Red Rock Mechanical, LLC Blog

Some New Plumbing Installation Ideas for Your Home

September 17th, 2014

When you want to improve your home, and perhaps save a little money on your monthly bills in the process, there are a lot of plumbing installation options available to you in Essex, VT. It can be difficult to decide whether you need to replace some components of your plumbing system, but in this guide we’ll show you why you may be more satisfied with low-flow toilets, a tankless water heater, or new sink installation.

Low-flow Toilets

Your current toilet may be responsible for a large portion of your water bills. Toilet use accounts for about 40% of your indoor water use, but, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, switching to a low-flush fixture may save you over 30% on your water bill. This is because low-flush toilets use greater pressure to flush as effectively as other toilets that rely on high volumes of water per flush.

Tankless Water Heater

If your existing water heater is nearing the end of its life, or if you’re looking for a unit for your new home, consider an efficient tankless water heater. Tankless systems are more efficient than other systems because there is no standby energy loss. While a storage tank water heater keeps water heated all day, a tankless unit heats water directly as it flows past the heating element and to your faucets whenever a hot water tap is turned on. Tankless heaters have a longer lifespan than storage tanks and may require fewer maintenance and repair visits.

New Sink Design

If your current sink doesn’t meet all of your needs, a plumbing company can install a new sink for aesthetic purposes or to create more space for storage and cleaning. For example, if you want your sink installed at a higher level to allow for more cabinet space in the bathroom, or if you want a sink with two bowls instead of one in your kitchen, a plumber can take care of installation for you.

Interested in making a few improvements to your home? Call the experts at Red Rock Mechanical for new plumbing installation in Essex, VT.

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Warning Signs You Need Air Conditioning Replacement

September 10th, 2014

Coming out of a hot summer, air conditioners can sometimes start to malfunction because of the large amount of stress they just endured. Often, a few targeted repairs from experienced technicians will handle the trouble and restore the AC to its best working order.

But there are times when an air conditioning system will start giving signs that it should be shut off for the last time and replaced with a new unit. We’ll look at a few of the ways you can determine that your AC should be retired and a new system installed.

You will want a second option when it comes to the choice to repair or replace. Bring in professionals like those at Red Rock Mechanical to look over your AC and determine if replacement is the best choice. You can also count on professionals to handle either the necessary repairs or installation. Expert installation work should ensure that your air conditioning replacement in Montpelier, VT will give you many future years of cooling.

Watch for these signs of AC replacement

  • System age: The best barometer for air conditioner replacement is how old the system is. Check on the manufacturer’s estimated lifespan for the unit (it is either on the cabinet or in the manual). If the AC is at or beyond the estimate, then you should give serious consideration to replacing the unit, even if it still seems to work adequately. The chance of the AC breaking down when you need it or starting to work inefficiently will begin to increase from this point, and often it’s a wise idea to get ahead of the problem and schedule the replacement when it is convenient.
  • Too many repairs: There’s a good rule of thumb when it comes to knowing when a repair is no longer worth it: if the repairs during a year are equal to or greater than half the cost of a new system, you should leave the repairs aside and invest in the new system.
  • Rising electrical bills: If you keep up with regular maintenance for your air conditioner, it should retain 95% of its efficiency through most of its life. But when age catches up to it, it will begin to rapidly decline in energy-efficiency, and you will see this reflected in your bills. If repairs and regular maintenance do not change the elevation in the bills, you should replace the AC.
  • Loud operation: An air conditioner that has ceased working effectively due to age deterioration will begin make loud mechanical sounds while it runs. An occasional odd noise here and there may point toward a repair issue, but if the whole system has become a noise pollution issue, then it’s indicating it should be replaced.

The team at Red Rock Mechanical that handles air conditioning replacement in Montpelier, VT is NATE-certified and can bring you the quality work that will keep your home cooled efficiently and effectively. Put your trust in our 23 years of experience.

