DB Heating & Cooling, Inc. Blog : Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

It’s Time to Get Your Heating System Ready for Winter with Annual Maintenance

Monday, September 21st, 2015

We know you still have sand on your flip flops from the beach, but the fall equinox is here; we’ve officially changed seasons. Before you know it we are all going to need sweaters to keep warm during the day, but your heating system needs something, too: annual maintenance. It doesn’t matter what type of heating system you have. Every heating system needs to be properly maintained in order to provide the heat you need throughout the winter months, and the experts at DB Heating & Cooling are here to provide your heating system with the expert maintenance it needs.

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Benefits of Custom Ductwork

Friday, March 6th, 2015

If your home has a forced air system for heating and/or cooling, then it needs a ductwork system to deliver the air to your living spaces. How ductwork is made and installed plays a big role in its performance and how comfortable and energy efficient your home will be. One way to help ensure that your ductwork functions optimally is to have custom ductwork made for your home. Fabricating custom ductwork takes skill, training, expertise and experience, which is why you should only hire a trained professional for the job. The ductwork experts at DB Heating & Cooling have served customers throughout Bergen County, so if you need custom ductwork for your Woodcliff Lake home, call us today!

Why Consider Custom Ductwork?

You may be asking yourself this question as there can be some extra costs when choosing to install a custom ductwork system for your home. Here are some reasons why custom ductwork may be a better fit for you:

  • It is perfectly sized – ductwork isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of product. Not only does the ductwork have to fit your home, it also has to fit your HVAC system. When ductwork is too small, you won’t get the air volume you need to adequately heat and cool your home, and when the ductwork is too big, the volume of air will be lost in the ductwork.
  • Better energy efficiency – with custom ductwork, you air loss is minimal, meaning that the air is being delivered correctly to your home’s living spaces. This takes pressure off your HVAC system, and helps reduce the system’s energy usage.
  • Better air balance – one of the biggest problems with ductwork systems is poor installation; this can lead to faulty ductwork and/or ductwork with lots of twists and turns. All of these problems can seriously interfere with the system’s air balance. With a ductwork system made specifically for your home and HVAC system, you can rest assured that your system is perfectly balanced.

Ductwork systems can last more than 30 years, so it’s important to make sure you install a ductwork system that will give you the long-term performance you need for your home.

The experts at DB Heating & Cooling are ready to assist, so if you are interested in custom ductwork for your Woodcliff Lake home, call us today!

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Reasons to Consider a Boiler System for Your Home

Friday, February 27th, 2015

Have you spent this winter struggling with an ailing heater, or are you moving into a new home that needs a heating system? Why not consider the installation of a boiler? Boilers may not be the newest kid on the block as far as heating systems go, but this is actually a good thing. Boilers have a long track record of being durable and efficient, and having this long track record can give you the confidence that a boiler is a tried-and-true heating system that will provide your home with the heat it needs for years to come. Today’s boilers are the most energy efficient boilers around, and they offer some benefits you may not get with other kinds of heating systems. Professional installation is important for any heating system; having an amateur perform the installation to save a few dollars can cost you much more money down the road. The heating professionals at DB Heating & Cooling can help with the installation, repair, maintenance and replacement of a boiler for your Waldwick, NJ, home, so call us today!

Outlet Choices

One of the reasons a boiler can be a good choice for your home is that there are a few options homeowners can choose for outlet sources. Boilers can deliver heat through radiators, baseboard radiators and hydronic radiant floor, wall or ceiling heating. You can even combine outlets to suit your home’s style and your preferences.

Benefits of a Boiler System

Other benefits of a boiler system include:

  • Good for allergy sufferers – no matter which outlet(s) you choose for your boiler system, none will swirl dust and other allergens around as a forced air system will, which can be a big help for allergy sufferers.
  • Easily zoned – the piping system used with boilers can be easily zoned, providing more customized comfort for your home.
  • Gentler heat – the heat coming from a boiler system is radiant, no matter what outlet is used, and this delivery of heat is gentler and as such, can feel more comfortable.

Still have questions about installing a boiler system in your Waldwick, NJ, home? Call the heating experts at DB Heating & Cooling today and schedule an appointment.

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Is It Time for a Thermostat Upgrade in Bergen County?

