DuAll Heating & Cooling Blog

Can a Tankless Water Heater Save Me Money?

September 15th, 2014

Environmental consciousness is part of what fueled the invention of tankless water heaters, but some homeowners have other concerns as well. Despite increasing interest in tankless water heaters, traditional storage tank water heaters, which keep water heated in a large tank, continue to be the most popular systems installed in homes. Because of this, many may think that a conventional water heater is the best choice for installation or replacement, but can a tankless unit save some money?

Traditional water heaters contain either an electric heating element or a gas burner which keeps water heated throughout the day. Water flows in through a long dip tube that leads to the bottom of a tank, where the heating element heats the cold water. Hot water is less dense than cold water, so it naturally rises to the top of the tank, where a short tube carries it to the faucet or showerhead when needed. The unit continues to heat water throughout the day, so that it is available for use when a hot water tap is turned on.

As a result, energy is used throughout the day even though you only use the hot water a handful of time, resulting in a good amount of standby energy loss. This problem is eliminated with tankless water heaters, which only heat water as soon as a tap is turned on. Tankless water heaters activate as soon as you need hot water, and water heats up as soon as it flows past the heating element. This means that no energy is used throughout the day, so you won’t have to worry about any money lost with standby energy loss.

In fact, tankless water heaters may have a longer lifespan so long as they are properly maintained. Tankless water heaters may cost more upfront, but most continue to work for over 20 years. Ultimately, the energy savings throughout the years, combined with the fact that you won’t have to replace your unit for a long time, means you can actually save money over time.

Still not convinced? To talk to a professional about tankless water heaters in Bolingbrook, talk to one of the water heater experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling. Give us a call!

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Why You Should Install a Humidifier for Your Home

September 8th, 2014

Most people are aware that excessive humidity can be a problem, but did you know that too little humidity can be equally problematic? Making homes energy efficient is a good thing, but sometimes a home can be so air-tight that it reduces the indoor moisture levels too much. A great way to counteract this problem is to install a whole-home humidifier. Humidifiers help balance the indoor moisture levels, improving the indoor air quality of your Bolingbrook home. However, to gain the benefits of any upgrade to your air conditioner, it’s important to hire trained professionals for the installation – this is where Duall Heating & Cooling can help.

Problems Caused by Low Humidity

Low humidity can cause the following kinds of problems:

  • Health – low humidity levels dry out your skin and mucous membranes, causing rashes, skin irritations, nose bleeds, sore throats and lower immunity to germs.
  • Damage to woodwork – too little humidity can dry out and splinter wood, so anything in your home made of wood, including furniture pieces, trim, and baseboards, can splinter and shrink.
  • Peeling paint and drywall – when paint becomes too dry due to low humidity, it can chip and peel.
  • Feeling cold – dry air sucks up humidity, and humidity holds heat. This can make your heating season challenging as your indoor air won’t hold the extra heat it needs to help keep your home feeling comfortable.

Proper Humidity Levels

Proper indoor humidity levels vary somewhat depending on the season. During the summer, humidity levels over 60% start to feel uncomfortable and can cause problems; during winter, the ideal humidity level is in the 25-40% range.

Benefits of Installing a Humidifier

Adding a whole-home humidifier to your existing HVAC system can help keep you healthy and prevent damage to woodwork and home furnishings. More importantly, it can help you feel warmer in the winter. According to the EPA, you can save as much as 3% on your heating bill for every degree that you turn down your thermostat in winter.

If you see the signs of excessively low humidity in your home, it may be time to improve your indoor air quality with a humidifier.

Call DuAll Heating & Cooling today and speak to one of our experts about our whole-home humidifier solutions and related products.

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The History of Labor Day

September 1st, 2014

The official end of summer and the beginning of fall lands on September 23rd, which marks the Autumnal Equinox, when the plane of the Earth’s equator passes the center of the sun and the length of day and night are roughly equal. However, for most people in the U.S., the summer really concludes with Labor Day, the first Monday in September. Labor Day and Memorial Day (the last Monday of May) together serve as the bookends of the summer.

The Labor Day Holiday is a time that people in this country associate with a last summer blast: another reason for an outdoor picnic, a chance for a three-day vacation, family trips to amusement parks, and of course, taking advantage of numerous sales that retailers always offer. (Labor Day is often the second largest shopping day of the year after Black Friday in November.) It’s also the point when school traditionally goes back in session, although some schools start a week earlier and some a week later.

Labor Day’s origins lie in the 1880s. In 1882 Matthew Maguire, a machinist in New York City who was secretary of the Central Labor Union (CLU) at the time, and Peter J McGuire of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), first proposed a celebration of the hard working men and women of the United States. However, five years would pass before the first state made it an official holiday, Oregon. Other states quickly followed this example, although not all selected a date in September.

