See Our Most Frequently Asked Questions for Our Plumbing, HVAC, and Electrical Services

You should do something to grow bacteria in your septic system, because that’s what makes it work.

Depending on what kind of plumbing it is, the most effective way to winterize plumbing is to:

• Turn the water off
• Open the plumbing faucet/valve/etc.
• Blow the water out of the line using air compressor
• If you don’t blow the water out of the lines, then water can get stuck in the line, causing freezing and bursting during the cold weather.

This applies to most services! It is recommended that you never receive a price sight unseen. If a service contractor is able to give you a price before they even look at the problem, I wouldn’t trust the price they gave you. Issues need to be reviewed by an actual visit to the home or business as further issues may arise.

There’s a lot of liability when you’re dealing with things like water. If the job is completed wrong by an uncertified person and not a certified professional then things could extremely wrong and the small repair could now lead to a huge (and expensive) mess. Hire a professional if you want the job done right. A professional does cost more than a non-professional.

Several factors come in to play with water heaters, for instance:

• Water quality and how much the system is used
• Typically a water heater installed today will last around 8-12 years.

We do not recommend hot water to be any hotter than 120 degrees. Anything higher than that temperature could become dangerous for small children or elderly people.

• The Hot Water tank could be too small
• Tanks sizes vary on your needs (size of family & usage)
• Tank could be faulty or aged

• Distance could be a factor- the distance from where the tank is located to the distance of the faucet.
• We recommend installing a recirculation system to keep the hot water at the faucet.

• Water heaters in general use about 30% of the electric bill.
• Faulty, old & poor water quality can drive your electric bill higher than normal.

• Old pipes
• Street pressure (from street to home) could be low
• Water well could be low or dry
• Clogged pipes

We can fix low water pressure by completing one of the following:

• Install booster pumps
• Fix the well problem
• Replace old pipes
• Clear clogged pipes

Using a plunger and creating a suction with up and down movements, but if you don’t have a plunger, you can fill the toilet with ¼ cup of dish soap or laundry detergent, add a pot of boiling water and then wait a few minutes before flushing.

A running toilet is usually caused by a flapper. The flapper is the rubber or plastic valve on the bottom of your tank and it is not sealing properly. Open the toilet tank by removing the lid from the top and adjust the float arm to see if the water stops an inch below the overflow pipe. If the water doesn’t continue to fill, the flapper needs replaced.

1. Disconnect your toilet’s water supply
2. Flush out all remaining water
3. Unscrew the nuts on the floor
4. Remove the toilet and set aside on towel or paper
5. Clean out any debris and gunk from the seal
6. Unscrew the seal from the floor and clean underneath
7. Screw the new flange in place and reinstall toilet

• Running Toilets
• Leaky Faucet
• Water lines
• Hose Bibs

• Tighten the T-bolts
• Replace the wax ring

1. Turn off the water supply to the tank
2. Remove the remaining water with a suction device
3. Allow the tank to dry
4. Apply epoxy to the crack
5. Smooth the epoxy out and wait for it to dry.

• Broken airtight seal
• Sewer gas is blocked from entering homes by the drain venting system
• If too much negative pressure occurs, the water level can lower and break the seal, causing a smell after you flush.

Backup in the main sewage line. Call a plumber right away.

1. Take off the aerator.
2. Soak it in acidic liquid and then rinse and scrub
3. Rinse well and reinstall

Worn rubber washers. Replace the washers to fix your leak.

Household’s water supply is insufficient due to an inadequate plumbing system. If other faucets are off, it’s likely due to pipe or patch leaks.

18 -24 months

A broken water pipe in your house will result in damage sooner or later. Whether major or minor, a broken pipe and ensuing water will damage your walls, floors or belongings until the water is cut off and flooded areas are dried. Turn off the water and contact Lakeview Mechanical for plumbing services, flood cleanup and restoration.

Could be drain or supply line leak.

Pour bleach down the drain and let sit for a while, if it still smells it might need to be snaked-give us a call.

Could be a plugged stack vent.

Look for plumbing leak or roof leak.

It could be a relief valve, drain or leak in water heater

The float could be stuck or possibly a plugged discharge line.

• Call a plumber immediately.
• Contact your water utility provider
• Leaks between the meter and your home are your responsibility, however a leak between the meter and the water utility is their responsibility

• Debris in the faucet’s opening
• Obstruction with the aerator or inner spout.

Gasket or the valve seal has worn out and needs to be replaced.

• Call a plumber to run cutting blades through the pipes.
• Flush a root–growth suppressant down your toilet twice each year to inhibit regrowth.

High–powered blast water jet that’s inserted into pipes to blow away obstructions, dirt and grime.

1. Clean the area around the pipe entrance
2. Inserting an auger cable.
3. Power the auger cable through the pipe until it hits the main sewer, then back it out.
4. Run hose water into the pipe to clear away the broken-up clog.

Waterproof camera that makes it possible to inspect sewer lines and other underground pipes visually.

• When it becomes corroded.
• Pipes in homes built 60 or more years ago should be checked annually for signs of corrosion.

