DuAll Heating & Cooling Blog

Don’t Leave a Dirty Air Filter in Your AC

May 14th, 2018

If you have visited this blog before, then you have likely seen us talking about just how important it is to schedule routine maintenance for your air conditioning system. If not, let us summarize—you need to schedule routine maintenance for your air conditioning system! That being said, while professional annual maintenance is a must, there is actually one very important maintenance task that you can and should handle on your own. That is changing your air filter.

We know that it may sound inconsequential, but trust us when we say that changing your air filter regularly is literally one of the best and most important things that you can do for your home cooling system. In today’s post, we are going to explore just why this is a little bit further. So read on, and let a member of our team know if you have any questions regarding how to change your air filter or which filter to use.

Tags: AC, AC Repair, Air Conditioning, air conditioning maintenance, Naperville
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Signs That You Have a Refrigerant Leak

April 30th, 2018

We pride ourselves on offering not only exceptional technical HVAC services, but outstanding customer service as well. A big part of doing so is simply being honest with our clients—though that is not always so simple for certain contractors out there. It is with this goal of honest communication in mind that we have to admit that there is no way to guarantee a problem-free experience with your AC. Even the best-maintained systems are going to run into trouble eventually.

One common instance of trouble—and a very serious one, at that—is the refrigerant leak. A proper refrigerant charge is absolutely integral to getting the outstanding performance that you deserve from your home cooling system. If you do have a leak, then you need prompt and professional air conditioning repair in Plainfield, IL. This begs the question of how you can spot a refrigerant leak. Well, we’ve got some tips to help you recognize the signs of trouble associated with the problem.

Tags: AC, AC Repair, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Repair, Plainfield
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How to Boost Cooling Efficiency

April 16th, 2018

There are a lot of different HVAC contractors in Plainfield, IL. Like any other industry, some of these contractors are great—like us. Others will do decent work. Then there are those that really cannot be trusted to complete the job properly and expertly, let alone to guide you through the process in an honest manner. We’re a business, and we need revenue to stay afloat and thrive. The way that we gain this revenue is not by selling pointless upgrades or new systems to homeowners that do not really need them, though.

Instead, we simply offer outstanding services at a fair price. It’s served us well thus far, and honesty is a cornerstone of our business philosophy. That is why we’re going to share some tips with you to help you boost energy efficiency in your home this summer. Now, upgrading your system to a high-efficiency model will have great results, but we know that not everyone can afford to do so. So we’ve put together some simpler tips to help you keep those cooling bills in check this season.

Tags: AC, AC Maintenance, Air Conditioning, HVAC, Plainfield
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BE SECURE IN YOUR HOME

April 3rd, 2018

Don’t open the door to strangers. If you get an unexpected knock at the door, check to see who it is before opening it. Elderly people especially are old school and want to be hospitable. Best defense, act as if someone is in the home with you: say, I’ve got the door,” and speak through the door. Tell friends to call you before they plan to visit.

Secure your front door with a deadbolt. Install 1-inch deadbolt locks on all exterior doors. Use 4 inch screws to secure your deadbolt to the door frame. Many installers don’t drill the bolt hole deep enough and use only half-inch screws. Burglars can kick those doors in with little effort.

Install peepholes on all entry doors, including garages. Many burglars try to access the house through the garage.

Don’t leave House keys in obvious locations. Don’t leave extra keys under doormats, potted plants or any other obvious outdoor location. Thieves will generally find them. Find an inconspicuous place to hide the keys, or give a set to a neighbor you can trust.

Sliding glass patio doors should always be secure. Many times burglars work as a team. One at the front door keeping you talking while another enters through a rear and steals everything within reach. Burglar-proof your glass patio doors by setting a pipe, piece of wood or metal bar in the middle bottom track of the door slide. The pipe should be the same length as the track and always keep it in place.