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The Fashion of Wearing White and Labor Day

September 1st, 2014

You may have heard about the fashion faux pas of wearing white after Labor Day. In the present, this tradition is usually treated as old fashioned and a joke. Few people will criticize you for wearing white articles of clothing after the first Monday in September, or even take notice of it except to wonder why it was ever a major concern at all.

Where did this tradition of white clothing going out of fashion after Labor Day come from, and why did it fade away like colorful fabric washed in a hot load in the washing machine?

In general, white makes sense for the heat of summer. Light-colored clothing reflects away the radiant heat of the sun, instead of absorbing it the way dark colors do, so for thousands of years of human history people have preferred to wear white clothing during the hotter months.

However, the idea of white as strictly fashionable during the summer season only emerged in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries—the time when the very concept of “fashion” began to spread across the Western Hemisphere.

It was only the highest level of post-Civil War society in the U.S. that strict and often bizarre rules for fashion controlled whether someone was in with the “in” crowd. Compared to our ideas of what’s fashionable today, the Czars of Style in the 1880s were true despots. Things as trivial as sleeve length could determine whether a woman in high society—no matter her level of wealth—was fashionable or a pariah.

Wearing white during the only summer, when it was common for weddings and outdoor parties, was only of these restrictive society rules. When the U.S. government made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894, the Fashion Czars gained a definite cut-off point for when wearing white was no longer “acceptable” in the upper echelons of wealthy society.

For many decades, this rule only applied to a small number of millionaire socialites in a few big cities, but in the 1950s it reached general fashion magazines that were read around the country and started to affect more people.

But time eventually broke apart this odd rule, and during the 1970s fashion became more individual. Some fashion legends, like Coco Chanel, also purposely rejected the restriction and wore white throughout the year. Today, the “no white after Labor Day rule” is little more than an amusing gag to tease friends, and almost nobody takes it seriously.

Whatever you choose to wear after Labor Day (and if it’s white, we won’t tease!), everyone here at Red Rock Mechanical hopes you have a happy end of the summer and great plans for the fall!

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The Benefits of Regular Plumbing Maintenance

August 27th, 2014

A working plumbing system is vital to many of the tasks in your home, but you may not think about where your water comes from too often—unless something goes wrong, that is. And repairs can be a major inconvenience when you need water or a working drain right away. While you may be able to spot some leaks and clogs or notice signs of problems before your plumbing is in need of serious repair, other issues are often undetected until it’s too late. Many major repair needs can be prevented, however, with regular maintenance from a plumbing professional. In this guide, we list some of the best reasons to schedule regular maintenance.

  • Longer Lifespans: The pipes in your plumbing system may need replacement someday, but this can happen sooner if they do not receive proper maintenance. Corrosion or rust can cause sudden leaks and other plumbing problems that are caught early with a maintenance visit, to extend the lifespan of your whole system. Furthermore, your water heater and other fixtures in your home may develop problems over time that could cause them to need replacement. A plumber will inspect and clean these parts of your plumbing system as well to keep your system running smoothly for longer.
  • Fewer Repairs: If you don’t schedule maintenance, you may find that repair needs occur more often. With maintenance, leaks, clogs, and other problems are often caught early on, which means you won’t have to worry about repair needs occurring as often.
  • Better Water Pressure: If you have low water pressure from your shower and faucets, it may be due to leaks, mineral buildup, or other plumbing issues. Increased water pressure is just an added bonus that may go along with regular plumbing maintenance.
  • Lower Bills: If you have leaks in your pipes or problems with your water heater, you may not realize that you’re paying too much for utility bills. When you schedule plumbing maintenance, your bills may actually be lower than they were before.

When you decide to schedule plumbing maintenance in Stowe, VT, call the dependable professionals at Red Rock Mechanical.

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Air Conditioning FAQ: What is the Condenser Coil?

