DB Heating & Cooling, Inc. Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Bergen County’

Why You Cannot Delay Furnace Repair

Monday, February 17th, 2014

Modern furnaces are durable machines, and they can often continue to run and provide you with heat when they are experiencing malfunctions. Although this is an indication of how well manufacturers build furnaces today, you shouldn’t let a furnace continue to run with repair needs and hope you’ll make it to the spring thaw.

Any time you detect a problem with your furnace—whether from strange operating noises, odd smells from the vents, or uneven heating—you need to call for repairs as soon as possible. With a company like DB Heating & Cooling offering 24-hour emergency furnace repair, you have no reason to hesitate.

Why You Need Prompt Repairs

  • Avoid an abrupt breakdown—at the worst time: We have experienced a particularly rough winter this year, and we can still expect some deep chills ahead before we emerge into spring. If your heater is running with a malfunction, it is skirting close to a complete breakdown that will leave you without warmth on one of the coldest days. Because you will push your furnace harder during cold days, it is more likely to stop working then… and emergency repairs may have trouble reaching you because many other homeowners will have similar problems.
  • Stop paying more for heating: Any malfunction in a furnace, regardless of whether it allows the furnace to keep working, will reduce the system’s efficient operation. As the furnace works harder, it will drain more energy. Your heating bills will start to rise; they might even skyrocket. Taking care of a repair means shaving away a large portion of your monthly bills.
  • Keep your furnace safe: The most common type of furnace is a natural gas-powered model. Gas furnaces are safe provided they remain in good repair with regular maintenance. Letting one go without needed repairs is potentially dangerous because it can lead to gas leaks and other hazards. Never delay getting repairs for a gas furnace, and never attempt repairs on your own.

If you trust the work on your furnace to trained experts like those at DB Heating & Cooling, the repairs should go fast and return the system to top condition. In a season as cold as we’re having this year, you don’t want to risk losing your vital home heating: call for prompt furnace repair in Bergen County, NJ.

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There’s Rust on My Furnace, Should I Call for Repairs?

Monday, January 13th, 2014

Furnaces do not use water in their heating cycle the way that hydronic systems like boilers do. It would seem strange for rust to form on a gas furnace—yet it still happens. If you discover rust on your furnace, you may need repairs—or even a replacement furnace. Regardless of the outcome, you should call professionals to take a look at your heating system to decide the best path to take.

DB Heating & Cooling has technicians ready 24 hours a day to work on your furnace repair in Bergen County, NJ. Don’t delay calling, because a rusty gas furnace is a potential safety hazard.

Rust and your furnace

Rust can occur on a gas furnace because of the reaction of combustion fumes and metal. Usually, the proper venting of exhaust will prevent this from occurring, so if you have a newer furnace and notice rust developing on it, you may have ineffective venting.

However, even with the vents working right, rust can start on a very old furnace. If your furnace is over 20 years old, the appearance of rust is often a sign that you should schedule a replacement. A furnace that has worked effectively for 20 years has more than lived up to its potential, and it is probably time to retire it before it retires itself—at a very inconvenient time.

Rust poses a particular danger to your furnace and you: corrosion across the heat exchanger. If a heat exchanger starts to corrode, it can develop cracks which will allow carbon monoxide exhaust to escape into the cabinet and possibly into your living spaces. This is why you should always take rust seriously and summon repairs when you notice it. A technician will be able to fix any problem and offer advice about whether the time has come to replace the furnace. If you gas to heat your home, you should also have carbon monoxide detectors installed.

Regular maintenance will help

You can help avoid rust in the first place with regular preventive maintenance. If you enroll in a maintenance program with a professional HVAC contractor, you will receive a yearly check-up on your furnace that will catch rust and the venting problems that can lead to it. A maintenance specialist will replace any damaged heat exchangers. Your furnace will run safer, and it will also run more efficiently.

DB Heating & Cooling offers customized maintenance plans to take care of your furnace. We can also handle any furnace repair in Bergen County, NJ, from corrosion to burned-out motors. Don’t hesitate if there’s an issue with your furnace: call DB Heating & Cooling today.

