DB Heating & Cooling, Inc. Blog

How Does a Ductless Mini Spit Work for Heating?

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

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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What Types of Contaminants Do UV Germicidal Lights Eliminate?

October 27th, 2014

Achieving the best indoor air quality for a home sometimes requires more than using mechanical air filters to trap contaminating particles. The ductwork in a house can collect biological pollutants that will lead to serious threats to the health and comfort of the people indoors—and standard filters and even electronic air purifiers will not do much good against these intruders.

Almost any home can start to develop biological contamination inside its HVAC system, usually because of high humidity. A dehumidifier is helpful for prevention, but when it comes to fully protecting your indoor air quality from biological pollutants, you will need to have installation of ultraviolent germicidal lights, also known as UV air purifiers. The professionals at DB Heating & Cooling are available to help you with installing UV germicidal lights in Paramus, NJ. Give them a call today.

What UV germicidal lights remove from your home

The concept of ultraviolet radiation to kill biological contamination originated with a Noble Prize-winning doctor at the turn of the century; the doctor discovered that the high frequency UV lights helped with treating tuberculosis. UV radiation strips away the nuclei of cells, killing the cells and preventing them from reproducing. Aside from its medical uses (UV germicidal lights are a basic part of modern hospital sanitation), this power kills off the following pest in a home’s HVAC system

  • Mold and mold spores: This is one of the most common dangers that can infiltrate a home’s ductwork. Some molds are harmless (although you still want to get rid of them because they can cause ductwork damage) but other send out toxic spores that lead to a variety of health issues. UV germicidal lights kill off both the mold and the spores.
  • Viruses: The same way the UV lights inside a ventilation system of a hospital help to prevent the spread of infectious viruses through the ducts, they can also eliminate viruses from moving through your home.
  • Bacteria: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes UV treatment as an effective way to eliminate harmful bacteria that can cause a number of illnesses. Most types of harmful microorganisms will not survive exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Let professionals evaluate your indoor air quality

Before you decide on installation of UV germicidal lights in Paramus, NJ, you should know exactly what is causing trouble for your indoor air. If you have trouble from molds, viruses, bacteria, or other harmful microorganisms, we will set you up with an effective UV air purifier to make your home safer. You can also rely on us for regular maintenance and any necessary repairs to keep the system running.

Call the experts at DB Heating & Cooling to find out what air quality issues you have, and then find the right system to eliminate them.

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The Consequences of Neglecting Duct Repair

October 20th, 2014

The ductwork in your home carries cool or warm air through the vents that lead into your home. The ducts are an important part of your HVAC system, yet few people give them much thought. When the furnace, heat pump, or air conditioning system won’t seem to keep your home quite as comfortable as it should, some people may pass it off as a normal occurrence while others assume it means the HVAC system is in need of repairs. However, it’s just as likely that your ducts have cracked, torn, or have loose connections, and you need a trained technician to examine your HVAC system as well as the ductwork.

It may be difficult to detect when your ducts are in need of repair. But the majority of homes in the U.S. have some sort of problem with the ducts, which causes homeowners to pay more every month and could lead to problems with the heater or air conditioner. If you’re unsure as to whether you need duct repair, be sure to call a technician, like one of the friendly professionals at DB Heating & Cooling in New Milford. Here are some of the ways that neglecting this valuable service can hurt you in the long run.

  • Higher Costs: When your ducts have holes, conditioned air escapes through the ducts instead of into your home. Yet, you still pay more money on your utility bills for the air that is produced, meaning you pay extra on an HVAC system that expends part of its energy cooling or heating an empty space, such as an attic. Calling for duct repair increases the efficiency of your unit, saving you some money every month.
  • Poor Performance from Your HVAC System: Of course, as that air escapes through the ducts, less of it will reach your home, which means it takes longer to feel the full effects of your heating or air conditioning system. Duct repair will help your HVAC system cool or heat your home more quickly, keeping you more comfortable every day.
  • HVAC Repairs: Finally, faulty ductwork may lead to HVAC repairs. With broken ducts, your HVAC system has to work harder and run for longer periods in order to get your home to the desired temperature. This can cause certain parts to wear down or become overworked and fail suddenly.

