The water pipes are the veins and arteries of your home’s plumbing system, and you need them in good shape to keep freshwater flowing to the tap and wastewater moving out to the sewer system without problems. People tend to think of the pipes in their home as indestructible, and unless they freeze during winter, they should not present any danger of developing serious leak problems.
Red Rock Mechanical, LLC Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Plattsburgh’
Advice for Setting Your Thermostat This Winter
Monday, January 4th, 2016
We probably don’t need to tell you how chilly winters can get in Vermont during January and February. If you’ve already lived here for at least one winter, you should have all the first-hand experience with it you’ll ever need! The heating system in your home will put in a great deal of labor over the next few months, and you can expect an increase in your home’s utility bills.
During the Holiday Feasting, Here Is Some Food You Don’t Want in the Garbage Disposal
Monday, December 21st, 2015
As we reach the big time for the end-of-the-year holiday celebrations, you are probably going to use your kitchen much more than usual (with the exception of perhaps Thanksgiving). Entertaining guests and family members means a lot more cooking and kitchen activity, and this will also mean immense stress placed on the garbage disposal. You don’t want to have an abrupt breakdown of your disposal and need to scramble to find repairs during the height of the holidays. To help prevent that from occurring, we’ve put together a list of food items that should not go down the disposal.
Why a Store-Bought Drain Snake Isn’t the Best Answer for Drain Cleaning
Monday, December 7th, 2015
You have a clog in one of your sinks, such as the main kitchen sink. This is obviously a serious problem, and you need it fixed right away. What should you do?
The first response is probably to reach for a sink plunger, if you have one. The second response may be to use chemical drain cleaners, but don’t do this. (These acidic chemicals are bad news for drains and everyone in your household.)
Another response is to use a hand-cranked drain auger, a “drain snake.” This is one of the better ways to get rid of a clog—but only as a temporary fix. A drain snake isn’t a form of draining cleaning, and if you want a tough clog not only removed, but the source of the clog removed as well, you need to call professional plumbers.
Your Air Conditioning Is Short-Cycling: Here Are 3 Possible Reasons Why
Monday, May 25th, 2015
The term short-cycling describes a condition where a heating or cooling system starts to turn on and off rapidly over an extended period. In an air conditioner, short-cycling consists of the compressor kicking in, but then shutting off only a brief time later before it can complete its full cooling cycle. Not long after, the compressor comes on again and the process repeats.
Common Causes of Plumbing Repairs
Monday, April 14th, 2014
No one likes dealing with plumbing repairs, but they rank among the most disruptive problems for any household. You can’t just tough it out when your toilet backs up or your sink springs a leak that sends water across your kitchen floor. In Plattsburgh, our plumbing repair techs can handle most issues, from a dripping faucet all the way up to a breach of the sewer line. In every case, our plumbers look for the source of the problem rather than treating the symptoms.
The common causes of plumbing repairs are fair easy to spot, though fixing them usually takes the services of a trained professional.
Plumbing repairs usually boil down to one of two basic issues: water is blocked from getting where it needs to go or water is leaking out of the pipe. (A few outliers exist as well, such as strange smells, but they don’t arise nearly as often.) In the former case, you’re looking at a blockage in the line, which can be caused by any number of things. Grease and fat poured down the drain can solidify, causing a blockage. Other food particles can do the same thing in the kitchen, while hair, soap and toothpaste can create clogs in the bathroom. Outside the home, tree roots can sometimes infiltrate tiny breaches in the pipe, and even outside damage from shifting soil can result in a clogged pipe.
Speaking of damage, leaks and breaches usually stem from damage somewhere in the system. Plumbers tend to look for them near connectors or links, where an imperfect seal can create a leak. Breaches can also occur because of outside sources, or simply because your plumbing has grown old and corroded.
Luckily, the common causes of plumbing repairs are usually easy to treat, provided you have the training and know how to do the job right. That’s where the experts at Red Rock Mechanical come in. We pride ourselves on our experience and expertise, and plumbing repair is one of the focal points for our business. If you need a hand with your Plattsburgh home’s plumbing, whether it’s a big job or a small one, give us a call to set up an appointment today!
My Furnace Broke Down: Should I Repair or Replace It?
Tuesday, January 21st, 2014
In towns like Plattsburgh, NY heating concerns are quite serious, especially considering how cold our winter has been thus far. A new furnace entails time and investment, which may entice you to just hang on with your old one for a time. On the other hand, you may be experiencing such significant problems that replacement is preferable to repairs. The status of your furnace should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but a few general tips can help you decide what to do.
It usually boils down to a question of cost, and whether this particular round of repairs is worthwhile or simply throwing good money after bad. If the repairs are particularly expensive, or if this single repair costs a great deal of money, it may be preferable to install a new one rather than fixing the old. This gives you the opportunity to install a more efficient heater (which can save you money in monthly bills) and/or a heater that includes technological upgrades such as digital thermostats and variable speed fans. All of that can help offset the additional cost, or at least make that cost worthwhile.
