If you live outside the town or city limits, chances are your home has a well that supplies your family’s water. Proper maintenance of your residential well and well pump is important to the health of your family because they supply the water you and your loved ones drink, bathe and cook with. That’s why you should have an experienced plumber inspect your well and well pump regularly to make sure they are functioning properly and delivering clean, healthy water to your home.

How Typical Residential Well Pumps Work

In order to get water from the well to your home, you must have an electromechanical system that will deliver water into your home. At the heart of these systems is a well pump.

The most common types of well pumps are jet pumps, used for shallow wells (less than 25 feet deep) and submersible pumps for deeper wells (more than 25 feet below ground).

Pumps are not intended to run continuously, and they don’t start each time you open a tap or flush the toilet. In order to provide consistent water pressure inside your home, pumps must first move water from the well into a storage tank. An air bladder inside the storage tank is compressed as water is pumped into the tank, and the pressure in the tank moves the water from the well through the household plumbing system.

Once the water pressure reaches a preset level, which can be anywhere from 40-60 psi, a switch turns off the pump. As water is used inside your home, the pressure inside the tank decreases until the pump turns on again and the cycle is repeated. A pressure gauge mounted on the storage tank controls the switch that controls the pump.

When to Call a Plumber for Well Pump Problems

If you experience any of the following problems with your well pump, you should call an experienced plumber to check the problem and see if the well pump can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced:

• You have no water or intermittent water
• The well pump isn’t running properly
• Low water pressure
• Leaking pressure tank
• The pump runs too much
• The pump runs but does not deliver water to your taps, toilets or other plumbing fixtures
• Pressure switches aren’t working properly or click on and off rapidly
• Water pulses when the tap is turned on

Appleton Campbell: Experienced, Licensed Plumbing Services

Well pump repair and replacement is not a job you should do yourself. Always call an experienced, licensed plumber to ensure that your well pumps are operating correctly and supplying clean, healthy water to your home.

Appleton Campbell’s experienced plumbers can also arrange for drilling crews to drill wells and hook up all the necessary plumbing lines, fittings and the well pump.

Appleton Campbell services all makes and models of well pumps and we honor all manufacturers’ warranties.

If your well needs servicing, repair or replacement, call Appleton Campbell today:

(866) 543-3996 Toll Free
(540) 347-0765 Warrenton VA
(540) 825-6332 Culpeper VA
(703) 754-3301 Gainesville / Northern VA

Appleton Campbell Well Pump and Sump Pump Services

---

Appleton Campbell is a full-service, fully-licensed Class A plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical contractor serving homeowners and residential clients throughout Northern Virginia. Appleton Campbell’s President, Mike Appleton, received the 2011 Business Person of the Year Award from the Fauquier County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about Appleton Campbell’s services and homeowner maintenance tips, visit AppletonCampbell.com.

Did you know that a single low-flow toilet can reduce the amount of water a family of four uses by up to 22,000 gallons of water each year? If you would like to reduce your monthly water bills, low flow toilets can be a smart investment – and help the environment at the same time.

Federal Legislation Mandates Low Flow Toilets

Toilets manufactured prior to 1995 generally consumed 3.5 gallons of water per flush. The National Energy Policy Act of 1992 outlawed the installation of toilets that consumed more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush.

While the first low flow toilets did not live up to consumer expectations, modern day low flow toilets feature many design enhancements that have increased flush force and improved performance and customer satisfaction. Low flow toilet design improvements include:

• pressure-assisted flushing which uses pressurized air in the tank to push the water into the bowl,
• larger flapper valves (the hole in the bottom of the water tank),
• larger trapways (the hole at the bottom of the toilet bowl), and
• glazed trapways to ease the way for waste.

