Atlantic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

Why You Should Consider Zone Control for Your Heating System

Monday, October 20th, 2014

As we head toward cooler weather, you may already be thinking about how to more comfortably heat your home. One great way to achieve better comfort, and some other benefits, is by installing a zone heating system in Dover. Professional installation is important for any upgrade to your heating system, so make sure you call the trained professionals you can count on: Atlantic Refrigeration.

What Is a Zone Control System?

With a zone control system, your home is divided up into different zones, as designated by you, and each zone is given its own thermostat for temperature control. The system is comprised of a series of motorized dampers that are installed into the supply ducts of your ductwork, and the dampers are connected to a main control panel. The thermostats for each zone are also connected to the main control panel, which allows the dampers to open and close as needed to maintain the temperatures that are set in the different zones.

What Kinds of Properties Benefit from a Zone Control System?

Just about any type of home can benefit from a zone control system, but certain types of homes may find them particularly beneficial:

Homes with specialized architecture like floor-to-ceiling windows, vaulted ceilings or loft space
Multi-story homes
Homes with finished basements
Homes with multiple wings

What Are the Benefits of a Zone Control System?

Customized comfort – with a zone control system, you won’t have to worry about complaints regarding individual comfort or uneven heating.

Better energy efficiency – with a zone control system, you use only the heating you need. This can reduce your overall energy usage and save you money on monthly energy bills.

Less stress on your heating system – zone control can reduce your overall system usage, so there can be less stress put on your system when you install a zone control system.

A zone control system can give a level of control over your heating that you won’t be able to achieve with a single thermostat. Call Atlantic Refrigeration today.

Tags: Dover, Zone Heating
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Some Reasons to Schedule Duct Sealing Today

Monday, October 13th, 2014

One of the best ways to prepare for winter is to get your heating system ready to work – this also includes your ductwork. Ductwork has a long lifespan, typically 30 years or more, but that doesn’t mean it won’t need repair at some point. Faulty ductwork can cause several problems, and one of the best ways to reduce or eliminate these problems is to schedule duct sealing in Rehoboth Beach. With professional duct sealing, you can repair the holes and cracks in your system, bringing your ductwork back to optimal functioning. Call Atlantic Refrigeration today and schedule an appointment with one of our NATE-certified technicians.

What Is Duct Sealing?

When a technician seals your ducts, he/she uses a few tools to ensure that the seal lasts. Typical materials are mastic adhesive, professional-grade foil or fiberglass tape and metal bindings. When repairing holes and cracks, the technician will first cover the damaged area with mastic, which is a fibrous adhesive that hardens into a seal. Next, the technician will place a piece of professional-grade tape over the mastic to reinforce the seal. The mastic is allowed time to cure so that it can harden.

If a section of your ductwork has become disconnected from another, the technician will apply mastic to both ends, then join them and wrap them in a metal binding. The binding will be secured with sheet metal nails and the mastic will be allowed to cure.

Benefits of Duct Sealing

Improved indoor air quality – when you have cracks and holes in your ductwork, particles and contaminants can get into your air flow and are delivered directly into your living spaces. This can compromise the quality of your indoor air.

Improved energy efficiency – many homes with ducted heating and cooling systems experience a level of air loss, but faulty ductwork can account for up to 30% of the total air loss. Your HVAC system will compensate for any amount of air loss, so the higher the air loss, the more energy your system will need to compensate for the loss. By repairing these issues, you can restore your energy efficiency levels.

Less stress on your system – not only does your system use more energy when there is significant air loss, it also runs harder. This puts stress on your system that can cause premature aging and wear and tear.

Professional duct sealing in Rehoboth Beach can help improve your indoor air quality and energy efficiency.

Get ahead of winter energy costs this year and schedule an appointment with an Atlantic Refrigeration certified specialist today.

Tags: Duct Sealing, Rehoboth Beach
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Why Homeowners Choose Radiant Systems

Monday, September 29th, 2014

Radiant heating systems are comprised of cables or pipes situated between the subfloor and the floor surface. A central heating unit pumps hot water through the system, causing heat to radiate upwards through the floor and into the room. Panels can also be installed in the walls for the same purpose. Radiant heating systems have been around for a while, and are installed in homes all across the country. Why should you consider installing such a system, though? Read on to discover the benefits of radiant heating over traditional forced air.

Air Quality

A forced air system works by taking air from inside your home, heating it, and then circulating it. Unfortunately, this means that the system is easily affected by the air quality around your home. If you have allergies, they can be exacerbated by allergens that have been trapped in your forced air system. Radiant heating completely avoids this by relying on water or electricity to transport heat.

