Posts Tagged ‘Langdon’

Common Furnace Problems

Monday, December 4th, 2017

cold-manIf there is one system that you really don’t want to gamble with in the middle of winter in New England, it is your home heating system. These days, heaters in general are more dependable and reliable than ever before. However, no heater can truly claim to be 100% reliable. That just is not a possibility. Even the furnace, which stands as probably the most popular and common of all home heating systems, can suffer from occasional operational problems.

If you use a furnace to heat your home, you are going to need to schedule professional furnace repair services at some point. There are plenty of warning signs that you may notice that could indicate a furnace in need of repair. There are also some relatively common furnace problems that you may encounter,  and we’re going to cover a few of those today. Don’t be taken by surprise if you should encounter any of these issues with your furnace in Langdon, NH.

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Springfield, VT Plumbing Tips: Why You May Need Leak Detection Services?

Monday, December 10th, 2012

Leak detection services in your Springfield, VT  area home are important for several reasons. Having one of the professional plumbers at HB Energy can detect any hidden issues and remedy the situation before it becomes a major problem and expense. If you have an older plumbing system, we recommend that you schedule routine maintenance at least once a year to help catch problems early on.

Before you call for leak detection services, you should be familiar with all the signs that indicate a potential leak in your home. These include noticeable damp spots near the plumbing pipes inside walls, below floors, or the ceilings of basements. Large puddles in your yard could indicate a broken main water line. A sudden increase in water bills is another sign.

It is also a good idea to call HB Energy if you’ve had problems with freezing pipes. A burst pipe can cause a major water leak, but you may not know it until it is too late. There are ways to insulate exposed pipes. Any underground pipes that have been damaged by tree roots should either be relocated, or the trees need to be removed.

Call one of our professional Springfield, VT  plumbers day or night if you have a plumbing problem. We can pinpoint the causes of common problems, such clogged or slow drains, system backups, and leaks. Contact HB Energy for all your Springfield, VT leak detection and plumbing repair needs! We provide comprehensive plumbing services throughout the area.

Claremont, NH Plumbing Question: When Should You Call a Plumber Immediately?

Monday, October 29th, 2012

No matter how large or small your house is, you cannot underestimate the need for knowing a Claremont plumber to check regularly on the kitchen or toilet pipes or even your entire plumbing system. This can help keep many types of problems from developing.

But no matter what you do, there will still be times when you need to call for emergency repairs. Professional plumbers should be called immediately if you are experiencing plumbing emergencies such as the following:

Plumbing Emergency #1

If your tap starts to flow uncontrollably, the first thing you must do is to shut off the main valve. You can find these valves usually under toilets, sinks or behind water heaters and clothes washers. Once that’s done, call a professional to come and take a look.

Plumbing Emergency #2

For any appliance related fixture or pipe leaks, locate the main valve immediately and shut it off before you call the plumber. If possible, temporarily stop the leak before calling a professional plumber.

Plumbing Emergency #3

If you find there is a leakage in your dishwasher or washing machine, make sure the drainage trap is fully open. Overflow in the appliance could be a result of a partially clogged drain. If that’s not the source of the problem, though, professional help is needed.

Plumbing Emergency #4

Another plumbing emergency that could require you to call the plumber immediately is faucet malfunction. If the faucet does not shut off, find the shutoff valve under the sink and turn it off before calling the plumber to fix the faucet. Never try to repair cartridge faucets on your own. These expensive faucets are advanced and require professionals to do the job.

Plumbing Emergency #5

If there is a problem with the hot water faucet, leave it running, turn off the gas or electricity supplies to the heater and wait till the water cools before touching it. Call a professional plumber to repair the hot water heater thermostat or the faucet, whichever is malfunctioning.

Whatever your plumbing problem in Claremont, NH,  HB Energy Solutions is here to help. Call us today!

 

Weston, VT Heating Guide: Maintenance for Different Types of Heating Systems

Monday, October 22nd, 2012

Whatever heating system you have in your Weston, VT home, whether it’s a furnace, boiler, heat pump or a different kind, regular maintenance has many benefits. Obviously, each system requires a unique checklist for preventative maintenance. We’ve put together a list of some common maintenance items for two of the most popular heating systems: the furnace and the boiler. Having your heating system maintained and professionally repaired on a regular basis can potentially save you money on large scale repairs and on your monthly utility bill.

Furnace Maintenance

A furnace is a simpler piece of equipment than a boiler. Here are some of the things your professional Weston VT heating technician will do during their maintenance visit.

  • Change air filter
  • Clean burners, igniter, flame sensor
  • Test thermostat
  • Lubricate all moving parts including bearings
  • Check ducting
  • Check flue
  • Check heat exchanger for cracks
  • Check flame for proper size

Boiler Maintenance

A boiler is a bit more complicated than a furnace. It requires a different set of maintenance steps as well.

  • Clean flame sensor and burners
  • Test any thermostats
  • Check expansion tank air/water levels
  • Bleed radiators to remove air bubbles
  • Clean and oil the pump

To schedule a heating maintenance visit for your home’s furnace, boiler, or wood burning equipment, give HB Energy Solutions a call today!

Bellows Falls VT Electrical Guide: How Surge Protection Protects Your Home

Monday, September 24th, 2012

Your Bellows Falls VT home is filled with devices attached to and drawing power from the electrical system. You probably have components in place to protect certain devices, such as your computer and television from power surges, but what about the rest of your home? Power surges can occur at any time and they can have a direct, negative impact on your major appliances and even the wiring in your house.

 Why Surge Protection Is Necessary

A power surge occurs when a larger than normal volume of electricity courses through the wires within a circuit. Normally, your home is protected against such surges. Fuses are designed to blow out if the current gets too strong and circuits breakers are designed to trip. But in certain circumstances, surges can occur anyways.

