Some Boston homes are heated by way of a steam boiler. Steam heat can be efficient or inefficient, but good maintenance can keep a steam boiler system working well for decades. In this post, I’ll talk about steam boiler inspections in Boston and what should be included in one.
Steam boiler heat systems differ from [...]
Fall is quickly approaching, and with fall comes the need to add heat to our homes. Because of its history, Boston has a large variety of home heating systems, including both hot water heating systems and steam boilers. Like other types of heating systems, hot water heat systems can range in efficiency from [...]
Time To Start Thinking About Furnace Inspections In Boston
August 3rd, 2010 · DIY Blog · DIY Heating
This summer’s heat in Boston has been intense, to say the least, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to put off furnace maintenance. As hard as it is to believe, we’re less than two months away from the start of the heating season, so now is a good time to start thinking [...]
Boston Water Heater Replacement Can Earn You A Tax Federal Credit
July 20th, 2010 · DIY Blog · DIY Plumbing · Water Heaters
Right now, the federal government is offering homeowners a federal tax credit on the installation of new, high-efficiency gas, oil, propane and electric heat pump water heaters. Not all water heaters qualify for the credit, but if you’re considering updating a home in Boston, water heater replacement can save you money both up-front and [...]
Removing and replacing the toilet sounds easy enough, but homeowners often have difficulty getting the wax ring properly seated. A bad seal is a disaster, so this part of the repair has to be right!
Toilets can be very heavy and difficult to maneuver. You won’t be able to see the soil [...]
Leaking Toilets 2 (or “Grouchy Homeowner, Hidden Water Damage”)
July 6th, 2010 · DIY Blog · DIY Plumbing · Toilets
In my last post, I tackled the subject of leaking toilets. No one, including plumbers, likes a leaking toilet. The “good” leaks are ones that involve the tank. Making adjustments or replacing simple hardware can often repair them. Best of all, you’re dealing with clean water.
Now for the messy leaks:
A leak [...]
Spotting Hidden Water Damage, Part 3: Leaking Toilets
June 29th, 2010 · DIY Blog · DIY Plumbing · Toilets
In the last couple of posts, I’ve written about hidden water damage from faucets and drains. There are other sources of water damage from leaks. Today’s post will look at leaking toilets
Spotting hidden water damage from a leaking toilet can be a bit more difficult, depending upon what’s leaking and where the water’s going. [...]
Faucets aren’t the only possible leak points. Drains leak, resulting in just as much damage. Drains also carry dirty, unsanitary water, so they’re generally messier and more unpleasant to repair than a leaking faucet. A leaking drain can produce a flood of dirty water and will start to smell bad in short order. [...]
Spotting Hidden Water Damage, Part 1
June 15th, 2010 · DIY Air Conditioning · DIY Blog · DIY Plumbing
Few home disasters are worse than water in areas of the home that are supposed to be dry. Leaking roofs, windows and doors, leaking pipes, faulty appliances and condensation are all sources of water in the home. There are some water problems plumbers can’t take care of, but this post will discuss hidden water damage [...]
Boston Standard Plumbing Techs Are NATE Certified!
June 8th, 2010 · DIY Air Conditioning · DIY Blog · DIY Heating · DIY Plumbing
Last month, two of our technicians received the core North American Technical Excellence (NATE) certification and we have plans to certify all of our technicians within the year. Joe Wood, owner of Boston Standard Plumbing & Heating and Peter Balestra, who were NATE certified in May, will now pursue NATE HVAC certification. We’re [...]