By 1894, thirty states had started Labor Day celebrations. President Grover Cleveland signed the law that made Labor Day a federal holiday only a week after Congress voted unanimously to approve the legislation. The date chosen for the holiday was the same one that Maguire and McGuire had originally proposed.

The U.S.A. is not the only country that celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday of September. Canada observes the holiday as well, although they spell it “Labour” Day. In fact, Canada celebrated the occasion earlier than the U.S., and was an early inspiration in this country for the development of the holiday.

All of us here at DuAll Heating & Cooling hope you and your family—whether at work or at play—enjoy a relaxing and memorable Labor Day weekend and have a fantastic start to the fall.

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How Can Air Conditioning Replacement Save Me Money Over Time?

August 27th, 2014

If your air conditioner seems to need a lot of repairs recently, you may be unsure whether air conditioning replacement is right for you. An older air conditioner is at risk for sudden breakdowns, but the cost of replacement seems unnecessary if a simple fix can solve the problem. If money is the only consideration keeping you from choosing air conditioning replacement, read on to find out how a new AC can actually save you money over time.

Fewer Repair Needs

Sometimes, you only need a repair or two to keep your AC running smoothly for a few more years. However, if your air conditioner has lived a long life, you may run into repair needs again and again. If you replace or repair all of the major parts of your air conditioner one by one, you will most likely spend more money than if you purchase an entirely new system. And a newer system won’t run into frequent problems, saving you money for years to come.

Energy-Efficient Systems

When you purchase a new air conditioner, you can also look into systems with high efficiency ratings so that you can save money every month. When you purchased your older AC, you may have found the most efficient, top-of-the-line system available. But changes in regulations of efficiency standards as well as advancements in technology mean that you may be able to find a system with a higher SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) than your older unit. Besides, while regular maintenance can keep your air conditioner efficient for years, standard wear and tear will eventually cause your air conditioner to require more energy to run. You may see savings right away with a new system.

Proper Installation

Finally, calling a professional for air conditioning replacement can help you make sure your new AC is installed correctly and is the proper size. If your older AC ran into problems early on, it may have been sized improperly upon installation.

DuAll Heating & Cooling will make sure your new system is sized appropriately and installed correctly. Call us today!

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Reasons You Need to Schedule Water Heater Maintenance in Naperville

August 20th, 2014

One of the modern conveniences in your home that you may take for granted is the water heater. When water reaches your home through the water line, it’s generally cool or room temperature. But we use hot water for many tasks, including showering, cleaning, doing a load of laundry, washing the dishes, and even just washing our hands, so most homeowners would be lost without this home necessity.

Water heaters are designed to last many years, so many homeowners don’t run into problems with their units for a long time. But when a repair need does occur, you may be without hot water in the middle of an important task like cleaning or bathing. Don’t wait until this happens. Water heater maintenance can help prevent sudden unit failure and give you peace of mind. Here are some of the reasons homeowners in Naperville may choose to schedule water heater maintenance with a professional technician.

Increased Efficiency and Fewer Repair Needs

If you have a leak in your water heater or a problem with the mechanism that heats the water, you may be spending too much on utilities. However, some homeowners don’t notice these problems until it is too late. If you schedule water heater maintenance, a technician can catch repair needs early on to keep your unit running smoothly.

Peace of Mind

You may choose to schedule water heater maintenance if you have an older unit that just doesn’t quite seem to heat as well as it once did. If you feel that your water heater may be past its prime, maintenance is a good opportunity to get sound advice from a technician about whether you can keep your unit for a little longer or if replacement may be the best choice.

Don’t trust the condition of your water heater to just any service company. Maintenance and repairs should always be left to professionals with years of experience repairing electric, gas, and tankless water heaters.  Our dependable technicians provide repair services and informed advice about your older unit. Call us today!

When you decide to schedule your next water heater maintenance in Naperville, contact the expert team at DuAll Heating & Cooling.

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Late Season Repairs for Air Conditioning in Plainfield

August 13th, 2014

Odds are, you’ve been running your air conditioner in Plainfield full-time for the last 2-3 months. That’s a lot of work for your air conditioner, and you may see some problems develop as a result of use. It’s normal for air conditioning problems to crop up during peak usage periods, and any signs of developing issues shouldn’t be ignored. Calling for a technician sooner rather than later is always advisable, and DuAll Heating & Cooling is here 24/7 to help you with your air conditioning in Plainfield.