3-5 years

• In most cases, it can be a faulty light bulb, but in other cases it can mean something more serious—and potentially dangerous.
• Power arcing, which is a potentially serious problem that occurs when current jumps between small gaps in wire connections
• Call an Electrician

Indicates that there are serious issues behind your walls. If you don’t get help right away, you could end up facing a serious electrical fire in your home.

Knob and tubing has its problems, soldering in walls and ceilings cannot be insulated and should not be used for today’s appliances, like, air conditioners, plug-in heaters, etc. It depends on the condition of the wiring and each situation.

Older homes have older wiring and the wiring that was used has a tendency to dry rot and cause many problems. Your house should be inspected to determine if your wiring is up-to-date.

Yes, you are responsible for the meter box and the connection to your property from the electric company’s equipment.

Usually because you have overloaded the circuit with things like; air conditioners, microwaves, plug in heaters, toasters, etc. It does not always matter how big your service is, it usually has to do with a branch circuit, which is from the breaker box to the problem device.

• You may need more branch circuits throughout the house
• You may have loose connections in the breaker box, meter box or throughout the house.

GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) are required near potential water areas in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, garages and outside. These are life-saving devices against electrical shock.

They monitor the current and discriminate between normal and unwanted arcing conditions. Arc fault breakers are primarily designed to protect against electrical fires caused by arcing.

Keeps your service on so there is no interruption in your electrical service during a storm or power outage.

• One (1) ton of air conditioning can cool anywhere from 300 to 800 square feet of home.
• Heating and cooling needs should be evaluated by a licensed professional.

• Clean and replace your filters frequently.
• Your system heats and cools more evenly when the blower is in the “on” position.
• Shades, drapes, shutters, or screens should be installed on windows that are exposed to extreme sunlight.

• In the summer months the average temperature setting is 78°-80°, in the winter 70°-72° is the most common setting.
• Avoid drastic temperature changes.
• Do not set your temperature back more than 5°; this will cause your unit to work harder to achieve the desired temperature setting.

• You can control the temperature in your home at different times of day without ever touching your thermostat.
• You will never forget to change the setting on your own.

• It is recommend that you replace your disposable filters monthly.
• Washable filters, should be cleaned once a month.

• Change your filters regularly.
• Ground mounted outdoor units-keep clear of debris, clutter; weeds or landscaping that can grow too close.
• Keep pets away from the unit because pet urine can cause expensive damage.

Twice a year to ensures maximum efficiency.

Prices vary based on makes, models and customer needs and there is no charge for an in-house replacement proposal.

• We have a variety of whole-house filtration devices.
• Some electronic air cleaners can even remove dust particles and pollen as small as .10 micron.

• This will disrupt the airflow and cause your air conditioning system to work harder to distribute air to other areas.
• Your system will work harder, to cool less space, making it cycle more and become less efficient.

Adding a humidifier will help to add moisture back into the air and limit sinus problems.

HVAC is short for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. This is abbreviation to refer to your whole heating and cooling system.

• You want to find a production date, usually located on a label on the exterior of your system.
• If your unit is under five years old, it might still be warrantied. However, warranty terms and conditions vary by manufacturer and installing company.

A Trip Charge is a bill for the expense associated with the time and travel to diagnose, inspect and provide expert recommendations for a home’s heating or air conditioning systems.

A popping disturbance is a common sign of an insufficient duct design. This occurs when there’s more airflow than your ductwork can manage.

Troubles with your ductwork can lead to other ventilation and air quality troubles, such as:

• Significant noise
• Greater energy needs
• Early system malfunction
• Irregular heating and cooling
• Broken AC compressor in the summer
• Too hot furnace or heat pump in the winter
• Mold growth inside ducts

• Fragile solder joints
• Friction from piping jarring against something
• Ruptured valves
• Loose fittings
• Age of Unit
• Filthy evaporator coil
• Broken blower motor or relay

It can manage hot and cold spots or special temperature desires for parts of your house.

• If you have a furnace, you most likely won’t need to think about an air handler.
• Air handlers are frequently paired with heat pumps and manage airflow across your residence.
• Some systems also provide extra heating and cooling pieces to support the heat pump.

We carry a complete line of water heaters and tankless water heaters. We can collaborate with you to identify the best one for your residence and budget.

We are available 24/7 to address any of your emergency needs.

• Having a carbon monoxide detector in a central location is the best way to alert you of carbon monoxide in the home.
• Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless and is lethal in big concentrations.
• Carbon monoxide detector is like a smoke detector, it screens the air and notifies you of a potential danger in the home.

Install germicidal UV lights with your heating & cooling equipment to:

• Fight odors
• Halt mold growth
• Sterilize the interior of your comfort unit

You should turn unit off and call Lakeview Mechanical.

A/C might be on or blower is on manual.

Short cycle –turn furnace off, wait 5 minutes and turn back on and call Lakeview Mechanical.

Check drain pipe for A/C or Humidifier.

The thermostat might need calibrating-- give us a call.