Posts Tagged ‘Southern Vermont’

3 Things to Consider Before Installing a Wood Stove

Monday, February 20th, 2023
family-enjoying-wood-stove

Here in Southern Vermont, we know how rough winters can get. Having dependable energy that can help rapidly heat your home with a furnace, boiler, or ductless mini splits is great.

But what happens when the power goes out? Where do you turn when the dependable system you’ve been counting on all this time has failed you?

That’s when you consider wood stove installation. That’s when you take that safety and assurance back into your own hands.

There are just a few things you need to know before you jump in with both feet. Let’s run through them together.

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Can a Cracked Wood Stove Be Repaired?

Monday, December 5th, 2022
family-enjoying-wood-stove-in-living-room

Wood stoves are arguably one of the best ways to heat your home, but they’re not invincible. Even cast iron wood stoves have their kryptonite: heat expansion. It’s unavoidable and happens over time, but does that mean your wood stove is doomed just because of a crack?

Whether it’s clay or cast iron, wood stove repair is entirely possible. Right now it’s a safety hazard, but with some relatively quick fixes, you can have that wood stove all fired up again to heat your home. Here’s what you need to know.

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3 Common Myths About Pellet Stoves

Monday, November 14th, 2022
Family enjoying warmth by a wood burning stove.

You search for “pellet stove repair near me,” then you see a flurry of opinions, forum posts, and “articles” about pellet stoves. How do you sift through the noise and actually find out about pellet stove repairs?

It starts by knowing fact from fiction. These myths surrounding pellet stoves float around everywhere, but today, we’re going to bust them.

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All About the Ductless System

Monday, September 19th, 2022

ductless-air-handler-on-wall-with-hand-holding-remote-in-the-foregroundHave you considered the installation of a ductless mini-split for heating and cooling your home? If not, now may be a great time to do it. This type of system is perfect for some applications and homes, including increasing the comfort of add-on rooms, for older homes that don’t have space for traditional ductwork, and for new builds. 

Before diving in and investing in this type of system, you probably want to know more about how they work. When someone thinks about a heating system that doesn’t use ducts, they probably think of boilers. However, a ductless mini-split is a unique, forced-air heating system that blows heated (or cooled) air. You may wonder how this can happen without the ducts in place to distribute this air.

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Why Would You Need a Whole House Surge Protector?

Monday, September 5th, 2022

How Does a Whole-House Surge Protector Work?

spark-coming-from-power-stripOne of the most common questions we get in regards to these systems is “How does a whole house surge protector work?” This is a valid question, especially since you’re probably used to seeing power strips and thinking that these are sufficient enough to protect your appliances and electronics from power surges.

First off, a whole-house surge protector is a device that is wired directly into your electrical panel, the main hub for all things electrical throughout your home. When there’s a voltage spike, otherwise known as a power surge, this device blocks or grounds the surge so that your appliances and electronics don’t get damaged.

Read on to learn more!

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New Home Plumbing Considerations to Keep in Mind

Monday, August 22nd, 2022

home-being-builtAre you having a new home constructed? This is an exciting time in your life! Whether you’re creating your dream living space or your home is part of a new development going up, you have a lot of decisions to make, and you want to work with the right contractors to make your vision come alive.

Working with inexperienced or unlicensed contractors can cause more harm than good, especially when it comes to home systems such as your HVAC units, electrical, and plumbing. There are a lot of things you want to consider about your plumbing before starting a new construction project. Read on to learn what they are.

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Why Do Heat Pumps Need Maintenance Twice a Year?

Monday, August 8th, 2022

HVAC-ventIf you haven’t done so already, now is the time to schedule your air conditioning maintenance appointment. This is a preventative step that homeowners need to take to guarantee that their air conditioners are able to work as efficiently and effectively as possible for as long as possible–throughout the rest of this summer and the rest of the systems’ lifespan.

Professional maintenance helps you avoid up to 85% of the repair needs your system might otherwise have, helps retain 95% of its efficiency rating, and helps your system last the expected 10-15 years.

For a standard air conditioner, we recommend maintenance tune-ups once a year. But what if you have a heat pump? Well then, we suggest maintenance twice a year, as this is a year-round system. Read on to learn more, including why biannual heat pump maintenance is so important.

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Why Should You Use a Professional for Your Plumbing Installation?

Monday, July 25th, 2022

plumber-working-on-bathroom-sinkOftentimes, professional plumbers get called to jobs where a homeowner has already tried to install or repair something on their own, or allowed an amateur to handle it, and it didn’t go as planned. Trying DIY fixes can be a great solution for a good number of around-the-house tasks, but when it comes to your home comfort and efficiency, you really should leave the work to the pros.

A professionally trained and experienced plumber will bring a lot to the table that an amateur simply can’t, and you’ll see the difference in the quality of work provided. So what is it that sets professional plumbers apart? Read on as we uncover the answer!

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“Why Would I Need a Whole-House Dehumidifier?”

Monday, July 11th, 2022

man-desk-fanHigh humidity in the summertime is a problem that we are no stranger to here in Southern Vermont. High relative humidity levels (anything above 50% humidity) make hot days feel even worse. Additionally, humidity has ill effects in other areas too, from your health to the structural integrity of your home.

If you’re struggling with high humidity in your house, the best solution is to have a whole-house dehumidifier professionally installed. Sure, you can buy a portable dehumidifier or two, but the effects that these smaller systems have are minimal at best. They also present problems of their own, such as mold growing within the system itself and not being able to provide enough coverage for the space you need it in.

Read on as we uncover some of the benefits of a whole-house dehumidifier, and when you’re ready to have one installed, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.

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Ducts Are Ruining My Air Quality, What Are My Options?

Monday, June 27th, 2022

woman-using-ductless-air-handlerHave you noticed that your home has poor indoor air quality? Maybe you’re dusting off furniture way more often than you used to. Or perhaps members of your household are experiencing allergy and asthma symptoms no matter what they do.

Maybe you’ve noticed it feels muggy inside when it didn’t use to, and even that you have hot spots (or cold spots) throughout your home when your HVAC systems are running. If these problems seem to be impacting you whether you’re using your heater or your air conditioner, there may very well be a shared component to blame–your air ducts.

Damaged air ducts can not only allow up to 30% of your conditioned air out, leading to expensive inefficiencies, but can also allow things in like dust, dirt, mold spores, bacteria, and even small pests. It’s just not a good situation to be in! Fortunately, there are solutions to this. Read on to learn about them!

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