Saturday, February 21st, 2015

Your thermostat is the control center for your HVAC system, but it is often the last part of your system to be upgraded. Having an outdated thermostat can make it difficult to achieve the maximum energy efficiency level for your home and can also add stress to your HVAC system. So what are your choices when it comes to a thermostat upgrade for your Bergen County home? Let’s take a look.

Types of Thermostats

Here are the main types of thermostats available to homeowners:

  • Digital – digital thermostats can replace a slide or dial thermostat simply by wiring it in. Digital thermostats have easy-to-read faces, precise temperature-setting and easy-to-use buttons. These features make them more energy efficient because you can set an exact temperature on them rather than aiming for a range, as can happen with a slide or dial thermostat.
  • Programmable – a programmable thermostat is a digital thermostat that can be programmed for up to 7 days. With a programmable thermostat, you can set up to 4 different temperature changes throughout a given day, which allows you to power down your heating or cooling when no one is home. This can save you a great deal of energy.
  • Wireless – a wireless thermostat is actually a small system in which the main thermostat, which acts as both a thermostat and receiver, communicates with wireless thermostats you can place around your home; the wireless thermostats just need to be within a certain range of the receiver, which is usually no more than 500 feet. Wireless thermostats can allow you to set the thermostat from wherever you are, adding a level of convenience to your home.
  • Smart – smart thermostats use all these technologies and then some to give you the highest level of control over your HVAC system. A smart thermostat can be accessed by any smart device you own, so you can manage, program, track and monitor your heating and cooling from virtually anywhere – you just need access to the internet.

Mismatched, outdated or just poorly-performing thermostats can put stress on your HVAC system and cause issues with comfort.

If your thermostat is no longer doing the job you need it to, call DB Heating & Cooling today and schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

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Can a Furnace Be Used for Ductless Heating?

Thursday, January 15th, 2015

Ductless heating and cooling has become very popular over recent years, which isn’t surprising as these systems have a number of benefits you can’t get with other types of HVAC systems. However, they do have their limitations, and one limitation is that a ductless system cannot provide heating via a furnace. But don’t be so quick to toss that furnace out! Why? Because an LG ductless mini-split system can act as a back-up heating system for your Bergen County, NJ home.

How Ductless Heating Works

Ductless systems provide heat by utilizing heat pump technology. What this means is that a ductless heating system has a component known as a reversing valve that allows the system to switch between heating and cooling capability. The system is set-up the same as a ductless air conditioning system: an outdoor unit containing the compressor and condenser connects directly to indoor blowers (up to 4) via a conduit placed in an exterior wall. The blowers contain the other necessary parts for heating and cooling, including a fan, coils and a small air filter. Everything needed to heat and cool your home is contained in these components, which is why it isn’t necessary to have ductwork.

Benefits of a Ductless Heating System

There are multiple benefits to be gained from a ductless heating system:

  • Great energy efficiency – heat pumps do not use fossil fuels and on average use about 25% of the electricity of a whole-home air conditioning system to operate, making them very energy efficient.
  • Customized heating – the indoor blowers operate individually, allowing you to customize your home’s heating, very similar to the way a zone control system does.
  • Long lifespan – the average lifespan for a heat pump is 20-25 years; comparatively, a combustion heating system has an average lifespan of 15-20.
  • Very versatile – not only can a ductless system work with an air-source heat pump, it can also work with a geothermal ground-source or water-source heat pump.

If a ductless heating system seems like a good fit for your home, you may want to consider the installation of an LG ductless mini-split system.

The experts at DB Heating & Cooling can help you determine if an LG ductless system is right for your living space, so call us today!

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What Does a Trane Furnace Have to Offer in Bergen County?

Thursday, December 4th, 2014

The most popular heating installation in the U.S. today is the gas furnace. Furnaces are reliable, effective, and efficient, and today’s models can cut monthly costs dramatically over similar furnaces built decades ago. At DB Heating & Cooling, we’re proud to install and service one of the most trusted brands in furnaces, Trane. Trane has been manufacturing heating systems since 1910 and is recognized worldwide as an industry leader in residential heating. Learn more about why a Trane furnace may be the right fit for your home.

