Red Rock Mechanical, LLC Blog: Archive for the ‘Heat Pumps’ Category

Heat Pump Maintenance 101: What’s Included in My Service?

Monday, May 19th, 2025

As your trusted local HVAC experts, we understand how important it is to keep your heat pump running smoothly, especially here in the unpredictable climate of Williston, VT. Whether you’re using a heat pump for heating, cooling, or both, regular maintenance is the key to energy efficiency, system longevity, and year-round comfort. Many homeowners aren’t sure what’s involved in a maintenance visit, and that’s completely understandable. Our goal is to take the guesswork out of the process so you feel confident and informed every step of the way. So, what exactly is included in professional heat pump maintenance?

Let us walk you through what to expect when you schedule service with Red Rock Mechanical, LLC.

Continue Reading

Making a Fall Change: What About Installing a Heat Pump?

Monday, September 9th, 2024

sun-and-snowflake-badge

As the summer heat gives way to the crisp, cool days of fall, many homeowners start to think about their heating needs for the upcoming winter. It’s a great time to assess your current HVAC system and consider whether it’s time for an upgrade. 

One option that has been gaining popularity is the heat pump. We’re professional heat pump installers in Plattsburgh, NY, so we often get questions about whether a heat pump is a good choice to replace a standard HVAC system—namely, a separate air conditioner and furnace. We’ll explore why a heat pump might be the right choice for your home and why it’s essential to consult with HVAC professionals before making any decisions.

Continue Reading

How to Get the Most From Your Heat Pump This Summer

Monday, May 20th, 2024

air-conditioning-grill

​​As the scorching heat of summer approaches, ensuring your home remains cool and comfortable becomes a top priority. If you’re relying on a heat pump for cooling, you’re already on the right track towards energy efficiency and comfort. However, to truly get the most out of your heat pump during the summer months, it’s essential to follow some key maintenance and optimization tips. As your trusted local HVAC contractor, we’re here to guide you through maximizing the performance and lifespan of your heat pump this summer. We have the heat pump service in Burlington, VT you need to ensure you the best comfort this summer.

Continue Reading

Why Won’t My Heat Pump Turn to Heating Mode?

Monday, February 12th, 2024

woman-in-sweater

As the temperatures drop, relying on your heat pump to keep your home warm becomes crucial. However, encountering an issue where your heat pump refuses to switch to heating mode can be both frustrating and concerning. In this blog post, we will explore various reasons why your heat pump may not be sending out hot air, with a particular focus on the often-overlooked culprit: the broken reversing valve.

If you run into trouble with your heat pump, you can always call our team for swift and effective heat pump repair in Plattsburgh, NY and the surrounding area.

Continue Reading

Important Facts About Dual Fuel Systems

Monday, December 23rd, 2019

sun-and-snowflake-badgeDual fuel systems are heating systems that use two different energy sources for heating: electricity and natural gas (or, in a home with no access to natural gas, propane). The standard operation for a dual fuel system is a combination of an electrical heat pump with a gas furnace as a back-up. The electrical power of the heat pump provides warmth for a home in temperatures of 40°F or higher, and the gas-powered furnace takes over when the temperature drops lower.

This provides the “best of both worlds” for electrical and gas heating: a heat pump is an inexpensive way to electrically heat a home, and natural gas is the least expensive way to provide high levels of heat when necessary. Since a heat pump functions as an air conditioner during the summer, this single installation can take care of comfort for the year.

These are the basic dual fuel system facts. But there are a few more important facts to know before you call a Plattsburgh, NY HVAC contractor to have one installed.

Continue Reading

How Can a Heat Pump Get Heat From Outside in Winter?

Monday, March 4th, 2019

hot-and-cold-houses

This is a common question people have when they first hear about how a heat pump works. The conversation usually goes something like this …

HVAC Tech: A heat pump is basically like an air conditioner. But it can work in reverse.

Homeowner: What happens when an AC runs in “reverse”?

HVAC Tech: Well, normally an AC draws heat from out of your house. That’s why the air feels cooler indoors.

Homeowner: I thought an AC generated cooling.

HVAC Tech: Cooling is the lack of heat. The AC takes the heat away, making the air cooler. But the AC has to put that heat somewhere, so it releases it outdoors. Now imagine doing it the other way. A heat pump when in heating mode draws heat from the outside and releases it indoors. Presto! Home heating.

Homeowner: Oh, I see. But … wait a minute, I’m only going to run the heat pump in heating mode when it’s cold. So that means the heat pump is bringing in heat from the cold air outside?

HVAC Tech: Yes.

Homeowner: How does that work? It’s … cold outdoors!

Continue Reading

There’s Smoke Coming From My Heat Pump! What’s Wrong?

Monday, January 7th, 2019

geothermal-vents-in-groundIf you’re asking this question, this is probably the first winter you’ve spent with a heat pump providing comfort for your home. You made a change in spring or winter to your HVAC system and replaced it with a heat pump. This is a great choice—heat pumps are able to deliver excellent cooling in hot weather and energy efficient heating in winter. Thanks to advances in heat pump technology, heat pumps operate in cold temperatures better than ever before.

But making the change to a heat pump brings with it a few adjustments. When you see what looks like smoke coming off the outside cabinet of the heat pump, please don’t panic—this is actually how the heat pump is supposed to run, as we’ll explain below.

Continue Reading

Taking Care of Your Heat Pump After the Blizzard

Monday, March 20th, 2017

ice-pattern-on-glassA major storm swept through most the Northeast last week, and we weren’t spared. Storm Stella dropped heavy levels of snow on Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Ontario, and our own Vermont and New York region, with an average of two feet of snowfall. Schools shut down, flights were cancelled, and states of emergency were declared in some areas.

We hope you and your family weathered Stella’s assault in safety and that your home’s heating system worked steadily during the storm. Now that the weather has settled, it’s time to take stock of the situation and see if there are repairs necessary to restore you home and see that it’s ready in case of another March surprise.

Continue Reading

Two Winter Heat Pump Problems—That Aren’t Really Problems

Wednesday, December 21st, 2016

Heat pumps have improved so much over the past decade that they are now practical in colder areas. Our winters are mighty chilly, but if you have the right heat pump installation from our experts, you can expect the system to make it through the season without trouble.

If this is your first winter using a heat pump, you might run into some behavior from it that will seem alarming. Actually, these odd-seeming occurrences are normal. If you know what to look for, you won’t need to panic and call for repairs.

Continue Reading

Is a Heat Pump the Right Choice for Your Home?

Monday, April 11th, 2016

Though spring is upon us, temperatures are still relatively cool, and you may still be using your heater. Hopefully your heating system has treated you well this season. If you’ve found yourself needing a replacement system however, now could be the best time to shop. Springtime is a great time to purchase a system that can fulfill both your heating and cooling needs, when you aren’t in dire need of either system. A heat pump will fulfill these needs. Is it right for your home though?

Continue Reading