Air Conditioning, Heating & Electrical Services Blog

HVAC 101: Air Handlers and Heat Pumps in Birmingham, AL Homes

February 7th, 2019

Many Birmingham, AL homes choose heat pumps for year-round indoor comfort. An excellent, low-energy choice for the Birmingham area, heat pumps work together with air handlers to supply your home with warmth during the winter and cool air during the summer. Learn how this equipment operates and how to care for it for optimal comfort throughout the year.

What Is an Air Handler?

While many Birmingham, AL homeowners are familiar with heat pumps and their function, the air handler is a lesser-known component which plays a big role in indoor comfort. Air handlers are paired with heating and cooling equipment and manage airflow in the home. The air handler is the indoor component of a heat pump system and contains critical components housed in a metal cabinet.

Air Handler Components

The air handler cabinet houses components which work with the heat pump for indoor comfort control. Within the air handler cabinet, you’ll find:

Blower motor, which moves air through the duct system
Evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the air within your home for cooling and expels refrigerant heat into the air for heating
Air filter, which removes airborne contaminants from the air circulating through your HVAC system

Some air handlers for heat pumps also contain electric heat strips. These heat strips serve as a backup heating source for heat pumps when temperatures drop for extended periods.

Heat Pumps and Air Handlers Work Together

Heat pumps and air handlers work together to deliver the conditioned air your home needs throughout the year. They maintain comfortable indoor temperatures whether it’s hot or cold outside.

Air handlers help heat pumps perform heating and cooling processes and circulate conditioned air into the home. The air handler’s evaporator coil aids in the transfer of heat between indoor and outdoor air. The blower motor moves air between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Care for Heat Pumps and Air Handlers

Both heat pumps and air handlers need routine maintenance to perform well. Because air handlers and heat pumps operate all year and provide both heating and cooling for Birmingham, AL homes, we recommend preventative maintenance by skilled HVAC technicians every six months.

Preventative maintenance provides necessary care to undo the damage of wear and tear between the heating and cooling seasons. Technicians inspect components so they operate more efficiently and lower energy bills.

They tighten and lubricate bearings and belts within the blower motor. In addition, they clean the evaporator coil to eliminate dirt and debris. If neglected, this buildup reduces system efficiency.

Air handler maintenance also includes an air filter change, if needed. We recommend an air filter check monthly. For most Alabama homeowners, a change is needed every two to three months. During the summer and winter, heat pumps and air handlers operate heavily – this frequent use can increase the need for filter changes.

If you have multiple cats or dogs or smoke, you may need a monthly change. Check your air handler’s filter to see if it has become clogged with contaminants. A clogged filter can stress your system, reduce its efficiency and cost more to operate.

Douglas Cooling & Heating: Birmingham Experts in Heat Pumps

Douglas Cooling & Heating helps Birmingham, AL homeowners keep their heat pumps and air handlers in top shape for optimal comfort. Schedule routine maintenance today with our skilled technicians for improved system performance – contact us now! Interested in an upgrade for better efficiency and lower utility bills? We offer free estimates and finance options.

Posted in HVAC | Comments Off on HVAC 101: Air Handlers and Heat Pumps in Birmingham, AL Homes

Birmingham Homeowners’ Guide to Plumbing Services

February 6th, 2019

If you’re new to homeownership, or if you’ve had a run of good luck, you may be unfamiliar with many of the plumbing services commonly used by homeowners. Recently, Douglas Cooling & Heating, a heating and cooling company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, brought plumbing services to their many heating and cooling clients.

Owner Blake Sanders says, “from conversations with customers, we knew there was a need. We’re thrilled to offer plumbing services so we may comprehensively serve the Birmingham community.” Now when Birmingham residents need a plumber, they can Call Douglas! Let’s review some of the most requested plumbing services.

Common Plumbing Services for Birmingham Homes

Water Heater Services

Need to replace a traditional storage tank water heater? Interested in upgrading to a modern tankless water heater? Either way, we’ve got you covered. If you’re curious about tankless water heaters, they’re more energy-efficient than the traditional storage model.

Simply, they heat water on demand. There’s no utility cost to constantly heat a large tank of water. Also, because there’s no tank, your tankless water heater produces nearly an infinite amount of hot water.

