Category: Resources

The Holidays are Here Again – Keep Your Plumbing Running Smoothly.

Posted on by Boelcke Heating & AC

The holidays are that wonderful time of year when family and friends gather in your home for food, festivities, and fun. While this season is for special times with those you love, it can also be the time of year when your home’s plumbing system has to work extra hard to keep up with the demands of a full house.

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Stevensville: (269) 429-9261
Coloma: (269) 468-4321
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Nobody wants to think about experiencing a plumbing issue in the midst of a celebration. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to keep your plumbing running smoothly. In this article, we’ll talk about five steps you can take to steer clear of plumbing issues during the holiday season, and how Boelcke can help if there’s a problem. Keep reading to learn more!

6 Tips to Keep Your Plumbing Problem-Free this Holiday Season

  1. Know what to throw away. In the midst of a busy holiday meal, it can be tempting to scrape plates into the sink. However, this can lead to buildup in your drains, which inevitably can cause your sink’s plumbing to clog. Make sure your sink strainers are in place, and scape plates and serving dishes into the garbage.
  2. Keep your garbage disposal clear. There are certain foods that you should avoid putting down your garbage disposal. Bones, eggshells, fat, grease, and string vegetables like celery and squash should not go in your disposal. They can clog your unit, or cause issues with the blades and motor.
  3. Avoid toilet clogs and overflows. You know what’s safe to flush down your toilet, but your guests might not. As a rule of thumb, items like baby wipes and diapers, personal products, cotton balls, swabs, pads, and cigarette butts should never be flushed down the toilet. Clogs can happen, though, so it’s always a good idea to have a plunger nearby.
  4. Properly dispose of grease. Grease is the word when it comes to common drain problems. Dumping grease down the drain is never a good idea, as it can solidify and cause a clog. Not to mention, grease attracts anything else that might slip down your drain, such as food particles and hair, causing a large clump in your drain pipes. Pour grease into a can that can be disposed of when it cools, or wait for grease in pans to solidify and scrape it into the trash.
  5. Give your drains some extra TLC. Because your sinks and tubs will likely be working overtime this holiday season, you can help keep your drains in good condition with some common household items. Baking soda and vinegar can help keep drains running freely. Start by running hot water down the drain. Next, pour a solution of 1 cup of baking soda, one cup of water, and one cup of vinegar into the drain. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes, and flush with hot water.
  6. Keep the hot water flowing. When you have guests staying over during the holidays, and you’re working hard to prepare those fantastic holiday dinners, your hot water heater is working overtime, too. It’s good practice to have a professional plumbing service, like Boelcke, inspect your hot water heater annually to make sure it’s functioning properly. And, if your hot water heater is more than 10 years old, it’s time to consider replacing it.

Can Boelcke help me if I have a holiday plumbing problem?

Despite your best efforts, you could run into a plumbing issue that needs professional attention. That’s where Boelcke comes in. We provide a complete range of plumbing services, so no matter what your concern may be, we can help get your toilets, sinks, and drains back in working order promptly and professionally.

We can even help you get ahead of the game by inspecting your plumbing and fixing any problems that might be a cause for concern once your holiday guests arrive. Just give us a call at (269) 429-9261. We’ll tell you about the different bathroom plumbing products and services we offer, and help you find the solution that best suits your needs.

Annual Heating Maintenance is Important – Here’s Why.

Posted on by Boelcke Heating & AC

cozy fall window with leaves, pumpkin, and candleAutumn has arrived, and while it’s definitely one of the most beautiful times of the year in Michigan, it also means that cooler temperatures will arrive sooner rather than later. Most homeowners use this time of year to take care of any household maintenance and repairs that need to be done before the winter arrives, such as cleaning out the gutters and sealing any drafty areas around doors or windows.

For more information
Call or Click:
Stevensville: (269) 429-9261
Coloma: (269) 468-4321
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This is also a great time of year to make sure your home’s heating system is in good working order. The best way to do that is by getting it the annual maintenance it needs. When you choose to have your heating equipment maintained yearly, you’re helping to ensure that your family won’t be without heat once the temperatures dip down, and your system will be able to perform both effectively and efficiently.

Is there anything I can do to help my heating system perform better?