Similarly, the age of the furnace should come into play as well. A newer furnace – especially one still under warranty – should likely be repaired instead of replaced. Otherwise, you won’t be getting your money’s worth out of it. If the furnace is more than ten years old, however, and it’s experiencing serious or more frequent repairs, then the time may have come to replace it with a new unit.
If you’re saying to yourself “my furnace broke down: should I repair or replace it?” then the experts at Red Rock Mechanical can help. Call us for any Plattsburgh, NY, heating repairs you need. We can inspect your furnace to see what the problem is and either instigate repairs or install a new furnace depending on what you need. Our trained staff of experts can answer any questions you may have, then schedule a repair or installation on a timetable that meets your needs. Pick up the phone and give us a call today!
What to Do When Your Heating Malfunctions
Tuesday, January 14th, 2014
What to do when you heating malfunctions depends a lot on your particular circumstances. There always comes a time when sinking more money into an existing heater just isn’t worth it. When your heater malfunctions – especially in the dead of winter, when you need it up and running again fast – you need to look for signs to tell you which decision to make. A brief overview of some of the more obvious signs is included below.
- Higher heating bills. As your heater wears out, it spends more and more energy to do the same basic job, which translates to higher monthly bills. If you’ve noticed higher costs every month, even though your heater isn’t being used any more than normal, then a malfunction may be the final straw indicating that a new heater is in order.
- Recurring repairs. It’s quite possible that the malfunction is being caused by something that you’ve had repaired before. Or, it may be that the malfunction comes at the end of a long string of further repairs. Either way, it’s a good sign that your existing furnace is ready to give up the ghost, and you should probably invest in a new one.
- Age. An older heater isn’t necessarily ready to give up the ghost, but if your heater is more than 10 years old and evinces the kinds of problems described above, it’s definitely time to consider a replacement. You might also want to think abo a replacement if you want a more efficient heater (newer heaters are invariably more efficient than old ones) or if you want to install improved features like a variable speed blower.
Repair or replace? What to do when your heating malfunctions can be extremely tricky to determine. Luckily, the Plattsburgh, NY heating repair experts at Red Rock Mechanical can help. Pick up the phone and give us a call today!
Common Boiler Repair Problems
Wednesday, December 18th, 2013
In Plattsburgh, many homes use boilers to keep them comfortable all winter long. Boilers are inexpensive to run, and they tend to be more efficient than gas furnace. Boilers are reliable pieces of technology, but like all mechanical devices they can still experience their share of problems, which require a trained technician to repair. Here’s a short list of common boiler repair problems, which you should keep an eye out for when operating your heating system.
- Leaks. Leaking could stem from the central boiler or anywhere in the piping system, and is often cause by a corrosion of the fittings or damage to the pipe.
- Low pressure. Low water pressure can be caused by leaks, faulty valves or similar issues. You can spot it by more strange noises in your pipes and by uneven heating in the boiler system.
- Clogs. Clogs in the system will prevent hot water from reaching the radiators, leaving those areas without proper heat. The clog will need to be cleared and proper flow restored before the issues can be fixed.
- Broken thermocouple. The thermocouple regulates the flow of gas into the system. When it’s broken, the gas will not flow and the boiler won’t ignite.
- Broken pilot light. The pilot light ignites the gas in the system. If it goes out, it it’s blocked by build-up or if it’s otherwise impaired, the thermocouple won’t release any gas into the system.
Regardless of the causes of common boiler repair problems, you want a repair service that knows what it’s doing to make it right. In Plattsburgh, boiler repairs can be made by the experts at Red Rock Mechanical: qualified professionals who can get to the bottom of the problem quickly and correct it with maximum efficiency. Pick up the phone and give us a call today. You’ll be glad that you did!
What to Do if Your Heating System Breaks Down
Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013
We definitely know cold weather in upstate New York, and if your heating system goes down, your home could turn into an icebox within a matter of hours. You need to act quickly both to ascertain the source of the problem, and to summon a Plattsburgh, NY heating repair technician if the situation calls for it. Here’s a quick guide on what to do if your heating system breaks down.
In the first place, try to note any symptoms of the problem if you can. Heater damage can usually be spotted by any unusual activity in the heating functions: strange sounds, reduced air flow, lower heat or the like. If you notice any symptoms, be sure to note them, though you shouldn’t try to run a broken heater or recreate any specific symptoms. If you don’t notice the symptoms, simply move on.
A few basic troubleshooting steps might help you avoid a service call. Check the thermostat to make sure it’s set to the proper temperature, and look at your breaker box to make sure the breaker hasn’t been tripped. If it has, reset it and see if the heater runs as it should. If the breaker trips again, or neither of these things do the trick, then you need to play it safe. Shut off power to the heater and call a service technician: preferably one who can respond swiftly to your calls.
Red Rock Mechanical has served the Plattsburgh, NY area for over two decades, providing all manner of support for homeowners in need of serious heating repair. Out trained staff is on call 24 hours a day and we pride ourselves on swift professional service in all things. If your heating system breaks down, give us a call and set up an appointment today. We’ll treat the issue with courtesy and efficiency, getting your household back up to speed quickly!
