Red Rock Mechanical, LLC Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

Do I Need to Schedule Heating Repair if My Vents Smell Bad?

Tuesday, November 12th, 2013

Your heating system may not have an artificial intelligence hooked up to it, but it does have ways to provide you with warnings about malfunctions and potential repairs. Grinding and clicking noises, intermittent heat levels, cold rooms, and sudden spikes in energy bills: each of these can indicate a heating system developing trouble that may require professional attention and repairs.

Another common warning sign: unpleasant musty smells emanating from the vents along with the warm air. This certainly isn’t normal—but does it necessarily mean you need to have repairs done?

We will deal a bit with that question in this post. If you do need heating repair in Plattsburgh, NY, use your best available resource: contact the staff at Red Rock Mechanical, the family-owned company that puts customer satisfaction first.

What’s causing that bad smell from the vents?

A common reason for a musty smell coming from your vents, one that definitely requires you schedule heating repairs, is breaks along the ductwork. A gap in a section of the ducts may cause the heating system to begin drawing in air from the hidden spaces of your home, such as between the walls, in crawlspaces, or from the attic. The air in these regions is usually dirtier than elsewhere in your home, and you will start to smell this noisome air as it comes from your vents.

Ductwork problems need repairs because they will lead to a loss of air pressure that will force your furnace to work harder to achieve its target temperature, and this means further repairs and a system that rapidly ages.

A particularly vile smell might occur because of an animal carcass inside the vents: usually these scents are so strong you have to act on them. Although this won’t require heating system repairs, you will need to contact as HVAC company familiar with ducts to extract the problem without damaging the ductwork.

If you can’t determine what is causing the foul odor, you can rely on highly-trained professionals to track down the problem. Contact Red Rock Mechanical, where all our technicians are NATE-certified so you know you will get top-quality work done on your Plattsburgh, NY heating repair.

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How to Keep Your Furnace Up and Running

Tuesday, November 5th, 2013

Getting through a beautiful—but icy cold—winter in Vermont requires a heating system that is up to the task. Furnaces have kept many homes in this state warm and cozy through the cold months, and advancing technology has kept modern furnaces competitive in the HVAC market.

However… you have to be good to your furnace to make sure that it stays up and running during the coming cold. We’ll give you some guidance on how to do that in this post. Red Rock Mechanical has 23 years of experience working with furnaces and other heating systems, and when you need prompt professional assistance to keep your heater up and running, give us a call.

Ways to prevent a breakdown in your furnace

Schedule regular preventive maintenance: We put this first because it’s the best method to make sure you don’t experience a chilly period of shutdown on the coldest day of the year. Any machine requires regular maintenance to ensure its continued efficient operation, and with the amount of work a furnace needs to do during a Burlington winter, it should get at least a yearly check-up. Sign up for a maintenance program with a reliable HVAC company; they should be able to take care of your air conditioner as well.

Change the filter regularly: The filter in a furnace traps debris that might otherwise get into the cabinet and damage the components. During the heating season, you should change the filter once a month to prevent it from developing so much dust and dirt that it can no longer function adequately. Also, make sure you change the filter before heating season begins, so your furnace has a fresh start.

Get repairs done immediately: The moment that your furnace gives you any warning that something is wrong—reduced air flow, odd smells from the vents, tripped circuit breakers, uneven heating, strange noises—call in an HVAC specialist to find out what is wrong and repair it before it can grow into a bigger, more expensive problem or a full breakdown.

Red Rock Mechanical can take care of the repair and maintenance needs that will make sure your furnace in Burlington, VT stays healthy this coming season. We back all our work with a one-year warranty.

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Reasons Why Your Furnace Won’t Turn On

Tuesday, October 29th, 2013

Many homes in Plattsburgh NY are heated by a gas furnace. The technology is reliable and relatively inexpensive: burning gas to heat air which is then distributed through your home. If your furnace won’t turn on, you need to call a professional repair service to address the issue, especially in the winters when the snows start to fall. A low air flow or a lack of heat is bad enough, but if the furnace won’t turn on at all, it may indicate a serious issue. Here’s a list of some of the more prominent reasons why your furnace won’t turn on.

