G. J. Stimmler and Sons

G. J. Stimmler and Sons Licensed and Insured, Family owned and operated Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Company. 5 Generations going strong since 1890. Owner G.

Andrew Stimmler is a licensed Master Plumber and certified Heating Technician.

12/05/2025

Good morning all. Hope you are all nice and toasty warm on this very chilly morning. Here is your tip of the week. Many of you have tankless water heaters. This year we have seen an increasing amount of calls for lack of hot water/not hot enough. These units are great but you do have to do annual maintenance on them. First and foremost, these units need to have the heat exchanger flushed every year to eliminate the calcium build up. That will most definitely reduce your flow of water and the temperature it produces. Also, if you do not have this done and have record of the service, it may void any warranty you have on the unit. Second, you have to ensure you have enough flow of water across the unit to produce water hot enough. So, if you have a water saver shower head, and that is the only thing running, it may not be enough flow to get your shower the hot water that is needed. So many people think their unit is bad when on many occasions it is just a flow issue. Last, make sure your temperature is adjusted correctly for the season. Warmer months it can be reduced slightly and the colder months maybe needs to be a bit warmer. If you have the regular old tanked water heater, be sure to flush it 2x a year to get the sediment off of the bottom of the unit. This will help it last longer. Hope this was helpful. Everyone have a great weekend. Normally, I would say GO BIRDS. But I am also a Chargers fan. So, I am kinda neutral this weekend. Either way, I win. Your friends at G.J. Stimmler & Sons.

09/08/2025

In a few weeks everyone here in PA will be done with their gardening. That means it will be time to turn off your outdoor hose bibs for the winter. Remember, after the valve in the basement is turned off, open the hose bib outside and make sure that it stops dripping. If it does not, then your valve inside is passing/leaking and will need to be replaced. If it does not leak, leave the hose bib open so no water/wooder ;) is inside the line that could freeze. DO NOT leave your hose connected to the outside hose bib over the winter. That would include those of you who have frost free hose bibs and think "nothing can freeze my line". If you leave the hose connected, it will. It will also destroy your hose. I hope this was helpful. Everyone have a great week. Go Phills....Go Birds!!!!!!! Your friends at G.J. Stimmler & Sons.

07/28/2025

We have had an abundance of calls for leaks from the 2nd floor to the first floor (or 3rd to 2nd). You are right to call your plumber out to investigate as there are many different things that may be causing this. First thing to remember is that if it is leaking through the ceiling, it had to build up a lot of water there. So even if you fix the leak, it may continue to leak for a while after. Second thing to consider: is it a constant leak or only when you use something upstairs. Constant more than likely means a water line is leaking. Off and on usually means a drain line. There are other things also that may be causing the leak but they are too many to list here. Try and see if the leak only happens when it rains. If so, don't call your plumber first. You may need a roofer or a general contractor. Once you find the leak and supposedly fix said leak, do not make repairs right away. Wait a week to be sure there is not something else leaking, and then make your repairs. That may save you quite a bit of $$$. Be sure you use a professional for the drywall repairs as there may be more damage than you can see. Also, the GC is trained to look for other things like mold. They can advise you from there. Keep in mind you have insurance for this reason. Sometimes the claim is too small and sometimes it isn't. That is where you call your Public adjuster. They can help with that and to see if you are covered for the damages. Hope this was helpful. Enjoy your week. Your friends at G.J. Stimmler & Sons.

05/29/2025

Good morning, everyone. Here is my tip of the week. Again....AC season is here and many of you may be thinking of replacing your older units. Here is some new information that has just come to my attention that may help you in your decision. As of 12/31/2024 they are no longer manufacturing R 410a refrigeration units. The new units are R 454b (R-32 for mini-splits). If you are getting a unit installed that is using R 454b, you may want to hold off a while. When they manufactured the new 454b, they messed it up meaning that there is no one, or not many people, selling 454b. So, if your new unit is installed and needs additional refrigerant, your contractor will most likely not have it. Which also means you will not have AC. They are suppose to have the new batch of R 454b in distribution by September or October. If you can find someone that still has a new unit for R 410a, get them to install the system for you. Ask whomever you are using what refrigerant they plan to use on your system so you know. Fortunately, we still have units in stock with 410a, but when they run out, people will be waiting until possibly October for air conditioning. I hope this information is helpful. Everyone have a great rest of the week and GO PHILLIES!!!!!! Your friends at G.J. Stimmler & Sons.

