- Residential Fuel
- Equipment & Service
- Energy Efficiency
- Commercial
- About
- Contact
Think about your daily routine. Just about every hour of your day relies on your home’s plumbing in some capacity. From taking your morning shower to cleaning up dishes after dinner and brushing your teeth before bed, you depend on a complex network of fixtures and pipes. Naturally, with so many moving parts, there are plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong and cause your household serious problems. But how do you know when an issue can wait until normal business hours, and when you need immediate professional help? In this article, we’ll cover what constitutes a plumbing emergency that you need to address right now.
Burst, frozen or severely leaking pipes are more than just an inconvenience —they are an immediate threat to your property. During the freezing winter months, exposed pipes that lack proper insulation can accumulate ice and rupture. This can lead to rapid flooding, extensive water damage, mold growth and costly structural repairs. If you experience a burst pipe and notice water accumulating in your home, this is a clear emergency that requires quick action from a professional to protect your home.
(By the way, Valiant Home & Energy sells and installs smart home shut-off valves, which stop the flow of water to your home when they detect a leak.)
Your water heater works hard every single day. A traditional storage-tank water heater typically lasts about 10 to 15 years, but when it fails unexpectedly, your daily routine comes to a grinding halt. Losing hot water means no warm showers, among other inconveniences. While routine maintenance can prevent many of these sudden breakdowns, a complete loss of hot water or a severely leaking tank is an urgent issue. A professional needs to assess whether your equipment can be repaired or if an emergency replacement is required to get your hot water flowing again.
If you notice a foul odor emanating from your drains, water fixtures, or appliances, you might be dealing with a sewage backup. Whether you are connected to a municipal sewer line or a private septic system, raw sewage backing up into your home is both unpleasant and a severe health hazard. Blockages can be caused by built-up grease, severe pipe obstructions or tree root intrusion in your sewer lines. Specialized solutions, such as high-pressure hydro jetting, are often required to clear the blockage safely and effectively.
While occasional minor leaks happen, unexplained or growing pools of standing water should never be ignored. Pooling water in your bathroom, kitchen or basement can quickly escalate, leading to fetid air, pervasive mold and even electrocution risks. If you spot pooling water and cannot immediately identify and stop the source, it is imperative to call an expert to locate the hidden leak and repair it before further damage occurs.
Plumbing emergencies don’t stick to regular business hours, and neither do we. Valiant Home & Energy is proud to serve homeowners in Waterbury and throughout Western Connecticut. Our fully certified plumbing pros are on call 24/7 to repair or replace your plumbing systems when you need us most. For ultimate peace of mind, consider enrolling in our Total Care Plan for your home’s plumbing. This affordable coverage provides priority service, routine inspections and a 20% discount on all covered repairs — even on nights, weekends, and holidays.
Don’t let a plumbing disaster disrupt your life. You have a local team of plumbing experts ready to help in Western Connecticut. Contact Valiant to get your plumbing emergency solved quickly.
Whether your home has an on-site well or you rely on city water, it’s essential to look out for the telltale signs of pollutants, minerals and other impurities in it. These signs can include off smells and tastes, scaling on your fixtures, discoloration on plumbing and dry skin after showering.
Unfortunately, communities in New Haven County and throughout Western Connecticut have experienced a wide range of water quality issues. Chlorine from municipal treatment plants, hardness, acidity, “forever chemicals” and radon are all prevalent. But Valiant Home & Energy has proven methods to quickly identify water quality problems — and fix them.
In this article, we’re going to talk about two popular water filtration options, what they can accomplish and whether they’re right for your home and family.
Carbon water filters absorb impurities and improve taste and odor in water. They’re especially effective at removing chlorine, organic compounds and some chemicals, though they don’t eliminate dissolved solids. Found in pitchers, under-sink units and whole-house systems, they can treat water at the source or point of use (rather than a whole-home solution).