  • Pilot light out. The gas in your furnace is ignited by a pilot light, which should be on all the time in order to provide heat when you need it. If the pilot light goes out, the furnace won’t turn on. In most cases, the pilot light apparatus will need to be replaced, though it can be relit if the problem isn’t substantial.
  • Thermocouple. The thermocouple is a safety valve near the pilot light (sometimes a part of the same component) which regulates the flow of gas into the combustion chamber. If there’s a problem with the gas line or the pilot light, the thermocouple with turn off the gas automatically so that it won’t flood your home.
  • Electrical issues. Some furnaces use electricity to run certain components, including the blower fan and possibly the pilot light as well. If there’s an overload or a problem with the wiring, the furnace won’t receive any power and you won’t have any heat generated.

No matter what the cause, you need a professional to determine why your furnace won’t turn on. Call the professionals at Red Rock Mechanical for help.  We handle Plattsburgh, NY heating issues of all varieties, and our trained experts can determine the cause of your heater malfunction. We also perform installation services, and can set up a maintenance schedule to keep your furnace clean and running. We’re standing by to help, so give us a call today.

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How to Save Money on Heating in Plattsburgh, NY

Tuesday, October 15th, 2013

Heating in Plattsburgh, NY is a serious business thanks to our long, cold winters. A reliable heating system ensures that your house stays cozy and warm, no matter how deeply the snows fall. Most people think that such heating needs to come with an equally high energy bill every month. That doesn’t have to be the case. In addition to common-sense tips like setting the thermostat a few degrees lower than you might normally and dressing warmly while you’re inside, you can take some concrete steps to lop a few dollars off those monthly bills. Here’s how to save money while heating in Plattsburgh, NY.

Ideally, your system would function at peak efficiency all the time. It can’t do that, but you can help by setting up a regular maintenance schedule with a trained professional. He or she can perform a basic “tune-up” on the system: refilling refrigerant if needed, cleaning dirty components and tightening loos fittings or seals. If larger repairs are needed, he or she can identify the trouble spots and schedule a repair session at some convenient point. All of that helps reduce the system’s inefficiency, lowering stress on your heater and ensuring that it doesn’t use quite as much energy to warm your home in the wintertime.

On top of that, you might want to consider adding upgrades that let you tailor your heating options to fit your specific conditions. For instance, look into adding zone control systems, which allow you to raise or lower the heat in specific sections of your home instead of heating the whole thing. You can have kitchen warmed to one temperature while your spouse reads in the bedroom with another temperature, protecting you from household squabbles as well as higher energy bills.

If you want to save money on heating in Plattsburgh, NY, call upon Red Rock Mechanical to help. We have the experience and know-how to keep your heater running at its best, as well as performing installations and upgrades to take advantage of new technological advancements. Contact us today to set up a consultation.

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Burlington, VT Heating Installation: Getting to Know Your Options

Tuesday, October 8th, 2013

Heating in Vermont is no laughing matter, and while the initial investment in a new heater can be high, it pays dividends both in terms of comfort for your family and in your monthly heating bills. Getting to know your options is a smart way to select the right heater for you, and to make sure that the heating installation proceeds as it should.

In the first place, you need determine the heating needs of your home so that you can get a heater that can handle the load. A heater that’s too small won’t be able to do the job, but it may surprise you to learn that a heater that’s too large can be just as problematic. Large heaters will do their job too quickly, which means they’ll cycle on and off rapidly throughout the day. That takes up a lot of unnecessary energy, as well as placing undue strain on the heater itself. A heater that is sized just right for your home (factoring in such components as insulation and sun exposure) will get you the best value for your dollar.

Then there’s the question of efficiency. Older heaters are usually less efficient heaters, which is a very good reason to upgrade to a new one. Furnace efficiency is measured in AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) ratings, measured as a percentage. The higher the percentage, the more energy is used in actually heating (as opposed to being lost through one means or another). An easy guide is to look for furnaces with the EnergyStar label, given to gas furnaces with an AFUE of 95% or greater and oil furnaces with a rating of 85% or greater.

