Home automation, also known as smart home technology, allows you to control your home’s appliances, lighting, security, and temperature anywhere via the internet. The face of HVAC technology is constantly changing and adapting to meet the needs of homeowners. To integrate your HVAC system to be more automated, you need to understand what home automation is, what HVAC technology is compatible with home automation, and how smart heating and cooling will benefit you in the long run. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating to find out more about automated HVAC technology and how our NATE-certified professionals will help you with the integration process.  

Home Automation Is Revolutionizing Homes

Home automation has been around for several decades in terms of lighting and simple appliance control. Now due to technological advancements, you have control of your entire home through the internet from anywhere at any time. You now have the power to control the temperature in your home through smart heating and cooling via automated HVAC technology.

Your personal preferences are assimilated through this HVAC technology, allowing you to save money, increase your heating and cooling performance, and know when changes happen inside your home even when you aren’t there. Home automation is the way of the future, so don’t get left behind!

The Best Automated HVAC Technology Available

An integrated HVAC system offers ideal climate control, varying between zones in your home.  Smart thermostats are the best way to integrate your current heating and cooling system for home automation. They offer advanced technology that learns your routine, adjusts the temperature based on your preferences, and are controlled remotely through your smartphone. Most smart thermostats are controlled through an app that can be accessed from a Wi-Fi connection on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Smart thermostats offer more than just remote access and control of your home’s climate. They offer:

• Occupancy sensing:

Awareness of when and how many occupants are in a room is communicated to the smart thermostat via wireless sensors. The sensors utilize motion detection technology combined with humidity/temperature levels to automatically adjust your thermostat based on your preferences.  

• Location services:

Similar to Bluetooth technology, your phone’s location is synced with your smart thermostat. This allows you to set your thermostat to a preset temperature whenever you leave or enter a specific space close to your home. Your thermostat modifies your indoor temperature based on your movements.

• Homeowner alerts:

Once a smart thermostat is installed and synced to your smartphone, you will receive notifications to alert you to several things. With a smart thermostat, you can set up an alert based on your heating and cooling system’s temperature settings. If the temperature gets too warm or cool, the system will alert you so you can call a professional to inspect your HVAC system. Douglas Cooling & Heating offers 24/7 emergency service so even if you aren’t home, your system will notify you there is a problem, and you can schedule service with us before you get home.

• System reminders:

Smart thermostats also send you reminders through the smart app for when your system needs the air filter replaced. Alerts will also be sent to remind you when to schedule maintenance for your heating and cooling system.

• Energy analysis:

Many smart thermostats send you detailed energy logs so you can see where you are wasting energy and offer suggestions to save money on your energy bill. By controlling your home’s HVAC system with a smart thermostat, you will save money, increase the efficiency of your system, reduce potential breakdowns, and extend the life of your unit.  

Discover the benefits of smart heating and cooling in your home! Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating now to talk with our NATE-certified technicians and schedule a free estimate for your new HVAC technology.

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The Super Bowl is just around the corner, and you need to prevent gas furnace breakdowns or other heating disruptions from affecting your party plans! HVAC maintenance for all types of furnaces and heating equipment is the best way to catch a problem before it escalates. Several benefits come with furnace maintenance, including detecting a problem before you discover your electric furnace isn’t working correctly. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating to find out more about our HVAC maintenance for furnaces and other HVAC products!  

Prevent Breakdowns with HVAC Maintenance for Furnaces:

The best way to keep a home warm this winter and avoid furnace failure is to:

1. Schedule preventative HVAC maintenance for furnaces, boilers, and other heating equipment. Maintenance is instrumental in extending the lifespan of your unit and boosting its performance efficiency. Douglas Cooling & Heating’ professionals are licensed and NATE-certified to perform maintenance on any heating system and will catch anything that might lead to problems in the future.  
2. Replace or clean your filter every month. A dirty furnace filter is a leading cause of why your electric furnace isn’t working, and it’s a simple problem to fix. As your system runs, dirt and debris get trapped inside your filter and can cause even more problems due to restricted airflow throughout your home.
3. Check your vents to ensure they are open and not blocked by couches, beds, nightstands, or other furniture. Furnaces and other heating equipment are sized to meet the needs of every square foot in your home. When vents are blocked, the air that is supposed to be delivered to a set room gets trapped behind the vents, building pressure and causing furnace failure.
4. Call a NATE-certified specialist if you think there is a problem with your heating system. It’s not easy to detect when your electric furnace isn’t working correctly, but there are signs you can watch for and call for help before your system shuts down. Douglas Cooling & Heating technicians are all NATE-certified and experienced to handle any problem you might encounter with your heating system. We even have emergency service 24/7 for those times when a breakdown happens unexpectedly.
5. Consider investing in a new heating system if your current system is older than 15 years or experiencing constant breakdowns and failures. Replacement of your heating system ensures you will have many winters ahead of you without surprise repairs or malfunctions with your unit. Prevention also includes being proactive about your current system and replacing it when necessary.

