DB Heating & Cooling, Inc. Blog

Are Those High Utility Bills a Sign Your Heater Is in Trouble? 

February 6th, 2023

house-with-dollar-bills-up-the-chimney

You are worried about looking at your monthly utility bills because they’ve started to have scary larger numbers after the dollar sign. Sometimes you can’t avoid higher costs on utilities, but this is a case where those higher costs are much more than the usual bump you expect during winter. You’re wondering about the cause of the increase … and an idea comes to mind: is your heating system malfunctioning?

That’s a sensible line of thinking. Your home’s heater accounts for a large amount of the energy you use during the winter. Even small malfunctions that don’t cause the heater to lose any heating output can create additional strain that forces the heating system to work harder. Let’s look at some of the possibilities below. 

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Top Signs Your Boiler Needs Repairs ASAP! 

January 9th, 2023

boiler-residential

You want to make it through another frigid winter in New Jersey in comfort inside your home. That requires your boiler to work in good condition. If you remembered to have maintenance done for it during the fall, then you should have few worries. (And if you haven’t scheduled this important boiler service in Bergen County, NJ, it’s still not too late! It needs to be done once a year, even if it’s late.)

But nothing can prevent all boiler problems, so we recommend you keep an eye and ear out for signs that your boiler needs repair work. The sooner you catch the trouble, the easier it will be to fix and the less likely you’ll find yourself trapped with a boiler that won’t work at all!

Here are some common warning signs of a boiler that needs help from our technicians:

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Why You Have a Furnace That Shuts Off Too Soon

December 5th, 2022

Any homeowner in New Jersey needs to have a powerful heating system to get through the winters. In most cases, that heating system is a gas furnace, which is the most common type of residential heater found in homes across the country. Gas furnaces are energy efficient, powerful, and reliable. Of course, no heating system can be 100% reliable, and in this post we’re going to look at one furnace issue you may have—a furnace that keeps shutting down early before it can evenly warm your house.

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3 Signs Your Heater Needs Repair

November 14th, 2022

technician-working-on-furnace

Nobody likes to spend unnecessary money right before the holiday season, let alone any time of the year. The fact of the matter is though, some things come as a surprise and force you to spend money before you were ready to. Heating system repairs are one of those things that can come as a surprise. Whether it’s a loose component, damaged ductwork, or worn-down motor bearings, heating repair needs are never fun.

However, knowing the warning signs that you have a small problem and calling our team right away is much better than waiting for the problem to grow, making it a bigger and more expensive problem right in the middle of the holiday season. Read on to learn a few of these signs!

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What Happens During Heating Maintenance?

October 17th, 2022

technician-working-on-furnaceIf you’ve followed our blog for very long, you’ve probably seen us talk about the importance of routine professional maintenance. Maintenance helps both your air conditioner and your heating system, or heat pump, work as effectively and efficiently as possible for as long as possible. Without maintenance, you could struggle with frequent repair needs, inefficient system operation, and a shorter equipment lifespan.

Even more problems can crop up if you have a gas-powered system, which can become harmful if not properly cared for due to components such as heat exchangers and gas lines that could theoretically become damaged.

But we also know how easy it can be to brush off a service you don’t seem to need right now. Especially if you don’t know what actually happens during this service.

We’re here to get rid of some of the mystery–read on as we uncover what actually happens during your heating maintenance session, and why these steps are so important.

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How a Smart Thermostat Helps You!

September 5th, 2022

smart-thermostat-on-corner-wallThe thermostat you use to control your heating and cooling systems is an important component. It essentially serves as the “brain” of your HVAC systems, and without it, you simply could not get the comfort that you need in your home.

In addition to that, you may have a thermostat, but if it’s old and outdated or is miscalibrated, it could be incorrectly reading the temperature of the room and therefore causing your HVAC systems to work very inefficiently.

If you came across this blog post, chances are you’re already thinking about a thermostat upgrade. If you notice any of the problems we’re going to mention below, it is definitely time for an upgrade–and we’ll let you know why a smart thermostat might be the perfect option for you.

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Signs of Impending AC Repair Needs

August 8th, 2022

checklist-with-red-markerGetting professional repairs done for your air conditioner when it needs it is one of those services you don’t want to put off. Delaying AC repairs can leave you with a completely broken down machine, and no way to stay comfortable throughout the rest of our long and hot summer.

We encourage our customers to take care of their systems as soon as they realize they need a repair. But, how do you know when it’s time for air conditioning repairs?

Luckily for you, we shared some signs below that it is, in fact, time to call for repairs, or at least to have your air conditioner inspected by a professional to see what’s going on.

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What You Need to Know About Heat Pump Tune-Ups

July 4th, 2022

vent-low-on-wallIf you’ve been following our blog for very long, then you’ve likely heard at least a little bit about the importance of maintenance. Preventative maintenance is vital to making sure that your air conditioner and heating system stay in great shape. But it’s important to know that not all HVAC systems are created equal, and therefore have different maintenance tune-up needs.

For instance, if you’re using a heat pump to stay cool this summer, then you probably think you don’t need to have maintenance for it again until fall if you had the last session done last fall. But unlike standard central air conditioners and furnaces, heat pumps actually need maintenance tune-ups every 6 months instead of once per year. Read on to learn why!

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How to Ensure Better AC Efficiency This Year

June 6th, 2022

two-technicians-working-on-ac-unitThere aren’t many things that HVAC professionals will tell you to do on your own when it comes to servicing your cooling system. And the fact of the matter is, for big repair needs, this is true, especially since there are various components of an HVAC system that professionals need special training and licensing for, such as the refrigerant in your air conditioner, or natural gas if we’re talking about a heating system.

It is important that you only trust a professional for air conditioning maintenance–this is essential to the performance and efficiency of the cooling system. It enables our technicians to comprehensively inspect your cooling system for problems, anything that needs to be adjusted, and anything that needs to be cleaned within the system. It also lets us find repair needs that you may want to address ASAP to prevent them from turning into bigger problems later on.

But even though you do need a professional to keep your system in great shape, there are things you can do on your own to improve your air conditioner’s efficiency, and therefore lower your energy bills each month. Read on to learn what they are!

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Do I Need to Worry about Intense Heat Hurting My Air Conditioner?

May 9th, 2022

animated-thermometerSummer heatwaves are fairly common in the southern portions of the United States. While summer temperatures in New Jersey and New York rarely reach over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, it still gets pretty humid in the Garden State. During these heatwaves, you should focus on keeping the inside of your home cool and comfortable. 

Achieving this goal will require the use of a reliable and functional HVAC unit. Most people fail to realize that extreme temperatures can negatively impact certain parts of their HVAC system. Read below to find out more about how intense heat can affect your HVAC unit and the steps you can take to mitigate the risks posed by extreme summer temperatures. 

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