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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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What to Consider Prior to Your Furnace Installation in Bergen County

Monday, September 30th, 2013

If you’re thinking of having a furnace installed in your home, either to replace an older system or because you have a new house, then you want to get moving before the cold weather arrives. It’s smart to take advantage of the early fall to install your home’s new furnace, but you need to take a moment to consider a few factors that will help make the installation successful. A new furnace requires a large investment in time and resources; make certain you’ve thought through what you’re planning to do.

If you need help preparing for a new furnace, consult with the experts at DB Heating & Cooling. We can address all your questions, as well as perform the installation when it’s time.

Is a furnace the best choice?

If you decided to get a furnace because you’ve had one before, take some time to consider the other heating options that may work better for you. There are more types of heaters available today than ever before, and one of them might do a more efficient job heating your home. Heat pumps and boilers offer both advantages and disadvantages. An HVAC expert can help you determine if a furnace is the right way to go, or if another choice might give you improved heating and energy savings.

What size furnace will I need?

It’s crucial that you get a furnace that can evenly heat up your home. Too small, and the furnace won’t give you adequate heat. Too large, and it will short cycle and age rapidly. Have a professional perform a heat load calculation that will evaluate numerous facts about your home, from square footage to the amount of windows, to give you an exact idea of how large a furnace you need to keep you warm and your heating system healthy.

Who should install the furnace?

If you thought you might handle the installation yourself, or have a friend with some experience take on the job, think again. Furnace installation is a huge, complex task, and any errors can lead to poor operation and malfunctions. It will cost you far more in the future, offsetting any savings you get from an amateur job. Find a heating company with a proven track record and trained technicians who will get the installation done right the first time.

DB Heating & Cooling is one of the top Bergen County furnace installation companies. We offer all kinds of services to help you with any heating needs. Call us if you want to get started on installation, or if you just have questions.

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Bergen County Air Conditioning Tips: Benefits of Custom Ductwork

Monday, July 15th, 2013

If you already have a forced-air distribution system, or are thinking that you may need for your home construction project, then you probably already realize the important role that air ducts play in distributing cool air from your air conditioning system. But when it comes to ductwork, you need to make sure that yours fits your home exactly. Because of the impact that they have on your cooling effectiveness and efficiency, you should consider having custom ductwork installed in your home. In today’s post, we’d like to look more closely at some of the benefits of professionally installed custom ductwork. Call DB Heating & Cooling today for all of your Bergen County air conditioning services.

  • Cooling performance: In a forced-air distribution system, you need to make sure that all of your components are working well throughout the summer months. One of the downsides to standard ductwork is that it often does not fit the unique design and layout of your home. Just like your AC, your ducts need to be professionally sized if they are to perform well. They need to be able to extract and return air to your living space constantly.
  • Energy efficiency: Another benefit to having custom ductwork in your home is improved energy efficiency. Every square inch of your ducts contributes to the overall efficiency of your cool air distribution. But when your ducts are over- or under-sized, or make too many turns to fit into your home, it can lead to energy loss and airflow impedances.
  • Longevity: When you install a new HVAC system in your home or a major system replacement for your existing system, it’s a major undertaking, one that you want to be able to rely on for years to come. You need to make sure that your ductwork is in great shape year-in and year-out, particularly if you also use it for your heating in the winter. With custom ductwork optimized for the unique circumstances of your home, you can be sure that they will last.

At DB Heating & Cooling, we specialize in custom ductwork for our clients throughout the Bergen County area, whatever their air conditioning needs may be.

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Westwood, NJ Air Conditioning Repair FAQ: Keeping Cool While Your AC is Down

Tuesday, June 4th, 2013

In the unfortunate event that your air conditioning system breaks down completely, then you may have to survive few days without AC. Keeping cool while you AC is down is critical, especially on those incredibly hot and humid days. As one of the leading providers of new air conditioners in your service area, we’d like to give you some tips in case this happens to you. Even if it’s only a repair service, you need to make sure you know how to keep cool. But make sure, first and foremost, that you contact a qualified, reputable AC technician so that your problem is fixed fast or your new AC replacement works well. Call DB Heating & Cooling for comprehensive Westwood, NJ air conditioning repair services.