While professional maintenance is very important for a variety of reasons, let’s talk about a few things you can do as a homeowner to help your heating system perform better this year, and into the future:

  • Consider a thermostat upgrade. If you have an older, dial-model thermostat, it’s definitely time to consider replacing it. Today’s thermostats not only help you regulate the temperature in your home more easily, but they can also help improve your home’s energy efficiency. A programmable thermostat allows you to set different temperatures for when you’re home, away, and sleeping, while smart thermostats can “learn” your family’s habits and can easily be connected to your other smart home devices.
  • Change your furnace filters regularly. During frequent system operation, your furnace filter can quickly become dirty and clogged. This can lead to poor indoor air quality and can diminish your system’s efficiency. Check your filter at least once a month to make sure it isn’t clogged with dirt, dust, and debris, and change it out if it is. If you’re not sure how to change your filter, your HVAC professional can help you.
  • Make sure the area around your furnace is clean. Make sure there is plenty of space around your heating system – don’t stack storage containers or other items against your furnace. Sweep any dust or debris away from your equipment, as it can easily be drawn into your ducts and circulate around your home. Along the same lines, make sure to keep the area around registers clear – if obstructed, it will be harder for your heating system to deliver heated air efficiently throughout your home.

Do I still need to get professional maintenance each year, too?

The short answer is yes. There are many reasons why you should get professional heating maintenance every year for your home, including:

  • Better heating system efficiency
  • More effective home heating
  • Maintenance of equipment warranty
  • Fewer expensive repairs
  • Longer system life
  • Improved indoor air quality

Can Boelcke help me get the seasonal heating maintenance I need?

Definitely! Our skilled technicians can help you get the heating maintenance you need. They’ll perform a tune-up that ensures your system is cleaned and lubricated, so it runs smoothly. And they’ll take care of any minor concerns before they become larger — and more expensive — repairs. By getting the heating maintenance you need for your system, it can run more efficiently — helping you save on energy costs.

When you need heating maintenance from a qualified specialist, you can trust Boelcke Heating and Air Conditioning. We can help meet all your home heating needs, large or small. Simply give us a call at (269) 429-9261, and we will be more than happy to assist you.

Air Conditioning Maintenance – It’s A Good Thing!

Posted on by Boelcke Heating & AC

Most people are busy, and having one more thing to remember can seem like a nuisance. But one thing you definitely should keep in mind as a homeowner is annual air conditioning maintenance. Spring is here, and warmer weather is right around the corner – so you’ll want to be sure your AC system is up to snuff and ready to keep you and your family cool and comfortable all summer long.

Of course, it’s easy enough for us here at Boelcke to tell you that you should get annual maintenance for your air conditioning system. But without explaining why it’s so important, you might not really be too concerned about it. However, there are many good reasons for getting your AC system the preventive maintenance it needs, which we’ll explain further. Keep reading to learn why calling to schedule your air conditioning maintenance today can save you a lot of stress and hassles down the road.

When you choose AC maintenance for your home, you’re choosing peace of mind.

With AC Maintenance, cool comfort is in our hands.
Call or Click:
Stevensville: (269) 429-9261
Coloma: (269) 468-4321
Ask A Tech

Anyone who has ever experienced an air conditioning breakdown on the hottest day of the year will tell you, it’s no picnic. Depending on the severity of the situation, you’ll likely have some downtime in the instance of a major repair or worse yet, the need to replace your entire system. By getting annual maintenance, however, you’ll also get the peace of mind that comes with knowing your AC has been inspected, cleaned, and tuned up. Additionally:

  • Your system will run better. A well-maintained system is more effective and efficient. Dirt and debris are cleaned out of your system, and that allows it to do its job much more easily. As a result, it doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your home as cool as a cucumber – and that can help you save on energy bills.
  • There will be a record of your system on file with us. Why is this important? First of all, it can help keep your system warranty intact. Most manufacturers require that equipment receives regular maintenance in order to maintain the warranty, and failure to do so can void it. Secondly, by keeping a record of maintenance and any small repairs, should your system stop working properly, our technicians will have an idea of any past problems, helping them troubleshoot more quickly.
  • The air in your home will be fresher and cleaner. Your air conditioning system collects all sorts of particulates, like dirt, dust, and pollen. Not to mention, the evaporator coils in your home are a perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. As you can imagine, a dirty system can cause all of these undesirable elements to be circulated around your home. By getting annual maintenance, you can rest assured that coils and filters will be cleaned – and your home’s air will be fresher and healthier.

Getting the annual maintenance you need is easy, too – just call Boelcke!

At Boelcke, we’re pleased to provide annual maintenance agreements that help keep your system running smoothly and help you and your family stay comfortable. Simply give us a call at (269) 429-9261, and we will be more than happy to set you up with a maintenance program that works for you, and get your AC maintenance scheduled!