DuAll Heating & Cooling Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Heating’

Heating Tip: Why Is There No Heat In My Home?

Monday, January 14th, 2013

If you live in Naperville, then you know how important it is to have a good heating system. If your heater has stopped working, it can be miserable trying to keep warm in your home. That’s why DuAll Heating and Cooling works hard to provide complete Naperville heating services. For our customers in the Chicago and Naperville area, we thought it would be helpful to put together a quick list of some of the reasons why you might not be getting any heat in your home. If this is happening to you, make sure you contact DuAll Heating and Cooling if you don’t have any heat. We’ll send one of our trained technicians to your home to figure out what the problem is and offer a solution.

Clogged Air Filter

Believe it or not, one of the most common causes of furnace and heat pump problems is a clogged air filter. Without proper maintenance, the filter can get clogged with dirt and dust which restricts the flow of air into your home. When you call a heating contractor, one of the first places they may look is at your air filter.

Thermostat

Another common culprit of no heat is your thermostat. If the thermostat in your home has malfunctioned, it might be sensing that your home doesn’t need heat so it’s not turning on your heater. A visit from your Naperville heating contractor will be able to determine if that is the case.

Burner

If you have a gas-fired furnace or boiler, there could be an issue with the burner. If the pilot light has gone out there won’t be any heat. Additionally, there could be a problem with the thermocouple. The thermocouple is a safety device that detects if the pilot light is lit. If it detects heat, then it allows fuel to flow into the furnace. If it doesn’t detect heat, like when the pilot light goes out, it will shut off the flow of gas. If the thermocouple is malfunctioning, it could have inadvertently shut off the gas to your burner.

Fan

If the fan for your furnace or heat pump is broken, there won’t be anything to push the air through your home. This could be because the motor is broken or because the fan’s belt is broken. Either way, you should call a heating contractor as soon as possible to fix the problem.

If you have any of these problems or if you suspect that it is another issue, call DuAll Heating and Cooling for all your heating in Naperville needs today. Our technicians are highly trained and have experience repairing many different types and brands of heating systems. We’ll be able to figure out what the problem is, fix it and get you back up and running as soon as possible. Call us today!

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

Monday, 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.

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Heating FAQ: What Is An Energy Recovery Ventilator

Monday, 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.

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What Can Cause a Heat Pump to Make Noise?

Monday, 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!

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

Monday, 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.

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

Monday, 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!

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Residential Heating Tip: Why Furnace Size Matters

Monday, 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.

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Home Heating Guide: Why Install a New Boiler?

Monday, October 1st, 2012

One of the great things about boilers is that they last for so long. In fact, unlike some other types of heating systems in Romeoville, boilers can last up to 30 years or more under certain conditions. But there will probably come a time when you have to install a new boiler. If you’re not sure it’s time for a new boiler just yet, here are a few things to think about that might make your decision a bit easier.

Better Efficiency

Even if your boiler is still working well, it may make sense to replace it if it is more than 15 years old or so. That’s because the newer boilers on the market these days are so much more energy efficient than their predecessors that upgrading to a newer model can actually save you a great deal in energy costs going forward. This savings can quickly allow you to recoup what you invested in the new boiler, and as long as you properly maintain your new boiler, you’ll continue to see those savings every month.

Fewer Repairs

It’s also worth considering replacing your boiler if it needs frequent repairs, even if they’re generally minor. These regular repair bills will add up over time, and a boiler that needs this type of service on a regular basis probably isn’t operating at peak efficiency anyway. By purchasing a new boiler now, you’ll be eliminating those recurring repair bills, and you’ll probably benefit from lower monthly energy bills as well.

Professional Guidance

Deciding to replace your boiler isn’t an easy thing to do, so it’s often a good idea to seek the advice of a Romeoville heating technician. They can take a look at your system and let you know whether they think you’re better off hanging onto your current boiler for a little longer or if an upgrade is really in your best interests.

If you need heating installation in Romeoville or the surrounding area, give DuAll Heating & Cooling a call!

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Check Out Our Blog for the Latest in HVAC Technology

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

Be sure to bookmark the DuAll Heating & Cooling blog for updates on the latest advances in HVAC technology.

We’ll feature money saving promotions here as well.

Call DuAll Heating & Cooling for all your Heating, Air Conditioning, Indoor Air Quality, Duct Cleaning, Water Heater, and Light Commercial HVAC needs.

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