Key Advantages of Low Flow Toilets

The two key advantages of low flow toilets are:

• Water conservation: Modern-day low flow toilets use just 1.6 gallons of water per flush; conventional toilets use 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush.
• Cost savings: Low flow toilets reduce the average household water bill by approximately $100 each year, according to Home & Garden Television Network. The United States Environmental Protection agency says that low-flow toilets can save households approximately $2,000 over the lifetime of each toilet.

Selecting the Best Low Flow Toilet Design for Your Household

All toilets are designed to intake water from the toilet tank and discharge wastewater. There are three basic toilet designs that can perform these two functions:

• Gravity-fed tank: the most common type of toilet. Gravity-fed toilet tanks are relatively inexpensive and rely on the weight and volume of the water in the tank to flush waste.
• Two-button flush: – This is a gravity-fed tank with two volumes of water — a half-flush (.8 gallons per flush) for liquid and a full-flush (1.6 gallons per flush) for solids.
• Power-assist or pressure-assisted – This system uses compressed air to force the water to flush the waste. There is no freestanding water in the bowl. The water is held in a pressure tank which is inside the toilet tank. This system gives a powerful flush but it is more expensive and noisier than a gravity-fed system.

Buying a Low-Flow Toilet

When you are ready to purchase a high-efficiency toilet, Appleton Campbell can advise you on the best choices for you and your family.

Key features to look for are a large flush valve, a powerful flush and easy repair. Appleton Campbell installs and recommends Toto high-efficiency toilets.

Full-Service Bathroom Plumbing from Appleton Campbell

Whatever your bathroom plumbing needs — from repairing a leaky toilet to a whole bathroom remodel — Appleton Campbell’s experienced, licensed and insured plumbers are here to help. Appleton Campbell repairs and services all toilet makes and models.

Click Here for Appleton Campbell Customer Reviews

---

Appleton Campbell is a full-service, fully-licensed Class A plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical contractor serving homeowners and residential clients throughout Northern Virginia. Appleton Campbell’s President, Mike Appleton, received the 2011 Business Person of the Year Award from the Fauquier County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about Appleton Campbell’s services and homeowner maintenance tips, visit AppletonCampbell.com.

With winter weather setting in, you may be thinking it’s time to replace or upgrade your home heating system — and wondering what is the best heating system for your home.

The best heating system for your home depends on many factors, including:

• the size of your home
• the age of your home
• your geographic location
• how well your home is insulated
• the size and quantity of windows in your home, as well as their energy-efficiency
• your budget

Home Heating Options

Here in Northern Virginia, many homes are only equipped with heat pumps. However, heat pumps are not very efficient in very cold weather, so many people choose to add a gas or oil furnace to heat their homes as well.

Geothermal heating systems have been popular recently, partly because of the 30% federal tax credit available for these systems.

Oil boilers with hot water heat are also popular in our area, especially in older homes. Oil boilers can be a very efficient source of heat for your home when they are properly maintained.

Ductless mini split heating systems are a popular heating solution when you are adding rooms to your home or remodeling an older home that has no room for ductwork.

A Qualified HVAC Designer Can Advise You Properly

Choosing the best heating system for your home can save you money over the long-term by reducing your annual heating and energy costs. An Appleton Campbell HVAC designer can evaluate your specific needs and then recommend the best system for you.

For more information about our full range of heating system installation, maintenance and repair services, please visit appletoncampbell.com/residential-heating-cooling.

---

Appleton Campbell is a full-service, fully-licensed Class A plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical contractor serving homeowners and residential clients throughout Northern Virginia. Appleton Campbell’s President, Mike Appleton, received the 2011 Business Person of the Year Award from the Fauquier County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about Appleton Campbell’s services and homeowner maintenance tips, visit AppletonCampbell.com.

 

Every winter, Appleton Campbell’s emergency plumbers respond to calls from distressed homeowners whose pipes have burst in freezing temperatures. The last thing you want during the holidays (or any time) is a ruined home and expensive plumbing repairs.

