DuAll Heating & Cooling Blog : Archive for October, 2013

When Should I Consider Installing A New Furnace?

Thursday, October 24th, 2013

In towns like Plainfield, a furnace installation means comfort and reliability during our lengthy Chicagoland winters. Sooner or later, every old furnace needs replacing, no matter how well it may perform or how long. Installing a new one is not a light undertaking, but it offers numerous advantages, and there comes a time when those advantages easily outweigh the initial cost of a set-up. “When should I install a new furnace?” you ask. The answers vary by homeowner, but it boils down to a question of money saved.

Older furnaces tend to be less efficient furnaces. Parts wear out, components need to be replaced, and even the most well-maintained unit will start to lose heating potential to waste and inefficiency. You can spot signs of trouble if your heating bill increases significantly, even though you’re not using your furnace any more than you normally do. A more formal measurement comes with the unit’s AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating, which is normally higher in newer units than older ones. (The EnergyStar sticker is given to gas furnaces of AFUE 95% or higher and oil furnaces of AFUE 85% or higher, making it a handy guide to finding a more efficient furnace.)

You might also decide to install a new furnace if repairs on the old one rise higher than you’re willing to tolerate. Every furnace needs repairs sooner or later, but if the frequency of repairs and/or their escalating costs keep climbing, it may be more worthwhile to install a new unit. New units tend to be protected by warranties, and with regular maintenance and upkeep will last quite a long time. Moreover, the energy saved from month to month will help offset the cost of installation, as will the improved resale value your home could enjoy from the addition of a new furnace.

If you’ve answered the question “when should I consider installing a new furnace?” call on the experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling to help. We handle Plainfield furnace installation of all varieties, and our staff operates throughout the southern Chicagland area.

Call us today to set up an appointment

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How Can A Clogged Air Filter Damage My AC System?

Friday, October 18th, 2013

Air conditioning repair in Plainfield involves more than simply fixing problems when they arise. It means keeping your air conditioner in good shape so that it cools the air efficiently without developing any serious issues. That entails a regular maintenance program, which involves changing the air filters when they become clogged as well as scheduling a cleaning session from a trained service technician. That will prevent larger problems from starting, as well as lowering your cooling bills and extending the life of your air conditioner. “How can a clogged air filter damage my AC system?” you ask. The answers can illuminate just how important routine care can be.

The air filter serves to keep dust and dirt out of the air conditioner’s internal components, as well as preventing dust from circulating in your home. When it gets clogged, it can’t do that job, and dust begins to accumulate in your air conditioner. This can have a number of potentially harmful effects. On a general level, it increases the overall wear and tear on the system, forcing it to work harder and raising your energy bills in the process. Over time, it can cause a more severe breakdown, as an overloaded component suffers damage necessitating significant repairs.

Here’s a concrete example.  When dust gets on the evaporator coils, it interferes with the cooling abilities of the refrigerant inside the coils. The air around the coils doesn’t get as cool – a problem in and of itself – and more importantly, frost forms on the coils themselves. That frost can damage other components when it melts, as well as clogging the drain line and causing similar sorts of mischief. The coils need to be cleaned in order to let the cooling process continue, but unless the filter is cleaned or replaced, the whole process will soon start all over again.

You can prevent this by changing your air filter regularly and planning a maintenance call from a qualified professional. At DuAll Heating & Cooling, we handle air conditioning repair in Plainfield, as well as providing upkeep and maintenance designed to keep your system running the way it should. Call us today to make an appointment.

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3 Reasons You May Not Have Enough Hot Water

Wednesday, October 9th, 2013

If you have a water heater in Bolingbrook – or anywhere in the greater Chicagoland area, for that matter – you probably don’t think much about it. As long as it works, it’s out of sight and out of mind. But what happens when it doesn’t work – when your hot water runs out too quickly or never arrives in the first place? A qualified technician can likely correct the issue, but it helps to first have some idea of the causes. Here are 3 reasons you may not have enough hot water: not the only reasons, but certainly among the most prevalent.

  • Thermostat. The thermostat controls the temperature setting and ensures that the water is hot and ready to go when you need it. If the thermostat is misreading the temperature, you won’t get water of the proper temperature. It’s usually attached to the gas valve, which controls the flow of gas into the water heater (thus controlling the temperature) if there are problems with the valve, the thermostat won’t work either.
  • Dip Tube. The dip tube runs from the top of your water heater to the bottom, and moves cold water from the plumbing system to the bottom of your tank. This keeps the water at the top of the tank hot and allows it to be sent into your home when you need it. If the dip tube develops a fissure or a leak, cold water will leak out into the top of the tank, turning the hot water into lukewarm or cold water.
  • Burner. The main burner receives gas which is lit by the pilot light and heats the water. If the burner isn’t working, then the amount of gas feeding the fire will be lowered and may be cut off entirely. That results in reduced hot water, which you can feel whenever you turn on the tap.

There are many reasons you may not have enough hot water, beyond these three. For issues with your water heater in Bolingbrook, call upon the experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling for help. Our trained professionals are dedicated to your complete satisfaction, so don’t hesitate to contact us!

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Types of Available Water Heaters

Friday, October 4th, 2013

There are few greater annoyances on an early morning than discovering that you don’t have any hot water available in your house. A broken water heater isn’t something you want to occur in any month, but it’s especially uncomfortable during a sharp Illinois winter.

However, if you’re looking to get a new water heater to replace an old one that’s aged beyond repair, you don’t have the simple choice that you once did. New water heaters are now on the market that may offer you better options than your older system. Don’t go without hot water again. For Naperville, IL, water heater installation and advice, contact DuAll Heating & Cooling.

Although there is a large variety of water heater models and types that rely on differing energy sources, there a two broad categories that you will have to decide between: tank or tankless.

Tank water heaters: This is the most familiar kind of water heater, with a large tank where water is kept and heated continually until it is needed in the home. Their big advantage is their relatively inexpensive initial cost and installation. If you don’t frequently have problems with hot water running out in your home, then the standard storage heater is a viable option. But these systems have high energy use because they constantly maintain the water temperature, whether you’re using the hot water or not. And in a household with a large number of people, the hot water supply can get depleted quickly.

Tankless water heaters: These heaters are becoming increasingly popular as replacements for standard tank systems. They are sometimes called “demand” heaters, since they only supply heated water when it is needed. Water from the household supply runs through a heat exchanger that raises the temperature of the water whenever someone in the house turns on a hot water faucet, starts the washing machine, or anything else that requires hot water. The big advantage is the household will not run out of hot water since it isn’t coming from an established supply. Because they don’t constantly expend energy to heat a large water tank, tankless systems also offer energy savings. However, they cost more to install, take longer to heat up water, and depending on how many water outlets are operating at one time, they may not be as efficient for your needs.

It can be tricky to determine which kind of water heater is best for your home: it depends on the amount of hot water you use, the available energy supply, the number of people in your household, and your long-term energy saving plans. You can read more about tank vs. tankless water heaters, or you can consult with the experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling when getting a water heater in Naperville, IL becomes a serious possibility. We can help you decide if tank or tankless is the way to go, and then help you install the system you choose.

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