Red Rock Mechanical, LLC Blog

Help! My Toilet Is Overflowing! What Do I Do?

May 29th, 2017

toilet-with-button-flushWe know an overflowing toilet is one of the more alarming events that can occur with home plumbing, right up there with a burst pipe. However, there are steps to take to stop the flow and have it corrected. If you do some planning ahead to prepare for an event like this—and it can happen to any toilet, no matter its age or how well it’s cared for—you can prevent serious water damage and dangers from an overflow of sewage.

Remember, helpful professional plumbers are on-call to assist you with bathroom plumbing in Burlington, VT and throughout Northwest Vermont and Northeast New York.

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More about the Benefits of an AC Maintenance Program

May 16th, 2017

air-conditioner-money-saverWe often talk about preventive maintenance for HVAC systems during the spring and fall. These are the seasons when we experience milder weather, and that is an ideal time to have HVAC equipment worked on, repaired, or replaced. It gets a house ready in time for weather extremes and takes advantage of a generally slower time for heating and cooling professionals so it’s easier to schedule an appointment that’s convenient for you.

We’re in the second half of spring, and if you haven’t thought much about maintaining your air conditioning system in Plattsburgh, NY—even if you’ve already had it running for a couple of days—it’s not too late to have it done!

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Why You Should Sign Up for One of Our Maintenance Programs

May 1st, 2017

service-reminder-clockAn important part of providing air conditioning service for our residential customers is helping them avoid air conditioning service as much as possible. Yes, this sounds like a self-defeating goal, but the aim of our company is to make sure our customers have the finest in comfort. Finding ways to help our customers’ air conditioning systems work at their best and without the need to call us for emergencies is something we’re glad to do.

And the best way to let us help you with air conditioning service in Burlington, VT is for you to sign up for one of our regular maintenance programs. Here are some of the reasons this is a great idea:

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Warning Signs You Need Duct Repair Service

April 17th, 2017

ductwork-in-atticWhen thinking about air conditioning or heating your home, you probably don’t give much thought to one of the most vital parts of the HVAC system. The “V” in “HVAC,” which is ventilation. And for most homes—probably including yours—the ventilation system is made up of ducts constructed from sheet metal, flexible plastic and aluminum, and duct board.

In order for your home’s heating and cooling to work at peak efficiency and effectiveness, it must have a tightly sealed ventilation system. This is how air pressure is maintained for the proper deliver of cooled and heated air to the vents around the home, and it prevents the loss or gain of heat. If the ventilation system sustains damage or develops air leaks (something that’s unfortunately common), it will create major problems for comfort and energy use in your house.

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Warnings Those Clogged Drains May Be Sewer Line Problems

April 10th, 2017

water-down-drainNobody wants to encounter a slow or clogged drain in their home. It’s an annoyance and can bring simple tasks in the household to an indefinite halt until it can be remedied. Fortunately, clearing out a clog isn’t a tough job. If you can’t manage it using a basic drain plunger or with a hand-cranked drain snake (don’t use chemical cleaners, please!), you can always call our plumbers any time of the day or night and we’ll have the drain cleared out fast.

However, clogged and slow drains sometimes indicate a problem that runs deeper than blockage in a drain pipe. Your home’s sewer line might be suffering from breaks, obstructions due to tree root infiltration, or organic and inorganic build-up. These are more serious troubles than drain clogs, because they can lead to the full failure of your home’s drainage system and eventually sewage backing up into the basement or foundation.

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Taking the AC for a Test Run to Prepare for Warm Weather

April 3rd, 2017

fan-on-white-backgroundNow that spring has arrived—officially, if not as far as the weather is concerned—you’re probably making various “spring cleaning” plans and prepping your home for the middle of the year and the change in seasons. One of the important tasks to take care of is to arrange for a routine maintenance inspection and tune-up for the air conditioner, something we talked about in our previous blog post.

Regular maintenance gives an AC the best chance to make it through the coming summer without problems. But maintenance isn’t magic, and it’s a good idea to give your air conditioner a “test run” yourself a few weeks afterwards and before the real heat arrives. There are a number of common air conditioning problems that can strike even a system with the best regular maintenance, so it’s wise to be as prepared as possible. Testing the air conditioner allows you to catch any lingering trouble and have it fixed in time for summer weather.

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We Know It’s Still Cold… But You Need to Think about Your AC Now

March 27th, 2017

air-conditioning-grillIt was only a few weeks ago that a major March blizzard struck most of the Northeast, including here in Burlington and Plattsburgh. The weather has warmed up a touch since then, but we’re still experiencing cold tempeartures at the official start of spring. It may feel as if the real spring warmth is a long ways off.

But it isn’t! April is the month when the last of the cold weather stirs around and finally gives way to the heat that rises until its mid-summer peak. Even though we’re still dealing with chilly outdoor temperatures, this is the time of the year to start thinking about your air conditioning and ready it for the coming hot weather. We’ll look at how you can prepare your home’s AC for the late spring and summer.

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Taking Care of Your Heat Pump After the Blizzard

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.

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Spring Preparation: Your Plumbing

March 13th, 2017

Tools_tools_house-smA subject that we often bring up during the end of the winter and the beginning of spring is arranging for maintenance for your air conditioning system. This is a vital part of seeing that the AC is ready to handle another hot summer.

Your HVAC system isn’t the only part of your house that requires check-ups as spring begins. You might not realize how much stress your plumbing undergoes during the winter. Although your pipes, drains, and other parts of the plumbing don’t necessarily need professional inspections and maintenance each spring, it’s a wise idea to go through a few checks on your own to locate where there may be plumbing issues. This way you can schedule service in time to head off more serious problems.

Below are some of the most important checks to make for your plumbing in Burlington, VT as the first day of spring (Monday, March 20) closes in.

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Tank vs. Tankless Water Heaters

March 6th, 2017

tank-water-heaterWhen people think about residential water heaters, they have a distinct image in mind. It’s a simple image: a tall metal cylinder containing a supply of water. This is a storage water heater, also called a tank water heater. (Or, if you want to be extremely specific, a storage tank water heater.) The reason this is what people think of when they hear the term water heater is that tank water heaters are the most common way to heat water in homes and they have been for many decades.

This doesn’t mean they are the only choice. There are alternatives to the conventional electric or gas-powered storage water heater on the market. The most popular of these alternatives is the tankless water heater. More homes each year are adopting these models and finding out they love their multiple advantages.

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