Reverse osmosis is a highly effective filtration method that uses pressure to push water through a semipermeable membrane, removing a wide range of contaminants. It can reduce total dissolved solids, heavy metals, chlorine, bacteria and more. Typically installed under sinks, these systems use multiple filtration stages for improved performance. For maximum protection for your water, there are also whole-home reverse osmosis systems.
Absolutely, Valiant Home & Energy’s water treatment team deploys a wide range of solutions. In addition to water filtration, we offer water conditioning, softening and radon remediation.
Of course, not every household needs multiple water treatment options. It’s all about finding the correct option for your home’s specific water quality concerns. And you can trust Valiant to do just that!
If you’re noticing the warning signs of impurities in your water, Valiant Home & Energy can help.
Our water treatment team takes a personalized, start-to-finish approach to improving your home’s water. It all begins with a detailed water test, where their team analyzes a sample for issues like hardness, acidity, bacteria and other potential contaminants. Once they understand exactly what’s affecting your water quality, they recommend a targeted treatment plan designed specifically for your home.
From there, Valiant installs customized solutions that address impurities, restore balance and improve overall water performance. The result is cleaner, better-tasting water that’s gentler on your plumbing and appliances and safer for your family. Our tailored approach helps eliminate odors, reduce staining and support a healthier home environment — giving you confidence in your water every day.
We also offer Total Care Plans for your plumbing, water treatment equipment and water softening systems. These plans provide annual upkeep and inspections, priority scheduling for repairs (even nights, weekends and holidays) and 20% discounts on covered work. This affordable coverage is the best way to safeguard the cleanness and healthiness of your water.
Valiant’s water treatment pros are standing by to test your water and fix any issues we uncover. Contact us today to arrange an appointment.
This winter has been a bear. Western Connecticut has seen some of the heaviest snow in years, along with stretches of truly frigid temperatures. If you heat with oil, you probably noticed your fuel usage spiking several times. And if you’re still tracking your tank level yourself, you may have had a few anxious moments watching that gauge dip below 1/4 faster than expected.
Daily heating oil consumption isn’t always easy to predict during extreme and variable weather. In this article, we’ll walk through the key factors that affect how quickly you use heating oil in a single day and explain how Valiant Home & Energy makes the whole process worry-free for homeowners in Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex and New Haven Counties.
The biggest factor influencing your daily heating oil consumption is simple: the temperature outside.
When the mercury drops, your boiler or furnace has to work harder and run longer cycles to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. On milder days — say, above 50°F — you may use very little oil. But when temperatures fall into the 20s or teens, your system can burn through 8 to 10 gallons (or more) in a single day, depending on your home.
During cold snaps like the ones we’ve experienced this season, it’s completely normal for usage to surge. That sudden increase can make your tank level drop faster than you’re used to seeing.
Temperature is only part of the equation. Several additional variables determine how much heating oil your home uses each day:
Long story short, each home is unique, and estimating daily oil use isn’t a one-size-fits-all calculation.
Trying to manually monitor your heating oil tank during a harsh Connecticut winter can be stressful. That’s why virtually all Valiant customers choose our free automatic delivery schedule.
With over 100 years of service to Western Connecticut homes, we’ve mastered the art and science of fuel management. We track your past usage, monitor weather forecasts, account for severe storms and adjust for temperature swings — so you don’t have to. Snow-covered driveways and icy back roads are simply part of doing business for us.
Our automatic delivery program means no constant gauge-checking, no last-minute calls, and no fear of running out during a cold snap. We schedule deliveries before your tank gets low, ensuring steady, dependable comfort all season long.
You can always count on Valiant Home & Energy. If you’re ready for a simpler, stress-free heating experience, become a customer today and let us take fuel management off your winter to-do list.
We’re working our way through an intense winter season in Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, and New Haven Counties. We’ve had to contend with teeth-chattering cold and blustery snowstorms. Through it all, the propane delivery team at Valiant Home & Energy has been out on the road, ensuring our customers have enough fuel to keep their homes toasty and safe.
