When Springtime Gardens Are Less Victorious for Your Indoor Plumbing System

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Is Your Growing Garden Growing Into Your Indoor Plumbing?

Trees, like humans, need water and nutrients. Unlike humans, trees spend a large portion of the year asleep while they wait for winter to pass. As the springtime comes and trees wake up, they are bound to grow. As they grow, they constantly search for new water and nutrients, leaving underground plumbing particularly vulnerable. If tree roots can detect the water in underground plumbing, they can find weaknesses in the pipes, including weak joints or small cracks, and invade. What could start as a small invasion of the underground plumbing could soon become a big problem as the tree roots are unlikely to stop if they continue to find water and nutrients to aid growth.

The Not-So-Innocent Intruding Roots and the Ripple Effects

Tree roots that invade or intrude on pipes can impact the plumbing system even more. Some of the biggest issues that they can cause in the underground plumbing system are:

Clogs: Roots growing inside pipes become like a sieve for water passing and can create huge clogs. They could create persistent clogs and blockages of water in the house. Even if the clog doesn’t get to the point of being persistent and unyielding, the net-like pattern of the tree roots can cause water pressure to be much slower, meaning that water drainage might become much slower and lead to more water back-up.
Leaks: Roots will inevitably test the boundaries of the pipes they are in, meaning that they might grow against the pipes making them weaker or even causing them to break open and cause leaks. These leaks could have even larger consequences, including yard flooding or structural damage.

The Superhero Solutions To Avoid and Treat Root Obstruction

The impacts of tree roots on underground plumbing might sound scary and intimidating, but the good news is that there are preventative steps that homeowners can take to protect their plumbing systems. The best first step is to understand what the inside of the pipelines looks like—this might mean calling a professional to take a video of the pipes to understand what tree roots might be growing inside and whether they are a danger to the pipelines.

If there are tree roots in the pipeline, it is best to cut them away right away before they can grow even further. Even if there are no roots present, one thing that is always helpful is placing physical root barriers around the pipes that stop roots from being able to grow. These roots can be made from wood or metal and buried six or more inches below them to ensure they are effective against root growth.

If, despite best efforts, underground plumbing has been damaged by invading tree roots, professional plumbers are available to help homeowners maintain their homes and yards in one dry piece. Plumbers have several tricks up their sleeves to fix leaks and clogs in the underground plumbing system.

Hydro jetting is a great professional solution if a backup from tree roots is in the underground plumbing. Hydro jetting clears the underground tree roots by shooting a high-pressure water stream into the pipe.
Drain snakes can be used from the drain or the sewer line to cut through tree roots, causing clogs or leaks.
Trenchless sewer line repair can help when tree roots cause underground pipes to crack, burst, or even collapse, depending on the pressure the tree roots put on the pipes. Trenchless sewer repair involves sending a camera into the sewer line to understand the damage and then cleaning out the sewer line of all tree roots. After it is cleaned, professionals can insert a felt or fiberglass liner into the sewer line that will automatically take the shape of the line, repair any cracks or breaks, and protect it from future damage.

About Carmine's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning

With over 25,600 reviews, Carmine's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, located in Danbury, Connecticut, is the obvious choice for HVAC and plumbing needs in the Danbury area. They offer fast service with an emergency service hotline for all emergency needs, but they also promise to listen closely to needs and provide the most honest advice possible, meaning no up-charging or scamming. Call Carmine’s today for drain cleaning service in and around Danbury, CT!

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What to Know About Improving Indoor Air Quality

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What Is IAQ (Indoor Air Quality)?nbsp;

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that indoor air quality refers to the air quality in and around residences, commercial buildings, and factories. When there’s good air quality, homeowners can take a deep breath without coughing, sneezing, or feeling throat irritation. On the other hand, signs of poor air quality include coughing, sneezing, and general malaise.

It’s vital to ensure that the home has good indoor air quality. After all, a healthy home is a happy household. Here are some basic things homeowners should know about improving their home’s air quality and the importance of HVAC maintenance.

Good IAQ is Central to One’s Health

Poor IAQ can cause a host of adverse health effects, including:

Headaches
Dry eyes
Nasal mucus and congestion
Fatigue
Nausea

Those with lung problems are very susceptible to the symptoms listed above. Thankfully, no one has to deal with poor IAQ forever. They have many options when improving their home’s air quality.

