DB Heating & Cooling, Inc. Blog : Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

When to Schedule Boiler Repair

Tuesday, December 17th, 2013

One of the reasons that boilers have remained perennially popular as a way to heat homes is that they have a remarkable durability. Because boilers use only a few moving mechanical parts, they resist the wear and tear that systems such as furnaces and heat pumps encounter. With the proper care, boilers can last a full generation with only a few repair needs.

Repairs, however, sometimes are necessary, even with a boiler that receives regular preventive maintenance. No matter how hardy a boiler you have, you need to schedule repairs for it the moment it shows any sign that it needs them. Here’s a list of times when you should definitely call for boiler repair in Bergen County, NJ. Contact DB Heating & Cooling for fast service, any time of the day or night.

You notice corrosion or rust on the tank or other components

Boilers have precautions against corrosion, such as a anode rod atop the tank. But rust and corrosion can still occur in the system, and if you see signs of rust on the outside of the tank or on any of the exterior components, you need to have the issue addressed immediately. Likely, the corrosion has started to develop elsewhere, and it needs to be stopped and remedied before you are forced to replace the whole tank.

You discover leaking

Leaking of any kind from your boiler—from pipes, connectors, valves, under the tank—means a serious problem is occurring. There are a number of causes for leaks, but all of them require repairs as soon as possible.

You hear rumbling noises from the tank

Boilers operate quietly; it’s another one of their advantages. So any strange, loud noises are usually a sign of a malfunction. The most alarming noise is a rumbling sound from the water tank. This could be from a mixing of cold water with hot water because of a leaky valve, or it might be the water overheating. Call for repairs to discover the cause and fix it before greater damage occurs.

Make sure you get the long life from your boiler that you should. Don’t hesitate about scheduling repairs, and don’t rely on amateur work. Contact DB Heating & Cooling: we are fully insured and EPA-certified, and our technicians have the knowledge to get your boiler back to its regular operation. We are here for all your needs for boiler repair in Bergen County, NJ.

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How Can I Keep My Heater as Reliable as Possible?

Monday, December 9th, 2013

To make it through a New Jersey winter, you need to have a heating system you can depend on to keep you warm without malfunctions or abrupt shutdowns. There are few things worse than having to spend a few chilly hours waiting for repair technicians to come to your home (on a day when they are likely already busy with numerous emergency calls) to service a broken heater.

We have some tips on how you can help your heater work reliably for you during this winter season. For more assistance with your heating system, including expert repairs and maintenance, contact DB Heating & Cooling—24 hours a day, 7 days of the week.

Tips for reliable heating in Waldwick, NJ

  • Schedule repairs the moment you need them: If you notice a minor malfunction in your heating system—a few cold rooms, a strange noise from your furnace cabinet, rust spots on your boiler, or odd smells from the vents—don’t simply shrug it off or delay repairs until something more serious occurs. Trust to our experience in this field: the problem will not get better on its own. Your heater will soon start to develop far worse troubles if you don’t have the issue repaired professionally.
  • Prevent your heater from overworking: The best way to stop your heater from developing the stress that will lead to breakdowns is to make sure your house is well-insulated with all potential heat leaks sealed (weather stripping around doors, windows caulked, effective attic insulation). The better your house traps heat, the less work the heater will need to do to maintain a comfortable temperature. Also refrain from turning the thermostat up too high: keep in mind that the thermostat is a switch, not a throttle, so turning the heat up to 90°F won’t warm your home faster; it will make the heater work longer to reach the target temperature. Keep the thermostat set to lower temperatures, such as 68°F, and put on an extra layer of clothes.
  • Schedule regular preventive maintenance: Your heater needs to receive annual check-ups to see that all its components are working properly and not suffering from too much wear or possible repair needs. During maintenance, a technician will tune-up your heater so that it will continue to perform efficiently, and also make any repairs necessary to ward off possible malfunctions and breakdowns. Routine maintenance is the surest way to keep your heater reliable.

DB Heating & Cooling offers maintenance programs customized for each home; we’ll find the best way to protect your heating in Waldwick, NJ all through the winter. We can also take care of any repairs, whether preventive or emergency, to make your house warm and cozy once more.

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High Pressure Levels and Boiler Repair

Monday, December 2nd, 2013

One of the advantages of having a boiler to keep you warm is that it rarely needs repairs. Boilers contain few mechanical parts that can wear down, so the standard wear-and-tear most machines suffer over time happens slower for boilers. But boilers do have a specific repair and maintenance issue that sometimes crops up: leaks. Leaking not only threatens the boiler’s operation, it threatens construction material and can lead to the growth of mildew and other bacteria. When leaking starts in your boiler, you need to have professionals fix the trouble as soon as possible.

