Red Rock Mechanical, LLC Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Burlington’

What to Do if the Toilet Starts Overflowing

Wednesday, November 5th, 2014

One of the most common phone calls we get here at Red Rock Mechanical is the call from the frantic homeowner panicking because the toilet has overflown. If this ever happens to you, don’t fear; there are steps you can take to fix the problem and keep the flooding under control. However, you may need to call a professional to get your toilet up and running like normal. In this guide, we’ll go over how to stop a toilet from overflowing, what to try first to fix it, and how to prevent this from happening in the first place.

How to Stop the Water

Of course, the most important step to protect your home is to find a way to shut off the water. Look for the shutoff valve which shuts off the water to the toilet, usually located by the bottom of the bowl. If you cannot locate this valve, try carefully removing the tank cover and lifting up the float until the water stops. Shutting off the water stops it from overflowing any longer but won’t correct the cause of the overflowing.

Fixing the Problem

To fix the problem, there are a couple of steps you should take. Your toilet is most likely affected by a drain clog that allows water or sewage to back up into the house. If the backup occurs right after you flush, the clog may be localized to the toilet, in which case you may be able to clean up the area a bit and use a plunger to move the clog into the sewer. If this won’t seem to work, the problem might be further along in the drain pipes or the sewer line. In this case, you need a professional to come in and use drain cleaning equipment like motorized drain snakes that will pull out the clog or send it into the sewer.

Preventing Overflowing

An overflowing toilet can be quite an ordeal for any homeowner, and cleanup may feel like a nightmare. Keep this from occurring again by scheduling plumbing maintenance once a year with a skilled contractor. During plumbing maintenance, many of the components of your plumbing system are cleaned and inspected, so you can learn about clogs before they become a disaster.

Call Red Rock Mechanical if you need quality plumbing repair in Burlington, VT.

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There Is No Such Thing as a “Small” Plumbing Leak

Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

Most homeowners know to call a plumber when there is severe damage to their pipes. But occasionally, leaks in your plumbing system are so small that they go unnoticed for some period of time.

At the first sign of a leak, no matter how small it may seem, you need to call for immediate repairs. This is because what seems like a minor leak can actually spiral into something much bigger, causing major plumbing repairs and affecting your daily activities. When you need plumbing repair in Burlington, VT, call the experts at Red Rock Mechanical to prevent major problems from occurring.

First, a leak can reduce your water pressure. Your water is kept pressurized so that it can easily flow from your faucet. Small leaks reduce water pressure, and, if a leak becomes larger over time, you may only feel a trickle just when you need a hot shower. Keep your family happy, clean, and healthy by calling a plumber at the first indication of low pressure.

Second, leaks can attract mold and mildew that seriously affect the living conditions in your home. As water pools in often-hidden areas of the home, mold forms and spores can move into the air. These spores can trigger asthma, allergies, and other respiratory problems which may affect some of the members of your household. Pools of water can also damage the structure of your home.

But perhaps the most important reason to repair issues now is that leaks will not fix themselves. Any leak can develop into a larger problem over time, flooding your yard or house and costing far more in repairs, which is why early intervention is key. Homeowners sometimes have a hard time detecting minor leaks. But if you notice any water spots in your home or yard or reduced water pressure, it could be an indication. Catch leaks even earlier by scheduling plumbing maintenance every year to make sure the most important components of your home are free of leaks and other problems.

Remember: any plumbing leak may become an emergency plumbing repair later on. Why wait for a costly fix? If you need plumbing repair in Burlington, VT, call Red Rock Mechanical today. We offer 24-hour emergency service so you can get that “small” leak repaired right away!

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Air Conditioning FAQ: What is the Condenser Coil?

Friday, 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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3 Standard Plumbing Repair Services

Tuesday, 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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3 Common Condenser Problems with Your Air Conditioning System

Friday, June 6th, 2014

The condenser is the outdoor unit of a split air conditioning system. Where the indoor unit, the evaporator, handles removing the heat from your home, the condenser does the job of releasing the heat to the outside. The condenser also contains the most powerful and important component for air conditioning operation: the compressor, which puts the refrigerant under pressure in order to change it into a high pressure, high temperature gas and start it off on the heat exchange cycle. The condenser also contains a fan to draw air across the condenser coil to allow for the release of heat.

