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

What Does Our Team Check for During Heating Maintenance?

Monday, September 28th, 2020

technician-working-on-furnaceIn the areas we serve, temperatures get cold. There’s no denying that. And if you want your heating system to rise to the occasion of keeping you and your family comfortable all winter long, then it is essential that you schedule routine heating maintenance once a year–with fall being the best time to do so. These heating system tune-ups are more complex than most homeowners realize, and require a professional touch.

Sure, there are some small maintenance tasks you can handle on your own. For example, do you have a clogged air filter in your furnace? This is something you can and should change every 1-3 months. Doing so will prevent the interior components of your furnace form getting pummeled with debris. But for truly thorough maintenance that will make a difference in the performance and longevity of your heater, you’ll want professional service. But what actually happens during this service? Read on to find out!

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Did you Schedule Your Heat Pump Maintenance Appointment Yet?

Monday, 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.

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Now is the Time to Get Your Furnace Ready for Winter

Monday, 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.

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These Are the Steps Taken During Heater Maintenance

Monday, September 5th, 2016

As we mentioned in a recent blog post, the time has come to at least start considering if your heating system is in the best shape possible, by scheduling a heater maintenance appointment. This is a service that is often neglected, however very important. After all, you wouldn’t skip a maintenance appointment with your vehicle, right? So why should your home comfort system be any different? It’s imperative that you schedule heating maintenance at least once a year.

Professional heater tune-ups keep your heating system functioning as efficiently as possible, and may even reduce the potential for larger repair needs later on down the line. Be sure to contact our technicians for a comprehensive inspection and cleaning, and also to find out how this service can save you money. Keep reading below to learn more about what steps our technicians take during this service.

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It’s Time to Get Your Heating System Ready for Winter with Annual Maintenance

Monday, September 21st, 2015

We know you still have sand on your flip flops from the beach, but the fall equinox is here; we’ve officially changed seasons. Before you know it we are all going to need sweaters to keep warm during the day, but your heating system needs something, too: annual maintenance. It doesn’t matter what type of heating system you have. Every heating system needs to be properly maintained in order to provide the heat you need throughout the winter months, and the experts at DB Heating & Cooling are here to provide your heating system with the expert maintenance it needs.

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Can I Do Heating Maintenance on My Own?

Monday, 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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4 Ways Maintenance Can Help You Avoid Heating Repairs in Bergen County

Monday, November 26th, 2012

During the winter, you most likely use your heating system every day, so its important to keep it functioning effectively. Yet some people put off getting regular maintenance for their heating systems. At DB Heating and Cooling, we respond to countless calls for heating repairs in Bergen County. We thought it would be helpful for our community if we put together a list of the benefits to having regular maintenance performed on your heating system.

Reduced Repairs

One great benefit to regular heating maintenance is the potential to reduce costly repairs. When you have a heating technician looking over your system every day, they can catch small issues before they turn into larger, more expensive problems.

Extended Life

With more repairs and better care, comes a potentially longer life. When your heating technician is able to spot small problems early, you can avoid the catastrophic problems that some repairs can cause if they are ignored.

Greater Efficiency

Over time, everything starts to break down. As your heating system begins to age, moving parts will start to wear out and start to make the system work harder. After a while this can negatively impact the performance of your heating system. With regular maintenance, your heating technician can replace and tend to parts of your system that would otherwise begin to break down. This increases the overall efficiency of the system.

More Reliability

In addition to all of these other benefits, you will also most likely experience an increase in reliability from your heating system. Just like a car that doesn’t receive regular maintenance, your heating system will turn on and run more reliably when you have someone inspecting it and tuning it up regularly.

If you’re interested in scheduling heating maintenance for the heating system in your Bergen County home, contact the experts at DB Heating and Cooling. We have years of experience offering comprehensive heating services throughout the Bergen County area. Give us a call today! 