You can easily protect your home from water damage and frozen pipes if you follow these plumbing maintenance tips:

Before Outdoor Temperatures Drop

Quick drops in temperature, poor insulation, and thermostats set too low are the primary causes for frozen water pipes. To prevent your water pipes from freezing:

• Insulate pipes in your home’s crawl spaces and attic. Exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing; insulation protects your pipes from extreme frigid temperatures that can lead to freezing.
• Disconnect garden hoses and, if possible, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outdoor faucets. This minimizes the chances that freezing will occur in the short span of pipe just inside your home.

During Winter Months

The right preventative steps may not be enough to protect your home from freezing pipes when extreme weather conditions set in. For more protection:

• Let a trickle of warm water drip overnight, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall.
• Keep your thermostat set at the same temperature day and night.
• Open cabinet doors to allow heat to reach uninsulated pipes under sinks.

When You Are Traveling

• Set the thermostat in your home no lower than 55 degrees.
• Have a friend or neighbor check your home daily to make sure it’s warm enough to prevent freezing.
• Shut off and drain your water system before you go.

If Your Pipes Do Freeze

If you turn on your faucets and no water comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call Appleton Campbell.

• Do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water. You could be electrocuted!
• Never try to thaw a pipe with a torch or other open flame. You could cause a fire that will do even worse damage to your home!
• You may be able to thaw a frozen pipe with warm air from a blow dryer — as long as you are not standing in water while using the blow dryer. Start by warming the pipe as close to the faucet as possible, then work towards the coldest section of pipe.
• If your water pipes have already burst, turn off the water at the main shutoff valve in the house; leave the water faucets turned on. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the water shutoff valve is and how to open and close it.

If you do need an emergency plumber, Call Appleton Campbell for fast emergency plumbing service. You can read what Appleton Campbell customers say about our service here.

---

Appleton Campbell, Inc. is a full-service plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical contractor in Northern Virginia, serving residential customers in Warrenton, Culpeper, Gainesville and other communities in Fauquier, Culpeper, Loudoun, Prince William and Rappahannock Counties, Virginia.

Appleton Campbell has been Zeamer Construction’s first choice for residential plumbing, heating and cooling projects in Northern Virginia for the past 30 years.

“We used other plumbing, heating and cooling firms for our design build projects in the early years of our business,” says Steven Zeamer, President of Zeamer Construction in Midland, Virginia.  ”But the other firms we worked with just couldn’t keep up with our work schedule, or consistently live up to our clients’ high standards.”

“Appleton Campbell is not the cheapest plumbing, heating and cooling company in our area, but you get what you pay for,” Zeamer says.  ”All of Appleton Campbell’s technicians are better trained, highly qualified, and fun to work with.  And their customer service is phenomenal. On the rare occasions that there are problems, they take care of them right away.”

Zeamer appreciates the breadth and depth of knowledge and expertise that Appleton Campbell’s technicians bring to his clients.  ”Dave Elphee, for example, has phenomenal experience in designing and sizing HVAC and plumbing equipment to make sure it fits perfectly in our clients’ homes.  He understands the technical aspects of every piece of HVAC equipment and how they operate.”

“Also, Appleton Campbell is one of a very few local firms that are capable of going into a 200-year-old home and maintain or repair its boiler.  Whether you are looking for boiler work, radiant heating systems, or geothermal heating systems, Appleton Campbell has the know-how and the expertise to do it all.”

“Appleton Campbell is committed to keeping our clients happy, and that makes us happy.  They take the time to educate our clients about their HVAC product options and price ranges so they can choose the best equipment possible for their home building or home remodeling project.”

“Appleton Campbell’s crew members are polite, dependable and stable, and there is very low turnover in their staff and technicians.”

“We would recommend Appleton Campbell without reservation to any homeowner or builder who wants top quality plumbing, heating and cooling equipment or service, at a fair price, done right the first time.”