How many times have you had a couple of family members take showers in a row and left you with no hot water because the tank was empty? With a tankless water heater, that’s unlikely to happen. A regular tankless model adequately serves an average household.

Larger homes opt to get a larger model or to install multiple units, such as one upstairs for laundry and bathing, and one downstairs for kitchen and other uses.

Leak Repairs

Whether it’s a leaky faucet or pipe, we can put a stop to it. Did you know Alabama is one of 12 states to collectively account for more than 50 percent of the total water withdrawals in the U.S.?

It may not seem like much, but a drip per minute in an average home wastes more than 100 gallons in a year. Repairs for a leaky faucet or pipe are one of the most common plumbing services we provide. Don’t put it off – schedule an appointment today. It will start to show up in your water bill!

Drain Cleaning

This term is often misunderstood. Drain cleaning is often confused with drain clearing. Drain clearing clears your main drain. If you have low water pressure in your home, you may have an obstruction between your home’s plumbing system and the main line which travels to the street or another municipal outlet.

Clearing penetrates the obstruction to improve water pressure and flow. Drain cleaning, on the other hand, is more comprehensive. We may use one of several tools, including hydo-jetting to fully flush the pipes clean.

If you have blockages causing drains to back up or drain slowly, you may need drain cleaning over clearing. Our team of plumbing services pros will carefully evaluate your situation with special tools, such as a camera, to fully assess the problem.

Plumbing Fixtures

Want to update your bathroom or kitchen? Plumbing services include swapping out old, dated or inefficient plumbing fixtures with new ones. Get more use from your kitchen sink with a spray attachment central faucet.

Enjoy baths or showers more with handheld sprayers or “rain shower” shower heads. We can help you save money and water here too. Ask us about water-efficiency in plumbing fixtures, such as aerators or low-flow toilets.

Water Quality

We can install products like a water softener or a whole-home water filtration system. Enjoy fewer spots on your dishes, cleaner laundry and a cleaner you! Filtered water tastes better and makes your skin and hair feel better too.

Plumbing Services from Douglas Cooling & Heating

Next time you need assistance with your plumbing system, whether it’s toilets, faucets, water heaters or water quality, call Douglas Cooling & Heating. Our plumbing services team is eager to show you the same commitment to customer service our heating and air customers enjoy. If you live in the Birmingham area, such as Bessemer, Homewood, Hoover, Pelham or Helena, contact Douglas Cooling & Heating for your plumbing needs.

Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off on Birmingham Homeowners’ Guide to Plumbing Services

Birmingham, AL HVAC Help: Best Houseplants to Clean Your Indoor Air

February 5th, 2019

Cold temperatures and poor weather force us to spend more time indoors while attempts to save HVAC energy keep airborne contaminants trapped inside. Enjoy fresher air indoors this winter when you add certain houseplants throughout your home!

Houseplants for Better HVAC Air Quality

Many do not realize this, but houseplants offer air filtration in the home. Certain plants remove harmful airborne contaminants. These pollutants cause health symptoms and poor air quality. The added filtration plants offer is especially beneficial during the winter months. Even in Birmingham, we tend to spend more time indoors. In addition, to combat heat and energy loss, we tightly seal our houses.

The air within your home is filled with harmful chemicals from various sources. These chemicals cause health effects similar to the common cold.

Toxins such as trichloroethylene, xylene, formaldehyde, ammonia and benzene cause symptoms including nausea, eye and nose irritations, sore throat, drowsiness, headaches and more.

Improve your Birmingham, AL home’s HVAC air quality when you add these hardy plants to your indoor landscape!

HVAC Air Quality Helper #1 – Bamboo Palm

Bamboo palm grows well in partial sun or shade. This common houseplant removes benzene and formaldehyde from your indoor air supply.

These toxins are responsible for causing irritations to the eyes, nose, mouth and throat as well as dizziness, increased heart rate, confusion, headaches and other symptoms.

HVAC Air Quality Helper #2 – Gerber Daisy

Big, beautiful gerber daisy cuttings are best kept in warm homes at 75 degrees or more and provide air cleaning power which removes benzene in the home.

