DuAll Heating & Cooling Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Naperville’

What Types of Contaminants Can Hurt Your Indoor Air Quality?

Monday, November 17th, 2014

Many homeowners may think that the air quality in their homes is significantly better than outside. A house is sheltered, after all, and circulates its own air rather than taking it from outside. What may surprise them, then is the revelation that indoor air quality can actually be quite poor. There are a number of common indoor air contaminants that can provoke allergies, make you sick, and even prove fatal. Here is a list of the most common contaminants.

Animal/Insect Dander

If you have a cat or dog, you know about the absurd ability they have of shedding large amounts of hair all over the place. Along with hair, they also shed dander, which is comprised of groups of skin cells similar to dandruff. Dander causes strong allergic reactions in some people, and is actually the source of cat and dog allergies. This problem can be made worse by forced air heaters and air conditioners, which serve to propel the dander throughout the house.

Just like common house pets, insects shed dander as well. Insect dander is often small bits of exoskeleton, and provokes a similar allergic response when inhaled. Unlike pets, these insects often lurk in the ducts themselves, giving their dander a much wider reach when the A/C or heating is turned on.

Bacteria/Viruses

Bacteria and viruses are also quite common airborne contaminants within a home. These microscopic organisms can survive and thrive in all sorts of unlikely places, including the ductwork of your home. Their most common form of entry, however, is often on or in a person that has been outside. When that person coughs or sneezes, the germs are scattered into the air and are able to infect others.

So, what are you supposed to do about these contaminants? Well, there are a number of air filters and purifiers on the market that are designed to remove these contaminants from the air. We recommend using one or more of them to improve the air quality in your home.

If you need to install an air purifier in your home, call DuAll Heating & Cooling. Our experts provide indoor air quality services throughout Naperville.

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Reasons That Water Heater Replacement is Only a Job for Professionals

Monday, October 27th, 2014

A water heater that receives regular maintenance from professionals once a year and has any repair needs that come up attended to promptly can often last for over 20 years. But eventually, the stress of operation and general wear and tear from water and sediment in contact with metal over so many years will cause the heater to reach a point where it is too expensive to operate, or will no longer deliver you the amount of hot water your family needs.

When that happens, you should contact local skilled professionals with experience installing water heaters to replace your old system and put in a new one. DuAll Heating & Cooling has the training and tools to give you a great replacement for your water heater in Naperville, IL. Give us a call today if you’re ready for a fresh start with your water heater.

Yes… you do need professionals for this job

You may have had you water heater long enough that you won’t recall the type of work that went into installing it. Or perhaps you inherited the water heater with the house. Either way, you don’t want to find out how much labor and technical skill is required for this job the hard way: by attempting it yourself.

First, even before a single tool comes out to hook up the water tank to pipes, a water heater needs to be properly sized for a home. It’s important that the water heater can supply 1) a sufficient supply of hot water for your family’s needs, and 2) not waste energy doing it. It will require experienced professionals to determine the right sized heater for your needs, and you do not want to risk making the wrong choice.

When it comes to the actual work, there is a great risk from amateur installation of leaking pipes and poor soldering jobs. One of the most prominent reasons for later repairs on water heaters is shoddy initial installation work. You don’t want to live with a water heater that needs continual repair work and which leaks water everywhere.

It is especially important that you call for professionals if you use a gas-powered water heater, which is the most common type. (And for excellent reasons, and they are very cost-efficient to run.) In most locales, it is illegal to work on any system hooked to a gas main unless you are a licensed professional. You don’t want to take any risks of creating toxic and combustible gas leaks.

Water heater replacement is a simple and fast job when you call on experts like the team at DuAll Heating & Cooling. Water heater replacement is a job we handle often.

Don’t waste time and money on amateur work, and don’t risk you or your family’s health: call DuAll Heating & Cooling when it’s time for a new water heater in Naperville, IL.

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How Is the Rotobrush Used for Professional Duct Cleaning?

Monday, September 22nd, 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.

When you hire a company to perform duct cleaning in Naperville, you want to be assured that your ducts are being cleaned at a level that  improves energy efficiency, indoor air quality and your comfort. The way DuAll Heating & Cooling makes sure this happens is by using the patented Rotobrush Duct Cleaning system for all duct cleaning appointments. The Rotobrush system allows our trained technicians to clean every angle of your ductwork without causing damage, and the HEPA vacuum of the Rotobrush system ensures that all contaminants are removed safely. If you are in need of a professional duct cleaning, call us today!