The professionals will also track down the cause for the leaking. There are a number of reasons leaks might start, such as corrosion and improper connections from poor installation. In this post, we’ll talk about a common cause for leaks that will require you to get boiler repair: high water pressure.

Call DB Heating & Cooling when you require effective boiler repair in Westwood, NJ. We have 24-hour emergency services to solve your problem promptly.

Reasons for high pressure

Your boiler maintains even water pressure through a number of precautions, such as an expansion tank and a pressure release valve. A malfunction with either can cause the pressure in the water to mount. Sometimes, homeowners accidentally block the pressure relief valve; make sure you haven’t moved anything to obstruct it. (The valve is a pipe located at the bottom of the boiler tank.)

High pressure can often start because of sediment entering the water tank. Breaks in underground pipes can lead to dirt and sand infiltrating the tank and settling along the bottom. If this continues, the layer of sediment will decrease the available space in the tank—and this will cause the water to overheat and spike in pressure. A boiler technician will need to flush out the system to get rid of the detritus.

If you have trouble with hard water in your home, it can have a negative impact on the boiler and cause a pressure increase. Limescale from the hard water will develop along the inside of the tank. Because limescale acts as an insulator trapping heat inside the boiler, the balance inside the tank will change and cause a rise in pressure. Regular maintenance visits will help keep the tank de-scaled.

Regardless of the reason for the high pressure, it will begin to trigger serious damage to the pipes in the boiler’s system, causing leaks to spring up in numerous places. Only proper, skilled repairs can fix the leaks and the cause for the rise in pressure in the first place.

Trust to DB Heating & Cooling to help you with boiler repair in Westwood, NJ. We charge by the job, not by the hour, so you will always know what the work will cost before we start.

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3 Reasons a Boiler May Be the Way to Go

Monday, November 18th, 2013

If it’s time to pick a new heating system to install in your home, don’t let yourself feel too intimidated at the number of options available. The more choices you have, the more likely that there’s one among them that will ideally fit your home, budget, and heating requirements.

“But wait,” you’re thinking, “doesn’t more choices mean I’m also more likely to get the wrong heating system?” That’s a reasonable concern—but you can reduce the chance of making a wrong choice if you have HVAC experts helping you. DB Heating & Cooling is available to assist you when it comes to picking the heater installation that will provide you with the satisfaction you crave.

One heating option we often suggest to our customers is the boiler. Here are 3 reasons we often recommend boiler installation in Oradell, NJ:

1. Fewer repair needs = long lifespan

Because boilers operate through the circulation of hot water around your home, they do not as complicated as furnaces and heat pumps. Most heating troubles happen because of damage and wear to moving parts, so boilers usually have fewer malfunctions that require emergency repair calls in the middle of the night. This reduced wear and tear also means boilers last longer than most other heaters. A boiler that receives proper care should outlast any other heating option you might have installed in your home.

2. Quiet operation

Boilers make almost no noise when they run: no compressors, no motors, no fans to create noise pollution in your home.

3. Clean heat

Boilers provide warmth by sending heated water to radiators and baseboard heaters, raising their temperature. Heat then radiates into your living spaces from these objects. Boilers don’t require forced air or ductwork the way furnaces and heat pumps do, and that means you get heat without dust or other airborne contaminants. This makes boilers ideal for homes with pets or people with allergies.

However, before you run out and purchase a boiler, we need to remind you that every house is different, as is every family. Although boilers are excellent systems that will suit many homes, your home might not be among them. The best way to know you will get the right system is to seek the advice of heating specialists.

DB Heating & Cooling can find out if a boiler installation in Oradell, NJ will suit you. We will then find you the right model and install it so it will work for many years keeping you and your loved ones comfy and safe inside your home. We also offer regular maintenance to help see that your boiler has the longest service life possible.

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Does Rust Necessitate Boiler Repair?

Monday, November 11th, 2013

Rust is the main enemy of the integrity of metal. Any place where metal comes into contact with water there exists a risk of rust developing from oxidation. Rust eats away at metal, making it flaky and weak, eventually leading to its disintegration.

As you might imagine, rust poses a threat to the boiler in your home, since your boiler operates through heating and pumping water through your living spaces. Fortunately, the danger from rust and other corrosion in your boiler is minimal if you make sure that it receives regular maintenance. A special anode rod on the top of your boiler helps prevent rust from infiltrating the tank, and as long as this rod gets replaced regularly before it corrodes through completely, you should have few worries about rust weakening your boiler and causing leaks.

However, if rust does start to afflict your boiler, does this mean you need to get a replacement? Not necessarily—but you will at the very least need professional repairs. For high quality boiler repair in Bergen County, NJ, look to DB Heating & Cooling.

If the rust on your boiler is minor and superficial, professionals can usually remove it with ease. The professionals can then inspect the boiler to make certain that the problem won’t immediately return. However, even if the rust contamination seems extensive, it might only require replacing the coils and mounting plates on the boiler—these are the areas that are usually first hit with corrosion.

