Professional Heating & Air Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

What Happens When Furnace Burners Won’t Work?

Monday, January 2nd, 2017

Most homes in the Walker, LA area use gas forced-air furnaces to heat their homes in the winter. They’re simple and effective, and they make a great fit for our warm Southern climate. Furnaces depend on burners for their heat, and when the burners don’t work, there’s a big problem. The good news is that a trained repair services can usually take care of the problem quickly and effectively.

How Burners Work

Burners in gas furnaces rely on natural gas for fuel. They burn it below a heat exchanger – a shaped piece of metal that effectively transfers the heat to the air (which can then be blown into the ducts of your home with a fan). That’s more energy efficient than just letting the gas burn in the air. But that also means that any problems with the burners need to be addressed quickly. At best, a few burners knocked out of commission will lower the efficiency of the heater a great deal: increasing wear and tear on the rest of the unit and raising your monthly energy bills to boot. At worst, they can shut the entire system down completely.

What Causes Burners to Fail

Sometimes, burners will shut off automatically, to prevent a gas leak or present a similar type of hazard. In these cases, the problem usually lies elsewhere, such as a leak in the gas lines or a faulty ignition system. Burners can often become clogged with dirt and gunk as well, preventing them from running. And in some cases, wear and tear, can take their toll, or they may suffer damage from misadventure or something similar.

Regardless, you need a qualified repair service to diagnose the issue and find a solution. The friendly professionals at A Professional Heating and Air are on the job for you!

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Now Is a Great Time to Install a Zone Control System

Monday, December 26th, 2016

Winters aren’t exactly an Arctic wasteland here in Covington, LA, and our HVAC systems aren’t tested nearly as much this time of year as they are in the summer. Heating systems, while necessary for those cool winter nights, aren’t put under the same strain as air conditioning systems. That makes December an excellent time to look into any changes or upgrades to your system. You’ll have time to install it without worrying unduly about your HVAC system being out of commission, and can reap the benefits the moment the weather starts to change. 

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Get Your Fireplace Checked Out

Monday, December 19th, 2016

Fireplaces are a lovely way to keep warm this winter: providing a cozy and romantic atmosphere while providing inexpensive heat to keep your whole family warm. With winter officially arriving in Hammond, LA this year, now is an ideal time to use your fireplace. Before the season proceeds much further, however, it pays to get the fireplace examined by a trained technician to ensure that it’s functioning as it should. Why? Because doing otherwise might be more dangerous than you think.

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What Kinds of Things Reduce the Air Flow in Your Heater?

Monday, December 12th, 2016

Furnaces in the Springfield, LA area usually follow the centralized forced-air model: heating the air via burners and a heat exchanger, then blowing it through the ducts to the various corners of your house. (The same ducts are used to carry cool air from your air conditioner in the summer.) The ducts are often hidden from sight, but they — and more specifically, the vents where the air emerges — can alert you to a potential problem with the system. For example, if the air flow from your vents drops down below the level you expect, it’s usually a sign of a more serious problem inside the system.

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Air Conditioning Tips for Thanksgiving

Monday, November 21st, 2016

We’re technically in the middle of fall, with winter on its way, and that means heating season. But the weather in Hammond, LA, rarely gets too cold, and even if things are cool, that equation changes when you have friends or family members only for the holidays. The body temperature of so many people in an enclosed space can elevate the temperature, as well as causing a number of other effects you should be aware of. The same holds true when you’re cooking a big meal in your kitchen: with high temperatures from the oven, the dishwasher and other appliances adding to the situation. You can avert these problems and help make your home comfortable for your holiday get-togethers with a few simple steps.

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How to Reduce Winter Heating Costs

Monday, November 14th, 2016

We don’t tend to worry a whole lot about heating costs here in Springfield, LA. Winters are short and mild here in the sultry South, and when compared with our sky-high air-conditioning bills, it can mean a much lower heating bill. But that also means you might still be paying more than you should for proper heating, and while an inefficient furnace or boiler won’t turn your home into a freezer, you shouldn’t have to pay more than you should for a properly comfortable home.

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Early Signs of Heating Problems

Monday, November 7th, 2016

Heating season arrives late and leaves early here in Mandevilla, LA, and while people elsewhere in the country have been bundling up for weeks, we’re only just now getting around to using our heating systems on a regular basis. Now is an excellent time to check your system for any potential problems. Temperatures are still warm enough to keep strain on the system to a minimum, and if problems exist, you still have time to treat them before the winter formally arrives and your heater will be under a lot more pressure to perform.

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Fall Is Here: Time to Get Your Heater Checked

Monday, October 24th, 2016

It’s been a long summer here in Hammond, LA, but temperatures are finally starting to fall as the cooler weather of autumn predominates. Considering everything we’ve been through this summer, it’s more important than ever to schedule a maintenance session for your heating system from a trained technician. Doing so can save you time, money and heartache this heating season.

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What Constitutes an HVAC Emergency?

Monday, October 10th, 2016

In towns like Springfield, LA, good heating and air conditioning service is vital to a happy household. It goes beyond simple comfort into questions of actual safety. Extremes in temperature — whether high or low — can constitute a danger to your family members, leading to heat stroke, vulnerability to flu bugs and the like. When your HVAC system goes down, you may need it repaired much more quickly than you expect. And if that breakdown occurs after hours or over the weekend, an emergency repair call may be in order. 

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Strange Noises in Your Furnace

Monday, February 29th, 2016

We’re at the tail end of heating season here in Walker, LA, and with warmer temperatures come the return of your air conditioner to prominence in your home. But now is the time when you need to watch out for problems with your furnace, which has been running all winter and may have suffered from wear and tear in the interim. One of the best ways to spot a problem with your furnace is to listen for any strange noises it may be emitting. Here’s a list of a few, and the possible causes. If you hear them, shut your system off and call a repair service as quickly as possible.

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