DB Heating & Cooling, Inc. Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning’

Important Upgrades for Your Air Conditioner in Bergen County

Monday, August 11th, 2014

You may feel that your air conditioner still has plenty of years left before it needs replacement. But that doesn’t mean you have to settle for you AC’s current level of performance. You can install upgrades that will increase its performance and efficiency, making your home more comfortable and lowering your utility bills. For an air conditioning system that is running well, but which you think could run even better, look below for some upgrade suggestions.

The best way to find out about all the available upgrades that may benefit your cooling system is to contact experts. We take our commitment to our customers very seriously, and we will strive to see that you have the best comfort possible.

Schedule an appointment with our staff at DB Heating & Cooling today, and we will help you discover the best ways to improve your air conditioning in Bergen County, NJ.

Updated thermostat

One of the simplest ways to get more from an AC is one that homeowners often overlook: installing a new thermostat. It’s common for people to keep the same thermostat around while changing out the air conditioning system. But you cannot get the top performance from a new AC unless you have precision controls for it. A new digital thermostat will eliminate the margin of error that’s frequent trouble for manual thermostats. Programmable models will help you save energy by automatically turning cooling off when you aren’t home and then turning it back on before your come back. New wireless models allow for easier placement and remote control. Ask technicians about all the advantages of the new types of thermostats available.

Zone control systems

When you turn on a central air conditioner, it cools down all the rooms attached to its ventilation system, no exceptions. This will waste energy if many of the rooms have no one in them, such as an empty extra bedroom. But if you have a zone control system installed into the ductwork, you can independently control the temperature in different parts of your home (the different “zones”) thanks to dampers and individual thermostats. You will not only save money, you’ll have a more even distribution of heating, and your guests can adapt the temperature in their rooms to suit their personal needs.

A new condenser

If you want the benefits of a high-efficiency air conditioner, you can choose to replace only the outdoor unit (the condenser) of your AC. This costs less than replacing the entire system and can substantially reduce cooling bills.

Keep in mind that you will eventually need to replace the entire air conditioning system. If your AC is starting to struggle on a regular basis with maintaining its cooling power, or if it is suffering too many repair needs, then you shouldn’t look into upgrades, but a new installation. If you are unsure about your AC’s future, call on the experts at a company like DB Heating & Cooling. We will help you learn if you need upgrades, repairs, or a replacement for your air conditioning in Bergen County, NJ.

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3 Common Misunderstandings about Air Conditioning

Friday, May 2nd, 2014

The modern miracle of electro-mechanical air conditioning started in the early 20th century when Willis Haviland Carrier introduced an invention to cool down and control humidity in a paper plant. Since the mid-1950s, air conditioners have become accepted standard equipment in homes, as common as stoves, refrigerators, and televisions.

However, homeowners often know little about how air conditioners operate: they usually have a firmer grasp on the mysteries of a more recent invention, the microwave oven. Here are three misunderstanding about air conditioning systems that we often encounter in our work.

Although a little knowledge about ACs is helpful, you should always turn to professionals when it’s time for installation, repairs, or maintenance. DB Heating & Cooling can provide the assistance you need to get the most out of your home’s air conditioning in Westwood, NJ. There are no AC misunderstandings among our trained staff!

#1. “Air conditioners create cool air”

Although an AC fan blows out cool air, it is inaccurate to say that the system creates cold air the same way that a furnace creates hot air. In the case of a furnace, the burning of fuel generates heat, which is then transferred to the air. But an air conditioner does not burn any fuel. What it does instead is use electricity to run mechanical components that move heat from one location to another. When an air conditioner removes heat from the indoor air, the air feels cooler to us.

#2. “Turning the thermostat down lower will cool a space faster”

It’s tempting to turn an air conditioner’s thermostat down to the lowest temperature possible (60°F for most systems) believing that the air conditioner will ramp up the speed that it blasts out cold air. However, lowering the thermostat isn’t like pressing your foot against an accelerator pedal. A thermostat is simply a switch: it turns the AC’s compressor on until reaching the set temperature. The rate of cooling does not change. Putting the temperature at its lowest setting will simply keep the compressor running for a longer period. This is a leading cause of energy waste in homes; it is far more efficient to keep the thermostat set at a comfortable higher temperature.

#3. “You’ll have better AC efficiency leaving the system running when you aren’t home”

This myth comes from a belief that it requires more energy to turn a system on and off than to leave it running steadily. While it’s true that an air conditioner uses the most amount of power when it starts up, it is far more wasteful to force the air conditioner’s compressor—the component that drains the most energy—to run for 8 hours replacing cool air with cool air. A much better plan is to use a programmable thermostat to turn the AC on a half hour before you return home so you arrive to a cool house.

