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

Furnace Age—Let’s See What Is “Too Old”

Monday, February 17th, 2020
old-furnace

Unless you move out of your house, you will eventually need to replace the household furnace. No matter how well you maintain a furnace, it will start to deteriorate from age and wear. Maintenance can help it reach a long service life, but a time will come when you’ll have to make the decision that the furnace is too old and needs a replacement.

What is “too old” for a furnace? That’s the big question, and it doesn’t have a straightforward answer. Not all furnaces are identical, nor do they wear out at the same rate. In this post, we can provide details about furnace age and performance to give you an idea about when to consider a new furnace.

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A Boiler That Won’t Do the Job? Some Reasons for Bad Boiler Behavior

Monday, February 3rd, 2020
condensing-gas-boiler

Boilers are still around and heating homes because they offer even and effective heating that often outdoes forced-air systems like furnaces and heat pumps. The even distribution of heat is one the advantages of having a boiler in the first place.

But if you have a boiler that isn’t giving you the even heating spread you expect from it, or simply isn’t meeting the target for warmth you need to stay comfortable, you may need to call for heating repair in Delaware to get it fixed. Our HVAC technicians are experts at handling boilers, which isn’t a skill you’ll find at every heating contractor in the area. Whatever issue you’re having with your household boiler, trust that we’ll find the source of the problem and have it fixed.

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Why We Install Mitsubishi Ductless Heating and Cooling Systems

Monday, January 20th, 2020

You have so many choices for home heating and cooling products. Probably too many, and we understand why it can feel bewildering to decide on what brand is the best for your home. But when you come to our experts for ductless heating in Delaware and Maryland, we already have the right brand in mind for you: a Mitsubishi ductless heating and cooling system. As a Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer, we are specially certified to install and service Mitsubishi products. We’ve found that they offer the finest when it comes to ductless mini split systems.

Why do we believe this strongly in Mitsubishi ductless comfort solutions? There are several reasons:

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Can My Gas Furnace Become Dangerous?

Monday, January 6th, 2020
heat-exchange-cracked

More than 66 million homes across the country use natural gas in some way. It’s the preferred power source for kitchens and the most reliable way to provide warmth while also saving money. Yet people still have concerns about the safety of using natural gas. It’s easy to become worried when you hear about accidents with natural gas resulting in fires, explosions, or carbon monoxide poisoning.

It’s true that natural gas can become hazardous, and the gas furnace in your home does have the potential to create safety issues. However, natural gas would not be used in 66 million homes (and five million businesses) if it was a regular safety problem. Gas furnaces are constructed to operate as safely as possible. As long as you have the furnace serviced regularly—annual professional maintenance tune-ups and prompt repairs as necessary—you and your family can enjoy years of worry-free heating.

However, we recommend you read below to find out how the furnace might turn dangerous. Arming yourself with this knowledge can help you know when to call us for professional furnace service in Georgetown, DE.

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Why December Isn’t Too Late for a Heater Inspection and Tune-Up

Monday, December 9th, 2019
service-marker-blue

Any HVAC contractor who cares about their customers’ safety and comfort recommends annual fall maintenance for household heating systems. No matter if you use a gas furnace, electric furnace, boiler, in-floor heating system, heat pump, or ductless system, it needs to have a fall tune-up and inspection from our professionals. We are the Georgetown, DE, HVAC contractor with the ideal maintenance plan to see to not only your heating needs, but your cooling needs as well.

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A Few Important Facts About Boilers (Including Yours)

Monday, November 25th, 2019
boiler

Although furnaces are the most common type of heating system in the country, boilers are close behind them. Particularly in our area, with many homes built without a central ventilation system. Boilers provide powerful and clean heating (no dust blown around from vents) and they often outlast other types of systems.

Not all HVAC contractors in the area provide boiler services, but we do. We’d like to share a few facts with you about boilers that may help you understand yours better—and that will help you know when to call our technicians for assistance.

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Understanding Efficiency Ratings for Electric and Gas Furnaces

Monday, November 11th, 2019
dollar-signs-up-in-smoke

Efficiency is an important word when it comes to HVAC systems. People want to make sure they have heating and air conditioning units that waste as little energy as possible. This not only keeps utility bills lower, it’s better for the environment because it puts less strain on power plants and natural resources. The US Department of Energy has a program called ENERGY STAR to help consumers identify products with superior energy efficiency and quality features. When you’re hunting for a new heating system or other HVAC product, look for the ENERGY STAR label.

But you’ll also want to look at the actual efficiency rating of the appliance, and this can become a bit confusing because different appliances have different criteria. Sometimes, efficiency ratings can be misleading without some extra information—and this is the case with the two most common types of furnaces, gas and electric.

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Should You Replace Your HVAC System With a Heat Pump?

Monday, October 28th, 2019

You’re reading this because it’s fall and you have plans to make a big change to your HVAC system before the winter weather arrives. You’re debating about a new choice for comfort: a heat pump. Heat pumps are similar to air conditioners—they move heat from one place to another using the circulation of refrigerant. The difference is heat pumps can switch the direction they operate so they function as both air conditioners and heaters.

This sounds like a dream choice, doesn’t it? Your year-round comfort needs taken care of with a single system that can switch jobs with an adjustment of the thermostat. Of course, it can’t be that simple. And it isn’t.

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It’s Time for a Planned Inspection of Your Home’s Heater

Monday, October 14th, 2019

October is the best time of the year to plan for a maintenance inspection and tune-up for the heater in your home, no matter if you use a furnace, a boiler, a heat pump, or a ductless mini split system. These annual inspections are essential for a heater to work in top shape, avoid unnecessary repair work, and stay within manufacturer’s safety limits. It’s not something you can skip a year here or there.

Fortunately, arranging for this service is straightforward: call a professional Delaware HVAC contractor who offers a maintenance program. Signing up for one of these programs not only provides you with heating maintenance each year, it usually includes air conditioning maintenance in the spring and a raft of other benefits.

We offer a complete HVAC maintenance program for our customers. If you aren’t signed up, give us a call today so we can get you on the schedule as soon as possible to inspect and care for your heater before the winter weather arrives.

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How’s Your Boiler Doing? 4 Classic Signs You Need Repair

Monday, April 1st, 2019

boiler-repairsWith the end of winter, we’re seeing temperatures start to improve around here. However, it’s far too soon to be saying that we don’t need our heaters! We’ll be running them for just a bit longer, especially during the night.

But as you do, please keep your boiler in mind. It has been running since the beginning of the season. If there are any dormant repair issues in your boiler, they’ll most likely start showing up after all of this continued use.

Four signs that your boiler needs some early maintenance include:

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