The weather in the Burlington area is still warm. In fact, it’s probably as pleasant as we can expect to have during the year. That may make it hard to imagine that you should attend to your home’s heating system and arrange for its annual maintenance visit. Doesn’t it seem just a bit too early for it?
Red Rock Mechanical, LLC Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category
What’s Involved with Boiler Installation
Wednesday, March 25th, 2015
When it’s time for a new boiler, there’s a lot you have to think about. How long will the process of installation take? What will be the impact on your home? And who should you call for the job? While the steps of boiler installation very depending on the size of your home and the state of your older heating system, the most important thing is to choose a company with plenty of experience on the job.
To get in touch with a heating contractor experienced in heating installation in Burlington, VT, call on the help of the skilled technicians at Red Rock Mechanical.
Some of the Steps of Professional Installation
The fact is that new boiler installation will take quite a while: multiple days, in most cases. Removing the older boiler can take several hours, as can determining the state of the existing pipes. Furthermore, the technician will have to size your home and make some careful measurements regarding the type and size of system to use as a replacement.
Sizing a boiler is not as simple as using the measurements from the older unit. It’s possible that your existing boiler was sized improperly for your home or that you need a different type of system to accommodate your home. An oversized boiler consumes far too much energy, while a smaller boiler can become overworked and fail early on. Your technician will work with you to select an energy efficient heating system that will save you money over time.
The actual installation process requires a professional for several reasons. First, your technician will make sure that your new installation is up to code. And the installation process itself can be difficult, tedious, and unsafe. Experienced heating technicians use years of training to make sure they use the most up-to-date installation techniques only and make sure to check their work thoroughly. It’s difficult to detail the installation process for your particular needs, as it depends on whether you need in-floor piping, baseboard units, or any additional fittings for your home. Most likely, the process will take several days.
Call Red Rock Mechanical today for heating installation in Burlington, VT. We’ll detail the process so that you stay informed every step of the way.
When Is Heating Repair Urgent?
Wednesday, March 11th, 2015
We’ll say it right off the bat: every heating repair need should be treated as an urgent matter. Sometimes, a heating repair need may not seem like something that necessitates immediate attention. A strange noise coming from your furnace is a minor annoyance, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t get through your day. And a decline in heating power might not appear to be so much of a problem, just a slight inconvenience as you add an extra layer and wait for the home to reach the desired temperature setting.
However, these problems will not improve on their own. In fact, what’s far more likely is that the heating trouble will worsen. Consider this: when one part of your heating system is in need of repair, it still has a job to do. Often, the other parts step up in order to attempt to raise the temperature. This wears down multiple parts, resulting in a more costly repair than what was originally needed.
Furthermore, if you delay scheduling heating repair, your system may shut down entirely. When there’s not enough heat in the home, it may be due to a faulty blower fan. If the blower fan cannot push enough heat over the heat exchanger, the furnace plenum could overheat. Many decades ago, this may have resulted in very dangerous conditions (including a potential explosion), but today’s units have safety measures that prevent this. The furnace limit switch detects if the plenum is overheating and shuts off the unit. This keeps your home safe, but it also leaves you without any heat.
You should always take heating problems seriously, and you should not try to fix the trouble on your own or leave it to an untrained amateur. When it comes to gas heating systems, your health and safety may be at risk, and experts know the right way to inspect and diagnose a heating system while determining the proper method of repair.
Call Red Rock Mechanical today to schedule an appointment for our professional heating repair service in Essex, VT. Our team has years of experience installing and repairing both furnaces and boilers in the area and can get your unit back to normal fast.
Choosing the Most Efficient Furnace
Wednesday, February 25th, 2015
The word “furnace” actually represents a wide variety of different heating systems today. Though they all share a basic function (they are all forced air heating systems) the method by which they accomplish that function can be vastly different. For a homeowner looking to install a new home heating system, the sheer number of options that furnaces provide can be overwhelming. Fortunately, we’re here to help. Here’s a look at some of the factors that you should consider when looking for the most efficient furnace to meet your needs.
AFUE
“AFUE” stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, and is one of the primary metrics by which furnace efficiency is judged. As the name suggests, the AFUE number is an approximate measurement of how efficiently the furnace uses its fuel over the course of one year. The number is displayed as a percentage, indicating how much of the fuel the furnace burns is converted into heat and how much is lost as waste. Generally, you’ll want to look for a furnace with an AFUE rating of at least 75-80%. Any less than that, and you’ll be spending an undesirable amount of money on fuel that’s not being converted into heat.
Size
The size of a furnace is actually quite important to how well it performs in a home. A lot of homeowners simply go for the largest furnace that they can physically fit in the space, in the mistaken belief that bigger furnaces are more desirable. In fact, if a furnace is either too large or too small it will break down much more often and have a shorter overall lifespan. You should consult a professional if you are uncertain of what size furnace you should install.