August 22nd, 2014

Your air conditioner has 3 key parts: the condenser, the evaporator and the compressor. Each plays a role in cooling your home, and each part is dependent on the other. The condenser and compressor are housed together in the outside unit while the evaporator resides in the inside unit. There are two sets of coils in your system, one in the condenser, the other in the evaporator, and problems with either set of coils can trigger the need for air conditioning services in Burlington, VT. Coils can be delicate components, so it’s best to call professionals, like the ones at Red Rock Mechanical, for any repair needs.

What Is the Condenser Coil?

The condenser coil is a narrow, serpentine copper tube that is covered with aluminum fins. The coil is part of the condenser unit, which also has a fan.

The main job of the condenser coil is to release heat from your indoors through the refrigerant in your system. In the compressor, the refrigerant is pressurized into a hot, high-pressure gas; this hot, gaseous refrigerant leaves the compressor and flows into the condenser coil. As it flows, the heat is released; as the heat releases, the refrigerant cools enough to change states from gas to liquid. At the end of the condenser coils, the refrigerant is a warm liquid. From here, the refrigerant enters the evaporator and continues the cycle.

Common Problems with Condenser Coils

Condenser coils can suffer from some commonly-seen problems:

  • Refrigerant leaks – refrigerant leaks can develop anywhere in your system, including the condenser coils. Refrigerant leaks can be tricky to find, particularly if a leak originates in the coils, so it’s always advisable to call a professional for any refrigerant leak repair.
  • Layered dirt and dust – dirt and dust can collect on the coils during normal usage. If the coils aren’t cleaned regularly – approximately once a year – this layer can become thick and insulate the coils. This inhibits the heat release process and can imbalance the entire refrigerant cycle.

Your condenser coils are an important part of the refrigerant cycle in your system; should anything interrupt the coils’ operation, your entire system can malfunction. Red Rock Mechanical has been providing air conditioning services to Burlington, VT properties for almost 25 years. If you are experiencing problems with your air conditioner, call us today and schedule an appointment.

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What to Look for in a Plumbing Repair Company

August 14th, 2014

Picking out the right company to handle your plumbing repairs can present some difficulties: you only have to make a quick search on the Internet to pull up a seemingly unending list of people who will offer to fix your plumbing troubles. How best to make the choice?

Below, we’ve listed a few qualities to place high on your criteria for a company to call for your plumbing repair service in Williston, VT. We think that you will discover that Red Rock Mechanical can meet all your needs, and that we go above and beyond to deliver quality plumbing work, whether it’s repairs, installation, or maintenance.

Look for These Qualities in a Plumbing Repair Company

  • Longevity: A criteria that applies to almost any company in any field: how long has the company served customers? A plumbing contractor with only a few years of experience (or which doesn’t reveal how long it’s been in business) is generally not as dependable as one with at least a decade of work under its belt. Longevity not only means more hands-on experience and better decision-making, but it also indicates a company that has earned the respect of many customers and the community in general.
  • 24-hour emergency service: Plumbing troubles wait for no one. If you have a pipe burst, a toilet overflow, or an unconquerable sink clog, it won’t necessarily happen during weekday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. business hours. You will need to have a repair company you can reach around the clock and around the week, and which can dispatch out emergency repair technicians when you need them.
  • Proper certification and licensing: Anybody can call themselves a “plumber,” but to work as an actual professional plumber you must have certification. The highest certification is Master Plumber, so make sure you find a company that keeps certified Master Plumbers on staff. If you need plumbing work for gas and propane pipes, you must also look for a company that has the special licensing required for these jobs—this is a major safety issue.

When you have emergency need for plumbing repair in Williston, VT, give Red Rock Mechanical a call any time of the day: you won’t receive a recording, but a live person who can send out the fast service you need. We have served Northwest Vermont for over 23 years, and we have Master Plumbers on staff and the proper licensing for propane and gas line work. We think that you will have a hard time finding repair plumbers more suited for whatever job you need done.

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Is Ductless Air Conditioning Right for My Home in Essex, VT?

August 7th, 2014

Ducts are no longer a necessity for central air conditioning a home. The development of ductless mini split heat pumps, which were originally installed for commercial use, allows a homeowner to install a central AC without using space-consuming ductwork. Instead of a ventilation system, a ductless mini split uses a series of blowers mounted in different parts of the house. These blowers connect to a single outdoor unit, and they send conditioned air directly into the rooms.