They can occur during electrical storms with a lot of lightning flashes. They can occur when there are interruptions to the power entering your home, especially if it goes on and off frequently. They can even happen simply because of a hiccup in a transformer supplying your home with power.

Protecting Your Home and Appliances

The wiring in your home is not designed to handle sudden surges of electricity, especially not if they happen often. It can damage and fray the wiring and eventually lead to power loss or even an increased risk of fire. Your appliances will be damaged even quicker as the sensitive circuitry and electronic component inside can be broken by a sudden surge of excess electricity.

For all these reasons, it is recommended that you have a whole house surge protector for your Bellows Falls VT home. These devices stop these large surges of electricity from entering your wiring, stopping them at the circuit breaker and preventing shorts in things like your air conditioner or heating system. Contact HB Energy Solutions today to learn more about what these devices can do.

Acworth NH Heating Quesiton: What is a forced air heating?

Monday, September 17th, 2012

There are many types of heating systems in Acworth NH, but one of the most common you will hear about is forced air heating. You likely already have a forced air heating system in your home, but what exactly does this mean and what impact will it have on your selection of a new heating system in the future?

To start, a forced air heating system is unique in that it does not directly heat your home. Instead, the heating system itself – either a heat pump or a furnace – produces heat which is then applied to an air supply and distributed throughout your home via air ducts by an air handler.

So, let’s say you have a gas furnace. When your thermostat turns on because it gets below a certain temperature inside your home, the gas furnace receives a signal to start burning fuel. The pilot light ignites and gas starts burning. As the fuel burns, the furnace blows air through a heat exchanger. That air is then heated to a certain temperature (depending on your furnace) and transferred to the air handler, which uses another fan to blow the air through ductwork to the individual rooms in your home.

So, the air is forced through ductwork and then through vents to heat your home – hence a forced air heating system. The same type of system operates when you have a heat pump, although the heat being applied to the air flow is not from the combustion of fuel but from the process of compressing and expanding the refrigerant gas inside the heat pump, effectively transferring heat energy from outdoor air.

Over the years, forced air heating has become one of the most efficient ways to heat a home, though radiant heating is a close second. If you are installing a new heating system in your Acworth NH home for the first time, consider the benefits of a forced air system and what they could mean for your heating bills.  For more information about installing a new heating equipment, including furnaces, boilers, and wood stoves, call HB Energy Solutions!

Weston VT Plumber’s Guide: Locate Your Septic Tank Electronically

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

If a problem develops with your Weston, VT home’s septic tank, you want to be able to find it as quickly as possible to check and/or repair the problem. However, it’s not always easy to know where the septic tank is. Unless it is clearly marked, and only if you have seen where it was located before and didn’t just move in recently, a septic tank can be hard to find, especially if service hasn’t been performed on it in some time. Thankfully, if this is the case, there are tools that allow you to find your tank electronically.

First, know that your septic tank is usually about 4.5 feet by 8 feet in the ground and can be buried anywhere between four inches and four feet deep. You can also call your local utilities markers to get a map of where your gas lines and electrical cables are located – something that can be done for free by dialing 811.

Now, there are quite a few tools that work well to find your septic tank without electronics, but if you want to get it done much faster and ensure you are accurate, you hire a plumber who can use a locator and a remote flushable transmitter. The idea is very simple: Drop the transmitter down the toilet, flush it and wait a few minutes for it to appear in the septic tank and then flip on your locator and track it. This is a very accurate method and the transmitter will remain in your septic tank for quite a long time, meaning you can find it whenever necessary until the problem you are having is solved.

If you need someone to handle a repair issue with your septic tank, you should call HB Energy Solutions. We can find your septic tank and perform any necessary repairs very quickly.

Bellows Falls Tip: Benefits of Having your Heating System Inspected Before Winter

Monday, August 20th, 2012

Heating systems should always be inspected prior to the colder months.  By doing this you will ensure that you participate in the benefits of having your heating system inspected before winter hits hard.  The Bellows Falls heating specialists at HB Energy Solutions understand the importance of proper heating system maintenance, and we’re available to perform yours before the weather gets cold.

A heating  inspection will ensure that everything is working properly, from the actual heating unit to the thermostat and air handler.  Furnaces that use a chimney for combustion exhaust will need to have a flue inspection, the heat exchanger checked for carbon monoxide leaks, and all blowers, fans, and filters will also be checked.  By having your heating system inspected before winter arrives, you will help prevent future breakdowns and increase energy-efficiency with a professional efficiency test.

Prevent Breakdowns or Repairs

By having heating maintenance performed before the temperature drops, you will be preventing future breakdowns from occurring in the middle of winter. Because the heating system has not been used in several months, it needs a tune-up to ensure that any issues which have developed are fixed before the heat is turned back on for the first time.  This means that once any issues are found and resolved, your heating system is less likely to break down at those inopportune times.

Increased Energy-Efficiency

A properly serviced heating system will involve several tasks. All parts are inspected, lubricated and cleaned, and any worn or broken components will be replaced, and the filter will be changed.  This means you will save money in utility costs because maintenance tune-ups can help with airflow and ensure that you get the most efficient heating throughout the winter.

Improved Indoor Air Quality

When a central heating system tune-up is performed, it ensures that your air filters have been replaced and are the proper size and type. This can also help improve indoor air quality, especially in colder months when there’s no natural ventilation with open windows and doors.  A heating system with a clean air filtration system will mean healthier air to breathe all winter long.

The heating technicians at HB Energy Solutions stand ready to assist with your heating system maintenance in Bellows Falls, VT, and we’ll help you attain all of the benefits of having your heating system inspected before winter hits.  Contact HB Energy Solutions today!