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

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.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Do I Need to Schedule Heating Repair if My Vents Smell Bad?

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.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Reasons Why Your Furnace Won’t Turn On

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.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on How to Save Money on Heating in Plattsburgh, NY

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.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Plattsburgh Heating Tip: Get the Most from Your Thermostat

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.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on 3 Reasons to Schedule Routine Heating Maintenance in Plattsburgh

Why Replace Your AC in the Fall

Wednesday, August 28th, 2013

Summer time is air conditioning time in places like Plattsburgh, NY, with high temperatures and humidity the norm. We need quality air conditioning systems to keep our homes cool and comfortable when the mercury starts to rise, and with regular maintenance, you can expect your AC unit to last for many years. Sooner or later, however, everything wears out and eventually you’ll need to consider replacing your existing air conditioning unit with a new one. When you do it’s probably a good idea to think about doing it in the fall rather than any other time of year.

The best reason is the most obvious. You don’t want to go without air conditioning in the height of summer when even a few hours turns your home into a sauna. As the temperature drops to more comfortable levels, a trained technician can begin installation without worrying about a sudden heat wave. On the flipside, completing installation before the first snow arrives makes the process infinitely easier, leaving you with a unit all ready to go by the time spring rolls around.

On a more subtle level, fall makes a good time to schedule a maintenance session: after the busy period of summer has ended and with plenty of time to budget and plan for any necessary repairs. Installing the unit in the fall makes it easier to set up maintenance at the same time each year. (You can schedule similar maintenance calls in the spring before the temperatures really warm up.)

When you decide to replace your AC, make sure you contact a company that will give you good money for your dollar. Proper installation is vital to an efficient system, delaying the kind of loose bolts, leaky parts and ill-fitting components that lead to further wear and tear. The fall gives you plenty of time to contemplate your options and select the company that’s right for you. Red Rock Mechanical LLC can install new air conditioning units in Plattsburgh, NY and throughout the surrounding communities. Contact us today to set up a consultation. Our experts will replace your AC with complete dedication to your total satisfaction.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on Why Replace Your AC in the Fall

Why Is It Important to Have Your AC Cleaned? A Plattsburgh, NY Air Conditioning Question

Thursday, August 1st, 2013

An air conditioning unit keeps your Plattsburgh, NY home cool and comfortable in the heat of the summer. However, routine maintenance for our AC doesn’t enter our minds much; instead, we wait for the AC system to malfunction before calling in a technician. Why is it important to have you AC cleaned and maintained if nothing’s wrong with it? In fact, cleaning your air conditioning unit may be one of the most practical decisions you ever make. Some of the biggest reasons are listed below.

  • Effectiveness: Dirty coils and air filters slow down the air flow and reduce the cooling power of your air conditioning system. The system must thus work harder to cool your home, which will drive up your monthly energy bills. A regular cleaning keeps your system functioning the way it should while lowering the costs of running it.
  • Longevity: Beyond keeping your air conditioning functioning in the short term, a regular cleaning schedule will help extend the life of your system. Dust, build-up and general wear and tear take their toll, and as your AC unit gets older, the cost and frequency of upkeep will continue to grow. Preventative maintenance undertaken by a trained expert can keep you air conditioning system running longer without repairs, and extend its life by a considerable amount of time.
  • Small problems, not big ones: If you have your AC cleaned on a routine basis, the technician is more likely to spot signs of potential trouble: the state of the coils and other components, the presence of leaks, and so on. He can then sit down and discuss potential solutions with you, which usually cost much less than simply ignoring the issue and waiting for it to cause more serious trouble in the future.

If you’re looking for a technician to have your AC cleaned, contact Red Rock Mechanical to set up an appointment. Our trained Plattsburgh, NY air conditioning specialists can perform regular maintenance services, keeping your system clean and saving you money in future costs.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on Why Is It Important to Have Your AC Cleaned? A Plattsburgh, NY Air Conditioning Question