If you need duct repair in New Milford, or if you need an HVAC inspection to diagnose reduced performance from your ducts, call the professionals at DB Heating & Cooling today!

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Emerson Heating Guide: A Few Advantages to Boilers

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

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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Can I Do Heating Maintenance on My Own?

September 29th, 2014

DIY is very popular, and there are some tasks that homeowners can handle on their own. However, any kind of work on your heating system does not fall into this category. Unless you have expert knowledge about it, it is not advisable to take on heating repair or maintenance yourself. Instead, call an expert for your heating maintenance in Bergen County: DB Heating & Cooling.

What Happens During A Maintenance Appointment?

Understanding what happens during a professional maintenance appointment demonstrates how in-depth an appointment really is:

  • Thorough inspection of entire system
  • Check all electrical components, including wires
  • Check all motors
  • Check entire burner assembly
  • Clean all components as needed, including removing ash and soot
  • Safety checks, including for carbon monoxide
  • Change air filter
  • Check all belts for wear and tightness
  • Check for leaks and cracks in components
  • Clean and lubricate parts as needed
  • Make small repairs as needed
  • Flush the system

It’s quite a comprehensive list and entails a lot of work – are you up to it? Do you have the tools to accomplish all these tasks, and can you do them efficiently and quickly? These are all questions you have to ask yourself before committing to conducting your own maintenance.

Benefits of Maintenance

When maintenance is performed correctly, these are the benefits you can expect:

  • Better energy efficiency – when your system is being weighed down by dirt, dust and wear-and-tear, it can’t perform to the energy efficiency level it was made to. Performing maintenance allows your system to run optimally, which can help it maintain energy efficiency.
  • Better comfort – a system that is struggling to perform may not be able to achieve the set temperature. Maintenance helps put everything in good working order so that your heating system can heat as it should.
  • Prevents repairs – the thorough inspection your system undergoes during a maintenance appointment allows the technician to detect any existing or developing problems, and repair them before they can become large and potentially costly.

The bottom line: unless you have the expert knowledge of a trained professional, you shouldn’t take the risk of performing your own maintenance.

When your heating system needs expert attention call DB Heating & Cooling and schedule your heating maintenance in Bergen County today.

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The Steps of Professional Furnace Maintenance

September 22nd, 2014

Maintaining your heating system is important for its energy efficiency, longevity and providing the heating you need through the winter. There are multiple tasks involved with a professional furnace maintenance appointment in Bergen County, and we’ll outline some of them here. To truly benefit from maintenance, it’s important to always hire trained professionals. Let the specialists at DB Heating & Cooling get your furnace in great shape for this winter – schedule a maintenance appointment today.

What Happens During a Routine Maintenance Appointment?

DB Heating & Cooling tailors every maintenance appointment to fit our clients’ homes and heating systems. But there are some basic tasks that are always performed, as outlined below:

  • Safety check (to check for leaking fumes) You say that these are always performed, but it seems like many of these are specific to gas furnaces, not applicable to electric furnaces
  • Cleaning/replacing of air filter
  • Check and test combustion chamber/heat exchanger
  • Clean burner compartment/firebox
  • Check pilot safety timing or flame sensor
  • Inspect burner flame to ensure proper mix of air and fuel
  • Ensure that the chimney vents properly
  • Check all motors and belts
  • Lubricate all moving parts

Why Conduct Heating Maintenance?

The benefits of maintenance can carry you through the whole winter:

  • Better energy efficiency – when your furnace is dirty and worn it can’t run as well as it should. During maintenance, it will be cleaned, lubricated and adjusted, so that all the components and your system work optimally.
  • Longevity – an ill-maintained heating system is one that will age prematurely due to operating under stress. When your system is kept in good working order, it operates normally, which helps it extend it lifespan.
  • Prevents repairs – the EPA estimates that a heating system that is well-maintained can reduce its incidence of repair up to 30%. This is because your system runs optimally, and also because your technician will be able to detect any existing or developing problems, and repair them as needed.