Common Late Season Problems

As with any mechanical device, multiple things can go wrong with your air conditioner, but toward the end of summer, we see certain repairs more frequently than others:

Refrigerant leaks

Refrigerant is a chemical in your air conditioning system that helps with the transfer of heat. It circulates constantly, changing from liquid to gas and back again, releasing heat as it goes. Refrigerant is not consumed by your system, so low refrigerant usually means there is a leak. Your AC is built to function with a specific level of refrigerant, so if that level is altered in any way, it affects how your air conditioner operates. Refrigerant leaks can develop for a number of reasons, but the bottom line is that they need to be repaired, and repaired by a professional.

Worn Components

Normal wear-and-tear can wear out small components like fan belts and wiring, and loosen bolts to motor mounts and fan blades. These small issues can be easily resolved with a repair appointment, but, if left unchecked, they can cause bigger, more expensive problems.

Dirty Coils

There are two sets of coils in your air conditioner: the condenser coils and the evaporator coils. During normal use, these coils can become coated with dust and dirt; if allowed to build, this coating can become a layer that acts as insulation which inhibits the heat release process of the coils. Eventually, this imbalance will affect how your system operates. Cleaning dirty coils before they become an issue can help stave off repairs that could develop in the future from excessive dirt and dust.

Don’t Wait to Make Summer-End Repairs

Repairs do not get better with time, and in fact, may very well become worse, especially if they sit through a cold winter. Get ahead of your summer-end repairs today by contacting DuAll Heating & Cooling. Give us a call today to schedule your next AC repair.

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How UV Germicidal Lights Help Protect Indoor Air Quality

August 5th, 2014

Your indoor comfort isn’t just about temperature; it’s also about the quality of your indoor air. There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to indoor air quality, like humidity levels, the presence of allergens, odors and the possibility of biological pollutants like bacteria, viruses, mold, mildew and fungus. Removing all these different particles from your indoor air can require the pairing of different air cleaners, but if you seek not just to remove, but eradicate, biological pollutants, you’ll want to consider the installation of UV germicidal lighting in Romeoville.

What Are UV Germicidal Lights?

UV germicidal lights are lamps that can be installed directly into your system. They are typically placed over the evaporator coils and/or in the ductwork of your system; this is because biological growths like mold, mildew, algae and fungi thrive in cool, moist, dark places. UV lights operate at the same cost as regular home lighting, and installation is simple and straightforward.

How Do UV Lights Work?

UV lights radiate UV-C light rays. These UV-C light rays destroy the DNA in biological particles, preventing them from reproducing, as well as interfering with life-sustaining proteins they need to live. By destroying these cells at their core, UV germicidal lights eradicate biological pollutants. UV germicidal lights are the only air cleaner available that can destroy biological contaminants.

UV Lights Do Not Filter

One important item to note about UV germicidal lighting is that, unlike a mechanical filter, it does not filter anything. This means UV germicidal lighting does not capture dust or other particles, nor can it attract air to be purified; biological particles have to float to the space where the lighting is installed. This is why it’s important to consider the installation of a mechanical or electronic air filter when installing UV lighting.

UV germicidal lighting in Romeoville offers a safe and effective way to help make your home healthier. It is important to hire professionals for your UV light installation because if the lights are not installed correctly, they may not operate as needed.

If you are concerned about biological pollutants in your home, call DuAll Heating & Cooling today and schedule an appointment with one of our installation experts.

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The Benefits of Regular Commercial AC Maintenance

July 29th, 2014

Commercial air conditioning systems keep clients, customers, tenants, and employees content. Of course, you know to call for repairs as soon as you notice problems with your AC so that you don’t receive any complaints from the people in your building. But if you don’t schedule regular commercial HVAC maintenance with a commercial specialist, you may need repairs sooner than you think.

Commercial HVAC maintenance benefits your business in many ways, increasing the energy-efficiency of your unit, ensuring high performance, and reducing the need for repairs throughout the year. Here are some of the services covered with annual maintenance and how your commercial property benefits.

Clean and Adjust Components

One way technicians keep your commercial AC system running efficiently is by cleaning the coils and removing debris whenever necessary. The evaporator and condenser coils are responsible for removing heat from your home and releasing it outdoors. If these are dirty, you may have limited cooling, causing your system to work harder than it needs to, and you may eventually feel no cool air at all.

Additionally, a technician will look at the refrigerant levels to see if they require any adjustment. Low refrigerant significantly reduces the cooling power of your system and may cause the compressor to fail. The technician may also add lubrication to the motors and adjust any bent parts such as the condenser fins.

Inspect Your System

Furthermore, a commercial specialist will inspect your system for any damages that may require attention. This way, you can schedule repairs as soon as possible so you won’t run into sudden problems later on.

