Here in Hammond, LA, most of us rely on forced-air furnaces and air conditioners, which utilize a centralized format. In other words, they generate their hot or cool air in a single place, then blow it through your whole house with a series of ducts. It’s a very efficient method and it makes a lot of sense in places with mild winters like ours. But in some cases, you might want to think about another option: a ductless mini-split system. This divides your home into individual sections – usually by room though not always – and provides a single heat/cooling unit to work for that section. It costs more to install, but provides a number of benefits, which can influence your decision to have a set put in. When should you consider a ductless mini-split system? Here’s a few pointers to help make that decision.
Professional Heating & Air Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category
When Should I Consider a Ductless Mini Split System?
Sunday, February 21st, 2016Causes of Low Air Flow in Your Heater
Monday, February 8th, 2016Your heating system may not see as much use as your air conditioning system here in Hammond, LA, but it still has to hold the line on our chilly nights, and when it runs into problems, you need to treat them just as swiftly as you do your air conditioning. Take the question of low air flow, for instance. It doesn’t sound like a huge deal – the air from your furnace simply moves through your home more slowly – but in fact it can spell big trouble. Not only does it take longer for your heater to do its job, raising your monthly bills and increasing stress on the system to boot, but if the hot air isn’t moving, then it will likely just sit in your heater: raising the temperature of internal components and running the risk of a serious breakdown. If you detect low air flow in your heater, shut it off and call in a service professional immediately. The causes are varied, but can include the following.
3 Signs of a Damaged Heat Exchanger
Monday, February 1st, 2016The heat exchanger is one of the primary components in your furnace. The heated gas from the burners passes through them and warms up the metal: heating the air to be delivered into your home while venting the exhaust gas safely out of the system. A damaged heat exchanger is a big problem, especially in Hammond, LA where our heaters sit unused for many months out of the year and which can contribute to the sort of corrosion that can damage a heat exchanger. Damage means that the exhaust isn’t leaving the way it needs to, which constitutes a safety hazard for you and your family. Here are 3 signs of a damaged heat exchanger that you should look out for. If you spot them, shut the system down and call for repairs immediately.
Beware of Beaches in Your Duct Work
Monday, December 21st, 2015We live in Hammond, LA, which means our winters are very mild and our heaters see intermittent use at best. This actually makes an ideal time to look at problems that may be affecting your HVAC system’s efficiency, including breaches or breaks in your ducts. The duct work in your home exists to spread conditioned air from your system into your various rooms, nooks and crannies. When a breach opens up – due to damage in your ducts or perhaps the fittings between two sections of ductwork becoming loose – it can cause a great deal of trouble for your heating and air. Beware of breaches in your ductwork and be ready to get the issue addressed as quickly as possible.
Common Heating Misconceptions That Could Cost you Money
Monday, December 14th, 2015The holidays are here and with them comes cooler weather that necessitates regular use of your heating system. We’re not exactly buried in snow here in Hammond, LA, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need our heating units to keep us warm – especially at night – and our focus on air conditioning for most of the year leads many homeowners to discount the need for heating when it arises. Accordingly, you may have fallen prey to one or more common misconceptions about heating that could end up costing you money. We’ve listed a few of them for you to look out for.
Schedule Maintenance Sessions before Family and Friends Arrive
Monday, November 30th, 2015With Thanksgiving over, you and your Hammond, LA household might be preparing for the next big round of the holiday season: Christmas. And with friends, relatives and other well-wishers heading over to your place for the Christmas season, the last thing you want is a big problem with your heater, air conditioner or indoor air quality system. Problems can crop up at any time, and while some can be spotted by an observant homeowner, others might catch you completely by surprise. If you haven’t scheduled a maintenance session for the various components in your HVAC system yet, you should do so now, before family and friends arrive.
Things to Consider with a New Heater
Monday, November 16th, 2015So you’ve decided to get a new heating system. Congratulations! If your old system isn’t doing the job anymore, you’ll be surprised at how much of a difference a new one makes, not only in terms of household comfort, but in terms of keeping your monthly heating bills under control. A good professional service here in Hammond, LA can install a new heater for you with efficiency and pride, as well as answering the countless questions and considerations you need to evaluate before scheduling the actual installation. Here are a few for you to think about.
What Causes Your Furnace to Short Cycle?
Monday, November 9th, 2015Short cycling is the tendency of your home furnace to turn on and off rapidly numerous times throughout the day, often without adequately cooling your home first. It’s a big problem because furnaces use far more energy starting up than they do simply running. A short cycling furnace is wasting energy – costing you more in monthly heating bills – as well as elevating the chances of a serious breakdown occurring in the near future. Hammond, LA features mild winters, but our nights can still get pretty cold and the last thing you want is your heater suffering a repair call just when you need it the most. The good news is that a repair technician can usually solve the problem. But what causes your furnace to short cycle in the first place?
Common Misconceptions about Your Thermostat
Monday, November 2nd, 2015Your thermostat is one of the most important components in your heating and air conditioning system, and yet despite its common use, many people hold popular misconceptions about the device. Those misconceptions can actually end up costing you money if you’re not careful, and here in Hammond, LA, monthly energy bills are nothing to take lightly. We’ve assembled a list of common misconceptions about your thermostat that we’re hoping to dispel, and put a little money back in your pocket in the process.
Advantages of Heat Pumps
Monday, October 26th, 2015A heat pump is a variant on the traditional air conditioner, but with a twist. Regular air conditioners cycle refrigerant through a closed system that cools the air in your Hammond, LA home, while releasing heated air as exhaust outside. Heat pumps simply allow that cycle to be reversed: releasing cool air outside while using the warm air to heat your home. They tend to cost more than other heating systems to install, and because they are more complex than others, repair bills can be more expensive too. So what’s the benefit to owning one? In point of fact there are a number, and they can easily offset the drawbacks. Here are some advantages of heat pumps that you ought to consider if you’re installing a new heating or air conditioning system.