  • Draw the blinds and curtains: Keep the powerful sun out of the home. By drawing blinds and curtains during the day, you can ensure that the cool nighttime temperature is not spoiled by the sun’s rays.
  • Open the windows at night: Make sure you take advantage of the cooler temperatures at night by opening up the windows and letting that breeze in.
  • Fans: Use box fans in windows at night and ceiling fans during the day to keep cool. If your ceiling fan has a reverse function, you can get it to pull the hot air up out of the living space.
  • Take cold showers: This is the ultimate cool-off exercise if you can stand it. A nice cold shower can cool you off if you’re feeling overheated.
  • Drink cold beverages: Keep your fridge stocked with refreshing drinks and your ice tray full so that you can take advantage of cool drinks if your AC breaks down.
  • Backup unit: If you need to, you can purchase a wall unit to keep you cool during the repair or replacement service.

We hope you find these tips helpful. If your cooling system breaks down and you need Westwood, NJ air conditioning repair services, call DB Heating & Cooling. 

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Indicators that You Need Air Conditioning Repair in Bergen County

Monday, May 6th, 2013

Even with professional installation and routine maintenance, your home cooling system will still probably need repair at some point in its service life. While only a professional hands-on diagnosis can adequately determine the cause of the problem, there are some common indicators to look out for as we enter the cooling season. When you need air conditioning repair in Bergen County, call the pros at DB Heating & Cooling!

  • Not cooling enough: This is a common complaint, especially when the heat and humidity are at their peak during the hottest days of summer. It won’t be clear until a professional diagnosis takes place what the root of the problem is, although there are some frequent culprits. You may have a frozen evaporator coil caused by blocked airflow, or low levels of refrigerant circulating through your coils.
  • AC won’t start: First, check your electrical panel to make sure you haven’t blown a fuse or tripped the circuit breaker. Next, make sure that your thermostat is on and calling for cool air. If neither of these works, then you may have an electrical connectivity issue with your AC. Alternatively, you may have a faulty capacitor.
  • Incorrect temperature: If your home never seems to reach the temperature that you ask it to, then there may be a problem with the calibration of your thermostat. As your primary user interface, your thermostat needs to be professionally installed and calibrated in order to ensure that it senses the temperature accurately. If not, it can’t possibly communicate with the air handler properly and your house will wind up too hot or too cold.
  • Frozen evaporator coil: If the evaporator coil inside your indoor air handler is completely frozen over, then your AC will work neither efficiently nor effectively. This may be caused by an air leak that is allowing humid air into the air handler or a clogged air filter not allowing the cool air to be distributed throughout the home. Your AC may have already tried to shut itself down to defrost. Have a professional technician come out to determine the root of the frozen coil.

For comprehensive air conditioning repair services in Bergen County, call DB Heating & Cooling today! 

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Bergen County, NJ Air Conditioning: Boosting Efficiency at the Thermostat

Monday, April 29th, 2013

Your thermostat is critical to the operation of your Bergen County, NJ air conditioning system. While small and compact, the thermostat can nevertheless make or break your system. Using a thermostat wisely may be able to boost your energy efficiency, which may be on your mind as the summer heat and humidity approaches. For more information about thermostats or our Bergen County, NJ air conditioning services, call DB Heating & Cooling today!