However, extreme rusting on a boiler’s tank—especially a very old boiler—may require replacing the water tank entirely. Make sure you get a technician to look over the extent of the corrosion damage on your boiler so you’ll have an informed opinion about whether you need repairs or a complete replacement of the tank.

You should take the appearance of rust on your boiler seriously: even if it looks minor, it won’t stay that way. The rust will continue until your boiler starts to spring leaks—and you definitely don’t want a leaking boiler in your home! Get repairs done as soon as you can not only to remove the rust but to determine what faults in your system caused it in the first place.

DB Heating & Cooling can handle your needs for boiler repair in Bergen County, NJ. With our 24-hour emergency services, you never have to worry about getting the repairs done as soon as you need them.

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Make Your Heating Installation in Waldwick a Success: Pros and Cons of Common Heaters

Monday, November 4th, 2013

Heating installation in Waldwick, NJ is more than a matter of picking something out of a catalogue. New Jersey winters can be very cold, and the heater you install will play a vital role in keeping you warm and cozy when the snows fall. Your decision will stay with you for many years to come, so you want to find the right heater to suit your needs. A trained professional can advise you on the right size of heater for your home and the kind of extra features you may want, such as zone control systems and programmable thermostat. But heaters come in several different types, and it’s important that you have the right one to fit your particular needs. In order to help make your heating installation in Waldwick a success, here’s a brief rundown on the pros and cons of common heaters:

  • Furnaces. Furnaces are usually a forced-air” system, which first heats the air and then distributes it to your home via a series of ducts. They’re very efficient and can heat homes quickly, and are relatively inexpensive to install, especially if you already have ducts in your home.
  • Boilers. Unlike furnaces, boilers don’t blow air around. Instead, they heat water, which then heats your home through a set of pipes and radiators. They tend to be more expensive to install, but they last a long time and require less maintenance than furnaces. They also don’t circulate air, which means they can avoid some indoor air quality issues that might occur with a forced air system and they make less noise.
  • Heat pumps. Heat pumps combine the features of a heater and an air conditioner: transferring heat out of the home in the summer time and transferring it inside the wintertime. They are extremely convenient and they heat efficiently. However, they don’t do well in very cold weather, and need to auxiliary heat to keep your home warm on colder winter days.

For more on the pros and cons of common heaters, or to set up an installation schedule, contact the experts at DB Heating & Cooling. We’ll make your heating installation in Waldwick a success!

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Why is My Living Room Colder Than the Rest of the House?

Monday, October 28th, 2013

Westwood, NJ heating issues are compounded not only by our cold New Jersey winters, but by the fact that we have many larger and older houses within our city limits. This can create unique heating issues that some homeowners may struggle to resolve.“Why is my living room colder than the rest of the house?” The answers may vary depending on the kind of house you have.

In the first place, heat rises, which means the upper stories of your home tend to be warmer than the lower stories when you run the heat. Since living rooms tend to be located on the ground floor, it stands to reason that they would not be as warm as a bedroom or similar top-story room.

A more serious issue may arise with the ducts that distribute the warm air to the rooms in your home. If you live in an older house, the ducts in your home are probably older too, which means they are more susceptible to leaks and other damage. If the warm air is leaking out before reaching your rooms, this can cause cold spots in your home. If your living room suddenly became colder, the problem may also be a blockage in the ducts. Dirt and dust can build up, and there may even be blockage deeper in the system which diverts the hot air to other parts of your house. A trained professional can hunt down the problem and restore the ducts to their proper functioning.

If you’re asking “why is my living room colder than the rest of the house?” call the professionals at DB Heating & Cooling for help. We handle Westwood, NJ heating systems of all varieties, and stand ready to address issues of drafts, cold spots and rooms where your heating is less than perfect. Call us to set up an appointment today.

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Emerson, NJ Boiler Repair Guide: Hissing from Your Boiler

Monday, October 21st, 2013

If your home has a boiler keeping you warm during the chilly months, then you probably haven’t noticed them at work that often. There’s a good reason for this: boilers run with minimum noise. They are one of the quietest home comfort systems on the market. You don’t have to deal with the thumping and whooshing sounds of a furnace when you’ve got a boiler.

When a boiler does make an unexpected sound, you need to look into it. Boilers rarely need repairs because they have few moving parts, but not even the most advanced model is invulnerable. If you hear a hissing sound coming from your boiler, it might be time to schedule repairs. Hire experienced technicians to handle boiler repair in Emerson, NJ. DB Heating & Cooling can make sure to cure your boiler of whatever ails it.

