DB Heating & Cooling, Inc. Blog

What to Look for in a New Furnace

December 19th, 2016

With winter officially starting later this week, you are hopefully already well equipped with a highly functional heating system. However, if you’ve recently found yourself in need of a new heater, then it’s important to know exactly what to look for rather than rushing out and getting the first one you see or matches your budget.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Energy Savings | Comments Off on What to Look for in a New Furnace

Is Your Boiler Making These Disconcerting Sounds?

December 12th, 2016

As temperatures drop, you’ve very likely begun to use your boiler system. Hopefully, you didn’t run into any problems when you turned it on. Routine maintenance will reduce the likelihood of a problem occurring, however, no heater is immune to repair needs. A boiler is no exception.

While boilers are generally pretty quiet, every heating system makes some noise during operation. But it’s important to be able to tell the difference between what is a normal operational noise and what is an ominous one. Keep reading to learn about some examples of odd boiler noises and what they could mean.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Is Your Boiler Making These Disconcerting Sounds?

Keep Your Home and Family Safe with Routine Furnace Maintenance

December 5th, 2016

How much thought do you give to your furnace? Chances are, unless something goes wrong with you, you likely rarely think about your heating system too much—aside from getting the thermostat settings where you want them to be during the heating season.

On one of our most recent inspections, our team found an unsafe furnace. It had shut down due to a cracked heat exchanger. Had the furnace’s safety feature not worked, CO2 could have easily leaked into the home, causing illness or worse. It’s instances such as this that cause us to stress the importance of scheduling maintenance now, if you haven’t already. This ensures that you’ll have more time to enjoy the winter and a greater peace of mind that your heater is safe.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Keep Your Home and Family Safe with Routine Furnace Maintenance

Signs That Your Ductwork Is in Need of Repair

November 28th, 2016

Your forced-air heating and cooling systems play a huge role in your life, and actually account for about half of all your energy costs throughout the year, according to Energy.gov. As such, it’s only natural that you want to save as much money as you can whenever possible. You cannot do so, however, if you have breached ductwork.

Since your air ducts are mostly hidden from view, it’s natural that you cannot visually inspect them thoroughly. So how will you know when duct repair is necessary? Without regular direct interaction, you may think this is impossible. There are signs though, that you might need duct repairs.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Indoor Air Quality | Comments Off on Signs That Your Ductwork Is in Need of Repair

Boilers vs. Furnaces: Is One Better Than the Other?

November 21st, 2016

The furnace and the boiler are the two most common types of heating systems seen in homes today. Since HVAC technology is only improving—increasing their safety, reliability, and efficiency—neither one of these systems is going anywhere anytime soon. If you’re in the market for a new heating system, then chances are either one of these or both of these are on your list. But which one is better?

There are significant differences between these two heaters, but to be honest, no one option is inherently a better choice than the other—it will depend on your specific needs, as well as your budget. It’s also important to keep in mind that they do share something in common—they are both extremely flexible as they can run off of a number of different fuel sources. Typically, furnaces run off of natural gas, electricity, or propane. Boilers use either gas, electricity, or oil.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Boilers vs. Furnaces: Is One Better Than the Other?

Don’t Wait for a Breakdown Before Calling for Heater Repairs!

November 14th, 2016

For some appliances, such as a microwave or toaster, it may be okay to wait for a breakdown before we even consider repairs or a replacement—mostly because these aren’t devices we rely on too heavily, however convenient they make our lives.

However, it would be unwise to use this same mindset when it comes to your home’s heating system. Your heater is a major investment in your comfort that requires professional installation. While it’s not too hard to go a few days without a toaster, a coffee maker, a blender, etc., a broken down heater during one of the chilliest days of the year can make life pretty unbearable.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Don’t Wait for a Breakdown Before Calling for Heater Repairs!

Upgrade Your Thermostat for Better Heating Efficiency

November 7th, 2016

As a modern homeowner, you likely expect to live with a certain degree of comfort. However, do you realize just how major an impact that the various factors of your home have on your ability to achieve true comfort? Your thermostat, for example, might be limiting the success with which you heat your home in ways you’re not even aware of.

By simply upgrading your existing thermostat, you can significantly improve the quality with which you heat your home. Of course, you need to know for sure that you are investing in the right thermostat and that it meets your specific needs and user preferences. If you contact us, we’ll be happy to help you with this.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Thermostats | Comments Off on Upgrade Your Thermostat for Better Heating Efficiency

Signs of a Furnace at the End of Its Life

October 31st, 2016

Was your furnace professionally installed? Do you keep up on your furnace maintenance appointments? If so, your heating system has the potential to last for many years. However just like any other important appliance in your home, it cannot last forever. If you are looking ahead to winter and wondering if your furnace will make it through, then it’s time to contact our professionals to see if a replacement is due.

It’s best to schedule your furnace replacement before the weather gets too cold. This will give you the peace of mind that you won’t be stuck with a malfunctioning furnace in the dead of winter. But how do you know when it is actually time for a replacement, and not a repair?

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Signs of a Furnace at the End of Its Life

Did you Schedule Your Heat Pump Maintenance Appointment Yet?

October 24th, 2016

With the sudden decline in temperatures this past week, we’re all reminded how close we are to using our heating systems on a regular basis. If your climate control system is a heat pump, then scheduling maintenance on a routine basis is even more important than it would be for any other type of heating system.

This is because while other AC units and furnaces need maintenance once a year, heat pumps need this service more often. You should have had a maintenance session conducted before summer, and the months preceding winter necessitate a second tune-up, making now the best time to schedule one. Keep reading to learn why.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating, Maintenance Plan/Comfort Club | Comments Off on Did you Schedule Your Heat Pump Maintenance Appointment Yet?

Now is the Time to Get Your Furnace Ready for Winter

October 17th, 2016

While it’s not quite time for the extreme temperature drops that other parts of the country are experiencing, fall has brought a chill in the air that certainly signals what time of year it is, and reminds us to ensure that our heaters are ready to do their jobs on a regular basis in a couple of months.

To ensure that your furnace is up to the challenge of effectively and efficiently keeping your home warm this winter, you’ll want to make sure you have it tuned-up by a professional heating maintenance technician—such as one of the members of our staff. No matter what type of heating system you have, it requires maintenance. Furnaces are no exception.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Now is the Time to Get Your Furnace Ready for Winter