We’re pleased to announce that for the second year in a row, Boston Standard Plumbing & Heating has received the Angie’s List Super Service Award! Angie’s List is a national service that provides rating information on service providers of all kinds throughout the United States. The award is given annually to the top 5% of [...]

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Who knew that you could use “sexy” and “thermostat” in the same sentence? The makers of the new Nest thermostat have done just that and by all accounts, they’ve hit a home run. If you’re into technology, the Nest may make a great addition to your Boston home heating and cooling plan. This “learning” thermostat [...]

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What do cows in Chicago have to do with water in Boston? As it turns out, cows in Chicago are behind the reason we chlorinate municipal water. Slightly more than 100 years ago, the cows in the Chicago Union stockyards weren’t gaining weight. In fact, the only time the cows would gain weight was when [...]

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According to Angie’s List, plumbers are the most searched-for service providers on Thanksgiving. There’s no hard evidence to prove it, but the number of increased visitors often put stress on plumbing systems, and can lead to a Boston plumbing emergency just when you need it least – during a holiday! Here are a few tips [...]

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Flooding is among homeowners’ worst nightmares. The damage occurs fast – it’s often unstoppable – and water does a very good job of ruining a lot of things! It’s easy to see how carpeting, furniture, walls and wood can be damaged by water. Other items that might be in the basement – like laundry equipment, [...]

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Let’s face it: no one calls a plumber until they have to, but when you need plumbing help, you generally need assistance fast! How can you find a reputable plumber? Boston residents have a lot of plumbers to choose from, and that can make finding a good contractor even more difficult. Here are a few [...]

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Copper theft is on the rise and Boston has seen a rash of thefts involving copper plumbing. Boston Housing Authority employees are facing a Civil Service Hearing related to accusations that they illegally removed copper plumbing from a public housing complex in Roslindale. Last month, two men were arrested in New Hampshire in connection with [...]

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Pipes have been made of many materials over the years including copper, iron, aluminum, clay, and even wood! Plastic, in the form of polyvinyl (PVC) pipe, is a relatively new addition to the mix. PVC pipe has been approved for use in both fresh and wastewater applications, and is also used in exhaust applications for [...]

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In the last several posts, I’ve focused on home heating and the pros and cons of using heating oil versus natural gas. For some Bostonians, simply getting through the winter with any heat at all is their primary concern. A program that helps low-income households in Boston and other places around the country may lose [...]

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In the last few posts, I’ve talked about the pros and cons of using oil for home heating in Boston. In addition to the rising cost of heating oil, and the issues that arise as a chimney deteriorates, there are some environmental issues that are unique to heating oil that homeowners should think about when [...]

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