Now that spring is here, air conditioning systems throughout Northwest Vermont and the Plattsburgh, NY area will start to turn on for their long stretch of work during the middle of the year. If you haven’t done so already, make sure you schedule routine maintenance for your air conditioning from a professional HVAC technician. This is necessary to see that the AC works at peak efficiency and to catch potential repair problems so they can be dealt with early.
Red Rock Mechanical, LLC Blog
Ways You Will Benefit from Spring Maintenance for Your Air Conditioning System
April 6th, 2015
Now that the calendar has officially changed from winter to spring, we can start looking forward to warm weather in the near future. And eventually hot weather. Now, when we still have some of the leftover chills of winter, is the ideal time to arrange for an HVAC technician to come to your home and give your air conditioning system a thorough inspection and tune-up. To schedule this service, you only need to give the team at Red Rock Mechanical a call. We will set up a convenient time for your air conditioning maintenance. We service Burlington, VT and the surrounding areas.
How this AC regular maintenance will help you
Annual air conditioning maintenance isn’t an optional service: it is mandatory if you want to receive a full return in cooling performance from your investment in air conditioning installation. Here are some of the specific benefits you will get from an air conditioner that is regularly maintained by HVAC technicians:
- Longer service lifespan: If an air conditioner doesn’t receive annual inspections and tune-ups, it will likely not even reach half of its manufacturer’s estimated lifespan. But with the right care and attention, your air conditioner will probably exceed that estimate, giving you many years of energy-efficient performance.
- Fewer repairs: Fixing a malfunctioning AC can become costly, especially as it wear downs. Maintenance reduces the effects of wear and tear, and this takes care of approximately 85% of the repairs it may require during its lifetime.
- High energy efficiency: As dust and dirt build up on an air conditioner, and its components start to deteriorate, it will need to work harder to reach the same level of cooling that you normally expect from it. This will mean higher electrical bills. However, an AC that receives yearly maintenance should only experience a 5% drop in efficiency over its entire service life.
- Peace of mind: This is a less concrete benefit, but it may be the most important one. Regular maintenance will significantly reduce the chance that your AC will abruptly break down at the worst time possible.
Contact Red Rock Mechanical today to arrange for your spring air conditioning maintenance. We have NATE-certified technicians to see that you receive the best service possible.
Leaky Faucet? Don’t Wait for Plumbing Repair!
April 3rd, 2015
The drip-drip-dripping sound from a leaky faucet can be quite an annoyance. However, many homeowners don’t see this as reason enough to call a plumber. While a leaky faucet is an inconvenience (and it may stain the bottom of the tub or sink), it often does not seem like a severe enough issue for immediate plumbing repair. However, when you keep in mind how much water a leaky faucet can wait over time, it becomes apparent that plumbing repair should be completed sooner rather than later.
If you need plumbing repair of any sort in Stowe, VT, call the experts at Red Rock Mechanical. We can repair your leaky faucet or provide leak detection services if you’re worried about leaks in your water line.
Why shouldn’t you ignore a leaky faucet?
- Wastes water daily: Even a slow drip can waste gallons of water over time, increasing monthly utility bills.
- Raises utility costs: Ongoing leaks add up quickly, especially if left unrepaired for weeks or months.
- Signals hidden plumbing issues: Worn washers, loose fittings, or pipe damage may require professional plumbing repair services.
- Risks water damage and mold: Persistent moisture can stain fixtures, damage cabinets, and create conditions for mold growth.
Leads to larger repairs: Addressing small leaks early with residential plumbing services helps prevent more expensive plumbing services later.
The easiest way to see how a leaky pipe affects you and your community is by looking at the numbers. At a leak rate of one drop per second, your faucet will waste 5 gallons of water a day, which is almost 2,000 gallons over a year’s time. Still think this isn’t a lot? Now consider what would happen if every home in the United States had a leak to this extent. That’s a lot of water! And, as it turns out, according to the U.S. EPA, American households waste almost 1 trillion gallons of water a year in leaks alone—issues like these are often tied to broader common kitchen plumbing issues.
Your faucet may not be the only part of your home that leaks. You may have a leaky pipe somewhere in your plumbing system contributing to your water waste and high utilities. If you want to lessen your impact and prevent plumbing problems from worsening, you might consider having your plumber perform a full pipe inspection to help prevent a future plumbing water supply disruption.