Fuel Type
Always be aware of what kind of fuel best fits your situation. Natural gas is the most popular kind of fuel, but it requires a gas line installed in your home by the city in order to work. Electric furnaces will work anywhere that electricity is available, but they are more expensive to operate than other furnaces. Always do your research, and consult a professional if you aren’t sure which furnace is best for you.
If you need to have a new furnace installed, call Red Rock Mechanical to schedule a service appointment. We provide professional heating services throughout Stowe, VT.
Should You Replace Your Furnace with a Heat Pump?
Wednesday, February 4th, 2015
Furnaces are the most common type of heating system in the country, and by a pretty wide margin at that. There are many reasons for this popularity, including versatility and cost. However, being popular does not necessarily mean that a furnace is the best option for everybody. Heat pumps have been gaining in popularity among home owners for their energy efficiency and safer operation. So, should you replace your furnace with a heat pump? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each system and see if that can make your choice easier.
Furnaces
As mentioned above, furnaces are the most popular type of heating system largely because of their versatility and cost effectiveness. There are many different kinds of furnaces available, from electric to natural gas to wood, making it easier for homeowners to find one that fits their needs. Due to their widespread availability, furnaces are also relatively cheap to install and fix, compared to more rare systems.
The downside to furnaces is that they aren’t that energy efficient. A furnace burning natural gas, which is the most common fuel type for furnaces, tends to lose a lot of heat to various factors like duct leaks and combustion gases. Many furnaces still use standing pilot lights, as well, which constantly burn fuel in to stay lit. These cons lead to a lot of wasted energy and money.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are non-combustion heating systems. They don’t burn any kind of fuel to create heat, and only require electricity to run. They don’t use heating coils either, as electric furnaces do. Instead, a heat pump moves heat from one place to another by evaporating and condensing refrigerant. By siphoning heat from the outside air and releasing it inside, the heat pump saves a great deal of energy that would otherwise be spent on combusting fuel.
However, heat pumps do have one big drawback. In areas where the temperature frequently dips below zero, there is not as much thermal energy in the air for the heat pump to draw on. This leads to a decrease in the heat pump’s energy efficiency, as it has to work longer to heat the same amount of space.
If you aren’t sure whether or not to replace your furnace with a heat pump, call Red Rock Mechanical. We provide heating installation in the Williston, VT area.
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.
3 Ways to Improve Your Heating for the Rest of the Winter
Wednesday, January 7th, 2015
Everyone looks for ways to stretch their heating during the winter, both in terms of cost and effectiveness. While most people are content to simply keep doors and windows closed to keep as much heat in as possible, there are a number of better ways to ensure that your heating system is operating at peak efficiency. Let’s examine some of the best ways that you can improve your heating for the winter.
Schedule Preventive Maintenance
The best way to make sure that your heating system provides maximum heat output is to have it serviced at least once a year. The prime time to do this is usually during the fall, right before you start using the system more heavily. If you haven’t scheduled it yet this year, however, winter should do just fine. Having preventive maintenance done at this time of year ensures that your system is prepared for the stress of daily use during the winter, saving you the money and stress of repairing it when it breaks down.
Get Your Ducts Sealed
Forced air systems lose an incredible amount of heat each year to leaks in their homes’ ducts. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates this loss at about 30% of total heat, on average. This means that almost a third of the energy you paid for could be going to waste instead of heating your home. Since ducts are largely out of sight, and the leaks are often small, you probably won’t be able to find them yourself. Call a professional to examine and seal your ducts for you, and you’ll be able to significantly cut down on heat loss during the season you need it most.
Replace Your System
If your heating system is more than 15 years old, it’s probably a good time to consider replacing it. Even if you don’t have any mounting issues with the health of your old heating system, replacing it with a new one is almost guaranteed to increase the efficiency of your home’s heating.
If you’d like to know more about how to improve your heating, call Red Rock Mechanical. We provide professional heating services throughout Burlington, VT.
Common Problems You May Encounter with Your Heating
Wednesday, December 10th, 2014
Winter temperatures in Vermont may mean that we receive beautiful snowfalls, but they also mean that we must have durable heating systems in peak condition to keep us warm until the spring thaw. We have listed some common heating issues that you might encounter during the winter and what they may mean. If you think there is a malfunction with your heating system, don’t hesitate with calling for technicians. The problem will not improve and your heater may be in danger of a full breakdown…and that is the last thing you want to happen during one of the colder days of the year.
For fast and effective heating repair in Essex, VT and throughout Northwest Vermont, rely on the 24-hour emergency services of Red Rock Mechanical. We have served the area with quality comfort for over 23 years.
Frequent Home Heating Troubles
- Insufficient heat: This problem can come from something as basic as a malfunctioning thermostat to a heating system that is too aged and worn down to work effectively. Call for a repair technician to determine what the trouble is and fix it or arrange for a replacement if that is the best option.
