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Manchester Plumbing, Remodeling, Electrical & Heating Tips

VIDEO: Hot Water Heater Maintenance Tips

How does a water heater work? Most homes use a conventional water heater, like the one shown in the video below. It can be powered by electricity, gas or oil. It keeps a supply of hot water in the tank for whenever you need it. Its operation is fairly simple. Cold water is automatically delivered to the bottom of the tank where a heating element heats the water. Then, when hot water is needed, it's sent throughout your home. Why is maintenance important? A water heater isn't maintenance free....

WANTED: Your Old Hot Water Heater

Day after day, your water heater cranks out the hot water. It may be a gas, oil or electric unit. It may hold 30, 40 or even 50-gallons. You probably don't even think twice about it, until it breaks down. Do you remember when you last had it checked out ? If your water heater is getting on in age, more than 10 years old, here’s what you might expect: Signs of aging water heater Rusty Tank Or Seam: Your water heater can corrode and rust over time, resulting in a massive flood that can cause a...

Quick Tip: Sanitary Well Cap

What is a sanitary well cap? A well cap is found on top of the pipe ("casing") sticking out of the ground for your well. Not all well caps are considered "sanitary." A sanitary well cap is also known as a vermin proof cap. You can tell the difference between the caps by looking for bolts and a rubber seal. These pieces are what keep bugs and rodents out of your Columbia CT well. This is an example of what one looks like: Why do I need this? Without a tight seal, bugs and rodents can get into...

Garbage Disposal Do's and Don'ts

A garbage disposal gets a ton of use this time of year with back-to-back holidays. A turkey dinner for Thanksgiving and ham for Christmas both include delicious sides. Mashed butternut squash, buttery turnip, glazed carrots...the list goes on. And that's just for the meal. Don't forget the cakes, pies and cookies! While these family dinners are full of tastiness and memories, they include some not-so-yummy leftovers. Rinds, peels, and egg shells, just to name a few. NONE of this type of food...

Pro Heating Advice: Protect Pipes From Deep Freezes

O ld Man Winter sure showed his face this weekend in Windham CT! Sudden drops in temperature combined with strong winds are NOT good for your home's heating pipes. Your local CT heating pro has some tips to prevent burst pipes this winter. These tips will be helpful if you have a water-based [aka hydronic] heating system. If you have a hydronic system, you have a boiler, not a furnace. This is important to know, if you need to call for service! Protect your heating pipes from freezing winds...

Pro Electrician Advice: Holiday Safety Tips

Your local Columbia CT electrician wants your family to stay SAFE during holiday decorating. We always look forward to sharing wonderful tips & graphics from ESFI each year. Please share this information with your friends and family on Facebook to help us get the word out! Let's work together to keep the holidays safe for everyone! 6 ways to prevent holiday fires Keep all decorations at least 3 feet away from heat sources , such as candles, fireplaces, and radiators. Check all your light cords...

Pro Plumber Advice: Avoid Thanksgiving Plumbing Disasters

First, we'd like to say THANK YOU to all of our loyal Columbia CT customers. On Thanksgiving, and every day, we are thankful that you choose our company with your plumbing repairs and installations. Our wish is for you to enjoy as much of a stress-free holiday as possible. Our pro plumber team has some tips to avoid any plumbing disasters that might happen during the big feast. Disaster #1 - Jammed disposal Turnip peels, turkey giblets, and potato skins are the unsavory bits left after the...

3 "Smart Plumbing" Trends

Trending: "Smart plumbing" Everyone loves 'smart' technology. Smartphones and tablets are staples of our lives. Slowly, everything is being linked to your smartphones. You can look to see who's knocking on your door , check in on your home's temperature, and receive home security alerts all on your phone now! Make way for "smart plumbing" technology to make our increasingly busy lives a little easier to manage. Water shut-off valve If you have a vacation home or travel long periods for...

Quick Tip: Difference Between Boiler and Furnace

It's that time of year when I begin to receive a lot heating repair calls. A customer may describe that his furnace is making weird noises. Another may tell me that her boiler isn't working . In both cases, there's no heat in the Willimantic CT home and I need to get a technician out ASAP. My job is to find out if the heating repair is for a BOILER or a FURNACE first. Here's a helpful tip for you, if you need to call for service on your heating system. Boiler vs. Furnace Both pieces of...

Pro Heating Advice: How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

I don't know about you, but I pulled out the winter woolies and fuzzy blankets a couple weeks ago! I'm still holding out on turning on the heat but getting the house ready nonetheless. Winter's on the horizon here in Mansfield CT. I'm going to share what I've learned to prevent frozen pipes in my home. Now's the time to get everything ready BEFORE the temps really plummet and we're buried under snow. How to prevent frozen pipes Drafts: Take a walk around your home, including the basement....

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My thank you seems so small compared to what you have done for me. Your generosity overwhelms me. the faucet is so attractive - I love it! You made my Christmas really merry.
S. Bombria

Thank you!!! Rapid Service did a wonderful job transforming 1920s bathrooms in our house. We cannot say enough about the quality and attention to detail of each of these projects.
Anthony Power
The guys at Rapid Service did a whole "make-over" of my son's bathroom in East Hartford in March, 2014. They did a fantastic job - were there when they said they would be, were easy to contact, completed the job in a reasonable time...
Sue Rissanen

I had to call my handyman husband Rapid Service yet again! Andy and his crew are the most professional and down to earth people you will ever meet. My husband and I had a house built seven years ago and have had various issues with water, electrical and heating...
Lisa M.
My wife and I own and operate a Bed & Breakfast in our home in Scotland, CT. For a number of years we have used Rapid Service for all our electrical, plumbing, and heating needs. Most recently we had Rapid Service replace a malfunctioning kick heater in our Guest Game Room...
Bruce & Georgia Stauffer

I had Rapid Service come to my home because there was a saddle valve under my kitchen sink that was about to make a huge mess. I wasn't able to use my filtered water faucet until the repair was made. The technician fixed it AND had a great attitude while he worked. That is a rare thing lately...
Kevin S.
Great work on replacing my well water tank, Andy. You have been giving us highly competent, clean, and courteous service for the past 28 years. You're the best!"
Gerald Baril

My wife and I want you to know that we were very satisfied with our bathroom remodeling that Andy performed professionally, carefully and efficiently. The end result is a bathroom that is properly updated, functions perfectly and looks very attractive...
Curt F. Beck