Besides, for a skilled plumber, fixing a leaky sink should not take a very long time at all. You may be surprised at how quick and painless the process is, as long as you choose a reputable plumbing company for the job—especially when addressing small leaks before they escalate into a serious plumbing water leak. Red Rock Mechanical is committed to providing quality customer service to our customers, no matter how small of a leak we’re dealing with. Trust in our skilled team of experienced technicians for any plumbing repair you come across in Stowe, VT.
What’s Involved with Boiler Installation
March 25th, 2015
When it’s time for a new boiler, there’s a lot you have to think about. How long will the process of installation take? What will be the impact on your home? And who should you call for the job? While the steps of boiler installation very depending on the size of your home and the state of your older heating system, the most important thing is to choose a company with plenty of experience on the job.
To get in touch with a heating contractor experienced in heating installation in Burlington, VT, call on the help of the skilled technicians at Red Rock Mechanical.
Some of the Steps of Professional Installation
The fact is that new boiler installation will take quite a while: multiple days, in most cases. Removing the older boiler can take several hours, as can determining the state of the existing pipes. Furthermore, the technician will have to size your home and make some careful measurements regarding the type and size of system to use as a replacement.
Sizing a boiler is not as simple as using the measurements from the older unit. It’s possible that your existing boiler was sized improperly for your home or that you need a different type of system to accommodate your home. An oversized boiler consumes far too much energy, while a smaller boiler can become overworked and fail early on. Your technician will work with you to select an energy efficient heating system that will save you money over time.
The actual installation process requires a professional for several reasons. First, your technician will make sure that your new installation is up to code. And the installation process itself can be difficult, tedious, and unsafe. Experienced heating technicians use years of training to make sure they use the most up-to-date installation techniques only and make sure to check their work thoroughly. It’s difficult to detail the installation process for your particular needs, as it depends on whether you need in-floor piping, baseboard units, or any additional fittings for your home. Most likely, the process will take several days.
Call Red Rock Mechanical today for heating installation in Burlington, VT. We’ll detail the process so that you stay informed every step of the way.
3 Signs that You Need Pipe Repair
March 20th, 2015
When your pipes are in need of repair, you may notice it right off the bat. For example, you may not be able to use your drains at all or you may notice water leaking from underneath your sink. However, pipe damage does not always present itself so clearly. When you find yourself in need of plumbing repair in Williston, VT, contact the friendly plumbers at Red Rock Mechanical today. For your information, we’ve gathered a list of some of the warning signs.
- Low Water Pressure – Pipe leaks may not always be so obvious. The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average household may have pipes that leak up to 10,000 gallons a year! And many of these leaks go undetected for long periods of time. Sometimes, you notice the drip-drip-drip of water in the sink. Other times, however, a leaking pipe will present few warning signs besides an obvious effect on your water pressure. When you notice that the water pressure in your home is low, call on the help of a technician ASAP. Water may not make it to your faucet as quickly because it is leaking underneath the property or through the walls, potentially resulting in thousands of dollars in damages.
- Slow Drains – When the drains in your home don’t seem to clear out as quickly as you’d like, you can probably guess that there is a clog in the pipes. What you may not know is that those drain cleaning liquids found in stores can do serious damage to the pipes and to your health (especially to your skin and eyes). Slow moving drains are always a job for a professional plumbing technician when a regular plunger won’t work. Our plumbers use only high quality tools to remove drain clogs and ensure the life of your pipes.
- A Musty Smell – An annoying musty odor that won’t seem to go away is a huge warning sign. Unfortunately, excessive leaking can lead to mold. And mold can result in a number of ensuing issues with your family members’ health. Pay attention to this issue so that you can catch mold early on if it has become a problem.
Call our professionals at Red Rock Mechanical today for expert plumbing repair in Williston, VT.
When Is Heating Repair Urgent?
March 11th, 2015
We’ll say it right off the bat: every heating repair need should be treated as an urgent matter. Sometimes, a heating repair need may not seem like something that necessitates immediate attention. A strange noise coming from your furnace is a minor annoyance, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t get through your day. And a decline in heating power might not appear to be so much of a problem, just a slight inconvenience as you add an extra layer and wait for the home to reach the desired temperature setting.
However, these problems will not improve on their own. In fact, what’s far more likely is that the heating trouble will worsen. Consider this: when one part of your heating system is in need of repair, it still has a job to do. Often, the other parts step up in order to attempt to raise the temperature. This wears down multiple parts, resulting in a more costly repair than what was originally needed.
