Residential & Commercial HVAC and Refrigeration Tips Blog | Atlantic Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Inc.

What You Need to Know About a Leaking Boiler

December 7th, 2020

Do you think that the boiler you use to heat your home should leak? Your answer to that is almost certainly no. Leaks of any kind in water-carrying systems in a house are bad news. Your boiler isn’t part of the standard plumbing, but part of the heating system. However, it relies on the circulation of water to provide warmth to your house, traveling from the tank through pipes to the various terminal points (radiators, baseboard heaters, in-floor piping). If you notice water leaking from the boiler system (with one exception) there’s something wrong that will require heater repair in Delaware.

Need to know more about what’s going on? We’ll get into that below.

Why the Burners in Your Furnace Aren’t Lighting

November 23rd, 2020

It’s nice to know that whenever you need warmth in your home during the long winter, you only have to adjust the thermostat and your furnace turns on and starts sending heated air through the ducts to the rooms…

…except when it doesn’t. A furnace can’t be guaranteed to work without malfunctions through its entire service life, although regular maintenance each fall can keep problems to a minimum. But this winter you may find that the burners in your furnace aren’t lighting when you set the thermostat to demand heat. What’s going on, and do you need to call for furnace repair in Smyrna, DE?

Is a Tankless Water Heater Right for Your House?

November 9th, 2020

If you’re reading this post, it’s likely because you are considering installing a new water heater for your house. The old water heater is no longer doing the job, or it is costing far too much to keep it up. What’s the next step? Is it as simple as calling and asking us to replace your water heater? Well, yes, it can be that simple. When it comes to water heaters in Lewes, DE, we’re the expert team to look to for a new installation.

We’ll help you with more than installing a new water heater. We’ll help you choose the model and size. Which brings us to the topic of this post: the tankless water heater. You’re thinking you may want to switch from the standard storage tank model you’ve used for years to the technology of the “on-demand” water heater. Is this the right choice for your home?

How to Prepare Your AC for Its Winter Break

October 26th, 2020

During spring, we recommend all of our customers schedule a maintenance inspection and tune-up for their air conditioning system. This prepares the AC to handle the rigors of another summer.

But you won’t use your air conditioning system during the winter, so there isn’t anything you need to do to prepare it for the season … or so you might think.

Although you don’t have to schedule maintenance a second time for your AC (unless it’s a heat pump), there are a few steps you can take to ensure the air conditioning system is protected and in good shape during this period of inactivity. This will help make life easier when spring comes around.

Below are steps to take to help your AC through the winter hibernation.

Should You Invest in Geothermal Comfort This Fall?

October 12th, 2020

When summer ends, people start to think about their home comfort systems—and not just heater. Yes, fall is the time to schedule heating maintenance to ensure the heater is ready to handle the coming winter temperatures. But fall is also a time to consider making changes to the air conditioning system if it’s coming to the end of its service life.

Last week we offered a recommendation for an HVAC system upgrade that handles your heating and cooling needs: a heat pump installation. This isn’t the only way you can make a double-upgrade for your heating and air conditioning in Delaware, however. This may be the fall that you finally decide to make your dreams of a geothermal heating and cooling system come true.

Should You Replace an Old AC With a Heat Pump?

September 28th, 2020

You’ve come to the end of regular air conditioning maintenance and AC repair in Delaware for your home comfort system. The air conditioner is at the close of its service life and it’s time to schedule a replacement. All ACs eventually get there—the important part is deciding what to replace yours with.

“Well, that’s easy,” you say. “Another central air conditioner!”

Of course, that is one option, and it may be the best option. But it isn’t the only one. You might want to consider a heat pump.

How Did Your Air Conditioning System Do This Summer?

September 14th, 2020

If you remembered to have your annual spring air conditioning tune-up in Maryland, you probably had a problem-free summer of cooling. That’s what these regular maintenance visits are designed to do: prevent repairs from cropping up, stop abrupt breakdowns, and keep the AC from becoming more expensive to operate.

Before your air conditioning system goes off for a few months, it’s a good time to analyze its performance during the previous season and look forward to the future. And the future may be a new air conditioning system installation.

More Ductless Advantages: You Can Use Them If You Have Ducts Already

August 31st, 2020

Among the different services for air conditioning installation in Delaware we offer our clients is installation of ductless mini split heat pumps, which provide both cooling and heating without the need to either put in ducts or use up window space. Ductless mini splits are fantastic ways for older homes to enjoy great heating and cooling while not having to make major alterations to find ways to stick in ductwork. They also work as excellent alternatives for new home construction—you can forget about squeezing ductwork into the blueprints.

However, you’re reading this and thinking, “I live in a house with built-in ducts. Is there any point in having a ductless system installed? What’s the benefit?”

It’s true that if you have a central ducted AC and heater in your house that you are better off staying with this type when you have a replacement. But this doesn’t entirely discount ductless systems. There are uses for ductless mini split heat pumps in homes with ducts. Below are a few of them.

Failed Capacitors Can Leave You With a Failed Air Conditioner

August 17th, 2020

Earlier this summer, we discussed troubles you may encounter with a faulty compressor in your AC. The compressor is an essential part of any air conditioning system, and if it fails, it often means the entire AC must be replaced.

Today we’re going to look at another important part of an air conditioner—one which is connected to the compressor—but which is a part you can expect to replace during the air conditioner’s lifespan. It’s the capacitor. Or the capacitors, since the AC has several of them, with two for each motor. There are capacitors for the compressor motor as well as the motors of the two large fans, the indoor blower fan and the outdoor exhaust fan. A failed capacitor can leave you with a non-working air conditioner. It takes professional air conditioning repair in Delaware and Maryland to put in new capacitors and get the AC back to work.

Did You Know? Ductless Systems Can Help With Your Indoor Air Quality!

August 3rd, 2020

We install and service ductless air conditioning in Delaware and Maryland as part of our effort to improve comfort for our customers. Ductless systems—which, as heat pumps, also work as heating systems—are beneficial in numerous ways. For older homes lacking ductwork, they’re a way to enjoy central heating and cooling without putting in ducts. They allow for the easy conversion of attics and garages into cooled/heated living spaces. They make it simple to provide comfort to add-on rooms. They can lower energy consumption while giving a home zone control.

But you may not have known that ductless systems can also improve the air quality in a house!