The main reason for a hissing boiler is overheating. There are a number of different causes for this that you might need to investigate. One is an increase in limescale inside the tank. Limescale can result from having water with excess calcium and magnesium in it. Having scale removed can be a large task that will need expert work from a technician.

Fortunately, the other main reason for overheating, a buildup of silt at the bottom of the tank, is a simpler fix. Dirt and sand and sometimes enter the boiler tank through breaks in pipes or at loose connections. The silt gathers at the bottom of the tank, and the reduction of space inside will cause the tank’s water to overheat. Get a professional to flush the system, and this should take care of the problem. Scheduling regular maintenance will help prevent this in the future—and it will help with preventing limescale as well.

A jammed circulator pump might also cause hissing in a boiler. This sometimes happens at the start of the heating season because the inactive boiler has picked up corrosion and rust on the pump. A professional should also have little problem fixing this.

If you hear your boiler hissing, please do not become overly anxious: it’s unlikely your boiler is about to explode. However, this does require attention before the boiler sustains further damage and stops working entirely. You don’t want to lose all those fantastic benefits of a boiler right when you need them the most! Look for boiler repair in Emerson, NJ from DB Heating & Cooling.

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Westwood, NJ Heating Guide: What Is a Thermocouple?

Monday, October 14th, 2013

If you’ve taken an interest in how heating your Westwood, NJ home works, you may have come across the term “thermocouple” and heard that it’s an important part of your system. What exactly does this component do?

We’ll try to give you an answer to this question while avoiding too much heavy tech-talk. If you want more information about how thermocouples operate and why they are important to your home heating, contact a professional company like DB Heating & Cooling.

Thermocouples are small devices that determine heat levels. The principle behind their operation is deceptively simple. They are made up of two different pieces of metal that are joined at one end. The dissimilar metals produce higher voltage as the heat around them increases. This occurs because of the “Seebeck Effect,” discovered in 1821. The different metal types vary based on the temperature range they are intended to record. If hooked up to a computerized system, the voltage is translated into a temperature reading. Thermocouples can therefore serve as a guide to machines that require temperature readings in order to operate.

Thermocouples have numerous industrial and scientific uses. In the home, thermocouples are occasionally found in thermostats, but not often any more. The main use you’ll have for thermocouples is if you have a gas-powered heater, where they serve an important safety function. A thermocouple determines if the pilot light is burning. Should a pilot light shut off, unburned gas can begin to build up in the combustion chamber and become a hazard. However, if the thermocouple detects the pilot light has gone out, the voltage to the gas supply valve will cease and the valve will close, preventing this issue.

Because the thermocouple does a vital job in preventing gas build-up, its failure can become a serious issue. Although thermocouples are small, they aren’t something you should try to replace yourself: you are, after all, dealing with flame, voltage, and a flammable gas. You will also not know the proper type of thermocouple to get. If you suspect a problem with your gas-powered heater, no matter if it’s a thermocouple or a break in the line, call in a professional HVAC technician to take care of the matter. Do not risk your own safety.

DB Heating & Cooling offers 24-hour emergency service, so give us a call anytime you think you have a problem with your heating system in Westwood, NJ!

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Is a Boiler Installation in Waldwick the Right Option for You?

Monday, October 7th, 2013

Boilers have been around for hundreds of years, and they are still a popular choice for home heating, and for very good reasons.

A boiler might be the best choice for a new heating system in your home. We’ll share some of the advantages of boilers to help you with your decision.

However, don’t make a choice like this on your own. Because of the unique requirements of each home, no “one-size-fits-all” heating option exists. If you want help figuring out whether a boiler installation in Waldwick, NJ will give you the best results possible, call up the technicians at DB Heating & Cooling today.

  • One of the first things to keep in mind about boilers is that they can run off different fuel sources. The most common are electricity, natural gas, and oil. The type of boiler you get will probably depend on what fuel your home currently uses.
  • A major advantage that boilers have is that, unlike heat pumps and furnaces, they contain few moving parts. Boilers will therefore need fewer repairs and have longer lifespans than other systems. Because they don’t use forced air to send heat around your home—instead channeling hot water to radiators or baseboard heaters—they offer cleaner air. The spread of heat is also more even than that of furnaces.
  • Modern boilers operate quietly; most of the noise comes from the burner under the tank, which is usually far from your living space.
  • There are some important savings associated with boilers as well: they cost less to install initially than most heaters, and gas-powered boilers have high energy-efficiency ratings.
  • However, boilers do take longer to provide heat than furnaces or heat pumps, since they have to heat up water first.

Make sure to have a professional advise you about boiler installation. A heat load calculation done on your home will help you find out about your specific needs, and if a boiler will meet them.

DB Heating & Cooling installs some of the top brands of boilers in homes throughout Bergen County. For your Waldwick, NJ boiler installation, look no further than our staff of HVAC experts to give you the quality work you want.

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