Signs an Electric or Gas Furnace Breakdown Is In Your Future:

• Hearing noises: Both gas and electric furnaces create some level of noise when operating, but strange noises indicate a more devastating breakdown is imminent. Sounds, such as popping, hissing, squealing, and banging should be handled by a professional. Call the professionals at Douglas Cooling & Heating if you notice weird noises coming from your furnace!  

• Flame isn’t blue: The flame on a furnace should be bright blue when it’s functioning correctly. If the light is yellow or is flickering, the furnace isn’t burning the fuel completely, and carbon monoxide could be leaking into your home’s air supply. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating if your flame isn’t bright blue and ensure you and your family remain safe from carbon monoxide poisoning this winter!
• Overworked furnace: If your gas or electric furnace isn’t working efficiently it is a sign that your system is overloading itself to provide warmth throughout your home. An overworked heating system could be due to a faulty thermostat or something much more severe. Schedule service with our NATE-certified technicians to assess your furnace performance and diagnosis where the problem is before it’s too late.
• Increased heating bill: An increase in your heating bill is a noticeable sign that something is wrong with your furnace or other heating equipment. When a furnace is running smoothly and efficiently, your heating bills are low. A system that has damaged components, pressure buildup, or other malfunctions manifest their problems with performance through your energy use. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating today, and we will inspect your system for damaged components, leaks in your ductwork, or anything that might be affecting your system’s performance.

Prevent gas or electric furnace breakdowns and other malfunctions with your heating equipment before you invite everyone over. Call Douglas Cooling & Heating to schedule maintenance with our NATE-certified professionals.  

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If Not, Is Your AC Ready For the Warmer Weather?

Punxsutawney Phil will soon be coming out to predict the early spring season, and you need to be ready for the warmer weather that’s coming! Your air conditioner or other cooling system need to be prepared to battle the extreme heat and high humidity levels that arrive with seasonal changes in the spring. HVAC maintenance for spring weather goes hand-in-hand with Groundhogs Day temperature predictions.   

Why Schedule HVAC Maintenance for Spring Weather?

When Phil does his famous Groundhogs Day temperature and season prediction, many things come to mind about the early spring. The most thought of is spring cleaning, which tackles every nook and cranny of your home. Just like spring cleaning, your cooling system needs to undergo maintenance in early spring for several reasons:

• Avoid the Rush

It’s better to schedule your maintenance for spring sooner rather than later, especially before the hot temperatures hit. You don’t want to make a frantic, emergency phone call during extreme highs and intense humidity. Plus, most people wait to schedule their HVAC maintenance for spring right before summer arrives or when their system goes out because of the extreme temperature change. Then you will have to deal with waiting for an appointment.  

• Replace Worn-Out Parts

Regardless of how durable modern HVAC systems are, you will still experience components that are worn out and need to be replaced. You could have damaged parts in your cooling system that you aren’t even aware of since you last used it. Our technicians at Douglas Cooling & Heating will inspect your cooling system, identify any damaged components, and repair or replace them before the heat hits. This will save you money, in the long run, considering you won’t have to make a last-minute call for an HVAC repair when your air conditioner stops working altogether.

• Extend the Lifespan of Your HVAC System

Preventative maintenance in early spring allows your system to perform efficiently and struggle-free during spring and summer. With maintenance, your unit is properly lubricated and cleaned, which is important after low winter temperatures. Future breakdowns and costly replacements are also limited with spring maintenance. Douglas Cooling & Heating offers preventative maintenance plans, so our NATE-certified technicians will extend the life of your cooling system and boost your cooling efficiency during heat waves!

• Improve Indoor Air Quality

Your furnace produces dry air inside your home during the winter weather. If you had your home winterized, you might even suffer from extreme stale indoor air trapped indoors. Aside from opening windows and letting fresh air in, HVAC maintenance for spring weather eliminates clogged filters and dust buildup inside your unit, and removes any obstructions in your ductwork. If you have anything blocking or restricting your airflow in your unit, your indoor air quality is compromised, leading to poor indoor quality and health issues.

• Increase Energy Savings

HVAC maintenance on your air conditioner or heat pump not only extends the life of your unit but it can save you money on your energy bill. Properly maintained equipment will meet the demands of your thermostat despite the outside temperature. Systems that have dirty air filters, restricted airflow, or damaged parts have to work harder to provide cooler temperatures in your home, consuming more energy.