The Air Filter Needs Replacing Every Three Months

Routinely replacing the home’s air filter does a great job of regulating the air quality. Here are some things homeowners should know about this:

According to EnergyStar, homeowners should replace their air filters once every three months. However, if a household has many pets (furry pets, to be exact), members should replace the air filter sooner.
Air filters come in all shapes and sizes. Ensure to understand the specific AC needs before running out and buying one. Getting an air filter that’s too big or small will not do the job.
There are reusable air filters! Homeowners can remove them every three months, spray them with a hose, and re-insert them. This saves money and waste.

One can replace an air filter themselves or consult a professional to thoroughly inspect the HVAC system.

Get an Air Purifier or a UV Sanitizer

Some products on today’s market do a remarkable job of removing smoke, pollen, and dander from the air. These products include:

Air purifiers. Healthline notes that these devices filter and remove airborne contaminants. Some portable ones go from room to room, and others tie into the home’s heating and cooling system.
UV air sanitizers. Medical News Today notes that UV air sanitizers use ultraviolet rays to remove germs from the air. However, they don’t remove VOCs. Like air purifiers, there are both portable and stationary installation options.

The best option for one’s household depends on the residents’ situation. Before deciding, one should consider their household’s size, occupants, and energy needs. While air purifiers are better at removing dander and pollen, UV air sanitizers kill bacteria.

About Carmine’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning

Need fast HVAC maintenance or repairs? Call Carmine! Carmine’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, that is. These professionals offer services to those living in Danbury, CT. They pride themselves on around-the-clock service, upfront pricing, and easy scheduling options. Homeowners can call today for air quality services!

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Indoor Air Quality 101

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What Homeowners Should Know About Their Air Quality

Indoor air quality can directly influence short term and long term health. For example, if homeowners are exposed to pollutants, they may immediately experience a headache, asthma symptoms, or irritation to eyes, nose, or throat. Usually, if they leave the affected area, their symptoms should be alleviated pretty quickly.

On the other hand, long term effects can reoccur and severely impair quality of life. Usually, these long term effects come from repeated exposure, and reactions tend to be of a higher severity such as heart disease, cancer, or respiratory diseases.

In this article, experts will share helpful information on how to improve indoor air quality.

What Exactly Is Air Quality?

3D character pondering on a large red question mark, symbolizing inquiry about indoor air quality and its impact on health.

According to the EPA, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) “refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants” (epa.gov). This is especially important to pay attention to when living in a city or an environment with many pollutants.

However, this is a concern for all households as several everyday appliances or activities produce potential air pollutants.

Some common indoor air pollutants are:

Fuel-burning combustion
Tobacco products
Building materials and furnishings such as asbestos or chemicals in new carpets or furnishings
Household cleaners
Excess moisture
Outdoor sources

All things considered, it is very important to maintain healthy and pollutant-free environments indoors.

How Can Homeowners Improve Their Air Quality

One of the main sources of bad air quality indoors is poor ventilation. There are several ways to improve this by altering small things around the home. For example, keeping up to date on changing AC filters or checking the air ducts.

Household upkeep and maintenance are big contributors to air pollution. Routinely cleaning rugs and carpets can help to improve air quality. Day to day activities, such as cooking, contribute to air pollution. Make sure to use cooking vents, especially if homeowners have a gas stove.

Air Purifiers & UV Air Sanitizers

Air purifier with control panel, highlighting features for improving indoor air quality and reducing pollutants like dust and smoke.

If all of the above solutions don’t work, there are a few more.

Air purifiers work very well at removing impurities from the air. They mainly take care of pollutants such as dust, smoke, and pollen, but are not very good at removing gaseous pollutants. There are many different air purifiers on the market ranging in price, size, and efficiency.
UV Air Sanitizers utilize UV-C light and aim to kill germs, mold, mildew, and sometimes even bacteria and viruses. A potential drawback of this purifying method is that UV-C is potentially harmful to live organisms. This is why it can kill germs, but precautions need to be taken to reduce harm.

Deciding whether an air purifier or an air sanitizer is best for your home can be done by consulting with an HVAC professional you can trust, like the ones at Carmine's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.

About Carmine’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning

Carmine’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning has been providing dependable plumbing and air services in Danbury, CT, and the surrounding for over 30 years. They provide the fastest service and offer 24/7 emergency service, flat-rate pricing, and an A+ BBB rating!