With the summer heat already baking the countryside, you’re probably using your heat pump on a fairly regular basis to keep cool. All that added demand over the next few months is going to increase the amount of wear and tear on your heat pump significantly. If you want to keep the system healthy, and lower the chances of it developing problems by a pretty significant amount, there is one major step you can take to prepare for summer: preventive maintenance. Just scheduling maintenance consistently every year can cut your repair costs significantly, and extend the effective lifespan of the system.
The Single Most Important Thing You can do for Your Heat Pump
June 26th, 2017Douglas Cooling & Heating Has Been Given the Expertise Award!
June 21st, 2017
We are proud to report that Douglas Cooling & Heating has officially been awarded the Expertise Award for being the Best HVAC Professionals in Birmingham 2017! Expertise.com is a site dedicated to providing information on the best professional contractors in each U.S. city to customers, so that they can make informed decisions about who to hire for various projects. The site conducts extensive research on each company they rate, grading them on over 25 variables under criteria like “Professionalism” and “Reputation.”
We are very pleased and honored to have been recognized by Expertise as the best HVAC professionals in Birmingham. Our professional technicians have earned this award for us, with the expertise they’ve garnered by working in the field since 1972. If you want to take advantage of our expertise, contact us today!
Air Conditioning Issues That can Lead to Replacement
June 12th, 2017
Summer is the time of year when air conditioners are most likely to develop problems, as they are placed under an increased amount of strain compared to the rest of the year. Some of these problems are inconvenient, while others are a serious threat to the health of the system. As you rely on your air conditioner to stay cool on a daily basis, you should be especially vigilant for these serious issues. Let’s have a look at some of these problems, and the symptoms they produce.
Signs That You Need to Install a New Water Heater
May 29th, 2017
If you’re careful about scheduling regular maintenance, and prompt repairs, you can get a fair few years out of your water heater. No system will last forever, though, and sooner or later you’ll have to replace the system. It’s best to familiarize yourself with the typical warning symptoms that your water heater is getting close to the end of its life, so that you can replace it before it breaks down entirely. Let’s have a look at some of those warning signs now.
Air Conditioning Options to Consider This Spring
May 15th, 2017
Spring is almost over, and the weather is already starting to get quite warm on a daily basis. If you’re not already relying on your air conditioner to keep cool during the daylight hours, you will be soon. For many of us, getting our air conditioners ready for the added heat of summer just means scheduling preventive maintenance. For some of us, though, now is the time to install an entirely new air conditioner. If your air conditioning system just can’t keep up with demand anymore, you should consider one of the following options to replace it.
Some Frequently Asked Questions Here At Douglas Cooling & Heating
May 2nd, 2017WHAT IS THE AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF EQUIPMENT?
Most systems have a lifetime of 10 to 20 years. As your equipment gets older, it’s efficiency can decrease dramatically. You may notice that it gets noisier and needs repairs more often. When a unit begins to show it’s age, you have two choices. You can overhaul the system or replace it. Because heating and cooling technologies improve over time, a new system designed with newer, more energy-efficient equipment makes sense, especially if your system is 10 or more years old. We can estimate the cost of a new system as well as a payback schedule that will show you how newer technology will pay you back in lower energy usage.
CAN I JUST REPLACE THE OUTDOOR UNIT ON AN OLDER SYSTEM TO SAVE MONEY?
No. Replacing only the outdoor unit will lower the efficiency of the unit. In fact, you can lose up to 15% of the unit’s efficiency! Even worse, your system may fail sooner than normal and most manufacturers’ warranties will be voided. You should always replace the indoor cooling coil with the outdoor unit.
WILL A BIGGER SIZED SYSTEM PERFORM BETTER?
No, you don’t want your air conditioner to be too big. Air conditioners control the comfort level in your home by cooling the air and by removing humidity. An oversized air conditioner will cool your home faster, but it will use more energy and will not remove humidity adequately.
A unit that is too big for your home will have short run cycles. It may take only a short time to cool the air, but the unit shuts off before enough air blows across the indoor coil where moisture condenses into water and drains from your system. Too much moisture left in the air can lead to mold and mildew problems.
These short-run cycles also mean your system starts and stops more often which uses more energy and causes a lot of wear and tear. An air conditioner operates more efficiently during long run cycles.
The same holds true for heating systems. An oversized furnace will warm the house quicker, but it uses more fuel and causes greater temperature swings in the home.
WHY IS A SYSTEM WITH MATCHED COMPONENTS SO IMPORTANT?
A matched system is important for a variety of reasons. One is comfort. When all your components are properly sized to your home, you can control exactly how much heating or cooling you need so you can relax. Also, a properly sized matched system enables every component to perform as designed, meaning proper cycle times are maintained, humidity is controlled, and system sound is minimized.
Another reason matched systems are important is efficiency. Most systems people buy are too large for their homes, which uses more energy than needed for your home. A matched system outlined by a dealer who has completed a load calculation for your home provides just the right amount of heating and cooling you need so you get the most value for your utility dollar.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CHANGE MY AIR FILTER?
At the risk of telling you something you’re tired of hearing, replace the air filter in your furnace on a regular basis. Dirty air filters reduce the amount of air flowing through a system and make the furnace work harder to maintain the temperature. How often you change the filter depends on the type of filter you use, if you have pets, and the size of your equipment. Please give us a call and we can give you proper guidance.
WHY SHOULD I SWITCH TO A HIGH-EFFICIENCY AIR FILTER?