  • Options to Suit Any Home: When you need a new furnace, the size and style are both extremely important in making sure you have an efficient, long-lasting system. A heating system that is too small will not completely heat your home and will wear down too quickly, while a system that is too large will use way too much energy. The various Trane furnaces, oil or gas systems from any of their highly efficient models, are available in all sizes so a technician can make sure you get the right unit for your home.
  • High Efficiency Ratings: All Trane furnaces have a high AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) and some even go above and beyond. The AFUE is a percentage that indicates how much of the fuel your system uses actually goes into heating your home. Some of Trane’s highest rated furnaces, in their XL, XV, and XC lines, have an AFUE of over 94%. Compare that to the 50-60% average AFUE of furnaces created a few decades ago and you’ll see instant monthly savings when you replace with Trane.
  • Long Lasting: Trane furnaces are designed to last a long period of time and to withstand the harsh winters here in Bergen County. And when you get annual maintenance from a Trane dealer, you can be sure your system has an even better chance of exceeding its expected lifespan. With maintenance, your unit is cleaned, adjusted, and inspected, which helps you to know about repair needs early on and keeps your unit running more efficiently for longer.

Hear more about the many benefits of Trane furnaces in Bergen County. Call DB Heating & Cooling to speak with a friendly professional today!

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How Does a Ductless Mini Spit Work for Heating?

Monday, November 10th, 2014

Ductless mini-split systems are a fairly new addition to the heating system market. Though they are gaining in popularity, there are few who know how ductless systems actually work. Let’s take a look at what ductless mini-split systems do, and why you might want one.

What is a Ductless Mini-Split?

Most ductless mini-split systems are essentially heat pumps. Rather than rely on combustion to create heat, a heat pump moves heat from one place to another. A ductless mini-split is constructed of two different units, an interior and exterior. When the heat is turned on, the exterior unit evaporates the refrigerant in its heating coil, drawing thermal energy out of the air and into the coil. This absorbed thermal energy is then sent to the interior unit by way of the refrigerant line, where it is used to warm and circulate the air in the room. A ductless mini-split system has no ducts, obviously, and can only heat one room at a time.

Why Install a Ductless Mini-Split?

The first thing you should consider before choosing a ductless mini-split system is what eschewing ducts can do for you. Systems that use ducts lose about 20-30% of their heat on average to leaks in the ductwork. That’s a substantial waste of energy, and it results in a higher heating bill. Ductless systems deliver warm air directly from the unit to the room, completely avoiding the loss of heat and saving you money. Since ductless systems are already energy efficient (by virtue of moving heat instead of creating it) installing one can save you a sizeable amount over time.

Though you may be tempted to consider it a disadvantage to only be able to heat one room at a time, remember that multiple ductless mini-splits can be installed in a home at once. Each ductless unit will have its own corresponding thermostat, allowing you unparalleled control over which rooms you want heated and to which temperature. This will allow all the members of your household to determine the climate that is most comfortable for them, which central heating cannot do.

If you’re interested in installing a ductless mini-split system, call DB Heating & Cooling. We install ductless heating throughout the Waldwick area.

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Choose a Peerless Boiler for Your New Heating Installation

Monday, November 3rd, 2014

Many years ago, choosing a boiler for your home was a fairly simple process. Most boiler models offered comparable performance and efficiency and operated in a similar fashion, so homeowners merely needed to consider the initial price. Today, you have far more options for boiler installation in Bergen County, with varying levels of efficiency and above average performance.

The heating experts at DB Heating & Cooling stand by the efficiency and performance of Peerless boilers as a superior choice for boiler installation. Learn more about the benefits of choosing this option for heating and find out about the unmatched quality of Peerless boilers in Bergen County in today’s post.

Choosing a Boiler for Heating Installation

Boilers are the preferred heating choice of many homeowners, for a few good reasons. For one, boilers evenly distribute heat throughout a home, unlike forced-air heating options like furnaces which have been known to be somewhat inadequate. Boilers generate hot water and move it to a terminal point like a radiator, baseboard, or floor piping to provide radiant heating. And radiant heat simply feels more comfortable, because it radiates throughout a room instead of blowing through vents. Boilers are also known for their quiet operation, high efficiency, and durability.

