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

2 Upgrades to Consider for Your Waldwick, NJ Heating System

Monday, January 7th, 2013

One of the great things about most home heating systems is that they are so customizable. When you work with a professional heating technician with years of experience and training you may be surprised at the performance you can get from your heater, even if it is getting on in years. At DB Heating and Cooling, we love getting our loyal customers the best performance possible from their home heating systems. That is why we would like to share some information about two great upgrades you may want to consider incorporating into your Waldwick, NJ home’s heating system. Consider these options and feel free to call us with any questions you may still have.

Upgrading your old manual or basic digital thermostat is one great way that you can start using the heat you pay for more efficiently in your home. There is nothing wrong with a basic thermostat, and even very basic digital models can give you better control over temperatures in your home. However, a new programmable thermostat can really open up some opportunities for you when it comes to heating your home more efficiently and effectively.

By programming a thermostat to fit your individual lifestyle, schedule and personal heating preferences you can really cut down on the amount of energy that you use. If you are out of the house regularly between certain times each day, for instance, you can lower the temperatures that you heat your home to. You can then program the heater to bring the temperature up gradually before you return home. This improves efficiency while also leaving you with a warm home to come back to after work or even vacations and weekends away from home.

Zone control systems are another great way to boost energy efficiency in your home. No two people are guaranteed to be comfortable at the exact same temperature, let alone an entire family. With a zone control system no one needs be expected to. You can control different temperatures throughout your home individually to boost efficiency while keeping everyone happy. This is a real win-win situation.

For more information about new thermostat options or zone control systems available for your home, contact DB Heating and Cooling. Our team of home heating experts can help you heat your Waldwick, NJ home more efficiently. Call today for more upgrade suggestions from the local pros.

Continue Reading

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on 2 Upgrades to Consider for Your Waldwick, NJ Heating System

Popular Home Heating Options in Paramus, NJ

Monday, December 17th, 2012

If you are looking for a new home heating system and find that you are overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options on the market, don’t despair. You are not alone. Having a number of different options available is a great luxury to have, but a new home heating system is a big investment and you need to be sure that you are getting the best possible system for your home and personal heating habits. That is why it is so important that you work with a home heating expert from DB Heating & Cooling when considering which option is best for your Paramus, NJ home. Here is some basic information about some popular home heating options.

Furnaces

Furnaces are probably the most common type of heating systems available. Furnaces generally use electricity or natural gas as a fuel source. The air that they heat is sent into a ductwork system by a blower mechanism. The ductwork then distributes the heated air throughout your home and also supplies more air to be heated via return vents.

Heat Pumps

Like a furnace, heat pumps use a ductwork system to circulate heated air throughout your home. Heat pumps are unique in the way in which they heat that air, though. They do not consume a fuel but rather transfer existing heat into or out of your home. This heat transfer method makes them extremely efficient at heating your home.

Boilers

Furnaces and heat pumps can be very effective home heating options, but ductwork is a leading cause of energy loss in a number of homes. Boilers do not use a forced air system to distribute heat. Rather, hot water or steam from the boiler is circulated throughout your home. The heat is dispersed by radiators or baseboards. This eliminates energy loss associated with air ducts.

There is no “best” home heating option, but there is one out there that is best for your home. The heating professionals at DB Heating & Cooling can help you determine which option is best for you. Contact us today when considering a new heating option for your Paramus, NJ home.

Continue Reading

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Popular Home Heating Options in Paramus, NJ

Emerson, NJ Heating Tip: 3 Important Things to Consider Before a Heating Installation

Monday, December 10th, 2012

Are you ready for a heating installation in your Emerson, NJ home? Let the HVAC experts at DB Heating & Cooling prepare you for a new heating system installation.

Here are a few things to consider before you have a new heater installed in your home.

Insulation

Many homeowners think that upgrading to a high-efficiency system is enough to save them on their heating bills. But if your home is not adequately insulated, you won’t get the most out of this new system. You should have your home assessed with a professional home energy audit. The results will show you areas that could use some improvement, such as better insulation and other weatherization upgrades.

Choosing the Right Heating System

Have you ever considered a different type of heating system? While any new high-efficiency system will provide better energy savings than an older heating system, you could get more savings with a different type of system. You may want to upgrade an old furnace or boiler to a ductless mini split heat pump to provide heating and cooling. We can help you choose among our wide selection of furnaces, heat pumps, boilers, zone control, and many other system upgrades!