Benzene is brought into the home from tobacco smoke, exhaust fumes from vehicles, glue and paint. It is also used in the making of many household products including synthetic fibers, dyes and medications.

HVAC Air Quality Helper #3 – Peace Lily

The peace lily is easy to maintain in the home and removes contaminants such as formaldehyde and carbon monoxide from the indoor air supply.

They are mildly toxic to people and pets, so wash your hands after handling. In addition, keep them out of the reach of pets and children.

HVAC Air Quality Helper #4 – Spider Plant

The spider plant is a common indoor plant which grows well in bright, indirect sunlight. Spider plants help your HVAC system with removal of pollutants such as benzene and formaldehyde.

HVAC Air Quality Helper #5 – Mass Cane (Corn Plant)

The mass cane, or corn plant, is a variety of Dracaenas, with large yellow-green foliage. Grown as a tree or shrub, the mass cane removes of formaldehyde in the home, as well as benzene and trichloroethylene. It’s also a good idea to keep these out of pets’ reach.

HVAC Air Quality Helper #6 – Ferns

The Boston and Kimberly Queen ferns are Nephrolepis varieties which reduce indoor levels of formaldehyde and xylene.

Exposure to these toxins causes symptoms such as nose, mouth and throat irritations, dizziness, confusion, and headache. In severe cases, heart problems, liver and kidney damage, swelling in the lungs and larynx and coma occur.

Birmingham’s HVAC Source: Douglas Cooling & Heating

Boost the air quality-improving power of your houseplants with the right HVAC solutions from Douglas Cooling & Heating. We offer many products designed to help your family breathe easier all year round. We’re happy to discuss them and provide free estimates. We also offer finance options on new equipment. Contact us today for better indoor air quality!

Posted in Indoor Air Quality | Comments Off on Birmingham, AL HVAC Help: Best Houseplants to Clean Your Indoor Air

3 Signs You Need Electrical Rewiring

February 4th, 2019

Take a moment to think about all of the appliances in your home: your refrigerator, your furnace, your TVs, your computers, your lighting fixtures, your AC, etc. Now, think about what they all have in common. Each and every appliance in your home is dependent on electricity. So, as you can imagine, an issue with your electrical system requires immediate attention.

This is the reason why it is so important to hire an electrician in Birmingham, AL for routine inspections, as issues with your electric wiring can be quite dangerous if left unattended or unnoticed. In some cases, electrical rewiring is necessary to avoid hazardous situations, like electrocutions or even house fires. Even with regular maintenance, there is always a chance that a problem can occur, so it is important to be familiar with some of the tell-tale signs of an electrical issue. Below, we have outlined some of them.

Tags: Birmingham, Electrical Maintenance, Electrical Repair, Rewiring
Posted in Electrical | Comments Off on 3 Signs You Need Electrical Rewiring

Will Your Heater Deliver on Game Day in Alabama?

January 31st, 2019

If your home is the go-to hang out for game day, your heater better not fumble. Make it the first item in your watch-party playbook. Call now, especially if you notice warning signs it may not make it past the goal line. Before your game day guests arrive, schedule a tune-up with the pros at Douglas Cooling & Heating.

Heater Makes Strange Noises

Squeal, rattle, thump, bang — if you hear your HVAC system make any of these sounds, something is wrong and needs to be fixed. When running properly, it won’t make any odd sounds. A noisy heater indicates a number of problems. These range from a malfunctioning motor or blower assembly. At Douglas Cooling & Heating, we provide 24/7 emergency heating repairs in Birmingham and the surrounding areas.

Utility Costs are Higher

Sometimes even when your heater is working, your HVAC system may have issues. If you notice your utility bill is abnormally high, it might be because you have an older system. Sometimes they must run longer, and therefore less efficiently, to keep your home warm.

In any case, check your system’s efficiency rating. Older heating systems may only have an AFUE, or annual fuel utilization efficiency, from 56 percent to 70 percent. For reference, high-efficiency units run at more than 90 percent AFUE. If your heating system isn’t up to date, our certified HVAC technicians in Birmingham will replace and install a new energy efficient heating system to save you money!

