DuAll Heating & Cooling Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Plainfield’

When Should I Schedule a Professional Duct Cleaning?

Sunday, January 12th, 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.

Design and construction of ductwork in a house aims to keep the ducts as hidden as possible so they don’t interfere with the look of a home. But this means that you won’t often have a good idea if your ducts are developing infestations of dust, dirt, hair, pollen, or biological contaminants. All of these intruders into your ducts will contribute to lowering your indoor air quality and placing strain on your HVAC system that can lead to early repairs and higher power bills.

So how do you know you should schedule duct cleaning? We’ll offer some helpful tips.

Hints that it’s time to schedule duct cleaning service

  • An increase in energy bills: Regardless of whether you have your AC or heater sending conditioned air through the ducts, you will find an increase in energy use if the ducts develop too much contamination. Dust along the ducts will significantly increase air resistance; it will also clog up the air filter and restrict air flow. This will make your HVAC system work harder and drain excess power.
  • More dust in your home: If regular dusting and cleaning in your home starts to turn ineffective—the dust returns almost immediately—and dust bunnies start growing in the corners, then you may have vents blowing out a build-up of dust from the duct walls.
  • A rise in allergy-like symptoms: A decline in indoor air quality because of dirty ductwork is most noticeable in people who have allergies to airborne pollutants. But these same symptoms can appear in anyone to some degree. Symptoms to look for resemble a low-level cold or flu, with congestion, eye and nose irritation, coughing and wheezing, and headaches. Indoor air quality is often quite poor indoors, and keeping your ventilation system clean is an important part of improving it.
  • You haven’t done it in over a year: Even without any of these other signs, you should have duct cleaning done if more than a year has passed since you last scheduled it. A year is enough time for dust to settle inside ducts. Get potential problems eliminated before they can cause worse problems.

Summon professional cleaners

Duct cleaning isn’t something you can take care of by leaning into your vents with a whisk broom and bottle of spray cleaner. Professionals with tools like the Roto Brush will need to take on this task. Experts like those at DuAll Heating & Cooling can do the job fast and effectively. Call us for your duct cleaning in Plainfield, IL.

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What Happens During a Boiler Installation?

Sunday, December 15th, 2013

Boilers are fantastic choices for home heating: they have long service lives, run quietly, provide even heating without using ducts, and offer excellent energy savings. For a winter in Illinois, a boiler will more than serve your comfort needs.

Our customers who have scheduled a boiler installation in Plainfield, IL often ask us what installation entails. They are usually concerned about how long it will take, and what other details they should be prepared for. We’ll go over what you can expect to happen during the installation. Make sure that when you have your boiler installed that you rely on experts to handle the task.

DuAll Heating & Cooling will only send NATE-certified technicians to take care of this work, so you know you will receive a quality installation.

Boiler installation: the basics

Boiler installation usually takes less than a day. There’s no hard and fast rule about this: it depends on how long it takes to remove your former heating system and then hook up the boiler. If you are replacing an older boiler, the work should go smoothly and be finished before you know it.

Removing your previous heating system is usually the most arduous part of boiler installation. Once it’s done, the installation will move at a brisk (but never hurried) pace. If you hired the installers early in the process of choosing a boiler—which you should absolutely do—then they will already have the proper-sized boiler tank ready to install. The installers will fix the new boiler tank in place and then hook it up to the pipes that go to the baseboard heaters and/or radiators throughout your house. They will take care of any pipe reconfiguring needed to accommodate the new system so there will be no issues with water circulation.

The installers will connect the new boiler to your gas line (if you are having a natural gas boiler installed); they will take particular care with this part, since it involves your safety. They will test the gas pressure and make certain there are no leaks. They will then use a combustion analyzer to set up the burners. For other types of boilers, they will make sure the power is properly connected so the boiler performs to your expectations. The installers won’t leave your home until they have ascertained that your new boiler is working effectively, safely, and within local codes.

Hopefully now you can see why you need a boiler professionally installed

The process sounds complicated… and it is. That’s why you should only hire experienced professionals, like those at DuAll Heating & Cooling, to take care of your boiler installation in Plainfield, IL. We have worked at installing boilers for years, and we can make your installation fast and with as few problems as possible.

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Why Does My Home’s Air Get Dry in the Winter?

Friday, November 15th, 2013

It’s a common complaint in the wintertime: your heater delivers plenty of warmth for your home, only to render your air bone dry. Winter air starts out dry to begin with, a condition that’s only exacerbated by the warm air of a heater or furnace.  Humidity levels play a huge role in the comfort of your home, and here in Plainfield, heating systems can sometimes contribute to the problem if you’re not heads up about it. “Why does my home’s air get dry in the winter?” The answer is a little complex, but can help you understand why your home doesn’t feel as comfortable as it should.