Ductwork

If you are installing a forced air system, you’ll need to know the condition of your ductwork, unless your home doesn’t have a duct system in place. The condition of your ductwork will determine whether or not it would be more cost-effective to switch to another type of system. We can retrofit your current forced air system for zone control for more efficient heating.

Contact the Emerson, NJ heating experts at DB Heating & Cooling to go over your options.

Continue Reading

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Emerson, NJ Heating Tip: 3 Important Things to Consider Before a Heating Installation

Why Your Business Needs HVAC Maintenance: A Paramus Commercial HVAC Tip

Monday, December 3rd, 2012

Have you ever walked into a business in Paramus whose HVAC system wasn’t working? It’s either too hot or too cold inside and you’re uncomfortable while you’re there. That isn’t a good impression. If you own a business or building in Paramus, you want to make sure that the HVAC system in your building is working well every single day that the doors are open.  At DB Heating & Cooling, Inc., we thought it would be helpful for our commercial customers if we put together a few reasons why regular maintenance is a good idea for your business.

Customer, Employee and Tenant Comfort

When you have people working, living or entering your building you want to make sure that they are comfortable. Whether they live, work or shop there, the climate in your building is critical to your success as a business.  Having a professional technician visit your building to regularly inspect and repair your HVAC equipment is a great way to make sure that it keeps running reliably and consistently.

Greater Efficiency

Over time, the HVAC equipment at your building in Paramus will start to break down. It’s a sad fact of life but eventually, this happens to everything. One of the best ways to slow down the ravages of time is to have your equipment regularly maintained. During the inspection of your building’s HVAC equipment, your heating technician will be able to spot small issues that could be hindering your systems’ performance. They can lubricate valves and fan bearings, change fan belts and blades and clean out debris that has accumulated on moving parts. Things like this go a long way to the overall efficiency of your HVAC system.

Reduced Repairs

Another great reason to get your HVAC system regularly maintained is the potential to reduce costly repairs. If you own a car, you most likely get the oil changed regularly and have it tuned-up. We do this to keep the car running as best as possible. The same principle is true with your HVAC system. When your heating technician is able to catch small issues early, you can keep them from developing into catastrophic and expensive failures later on down the road.

If you have own a building or office complex in Paramus, make sure that your customers, tenants and employees are comfortable as soon as they walk in the door. Having your HVAC system regularly inspected and maintained is a great way to make that happen. DB Heating & Cooling, Inc. offers comprehensive commercial HVAC services throughout the Paramus area. Give us a call today! 

Continue Reading

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Why Your Business Needs HVAC Maintenance: A Paramus Commercial HVAC Tip

4 Ways Maintenance Can Help You Avoid Heating Repairs in Bergen County

Monday, November 26th, 2012

During the winter, you most likely use your heating system every day, so its important to keep it functioning effectively. Yet some people put off getting regular maintenance for their heating systems. At DB Heating and Cooling, we respond to countless calls for heating repairs in Bergen County. We thought it would be helpful for our community if we put together a list of the benefits to having regular maintenance performed on your heating system.

Reduced Repairs

One great benefit to regular heating maintenance is the potential to reduce costly repairs. When you have a heating technician looking over your system every day, they can catch small issues before they turn into larger, more expensive problems.

Extended Life

With more repairs and better care, comes a potentially longer life. When your heating technician is able to spot small problems early, you can avoid the catastrophic problems that some repairs can cause if they are ignored.

Greater Efficiency

Over time, everything starts to break down. As your heating system begins to age, moving parts will start to wear out and start to make the system work harder. After a while this can negatively impact the performance of your heating system. With regular maintenance, your heating technician can replace and tend to parts of your system that would otherwise begin to break down. This increases the overall efficiency of the system.

More Reliability

In addition to all of these other benefits, you will also most likely experience an increase in reliability from your heating system. Just like a car that doesn’t receive regular maintenance, your heating system will turn on and run more reliably when you have someone inspecting it and tuning it up regularly.

If you’re interested in scheduling heating maintenance for the heating system in your Bergen County home, contact the experts at DB Heating and Cooling. We have years of experience offering comprehensive heating services throughout the Bergen County area. Give us a call today! 

Continue Reading

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on 4 Ways Maintenance Can Help You Avoid Heating Repairs in Bergen County

Why You Should Not Put Off Heating Repairs in Your Waldwick Home

Monday, November 19th, 2012

Have you noticed a decline in the performance of your home heating system? Do you know that there is a problem but keep coming with excuses about why you have not scheduled the necessary repair service? DB Heating & Cooling is here to tell you that putting off home heating repairs is one of the worst things that you can do for the heating system in your Waldwick home. Don’t make the same mistake that countless other homeowners make each and every year. If you know of or even suspect any problems with your heater, call for the professional heating repair service you need to fix the problem immediately. Your comfort depends on it.