If any issues start inside the condenser, it will threaten the cooling power of the whole system. If you suspect condenser trouble, don’t open the cabinet. Instead, put in a call to a local professional HVAC repair service.

Finding fast, quality air conditioning repair in Burlington, VT is simple: you only have to call up the team at Red Rock Mechanical. We have over 23 years of experience with heating, cooling, and plumbing, and we are ready to assist you 24-hours a day with emergency service.

3 Condenser Problems We Often See:

  • Damaged fan: An issue with the condenser is that it is outside, and therefore at the mercy of the elements. Although designed to withstand a great deal of punishment, condensers can still suffer from problems due to debris like rocks, gravel, leaves, sticks, and even tree branches getting through the grill and causing injury to the fan. The fan is a precision instrument that is carefully balanced, and should it receive damage that bends its blades, it will start to strike the casing. This will not only lead to a broken fan, it will damage other parts of the condenser. Fan troubles always require professional repairs.
  • Hard starting compressor: Issues with the compressor are among the most serious for an air conditioner. If the compressor burns out from too much stress and lack of repair work, it usually means the entire AC needs replacement. A compressor can begin to “hard start” (stutter as it comes on, then turn off early) because of electrical malfunctions, a failing motor, bad capacitors, or mechanical stress. When this happens, call for technicians to investigate right away.
  • Refrigerant line leaks: The refrigerant that runs through an AC must remain at the same level (charge) at all times. The only way the charge will drop is through leaking occurring, which can sometimes happen in the connections to the compressor or from the compressor itself. If you notice ice appearing anywhere on the system, it may mean a loss of refrigerant, and this needs skilled repair work right away.

Trust to Red Rock Mechanical for the air conditioning repair in Burlington, VT necessary to protect the condenser from failure. We are a small, family-owned business dedicated to bringing a personal touch to all our professional work. Give us a call today to schedule your next service appointment with us.

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3 Things to Consider Before Installing Ductless Air Conditioning

Friday, May 23rd, 2014

Ductless mini split heat pumps entered the residential air conditioning market after years of providing businesses with an effective alternative to standard central ACs. More and more consumers have chosen to have ductless systems installed because of the advantages they offer. Without ducts, these systems take up far less space in a home and do not adversely affect indoor air quality because of dirt and dust contamination. Because ductless heat pumps work through multiple indoor blower units, they also allow homeowners to control temperatures in separate parts of the house, and that means energy savings thanks to no longer needing to cool down unused rooms.

However, before you decide on installing ductless air conditioning in Burlington, VT, you should ask yourself a few questions. Don’t worry if you don’t have the answers at the moment; you can always rely on skilled installers, like those at Red Rock Mechanical, to assist you with making the best choice.

1. Is ductless the ideal fit for your home?

Ductless mini split heat pumps are best for new home construction and for older homes without sufficient room for a ventilation system. However, if you live in home that already has ducts, the advantages of going ductless may seem a bit reduced unless you plan for major renovations. Despite the many benefits that ductless air conditioning can provide, factors can outweigh them and make a standard system a better option. Talk with HVAC installers to find out if a ductless system matches your home’s requirements and your budget.

2. How many indoor blower units do you need?

Some small homes may only need one blower to effectively cool them down. Others will need multiples installed in the rooms. Depending on your comfort needs, the number of rooms that rarely need conditioning, and the layout of your house, you will need to adjust the number of blowers up and down accordingly. Professional installers are an important resource to help you figure out the right number of blowers that will give you the comfort and energy savings you want from a ductless air conditioning installation.

3. Will the system work well for heating?

Keep in mind that installing a ductless mini split heat pump means that you are also making an investment in heating your home during the winter; a heat pump can move heat either inside or outside a home. Heat pumps work at the same level of cooling power as an air conditioner of equal size, but can have difficulty with efficient heating during extreme lows. In some cases, you may need to have a back-up second heater in your house to make sure the heat pump can manage the winters you might experience.

Our team at Red Rock Mechanical is ready to help you with selecting and installing ductless air conditioning in Burlington, VT. We have over 20 years of experience helping people keep their homes comfortable year round. You can trust us with your important HVAC system installation. Contact us today to schedule an installation appointment.