Steve Zeamer is President of Zeamer Construction a Northern Virginia design build firm with more than 30 years’ experience building custom homes, home additions, and home remodeling projects. Zeamer Construction manages an average of 20 design build projects per year in Fauquier, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, Virginia.

Appleton Campbell is a full-service, fully-licensed Class A plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical contractor serving homeowners and residential clients throughout Northern Virginia. Appleton Campbell’s President, Mike Appleton, received the 2011 Business Person of the Year Award from the Fauquier County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about Appleton Campbell’s services and homeowner maintenance tips, visit AppletonCampbell.com.

 

Mike Appleton, President of Appleton Campbell, Inc.,has been named the 2011 Business Person of the Year by the Fauquier County Chamber of Commerce.

Appleton Campbell is a full-service, fully licensed Class A plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical contractor serving residential customers throughout Piedmont and Northern Virginia — Warrenton, Culpeper, Gainesvillle, Haymarket, Manassass, and other communities in Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and Rappahannock Counties, Virginia.

The company was founded by Mr. Appleton’s grandather, Jim, in 1976. The company has weathered the economic downturn of recent years and continued to expand. It now employs more than 40 people who work throughout the region, most of whom are highly-trained in plumbing, HVAC and electrical service as well as customer service.

“I”ve wanted this award for 20 years,” Mr. Appleton said the night of the Fauquier County Chamber awards dinner, November 10. “But I haven’t done enough yet.  It’s the people I work with that make me look good.”

Appleton Campbell actively supports a wide range of community organizations and activities.

Appleton Campbell’s headquarters office is located at 100 Franklin Street, Warrenton, Virginia. Their toll free number is (866) 543-3996.

Fall has arrived, along with cooler weather. Have you checked the condition of your furnace lately?

Call Appleton Campbell to schedule a seasonal maintenance service before the temperatures turn frigid and your furnace breaks. We can identify and fix any problems with your heating system before the onset of winter weather — and possibly save you money on more costly repairs that become necessary when furnaces are not maintained.

Furnace Maintenance Tips

 

Tip #1: Keep your furnace free from clutter, dust, dirt, lint, and pet hair.

Accumulated clutter, dust, dirt and pet hair are fire hazards that can reduce your furnace’s heating efficiency. Vacuum the heating registers, vents and baseboards throughout your home at least once a year.

Tip #2: Listen for odd sounds.

Odd sounds that occur when you turn on your heating system could be an indication of an equipment problem. Call Appleton Campbell right away to have your heating system checked and fix any problems before they become serious and more costly to repair.

Tip #3: Check around your indoor unit for leaking water.

Water leaks can cause extensive damage to your home, especially if your unit is on an upper floor or in an attic. If you see water leaking, call Appleton Campbell immediately.

Tip #5: Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home.

Carbon monoxide is the most common household poison; every year, hundreds of people die needlessly from this colorless and odorless gas. Your furnace can leak carbon monoxide gas if it is not maintained properly, and endanger your family and loved ones.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include sleepiness and flu-like symptoms. Higher energy bills can also indicate that your furnace is operating inefficiently and running more than usual. Poor furnace performance can be caused by clogged or dirty air vents or air filters.

 

For Furnace Maintenance or Furnace Replacement
Call Appleton Campbell Today
(540) 347-0765 (Warrenton VA)
(540) 825-6332 (Culpeper VA)
(703) 754-3301 (Gainesville VA)

 

Appleton Campbell, Inc. is a full-service plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical contractor in Northern Virginia, serving residential customers in Warrenton, Culpeper, Gainesville and other communities in Fauquier, Culpeper, Loudoun, Prince William and Rappahannock Counties, Virginia.

Appleton Campbell, Inc. is providing funding support for Fauquier Community Theatre’s 2011-2012 season.

This year’s theatre season kicks off October 13 with a performance of Godspell, a timeless tale of friendship, loyalty and love, featuring a Tony-nominated musical score and such popular songs as Day by Day and Learn Your Lessons Well.

