DB Heating & Cooling, Inc. Blog

Why You Don’t Want a Cracked Furnace Heat Exchanger

October 25th, 2021

tech-working-on-furnaceAre you utilizing a gas-powered heating system in your home? Well, then there is at least one safety risk that you really need to know about. Now, this isn’t to say that gas furnaces are automatically dangerous by nature… they aren’t. However, there is a component within your gas-powered system that could be harmful if ignored for too long–and this is the heat exchanger.

Like any other big or powerful piece of equipment or appliance that produces combustion gas, your furnace could potentially create hazards if it is not routinely maintained or repaired as soon as troubling symptoms appear.

Now, if you have a newer furnace you likely won’t deal with a cracked heat exchanger. This is a problem that usually afflicts aging furnaces. And when we say aging, we’re talking about 10-15 years old. This is the average lifespan for a well-maintained furnace system. Read on to learn more!

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How to Set Your Heater Up for Success This Year

October 11th, 2021

woman-sitting-on-comfy-chair-sipping-out-of-mugFall is officially here, which means that soon enough, you’ll be using your heating system to keep you comfy for multiple hours a day. There are many things you can do to prepare your home for the heating season. One of the key things you can do, however, is to ensure that your heating system gets a proper tune-up! This is the best way to set your heater up for success this year.

Read on as we uncover why heating system maintenance is so vital to the health of your heater, and why it’s important that you do it sooner rather than later to get the most out of the service.

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How Can a Smart Thermostat Save My Household Money?

September 27th, 2021

“Smart homes” have become quite the catchphrase. “Smart” devices have grown increasingly popular in recent years, granting us everything from iPhones and smartwatches to even smart coffee makers. Modern technology has made operating our households much more convenient and efficient. And then there are smart thermostats, which are changing the way in which homeowners are able to interact with their HVAC systems, improving their efficiency and lowering their monthly utility costs.

Too often, folks hold onto their old, outdated thermostats for years before considering an upgrade. But we’re here to tell you that replacing your thermostat with a smart model can give your heating and cooling systems the boost they’ve long been needing. Read on as we outline a few of the reasons you should consider the installation of a smart thermostat.

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As the Season Ends, Take Care of These AC Repair Needs

September 13th, 2021

two-technicians-working-on-outdoor-ac-unitWith temperatures still on the warmer side, and with the violent weather we had recently, your air conditioner’s repair needs are probably not at the top of mind, especially if that system is still running and keeping you relatively cool.

But the thing is, the end of the summer season is near, and this is actually the most likely time for an air conditioner to break down. This is especially true if your cooling system is on the older side. When well-maintained, an air conditioner should last about 10-15 years. Anything beyond this point and the system is going to start working inefficiently, costing you more to run and leaving you with repair needs. But if you take care of those repair needs as soon as you discover you have them, you might be able to keep your system up and running a bit longer!

Read on as we uncover some of the most common end-of-season AC repair needs we get called for.

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Tips for Improving Your Cooling System Efficiency

August 16th, 2021

top-view-of-outside-air-conditioner-unitIf you’re like most homeowners, you’re not going to turn down a chance to save money, right? This is especially true if we’re referring to energy and utility bills (which we are!) In addition to these utility bills every month, when it comes to your HVAC systems, you also have the cost of upkeep to consider–repairs, eventual replacement, and maintenance. This can all be understandably overwhelming.

The thing is, there are some simple steps you can take to improve your cooling system’s efficiency, and lower your utility bills in the process, even if you have an aging air conditioner–that is 10-15 years old. If you feel that your AC system has been struggling efficiency-wise, don’t let that get you down any longer. Follow the tips we’ve shared below to get your air conditioner operating as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.

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Call Us for AC Repairs If…

August 2nd, 2021

two-technicians-working-on-outside-ac-unitIf your air conditioner is showing unusual symptoms, even if it’s running “okay,” it’s probably time to give us a call. What we run into fairly often with residential air conditioning systems is that homeowners wait until the air conditioner breaks down completely to call us. By then, whatever repair need they had likely grew into something unnecessarily expensive to repair. We say unnecessarily because the truth is, most repair needs show symptoms that could be managed far sooner.

Admittedly, these symptoms are usually subtle, and homeowners often don’t know what to look or listen for. We get it! That’s why we’re writing this blog post, so you do know what to look for, and so you can give us a call at the first sign of trouble. Read on to learn about the symptoms of an air conditioner in disrepair!

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How Duct Sealing Helps Your Comfort and Your Air Conditioner

July 19th, 2021

duct-being-professionally-sealedThe ductwork attached to HVAC systems is one of those things that homeowners often don’t pay much attention to. After all, they’re out of sight, and therefore out of mind too, until they start to make your energy bills skyrocket.

When it comes to properly caring for your air duct system, it’s important to know what that means. Your air ducts are designed to bring the air that’s cooled or heated from the HVAC system into the rooms of your living space efficiently and effectively without that conditioned air being lost to the outside.

When your air ducts leak, however, it can account for a loss of about 30% of your conditioned air–conditioned air that you are paying for. Fortunately, all you have to do if you are having ductwork issues, all you need to do is call our team! One of the many methods we use to ensure the proper functionality of ductwork is air duct sealing.

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Don’t Ignore These AC Noises!

July 5th, 2021

woman-holding-hand-to-ear-to-listenIt would be really great if it were possible to have an air conditioner that, when there was a problem with it, would tell us what that problem is and how to fix it. Honestly, there’s probably going to be some sort of technology and an app that goes along with it that tells us just that–after all, look at everything a smart thermostat can do!

Unfortunately, this isn’t a reality quite yet. So, for now it’s up to us as homeowners to be diligent and have a basic understanding of how our air conditioners work, so that when something does go wrong, we know to address it right away.

And one of the most common ways to know something is amiss with your air conditioner is if it’s making strange sounds. But, what qualifies as a strange sound? Are there specific noises you should keep an ear out for? Yup! We’ll cover them below.

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How to Care for Your Heat Pump

June 21st, 2021

vent-low-on-wallIf you’re utilizing a heat pump already for your cooling and heating needs, then you may have already heard the recommendation for twice-a-year maintenance. Perhaps you brushed this suggestion off–after all, you don’t see anything obviously wrong with your heat pump, so why should you invest in a service that you don’t need? Well, the fact of the matter is, a heat pump won’t always show signs of malfunctioning before it gives out. Biannual maintenance is great because you can spot problems on the horizon before they start wreaking havoc on the system and disrupting the comfort of your home.

Maintenance is vital when it comes to properly caring for your heat pump, in addition to a couple other steps. We’ll cover these steps below. Keep reading!

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How to Ensure Efficient AC Operation

June 7th, 2021

woman-opening-curtains-in-homeSummer is just about officially upon us, which for us means that hot and humid weather is on its way. So, now is the perfect time to make sure that your air conditioner is ready for the coming conditions. When you use your AC system, you want to do so as efficiently as possible, right? Well, if you answered “yes” to this question, then we hope you’ve already invested in maintenance for the season. Professional HVAC maintenance allows our technicians to comprehensively inspect, clean, and adjust the components of your air conditioner that need it.

Even without professional maintenance, however (though we do recommend you have it done every year for your air conditioner), there are steps you can take that will help boost the efficiency of your air conditioner and lower your cooling costs, without spending the extra money to do so. Keep reading as we uncover some steps you can start taking now to improve your AC efficiency.

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