DB Heating & Cooling, Inc. Blog

Noises You Don’t Want Coming from Your Heater

December 6th, 2021

woman-holding-hand-to-ear-to-listenThere’s no denying that when you live somewhere like the Emerson area, you need a quality heating system in place. Not only that, but you need to make sure it’s well-maintained. This means scheduling professional tune-ups for your heater each year–twice a year if you’re using a year-round heat pump system. Tune-ups help your heater work as effectively and efficiently as possible for as long as possible. Plus, tune-ups can help prevent up to 85% of the repairs a furnace or heating system may ever need in its lifetime! This is because, during your tune-up, we’ll alert you to small repair needs so you can take care of them before they turn into larger emergencies.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that repair needs will never crop up between maintenance appointments, and it’s important to know the signs of a heater in disrepair so you can get it fixed ASAP. One of these signs is strange noises coming from the system. But, what noises constitute “strange?” Read on to find out!

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Signs That Your Heater Needs Repair

November 22nd, 2021

checklist-with-red-markerThere’s no denying that wintertime can be pretty brutal here in New Jersey. The chill in the air means that we need effective and efficient heaters in our homes. So, how’s yours working? Hopefully, you’ve already had it tuned up this fall–this is a service that’s needed once a year at least for your heater (if you’re using a heat pump system that also cools, this should be increased to twice a year).

A professional maintenance tune-up ensures your heater is working as efficiently and effectively as possible. But it also lets our professionals check for signs of small repair needs and basic wear and tear. This way we can alert you to your heater’s needs so you can get those repairs on your schedule before they turn into an emergency heater breakdown.

Still though, even with maintenance (which it’s not too late to schedule, by the way), it’s a good idea for homeowners to know the signs that their heater is in disrepair. Read on as we uncover those signs:

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Furnace Installation: Gas or Electric?

November 8th, 2021

technician-working-on-furnaceSo it’s time for you to replace your current heating system. You’re considering a new furnace, but is gas the best choice for your fuel source, or should you go with an electric furnace? We can’t answer this definitively for you without hearing more about your specific needs and seeing your home, but we can certainly help you make an informed decision! Both furnace types have their pros and cons, and there are many factors to consider with both types.

There’s no such thing as one perfect furnace for every household–every furnace will need routine maintenance and occasional repairs. But we’ll explore below some of the benefits of furnaces, both gas and electric. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for further information about either.

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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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