Ductless air conditioning in Essex, VT has a number of benefits. Since these systems are heat pumps, they also work well for heating. The individual blowers allow for zone control of temperatures. And the lack of ducts means there is less dust and dirt contamination in the air.

However, ductless mini splits are not ideal for all homes. Before you commit to installation, call the experts at Red Rock Mechanical. We’ll help you decide if going ductless is the best way to cool and heat your home.

When is going ductless a good choice?

Ductless mini splits are excellent for the following situations:

  • New home construction – If you are planning on building a new home, a ductless configuration for your HVAC system is one of the best options available. You’ll save space without the need for ductwork, and you will also have greater design freedom since you no longer need to build around the requirements of a ventilation system.
  • Home remodeling – For a large-scale remodeling for your home, you can have the old ductwork taken out and replaced with a ductless system. As with building a new home, this allows you increased freedom for the redesign as well as additional living space.
  • Add-on rooms – When you decide to expand your home with an extra room, such as a den, game room, or new bedroom, you won’t have to worry about hooking it up to the current ventilation system or replacing your current air conditioner because it cannot supply enough cool air for the additional space. Instead, you can hook up a separate ductless AC for the room.
  • Old and historic homes – If you live in an older home that lacks ducts and does not have the space to install them, then ductless mini split heat pumps will allow you to have central air conditioning rather than needing to rely on inefficient window units.

However, if your home already has an extensive and effective ventilation system and you aren’t planning to remodel, there usually isn’t a reason to install a ductless system. It’s more cost-effective to install a central air conditioner (or heat pump) and hook it up to the pre-existing ductwork.

Whatever type of air conditioner or heat pump you eventually have installed, you can count on the team at Red Rock Mechanical to handle the work. If you think that ductless air conditioning in Essex, VT is right for your home, contact us today.

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Signs You Need New Water Line Installation

July 30th, 2014

The water line is one of the most vital parts of your home’s plumbing, if not the most vital: it brings fresh water from the municipal system into your pipes, pressurized so it comes out of faucets, showerheads, etc. with just a turn of the tap. If the water line suffers from damage and bursts, likely because of wear due to age, you will need to have a new line installed fast.

There are a number of ways to tell that the time has come for a new water line, aside from simply having the water in your house just stop. (This might be an issue with the water department.) Here are some signs to look for that indicate the time has come for a new water line to your home.

Call Red Rock Mechanical whenever you need plumbing installation in Montpelier, VT. We have emergency service available for repairs to your plumbing that can’t wait.

Watch for These Warnings of Water Line Trouble

  • Water flooding onto the yard or through the sidewalk: A serious water line breech will cause the water to gush up through your lawn or yard, or sometimes geyser up through cracks in the sidewalk. Although it’s possible that a municipal line may be causing the problem, don’t assume that: call for plumbers right away to look into it. If it is you water line, it will likely need a full replacement because of the breech.
  • Drop in water pressure: When a water line starts to decay from age and corrosion (this is a problem for older galvanized steel pipes from pre-1970) leaks will begin to occur, and this will lead to a drop in the water pressure throughout your plumbing. When this begins to occur, first check with the utility company to make sure it isn’t a municipal issue. Then call for the professional plumbers to see to the trouble with the water line and advise on whether it should be replaced or not.
  • Discolored water: Corrosion is the main enemy of water lines, and when it happens the pipe will need to be replaced. One way you can detect corrosion is from a discoloration in the water from your traps. If this appears in taps throughout your house, the culprit may be the water line. Breaks in the water line that allow in dirt and soil can also lead to discoloration in the water.

Water line replacement isn’t a task you can delay: you risk losing all of your fresh water because of an aging, leaking, or broken line. Call Red Rock Mechanical at the first indication of trouble, and we will handle the plumbing installation in Montpelier, VT that you need.