When we talk about humidity, we’re usually talking about relative humidity, which should be between 30% and 60% for your home to be comfortable. This becomes more important in the winter because cold air doesn’t hold water as well as hot air does. Warm air expands, which gives it a greater capacity to hold water, while cold air contracts (this is why condensation appears on a cold drink in the summertime; the warm air just outside the glass is being cooled, forcing out the moisture which condenses on the colder surface.) That means when warm air passes over water, it tends to pull it out, drying the air.

You can see how your furnace might contribute to this issue: cycling warm air through your home and pulling moisture out of it. Excessively dry air can cause all kinds of health problems, exacerbating allergies and leading to irritation in the nose and throat. You can remedy this in part by taking a shower, heating up water in a pan or using a portable humidifier. The best long-term solution, however, is to install a whole-house humidifier in your heating system, It will allow you to continue to heat your house while still keeping humidity levels in check.

For more extensive answers to the question “why does my home’s air get dry in the winter?” or to handle other issues regarding Plainfield heating, call upon the pros at DuAll Heating & Cooling. Trained experts are on hand to answer all your questions, so contact us today!

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Heating Problems Caused by a Lack of Maintenance

Thursday, November 7th, 2013

During an Illinois winter, you can expect the heater in your home to do a large amount of work keeping you comfortable. All machines require some level of maintenance to make sure they do not wear down early and break, and this is especially true for heating systems that stay on through most of a cold winter season. Unless you schedule regular maintenance for your heater—annually, at least—you can expect to have numerous headaches from faulty parts and poor performance.

Enrolling in a maintenance program, like the one we offer at DuAll Heating & Cooling, is an investment in your future comfort and a way to save money from costly repairs. Here are some repair issues you might encounter if you let your heating go without regular maintenance.

Remember that even the best maintained heater can still experience an occasional malfunction, so if you require repairs for your heating system in Plainfield, IL, give us a call at DuAll Heating & Cooling and we can take care of it.

3 heating problems lack of maintenance can cause

Reduced air flow: If you have a furnace, you will know that it’s working when you feel warm air wafting from the vents. But if your heater goes without tune-ups and inspections, it can lead to broken blower motors and clogged air filters, and this will cause a reduction in the flow of air and a much colder home.

Overheating boiler: This is a common trouble for boilers that haven’t received regular flushing of their system—an important part of annual maintenance. System flushing removes sediment that can build up in the tank and cause overheating. An overheating boiler will threaten to cause leaking throughout the pipes connected to the water tank.

Full break down: This is the nightmare situation, and the best reason for getting regular maintenance. A combination of stress on moving parts, dirt and dust infiltration, and electrical trouble—all of which a technician could detect and remedy during an inspection—will eventually lead to the heater shutting down during the coldest day of the year (when it has to strain the most). Because HVAC companies must respond to numerous emergency calls on days like this, it can be difficult to get repairs done in timely fashion—and that means some very uncomfortable hours ahead.

Take advantage of the time left before the heavy winter weather arrives to have your annual maintenance done on your heater. DuAll Heating & Cooling has a Maintenance Saving Plan with discounts on parts and labor. Enroll now to get dependable heating for your home.

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When Should I Consider Installing A New Furnace?

Thursday, October 24th, 2013

In towns like Plainfield, a furnace installation means comfort and reliability during our lengthy Chicagoland winters. Sooner or later, every old furnace needs replacing, no matter how well it may perform or how long. Installing a new one is not a light undertaking, but it offers numerous advantages, and there comes a time when those advantages easily outweigh the initial cost of a set-up. “When should I install a new furnace?” you ask. The answers vary by homeowner, but it boils down to a question of money saved.

Older furnaces tend to be less efficient furnaces. Parts wear out, components need to be replaced, and even the most well-maintained unit will start to lose heating potential to waste and inefficiency. You can spot signs of trouble if your heating bill increases significantly, even though you’re not using your furnace any more than you normally do. A more formal measurement comes with the unit’s AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating, which is normally higher in newer units than older ones. (The EnergyStar sticker is given to gas furnaces of AFUE 95% or higher and oil furnaces of AFUE 85% or higher, making it a handy guide to finding a more efficient furnace.)

You might also decide to install a new furnace if repairs on the old one rise higher than you’re willing to tolerate. Every furnace needs repairs sooner or later, but if the frequency of repairs and/or their escalating costs keep climbing, it may be more worthwhile to install a new unit. New units tend to be protected by warranties, and with regular maintenance and upkeep will last quite a long time. Moreover, the energy saved from month to month will help offset the cost of installation, as will the improved resale value your home could enjoy from the addition of a new furnace.

If you’ve answered the question “when should I consider installing a new furnace?” call on the experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling to help. We handle Plainfield furnace installation of all varieties, and our staff operates throughout the southern Chicagland area.

Call us today to set up an appointment

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How Can A Clogged Air Filter Damage My AC System?