09/13/2024

Good afternoon all. Here is my tip/rant of the week. It is absolutely disgusting to me how large HVAC, plumbing, electrical companies go into someone's home and look at the customers equipment, say it is bad or needs to be replaced, knowing very well that there is nothing wrong with it. Just a way for a large company to keep $$$ coming in and keep those billboards up or ads at the ball parks. I personally went into a private community this week, at the request of different homeowners, to look at their HVAC units. The reason they asked me to stop was because another company told them their system(s) had a problem or was past its life expectancy and needed to be replaced. When I looked at the units, there was nothing wrong with them. Either one. What the other company told them was complete BS. and they were trying to put the fear of God into them to make a sale. They were just trying to sell a unit to a homeowner they hoped was not smart enough to realize the state their unit was in. So many of the large 100+ empolyee companies are trained to sell, sell, sell. Please, get a second opinion if you do not know or trust your contractor. Hope this was helpful. Everyone have a great weekend and go Phillies and go Birds!!!!!!!! Your friends at G.J. Stimmler & Sons.

09/05/2024

Good morning, everyone. Here is your tip of the week. For those who had a new HVAC system or a new boiler installed over the summer, remember that when you go to turn on your heat for the first time, you will get a "new unit smell". That is when you fire-up your heater for the first time, it will burn off all the machining of the unit, oils, cobwebs, bugs or anything else that gets in the heat exchanger. That smell will last for about a half hour. When you turn it on for the first time, make sure all of your windows are open so it can air out quicker and your smoke detectors aren't screaming at you. This sometimes also happens when existing units sit over the summer. Nothing to be concerned about. Keep in mind that if your unit is over 5 years old, you should have it serviced to ensure it is working and running efficiently. It is also a dandy time to replace the batteries in your thermostat, if you have them. Hope this was helpful. Your friends at G.J. Stimmler & Sons. Good luck Birds in Brazil and stay safe. Go Phillies!!!!!!!!!

07/11/2024

Good morning everyone. Here is your tip of the week. Hot water......do we really need or want it right now? LOL Yes, we still need it. But what is too hot and too cold for "me". Everyone has a different feel. The wife and I are polar opposites when it comes to hot water. She likes to burn the skin off of her body where I like it a lot cooler. Plus, with the different seasons, do I have to adjust my water heater? Here is the easiest answer I can give. Yes, you should be adjusting your water heaters temps according to the seasons. Also, adjust the temp for the person in the household that likes it the hottest. Have the water heater produce the temp they like, without having to add cold water to it. Why heat up water to only cool it down. Not very efficient. The exception to that rule would be if you have a need in your home for water to be a certain temp (medical, sterilization, etc.) "What about my dishwasher?" As long as you provide hot water to the DW, it heats the water to the temp required to clean your dishes. "Can I adjust my temps on a combi boiler, or tankless WH?" Yes, they are even easier to adjust. So go and learn about your hot water system, adjust and enjoy the smaller gas bills. Hope this was helpful. Your friends at G.J. Stimmler & Sons. Stay Cool!!!!!!!!

05/24/2024

I have been meaning to follow-up about this but I keep getting side tracked. So, I posted about a month ago about the new refrigerant (propane) that will be used/required coming 1/1/2025. For those of you who saw my original post about propane being used as the new refrigerant, here is what I have learned. As of now, I am not a fan. I went to the class to get certified with the new installation protocols and procedures. Obviously, it is a flammable substance and there are going to be concerns about this being in your lines both inside and outside you homes. That being said, most of us already have flammables inside of our homes for heating; either gas or oil. Both of those are just as flammable. It comes down to who the contractor is doing the installation as it is now with heaters in your home. You have to be certified to purchase and install these systems. It is ok for you to ask your contractor to see his/her certification card to ensure they are properly certified. There will most definitely be people out there doing this that should not and that is where most of the problems will arise. 2nd...I don't want to be the one who gets the first of these units to "see how it works". As with all new items: cars, appliances, cell phones, etc. there are bugs to be worked out. My thought is, let someone else be the one to work them out. I would wait a few years, if you can, to get this system installed. If your unit is on its last leg and it screams to you at night "replace me now", that may not be a bad idea to do before the new systems are mandatory. Lastly...like all new things, these units will more than likely be more expensive to purchase and more expensive to install because the contractors, in the beginning, will be far and few between until they have a chance to get certified. These units have to be installed slightly different being there is a flammable substance in the line-set. No more torches to braze the copper lines!!! I hope this information has been helpful. Everyone have a safe and great Memorial day. Thank you to all the veterans who have served and are serving. Your sacrifices are greatly appreciated. Your friends at G.J. Stimmler & Sons.