Always listen to your intuition. In these times we live in everyone has a cell phone or GPS. If someone comes to your door wanting information or directions. If they are persistent in you opening the door for them to hear your explanation, Call 911 immediately

The ultimate goal of a thief is the master bedroom. Keep your valuables out of reach for an intruder. Use a secured safe deposit box in a bank to stash away your valuables when they’re not in use or if that is not possible hide your valuables in a safety box in a less conspicuous location In the house.

Keep drapes and blinds closed at night. Don’t allow intruders to easily see what’s inside your home – especially in rooms where there is expensive equipment. Drapes and blinds obscure a potential intruder’s view, making it difficult to see which rooms hold high value items, or even whether someone is inside the home.

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Welcome to Spring!

April 3rd, 2018

Hello everyone, and welcome to Spring. Not that it feels like it (at least not at the time of this writing). So, now that Winter is “officially” over, we can look back and see how it compared to the national weather service forecast. What do you know, they were pretty darn accurate. In a nutshell, they said that we were going to be on the borders of the weather all winter long and that when we had cold, we would have a string of days with it below normal, and when warm, we’d have a string of days above normal. Seems like we got the cold early, and then it pretty much stayed normal or above the rest of the season. And tho we did not get any record setting snow this year, we did get at least one good stretch of snow that accumulated to about 18” within a few days. And that’s when the wife and I took our first real vacation in about 20 years. We went on a short 3 day cruise to the Bahamas and what a great time we had. That water is just as clear as anything you could imagine and with the sand bottom, it was just so bright and turquoise. Then it took me 10 days to lose the weight I gained in 3 days. Oh, well. Definitely worth it.

Before we left on vacation, we became certified with the Illinois Commerce Commission. This is now required for any company who is installing 16 SEER or higher, for the homeowner to get their rebates. So, if your AC breaks down and you need it replaced, you can rest assured that DuAll can get it done right, and we can offer you instant rebates on qualified equipment. Please remember to changer your filters often, but especially before the air conditioning season starts. And if you are having a big event at your home this year (like a graduation party, wedding, etc) please have the AC system checked BEFORE it gets too hot. It will be well worth it to avoid the possibility of it breaking down that day. Did you ever notice that an air conditioner only breaks down on really hot days? Or when you have a house full of people!

We are on a big push to get reviews so we can let the world (or at least our little corner of it) know how good DuAll Heating & Cooling is. And we have made it EXTREMELY easy for anyone who wants to review us. Just go here: www.DuAllheating.com/review and you can leave a review in just a minute or so. No need to log onto anything. But we will have links if you are so inclined to leave a review on any of the major sites, such as Google, Yelp, Angies list, etc. We will be asking for reviews every time we see you. Apparently this is VERY important for us and we certainly appreciate any and all reviews we get.

With the steel and aluminum tariffs, we have been told to be prepared for a major hike in the price of heating and cooling equipment. That has not happened yet, but if you are trying to make a decision about whether or not to replace your AC this year, that information may help you make your decision. That along with the ever rising cost of Freon (R22) over $100/lb.

I know that it is Spring and I should be talking baseball, but I’m just so excited about all the changes happening at Hallas Hall. Looks like the Bears might not be the bottom dwellers we’ve (unfortunately) gotten used to. A very exciting new coach, with some new assistants, experienced wide receivers that are both big and fast, and a quite talented tight end who can block AND catch. Improving the D is still a priority and we’ve even gotten a proven kicker. Can’t wait till fall…………….er, maybe I can enjoy spring and summer first.

Larry

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Why HVAC Maintenance Is So Necessary Air Conditioning

April 2nd, 2018

April is upon us, and you know what that means–we are going to making the switch over to our air conditioning systems before long. It is a jump that a lot of homeowners are eager to make. Especially considering how late winter can seem to run, and how unpredictable the weather in spring can be. Before you really put your air conditioner back to work for the season, we want to take this opportunity to remind you of just how important it is to schedule annual HVAC maintenance.