However, if you don’t choose a commercial specialist experienced with large commercial systems, the technician may be unfamiliar with the layout of your packaged system. Residential technicians may not know the proper refrigerant level required for larger systems, or they may skip over crucial components during inspection.  Our technicians are experienced with larger packaged systems and can help your system cool your commercial property efficiently for years to come!

Don’t trust your commercial HVAC maintenance needs to just any technician. Contact the experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling for commercial HVAC maintenance in Naperville.

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Reasons to Replace Your Current Zone Control System

July 22nd, 2014

If you have a zone control system in your home that can regulate the temperature in separate rooms, you probably wonder how you ever got along without it before. Thanks to zone control, you can heat and cool a home exactly as you like it, and don’t need to expend excess energy for rooms that no one is using. The individual zone controls permit people in the house to adjust local temperatures to fit their personal needs, and rooms can have temperatures set to suit their purpose.

A zone control system can age and wear down like any other electro-mechanical system, or it might become obsolete and no longer match your requirement. Here are some reasons you may need to call DuAll Heating & Cooling and speak to our installers about new zone systems in Naperville, IL and how you can benefit.

Why you might want to replace the zone control system in your home

  • To upgrade the thermostats: Zone controls work through a network of thermostats that control the individual zone dampers and then hook into a central control panel. If you have older, non-programmable digital thermostats, you should consider upgrading them. This won’t involve tearing out the dampers in the ductwork, so the job is not an intrusive or difficult one for specialists. They will create a new zone network that will give you superior control and energy savings.
  • Uneven temperatures: A zone control system that has aged too much will begin to lose its ability to regulate air in the ductwork. Old dampers will become stuck in open or closed positon, or they will lose their sealing. This will lead to rooms that shouldn’t be receiving heating or cooling to start to receive it anyway, and other rooms may have problems shutting down the unwanted temperatures reaching them. Although targeted repairs can fix individual dampers, you should have a new system put in if the problem becomes chronic and occurs throughout the house.
  • A new HVAC system: If you are making an upgrade to a new, high-efficiency heater or air conditioner, your current zone control system may not be up to the challenge, and could interfere with the efficiency of the system. Check with your HVAC installers to find out how best to keep your zone control current and if a replacement of the dampers and the thermostats to take advantage of new technology is the optimal choice.

Contact DuAll Heating & Cooling for all your needs for zone systems in Naperville, IL. We install, replace, and repair zone controls, as well as offer a wide range of air conditioners and heaters to take care of your comfort needs.

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When Should I Schedule Duct Cleaning?

July 14th, 2014

*DuAll Heating & Cooling no longer offers duct cleaning services. Take a look at our other indoor air quality services to find the best solution for your needs.

Having professional cleaning for your ducts is an essential service for maintaining an efficient air conditioner and forced-air heater and to protect the quality of the air in your home. Duct cleaning experts use high-level tools such as enormous power vacuums and agitation equipment to remove buildup of dirt, dust, pollen, lint, and other contaminants that will place heavy resistance on airflow and which can end up pushed out into your air.

A question we often hear from customers is, “When should I arrange to have duct cleaning done?” It’s a good question, and one that isn’t simple to answer, since there are a variety of times when it’s good to schedule it and a number of signs to watch for.

More than two years have passed since you last had cleaning done

…or if you’ve never scheduled cleaning before. Although not all ventilation systems will need cleaning on the same regular basis, two years is a good general rule of thumb for how often you should schedule cleaning. Your cleaners will be able to tell you if you should adjust the frequency up or down.

A visual inspection reveals serious clogging in the ducts

You should make an occasional visual check on the inside of your ductwork. Here is how to do it: Remove one of the covers from a vent, then reach down inside with a digital camera and take a flash photo of the interior that is normally out of your sight. If the image captured shows you a tangle of dust and lint that looks like a clogged intake filter, then you definitely need to schedule cleaning.

An increase in health problems from airborne contaminants

If you have people with asthma and allergies living in your home, any increase in their symptoms should prompt a visual check (see above) and then scheduling duct cleaning. You may also notice allergy and asthma symptoms in other people in your house, and in this case the problem is probably very serious.

You struggle keeping your home clean

Excessive dirt and dust inside the ventilation system will lead to a buildup in your home as well. For example, a six-room home will, on average, circulate 40 lbs. of dust over a year through the ventilation system, and most of that will settle across your floors and furnishings. When you can’t seem to keep your home free of dust no matter how much cleaning you do, then it’s time to look into duct cleaning services.

A long-handle broom and hose vacuum cleaner will not do the job of cleaning out your ductwork.

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