04/03/2024

Good morning all. Hope you have your boats ready to get to work today. Well this is a great test for your sump pumps (those of you who have them). If you do have a sump pump in your basement here are a few things you should be asking yourself.
1- How often does my pump run? Hardly ever...no big deal. If it runs multiple times a day just because it is cloudy, you should be changing your pump much more frequently than the person who says it almost never runs.
2- How old is my pump? If it is older than 10 years, please replace it and save yourself a headache. Younger than that, gauge it on your answer to question 1. If it runs a lot when it rains, I like to change mine every five years.
3- How dirty is the pit where my pump is? Not that any of the pits are sanitary, but if your pit gets a lot of dirt, small stones or debris in it then that is also a concern to the integrity of the pump. The more foreign objects that get in the impeller, the more likely it will be to jam. It is a good practice to take your pump out once a year and clear off any foreign matter so it does not go into the pump.
4- When should I buy my pump? Well, first, let your plumber buy it for you. He will get a better one than you will at Lowe's or Home Depot. And don't wait until hurricane Zeus hits us full force. Guess what....everyone else will be out buying themselves a pump as well and there may not be any left. Wait until a dry spell. No one will be thinking of it then. Hope this information is helpful. Everyone have a great rest of your week. Your friends at G.J. Stimmler & Sons.

02/26/2024

Good afternoon, everyone. Well, football may be over but now we have baseball starting up again. Very excited for the 2024 season. That being said, here is your tip of the week... Well, it is happening again. The powers to be are changing the refrigerant for all the home and business air conditioning systems again. Some of you may still have R-22 refrigerant and some may have R-410a, which is the newer style. That is now being fazed out. There is a new refrigerant, starting July of this year, that is propane based. Yes, propane. Don't ask me questions about it yet as I am still gathering all the info on it myself. The units that will be in production starting July will be this new refrigerant and as of January 2025 you will not be able to purchase the old style units any longer. What does that me for all of us??? Yes, you can keep your unit as long as it is working. Yes, if you need to charge your old units that have R-410a or R-22, you can as long as your AC person still has your type of refrigerant. Can you still buy a R-410a style unit this summer if needed....yes. But after December, you will not. Will the newer units be more expensive??? You betcha!!! Can any HVAC company install this new equipment? NO. They will have to be certified for the propane refrigerant. My suggestion is this...if you have a unit that is "livin on the edge", do it in the spring before all this takes place. It will be a lot less expensive and easier to do. Also, just like new cars, there will be bugs that they will need to work out of these new unit. If I had the choice, I would not want to be one of the first to try out this new unit until they get the bugs figured out. I do not know if this new refrigerant will be more/less efficient but I am getting certified in it next month so I will report back after that and answer some of these questions for you. Hope this has been helpful. Your friends at G.J. Stimmler & Sons.

02/20/2024

Our company is looking to add a plumbing/heating mechanic to our busy team for a full time position. We are looking for people who have at least 5 years experience in the trade, valid drivers license, transportation to and from work, his/her own basic tools for the plumbing trade, a good work ethic and good customer skills. Experience in heating is great but not required. Our work is a combination of residential and commercial plumbing, heating and air conditioning.
We are based out the Manayunk area of Philadelphia and travel all over the tri-state area. Pay would be determined by experience level. You will have your own vehicle for work and an apprentice working with you. We do offer paid holidays/vacation and an option for health insurance. This is a small family owned company that has been in operation since 1890. Continued training and on the job experience will help hone the skills you already have in the trade. Are you ready to start your next chapter??? IM if interested for more information on this opportunity.

12/11/2023

Good morning everyone. Here is your tip of the week. The cold weather has finally arrived. For those that have water lines, heating lines and drain lines in areas that are not heated; garage, crawl space, non-insulated walls, external stack pipes, make sure you take precautions to prevent these lines from freezing. What can you do? #1- insulated you pipes. This will help prevent them from freezing from cold air/wind hitting them. But it is not an absolute solution. #2- wrap your questionable pipes with heat tape and then insulate. It looks like a flat extension chord and it heats up when it senses the pipe temp is too low. #3- try heating the area better where the pipes are located, if you are able to do so. #4- Insulate the room/space better and seal all cracks/gaps where the cold air can get into that space. Doing one or a combination of all of these suggestions will help stop your pipes from freezing during the colder months. Hope this helps. Your friends at G.J. Stimmler & Sons.

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3833 Manayunk Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
19128

Telephone

215-483-1996

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