DuAll Heating & Cooling Blog

Residential Heating Tip: Is My Home Ready for a Heating Upgrade?

December 17th, 2012

Being able to stay warm and comfortable within our own home is one of the most basic luxuries that we enjoy as homeowners. Of course, as time progresses and factors such as fuel prices, availability, the condition of your existing heating system and technology all change, an upgrade is really just an eventuality. Making the decision about when a home heating system upgrade is appropriate is more difficult. With the help of the Plainfield IL heating experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling you can be sure that you are making the best decision for your home when you decide to upgrade your heating system.

One of the main factors that will inform your decision about whether a heating system upgrade in your home is necessary is the age of your existing system. Not every piece of equipment will necessarily require and upgrade, but the longer you have had your system the more efficient newer products have become. Even if you are still able to operate your heating system near its original efficiency capability you may find that newer systems are far more efficient. If your heater simply cannot stand up to the models out today an upgrade may be the right choice.

Fuel source is another major factor that may force you to consider an upgrade. That old oil burning boiler in your basement may still have a few years left in it. The price of oil, though, has likely increased quite a bit since you first started using that boiler. Switching over to natural gas or even electricity may be an upgrade worth considering.

Whatever you do, be sure to discuss your heating system upgrade options in Plainfield IL with a professional before committing to anything. Contact DuAll Heating & Cooling today. We can help you make the best decision for your home heating system.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Residential Heating Tip: Is My Home Ready for a Heating Upgrade?

Heating FAQ: What Is An Energy Recovery Ventilator

December 3rd, 2012

At DuAll Heating & Cooling, we get a lot of questions about installing energy recovery ventilators for our Romeoville IL area customers. Are you not sure if an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) is right for your home? This post will go over the basic benefits of an ERV system and how it works. We can also go over the installation process with you and help you select the model that works best for your home.

An energy recovery ventilator system is basically a pre-heating and pre-cooling system for your heating and AC system. These systems can normally be added to your existing forced-air system, and they also serve as an air purifier and humidity control system. In heating mode, the cold fresh air from outside is pulled in to be heated by your furnace or heat pump. Before it gets there, the energy recovery ventilator allows the warm, stale air leaving the house to transfer up to 70% of its heat to the new cooler air. In cooling mode, the process is reversed.

ERVs are not the same as heat recovery ventilators, though they operate in a similar way. While there is some debate over whether heat recovery ventilators or energy recovery ventilators are the better choice, it really depends on the home and particular situation. Overall, ERVs are intended to be used to add ventilation without losing heat that is normally lost through other venting methods. If you aren’t sure whether an ERV is right for your home, give the Romeoville IL heating experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling a call any time. We can go over your options and help you decide.

If you have an energy recovery ventilator in your home already, but you’re not sure if it’s functioning correctly or have other questions about it, call one of our technicians to diagnose the issue. Our technicians will inspect your system, and help you to set up a maintenance schedule if it is in need of more routine maintenance.

Call DuAll Heating & Cooling today to find out how an energy recovery ventilator can provide efficient ventilation for your Romeoville IL home.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Heating FAQ: What Is An Energy Recovery Ventilator

What Can Cause a Heat Pump to Make Noise?

November 26th, 2012

It is quite normal for heat pumps to make noises. This is especially true in the cold winter months. Most heat pumps have valves that carry out the task of reversing the flow of refrigerant when you switch between the cooling and heating modes. When the pump goes into defrost during winters, the valve is made to shift position. This is accompanied by a whooshing sound that persists for a few seconds. The compressor tends to get much louder after this. Another time when you may hear sounds is during shutdown when Freon pressure tends to equalize. Both of these are totally normal.

Another case where you may hear loud sounds coming from your heat pump is when the outdoor unit shuts off or starts running. Scroll compressors have a tendency to do this in a more noticeable manner. Similarly, some outdoor units tend to create a buzzing sound even when they are not running. This sound is created by the 24-volt reversing valve coil. Since this doesn’t waste any energy, it is nothing to be worried about. The sound of vibration is another common complaint and is quite difficult to get rid of. Rubber tubing can help in this case, but the vibration is not really doing any harm to your pump.

On the other hand, if you hear very loud sounds which resemble metal hitting metal, it may be time to worry. These sounds are often created when the fan blades hit against ice, wires or even tubing. If this is the case, you need to shut the unit off at once. This is a bad sign and can damage the fan and even the motor to an irreversible state. In fact, a misplaced tube can hit the fan blades and also cause a leak leading the Freon to flow out. Grinding or squealing sounds may point to a similar problem that needs to be fixed promptly. So if you hear any of these sounds, make sure you shut the pump off immediately and call for professional help.