A lot of factors go into determining how quickly a home will use propane, from the size of the house to the number of gas appliances to the quality of insulation (and that’s just a few of the variables). But you can avoid having to weigh these factors and check your tank’s gauge constantly by taking advantage of our no-fee automatic delivery.
With automatic propane delivery, Valiant Home & Energy manages your fuel supply for you using modern technology and expert oversight. Wireless propane tank monitors send real-time data on your fuel levels directly to our team. From there, we track your usage patterns alongside upcoming weather conditions to determine the right time to schedule your next delivery.
You never need to check your gauge, make a last-minute phone call, or worry about a sudden run-out during a cold snap. Everything happens automatically, quietly in the background. And once you’re enrolled, you’ll quickly see that automatic delivery isn’t just convenient — it comes with a long list of practical advantages.
When you’re on automatic delivery, your spot on our delivery routes is already secured. There’s no need to call ahead, and no scrambling when a winter storm is in the forecast. While other homeowners may be rushing to place emergency orders, your delivery is already planned. That means less stress, fewer interruptions and moreconfidence that your propane will arrive when you need it, even during periods of high demand or inclement weather.
Automatic delivery isn’t just about technology — it’s about experience. The Valiant team brings decades of propane expertise to every delivery decision. We understand seasonal usage trends, regional weather patterns, and how propane demand changes during prolonged cold or storms. That knowledge allows us to plan proactively and adjust delivery schedules as conditions change, keeping your tank at a safe, reliable level year-round.
Running out of propane is more than an inconvenience. During frigid weather, it can mean loss of heat, frozen pipes or unsafe conditions inside your home. Run-outs may also lead to additional costs, including after-hours delivery charges and mandatory safety leak testing before service can be restored. Automatic delivery dramatically reduces the risk of these disruptions by keeping your tank filled before levels become critical.
Automatic propane delivery from Valiant Energy comes at no additional cost. There are no enrollment fees or surprise add-ons. The only “add-ons” you can expect are convenience and peace of mind. With automatic delivery, your propane supply is handled by professionals who are always one step ahead — so you can focus on enjoying the comfort propane provides, without the worry.
The Valiant team is standing by to take care of all your home comfort needs. Become a customer today to start receiving complimentary automatic delivery, plus a range of other heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, pest control and home efficiency services!
At this time of the year in Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven and Litchfield Counties, our customers’ homes need all the heating efficiency they can get. Unfortunately, too many houses leak warm air through abrasions in ductwork, subpar insulation, old windows and other gaps in the building’s thermal envelope.
Energy-inefficient homes in our part of Connecticut lose a lot of money and comfort through these gaps. At Valiant Home & Comfort, our team has developed proven ways to help customers stay warmer in the winter, keep cooler in the summer, stay safer all year round and use less energy in the process. The process begins with a Home Energy Assessment — and you may qualify for reduced costs on both the assessment and the home efficiency fixes. From there, you will enjoy significant energy savings for years to come.
A Valiant home energy assessment is a thorough evaluation of your home’s efficiency, comfort and safety. Our certified technicians use blower door testing to pinpoint air leaks and identify solutions to reduce drafts, duct losses, water waste and unnecessary HVAC use.
By improving your home’s performance, you can enjoy lower energy bills, year-round comfort and a smaller environmental footprint. Many assessments also reveal hidden safety concerns, such as carbon monoxide risks, mold or electrical issues, helping protect your home and family.
Depending on the types of HVAC and water waste our test uncovers, we will suggest a slate of options that will keep your family safer and more comfortable, while saving you a lot of money. Some of our most popular efficiency solutions include:
Absolutely! Our team will help you receive any available rebates, incentives and financing options that can lower your costs. In fact, families that meet certain household income limits (and who have not received an assessment in six years) can qualify for a FREE Home Energy Assessment through Energize Connecticut!
And the annual energy savings our customers see tend to pay back their initial investment quickly — often in less than two years! Consider these recent success stories:
The Valiant team is here to help you enjoy a cozier home all winter and a refreshingly cool home in the summer. We want you to have that year-round comfort while spending less money. Please reach out to us today to arrange your Home Energy Assessment, and we’ll do everything possible to lower your testing and home upgrade costs and save you money in the future.