- Weak airflow from the vents: If you have a furnace or heat pump in your home and you notice low levels of airflow coming from the vents, you should first check on the air filter to make sure it is not clogged with debris. If changing the air filter does not improve the airflow, you need to call on technicians to look for other possible causes.
- Heater will not turn on: If your heater does not turn on when it should, the trouble could be a loss of communication with the thermostat. Another possibility is an electrical issue within the system, such as failed capacitors or electrical relays on motors.
- Heater will not turn off: When a heater keeps running constantly, the likely culprit is an electrical failure that is preventing the blower from receiving the signal to turn off. Do not try to repair this problem on your own: it requires professionals.
- Heating is too expensive: Should your heating bills begin to rise and you cannot explain why, then there is probably a malfunction in the heater that is making it overwork. Do not try to diagnose the cause on your own. Professional HVAC technicians can get to the bottom of the trouble fast and then handle the necessary repairs.
Whatever your concerns about home comfort during the winter, you can depend on Red Rock Mechanical for the heating repair in Essex, VT that will restore your indoor warmth. Call us any time.
Reasons Your Gas Furnace Might Not Be Running
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014
There are many reasons why your furnace may not operate. The problem could be something fairly simple, or it could be something quite serious. This range of possibilities leaves a lot of room for mistakes, especially if you attempt to repair the problem yourself without having expert knowledge of your system. Vermont winters are no time to be without heat, even for a short duration, so if your furnace won’t turn on, call the people you can count on for heating repair in Essex, VT: Red Rock Mechanical.
Why Won’t My Furnace Run?
Here are a few examples of why your furnace may not be turning on:
Dirty Air Filter
When your furnace’s air filter becomes too clogged, it can restrict the air flow in your system. Proper air flow is necessary for your system to work, so if the air filter blocks air flow, the system can eventually shut down. It is recommended that you change your air filter every 3 months to avoid having problems develop.
Thermostat Issues
Your thermostat controls when your furnace turns on and off; if problems develop with your thermostat, your heater may not turn on. Common problems that can affect how a thermostat operates are frayed or corroded wiring, dirt and dust on the instrumentation and dead batteries. It’s also important to make sure your thermostat hasn’t been accidentally switched to off or cooling, or that the program hasn’t been altered if you own a programmable thermostat. If you own an older mercury-based thermostat, it may be to be calibrated.
Problems with Ignition
Furnaces have either a standing pilot light or electronic ignition. When a furnace has a standing pilot, it also has a safety mechanism called a thermocouple. This component lets the system know that there is a pilot and it is viable for ignition. However, if there are problems with the thermocouple, there can be problems with ignition. The same is true for electronic ignition. There are two types of electronic ignition: hot surface ignition and intermittent pilot. The probe for hot surface ignition can crack, disabling it from heating properly, and if the right amount of electricity doesn’t flow to the intermittent pilot, the pilot can’t be lit.
As you can see, a wide range of problems can cause your furnace to breakdown. Instead of trying to figure it out yourself, call the experts you can trust for all of your heating repair service needs: Red Rock Mechanical.
Reasons Your Heating May Become Inefficient This Winter
Wednesday, November 12th, 2014
We’ve got snow on the ground and it gets dark early – even though the winter solstice is next month, we’re clearly in our heating season here in Vermont. Trying to keep winter energy bills low is a challenge in our part of the country, so it’s good to be aware of how your heating system can become inefficient over the winter months. However, if you find that your system has become both inefficient and unable to heat your home as needed, it may be time to consider the installation of a new heating system in Stowe, VT. For over 23 years, Red Rock Mechanical has offered comprehensive heating services to Vermonters, so call us today!
Reasons for Inefficiency
Here are some of the more common reasons you may see reduced efficiency from your heating system:
Inadequate Maintenance
It is important that you schedule maintenance for your heating system annually. When your heater has to operate season after season, worn down and dirty from previous seasons, it affects the ability of your heater to work efficiently and effectively. During normal usage, components become dirty and dusty, and natural wear and tear can lead to corrosion. A maintenance appointment is a tune-up for your system, and allows your system to work optimally.
Ignoring Existing Problems
It can be tempting to ignore the signs of existing problems, especially if your heating system is still operable. However, repairs don’t fix themselves, and waiting to make repairs usually creates larger problems that can be even more costly. If you are aware of an existing problem, call for a technician and have it repaired before it creates stress and more potential problems for your system.
Age
The average lifespan for a combustion heating system is 15-20 years. Aging systems can struggle to meet the heating needs of your home, working harder to achieve the heating you need. When an aging system can no longer meet the needs of your home, it may be time to consider a replacement.
An inefficient heater can leave you uncomfortable and cost you money – something no one wants in the middle of a Vermont winter. If it’s time to consider a new heating installation in Stowe, VT, call Red Rock Mechanical today and schedule an appointment with one of our installation experts.
