Red Rock Mechanical, LLC Blog: Archive for May, 2014

Minor Plumbing Problems That Can Become Big Plumbing Problems

Friday, May 30th, 2014

Nobody likes dealing with plumbing problems, and if the issue isn’t seriously debilitating, we all have a tendency to let it be. Why not put up with a slow drip in the faucet, for example, or a sink that’s slow to drain? In point of fact, however, those little issues have a way of becoming bigger ones at the worst possible moment. If you’re looking for a plumbing service, Williston VT has a number of reputable companies, and you should always call them sooner rather than later. Here’s a breakdown of minor plumbing problems that can become big plumbing problems.

Consider the issue of leaks for example. A small out-of-the-way leak may not seem like a big deal, especially if the slow drip of water doesn’t affect the pressure from the faucet. But that drip can affect your house in ways you can’t predict. Water left on its own can work horrors on nearby wood and drywall, creating major problems with your home. It can also damage electric circuitry and wall outlets. By the time the leak becomes bad enough to affect the water pressure, you may be looking at a serious repair bill.

The same thing happens with clogs. The longer they remain, the more other detritus from your sink builds up. That makes the clogs stronger and harder to dislodge, as well as clogging up more and more of the pipe. Getting to a clog early can be comparatively easy. But if you wait, then the plumber may need to deploy more expensive equipment to fix the issue, or even replace the pipe itself. Sooner is always better when dealing with clogs. Your plumbing system will thank you for it.

To handle minor plumbing problems that can become big plumbing problems, call upon the professionals at Red Rock Mechanical for help. When it comes to plumbing service, Williston, VT residents can’t find a more reliable company, and we treat little problems with the same reverence and care that we handle big ones. Give us a call today to make an appointment and take care of that lingering little issue before it gets too big to ignore.

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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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3 Reasons to Hire a Plumber Instead of Performing Repairs Yourself

Friday, May 16th, 2014

When you encounter repair problems with your plumbing, is your first impulse to pick up the phone and call for a plumber, or pick up a tool belt and try to troubleshoot the job on your own? If it’s the second, we understand: the urge toward “do-it-yourself” solutions is strong today, especially when you can search the Internet and find dozen of articles explaining homebrew fixes for almost any problem. However, you still shouldn’t attempt to do plumbing repairs on your own. The first impulse—call the professionals!—is the better one for both the long and short term, as we’ll explain.

It’s easy to reach a skilled plumber whenever you need plumbing repair in Essex, VT: call Red Rock Mechanical, where we offer 24-hour emergency service to handle any problems with your home’s plumbing. Put your trust into our more than 20 years of experience.

3 Reasons to Call a Plumber

  1. Equipment: A tool belt and a variety of wrenches of different gauges isn’t enough to handle most plumbing repairs. Professional plumbers use an array of advanced equipment to facilitate repair work, most of which are too expensive and too complicated for consumer use. Motorized drain snakes, hydro-jetters, and sophisticated leak detection devices are among the many advanced tools that plumbers will bring to a job.
  2. Less risk of additional damage: It’s easy when doing amateur repair fixes to accidentally cause additional damage. This is especially true when trying to fix leaky pipes: you can end up creating an even larger leak that might cause serious water damage to your home. Professional plumbers have the training necessary to not only tackle a repair need, but prevent it from causing additional issues: they get the job done right the first time.
  3. Save money: Yes, it’s usually less expensive to hire a plumber from the start rather than to attempt the job yourself. The reason for this is amateur plumbing often leads to larger repair issues that will force you to call for a plumber anyway—only now the plumber has an even bigger repair to take care of than before. More insidious are the smaller problems you might cause to your plumbing that will cost you money due to water leaking and high pressure in the pipes.

Remember that not all professional plumbers are equal: make sure that when you need plumbing repair in Essex, VT that you call for the most experienced plumbers available. Red Rock Mechanical has a staff of top-notch plumbing professionals with many years of hands-on work providing effective repairs. Call us any time of the day or night when you need skilled work on your home’s plumbing.

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Cut Down on Air Conditioning Bills This Summer

Friday, May 9th, 2014

Here in Stowe, VT air conditioning systems see a surprising amount of use. While our winters are cold, snowy and long, our summers carry their share of heat and humidity, and without a good air conditioning system, you’re liable to start longing for the cold far more often than you should. We’re used to paying higher energy costs in the summer to cover extended air conditioning use, which can cover up a fair amount of wasted money. Besides more obvious solutions like dressing in lightweight clothes and setting your thermostat slightly higher than you normally would, here are a few quick tips to cut down on air conditioning bills this summer.

  • Schedule a maintenance session from a qualified technician.
    Maintenance sessions are a little like a tune-up for your car. The technician cleans off dust and dirt that can cause friction, tightens loose fittings that might make components rattle in their housings and replaces clogged filters to help the air flow smoothly. As a result, the air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to do its job and your energy bills will go down.
  • Seal up those leaks and cracks.
    Look for spots under your door where air could escape, or similar spots on imperfectly sealed window. They could let hot air in or cause cool air to escape, raising your energy bills in the process. You can seal those spots with weather stripping, and a qualified technician can help you spot other parts of your home that can be made more energy efficient.
  • Consider a smart thermostat.
    If you have an older thermostat, look into replacing it with an upgraded model: something that lets you turn the air on and off remotely with a phone app, or even just one with a timer that you can set. Turning the air on ten minutes before you get home uses much less energy than just letting it run all day, and the house won’t feel any less comfortable when you arrive.

For more ways to cut down on air conditioning bills this summer, or to schedule a maintenance or repair session, the experts at Red Rock Mechanical are ready to help. For residents of Stowe VT, air conditioning service is vital to surviving the summer. Contact us today and let us make sure it’s ready for the job!

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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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