Because Boston is one area where supplemental home heating is required, Bostonians face an increased risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in Boston homes in the colder months. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, and is a by-product of combustion. In small amounts, CO can cause nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, drowsiness, vision […]
Boston Standard Company Blog
Snow Could Deliver Heating Problems To Your Home
/in DIY Blog, DIY Heating /by Boston StandardBoston dodged a bullet with last week’s snowstorms, but this week brings another opportunity to experience the joys of winter. Heavy snow can also create problems with your Boston home heating equipment. Boston Standard Plumbing does more than just take care of your pipes; we also offer full-service heating and cooling maintenance and repair services […]
When Should You Call A Plumber? DIY Repairs vs Professional Repairs
/in DIY Blog, DIY Plumbing /by Boston StandardFor some plumbing repairs in Boston, homeowners can effectively service and maintain their own systems. In other cases, the repair may be too large, complicated or dangerous to attempt on your own. In addition, some repairs require special tools or skills to complete. Today, we’ll focus on the difference between repairs homeowners can do without […]
Lowering Your Boston Heating Bills
/in DIY Blog, DIY Heating /by Boston StandardThere’s nothing like the utility bill in January to make homeowners think about lowering their Boston heating bills. For the most part, how much you spend on heating will be primarily related to how you heat your home and your home’s construction. Other factors, like insulation and new windows can also have an impact on […]
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning In Boston
/in DIY Blog, DIY Heating /by Boston StandardBecause Boston is one area where supplemental home heating is required, Bostonians face an increased risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in Boston homes in the colder months. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, and is a by-product of combustion. In small amounts, CO can cause nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, drowsiness, vision […]
Avoiding Frozen Pipes In The Winter
/in DIY Blog, DIY Plumbing, Hose Spigot /by Boston StandardAll Boston homeowners worry about the possibility of frozen pipes in the winter and with good reason. Frozen pipes can lead to expensive plumbing repairs, property damage, and other disasters like mold growth. Ice in a residential plumbing pipe can exert more than 2,000 psi of pressure. Your pipes aren’t designed to handle this kind […]
What Will An Outdoor Reset Control Do For Your Boston Home?
/in DIY Blog, DIY Heating /by Boston StandardWinter has settled on us in a big way and homeowners are looking for ways to cut down on Boston heating costs. Home insulation, weather-stripping, window replacement, programmable thermostats and a move to a high-efficiency furnace are the first actions that come to mind when trying to lower home heating costs. Many homeowners in the […]
High Efficiency Furnace Maintenance Can Save Service Calls
/in DIY Blog, DIY Heating /by Boston StandardIn the past, the efficiency of a home’s heating system wasn’t considered much. The most popular Boston home heating systems were (and still are) powered by natural gas or electricity. Steam or hot-water heat systems, fuel-oil systems and natural gas forced air are commonly found in Boston-area homes. Within the last couple of decades, however, […]
Using A Plunger
/in DIY Blog, DIY Plumbing /by Boston StandardPlungers don’t come with an owner’s manual, so using them should be intuitive, right? Maybe, but even the most useful tool can be misused to the point of complete ineffectiveness. Plungers are designed to push an obstruction forward through the pipe using air trapped in the plunger. They’re not, contrary to popular belief, designed to […]
Tree Roots In Your Boston Home’s Main Drain
/in DIY Blog, DIY Plumbing /by Boston StandardMature trees take up as much space underground as they do above ground, and over time, trees can do substantial damage to your sewer connection. In their search for water, tree roots can crush your home’s sewer connection, causing sewage leaks and backups in and around your Boston home. While most sewer lines are susceptible […]
Winterizing The Plumbing In Your Boston Home, Part II
/in DIY Blog, DIY Plumbing /by Boston StandardLast week we covered the first part of winterizing your Boston pipes. We’ll finish up the job today. Sometimes, gravity alone won’t completely drain the plumbing. In this case, you’ll want to use compressed air to “blow” the remaining water out of the pipes. For appliances that are connected to the plumbing via hoses, you’ll […]