The Efficiency of Peerless Boilers

Whether you are choosing a boiler for installation in your new home or replacing an older boiler, the efficiency of Peerless boilers is tough to beat. Boiler and furnace efficiency is represented by a percentage known as the AFUE, the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency of the unit. If the AFUE is very high, it means that most of the energy your boiler uses goes directly towards heating your home. For greater initial savings, you can choose a Peerless Series 63 with an AFUE rating of up to 83%. This is quite an upgrade if switching from an older unit, as those built 20-30 years ago had an efficiency close to 50-65%. But to save a lot more every month, you may choose a Peerless Combi 160, which boasts an AFUE of 93%, or a Peerless Purefire at an efficiency rating of 97.3%.

Be sure to speak with a professional technician at DB Heating & Cooling to find out more about installing Peerless boilers in Bergen County.

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Emerson Heating Guide: A Few Advantages to Boilers

Monday, October 13th, 2014

If you are installing a heating system in your new home, it may be tough to decide which type is right for you. While furnaces are always a popular choice, boilers have so many positive qualities that you may decide to go with this option instead. Boilers use water to transfer heat into a home instead of blowing warm air like a furnace does. And this can benefit homeowners in many ways. In case you’re still unsure as to whether a boiler is a good choice, the following guide details a few of the many advantages of boiler installation.

Fewer Repairs

A boiler may need fewer repairs over time than a furnace. This is because furnaces have a lot of moving parts, while the only major mechanical part on a boiler is the circulator pump. Of course, boilers may still need repair from time to time, but you can prevent these by scheduling maintenance every year.

Comfort

One advantage of boilers is that heat is distributed evenly throughout a home. With forced-air heating, it can take a long time to heat an entire home, and some areas of the home may always feel warmer than others, especially if the ducts are leaky or poorly installed. Radiant heating is an extremely reliable way to keep your home comfortable.

Air Quality

If indoor air quality is important to you, a boiler may be the perfect choice. Forced air systems use ductwork to circulate air, which may allow dust and pollutants to circulate in your home. And although furnaces have filters, these may become too dirty over time, and air from your vents may only blow around the allergens that are already in the air. With a boiler, you won’t have to worry about scheduling duct cleaning or changing a filter—just clean radiant heating.

Talk to Professionals about Boiler Installation

Today’s boilers are far more efficient than they once were, and will last many years with the proper maintenance. But you don’t have to make the final choice about your new heating system on your own.

The technicians at DB Heating & Cooling can give you more information about installing boilers in Emerson so you can make an informed decision. Call our team of dependable experts today!

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Using Zone Heating for Increased Comfort and Energy Savings

Monday, October 6th, 2014

Have you ever wanted to heat certain areas of your home more than others? Do you have rooms that tend to become too warm at certain times of day? There is a great upgrade available for heating systems that can help with these issues and more: a zone control system. By controlling the amount of heating (or cooling) in a designated zone, a zone control system helps to improve comfort while saving energy. Zone heating systems in Westwood can be complex, and require knowledge and expertise in order to install them properly; this is why it’s important to hire a professional. DB Heating & Cooling technicians have the training and expertise to upgrade any heating system, so call us today.

What Is a Zone Control System?

A zone control system consists of a series of motorized dampers that are installed into the supply ducts of your ductwork. These dampers control how air flows from the supply ducts into your living spaces. Zones are designated by you, and are created during the installation process. Examples of zones would be a grouping of frequently-used rooms or a floor of your home. The dampers are wired into a main control board. Each zone has its own thermostat, and these thermostats are connected to the control board. This allows the control board to automatically manage the dampers according to the temperature that is set in each zone.

What Are the Benefits of a Zone Control System?

There are several benefits of a zone control system worth considering:

  • Customized comfort – because each zone has its own thermostat, you can set different temperatures in different zones to maximize on your indoor comfort levels.
  • Energy efficiency – zone control systems allow you to use only that amount of heating you need. You can turn down or turn off the heat in areas of your home that are unused or unoccupied. This helps to save energy.
  • Less wear on your system – because a zone control system allows you to use only the amount of heating you need, your system runs less; this helps reduce overall wear and tear.

If you’ve been looking for a way to increase both your energy efficiency and indoor comfort, call DB Heating & Cooling today and schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

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