At this point in the winter, your home’s heating equipment has been running hard for many weeks. This time of the year, the climate in New Milford and across Connecticut can really wear down a furnace or heat pump, but there are some crucial steps you can take to support its operations. One major action you can take is ensure that the airflow coming into and through your heating equipment is clear and optimized. Valiant Home & Energy can help you do this — and you’ll reap considerable benefits in the process!
Proper airflow is essential for your home’s heating system to work efficiently, whether you have a furnace or a heat pump. Restricted airflow forces your system to work harder, increasing energy costs and causing unnecessary strain that can lead to costly repairs and a shorter system lifespan. By improving airflow, you can lower energy bills, enjoy consistent temperatures without cold spots and extend the life of your HVAC equipment by minimizing wear and tear. Better airflow means better comfort and savings.
A clogged air filter is one of the most common culprits behind restricted airflow. Filters trap dust, pet dander and other particles, but when they get too full, they prevent air from circulating properly. To keep things running smoothly, check your filter monthly and replace it at least every three months (or clean it if it’s reusable). If you have pets or allergies, you might need to change it more often. Locate the filter near your indoor air handler or furnace, slide out the old one and clean it or replace it with a new filter of the same size.
Vents and registers are the pathways that deliver warm air into your rooms, but they can easily get blocked by furniture, rugs or curtains. To ensure proper airflow, walk through your home and make sure all supply and return vents are completely unobstructed. While you’re at it, vacuum them to remove any dust or debris that could hinder airflow. A little attention here can make a big difference in your home’s comfort and efficiency.
Your ductwork is responsible for carrying heated air from your furnace or ducted heat pump to your rooms, but leaks or gaps can let warm air escape into unheated spaces like attics or crawlspaces. This wastes energy and reduces the heat reaching your living areas. We can check your ducts for tears, gaps or loose connections. Our Aeroseal service is a cutting-edge process that eliminates leaks in ductwork, helps your system work more efficiently and keeps your home cozy.
Regardless of what kind of HVAC system you have, Valiant Home & Energy can help you get the best year-round efficiency from it with our Home Energy Assessments. We use blower door testing to pinpoint where air is escaping from your home and recommend proven solutions to reduce drafts, duct leaks and wasted HVAC energy. We also help identify available incentives and financing to lower costs. Home efficiency improvements enhance comfort year-round, cut energy use and often uncover safety concerns like carbon monoxide, mold or electrical issues.
Isn’t it time to boost your home’s efficiency and your family’s comfort and well-being? Reach out to Valiant Home & Energy and schedule your Home Energy Assessment today.
Winters in our part of Connecticut aren’t for the faint of heart. While a fresh blanket of winter snow and a clear, crisp night sky may be lovely, the plummeting outdoor temperatures and inclement weather can be anything but.
The Valiant Home & Energy is always on call to help Connecticut families keep their homes safe and warm, no matter what Old Man Winter throws at us. Many of our customers depend on propane for their most essential winter comfort needs, including heat, hot water and standby generator power. Having a reliably filled propane tank is crucial for these households. In this article, we’ll discuss how frigid temperatures can impact your home’s propane supply.
Propane is stored in pressurized tanks, which help the fuel maintain its liquid form. When your heating system, stove, water heater, generator or other kind of gas appliance needs propane, pressure in the tank is relieved. The propane vaporizes and travels via gas lines to your equipment for combustion.
In theory, yes. But in the real world, the conditions don’t exist for your propane to freeze.
Propane has an extremely low freezing point of -306°F. To put this into perspective, the coldest temperature ever recorded in Connecticut was -32°F in 1943. Even the coldest natural temperature on Earth — -128.6°F in Antarctica — is significantly warmer than propane’s freezing point.
Additionally, propane is a stable energy source that does not degrade over time, no matter how long it is stored in its tank.
