one-day installation and 24-hour emergency service. Their technicians are clean, courteous, and undergo rigorous background checks. Contact them today for whole house surge protector installation in Sun Prairie, WI!

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A common misconception with air conditioners is that the coolant gets used up and eventually needs to be replaced over time. However, unless there is a leak, the amount of refrigerant circulating through the system stays the same. The refrigerant in an air conditioner is crucial to carry out heat exchange. It shifts between liquid and a gaseous state to absorb heat from inside the home and then release it outdoors. It never dissipates during this process, remaining at the same amount throughout the closed-loop system.

In this article, you’ll learn more about refrigerants within an air conditioner, some common problems people run into, and how to remedy those problems.

What are some signs of an air conditioner leak?

Refrigerant is a key component to making an air conditioner work properly during the hot summer months when you want cold air the most. If you’ve ever found yourself asking any of the following questions, you might want to contact your HVAC professional to take a closer look at your system.

Why isn’t my air conditioner distributing cold air?

If your air conditioner isn’t distributing cold air, check the vents in several different rooms to see if they are blowing cold air. This is often the most obvious and easiest way to detect if you have a possible refrigerant leak. If the air is warm or just mildly cooled, this could be a sign you have a refrigerant leak.

Why is my electric bill so high?

A skyrocketing electric bill could indicate that you have a refrigerant leak. When a cooling system loses refrigerant, it causes the air conditioner to work harder. Therefore the electric bill is going to be considerably higher. Sure, everyone expects the electric bill to go up when the air conditioner is running in the summer. But if your bill is significantly higher than what you were paying last year at the same time, there is probably something not functioning properly. It could be something as simple as changing the filters or something more pressing like a refrigerant leak.

Why is my air conditioner’s cooling cycle lasting forever?

If you’re finding the air conditioning unit’s cycle seems to last forever, there is a possibility of your AC unit leaking refrigerant. When there is a leak, the air conditioner needs to run for longer periods to do the same job. This increases the amount of energy your system uses to produce cold air. A harder working air conditioner is not a good thing for the owner.

What is that hissing/gurgling noise?

You might have a leak if you’re standing by your air conditioner unit and hear a hissing or gurgling noise. An air conditioner refrigerant leak is caused by holes or cracks in the coils that circulate the refrigerant. Even though several problems could cause this, a leak is definitely among them. If the system has a larger leak, it can result in a gurgling noise.

Why is there ice on the evaporator coils?

If the refrigerant levels flowing through the evaporator coils are insufficient, it won’t draw heat properly, resulting in condensation forming outside the coils and freezing. This could result in costly repairs.

Should I replace or fix my leaking AC?

This is a question that has plagued homeowners for decades. The first thing to consider is the age of your system. In 2010 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the sale of air conditioners using R22 Freon. If you have a system manufactured before 2010, there is a good chance it is filled with the R22 refrigerant. Don’t worry. This doesn’t mean that the unit needs to be replaced. However, it does mean that if it has a refrigerant leak, it might be worth considering replacing the unit instead of repairing it. For starters, R22 Freon can no longer be manufactured in the U.S., so the supply is dwindling and becoming more expensive to acquire. Not only is the price skyrocketing, but the unit is also starting to get up there in age, being manufactured before 2010, and will most likely have more issues soon. Air conditioning units have come a long way since 2010, so replacing your old system with a new high-efficiency unit will most likely save money in the long run. Also, repairing a leak can run up to $2,000 dollars depending on where the leak is and if an entire component needs to be replaced, which is an expense you might want to spend on replacement instead of repair.

How do HVAC professionals find leaks in my system?

A professional will utilize several different ways to detect a refrigerant leak in your HVAC system. The first and most common way to test for a refrigerant leak is to use an electronic leak detector. This is one of the most popular methods due to the high degree of accuracy that well-calibrated devices deliver.

The second way is to introduce a specially formulated dye into your closed-loop system. After giving the dye approximately two weeks to work its way throughout the system, the technician can then see where the leaks are coming from using ultraviolet light.

Lastly, there is nitrogen leak detection. The technician will remove all the refrigerant from the air conditioner and introduce nitrogen gas to the lines in this test. Since nitrogen gas is under higher pressure, it will make an audible hissing noise if any leaks are present.

Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning

Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning is a full-service contractor that provides services from HVAC and air quality to electrical and plumbing. Having been in business for over 38 years, their team of experts offers top-notch solutions, 24-hour emergency response, and absolute professionalism for every one of their customers. If your air conditioner isn’t keeping you cool, let the experts at Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning take a look at it.