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Why Do I Need Professional Plumbers to Find Leaks?

Friday, May 2nd, 2014

No other task in a home attracts more “do-it-yourself” attention than plumbing repairs…and few other tasks are less suited to it. A couple wrenches on a tool belt won’t make you into a professional plumber, and you certainly won’t help your pipes unless the repair is very simple. You need to put away the home plumbing kit and call for professional plumbers—especially when you have trouble with leaking pipes.

When it comes to leaks, it isn’t only the repairs that require professional plumbers; locating the leaks in the first place needs special skill and equipment. Leak detection is a more difficult job than many homeowners imagine, and having professionals handle the work will save you time, money, and extensive damage to house, both from the leak and trying to repair it.

For a Burlington, VT plumber who can detect all the hidden leaks in your home’s plumbing and fix them so they don’t start up again, call Red Rock Mechanical. We have 24-hour emergency service for those surprise pipe bursts in the middle of the night.

The Importance of Professional Leak Detection

Although leaks can spring up in obvious places, like a pipe beneath a kitchen sink, most plumbing remains hidden behind construction material or in locations where you rarely spend time, like the basement. When leaks start, they will usually occur out of your sight. By the time a leak causes enough damage that you will notice it, the repairs for both the plumbing and the building material can be expensive.

Leaks are often small; one of the more common types is known as “pinhole leaks,” which are even smaller than the name indicates. But small leaks will cause as much damage as large ones if they go too long without detection. Standing water from small leaks will eat away at drywall, warp wood, and encourage the growth of mold and mildew that further deteriorate building material.

To locate leaks that are too hidden and minute for the untrained eye to spot requires plumbers experienced in leak detection and outfitted with special technology. Professional plumbers use listening devices and pressure sensors to spot areas behind walls, under wood floors, and beneath concrete slabs where water is escaping from pipes. This allows them to perform precision excavation to reach the damaged pipe and repair it without causing unnecessary harm to building material.

Because leaks tend to spread, plumbers will extend their search to locate other places where leaks may have started. Expect a thorough job from experienced plumbers that will eliminate leaking throughout your plumbing.

If you suspect you have leaks because of a high water bills, discolored marks on walls, warped floorboards, or mold growth, call Red Rock Mechanical for a Burlington, VT plumber who will quickly find and fix the problem.

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Cold Climate Heat Pumps: How They Work

Friday, April 18th, 2014

If you’ve done some research into heat pumps, you probably already know about their major advantages: air conditioning and heating power in one unit, low cost heating, and space-saving. But you may have also come across one of their disadvantages: inefficient heating power in extreme cold temperatures.

It’s true that a heat pump will begin to lose efficiency in heating mode when the outdoor temperature falls below freezing. A heat pump must remove heat from the outdoor air and bring it into a home; although there is always some heat available in the outdoor air, no matter how low the temperature drops, it becomes harder for a heat pump to extract it once it dips below the economic balance point, a temperature usually around freezing (it varies due to humidity).

We definitely recommend heat pumps for people when it comes to cooling, since these systems work ideally at this task no matter the outdoor heat. But in Vermont, sub-freezing weather in winter is the reality. Because of this, we suggest homeowners look into cold climate heat pumps (CCHPs) so they can still take advantage of the benefits of a heat pump, but without sacrificing comfort. Contact Red Rock Mechanical and our staff of experts on heating repair and air conditioning maintenance in Burlington, VT today to find out more.

How Cold Climate Heat Pumps Beat The Freeze…And Save Money

Cold climate heat pumps (CCHPs) are also known as dual fuel hybrids because they combine the heat pump with a second backup heater that uses a different fuel source. You can have the heat pump and the back-up installed at the same time, or technicians can use your existing oil or propane-powered heating system and hook the heat pump to it. CCHPs come in both central and ductless models, so you can have one easily installed without existing ductwork in your home. Professionals can retrofit a home with a ductless system in less than a day.

CCHPs, when professionally installed, delivery three times more heat energy than they consume in electrical power. This is because heat pumps do not generate heat, but instead move it, a less energy-draining operation. In the case of extreme cold weather, the back-up system activates to assist the heat pump when it goes below the economic balance point. With the aid from the oil or propane-heater, CCHPs can deal with temperatures down to sub-zero without suffering efficiency loss.

