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

Are Electric Heaters More Efficient Than Gas Heaters?

Monday, February 27th, 2023

When you’re thinking about a new heating system, you may be considering the similarities and differences between electric heaters and gas heaters. Is one better than the other? The short answer is that it depends. Each homeowner has their own unique needs and expectations. You also want to consider factors like how cold it gets where you live and the availability of a gas line in your home.

If you are interested in an electric furnace in Montpelier, VT, our team can help. In the meantime, you can keep reading to learn more about electric heaters compared to gas heaters. The best way to make an educated decision is to understand the pros and cons of each option.

Tags: Electric Furnace, Montpelier
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What You Need to Know About Pinhole Leaks

Monday, December 5th, 2022

Hidden leaks in pipes are a major problem for many homes, often without anyone in the home knowing about them … because they’re, well, hidden.

The most common types of hidden leaks are known as pinhole leaks. They’re as small as their name, but that doesn’t mean they can’t cause a large amount of water waste and building damage. Because they’re difficult to notice, pinhole leaks often get ample time to create problems.

In this post, we’re going to provide you with important information about pinhole leaks. This will help you understand why they’re serious and need fast action from professional plumbers to eliminate.

Tags: leak detection, Montpelier, Pinhole Leaks
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How Do Slab Leaks Start in the First Place?

Monday, July 22nd, 2019

We’ve addressed the topic of slab leaks on our blog before, but here’s a quick rundown. Slab leak is a professional plumbing term for any pipe leaks that occur down in the concrete foundation of a building. The term can sometimes apply to any pipe leak in hardscape or rock, but for the purposes of your home we’re using it for the hot and cold water pipes under your house.

Slab leaks, as you can probably imagine, are a tricky problem. They’re difficult to detect, locate, and then reach. Our plumbers have the best tools to narrow down where the leaks are occurring so we can make the repair job as brief as possible and with little disruption to the house.

But what causes buried pipes to start to leak in the first place? There are several sources:

Tags: leak detection, Montpelier, Plumbing Repair, Slab leaks
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A Toilet Leaking Around the Base Is Trouble

Monday, February 18th, 2019

Leaks of any kind in your home are a problem, and most will need to be addressed with the help of skilled plumbers. The most troublesome leaks are the sort that escape notice because they’re coming from pipes hidden in walls, floors, or in the foundation. If there’s a leak you can see, you can move fast to have it repaired. For example, water on the bathroom floor that shouldn’t be there? You’ll probably need a plumber.

A common source of bathroom plumbing leaks is around the base of the toilet. This is a major problem for two reasons:

It can create unsanitary conditions, allowing harmful bacteria into your living space.
It can cause extensive damage to the floor, the subfloor, the ceiling (if it’s a second-story bathroom) and other building material. The most extreme case—the toilet collapses through the floor!

You can call us for plumbing in Montpelier, VT to discover what’s wrong with the bathroom toilet and fix it fast.

Tags: bathroom plumbing, Montpelier, Plumbing Repair
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What to Do With Cooking Grease (Aside From Pour It Down Drains!)

Monday, February 4th, 2019

Cooking grease, as well as fats and oils left over from cooking, should never go down the kitchen drains. Ever, if you can possibly help it! It’s unavoidable for some grease to go down the drains when you’re cleaning up, but if you have grease in a pan or skillet after you’ve finished cooking, don’t tip it over and send it down the kitchen drain.

We know this is tempting because it’s easy. And when you look at the grease in the pan, it seems harmless. It’s just a liquid that will wash down the drainpipes like water. But that’s not the case. There are ways to dispose of grease without resorting to the drain.

Tags: Drain Cleaning, Montpelier
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Preventing the Need for Plumbing Repair

Wednesday, 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.

Tags: Montpelier, Plumbing Maintenance
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This Is Why a Heater Must Be Properly Sized

Wednesday, January 21st, 2015

A lot of people think of heaters in terms of “bigger is better.” This is true, in the sense that larger heaters do have a greater heat output. It is not true, however, that a larger heater is always a better option. After all, if you follow that logic you end up with a commercial heater larger than your basement. In all seriousness, though, a heater absolutely must be properly sized to fit the home in which it is being installed. Let’s take a look at what can happen if you pick the wrong sized heater, either too large or too small.