Proper air filtration is just as important to the health of your heating and cooling system as it is to the health of your family. Without proper filtration, dust and dirt can build up on your system which impacts operation and efficiency. A high-efficiency filter will remove more dust, dirt, pollen, mold, and other particles from the air. If you suffer from allergies or other respiratory problems, you should strongly consider a high-efficiency filter. No matter what type of filter you have – make sure you change it regularly.
SHOULD I HAVE MY FURNACE AND AIR CONDITIONER SERVICED EVERY YEAR?
Yes. Keeping your system properly maintained will lower energy and repair costs, prevent breakdowns, and prolong the life of your equipment. Neglecting necessary maintenance ensures a steady decline in air conditioning performance while energy use steadily increases.
WHY SHOULD I PURCHASE A SERVICE AGREEMENT?
Without warranty coverage, a breakdown can mean significant expense in parts, labor, or both. However, with one of our service agreements, you avoid that unexpected significant expense. While no warranty can guard against every possible problem, we can explain the broad range of protection our service agreements afford.
HOW CAN I REDUCE ALLERGENS AND IMPROVE THE AIR QUALITY IN MY HOME?
With a high-efficiency air cleaner, you can remove up to 99% of the pollen and spores that find their way into the home. There is also a great reduction in household dust, dirt, smoke, and other air pollutants. Your indoor air will become cleaner and fresher while reducing the allergens and dust that circulate throughout the house. With a whole house humidifier, you can relieve the irritating discomfort of dry indoor air. The humidifier reduces itchy skin, scratchy throats, static electricity, and damage to your furnishings and woodwork. Since humid air feels warmer than dry air, you do not have to set the thermostat as high to feel the comfort you want. A lower thermostat setting will reduce the costs of your energy bill.
Tips for Reducing Energy Costs
May 2nd, 2017Energy costs getting a little too high? Here are some tips that will help you save on your next bill.
Cooling
- Upgrade to a high-efficiency air conditioner – Swapping your old, inefficient air conditioning system for a high-efficient one can cut electricity bills by one-third. Consult one of our professional technicians to ensure your system is the right size for your home, and you aren’t over- or under-cooling for your space needs.
- Turn up the temperature – To save electricity during the summer, set the temperature above 75° as every degree below this will add an extra three to five percent to your energy bill.
- Install ceiling fans – Change the direction of airflow on your ceiling fans. In the summer, the blades should operate in a counter-clockwise direction as a way of creating a nice, gentle wind.
- Have an annual maintenance performed – Having an annual maintenance performed on your air conditioner by a licensed technician will help ensure it operates at its peak efficiency and catches any potential breakdowns before they occur.
- Don’t block vents in well-used rooms – Keep your supply and return air vents free of objects like blinds, carpets or furniture so your air conditioner can operate efficiently and there is even cool air distribution.
Heating
- Upgrade to a high-efficiency furnace – New high-efficiency furnaces use up to 50% less fuel than an older system. It can save you up to 25 per cent of your home-heating costs in one year, and within a few years, you’ll have recovered the initial cost of replacing/upgrading your furnace. Choosing a model with an energy efficient motor can save 20 to 50 percent of the energy needed to continuously operate a fan motor. Let us show you the advantages of replacing your old furnace today.
- Have an annual maintenance performed – Having an annual maintenance performed on your furnace by a licensed technician will help ensure it operates at its peak efficiency and catches any potential breakdowns before they occur.
- Install a programmable thermostat – A programmable thermostat enables you to control your home’s temperature when you’re away or asleep. For every 1° you lower your thermostat for seven hours per day, you save one percent on your heating bill.
- Don’t block vents in well-used rooms – Keep your supply and return air vents free of objects like blinds, carpets or furniture so your furnace can operate efficiently and there is even heat distribution.
- Install ceiling fans – Change the direction of airflow on your ceiling fans. In the winter, the blades should operate in a clockwise direction helping to push the warm air from the ceiling down into the room.
Douglas Cooling & Heating offers multiple options and products that can help you reduce costs. Contact us today for more information!
Why Now is a Great Time to Install a New Heat Pump
May 1st, 2017
Typically, spring is the time of year when people schedule preventive maintenance for their climate control systems. For some people, though, now is the time to replace an old system that just isn’t capable of getting them through another summer. If you’re on the market for a new climate control system, you should consider installing a heat pump this spring. You’ll get a lot of benefits out of it, both during the summer and throughout the year.
Why You Should Consider Installing a Whole House Generator
April 17th, 2017
We’re right smack in the middle of tornado season, which means that you might be experiencing some power outages over the next couple of months. That’s probably pretty far down your list of concerns in the middle of a tornado, but keeping the lights on in the event of a power outage is still an important thing to consider. If you have to cope with power outages in your home multiple times a year, a whole house generator might be the perfect solution for you.
Common Electrical Issues, and Their Warning Signs
April 3rd, 2017
Of all the many problems that can afflict various parts of your home, electrical problems are perhaps the most dangerous. A plumbing problem can inflict a lot of water damage, but an electrical problem can cause electrocutions and house fires. It’s vital that you have an electrician check the wiring in your home at least once every few years. Otherwise, you’re substantially increasing the likelihood that a problem will occur.
Even with regular maintenance appointments, though, there’s still a chance that an electrical problem can occur in your home. You should be familiar with some of the telltale signs of an electrical problem, so that you can contact an electrician as soon as possible.