For Burlington, VT heating installation, it pays to have a qualified expert by your side. The technicians at Red Rock Mechanical have been in business for over 20 years, and can help with getting to know your options before performing the installation you need. Call us today to set up an appointment.

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Plattsburgh Heating Tip: Get the Most from Your Thermostat

Monday, September 30th, 2013

Physically, the thermostat is a minor part of your home comfort system: a small unit set into a wall. But the thermostat serves just as important a function in heating your home as the tank of a boiler or the ducts of a furnace. The thermostat is how you communicate with your heater so that it does the job it’s supposed to.

However, you can get more out of your thermostat than you probably realize. If you only occasionally fiddle with it when you start feeling too cold or too warm, you’re missing out on ways to optimize your heating. In this post, we’ll give you some tips to help you get the best performance possible from your thermostat.

Red Rock Mechanical can help you with all your Plattsburgh, NY heating needs, so give us a call when you want to go to the next level of service.

Set the thermostat to energy saving temperatures: Do you know how high you can set your thermostat? Well, don’t set it that high unless you absolutely need to… a Death Valley-level heat wave isn’t necessary for your comfort. Set the thermostat to 68°F when you’re awake, and you can set it even lower at night—and use a sweater and thick blankets to help. The US Department of Energy has found that scaling back 10°F to 15°F for eight hours can save from 5% to 15% on your bills every year.

Invest in a programmable thermostat: If you have an older digital thermostat, or an even older manual one, you’re losing out on advantages in energy savings and convenience. With a programmable thermostat, you have control over the temperature whether you’re home or not. You can wake up to a warm house, and come home to one as well, while saving energy throughout the day.

Make sure the thermostat is in the best location: Where your thermostat is installed in your home is important for it to work its best. In the wrong place, a thermostat can record “ghost readings” that don’t reflect the true temperature in your house, and it will unnecessarily activate or shut down your heater. The thermostat should be away from direct sunlight and the drafts from doors and windows. If you suspect your thermostat’s location is interfering with its job, get it re-installed.

Red Rock Mechanical can help out if you need a thermostat installation or if your current one requires repairs. We’re a family-owned business, and when you call us, you won’t get a recording—a live person will be there to answer your questions for your Plattsburgh, NY heating concerns.

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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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3 Reasons to Schedule Routine Heating Maintenance in Plattsburgh

Monday, September 16th, 2013

Winter is an unpredictable time in New York. One surprise you certainly don’t want is a malfunction in your heating system, leaving you cold in your own home. Before the frosty season strikes, take advantage of the slower time during the fall to schedule maintenance on your heater. Whatever system you have, the experts at Red Rock Mechanical can help you prepare for winter in Plattsburgh with heating maintenance that will give you peace of mind.

There are many reasons to schedule regular maintenance. Here are three of the most important:

  • Fewer repairs: Some of the emergency repairs that Red Rock Mechanical does could have been prevented ahead of time with proper care. Some repairs are unavoidable, but the majority can be averted by having a professional catch troubles before they become serious and cause further damages.
  • Greater efficiency: Did your last heating bill contain unpleasant news? Does your home not feel as warm as it usually does when you turn on the heater? Then your system is probably running less efficiently than before, either because of damages, dust and debris build-up, or age. A maintenance check-up will diagnose what is causing the drop in efficiency and offer solutions to get your heater back to peak working condition.
  • Longer system lifespan: A heater suffers an enormous amount of wear and tear during winter. Furnaces and boilers have many components that will start to break down if they aren’t cared for. When an HVAC expert pays a visit to your home, you’ll find out what needs to be done to keep your heater from wearing down even faster. If you want to avoid a costly replacement, get regular maintenance so you’ll get the most years possible out of your current system.

We hope we’ve convinced you that heating maintenance will save you headaches and higher bills. You should get a maintenance check on your heating system at least once a year. Red Rock Mechanical offers the maintenance you need to keep yourself warm and safe in your home through the winter. We are a family-owned business with a personal touch. For heating maintenance in Plattsburgh, NY, make Red Rock Mechanical your first choice.

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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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