To help receive the best cooling power from your air conditioning in Westwood, NJ this summer, call DB Heating & Cooling. We are fully insured and EPA-certified.

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Why Choose a Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner

Tuesday, April 29th, 2014

If the time has come to remove the old air conditioner in your house and prepare yourself for the summer with a new system, you may wish to consider the current technology of ductless mini splits. These systems have some tremendous advantages you should take into account, and they may end up as the ideal choice to solve the comfort issues in your home.

Ductless mini splits work through a series of individual blowers mounted throughout a home that send conditioned air directly into the rooms. Each of the blowers connects through refrigerant lines and power lines to the outdoor unit; there’s no need for a single indoor unit that uses ducts to distribute air.

To receive answers to all your questions about ductless mini splits, or for repairs and maintenance on your current air conditioning in Emerson, NJ—ductless or otherwise—call DB Heating & Cooling.

You should consider a ductless mini split system…

  • …because they are both air conditioners and heaters: Ductless systems are heat pumps; their full name is “ductless mini split heat pumps.” Like all heat pumps, they operate as air conditioners that can reverse the direction they move heat so they will also bring warm air from the outside to the inside. When you install a ductless mini split to solve your needs for air conditioning, you also have your needs for heating solved at the same time—and with no extra space needed for another heater.
  • …because you’ll have higher quality air: Air conditioning systems that use ductwork will encounter trouble with picking up contamination and pollutants inside the ducts and blowing them out into living spaces, lowering the air quality. Although regular duct cleanings can alleviate this issue, there will always be some amount of dust or dirt trapped inside ductwork. But ductless mini split heat pumps eliminate this problem—because they lack ducts! You can expect cleaner indoor air, and this is especially beneficial if you have people with allergies living in your home.
  • …because you’ll have zone control cooling: The separate blowers mounted in the rooms means you can reduce or shut off cooling in the rooms independent of each other. You no longer need to cool down the whole home each time you turn on the air conditioning, and this will lead to large savings off your energy bills. Individuals can also control the temperature at their location to meet their specific comfort needs.

Is ductless the way to go for your home?

Installing a ductless mini split heat pump is a fantastic option for new home construction, add-on rooms, or any house that lacks ducts. However, if your home already has a ventilation system installed, you may wish to opt for a standard heat pump that will hook up to the existing ductwork.

For an informed opinion about the right type of air conditioning in Emerson, NH to fit your home, contact DB Heating & Cooling and speak to our ductless installation specialists today.

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Steps to Take as the Emerson, NJ Air Conditioning Season Winds Down

Wednesday, August 21st, 2013

Summers in Emerson, NJ usually mean heavy air conditioning use, as the warm days and high humidity keep us indoors where the air is cool and comfortable. When the season ends and the temperatures drop, however, you won’t be using your air conditioning system very often. You can help maintain the unit, as well as getting an early start to next summer. Here are some steps to take as the air conditioning system winds down.

  • Schedule maintenance: A trained professional can go over your air conditioning system and check for any potential problems. He will clean dust off the coils, tighten any loose bolts or fittings, recharge refrigerant and identify any potential problems in need of addressing. By doing this in the early fall, you give yourself the maximum amount of time to effect any significant repairs before you need to use the air conditioner again.
  • Adjust your thermostat: When the air cools off, you don’t need to keep your thermostat set so low in order to enjoy the lower temperatures. Make sure you’re not wasting energy by setting your thermostat too low and adjust any pre-programmed settings to reflect the shorter daylight hours. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, this makes a good time of the year to consider an upgrade.
  • Perform DIY maintenance: While you should rely on a professional for regular maintenance, you can take a few modest steps yourself to keep your AC unit up and running. Change the air filters (or clean them if your filters are re-usable) and clear the vents of any leaves or twigs that may have built up.

You can perform similar operations in the spring before the warm days start, but doing so in the fall gives you the maximum amount of time to schedule and plan any serious repairs. For air conditioning services in Emerson, NJ and throughout the surrounding Bergen County area, call on DB Heating & Cooling to help. We can get your air conditioning systems ready for the winter and make sure it’s good to go when warm temperatures return.

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Air Quality Issues and Your Air Conditioning in Emerson, NJ

Monday, July 29th, 2013

All of the cool air that comes into your home has to travel through your air conditioning system. This means that your air conditioning system is an ideal device to make an impact on your home’s air quality. However, the impact is not always a good one. Here at DB Heating & Cooling, we wanted to put together a few of the ways that your AC can affect your air quality and what you can do to make sure that it helps improve the quality of the air the you breathe.

Modern homes are built very air tight so that they can keep as much of the heated or cooled air inside of them. While this is great for efficiency, it can allow many different types of contaminants to build up in your home because of the lack of fresh, clean air from outside. Many different kinds of pollutants can get trapped in your home’s air including dust, pet dander, bacteria, pollen, insect droppings and many others. These can cause respiratory issues for your family—especially if any of them suffer from allergies or asthma.