Why is Scheduling Home Heating Repair Service So Important?

There are a lot of reasons why it is necessary to schedule heating repair service as soon as you discover or suspect a problem with your heater. To begin with, poor heating system conditions and damaged heating components can have a seriously detrimental effect on the efficiency with which your heater operates. This means that you will wind up paying more in energy costs for less performance from your heater.

In addition to reduced efficiency, problems with your heater are always immediately recognizable. This means that by the time you notice a problem it may have been developing for some time. In the time that it has taken you to recognize the problem, it may have already caused further damage to your system. The early detection and repair of heating problems is integral in preventing further, more costly damage to your system.

How Do I Know When to Schedule Service?

Okay, so you know to schedule heating repair service as soon as you notice a problem. Now the question is just how do you identify that problem. There are a number of warning signs that you can keep an eye out for that will alert you to an issue with your heater. Any noticeable decline in heating performance can indicate the need for repair service, including the development of cold spots throughout your home or inconsistent heating output. A rise in your heating costs without a corresponding increase in usage is another warning sign. Even strange sounds and unusual smells are cause enough to schedule service.

Who Should Handle My Heating Repair Service?

The next important question that homeowners face is who to trust with their heater repairs. It is important that only highly trained professionals repair your heater. In the Waldwick area that is as simple as calling the heating experts at DB Heating & Cooling. We’ll make sure that your home is heated efficiently and effectively all winter long.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Why You Should Not Put Off Heating Repairs in Your Waldwick Home

Benefits of a Ductless Mini Split System in Oradell

Monday, November 12th, 2012

With all of the home heating and air conditioning systems on the market today it can be difficult to determine which heating and cooling option is best for your Oradell home. Discussing your heating and air conditioning options with a local professional service provider is the most fail-proof way to ensure that you are investing in the best heating and cooling system for your home and personal heating and cooling habits. If you are not familiar with ductless mini splits and the potential benefits that they hold for your home and comfort take a few minutes to review this helpful information from the home comfort professionals at DB Heating & Cooling. You may decide that a ductless mini split system is the best choice for your home, and DB Heating & Cooling can help you verify that decision.

First of all, the most obvious benefit of a ductless mini split system is right in the name. This heating and air conditioning option completely eliminates the need for ductwork in your home. While a properly installed, well-maintained duct system can efficiently and effectively circulate conditioned air throughout your home, ductwork is often one of the biggest reasons for inefficient energy use. By removing ductwork from the equation, ductless mini splits also remove this risk. A simple conduit containing refrigerant and power lines is all that is needed to connect the outdoor condenser unit to the indoor, wall-mounted air handlers that this type of heating and air conditioning system uses. These air handlers, up to four per outdoor unit, heat and cool the rooms of your home individually and directly.

The use of these multiple air handlers also makes it easy to create temperature control zones in your home and to maintain individual temperatures within each zone. This is a great way to boost energy efficiency in your home, helping to reduce energy costs. You no longer have to heat empty bedrooms because you want to keep the dining or living rooms comfortable. Likewise you choose to lower the temperature in the kitchen if you are doing a lot of cooking and begin to overheat while still keeping the rest of the house perfectly warm.

Whether you want to cut down on the amount of energy that you use in your home or simply avoid the cost of a duct system installation, ductless mini splits may be the solution that you’re looking for. If you think that a ductless mini split system installation is right for your Oradell home, call the heating and air conditioning professionals at DB Heating & Cooling. We’ll help you make the best decision for your comfort.

Continue Reading

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Benefits of a Ductless Mini Split System in Oradell

Bergen County Furnace Guide: Different Types of Furnace Filters

Monday, November 5th, 2012

A good filter for your Bergen County home’s furnace is a must. Because that device heats and blows air throughout your home, you want to be sure that it doesn’t recycle contaminants and bacteria that could easily be captured at the air handler. That’s why it’s vital to choose the right furnace filter on the first try. Here are some furnace filters to consider and their various benefits to your home and family:

  • Electrostatic – Most electrostatic filters are permanent and must be washed on a regular basis. They are electronically charged to capture particles as they pass through, much like a magnet. These filters are effective because they are both physical and electronic. However, keep in mind that they are only as efficient as the cleaning they receive.
  • HEPA – HEPA is the highest rating available for a filtration system, removing up to 99.9% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns. However, they are also inefficient when used in furnaces as they severely reduce air flow. They are not often recommended for this reason.
  • Pleated – Pleated filters come in both reusable and permanent forms and can be either purely mechanical or electrostatic. There is a very wide range of efficiency ratings for pleated filters so make sure you analyze your home’s specific needs before selecting any one pleated filter.
  • Activated Carbon – Activated carbon is unique from the other three filter types because it effectively removes fumes, odors and chemicals from indoor air along with other larger particles. It is recommended that if you choose an activated carbon filter, you supplement it with a pleated or electrostatic filter (or choose a combination filter) to remove all unwanted components from your home.