Even Heating

When a forced air system blows hot air into a room, the air rises to the top of the room and lowers as it cools down. This creates an unevenly heated environment, where the upper part of the room may be warm but the lower part is still quite cold. This can be very uncomfortable, especially when your upper body is warm but you still have to walk across cold floors. By comparison, a radiant system transmits heat from the floor to the objects on top of it. These objects, like couches and chairs, then transmit that heat to the surrounding area. This causes the air itself to remain at a fairly constant temperature, while keeping you warm as you move around and sit on furniture.

Efficiency

As much as 30% of the energy devoted to heating is lost in forced air heating systems. This is often due to leaks in the ducts. Radiant systems, on the other hand, deliver almost all of their heating energy to the rooms in the house. This makes it far more efficient than forced air systems, saving you money on your utility bill.

If you are thinking about installing a radiant system in your home, call Atlantic Refrigeration today. No matter where you are in Georgetown, our experts can help you!

Tags: Georgetown, Radiant Systems
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Warning Signs That You May Need Heating Repair

Monday, September 22nd, 2014

The colder weather hasn’t yet arrived in Delaware, but it won’t be long before you will need to turn on your home’s heating system once again for the winter weather. Is your heater prepared for the job? Now is the best time to find out if the system needs to have any repair work done and have the job taken care of before the outdoor thermometer starts to drop.

To find out if your heater requires repairs, take it for a “test drive” during a warm fall day and turn it on for an hour. We’ll list some of the warning signs to watch for during this time that will indicate you should call professionals in Dover, DE for heating repair. You can reach Atlantic Refrigeration any time of the day or night when you need skilled technicians to fix your heater in time for the colder weather.

Watch for these warnings from your heater

Strange noises: This is the most common indication that something is malfunctioning inside a heating system. Mechanical grinding and groaning, clicking, hissing, and rumbling are all noises that you shouldn’t hear coming from your home’s heater. Anything that sounds out of the ordinary should prompt you to call for repairs.
Odd smells from the vents: If you use a forced-air heater, such as a furnace or heat pump, then musty or burning odors wafting from the vents could mean a number of problems are afflicting the heater. Don’t try to diagnose the source on your own: leave this to the professionals.
Water leaks: This is specific to boilers. Look to see that no water is dripping from the pipes or pooling in the area around the tank.
Low airflow: Check on the air coming from the vents in each room. If the airflow feels lower than it should from one or more of the vents, then you should contact repair technicians to see what the problem might be.

Another sign to watch for when your heater begins to run regularly is an increase in your heating bills above what you normally expect to pay. This kind of cost spike usually means the system is experiencing a malfunction that is cutting into its efficiency.

Even if everything seems fine during the test run for your heating system, you still need to schedule a pre-season inspection and tune-up for it from professionals. Atlantic Refrigeration offers a comprehensive maintenance program that will make sure there are no impending repair issues with your heater, and also see that it is working at its most efficient.

Contact the heating professionals at Atlantic Refrigeration today to schedule a maintenance session or for any heating repair in Dover, DE you may need.

Tags: Dover, Heating Repair
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Benefits of Using a Commercial Boiler

Monday, May 26th, 2014

There are a few different ways in which you may choose to heat your commercial property. One of the most common, and with many good reasons, is the commercial boiler. If you are in the market for a commercial boiler in Dover, DE, then you need to ensure that you schedule your commercial boiler installation, repair, and maintenance services with a member of our team. That way you can feel confident in knowing that your commercial boiler services are completed by a skilled, trained professional. Get the most from your commercial boiler when you work with our outstanding technicians.

Reasons to Consider a Commercial Boiler

One of the greatest benefits that a commercial boiler has to offer is the way in which it distributes heat throughout your property. Whereas furnaces and heat pumps are reliant upon ducted, forced air distribution systems, commercial boilers utilize radiant heating systems or radiators in order to do so. This means that hot water or steam are circulated throughout your home, rather than heated air. The benefit is that there is no chance of the energy loss issues which can plague leaky ductwork developing. This can help you to heat your commercial property in a very efficient and affordable manner.

Another benefit of utilizing a boiler is the fact that commercial boilers are among the most dependable and longest lasting of all commercial heating options. This is due in large part to the relatively few moving components involved in a commercial boiler system. There is less to break down or to suffer from general wear and tear, so the likelihood of serious problems developing or of needing a premature commercial heating replacement is lower. Contact us today to learn more.

While commercial boilers are certainly outstanding heating options, you must remember that it is necessary to schedule your commercial boiler installation, repair, and maintenance services with a skilled professional. This will allow you to enjoy the efficient, dependable performance that you deserve from your commercial boiler in Dover, DE.

Give Atlantic Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Inc. a call today to learn more about your system options or to get your commercial boiler needs taken care of.

Tags: Commercial Boiler, Dover
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