So what can you do to improve your Emerson, NJ home’s air quality? There are a number of different products on the market that are designed to help you remove pollutants from your air and also prevent them from even getting into your home.

  • Air filters – One of the best ways to remove pollutants from your air is to use an air filter. These types of products sit in your ducts or your air handler and trap particles as they pass through the filter. There are many different kinds of air filters and there are also air purifiers that you electrostatic electricity to remove particulates from your home’s air.
  • Duct sealing – One major source of air pollutants is holes in your ducts. If your ducts are old or if they weren’t installed properly, they could be allowing many types of outdoor contaminants to get inside your home. Getting your ducts sealed will keep them from getting in and it will also greatly improve the efficiency of your home.
  • Duct cleaning – Something that every homeowner should have done on a regular basis is regular duct cleaning. As your AC operates it will pick up any contaminants that happen to be in your ducts and circulate them through your air. Getting your ducts regularly vacuumed and sanitized is a great way to improve your air quality.

For all your installation, repair or maintenance services for your air conditioning in Emerson, NJ,  just call DB Heating and Cooling.

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Bergen County Air Conditioning Tips: Benefits of Custom Ductwork

Monday, July 15th, 2013

If you already have a forced-air distribution system, or are thinking that you may need for your home construction project, then you probably already realize the important role that air ducts play in distributing cool air from your air conditioning system. But when it comes to ductwork, you need to make sure that yours fits your home exactly. Because of the impact that they have on your cooling effectiveness and efficiency, you should consider having custom ductwork installed in your home. In today’s post, we’d like to look more closely at some of the benefits of professionally installed custom ductwork. Call DB Heating & Cooling today for all of your Bergen County air conditioning services.

  • Cooling performance: In a forced-air distribution system, you need to make sure that all of your components are working well throughout the summer months. One of the downsides to standard ductwork is that it often does not fit the unique design and layout of your home. Just like your AC, your ducts need to be professionally sized if they are to perform well. They need to be able to extract and return air to your living space constantly.
  • Energy efficiency: Another benefit to having custom ductwork in your home is improved energy efficiency. Every square inch of your ducts contributes to the overall efficiency of your cool air distribution. But when your ducts are over- or under-sized, or make too many turns to fit into your home, it can lead to energy loss and airflow impedances.
  • Longevity: When you install a new HVAC system in your home or a major system replacement for your existing system, it’s a major undertaking, one that you want to be able to rely on for years to come. You need to make sure that your ductwork is in great shape year-in and year-out, particularly if you also use it for your heating in the winter. With custom ductwork optimized for the unique circumstances of your home, you can be sure that they will last.

At DB Heating & Cooling, we specialize in custom ductwork for our clients throughout the Bergen County area, whatever their air conditioning needs may be.

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Does this Noise Mean it’s Time for Air Conditioning Repair in Emerson, NJ?

Monday, July 8th, 2013

Your air conditioning system will make a variety of noises as it starts up, operates and shuts down. But if you start to hear any new or unfamiliar noises you may want to think about calling for air conditioning repair in Emerson, NJ. At DB Heating & Cooling, Inc.,  we often get called about our customers’ AC units making new noises. We thought it would be good to put together a few of the most common noises and what could be causing them.

  • Squealing – One of the most common, and also most annoying, noises that your air conditioner might start to make is squealing. This can be a high-pitched squeal or a low-pitched droning. Either way, this problem is usually caused by a bad fan motor belt that needs to be changed.
  • Hissing – If your air conditioning system is hissing you should definitely call air conditioning repair. Hissing usually is a sign that you have a refrigerant leak somewhere. Your air conditioning system uses compressed refrigerant to cool your home so if it is leaking it means that not only do you have insufficient refrigerant, but you also have insufficient pressure.
  • Gurgling – Another common noise is gurgling which is caused by low refrigerant levels. The gurgling is caused by air in the lines. This problem requires that a professional technician refill the refrigerant levels to their proper place.
  • Buzzing – If you have a heat pump that is buzzing it doesn’t necessarily mean that anything is wrong. This can be caused by the reversing valve solenoid. The reversing valve controls the direction of flow for the refrigerant. Heat pumps use these to reverse the flow of refrigerant so that they can provide both heating and cooling to your home.
  • Lack of noise – In some cases, silence could also be a problem. For example, if you only hear some components switch on then it likely means that something has gone wrong. This might happen if your outdoor fan motor starts up but the compressor’s motor doesn’t fire on.

If you need any kind of air conditioning repair in Emerson, NJ, make sure that you call the technicians at DB Heating & Cooling, Inc. today.