Heater Blows Cold Air

This may be one of the more obvious signs something is wrong with your heater. If it blows cold air when you have it set to send warm air, it’s a likely sign of a fuel combustion problem. It may also be a leak in the ductwork to a particular area in your house. An HVAC pro can help you fix the problem and bring back the heat.

Heater Short Cycles

A heater short cycles if it starts, runs for a short period, then cycles down again. This could be because of a dirty air filter blocking airflow or something like a faulty thermocouple. In some cases, the furnace is too big or too small. In any case, you’ll want to call an HVAC pro out to your home to take a look to make sure it’s not something more serious.

Your Thermostat Breaks

If your thermostat isn’t working, it can’t tell your heater how much heat to produce. This usually happens when you have a blown fuse, loose wiring or tripped circuit breaker. Call a licensed professional technician to fix any suspected wiring issues.

You’ve Ignored Your Heater for a Year or More

Sure, it’s debatable something is wrong with your heater, but do you want to press your luck right before game day? If you haven’t had a tune-up for more than a year, you’re way past due for annual maintenance.

For Heater Issues – Call Douglas Cooling & Heating in Birmingham

One of the licensed pros at Douglas Cooling & Heating can give your system a thorough look and make any necessary repairs so your home can be the hot spot for catching the big game. Call us today to set up an appointment!

Posted in HVAC | Comments Off on Will Your Heater Deliver on Game Day in Alabama?

Jonathan is NATE-Certified!

January 31st, 2019

Douglas Cooling, Heating, & Electrical is pleased to announce that Jonathan Sales is now a NATE-Certified technician! He has successfully passed all his exams.

According to their website, “NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is the nation’s largest nonprofit certification organization for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration technicians. NATE tests represent real-world working knowledge of HVACR systems and validate the professional competency of service and installation technicians.”

You can be sure to count on Jonathan for his knowledge, expertise, and ability to provide an excellent customer experience!

Our team is so proud of Jonathan for all his accomplishments! We are truly excited to watch him grow and flourish in this industry. We wish him the best of luck!

Tags: NATE-certified, technician
Posted in Announcement | Comments Off on Jonathan is NATE-Certified!

High-Efficiency Furnace Benefits for Birmingham Homes

January 29th, 2019

Heating and cooling account for about half of the average American home’s energy consumption and makes a high-efficiency furnace installation a great investment. Heating and cooling are easily a family’s most expensive energy costs every month.

If your home’s HVAC equipment is older than 10 years old, a high-efficiency furnace investment cuts your energy expenses significantly.

Because they extract more heat from the gas they consume, a high-efficiency furnace uses less energy to heat your home. This increased efficiency saves you money. Learn what else makes a furnace highly efficient and why a high-efficiency furnace is worth the investment below.

What Makes a Furnace Highly Efficient?

AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, measures how much fuel is converted to heat. It is noted on the yellow Federal Trade Commission-required EnergyGuide label on the outside of your furnace.

To qualify as highly efficient, a furnace must have an AFUE rating of 90 percent or higher. This is around 10 percent to 20 percent higher than mid-efficiency models. In some cases, such as original HVAC systems, it may be even higher.

Features of a High-Efficiency Furnace

To use less energy to heat your home, all high-efficiency furnaces come equipped with the following components:

Electronic ignition. This saves more energy than pilot lights on gas-burning furnaces. Electronic ignition only kicks in when the furnace is signaled to start.
Two-stage heating. This allows high-efficiency furnaces to run using less energy under mild temperatures. The higher stage turns on to heat your home only under extremely cold weather conditions.
Second heat exchanger. This extracts heat which otherwise escapes your system through vented exhaust gasses. This produces more heat using less energy.
Variable speed blower. This can run at faster speeds when your home needs more airflow and switch to a lower speed when less will do.
Sealed combustion. This allows high-efficiency furnaces to draw in outside air for the combustion process and conserve energy.

Advantages of a High-Efficiency Furnace

Replacement of your old heating system with a high-efficiency furnace is a worthwhile investment with several benefits, including:

Cost savings. A high-efficiency furnace pays for itself in savings on your monthly energy bills. Having an ENERGY STAR-qualified high-efficiency furnace installed in your home could save you more than $115 annually on your heating bill, according to ENERGY STAR.

