Archive for August, 2013

Signs That Could Indicate Your Southern Vermont Electrical System Has Troubles

Thursday, August 29th, 2013

The electrical system is a staple of the home, providing light, heat and power for modern appliances. When trouble arises, it disrupts the flow of your life, and can prove costly as well as inconvenient. Residents of Southern Vermont pride themselves on their self-sufficiency, but troubles with your electrical system usually necessitate a service call from an expert. Here are some signs that indicate potential trouble with your electricity.

  • Tripped breakers. Tripper circuit breakers are usually the most obvious sign of faulty electrical wiring. They trip in the event of an overload, cutting power to that circuit and preventing further damage in the process.  If the breaker keeps tripping, it suggests a significant problem.
  • Flickering lights. If your lights flicker or dim, it may just be a problem with the light bulb. It could also be a loose connection with the wiring or problems with the fixture. Try replacing the bulb with a fresh one. If it doesn’t solve the issue, you should consult an electrician.
  • Warm fixtures. If you’re using a bulb with too much wattage or your fixture lack proper insulation, they could feel warm to the touch. That’s a problem because it means the fixture could overheat, creating a fire hazard.
  • Burning smell. Similarly, if you detect a burning smell whenever you turn on a light, it suggests an overload issue or a problem with faulty wiring. Turn off power to the light panel at the circuit panel and contact an electrician immediately.

For over 20 years, HB Energy Solutions has Offered electrical services to Southern Vermont. We offer 24-hour emergency service and off a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all our work. If your electrical system is experiencing troubles, call us today to set up an appointment.

I Smell Sewage: Should I Schedule Plumbing Repair in New Hampshire?

Thursday, August 22nd, 2013

The smell of sewage in your home or business can be a cause of great concern. Is there a plumbing leak? Are there gases or waste products in my house? Should I schedule plumbing repair? Whether you live in New Hampshire or Vermont, it’s imperative you get plumbing problems fixed right away.

If the sewer line has ruptured, you can spot signs beyond the smell that can alert you to the problem. The ground in your yard may become soggy, or you might notice that the grass is greener and more vibrant than the surrounding plant life (which means it’s being fertilized by the sewage form the line). You may also hear a bubbling sound or see bubbles in your toilet.

It may also be that your plumbing system is having issues with its drain traps or vents, which keep sewage smells from entering your house. If that’s the case, then you need to summon a trained professional as quickly as possible to discover the problem. Your vents or traps may be faulty, with a broken seal or an inability to hold sufficient amounts of water in the system. Clogged vents happen too, and with the clogs can come a suspicious sewer smell. Again, however, a qualified expert can conduct repairs: replacing the seal, plugging any leaks and cleaning clogged vent pipes no matter where they are in the house.

Repairs can thus run a broad gamut from a simple clog or faulty seal to a wholesale installation project. Regardless of the source of the sewage smells, however, you need a reliable and professional expert on your side to help. You also need to trust them to accurately assess the causes and to implement a solution that’s going to work.

At HB Energy Solutions, we are fully insured and licensed, with a dedication to 100% customer satisfaction. We provide free estimates so you know what to expect before going in. Pick up the phone and call today if you need plumbing repair in New Hampshire.

Basic Components of Your Electrical System

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

Every modern home has an electrical system, designed to run our lights, appliances and other devices that make modern living possible. In Southern Vermont, electrical problems can be more than an inconvenience, with cold temperatures and inclement weather outside creating all manner of problems. It helps to understand the basic components of your electrical system, so that you know what happens when there are problems and can give a service professional some basic idea of where to look.

Electricity in your home starts with the circuit breaker panel, which is connected to the main power supplied by your city or municipality. The breaker panel usually contains the main breaker, which covers the whole house, as well as individual breakers that run power to different specific outlets inside the house.

Electrical wiring goes out from the breaker box to each of the individual outlets in your home.  The wires have to meet certain codes, both federal and local, in order to be rated safely. Most circuits in the modern home have two conductors: one “hot” and one “neutral.” A third conductor, which grounds the electricity and channels it directly into the ground in the event of any emergency, is connected to every outlet in the home. Older wiring, such as “knob and tube” wiring used in the early decades of the 20th century, is no longer considered safe. If you live in an older home, check with a professional to see if your wiring is still up to code.

The wiring connects to the outlets in your wall, which let you access the electricity and power the lights and appliances in your home. Some outlets contain “mini-breakers” that shut off the power when an appliance overload them.

When your electrical system experiences problems, you should contact a trained service professional immediately. HB Energy employs trained professionals who can safely handle all kinds of electrical issues, and we serve most communities in Southern Vermont. Call us for an appointment today; we’re dedicated to your satisfaction and will work hard to correct your problem the first time, every time.

Air Conditioning Repair and Your Thermostat

Tuesday, August 6th, 2013

Your air conditioning system and the quality of its operation depends on the proper function of many different components. One of the most important of these components is also the one that you have the most direct interaction with. You probably don’t deal with your condenser or evaporator coils very frequently, but during the summer months you probably adjust your thermostat daily. When you rely on a mechanical device so much, it is important that you are certain it operates properly. Don’t let a malfunctioning thermostat jeopardize your comfort this cooling season. Here are a few tips about your thermostat from the Southern Vermont air conditioning repair technicians at HB Energy.

Problems with your thermostat may manifest themselves in a number of different ways. You may notice that your air conditioning system shuts down before target temperatures are met. This may have to do with a thermostat issue. It is possible for your thermostat to misread the temperature. If it thinks that your living room is 68° when it is actually 75°, for instance, then there is no way that you can expect your air conditioning system to function properly. Contact an AC repair technician immediately if your thermostat seems to have trouble regulating the cooling of your home.

Never overlook the very real possibility of user error at the thermostat, though. Before you decide that your thermostat is actually damaged, make sure that you have set it properly. If it has accidentally been switched to the “heat” setting, or if you have misread the display and set it for a higher temperature than you meant to, you do not really need the services of a professional air conditioning repair technician. If there is no obvious cause of any problem, though, it may well be broken or even poorly placed. If your thermostat is a spot not indicative of the true temperature in your house, simply relocating it may do the trick.

For more guidance on successfully operating your thermostat and when to schedule air conditioning repair in Southern Vermont, just call HB Energy.