Features of the Rotobrush Professional Duct Cleaning System

  • Powerful, portable HEPA vacuum – the vacuum of the Rotobrush system is powerful and portable; it also uses HEPA filters to contain and capture the contaminants in your ductwork, ensuring that they are safely removed from your system and home.
  • Hose and brush system – the Rotobrush system has an advanced, patented design that allows it to clean and remove dirt, dust and any other build-up in your system, even in the crevices of turns. This is due to the design of the Rotobrush head and how the head and hose of the system work together.

The Rotobrush head is a rotating, full brush. The bristles are strong enough to clean, yet gentle enough not to do damage to your system. The brush scrubs the inside of your ductwork at 450 rpm while the nozzle of the hose, which is part of the brush head, sucks up any and all debris and contaminants loosened by the rotating brush.

  • Flexible hose – the hose of the Rotobrush system contains the cable that manages the movement of the hose and brush, and because of its slim yet durable design, the hose can reach for long distances and curve easily through a complicated duct system.

The Rotobrush is one of the best duct cleaning devices on the market, and offers something most other duct cleaning systems cannot: 360 degree cleaning. Not only is this system powerful, it can reach the crevices and turns other systems may not. When you combine the cleaning capacity of the Rotobrush with the expertise of our DuAll Heating & Cooling technicians, you can be assured that your duct cleaning in Naperville will be beneficial and long-lasting.

Call the duct cleaning experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling to set up an appointment today!

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Reasons You Need to Schedule Water Heater Maintenance in Naperville

Wednesday, 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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The Benefits of Regular Commercial AC Maintenance

Tuesday, 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

Tuesday, 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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Common Repair Problems with Commercial HVAC Systems

Friday, June 13th, 2014

The equipment for light commercial HVAC systems is more durable and sturdier than those found in homes… but that doesn’t mean they will experience any fewer repair issues. Commercial air conditioners, heaters, and packaged units must undergo much more stress than residential comfort systems, and that means they will need occasional service from trained experts.

Whenever you experience issues with your business’ heating or cooling system, contact DuAll Heating & Cooling for the service that will restore your workplace to the level of comfort your employees need and your customers/clients expect. We handle light commercial HVAC repair in Naperville, IL.

Here are a few common problems with commercial HVAC systems that our technicians encounter on the job:

Damage to the fan

The majority of commercial comfort systems are rooftop packaged units: all the components are housed in a single cabinet kept on the roof. Although the roof offers a large amount of isolation and therefore protection for the unit, it also exposes it to the elements. Debris can sometimes infiltrate the cabinet and cause damage to the large fans necessary for the heat exchange cycle. Loss of the fans will affect heating and cooling within the building and will require professional repairs.

Thermostat troubles

Even light commercial HVAC systems can use a complex series of thermostats and controls, far more intricate than those found in homes. Businesses frequently have zone control systems set up to allow different temperatures in different parts of the workplace, and errors with the thermostats can cause zones to lose conditioned air. It takes experienced commercial repair technicians to track down and figure out thermostat problems.

Insufficient heating/cooling

If air is blowing out of the vents, but it isn’t the expected temperature (room temperature instead of cooling or heating), you’ll soon start to hear complaints about it. The trouble may be in the thermostat, but it’s more likely a problem within the rooftop unit, such as a leak in refrigerant. If the rooftop unit is a heat pump, the problem could be a broken reversing valve, which will prevent the system changing form one mode to another.

The right time to call for commercial HVAC repair in Naperville, IL is immediately.  Our NATE-certified light commercial HVAC specialists are ready 24 hours a day to help keep your business at the right temperature.

As soon as you notice a change in temperature, hear loud sounds from the ductwork, or detect a drop in airflow from the vents, contact DuAll Heating & Cooling.

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3 Reasons to Install a Ductless Mini Split System

Wednesday, April 30th, 2014

Once upon a time, all forced-air central heating and cooling systems needed to use ductwork to distribute comfort through the rooms of a house. However, the invention of the ductless mini split heat pump changed this. Although ductless systems at first remained limited to commercial use, they have now entered homes as an alternative to standard ductwork-based air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces.

Ductless systems work through blower units mounted on walls in different rooms. Each blower contains a fan and refrigerant coil to send conditioned air directly into a room. Each of the blowers connects separately to the single outdoor unit through a condensing, refrigerant, and power line. Otherwise, the ductless system operates identically to a central heat pump.

To find out more about ductless heating and air conditioning installation in Naperville, IL, call DuAll Heating & Cooling today. We can help you discover if ductless will work for your home.

Why go ductless? Here are 3 reasons!