Higher performance. High-efficiency models use quieter, newer technology so you’ll benefit from advances in gas valves and sound-absorbing materials.
Cleaner, better airflow. High-efficiency furnaces operate via variable speed motors, which distribute heat more evenly throughout your home. Additionally, you’ll breathe healthier air. Newer filtration systems remove mold, dust and other allergy and asthma-causing particulates.
Better for the environment. High-efficiency furnaces use a third of the fuel compared to standard models. They also have lower carbon dioxide emissions.

High-Efficiency Furnace Experts in Alabama – Douglas Cooling & Heating

Having a high-efficiency furnace installed in your home is a great way to save money on your energy bills in the long run. The pros at Douglas Cooling & Heating are experts at high-efficiency furnace installation. If you have any questions or would like to talk to us about a free estimate or finance options, contact us at Douglas Cooling & Heating today.

Posted in HVAC | Comments Off on High-Efficiency Furnace Benefits for Birmingham Homes

All About Heat Pumps In Birmingham Alabama

January 22nd, 2019

Winter’s here, and heat pumps in Birmingham homes are probably kicking into high gear. To keep your home comfortable, they move warm air from outside to inside.

Homeowners in areas like Birmingham, who experience milder winters, have used heat pumps for many years. Why? Because heat pumps require less maintenance and lower running costs than combustion heating systems. Have a traditional HVAC system? Schedule your heat pump installation with Douglas Cooling & Heating today!

Do you know how they work and how to maintain them properly through the winter months? We outline those topics and more below.

Parts of Heat Pumps

To get a better idea of how heat pumps work, it helps to know about its parts. The system contains an outdoor unit which looks similar to an air conditioner and an indoor air handler. The heat pump works with the air handler to distribute the warm or cool air to interior spaces.

In addition to the electrical components and a fan, a heat pump system includes a(n):

Compressor which moves refrigerant through two sets of copper coils. One is inside your house and another outside. It also pressurizes or compresses, the refrigerant as it changes from gas to liquid.
Condenser is one of two sets of coils containing refrigerant. When the unit is heating, the outside coils act as the condenser. The outside coils extract heat from the outdoor air and condense the refrigerant into a gas. The gas then travels to the indoor evaporator coils.
Evaporator, where gaseous refrigerant pressurizes in the indoor evaporator coils. This causes it to return to its liquid form and release the heat it stores.
Air handler moves heated or cooled air from the heat pump into the system’s ductwork. From there it moves throughout your home.
Reversing valve changes refrigerant flow direction and switches the heat pump’s function from heating to cooling.

How Heat Pumps Function

Refrigerant flows through a closed system of refrigeration lines between the outdoor and the indoor unit. Even in cooler temperatures, the condenser coil absorbs enough heat energy from the outside air and the evaporator coil releases it inside.

A motorized fan then pulls indoor air into ductwork. Meanwhile, the refrigerant pumps from the interior coil to the exterior coil, where it absorbs the heat from the air. Then, it pushes the heat through connecting ducts to air vents throughout your home, raising the temperature. This refrigeration cycle happens continuously, providing consistent heat.

How to Care for Heat Pumps

According to the Department of Energy, the difference between the energy consumption of a well-maintained heat pump and a severely neglected one ranges from 10 percent to 25 percent. Here are some tips to keep your heat pump in working order:

Change your air filter. A dirty filter blocks airflow to your system. Poor airflow increases its energy consumption and causes operational problems.
Know your heat pump thermostat settings. It likely has three settings: heat, cool and emergency heat. When heating your home, switch your heat pump to “heat” mode, not “emergency heat” mode.

Only use emergency heat mode when your heat pump is broken or covered in ice. By switching to emergency heat, you’ll bypass the heat pump and only use your backup furnace while your heat pump defrosts or is being fixed.
Remove branches, snow and debris from your outdoor unit. Unlike conventional heating and cooling systems, a heat pump uses its outside unit during winter. As it gets colder and leaves begin to fall, twigs can get stuck in your outdoor unit’s fan.