Anything including low refrigerant charge, a faulty reverse valve, and defective motors or compressor valves can cause this problem. So make sure you get it checked by a Naperville heating professional if the problem persists.

Call the Naperville Ductless Mini Split experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling to find out what your options are. Contact DuAll Heating & Cooling today!

Continue Reading

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Heat Pumps | Comments Off on What Can Cause a Heat Pump to Make Noise?

Residential Heating FAQ: What Is a Dual Fuel System and Do I Need One?

November 19th, 2012

Are you considering a dual fuel system but not sure if that is the right type of heat pump system for your home? Call the Bolingbrook heating experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling if you would like to know more about the benefits of a dual fuel system. We can explain the advantages of dual fuel over a standard air source heat pump system, and we’ll be glad to assess your current system to let you know if an upgrade would be a cost-effective choice.

Backup Heating with an Air Source Heat Pump

If you have an existing air source heat pump, you probably have a backup heater. Many people believe that a heat pump will not heat the home during times of extreme cold weather. However, this is not the case. Air source heat pumps—at least the standard ones—simply do not work as efficiently during freezing weather. Using a backup heater is mostly about getting more efficient heat in the winter.

Backup heat is usually provided by a gas furnace, since natural gas tends to be more efficient than electricity. And with a duel fuel or hybrid system, the heat pump control center will know when to switch from the electric compressor to the gas furnace for more efficiency. Before you decide to upgrade, there are a few factors to consider.

Here’s how you can compare the costs of other heat pumps that don’t use this type of technology. First, make sure you know the condition and efficiency of your current heat pump if you have one. If your old system was not sized correctly, or if you’ve made significant improvements to increase overall home efficiency, you may want to upgrade to a more efficient heating and cooling system to take full advantage of those changes.

Make sure you also understand efficiency ratings. They are measured differently for the different types of systems. Check with your heating contractor if you aren’t sure how to read the numbers. You can also just look for the Energy Star label. These models with be about 10% more efficient than the ones that meet today’s basic energy requirements. Also be sure to compare the cost of fuel in your area, and keep a record of your bills every winter so that you can see when you were paying more in heating costs.

If you have further questions or would like to go over your options with one of DuAll’s Bolingbrook heating specialists, call us any time.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Residential Heating FAQ: What Is a Dual Fuel System and Do I Need One?

How to Get the Most Out of Your Heat Pump This Winter

November 12th, 2012

Do you get excited about your utility bills? It’s unlikely. With the price of energy rising, people in Naperville are looking for every way to reduce the amount of energy that they use. There are many ways that you can cut corners when it comes to your energy consumption. We thought that it would be helpful for our customers in Naperville if we assembled some easy ways to get the most out of your heat pump as you’re trying to stay warm this winter. If you’re interested in learning more about these tactics, contact the Naperville heating professionals at DuAll Heating and Cooling.

Insulation

Insulation is by far one of the best ways to improve the efficiency of your home. The principle is pretty basic: keep more of the hot air inside your home. To maximize your efforts, start with your ceiling insulation. Climb up into the attic where the insulation for your ceiling is typically exposed. If you notice that there are areas that are thin, old or that aren’t touching completely touching the ceiling joists, it might be time to call a heating contractor. You should also check the insulation in your walls and floor as well.

Seal Your Doors and Windows

Another place where heat loss occurs is around door jams and window sills. You can have your heating contractor inspect these areas and suggest an insulation method for them. You should also check the access door to your attic and to your basement.

Seal Your Ducts

Another great way to improve efficiency is to have your ducts inspected. Your ducts are the veins of your heat pump, delivering hot air to all the rooms that need it. If there are holes, cracks or leaks in your ducts then that hot air that you spent money heating is just drifting outside.

Get Your Heat Pump Maintained Before the Winter

A great way to make sure that your heat pump is running at peak efficiency is to have it regularly inspected, repaired and maintained. Your heating technician will be able to detect small repairs that could be decreasing the energy efficiency of your heat pump. They can also replace any worn belts and lubricate the fan’s bearings to make sure that it is working well.

If you have any questions about any of these services, then contact DuAll Cooling and Heating. We would love to visit your home in Naperville to help you get the most out of your heat pump. Reducing your energy consumption is always a good thing. Call us today!