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3 Signs You Need Air Conditioning Repair

July 23rd, 2014

It can be difficult to tell if something is seriously wrong with your air conditioner. If something is not quite right but doesn’t seem like an emergency, you may feel as though you can put off air conditioning repair until a later time. However, this is a dangerous way of thinking. If you put off air conditioning repair for too long, you may run into other problems, or you may lose cool air entirely right in the middle of summer.

So when should you call for AC repair? As soon as you run into a problem! We’ve put together a list of three of the most common reasons you might need to call for air conditioning repair.

  • Loud Noises: Don’t assume that the strange noises coming from your AC unit are normal. There are a number of moving parts in your air conditioner that may make noise when they are not working properly. If your fan motor runs into problems, you may hear a grinding noise. A hissing noise could indicate leaking refrigerant. Loose or bent parts in your outdoor condenser unit may begin to make a banging or clanking sound.
  • Not Enough Cool Air: Your air conditioner may lose cooling power for many reasons. Even if the temperature is still bearable, an AC that doesn’t cool properly drives up your energy bills, and it can cause serious damage to other components of your system. The first place to check is the air filter as a dirty filter may block airflow. However, loss of cooling power may also indicate low refrigerant or damage to the compressor.
  • High Energy Bills: High energy bills should be reason enough to have someone look at your air conditioner. All air conditioners lose efficiency over time, but a significant increase indicates a big problem. If your system is running up your bills, you may have serious problems with some important parts of your AC, such as the compressor or evaporator coil.

The consequences of a damaged AC are not worth delaying repairs. For air conditioning repair in Stowe, VT, contact the experts at Red Rock Mechanical.

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3 Standard Plumbing Repair Services

July 15th, 2014

Off the top of your head, you can probably think of three plumbing problems that you’ve encountered more than one time in your home. Professional plumbers know all about these everyday nuisances that can plague even the cleanest and best-maintained plumbing systems, and they’re always ready to help out with skilled repairs that will take care of the problem without causing any damage to the rest of your plumbing.

Red Rock Mechanical has worked in plumbing for over 23 years now, and we’ve seen almost every kind of plumbing problem you can imagine, and many you don’t want to imagine. But right now we’ll stick to the simpler kind and talk about 3 standard plumbing services in Burlington, VT that we often perform. If you need any of these basic services—or any of the more unusual ones!—call us right away, any time of the day or night.

3 Common Plumbing Services

  • Unclogging drains: No nuisance problem for plumbing is more common than the clogged drain. Unfortunately, too many people try to solve the problem themselves using chemical drain cleaners. Leave those on the grocery store shelves! They’re bad for your pipes and bad for your lungs, eyes, and skin. Instead, call in a professional plumber, who will use expert tools like motorized drain snakes and hydro-jetters to get rid of the clogs and keep them from coming back.
  • Leak detection: Leaks can start in places where you won’t notice them at first, such as hidden behind walls or under floorboards. When you do suspect you have a leak due to higher water bills, warped floorboards, mold growth, or discolored spots on the walls, you still won’t know exactly where the leak is. Plumbers will use leak detection equipment and their own skill at spotting leaks to pinpoint the location of the leaking pipe and reach it with minimum disruption to building material.
  • Fixing garbage disposals: You won’t realize how much you depend on your garbage disposal—until it breaks down. Although sometimes restoring the disposal to life is as simple as pressing the reset switch on the bottom of the unit, any more difficult work will require a plumber. You don’t want to risk sticking your hand down into the disposal to try to loosen the flywheel, so let the professionals handle this job. In some extreme cases, you may need to have the whole disposal removed and replaced.
  • Flushing water heaters: If your water heater has too much sediment gathering in its tank, it may start to overheat or block valves. Plumbers can flush out the water in the system to clean it and get the water heater back to normal operation.

Whatever your needs for plumbing services in Burlington, VT, you can count on the experienced team at Red Rock Mechanical to deliver it for you, done fast and done right. Give us a call today to schedule your next AC repair.

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