Friday, October 18th, 2013

Air conditioning repair in Plainfield involves more than simply fixing problems when they arise. It means keeping your air conditioner in good shape so that it cools the air efficiently without developing any serious issues. That entails a regular maintenance program, which involves changing the air filters when they become clogged as well as scheduling a cleaning session from a trained service technician. That will prevent larger problems from starting, as well as lowering your cooling bills and extending the life of your air conditioner. “How can a clogged air filter damage my AC system?” you ask. The answers can illuminate just how important routine care can be.

The air filter serves to keep dust and dirt out of the air conditioner’s internal components, as well as preventing dust from circulating in your home. When it gets clogged, it can’t do that job, and dust begins to accumulate in your air conditioner. This can have a number of potentially harmful effects. On a general level, it increases the overall wear and tear on the system, forcing it to work harder and raising your energy bills in the process. Over time, it can cause a more severe breakdown, as an overloaded component suffers damage necessitating significant repairs.

Here’s a concrete example.  When dust gets on the evaporator coils, it interferes with the cooling abilities of the refrigerant inside the coils. The air around the coils doesn’t get as cool – a problem in and of itself – and more importantly, frost forms on the coils themselves. That frost can damage other components when it melts, as well as clogging the drain line and causing similar sorts of mischief. The coils need to be cleaned in order to let the cooling process continue, but unless the filter is cleaned or replaced, the whole process will soon start all over again.

You can prevent this by changing your air filter regularly and planning a maintenance call from a qualified professional. At DuAll Heating & Cooling, we handle air conditioning repair in Plainfield, as well as providing upkeep and maintenance designed to keep your system running the way it should. Call us today to make an appointment.

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Are Dirty Coils an Easy Air Conditioning Repair?

Wednesday, September 18th, 2013

For almost any machine to operate as effectively as possible, it should be kept clean and maintained on a regular basis. Dirt interferes with mechanical operation, making a device inefficient and possibly leading to breaks and a complete shut down. Your air conditioner is no different from other machines in this way: if the unit becomes contaminated with too much dust and other debris, it will reduce the amount of cool air it provides you, cost more to run, and eventually require expensive repairs. Dirt blocking the AC’s coils is especially troublesome if it is neglected.

DuAll Heating & Cooling wants you to be comfortable in your home with an AC that does the best job it can. When you require air conditioning repair in Plainfield, IL, call on our reputable services for assistance.

The two sets of coils in your air conditioner, located in the indoor and outdoor units, are vital for the heat exchange that gives you cooled air. If either becomes too dirty, they can’t do the job of absorbing heat or releasing it.

Fixing dirty coils is not an easy repair job. You can’t just pry open the unit and use a damp cloth to wipe them down. To get a thorough cleaning requires removing the coils and then reinstalling them—and that means dealing with the refrigerant flowing through them. You should leave this to an HVAC professional, who will cut the refrigerant lines, take out the contaminated coil for cleaning, then reinstall it afterwards and recharge any refrigerant lost during the process.

Fortunately, dirty coils are easy to prevent. Make sure you keep a clean filter in your air conditioner so it will effectively trap dust and other particles. You should change the filter once a month during seasons when the AC operates regularly. Every three months is sufficient at other times. Scheduling regular maintenance with an HVAC company will help spot possible dust build-ups before they become serious, such as breaks in the ductwork.

If you experience troubles with your AC because of dirty coils, call on experts to handle the job. One of your first choices should be DuAll Heating & Cooling, where we take pride in our professionalism and quality work. For air conditioning repair in Plainfield, IL, turn to our highly-trained technicians.

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Should I Get a Gas or Electric Water Heater?

Friday, August 30th, 2013

You probably depend on your water heater much more than you realize. It is responsible for hot showers and baths, and for keeping your dishware and laundry clean. Your home is simply not the same without a reliable and bountiful amount of hot water. Among the decisions you have to make during your search for a new water heater, deciding between gas and electric is one of the most important. Buying a new water heater is an important investment in the future of your home comfort. Because it’s something you and your family members will come to rely on, you need to ensure that its size matches the hot water needs of your home and that it is installed correctly.

Call DuAll Heating & Cooling today for all of your water heater installation needs in Plainfield, IL.

So, should you get a gas or electric water heater? There are advantages to either system, and it may come down to practical and economic considerations rather than performance. Both electricity and natural gas are adequate energy sources for the production of hot water.

Here are some factors that might help you decide:

  • Existing setup. Did you have a gas water heater before? If your new system is a replacement model for an old one, then you may want to simply stick up with the type of system that you have. This often allows for a smoother integration of your system components, and it often cuts down on labor time.
  • Gas piping. If you currently run your stove or oven on gas, or you previously had a gas water heater, then you already have a gas line and gas piping. Installing gas piping from scratch will obviously add a bit to the upfront cost, which is something you probably want to consider. But, depending on your local utility rates, it may be a good decision in the long run.
  • Cost of electricity. Know how much your electricity rates are before installing an electric water heaters. While some homeowners choose an electric water heater out of sheer necessity, you may want to make the most of your choice.

Call DuAll Heating & Cooling today for excellent water heater installation services in Plainfield, IL.

 

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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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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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