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heat Pumps | Comments Off on How to Get the Most Out of Your Heat Pump This Winter

Why Commercial HVAC Maintenance Matters

November 5th, 2012

If you own a commercial building you know how much work goes into keeping that property in good shape, regardless of how you use it. When you have business owners or tenants renting space from you or if you have your own business in the commercial space you need to make sure that the environment is as comfortable for everyone involved. This includes tenants, employees, clients and potential customers. An uncomfortable workplace, business or tenancy makes a bad impression, and that is not something that any professional wants to do. Make sure that all users, visitors and inhabitants of your commercial building are as comfortable as possible to make your ventures a success. Duall Heating & Cooling can ensure the proper operation of your HVAC equipment in Bolingbrook

The only way that you can protect your commercial HVAC system is with regularly scheduled professional maintenance. Unlike a residential home, where temperature fluctuation is fine and systems are not in constant use, you commercial HVAC equipment is under extreme demand all of the time. Of course it is designed to handle this strain, but when a single component of this very large system is compromised the performance of the entire thing is put at risk. With a large system it does not take long for wear and tear to develop when a part of that system is not pulling its weight. Keep the workload balanced and ensure the proper operation of your commercial HVAC equipment with regular professional maintenance.

In addition to tuning up your HVAC system during maintenance service your commercial HVAC technician can also use this as an opportunity to inspect and discover any small, developing problems with your HVAC equipment before they have the chance to spiral out into serious issues. The smaller a problem is when it is discovered the less complex – and expensive – the necessary repairs are likely to be. By catching these problems before they have a chance to worsen you are eliminating the risk of having to shut down your commercial HVAC system for repairs and inconveniencing those people relying on your commercial property to conduct their business.

The biggest reason to schedule commercial HVAC maintenance is simply because these systems require a maintenance service professional, such as those at Duall Heating & Cooling, to carry out this service. There are far too many components that are far too complicated for anyone but a trained, certified professional to ensure are in good working condition. Be sure to have your commercial HVAC serviced during the off seasons to ensure its continued efficiency and effectiveness when you need it most. Protect your commercial HVAC property and equipment in Bolingbrook by calling Duall.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Our Maintenance Plan | Comments Off on Why Commercial HVAC Maintenance Matters

Why Use an Energy Recovery Ventilator?

October 29th, 2012

If there was a way for you to use less energy to heat and cool your house would you be interested in learning about it? Most people would say yes. An energy recovery ventilator, as its name suggests, is able to capture energy from the air that is entering and leaving your home. It provides a number of other benefits to your home in addition to energy savings. Below are a few reasons to consider installing an energy recovery ventilator in your home in Bolingbrook.

How Does an Energy Recovery Ventilator Work?

An ERV is an additional component of your heating and air conditioning system that, at its most basic level, pre-heats or pre-cools the going into your heating and AC system. Here are the steps in the process for heating season:

  • Cold air from outside and warm, stale air from inside are drawn into the energy recovery ventilator.
  • The two air streams are not mixed but heat energy from the exiting stale air is transferred to the cold air coming in.
  • The now-cooler stale air is exhausted and the now-warmer outside air is filtered and pumped into the heat exchanger to be fully heated.

Efficiency Benefits

One of the main reasons for an ERV is the increase in energy efficiency. With warmer air coming into your furnace or heat pump, your heating system doesn’t have to work as hard. This allows your system to consume less energy and potentially save you money.

Health Benefits

Many energy recovery ventilators also provide air filtration and humidity control features that can increase the air quality in your home. During cooling season, moisture and heat from the outgoing air is added to the cold, dry air coming in. Using a ventilating system to bring in fresh air to your home might be able to reduce the pollutants in your home’s air. Some ERV systems also have filtration components to actively filter incoming air. Not only can indoor air quality and humidity contribute to your comfort levels, but it can also impact how quickly your furniture wears out.

If you have any questions about energy recovery ventilators or if you’re interested in having one installed in your home in Bolingbrook, call the experts at DuAll Heating and Cooling. We have years of experience working with these types of systems. One of our trained technicians can walk you through the process and determine if an energy recovery ventilator is right for you.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Indoor Air Quality | Comments Off on Why Use an Energy Recovery Ventilator?