A study by Efficiency Vermont has shown the difference in costs: A household that uses 850 gallons of heating oil per year (at $4 a gallon) would pay $3,400 for a year of heating. But with a CCHP installed, the same household would use only 170 gallons of oil, plus 7300 kWh of electricity at $.015 per kWh, for a total of $680 (oil) + $1100 (electric) = $1,780 for a year of heating…a savings of $1,620 per year.

Call Red Rock Mechanical today to ask about installation of a cold climate heap pump for your house. We’ll help you determine if one of these systems will work for you. Keep in mind, heat pumps also work as ACs, and you can call us for air conditioning maintenance in Burlington, VT to take care of all aspects of your heat pump.

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What Makes a Furnace High Efficiency?

Monday, March 31st, 2014

In a lot of ways “high efficiency” is in the eye of the beholder. Luckily, you don’t have to depend on subjective opinion to understand what makes a furnace high efficiency. Here in Burlington, VT, heating is no laughing matter and a high efficiency unit can mean big savings during the cold winter months. But who determines what constitutes high efficiency? That is, how can you tell that a “high efficiency” furnace actually is what it claims to be, and not just empty rhetoric from some advertiser somewhere?

The answer starts with the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating, which all furnaces must possess. It measures the percentage of the energy a furnace uses that actually goes into heating your home. So a furnace with an AFUE rating of 80% would spend 80% of its energy on heating and 20% on waste and inefficiency. Obviously, the higher the rating, the more efficient the furnace, which is where the subjectivity comes in. If you spend 20 years using a furnace with an AFUE rating of 60% and install a new one with an AFUE rating of 75%, it’s going to seem very efficient indeed.

The U.S. Department of Energy has established formal criteria for furnace efficiency. The EnergyStar sticker is used to denote furnaces that are particularly energy efficient: with a 95% AFUE rating or higher for gas furnaces, and an 85% AFUE rating or higher for oil furnaces. (That number drops slightly for gas furnaces in warmer parts of the country.) The EnergyStar rating helps eliminate the uncertainty in the equation and let you choose an efficient heater no matter what the circumstances.

For more on what makes a furnace high efficiency, or for installation options, you can call upon Red Rock Mechanical for help. We stand by our assessments with an ironclad guarantee, and we won’t rest until you are completely satisfied with our work. Here in Burlington, VT, heating systems need to be as efficient as possible. Contact one of our trained technicians today and let us help you make that happen!

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3 Signs You Need to Schedule Heating Repair in Burlington, VT

Tuesday, March 4th, 2014

In Burlington VT, heating problems need to be fixed quickly. A day without a functioning heating system means more than bother and inconvenience: it may constitute an actual safety risk to your family. A good heating company can respond right away, but it helps if you can spot the signs of trouble sooner rather than later. That will let you get ahead of the problem and take care of it before it shuts down your heater for good. Here are three signs that you need to schedule heating repair in Burlington VT.

  • No air flow or reduced air flow. This category also includes instances where your heater refuses to turn on at all. If air flow is lowered, it reduces your heater’s ability to warm your home. If it’s stopped completely, no heat will go into your home. The cause could range from a clogged filter to a damaged fan motor, but usually needs professional attention to fix.
  • No heat. Similarly, your heater may be moving the air just fine, but heat levels may be lowered or nonexistent. This usually means a problem with the burners or heating coils, though it could also stem from a blockage at some point in the system.
  • Higher bills. Sometimes, there’s nothing specifically wrong with the system, but lack of efficiency and/or worn parts are preventing it from functioning at its best. You can usually spot these problems by monitoring your monthly bills. If your heating costs spike despite the fact that you’re not using your heater any more often than normal, you’re probably looking at a faulty or worn component that could use repairing or replacing.

If you spot the signs you need to schedule heating repair in Burlington, VT, the next step is to call the experts at Red Rock Mechanical for help. We’ve been a mainstay of the area for over two decades, and we take pride in complete satisfaction for our customers. If your heater is showing signs of distress, don’t hesitate. The sooner was can get there, the faster we can get your heating system back into fighting shape.

https://www.redrockmechanical.net/heating

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