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

What Goes on During Heating Maintenance in Burlington, VT?

Monday, September 23rd, 2013

Having professional maintenance performed on your heating system is a vital part of keeping you warm during the beautiful but lengthy Vermont winters. Any hard-working mechanical device with moving parts—from a dishwasher to a car engine—requires regular maintenance to give it a long life. A home heater in a city that gets as chilly as Burlington will need at least an annual check-up to make sure it functions efficiently and won’t threaten to break down during the least convenient times.

We’ll explain what occurs during heating maintenance in Burlington, VT to help you understand why it is so important. You can expect top-quality preventive maintenance like this from the experts at Red Rock Mechanical.

Although the work a technician performs during a maintenance visit depends on the type of heater you have installed, you can expect these general steps:

  • Inspection: The HVAC expert will give all the components in your heater a thorough examination. Electrical connections, gas valves, pilot lights, pipes, ducts, heating elements, belts, motors, fans, water tanks—anything that might suffer from dirt accumulation or sustain damage from wear and tear. If any part looks like it requires repairs or replacement, your technician will identify what needs to be done to keep your heater healthy through the winter.
  • Cleaning: Your heater most likely picked up dust and dirt during its summer vacation. If more than a year has passed since it received a check-up, your system might have serious clogs that could create major issues when it turns on. The technician will clean out any debris build-up that might interfere with fans, blowers, valves, the pilot light, or other vital components.
  • Tune-ups: Similar to an engine tune-up on your car, your heater requires adjustments to keep it performing at peak efficiency. Depending on the type of system installed in your home, this can involve recalibrating the thermostat or tightening the line connections to a boiler.

Regular maintenance will reward you with a more efficient and durable heater that won’t drain extra power and raise your bills. The fall season is the best time to schedule a maintenance visit because HVAC companies have fewer emergency calls filling their calendars. They can easily arrange an appointment convenient for you.

Contact Red Rock Mechanical today for Burlington, VT heating maintenance. You will appreciate our years of experience and personal touch.

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Preparing for the Burlington, VT Heating Season

Monday, September 9th, 2013

If you live in Burlington, VT, heating season starts early and ends late. Ours is a cold and snowy community, which makes proper heating an absolute necessity. You can help yourself and your heating system by adhering to a regular maintenance schedule throughout the summer months, then preparing for the heating season properly when it rolls around. A qualified professional can help you with the details, but in general a few key steps in the process will serve you well.

  • Lower your thermostat. Most people don’t need the home to be as warm in the winter as it is in the summer; 68 degrees feels plenty warm when it’s 20 below outside. Lowering your thermostat will not only save you electric bills but will save wear and tear on your heating system, helping it last longer.
  • Seal air leaks. Leaks in the windows, doors and duct system cause air to be pulled out of your home, forcing your heating system to work harder to heat your home. Sealing the leaks in the doors and windows, and having a professional serviceman check your ducts for leaks, will save you money in the long run.
  • Clean the components of your heating system. Or rather, have them cleaned by a professional. Service specialist can get the dust and dirt out of your heater, check the heat exchanger, examine the pilot light to make sure it’s running, and test the your heating system’s overall efficiency.
  • Consider a new system. While your current heating system may be working just fine, this is a good time to think about replacing one that isn’t. Not only will it save you money in electric bills, but you may be able to consider new options such as zone controls that your older unit might not feature. The time to install a new unit is in the late summer or early fall, before the snows start.

If you’re preparing for the Burlington, VT heating season, it pays to consult with people in the know. The experts at Red Rock Mechanical can speak with you about upgrades, repairs or replacement to your heater. Call us today to set up an appointment.

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Check Out Our Blog for the Latest in HVAC Technology

Monday, July 1st, 2013

Be sure to bookmark the Red Rock Mechanical blog for updates on the latest advances in HVAC and Plumbing technology.

We’ll feature money saving promotions here as well.

Call Red Rock Mechanical for all your Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing needs.

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