Too Large

A heater that is too large tends to provoke one major problem, by putting out more heat than the rest of the system is used to. That major problem is short-cycling. Short-cycling is what happens when your heater rapidly turns itself on and off throughout the day. This is caused by the heater’s limit switch, which is designed to monitor the internal temperature of the heater. When the heater’s internal temperature gets above the safety limit, the limit switch shuts the system down to prevent it from overheating. After the heater cools off, it starts up again and provokes the same reaction. This locks the system into a never-ending cycle of on and off that wastes energy and damages the system. Now, the oversized heater isn’t actually overheating, but its heat output is high enough to provoke the limit switch anyway.

Too Small

A heater that is not large enough for the home it’s supposed to be heating will still have a much shorter lifespan, though not from short-cycling. Instead, an undersized heater will simply run indefinitely in an attempt to heat a space that it does not have the output to adequately service. The stress of constantly being on will wear down the heater much faster than one which is properly sized, eventually causing the system to die an early death and require replacement.

If you aren’t sure what size heater to install in your home, call Red Rock Mechanical and let us know. We offer quality heating installation in the Montpelier, VT area.

Tags: Heating Installation, Montpelier
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How to Tell if You Have a Hidden Plumbing Leak

Wednesday, November 19th, 2014

A hidden plumbing leak can mean major trouble for your home. The pipes that make up your plumbing system are installed behind walls, underneath the property, and in the floors or ceilings. Water can slowly leak out and form water spots in the walls that lead to a buildup of dangerous mold and mildew. Or, water can begin to damage the structure of the home, leading to major renovations that may force you to relocate for a period of time.

In any case, you need to be able to sense when a water leak may lead to complications for your home. This may seem easy enough. Oftentimes, there is a pool of water underneath the sink or in the bathtub that indicates trouble. However, usually a plumbing leak isn’t so obvious. When it’s behind the walls or elsewhere in or around your property, you’ll have to rely on the following warning signs to tell you it’s time to call for plumbing services in Montpelier, VT.

Dark Spots on the Walls or Ceiling: A dark, damp spot on a wall or ceiling could indicate a pipe leak behind it. Unfortunately, this could also point toward mold or mildew development, so you should be sure to speak with a plumber right away.
Grass Growing at Different Rates: If there is a plumbing leak underneath your property, it may cause puddles of water in your yard. Alternatively, you might notice that one patch of grass seems longer or fuller than the rest.
Reduced Water Pressure: The water pressure in your home is reduced as soon as there is a leak. Many homeowners tend to ignore low water pressure if showers and other activities are still possible, but this is a problem that deserves your immediate attention.
High Utilities: Finally, check your utilities to find any sudden and unusual changes in your monthly water usage.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to speak with a plumber with the right tools for leak detection and plumbing repair. Call Red Rock Mechanical today to make an appointment for professional plumbing services in Montpelier, VT.

Tags: Montpelier, Plumbing Services
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My Heat Pump Won’t Switch from Cooling Mode! What’s Wrong?

Wednesday, October 15th, 2014

The very last thing you want or expect when you turn your heater is for cold air to start venting into your house. In the case of heat pumps, this is an uncommon but frustrating problem. Fortunately, there is a fairly simple solution, though your HVAC technician will need to be the one to implement it. Before we explain what causes this problem, we have to understand how the heat pump switches between modes.

The Reversing Valve

Inside every heat pump is a part called a “reversing valve.” This valve sits at the junction of the central unit exhaust valve, intake valve, and both the indoor and outdoor unit lines. Inside this valve is a slide that controls which direction the refrigerant flows through the system. Depending on the direction, either the indoor or outdoor unit will blow hot air while the other blows cool air. This is what allows the heat pump to change modes.

Attached to the reversing valve is a solenoid, which operates an electro-magnet in the valve itself. The solenoid has two modes: “relaxed” and “energized.” All this really means is whether or not it has an electrical current running through it. When the solenoid is energized it activates an electromagnet which moves the slide from one position to the other and reverses the flow of refrigerant.

Common Problems with the Reversing Valve

Most often, the reason the heat pump gets stuck on one mode or the other is because the solenoid on the reversing valve is bad. If the solenoid is not working properly, it can’t move the slide from one side of the valve to the other. This essentially removes the heat pump’s ability to switch freely between heating and cooling modes.

So how can this be fixed? Often, the first thing an HVAC technician will do is check the solenoid for a magnetic charge. If it is displaying a charge, then something else might be responsible. Often, however, the solution is simply to replace the solenoid.

Call Red Rock Mechanical today if you are experiencing heat pump problems. Our comprehensive heating repair service cover the entire Montpelier, VT area.

Tags: Heat Pump Repair, Montpelier
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Warning Signs You Need Air Conditioning Replacement

Wednesday, 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.

Tags: Air Conditioning Replacement, Montpelier
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