Early spring savings and improved efficiency are guaranteed when preparing for Groundhogs Day temperatures! Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating today and schedule your HVAC maintenance for spring weather with our NATE-certified technicians.  

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Keeping your home warm when the temperatures drop is already a big job for your heating system. However, when heating problems happen, your system has to work harder to keep your house warm. Here are the 8 most common heating problems with your furnace that can be resolved with simple preventative maintenance or repair from a qualified professional. Douglas Cooling & Heating offers preventative maintenance plans to keep your heating system functioning smoothly even when it gets extremely cold outside.  

• Dirty Air Filters

Clogged air filters restrict airflow in your home, causing your furnace to work harder to circulate heat to every room. Dirty filters can even damage the limit switch that controls the fan, as well as other components. You should clean or replace your air filter once every three to four months to keep your HVAC system healthy and running smoothly. During preventative maintenance, our technicians will change or clean your filter to ensure your airflow isn’t obstructed.  

• Frequent Cycling On and Off

A common furnace problem is the unit cycling on and off repeatedly. This indicates there could be a clogged filter, restricted airflow, or a problem with your thermostat. All three of these problems are addressed with preventive maintenance, but when your unit isn’t taken care of, frequent cycling of your furnace may occur.

• Air Leaks in Your Home

Air leaks in your home cause problems with your furnace’s performance and affects the heating dispersed throughout your home. Air leaks in your home can be found in several places, such as around windows, doors, recessed lighting, attic hatches, and even in your ductwork. A technician will inspect your ductwork for any air leaks during a preventative maintenance call. If air leaks in your home are found via the ducts, they will either be sealed, or the damaged section will be replaced.

• Moldy HVAC System

A moist climate can cause problems inside your HVAC system regardless of the season. Even in the winter, moisture can build up, and mold will begin to grow in your heating system. Douglas Cooling & Heating’ technicians will inspect your whole unit and determine if you have mold inside your unit or the air ducts during maintenance. When mold is found, we will eliminate the mold and properly insulate and seal leaky ducts to prevent mold growth in the future.

• Blower Continuously Runs

If you notice that your blower is continuously running, you might have a problem with your limit switch. The best way to handle a blower problem is to call a professional to have the switch replaced and have your furnace inspected for other issues that might cause your blower to run non-stop.

• Furnace Is Too Noisy

Furnaces aren’t always quiet, but they shouldn’t make squeaking, squealing, rumbling, or rattling noises while operating. If you hear these noises, contact Douglas Cooling & Heating immediately! These sounds indicate something needs to be diagnosed quickly, such as a mechanical problem, clogged burner, or airflow obstructions.

• Malfunctioning Thermostat

A faulty thermostat will give false readings, causing problems with your furnace’s performance and leading to cold spots in your home. During a maintenance call, your thermostat is checked to make sure it is communicating correctly with your furnace, and the settings are checked to ensure your home comfortable in every room. If an issue is detected during service, our NATE-certified technicians will offer suggestions to resolve the problem.

• High Energy Bills

Energy bills that spike point directly to your furnace and other heating equipment’s efficiency. There are several reasons why your energy bill might be high, which is why maintenance is so important for your HVAC system. A professional will inspect your unit for potential problems and keep your system operating at its highest efficiency. Douglas Cooling & Heating will keep your system functioning longer and operating efficiently during the coldest time of year!

Keep problems with your furnace at a minimum this winter and schedule preventative maintenance with Douglas Cooling & Heating! Our technicians are the best in the industry through NATE-certifications, experience, and continued learning. We want you to keep warm by avoiding unexpected heating repairs!

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Fresh indoor air is improved with either a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) or an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) installation, but deciding which is best for your home and current HVAC system can be confusing. Understand the difference between the two to make a wise investment for your home and indoor air quality.

What Do They Do and How Do They Work:

Ventilators are used to pull fresh air into a home while pulling stale air back out.  The fresh air is typically delivered to the living room or bedrooms, and the stale air is removed from the laundry room, bathrooms, and at times, the kitchen. Both ERVs and HRVs reduce stress on your HVAC system, which boosts your unit’s efficiency and life expectancy. Ventilators help your home and HVAC system by:

• Lowering your humidity levels indoors
• Removing odors and fumes from your indoor air
• Diluting indoor air pollution inside your home
• Providing enough fresh air to keep your family healthy

Heat Recovery Ventilator Installation:

A heat recovery ventilator installation pulls both fresh air and stale air from your home through its core, transferring the majority of the heat from the warmer exhaust air to the incoming cooler air. The HRV uses a heat exchanger that prevents the two air streams from mixing. During the hotter months, the warm air coming in is cooled by the air conditioning inside, and during the colder months, the heat from indoors is transferred to the cold fresh air coming in. The HRV recovers lost energy while providing your home with fresh air and exhausting stale air without mixing the two types of air.