Remove any debris building up on your heat pump’s outdoor unit. It’s also important to remove any snow buildup on your heat pump.
Schedule a tune-up. Even though your heat pump runs all year, you should still schedule a tune-up for it, as well as for its backup furnace, twice a year.

Call Douglas Cooling & Heating: We’re Experts with Heat Pumps

Are you past due for maintenance on your heat pump? Call Douglas Cooling & Heating to schedule a service call today. If you think you’re ready to upgrade, we offer finance options to help spread out payments. We want to help you so give us a call today!

Posted in HVAC | Comments Off on All About Heat Pumps In Birmingham Alabama

How to Tell When It’s Time for a New Generator

January 21st, 2019

You depend on your generator to keep your safe and comfortable during a power outage, so what do you do when your generator is no longer reliable? It is important to be aware of signs that suggest it’s time for a new generator, so you can be sure your home and family will be protected during the next big storm.

Of course, only a licensed electrician can assess the condition of your current generator to make an informed decision about what steps should be taken next. Should he or she decide that your generator is in not-so-great shape, investing in a new system might be your best option. Below, we have outlined some of the most common indicators that your generator needs to be replaced. Keep reading to learn more.

Tags: Generator Installation, generator repair, generator replacement, Mountain Brook
Posted in Electrical | Comments Off on How to Tell When It’s Time for a New Generator

HVAC Finance Options in Birmingham

January 17th, 2019

We understand new heating and cooling equipment represents a large investment so at Douglas Cooling & Heating we offer HVAC finance options. Perhaps you’re ready to upgrade your HVAC system to increase your home’s energy efficiency. Maybe it’s an unexpected expense because your system stopped working for the last time.

The good news is you don’t have to pay for a new HVAC system with cash you have on hand. At Douglas Cooling & Heating, we work with several trusted lenders. These HVAC finance options help you get the proper equipment installed in your home right when you need it.

Read on to learn about the finance options we offer and the advantages of financing a new HVAC system.

Know Your HVAC Finance Options

At Douglas Cooling & Heating, we specialize in improving your home’s comfort. We also want you to feel comfortable working with our financing partners if it’s how you prefer to pay for your new HVAC system. So we partner with Wells Fargo, Microf, Synchrony Financial, and Alabama Power for all your HVAC finance needs.

We have years of experience working with each company and have developed a relationship of trust with each. So no matter which one you choose, you can expect the following:

Convenient term options and monthly payments.
Special financing terms.
Easy online account management.
Simple application process.
Lease to purchase finance options.
Preferred interest rates.

Benefits of HVAC Finance Options for You

Financing your new HVAC system purchase and installation comes with a whole host of benefits. The best of all is you enjoy renewed home comfort right away! It also allows you to take advantage of manufacturer promotions and seasonal specials.

Save on Energy Bills Right Away

Older HVAC models run inefficiently and cost you more money on your energy bills than they should. With HVAC finance plans, it’s installed — and you save on bills — sooner. If you wait to save up the cash, you’ll pay more in the form of higher energy bills.

Increase Your Home’s Value

Plan to sell or rent your home? A new HVAC system can be a huge bonus because it adds to its overall value. If you rent your home and include utilities, for example, you want the efficiency to be at its highest. HVAC finance options allow you to install the new system now and add value to your home. This often leads to a better deal on the new system to boot.

Make Your Home More Comfortable Sooner

If you need to replace your old HVAC system, your home is probably not as comfortable as it could be. When you have a broken system, you may not have time to save enough cash for a new one. HVAC finance plans allow you to have a new installed now, instead of waiting to save the money to pay for it all at once.

Improve Your Family’s Health

HVAC finance options also improve your family’s health sooner rather than later. Your older or inefficient HVAC system can’t extract all the contaminants in the air. This ultimately lowers the air quality in your home. Allergies, asthma and dry skin worsen if your vents and ducts aren’t working as they should, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, (AAFA).

Invest in Your Home’s Comfort with HVAC Finance Options!

Financing new HVAC equipment for your home has advantages, not the least of which includes saving money with more efficient equipment in the long run. At Douglas Cooling & Heating, we can guide you to any of our outstanding lending partners to help streamline the HVAC finance process. Call us today to get started!

Posted in HVAC | Comments Off on HVAC Finance Options in Birmingham