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Bergen County Furnace Guide: Different Types of Furnace Filters

Monday, November 5th, 2012

A good filter for your Bergen County home’s furnace is a must. Because that device heats and blows air throughout your home, you want to be sure that it doesn’t recycle contaminants and bacteria that could easily be captured at the air handler. That’s why it’s vital to choose the right furnace filter on the first try. Here are some furnace filters to consider and their various benefits to your home and family:

  • Electrostatic – Most electrostatic filters are permanent and must be washed on a regular basis. They are electronically charged to capture particles as they pass through, much like a magnet. These filters are effective because they are both physical and electronic. However, keep in mind that they are only as efficient as the cleaning they receive.
  • HEPA – HEPA is the highest rating available for a filtration system, removing up to 99.9% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns. However, they are also inefficient when used in furnaces as they severely reduce air flow. They are not often recommended for this reason.
  • Pleated – Pleated filters come in both reusable and permanent forms and can be either purely mechanical or electrostatic. There is a very wide range of efficiency ratings for pleated filters so make sure you analyze your home’s specific needs before selecting any one pleated filter.
  • Activated Carbon – Activated carbon is unique from the other three filter types because it effectively removes fumes, odors and chemicals from indoor air along with other larger particles. It is recommended that if you choose an activated carbon filter, you supplement it with a pleated or electrostatic filter (or choose a combination filter) to remove all unwanted components from your home.

There are a lot of options when it comes to furnace filters. To make sure you get only the best air quality, talk to a Bergen County furnace professional such as DB Heating & Cooling who can help you determine which pollutants are the biggest problem in your home.

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Teaneck AC Contractor Tip: Green Your HVAC

Monday, May 21st, 2012

Regular Maintenance Avoids High Costs

No matter the energy rating of the appliance, a schedule of simple maintenance and replacement of filters can make a significant difference in its longevity.  A furnace rated at 95% efficient will burn nowhere near that great a rating if the air is blocked and unable to pass through the filter without effort.

Fan belts on the blower motor can loosen over time and become ineffective, forcing the heater to burn longer and hotter to distribute air that should normally breeze through the ductwork.  Working so hard, parts break and the furnace might need replacement.

New Thermostats

If left to our own habits, our Teaneck air conditioners and furnaces might run for hours under unnecessary circumstances because we are not thinking to turn our thermostats up or down.  At the change of seasons, in particular, it may feel warm enough to open a window while the heat is still adjusted to come on at those fresher temperatures that now seem so inviting.

In older homes, the replacement of the old dial thermostats with the newer digital versions can save on energy costs.  Smart phones allow adjustments to thermostats from anywhere in the world for the instance that a cold snap may threaten frozen pipes while we are away on vacation.

Changing World

Tax incentives, climate change and the economics of energy dictate that we look closely at our habits and find ways to conserve our resources. For more information about how HVAC improvements can reduce your energy bills, give DB Heating & Cooling a call today!

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Paramus Heating Tip: 5 Reasons to Replace Your Furnace

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

Many Paramus homes are heated with furnaces, since they generally provide safe and efficient heat.  Furnaces have also improved dramatically over the years as manufacturers find ways to make them more efficient. Even if your furnace has been reliable for many years, it may be worth the money to replace your old furnace with a newer, more efficient model.

Here are five major benefits to upgrading your furnace.

1. Lowering Your Utility Bills

Whether you realize it or not, your current furnace could be costing you more than it should in heating bills. If your furnace is 15-20 years old, it’s probably not heating your home as efficiently as the newer models with higher AFUE ratings. Even if your heating system has been replaced within the last ten years, the technology has advanced enough to consider an upgrade.

2. Fewer Repairs

Repair costs can add up if you are constantly repairing your furnace. Routine maintenance for your furnace can help reduce the need for repairs, but as furnaces age, they tend to need more repairs and replacement parts. If you need frequent repairs for your furnace, it may be time to replace it with a newer one.

3. More Consistent Heat

While maintaining consistent temperatures throughout your home involves several factors, such as insulation and thermostat control, your furnace could also be the reason you aren’t getting enough heat to all parts of the house. If some rooms are colder than others, or if your heating bills have recently gone up, it may be time for a furnace replacement.

4. Reduce the Chances of a Breakdown

When a furnace breaks down, it not only leaves you without heat, but it is also a major expense. Budgeting for a new furnace before it breaks down will put less financial burden on you than needing an emergency furnace replacement. Newer model furnaces are also more reliable and less likely to give you problems if maintained properly.

5. Safety

There’s higher potential for safety concerns with older or poorly maintained furnaces. In addition to fire hazards, carbon monoxide poisoning is another serious threat. When the heat exchanger stops working because it’s corroded or faulty, carbon monoxide can leak into the home. If you’ve had your furnace for more than 20 years, it could create safety hazards that you may be unaware of.

No matter how long you’ve had the furnace in your Paramus home, it’s always wise to speak with a qualified HVAC technician about furnace upgrades, particularly if you have expensive heating costs. Call us today to talk with one of our Paramus heating experts about furnace upgrades.

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