While propane doesn’t freeze, cold weather affects how it behaves inside the tank, especially in terms of pressure. Standard propane tanks are built to handle temperature fluctuations, but there can still be pressure issues when your tank is running low and outdoor temperatures are freezing. That’s because, when temperatures drop, propane contracts and takes up less space inside the tank. This can reduce internal pressure, which can slow propane’s ability to vaporize and reach your appliances. If pressure gets too low, your furnace, water heater and other gas equipment may not operate properly. Trusting your tank’s capabilities and taking proactive steps can ensure consistent performance throughout Connecticut winters.
Valiant Home & Energy makes propane delivery easy with reliable service and innovative solutions like automatic delivery. Our advanced software tracks your usage and schedules refills so you never run out, even during peak winter demand. Enjoy uninterrupted warmth without the hassle of managing your supply.
Valiant Home & Energy provides Connecticut homeowners with dependable propane delivery and personalized support in Hamden, Waterbury, Cheshire and other communities in our part of Connecticut. Become a customer today and enjoy peace of mind all winter long.
New England winters may be beautiful, but they can quickly become miserable if your heating system isn’t properly maintained. Whether you rely on a furnace, boiler or heat pump, neglecting professional care for your equipment can drive up energy bills, reduce your home comfort and even create safety concerns. A system that hasn’t been serviced is more likely to break down during the coldest days of the year, right when you need it most.
For homeowners across Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex and New Haven Counties, routine heating maintenance is one of the smartest investments you can make in winter comfort, efficiency and peace of mind.
Heating systems should typically be professionally serviced once per year. Annual maintenance allows a trained technician to inspect, clean, and fine-tune key components to ensure safe and efficient operation throughout the heating season.
When heating equipment is dirty or out of adjustment, it has to work harder to maintain comfortable temperatures. This extra effort translates into higher energy usage, inflated operational costs and faster wear and tear on the system. Annual maintenance keeps your equipment operating at peak efficiency, helping you get the most heat for every dollar spent on energy.
In a region where heating costs can be a significant part of household expenses, improved efficiency can make a noticeable difference over the course of a winter.
Unexpected heating failures are stressful, especially during freezing winter weather. Routine maintenance significantly reduces the likelihood of breakdowns by identifying worn parts, loose connections or operational issues early.
In addition, a well-maintained heating system experiences less wear and tear overall. That means a longer service life, fewer emergency calls and a longer system lifespan.
Heating systems that burn fuel or rely on electrical components must operate safely. Annual service includes critical safety checks that help protect your home from issues such as carbon monoxide accumulation, electrical problems or pressure-related failures. Even electric heat pumps benefit from inspections that ensure safe wiring and proper operation.
Many manufacturers require proof of regular professional maintenance to keep warranties valid. Skipping annual service could leave you responsible for repair costs that would otherwise be covered.
The easiest way to stay on top of heating maintenance is by enrolling in a Valiant Total Care Plan. Designed to simplify home comfort, this plan ensures your system receives the attention it needs while delivering valuable savings and peace of mind.
With a Valiant Total Care Plan, you receive:
Homeowners throughout Connecticut trust Valiant Home & Energy to keep their heating systems running safely and efficiently all winter long. Contact our team today to enroll in a Total Care Plan or schedule your annual heating system service.
Heating equipment is one of the biggest consumers of energy in any Connecticut home. At this time of the year, your furnace, boiler, or heat pump is likely running constantly, using more fuel or electricity than any other piece of equipment in your house.
There are several ways to lower your heating system’s energy consumption while maintaining a cozy-warm home. Regular system maintenance is crucial, as are smart thermostat settings. But an extremely effective tool for reducing heating costs is your home’s insulation. Valiant Home & Energy has the tools, experience, and processes to find the places where your insulation is letting you down and fix the issue for you.
Insulation slows the transfer of heat through your walls and roof, creating a protective “thermal envelope” that separates indoor conditioned air from the outdoor elements. This barrier works when insulation is properly installed in walls, floors, ceilings, and attics.