The Naperville, IL HVAC professionals on our team were hopefully at your home before winter started, because you need to have both your heater and your AC tuned up annually. While certain HVAC systems may share some components between the heating and cooling setups, it is nonetheless very important that each system is individually tuned up each year. If you skip even one tune-up for your AC (or heater), then you are simply inviting easy-to-avoid problems into your life.

Tags: AC, Heating, HVAC, HVAC maintenance, Naperville
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Is This the Year I Replace My Air Conditioner?

March 19th, 2018

Okay, maybe that’s not the most dramatic internal thought that you’ve ever had—in fact, we kind of hope that it isn’t. It is one that you should start thinking about pretty seriously if you are considering a new air conditioner for the coming cooling season, though. Why is that? Because you don’t really want to be waiting for the cooling season to get underway before you decide to move forward with your air conditioning replacement.

Doing that leaves you open to a period of discomfort as you wait for your new system to be installed. It also means that you’ll be scheduling your installation/replacement for precisely the time of year when our AC technicians are at their busiest. It’s a big decision to make, but we’re happy to help you make it with well-earned confidence. So without further ado, here are some factors to consider regarding your upcoming air conditioning replacement in Romeoville, IL.

Tags: AC, AC replacement, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Replacement, Romeoville
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What Happens During Heating Maintenance?

February 19th, 2018

Living in Illinois means dealing with some seriously cold temperatures over the course of the heating season. If you really want your heater to rise to the occasion and to keep you and your family comfortable, then it is vital that you schedule routine heating maintenance with a professional HVAC contractor in Naperville, IL. This is a much more involved process than some homeowners may realize, and your heating tune-up is really not the type of job that you can handle on your own.

Sure, there are some very basic heating maintenance tasks that you can and should take care of yourself. These include replacing your air filter as needed, as well as keeping the area surrounding your furnace, boiler, or heat pump’s outdoor unit clean and clear of debris/clutter. That is really just the tip of the iceberg, though. A much more thorough tune-up must be completed by a qualified technician if your heater is to continue operating at peak performance and efficiency levels.

Tags: heat, heater, Heating, Heating Maintenance, Naperville
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Why Hire a Pro for HVAC Repairs?

February 5th, 2018

We totally understand and very much appreciate the DIY work ethic that so many homeowners in our area possess. What we respect even more, however, is the responsibility that these homeowners exhibit when they acknowledge that a particular job is simply too far out of their wheelhouse to handle on their own. Certain scenarios are going to require professional expertise, and this is definitely the case when it comes to HVAC repairs. If your system is struggling or has broken down entirely, you need to hire a professional HVAC contractor in Naperville, IL.

In today’s post, we are going to take a look at some of the reasons why this is the case. The fact that you are reading this right now means that you, like most people these days, are an internet user. You undoubtedly know about all of the different DIY and instructional videos that are available on various websites. That type of cursory knowledge and instruction is no replacement for the years of training and hands-on experience that our technicians possess, though.

Tags: heat, heater, Heating, Heating Repair, Naperville
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How a Dirty Filter Affects Your Furnace

January 8th, 2018

With the winter weather getting as harsh as it does here in Illinois, it should come as no surprise to hear us suggest that you do everything possible to ensure the successful operation of your furnace. Investing in a great furnace, scheduling routine furnace maintenance, and handling furnace repairs in Romeoville, IL promptly will help to ensure that this is the case. There is one other step that too many homeowners overlook, though, and that is changing the air filter.

Now, you’re probably wondering why your furnace technician doesn’t just change your air filter during your scheduled tune-up. The answer is that he or she does. However, it needs to happen more frequently than once a year. Much more frequently, in fact. Typically, your furnace’s air filter is going to need to be changed once every 1-3 months. Failure to do so can have a number of different negative effects. Read on to learn more about how a dirty air filter can negatively affect you.

Tags: furnace, heat, heater, Heating, Romeoville
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