Fall offers a great time frame to schedule maintenance for your furnace in Bergen County.

If you haven’t had your heating system professionally maintained in more than 12 months, call DB Heating & Cooling today and schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

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Benefits of Maintaining Commercial Packaged Air Conditioning Units in the Fall

September 15th, 2014

While you can schedule maintenance for any time of the year, spring and fall are ideal. There are two reasons for this: first, as the weather cools, it isn’t as difficult to go without cooling for a couple of hours while your maintenance appointment is conducted, and second, technician availability is increased because it is no longer peak cooling season. There are multiple benefits to scheduling maintenance for your commercial packaged air conditioning unit in Westwood, as we’ll outline below. As with any air commercial AC service, it’s important to hire professionals who are trained to work on commercial air conditioners; DB Heating & Cooling has the certified and trained technicians you need for any commercial AC job.

Benefits of Performing Fall Maintenance

There are several important benefits to performing fall maintenance on your commercial air conditioner:

  • Better energy efficiency – for every year that an air conditioner isn’t maintained, it can lose up to 5% of its overall efficiency. Conversely, an AC that is well-maintained will retain 95% of its original efficiency, and better energy efficiency can result in lower energy bills.
  • Prevent repairs – during a routine maintenance appointment, your system is thoroughly inspected, allowing for existing and developing problems to be detected. In addition, the components and parts in your system are lubricated, cleaned and adjusted as needed, which helps prevent small problems from becoming bigger ones.
  • Extend the life of your system – when your air conditioner operates for a long period of time under stressful conditions – it’s dirty, certain parts are worn, etc. – the system can prematurely age. Maintenance keeps your air conditioner in good working order so that it operates optimally; this can extend the life of your system.

Customized Maintenance

At DB Heating & Cooling, we customize every maintenance plan according to the type of system you have; this allows us to provide the best service possible. At a minimum, maintenance should be scheduled for your commercial packaged air conditioning unit in Westwood once a year; ideally, scheduling occurs twice a year.

Fall offers a great opportunity to schedule a maintenance appointment, so call us today and schedule maintenance with one of our certified technicians.

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Finding an Energy Efficient System for Air Conditioning Replacement

September 8th, 2014

Your air conditioner has served you well over the years, but it’s nearly the end of the summer, and you want a new system for the next cooling season that will keep your home cool for years to come. Air conditioning replacement is a great step to take towards saving some money every month on cooling costs. While your older air conditioner may have been energy efficient when it was purchased, you probably noticed higher energy bills around the end of your time with it.

This is because, over time, the parts of an air conditioner begin to wear out, meaning your system must work harder to get your home to the desired temperature. Since your system must run for longer periods of time, your bills go up, and you may compensate by running the AC for shorter periods of time or setting a higher temperature. But for your new air conditioner, you want a system that is energy efficient and also won’t fall short when it comes to performance.

You’re in luck! The U.S. government mandates that all air conditioners sold in the U.S. must come with an EnergyGuide label giving pertinent information about the energy efficiency of a unit. The first number you’ll find on this label is the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). The SEER is a number that indicates efficiency, and it is measured by calculating the amount of energy a system uses to cool a given space in a typical cooling season. A higher SEER indicates greater efficiency.

You should also look for the ENERGY STAR symbol when choosing air conditioning replacement. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency only awards ENERGY STAR to systems that meet high standards of performance and emit fewer pollutants than other air conditioners. While an AC only needs to have a SEER of 13 or higher to be sold in the U.S., ENERGY STAR systems must have a SEER of 14 or higher.

Purchasing an energy-efficient system is not enough to ensure the unit continues to save you money. An air conditioner must be the proper size in order to run efficiently.

You should call a technician once per year for professional AC maintenance. To find the right choice for your air conditioning replacement in Oradell, call DB Heating & Cooling today!

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