Furthermore, if you delay scheduling heating repair, your system may shut down entirely. When there’s not enough heat in the home, it may be due to a faulty blower fan. If the blower fan cannot push enough heat over the heat exchanger, the furnace plenum could overheat. Many decades ago, this may have resulted in very dangerous conditions (including a potential explosion), but today’s units have safety measures that prevent this. The furnace limit switch detects if the plenum is overheating and shuts off the unit. This keeps your home safe, but it also leaves you without any heat.
You should always take heating problems seriously, and you should not try to fix the trouble on your own or leave it to an untrained amateur. When it comes to gas heating systems, your health and safety may be at risk, and experts know the right way to inspect and diagnose a heating system while determining the proper method of repair.
Call Red Rock Mechanical today to schedule an appointment for our professional heating repair service in Essex, VT. Our team has years of experience installing and repairing both furnaces and boilers in the area and can get your unit back to normal fast.
Preventing the Need for Plumbing Repair
March 4th, 2015
Plumbing emergencies are never ideal. When a pipe bursts, you may experience flooding to a degree that requires immediate attention. Even a small leak can be a major annoyance and may cost you extra on your utilities. A drain clog is not only an inconvenience; it can also cause waste to backup into the drains in your home.
Take preventive steps to protect your plumbing system today. Call a plumber at the first sign of trouble, and try taking any of the following steps to protect you from the cost of plumbing repair. Speak with the friendly professionals at Red Rock Mechanical for more information.
- Pay attention to what goes down the disposal. Your garbage disposal helps make your work in the kitchen go a little more smoothly, but it should not be treated as a catch-all for whatever waste you need to get rid of. Of course, this includes non-food items, like cigarette butts, paper, and plastic wrappers. But you should also avoid hard food items like shellfish, bones from meat, and unpopped popcorn kernels. Fats, oils, and grease belong in a separate trash container, and be sure to rip large pieces of food into smaller bits.
- Purchase a drain trap. In the bathroom especially, hair is a major source of clogging. Keep your locks from clogging the drains by purchasing a simple drain trap from a hardware store and cleaning it out daily.
- Look for signs of leaks. Learning to spot the signs of plumbing leaks is the best way to schedule repairs in a timely manner, potentially saving you money and protecting you from a big mess later on. Look for any sudden drops in water pressure, water spots on the walls, or pooling water in the yard.
- Call a plumber at the first sign of trouble. Don’t delay plumbing repair as a small leak can always develop into something much worse.
- Schedule regular plumbing maintenance. Finally, schedule annual plumbing maintenance with a trained specialist. A plumber will look at every portion of your plumbing system, from the water heater to the drain pipes, cleaning and adjusting some parts and recommending services that may help further prolong their lifespans.
Call Red Rock Mechanical today for professional plumbing maintenance, repair, and advice from professionals you can trust in Montpelier, VT.
Choosing the Most Efficient Furnace
February 25th, 2015
The word “furnace” actually represents a wide variety of different heating systems today. Though they all share a basic function (they are all forced air heating systems) the method by which they accomplish that function can be vastly different. For a homeowner looking to install a new home heating system, the sheer number of options that furnaces provide can be overwhelming. Fortunately, we’re here to help. Here’s a look at some of the factors that you should consider when looking for the most efficient furnace to meet your needs.
AFUE
“AFUE” stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, and is one of the primary metrics by which furnace efficiency is judged. As the name suggests, the AFUE number is an approximate measurement of how efficiently the furnace uses its fuel over the course of one year. The number is displayed as a percentage, indicating how much of the fuel the furnace burns is converted into heat and how much is lost as waste. Generally, you’ll want to look for a furnace with an AFUE rating of at least 75-80%. Any less than that, and you’ll be spending an undesirable amount of money on fuel that’s not being converted into heat.
Size
The size of a furnace is actually quite important to how well it performs in a home. A lot of homeowners simply go for the largest furnace that they can physically fit in the space, in the mistaken belief that bigger furnaces are more desirable. In fact, if a furnace is either too large or too small it will break down much more often and have a shorter overall lifespan. You should consult a professional if you are uncertain of what size furnace you should install.
Fuel Type
Always be aware of what kind of fuel best fits your situation. Natural gas is the most popular kind of fuel, but it requires a gas line installed in your home by the city in order to work. Electric furnaces will work anywhere that electricity is available, but they are more expensive to operate than other furnaces. Always do your research, and consult a professional if you aren’t sure which furnace is best for you.