It’s vital to choose the right materials and sealing gaps around areas like windows and doors. In most homes, boosting attic and basement insulation offers the fastest, most cost-effective improvements and can noticeably reduce heating costs. Insulation with a high R-value (the measurement for heat flow reduction) in these areas can generate huge savings, even in recently built houses. Upgrading the insulation of your home can save you up to 20% on heating costs.
At Valiant Home & Energy, we’re always looking for ways to help your customers get superior year-round comfort while using less energy. Our popular Home Energy Assessments allow us to audit your house’s envelope and find its energy inefficiencies.
Our certified technicians use diagnostic tools — most importantly, the blower door test — to measure how tightly your home is sealed. By creating controlled negative pressure, this test reveals exactly where outside air is sneaking in through cracks, gaps, or poorly sealed areas.
During your assessment, our team will:
In addition to air leak testing, we will assess water usage for potential improvements.
After the testing is complete, we review the results with you and recommend smartly targeted upgrades that can boost comfort and reduce energy costs. Depending on your home, our experts may suggest improvements such as:
These upgrades help you maintain a tighter, more efficient home, translating to long-term savings and improved indoor comfort. Valiant will help you calculate the energy savings you can expect. We also look out for any rebates and other financial incentives to lower your upfront costs.
This winter, get better home comfort and spend less on fuel and electricity with Valiant Home & Energy. Reach out to our team now to set up your Home Energy Assessment and get started boosting the effectiveness of your insulation.
With average temperatures dropping every day in Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex and New Haven Counties, our customers are turning to their heating oil furnaces and boilers. Reliable home heating is vital for homeowners across Connecticut. It is also a major driver of your home’s energy spending.
In this article, we’ll discuss how you can boost the efficiency of your oil heating system, a process that Valiant Home & Energy can help with.
One of the fantastic things about having an oil-fired heating system is that you start from a place of really robust heat production. Heating oil can generate roughly 138,500 Btu per gallon. That makes it one of the most effective ways to warm up a New England home. And today’s oil heating systems are more efficient than ever before, boasting fuel efficiency ratings as high as the mid 90% range.
Valiant Home & Energy supports this efficiency by delivering Bioheat® fuel — a renewable blend of ultra-low-sulfur heating oil and biodiesel. It burns more efficiently than traditional heating oil, reducing emissions, lowering maintenance and improving energy performance. With the highest Btu content of any alternative fuel, Bioheat fuel provides reliable, powerful warmth while helping protect the environment.
There is some relatively simple upkeep that you can undertake to keep your home’s heating equipment running at its best possible efficiency, plus some tips to reduce how often you need to run your equipment:
One thing that sets Valiant Home & Energy apart from other home heating providers is that one of our top goals is to help you use less energy. One of our most popular services is the Home Energy Assessment.
This efficiency audit can make your home more comfortable, lower energy costs and reduce your carbon footprint. Using blower door testing, we pinpoint air leaks, duct issues, and wasted energy, then recommend effective fixes to stop drafts and improve system performance. We’ll also identify available rebates and financing options to help you save more. Beyond comfort and savings, these audits can reveal hidden safety hazards like carbon monoxide leaks or mold. Schedule yours today and start enjoying a safer, more efficient home.
The most effective way to restore your heating oil furnace or boiler to maximum efficiency — not to mention lowering the chance of breakdowns and extending your heating system’s life expectancy — is to have it tuned up by a certified oilheat technician once a year.
Valiant Home & Energy has you covered. Our team specializes in comprehensive maintenance services for heating systems. We will ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently, all winter long. For the average homeowner in our part of Connecticut, the efficiency boost this maintenance offers can result in nearly $270 in annual savings!
For the maximum peace of mind, we strongly encourage you to enroll in a Total Care Plan. With this service plan coverage, you receive an annual boiler or furnace tune-up and a 14-point inspection. But if your system does need repairs, Total Care coverage guarantees you a 20% discount — not just during business hours but also on nights, weekends and holidays.
To enroll in a Total Care Plan or arrange a heating tune-up or Home Energy Assessment, contact the Valiant team today.