There are a lot of options when it comes to furnace filters. To make sure you get only the best air quality, talk to a Bergen County furnace professional such as DB Heating & Cooling who can help you determine which pollutants are the biggest problem in your home.

Continue Reading

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Bergen County Furnace Guide: Different Types of Furnace Filters

Which Fuel is Right for Your Home?

Monday, October 29th, 2012

Homeowners all want to save money on household expenses and utility bills. We turn off lights when we leave the room, take shorter showers and make sure the kids don’t keep the refrigerator door open. These small habits help, but still we all want to save a little wherever we can, right?

One area where people are constantly looking for ways to save money in Waldwick is heating. Everyone wants to be comfortable and warm in their homes, but that costs money, so homeowners are always on the lookout for the most effective and cost efficient way to keep the house warm.

What is the most cost effective fuel for home heating?

Is it natural gas, electric, fuel oil or propane?

We all wish there was one easy, all-encompassing answer to this question, like a heating magic bullet that would keep every family warm and happy for pennies on the dollar. Unfortunately, there isn’t. It depends on too many factors for any one solution to work for everyone.

Probably the biggest factor that plays a role in the cost of a particular fuel is its local availability. Resources are available differentially, so that while one option might be cheapest for a family of five in Andover, Massachusetts, the analysis is entirely different for a single person in Kearney, Nebraska.

What is the most cost effective option for you?

That is a better question, but still not one that is necessarily easy to answer.

To figure it out, you need to carefully analyze several factors:

  • Local availability (see above)
  • Local climate
  • Size of your home
  • Your family’s needs
  • Existing heating equipment
  • Your budget

Armed with this information, you can do a careful comparison of the options available to you. For assistance you can use an online calculator to compare fuel costs, such as this one from the Energy Information Administration or this one from Hearth.com. Or, if all else fails, call a your local Waldwick heating contractor for a professional assessment.

Comparing fuel costs and choosing the right solution for you may take some time, but the savings can be well worth it. Call DB Heating & Cooling, Inc today if you need heating service in Waldwick and the surrounding area!

Continue Reading

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Which Fuel is Right for Your Home?

Woodcliff Lake Heating Question: Can Your Heating System Warn You of a CO Leak?

Monday, October 22nd, 2012

Carbon monoxide is a health risk. It is an odorless gas that is produced as a natural byproduct of combustion. So, any time something burns, carbon monoxide (CO) is released into the air.

As long as the area is properly ventilated, the carbon monoxide cannot build up in the air to a dangerous level of concentration. For example, if you are around a campfire or charcoal that is burning outside, you are generally safe.

In the home, the danger arises when combustion is not properly ventilated and this toxic gas is allowed to seep into our living spaces.  To help mitigate that risk, it is important to know some warning signs. Your heating system gives off some warnings that can tip you off to danger, so be on the lookout for these three signals:

  1. Carbon monoxide detector goes off. Some heating systems these days have built-in carbon monoxide detectors, which can provide an extra measure of safety. Whether you have one of these systems or not, your home should still be equipped with a CO detector. If it begins sounding the alarm, get everyone out of the house immediately.
  1. A fume vent is leaking. Fuel-burning furnaces have vents to move combustion gases out of the house safely. If you notice this vent is leaking on your heating system, CO may be seeping into your house. Shut down the furnace, open windows for ventilation and have the fume vent repaired immediately.
  1. Smoke backing up from the fireplace. If you have a fireplace and you notice smoke in the room while using it, stop using it immediately. Your chimney may be blocked or leaking, preventing the smoke from rising and venting properly, which means CO can get into your house. Do not use the fireplace again until you have had the chimney inspected.

Please take care and note this is just a simple guide. There are other risks and warnings of carbon monoxide.

For any heating service in the Woodcliff Lake area, give DB Heating & Cooling a call today!

Continue Reading

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Woodcliff Lake Heating Question: Can Your Heating System Warn You of a CO Leak?