  1. Save money through zone control: Because a ductless system uses individual blowers mounted in different parts of a home, you do not need to cool or heat the whole house every time the heat pump turns on. You can shut off the blowers in rooms that aren’t being used, and this will result in large energy savings. (It also means improved comfort for people in your house, since they can adjust the blowers nearest to them.)
  2. Remove air quality issues due to ducts: Ducts develop dust, dirt, and other contaminants over time, and without regular cleaning they can negatively affect your indoor air quality. Because ductless mini split heat pumps do not use ducts at all, you will have higher quality air—and no need to spend money on duct cleaning or duct repairs.
  3. Add-on rooms: You don’t have to replace your old system with a ductless mini split; you can make it an addition to cool and heat new rooms. If you add on a new room to your home, you don’t need to worry about linking it to the current ventilation network or requiring a replacement installation for your current HVAC system because it cannot handle the new space. You simply install a mini split heat pump for the new room.

Also keep in mind that ductless systems are heat pumps, so you will have both your heater and air conditioner needs taken care of with one system. As a replacement for separate air conditioning and heating systems, a heat pump is a great way to save money and space.

Ductless systems will not work ideally for every home, so call DuAll Heating & Cooling today and make an appointment to learn your best options for heating and air conditioning installation in Naperville, IL.

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Why Schedule Duct Cleaning at the End of Heating Season

Tuesday, April 8th, 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.

A heating system in Illinois never fully closes down during the spring or summer: we can expect a few cool days to come along when we’ll need to turn the furnace back on, or switch the heat pump from cooling back to heating mode. Nevertheless, by the end of April we’ll start scaling back on how much work our heaters do.

This is a good time to schedule duct cleaning to clear away the dust, dirt, lint, and other contaminants that have entered your ductwork. We’ll look into why you should have duct cleaning in Naperville, IL done at the tail end of heating season.

Duct cleaning at the end of winter

If you have a heat pump or furnace, then your heating relies on the same ductwork system that your air conditioner will use. When the AC comes on for the first time during a hot spring day, you’ll want the air coming from it to have the smoothest, cleanest path to reach the vents. All the dust that can build up during the winter from your closed-up house can gather thickly along the ductwork walls, and this will place resistance against the AC’s airflow. The harder the air conditioner has to work, the more expensive it will be to run.

You can also expect lower air quality because of dirty ducts. The air conditioner will spread around the build up inside the ventilation system throughout your home. You don’t want to spend the summer battling congestion, skin and eye irritation, asthma, and other symptoms similar to the cold and the flu—but this is what will happen without clean ducts.

Winter snows also bring moisture that enters ductwork. This can lead to one of the major troubles that can start inside ventilation systems: the growth of mold and bacteria. You’ll need duct cleaning, and possibly UV germicidal lights, to stop this before it adversely affects your indoor air quality.

Call professional duct cleaners

It requires special training and equipment to clean a home’s ducts; you can’t effectively access the ductwork on your own.

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How to Tell if You Need an Emergency Heating Repair

Wednesday, February 19th, 2014

Nobody ever wants to make an emergency call, no matter what the emergency is. But it’s necessary to have emergency services available to us for the important part of our lives. In Illinois, having your heater working during the winter is crucial for your comfort and your safety—so you need to have a repair service that can deliver 24/7 assistance. Call DuAll Heating & Cooling when you need service fast, any time of the day or night.

Here are a couple of warning signs to heed that tell you it’s time for emergency heating repair in Naperville, IL.

Warning Signs You Need Emergency Repairs

  • The heater will not come on: This is the big one—a possible full breakdown. Although it seems obvious that you should call for repairs when this happens, people sometimes wait to call for help because they think the issue is temporary and the heater will kick back on soon. But, even if the heater does come back on at some point, any failure indicates there is a serious flaw in the operation that will lead to more breakdowns and very inefficient, energy-draining operation.
  • The heater starts making loud, unexpected noises: You should always call for repairs when your heater makes noises that you don’t expect. But when these noises are particularly loud—such grating, grinding, and screeching—there is something amiss in the heater that needs remedy as soon as possible. Shut the heater down and call for repairs.
  • Acrid smells come from the vents: If you have a forced-air system in your home, smells from the vents are major warnings of repair needs. If you smell an acrid scent, like burning, it could indicate failing motors inside the heater’s cabinet, and you need repairs before the heater breaks down entirely.
  • Your carbon monoxide detectors go off: If you have a gas-powered heater in your home, we recommend that you have CO detectors put in your house as well to warn you of an increase of carbon monoxide (which is colorless and odorless). Should these detectors go off, leave you house and call for professionals.

Make Sure You Have a Contractor With Emergency Service

Not all heating repair contractors offer 24-hour emergency service. Since heaters rarely break down at convenient times, you’ll need a contractor ready to rush to your aid when you require with heating repair in Naperville, IL. DuAll Heating & Cooling has technicians standing by for your emergency needs, whatever they may be. We can also provide you with maintenance and installation for all types of home heaters.

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