Other performances this season will include:

A Christmas Carol, December 2-18, 2011,
The Man Who Came to Dinner, January 13-29;
And Then There Were None (formerly known as Ten Little Indians), March 2-18,
Into the Woods, May 4-20

Fauquier Community Theatre seeks to enrich the cultural life in Northern Virginia through a variety of live theatre productions that will appeal to range of audiences.  At least one show each year is specifically chosen to provide young people with an opportunity to become active in theatre.  The Theatre often presents summer shows that are produced entirely by high school and college students in the Fauquier County community.

Appleton Campbell, Inc. is a full-service plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical contractor in Northern Virginia, serving residential customers in Warrenton, Culpeper, Gainesville and other communities in Fauquier, Culpeper, Loudoun, Prince William and Rappahannock Counties, Virginia.

Appleton Campbell is proud to support the Fauquier Community Theatre and other nonprofit organizations that serve and benefit Northern Virginia communities.

Appleton Campbell, Inc. is providing funding support for the 20th annual Fauquier County Children’s Festival, to be held October 8, 2011 from 1-5 PM (rain date: October 9) at Crockett Park in Midland, Virginia.

Last year’s Children’s Festival provided entertainment and education for 1,380 children from Fauquier County, Virginia. This year, the County hopes to serve 1,500 or more children.

Family-friendly activities planned this year include:

• Sand art,
• Petting zoo,
• Finger-painting,
• Local musical entertainment,
• Civil-War era re-enactors,
• Environmental booths,
• Sheriff’s Department canine demonstration,
• Virginia State Police children’s IDs,
• Professional clown,
• Pony rides,
• Face-painting & hair braiding,
• Two jumbo moon-bounces,
• Hayrides,
• The Great Hay-maze,
• Bounce-house laser-tag,
• Gas-powered model airplanes to fly,
• Pumpkin painting,
• and much more.

Appleton Campbell, Inc. is a full-service plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical contractor in Northern Virginia, serving residential customers in Warrenton, Culpeper, Gainesville and other communities in Fauquier, Culpeper, Loudoun, Prince William and Rappahannock Counties, Virginia.

Appleton Campbell is proud to support the Fauquier County Children’s Festival and other community service projects throughout our Northern Virginia communities.

Appleton Campbell, Inc. invites you to join the fun at the seventh annual Taste of Culpeper festivities at the Depot in picturesque Downtown Culpeper, Virginia on Sunday, October 9, from noon – 5 PM.

The Taste of Culpeper is a wine, food and arts festival that features the finest local wines, microbreweries and cuisine, as well as the creative works of local artisans and crafters. Wine will be available for purchase by the glass or by the bottle. Taste of Culpeper wine totes will also be available for you to stock up on your favorite Virginia wines.

Lots of free activities and entertainment for children will be available as well, including face painting, a moonbounce, art projects, games and much more. The Gold Top County Ramblers will provide live music entertainment, and sports fans can enjoy an outdoor football lounge with two large-screen TVs.

Admission is FREE for children 12 and under. Advance tickets ($10.00 each) can be purchased at the following locations:

• Culpeper Renaissance, 127 West Davis Street
• Chateau du Reaux, 219 East Davis Street, Suite 130
• Randy’s Flowers, 211 West Evans Street, Suite 130
• StellarOne locations
• Museum of Culpeper History, 803 South Main Street

You can also purchase tickets the day of the event for $15.00 each ($5.00 for designated drivers or those not wishing to participate in the wine or beer tastings.)

Appleton Campbell, Inc. is a full-service plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical contractor in Northern Virginia, serving residential customers in Warrenton, Culpeper, Gainesville and other communities in Fauquier, Culpeper, Loudoun, Prince William and Rappahannock Counties, Virginia.

Appleton Campbell is proud to support this event and other community service projects throughout our Northern Virginia communities.