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Bergen County, NJ Air Conditioning Problems: Causes of Uneven Cooling

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

Are you satisfied by your AC’s ability to cool your home? Do you feel hot spots in certain rooms, or a major difference in temperature throughout the home? If you have any air conditioning problems, then you should not hesitate to get them solved quickly. Like any other aspect of your home, there will come a time when routine maintenance is not enough and you need to have it professionally repaired. There are numerous causes of uneven cooling. Only a professional HVAC technician will be able to assess exactly what’s gone wrong with your AC. Give DB Heating & Cooling a call today to learn more about our Bergen County, NJ air conditioning repair services.

  • Ductwork blockage: If there is one area in particular that does not seem to get as cool as the others, the problem (and solution) might be in the air ducts. If you have a forced air distribution system, then you rely heavily on the integrity and cleanliness of the ducts to deliver the cool air throughout your home. But the system will be unable to work properly if the ducts are filled with dust, dirt, and other debris or they have been comprised by cracks, holes, and loose connections.
  • Low refrigerant: Low levels of refrigerant can adversely affect your home’s ability to stay cool during the summer. During installation, your AC was charged with a certain amount of refrigerant that would adequately absorb and dissipate thermal energy from your home into the outdoor air. But if a leak has occurred, then you may have low refrigerant levels that are leading to inadequate cooling.
  • Dirty condenser coils: Because of their location, your outdoor condenser coils are subject to more wear and tear then your indoor coils. Over time, they will become caked with dust and debris unless you have your AC routinely maintained. This is a common cause of inadequate and uneven cooling.

If you’re having any difficulty with your air conditioning system in Bergen County, NJ, then do not hesitate to call for professional service from DB Heating & Cooling.

 

 

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Common AC Problems in Oradell, NJ

Tuesday, June 11th, 2013

Who doesn’t love to flip on their air conditioning system and feel the cool air start to pour out? But if your air conditioning system isn’t working well then your home could be uncomfortable this summer. Call the Oradell, NJ air conditioning repair pros at DB Heating and Cooling today if your AC is experiencing any problems. We have years of experience working on all different kinds of air conditioning issues and wanted to share some of the most common calls for service that we get.

  • Not enough cooling – If your air conditioning system is blowing warm air or if it is producing enough cool air, call for repair immediately. These types of issues don’t fix themselves and will likely just get worse. This problem could be caused by faulty thermostats, bad compressor or a broken fan motor.
  • Strange noises – Has your AC started making an unusual noise that you’ve never heard before? Squealing can be caused by a bad fan motor belt that needs to be replaced. Hissing usually indicates that you have a refrigerant leak somewhere. Gurgling is often caused by low refrigerant.
  • Clogged air filter – A clogged air filter is by far the most common cause of Oradell, NJ air conditioning repair. Your AC’s air filter is there to keep the inside clean and working well. If the air filter gets clogged it can restrict the flow of air through your home’s AC system. This will cause insufficient cooling, increased wear and tear, reduced efficiency and many other issues.

For all your Oradell, NJ air conditioning repair needs, just pick up the phone and call the friendly experts at DB Heating & Cooling.

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Westwood, NJ Air Conditioning Repair FAQ: Keeping Cool While Your AC is Down

Tuesday, June 4th, 2013

In the unfortunate event that your air conditioning system breaks down completely, then you may have to survive few days without AC. Keeping cool while you AC is down is critical, especially on those incredibly hot and humid days. As one of the leading providers of new air conditioners in your service area, we’d like to give you some tips in case this happens to you. Even if it’s only a repair service, you need to make sure you know how to keep cool. But make sure, first and foremost, that you contact a qualified, reputable AC technician so that your problem is fixed fast or your new AC replacement works well. Call DB Heating & Cooling for comprehensive Westwood, NJ air conditioning repair services.

  • Draw the blinds and curtains: Keep the powerful sun out of the home. By drawing blinds and curtains during the day, you can ensure that the cool nighttime temperature is not spoiled by the sun’s rays.
  • Open the windows at night: Make sure you take advantage of the cooler temperatures at night by opening up the windows and letting that breeze in.
  • Fans: Use box fans in windows at night and ceiling fans during the day to keep cool. If your ceiling fan has a reverse function, you can get it to pull the hot air up out of the living space.
  • Take cold showers: This is the ultimate cool-off exercise if you can stand it. A nice cold shower can cool you off if you’re feeling overheated.
  • Drink cold beverages: Keep your fridge stocked with refreshing drinks and your ice tray full so that you can take advantage of cool drinks if your AC breaks down.
  • Backup unit: If you need to, you can purchase a wall unit to keep you cool during the repair or replacement service.

We hope you find these tips helpful. If your cooling system breaks down and you need Westwood, NJ air conditioning repair services, call DB Heating & Cooling. 

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