Here are some tips about your thermostat:

  • Make sure your thermostat is professionally installed: It should be installed in a place out of the sunlight, and away from doors, windows, and duct registers, so that it does not falsely read the temperature. It also needs to be properly calibrated for your home, so that it can send accurate information to the AC about what temperature it is, and therefore how much work the AC should do to meet that temperature.
  • Upgrade: There are numerous thermostat options on the market today. If you still have a manual thermostat, you may be missing out on substantial energy savings every cooling season. Digital, programmable thermostats allow you to customize your home’s temperature according to your schedule. For example, you can set it to raise the temperature just after you leave the home, and then to begin cooling again about an hour before you get home. That way, you don’t have to come home to a hot home, and you don’t have to pay to keep your home cool all day long. That type of thermostatic control is a great combination of comfort and energy efficiency.
  • Use it wisely: Even if you only have a manual conventional thermostat, remember that it’s not only the temperature that counts, but also the way your AC reaches that temperature. Rapid and drastic temperature shifts can often require boosts of electrical energy that may increase your bills. Turning the thermostat way down will not actually cool your home faster, and it will waste energy as your AC works harder than it needs to.

If you think you need a new thermostat, call the Bergen County, NJ air conditioning experts at DB Heating & Cooling today! 

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Why Emerson, NJ Air Conditioning Repair is Not a DIY Project

Monday, April 15th, 2013

We rely on our  air conditioners to provide effective and efficient service throughout the cooling season. While we are not yet feeling the heat and humidity here, spring is a great time to ensure that we’re ready to go before summer, so that we don’t waste time being concerned about our air conditioners when we could be enjoying the pleasant weather. If you find that your AC is in need of repair, then it’s important that repairs be performed by a certified professional. AC repair should not be a DIY project. In this post, we’d like to point out why the experts at DB Heating & Cooling should take care of any Emerson, NJ air conditioning repair service that you may need. Call us today for more information!

  • Reliability: Quite simply, repairs performed by a professional are less likely to fail than those done by a homeowner. The reason depends upon the particular application, but without the professional knowledge and expertise, you may only manage to eliminate one of the symptoms of the problem, and not the problem itself, which can lead to a lack of reliability.
  • Quality:  The quality of the repair is important. Do you know what materials you should use? Do you have the correct tool for the job? Do you know enough about how your system works to make a certain diagnosis? The quality of the AC repair depends upon the skills and know-how of the AC tech.
  • Risk of damage: This is one of the major detriments of attempting DIY repairs. You can seriously damage your system if you do not have the professional training to handle the complexity of air conditioners. It is much less expensive to pay a professional to repair your system than to replace it because of a botched repair you tried to do yourself.

Don’t put your cooling system at risk this summer. Make sure that all repairs are carried out by a professional. For Emerson, NJ air conditioning repair, call DB Heating & Cooling today! 

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Air Conditioning in Bergen County: Why Your Thermostat Matters

Monday, April 8th, 2013

While spring has only just begun, many homeowners are already thinking of the approaching heat this summer. Spring is the time of cleaning, organizing, and ensuring that your air conditioning system is ready to perform on even the hottest days of the summer. While we think about the compressor motor, the various coils, refrigerant, and ductwork, the thermostat is just as important as other aspects of the AC system. Without it, your AC cannot properly adjust to your desired temperature. For more information about the role your thermostat plays in cooling your home, call DB Heating & Cooling for air conditioning in Bergen County, NJ today.

The conventional non-digital thermostat uses a mercury switch to assess the temperature. Because mercury is a liquid metal, it conducts electricity and flows in a way not dissimilar to water. Inside this switch shaped like a vial are three different wires. The circular rotation of thermostat displaces the balance of the mercury switch, itself connected to a bimetallic strip that expands and contracts according to the temperature, which communicates to the heater or AC to turn on. Digital thermostats use something called a thermistor to sense the temperature and a microcontroller to convert that information into a LCD display. Programmable and wifi-enabled thermostats allow for greater customization.

Your thermostat controls your entire heating and cooling system. That’s a lot of responsibility for such a compact device. If there is something wrong with it, it can throw off the performance and efficiency of the heating and cooling systems. It’s imperative that your thermostat is properly calibrated so that it can accurately sense the temperature in the home and send that information to the heater or AC. Installing a programmable thermostat can dramatically increase the energy-efficiency of your home, without sacrificing any comfort.

Thermostats can have a significant impact on your cooling system. Make sure you’re ready for the summer heat with a programmable thermostat. For air conditioning service in Bergen County, NJ, call the experts at DB Heating & Cooling today! 

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