Residential Heating Tip: Why Furnace Size Matters

October 22nd, 2012

Whether you are installing a new furnace or retrofitting your old heating system, you must get the proper size for your home and heating needs. There are several reasons for this. You can always call the Bolingbrook heating experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling if you would like a better understanding of furnace size and why it is important.

To get you started, here are a few of the main reasons that not properly sizing a furnace can end up costing you more in the long run, especially an oversized furnace.

We are focusing on oversized furnaces since this is the most common problem in our industry. Many contractors will try to talk you into getting a furnace that is too big for your heating needs. In addition, the size of your ductwork must be able to deliver the extra BTUs of heating output. If not, you may end up paying more to repair a furnace that has broken down due to constant cycling due to limit switch problems. Not only that, it could wear out the heat exchanger, which is a costly replacement.

The BTU capacity of your new furnace should depend on other factors as well, including the square footage of the space you need to heat and how many doors and windows are in your home. The location and layout will also play a role in the sizing process. Make sure your thermostats are up to date as well. For new high-efficiency furnaces, you’ll need to install a two – stage thermostat that can handle the variable speeds of the fan blower.

If you have further questions, call the Bolingbrook heating professionals at DuAll Heating & Cooling. We can answer all your questions and set up a consultation with a technician to assess your home and current heating system if you are interested in a furnace installation.

Continue Reading

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Residential Heating Tip: Why Furnace Size Matters

Commercial HVAC Tip: Getting Your Rooftop Unit Ready for Winter

October 15th, 2012

Routine maintenance in the fall is a vital part of keeping your commercial rooftop HVAC system working properly throughout the winter. It can also help to maintain efficiency and ensure optimal performance levels. For commercial rooftop HVAC professional maintenance services, call DuAll Heating & Cooling. We can help prevent equipment failure and costly repairs with an annual tune-up.

We also offer maintenance programs for our commercial clients to help you budget for your yearly maintenance visit. Now is the ideal time to schedule your rooftop unit check-up. Doing this in the fall allows our technicians to catch any problems before they affect your entire system.

When we visit your commercial business, there are many important tasks that we perform to ensure that the overall performance and efficiency is up to par. Our qualified technicians will thoroughly inspect your entire system with the following checklist:

  • Check heat exchanger on gas-powered systems
  • Inspect gas piping for leaks or other issues
  • Check the electrical wiring
  • Inspect ductwork for holes, cracks, or other damage
  • Make any necessary repairs and lube parts
  • Measure airflow for optimal performance
  • Test thermostat and efficiency levels
  • Test electrical and safety controls
  • Replace worn or broken parts

Calling DuAll Heating & Cooling for a fall tune-up is one of the best things you can do for your commercial heating system. Rooftop units require the work of a Romeoville commercial HVAC specialist, and that’s what we are. Call us today to schedule an appointment.

Continue Reading

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Commercial HVAC Tip: Getting Your Rooftop Unit Ready for Winter

Why You Should Have Your Ducts Professionally Cleaned

October 8th, 2012

*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 your ductwork routinely cleaned in your Plainfield home can help improve the flow of air through your ducts which can increase the efficiency of your duct system. The EPA estimates that just .42 inches of dust build up can reduce efficiency by 21%. The EPA also notes that indoor air is commonly more polluted than outdoor air. Removing contaminants and particulates like dust and dirt can also improve the quality of air in your house. But when it comes to cleaning your ducts should you try to do it yourself or hire a professional? Below we explore some of the benefits to hiring a professional to clean your duct work.

Knowledge of Duct Work

There are many components to a duct system and its corresponding air handler. There could be areas in your ducting that you may not be familiar with that you may avoid or skip over. A professional would be intimately familiar with all aspects of your duct system and have the skill to properly clean it.

Knowledge of Common Problems

When you get sick, you go to a medical professional like a doctor because of their knowledge about disease and the human body. Likewise, a professional duct cleaner would know what to look for as they clean your ducts. They might notice a problem that you would just brush over. Duct cleaners can also let you know about other issues that might be negatively impacting your ducts like possible leaks and sealing problems.

Professionals Have the Right Tools

According to Discover Magazine a normal 6-room house accumulates 40 pounds of dust each year. If you have an insect infestation or mold growth, these problems can cause serious health risks to you and your family. Having a professional duct cleaner who has the proper tools, breathing apparatus and disposal methods can be a huge benefit to you.

Call the duct experts at DuAll Heating and Cooling to ask us about our professional indoor air quality services.

Continue Reading

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off on Why You Should Have Your Ducts Professionally Cleaned