Russo Bros. & Co. Supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure North Jersey

During the month of October Russo Bros. & Co. will be donating a portion of their sales to Susan G. Komen for the Cure North Jersey.

Five Common Plumbing Myths

1. Putting lemons in your garbage disposal cleans it.
This process may help your drain to smell better but it won't actually clean it. The most effective way to clean your disposal is with soap and warm water. Disconnect the disposal from the electric source and spray the soap solution, wait a few minutes and then scrub with a brush.

2. Free flowing drains are clear drains.
This isn't necessarily true. To keep drains from backing up make sure to use them as intended. Avoid putting food, hair, oils and any other chemicals down your drains.

3. In tank toilet cleaners help keep toilets cleaner.
False. In tank cleaners do not eliminate build up, they just bleach over it. To help minimize build up you can pour vinegar down the overflow tube.

4. Chemical drain cleaners are best to avoid clogs.
These highly toxic chemical cleaners just corrode your pipes and cause long term damage to your plumbing system. Not only are they extremely harmful to your pipes but they are also harmful to the environment. If the clog isn't too deep you can try a plunger to manually remove the clog .

5. Hand soap is the best way to clean your plumbing fixtures.
Some soaps can be too harsh on your fixtures. For example brass fixtures should be cleaned only using lemons and baking soda. Toilets should be cleaned using a stronger disinfectant to kill harmful germs.

Summer Energy Saving Tips

With your air conditioning system running around the clock this summer you may be looking for ways to conserve energy and save on your electric bill without sacrificing your comfort.

- Cook with your microwave, it uses 2/3 less energy than your oven.
- Use your dishwasher, hand washing dishes allows the water to run non-stop. Newer dishwashers have modes to conserve water suck as a "Quick" cycle.
- Load up your refrigerator, having more food in your fridge actually helps your fridge stay cool.
- Program your thermostat to raise the temperature when you are out of the home.
- Avoid using your appliances during peak hours (4pm - 6pm).
- Air dry your clothes instead of using the dryer.
- Reduce the filter run time on your pool.
- Unplug electronic devices and chargers when they aren't being used.
- Replace your air conditioning filter once a month, a dirty filter can make your system work harder.
- Seal cracks in your doors and windows.
- Replace your old inefficient air conditioning unit.
- Install patio awnings or large trees to help shade your home
- Install an attic fan to draw cool air in.

Taken from http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/tips/summer.html

Happy 4th of July

Have a happy and healthy holiday at one of New Jersey's 4th of July celebrations!

Happy Father's Day!

Help take some items off your dad's "to do" list this Father's Day with $20 off your next service call!



Happy Father's Day!

Save Energy in Your Home

With your air conditioning system running around the clock this summer you may be looking for ways to conserve energy and save on your electric bill without sacrificing your comfort. Here are some ways you can save energy around your home:

- Cook with your microwave, it uses 2/3 less energy than your oven.
- Use your dishwasher; hand washing dishes allows the water to run non-stop. Newer dishwashers have modes to conserve water such as a "Quick" cycle.
- Load up your refrigerator, having more food in your fridge actually helps it to work less at staying cool.
- Program your thermostat to raise the temperature when you are out of the home.
- Avoid using your appliances during peak hours (4pm - 6pm).
- Air dry your clothes instead of using the dryer.
- Reduce the filter run time on your pool.
- Install an attic fan to draw cool air in.
- Unplug electronic devices and chargers when they aren't being used.
- Replace your air conditioning filter once a month, a dirty filter can make your system work harder.
- Seal cracks in your doors and windows.
- Replace your old inefficient air conditioning unit.
- Install patio awnings or large trees to help shade your home.

Call today for a quote on replacing your air conditioning system or schedule online.

Installing air conditioning in an old home is possible

Homeowners with old homes sometimes feel they are at a dead end when it comes to installing air conditioning in their home. Since old homes have thin walls there isn't much room to install ductwork or the price for installing central air can be very expensive for homeowners' on a budget. Russo Bros. has an option for these homeowners; the ductless unit. The ductless unit, also known as the mini-spilt system, allows for a "head" or air handler to be installed in a room and connect to an outdoor unit, similar to how a central air system works. The main difference is there is no invasive ductwork construction that needs to be done, the indoor unit simply hangs on the wall. There are options where several heads can be installed in different rooms and connect to one outdoor condenser. Since you can select the number of rooms you want to add air conditioning to you can control the costs.
Click here to learn how a mini spilt works.