If you need to have a new furnace installed, call Red Rock Mechanical to schedule a service appointment. We provide professional heating services throughout Stowe, VT.
Why Pinhole Leaks are so Damaging
February 16th, 2015
Pinhole leaks are one of the most dangerous kinds of pipe leaks that can occur in your home. They also happen to be one of the most mysterious. Despite years of research, the EPA has yet to determine the cause of pinhole leaks. This makes them difficult to predict or prevent, with regular professional examinations being the only reliable way to identify and fix them before they cause too much damage. Let’s take a look at what pinhole leaks actually are, and why you should have your pipes checked for them periodically.
What are Pinhole Leaks?
Pinhole leaks are small leaks that exclusively affect copper pipes, which are resistant to almost all other types of corrosion. The type of corrosion that causes pinhole leaks is called “pitted corrosion,” where the pipe inexplicably begins to degrade from the outside in. Eventually, this opens up tiny holes in the pipe, no larger than the end of a pin. The leak is large enough to allow water to drip from the pipe, but not enough to cause a noticeable drop in water pressure. This makes pinhole leaks very hard to detect.
Why Should I Worry About Pinhole Leaks?
Pinhole leaks are a problem both because of their size and location. Most of a home’s plumbing pipes are located in the walls and ceilings, surrounded by insulation and support studs. A pinhole leak in such a location will cause severe water damage to the insulation and even rot out the studs, if given enough time. Wet insulation also provides an ideal environment for mold growth, adding a health hazard on top of the structural damage to the wall.
Most leaks have symptoms that are visible to the homeowner in some way, either through a loss in water pressure or water discoloration from rust travelling up through the pipes. Pinhole leaks have neither of these indications, as the corrosion is from the outside in and the leak is too small to cause a drop in water pressure. As such, the only way to protect your home from pinhole leak damage is to have a professional investigate your plumbing at least once every year.
If you haven’t had your home’s plumbing examined in a while, call Red Rock Mechanical to make an appointment. We provide professional plumbing repair service throughout Burlington, VT.
Some of the Unusual Movies Released for Valentine’s Day
February 14th, 2015
Hollywood has always tried to match movies up to the seasons to draw droves of viewers to the theaters: October is packed with fright-offerings, while the winter holidays skew toward warm and pleasing family films (as well as Oscar hopefuls). Valentine’s Day falls in an odd spot when it comes to the movie release calendar, however, since February tends to be a slower time for the film industry. The studios are as likely to slot strange movies that don’t fit anywhere else in their annual schedules into the Valentine’s Day weekend as they are films with powerful romantic appeal.
So, while the second weekend of February has featured hugely successful romantic comedies like Hitch, The Wedding Singer, and (of course) Valentine’s Day, some truly weird choices have debuted in this weekend as well. And a few have even gone on to tremendous success despite the bizarre match with the holiday. Here are a couple of the odder Valentine’s Day movie releases:
- Dracula (1931): Yes, this Halloween perennial and the start of Universal Studio’s Classic Monsters actually came out on Valentine’s Day! But perhaps this makes some sense, as the Dracula legend has often received a “doomed lover” approach in the many years since Bela Lugosi made the aristocratic vampire a screen icon.
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991): Does any film seem less appropriate for Valentine’s Day than this unnerving and sometimes very violent psychological thriller? What’s even more astonishing than the film’s release date is that The Silence of the Lambs eventually nabbed the Oscar for Best Picture, an almost unheard of occurrence for a movie released so early in the year.
- Daredevil (2003): This Marvel comic adaptation featuring Ben Affleck as a blind superhero does contain a romantic subplot, but the stronger connection to Valentine’s Day may just be that Daredevil wears a bright red costume.
- A Good Day to Die Hard (2013): The least successful of the Die Hard film franchise, this is an excellent example of a studio dropping a film into a weekend where it doesn’t fit in the hopes that it works as counter-programming. (It didn’t.)
- Wayne’s World (1992): Now here is an example of counter-programming that clicked with audiences. This comedy based on a Saturday Night Live sketch turned into one of that year’s biggest hits and spawned a sequel.
Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day with a trip to the movie theater, or you have your own special plans, everyone here at Red Rock Mechanical hopes you and your loved ones have a wonderful weekend.