Heat Recovery Ventilators are best for:

• Homes where humidity is lower during the warm months
• Small homes with colder climates and more occupants

Energy Recovery Ventilator Installation:

Installing an ERV does the same thing as a heat recovery ventilator, but it also transfers moisture to and from the air depending on the season. The air streams have to mix slightly for the moisture to be pulled from one stream and added to the other but the cross-contamination rate is usually below 10% and is barely noticed. This type of ventilator is commonly used in warmer climates where humidity is an issue. Just be aware, an ERV is not a dehumidifier. It just helps transfer moisture not reduce moisture in your indoor air as a whole-home dehumidifier does.

An energy recovery ventilator installation is best for:

• Humid climates where the ERVs can transfer moisture during the cooling season
• Large homes with fewer occupants in colder climates

How To Decide:

If you live in an area where the climate is well-balanced, either ventilator will work well for your home. The most important factor for the ventilator you choose is the installation. You should hire a licensed professional who knows the ins and outs of both types of ventilators and which will be the best for your current HVAC system. Douglas Cooling & Heating employs only the best technicians who are NATE-certified, experienced, and knowledgeable about the latest technological advancements in the HVAC industry.

If you aren’t 100% sure which ventilator is right for you, call the professionals at Douglas Cooling & Heating! We will help you decide which ventilator is best for you and your current HVAC system. Whether it’s a heat recovery ventilator installation or an energy recovery ventilator installation, our NATE-certified professionals will fill your home with fresher air in no time!

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Across the United States, homeowners are seeking ways to maximize efficiency with their heating and cooling systems. Your HVAC system is the biggest energy hog in your home, consuming up to half of your energy used every year. Central air and heat conservation can be achieved with a few simple changes in your home.

Upgrade Your Thermostat

Manual thermostats aren’t just outdated; they are a huge reason why your heating and cooling system wastes so much energy. Upgrading your thermostat to a programmable or smart thermostat drastically improves your HVAC’s energy consumption. Advanced thermostats allow you to set specific temperatures during the day while the house is empty. Depending on the season, you can adjust your thermostat up or down while you sleep, which cuts back your energy usage tremendously. Programmable thermostats allow you to program settings for when you are away, asleep, or on vacation. Upgrading your thermostat creates a more environmentally safe HVAC system in your home.

HVAC Maintenance

Another way to improve your central air and heat conservation at home is to schedule maintenance with an HVAC contractor near you. Regular HVAC maintenance ensures your system is performing at its optimum efficiency and inspects the unit for future problems. A trusted HVAC contractor near you is Douglas Cooling & Heating, offering affordable maintenance plans. Our preventative maintenance is performed by the best NATE-certified technicians in the industry.

Air Filter Replacement

A standard maintenance item is changing the air filter in your system. A dirty filter decreases airflow in your system, forcing your HVAC unit to work harder than necessary and waste more energy in the process. When a filter becomes clogged, dust and other particles build up inside your HVAC system, causing mechanical failures and decreased performance. A small thing like the air filter affects the lifespan of your unit, its energy consumption, and overall performance. Clogged air filters are the leading cause of heating and cooling failures.

Seal Your Ducts

Another way to create an environmentally safe HVAC system is to have your ducts sealed by a professional. You can lose up to 30% in energy through cracks and holes in your ductwork. An HVAC contractor near you can inspect your ducts, vents, and registers for any leaks. Improving your central air and heat conservation, sealing those leaks will improve your airflow and prevent wasted energy.

Invest in a New HVAC System

If you are in the market for the best way to control your home’s energy use, considering installing a new heating and cooling system. As HVAC systems age, they lose efficiency and cost you more money on your energy bill and repairs. Just make sure, whatever system you choose, it’s correctly sized for your home. When a system is too small, it repeatedly cycles on and off, causing increased energy consumption.

New systems are far more efficient than older units but to really “go green” with a new system, install an ENERGY STAR certified heating and cooling unit. An ENERGY STAR system can save you up to 50% on your energy consumption. You may even qualify for a tax credit depending on where you live. Regardless of the system you install, make sure it has a high SEER rating, EER rating, and HSPF rating for the best energy efficiency.

Create an environmentally safe HVAC system in your home with maintenance and a programmable thermostat. For the best central air and heat conservation methods, contact Douglas Cooling & Heating! We know how to lower your energy usage and save you money in the long run.

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