Winter is still a few days away, and here in Casselberry, FL, it’s not exactly going to be a frozen wasteland. Even so, you’re going to be using your heater much more often than normal, which means higher bills and increased wear on the system. Some of that is inevitable, but just because you pay more to keep your home comfortable in the winter doesn’t mean you need to pay more than you should. You can improve your heating system’s efficiency before winter hits with the judicious installation of an upgrade to your existing system. We’ve provided a brief list of options below.
Downtown Air and Heat Blog : Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category
Improve Your Heater’s Efficiency Before Winter
Monday, December 12th, 2016Problems with Older Furnaces
Monday, November 14th, 2016Furnaces are designed to last a long time, and with our mild winters here in Casselberry, FL, they can last even longer. But that doesn’t mean they will go on forever, and as they age, specific problems are bound to crop up. Once the warranty on your heater expires, you need to take careful note of any problems that arise. Some of them can be dealt with by timely repair sessions, but eventually one or more of them will likely require you to purchase a new heater. These problems can include, but are not limited to, the following:
Schedule a Heater Servicing Session Now!
Thursday, November 3rd, 2016Air conditioning season lasts a long time here in Orlando, FL, which is why we’re such a thriving tourist spot. Long summers and mild winters have a way of putting people at ease, and local residents justifiably spend more time concerned about their air conditioning systems than their heating systems. But with fall well underway, temperatures are going to drop, and while an operating heater isn’t as pressing a concern as an operating air conditioner, you don’t want your furnace to run into trouble on the coldest nights of the year.
Consider a Heat Pump for Your Home this Spring
Monday, February 29th, 2016With warm weather well on its way, installing a heat pump is probably the last thing on your mind. What many Orlando, FL homeowners don’t realize, though, is that for areas with mild climates, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to both furnaces and air conditioners.
Common Signs You Need Your Heater Repaired
Monday, February 8th, 2016We’re getting into the latter half of heating season here in Orlando, FL and soon enough, it will be time to turn off our heaters and turn on our air conditioners. This is usually the time when breakdowns strike your heating system, as regular use can take its toll and leave you without reliable heating during the mild days and chilly nights still to come. The sooner you can summon a repair technician to handle such breakdowns, the better. But not every breakdown announces itself so obviously, and while it’s easy to call for repairs when the system won’t turn on, it’s harder to notice the more subtle signs of a problem. Here’s a brief list for you to watch out for as winter enters its final few weeks.
3 Upgrades to Help Your Heater Perform at its Best
Monday, January 25th, 2016A house is not unlike the human body, in that it has multiple different systems that need to work in conjunction together in order to provide a pleasant and comfortable environment for your family. Here in Orlando, FL we don’t spend a whole lot of thought on our heating systems, since most of the year is devoted to keeping our homes cool, not warm. But you may be spending more than you need to on your heating bills every month, in part because you don’t have any auxiliary systems working in conjunction with it. These upgrades are easy to install and can make a huge difference with your HVAC system, not just in the winter, but all year round. Here are 3 of them that can help your heater perform at its best.
The Importance of the AFUE Rating
Monday, December 14th, 2015Most homeowners in Orlando, and elsewhere, don’t look at heating replacement as an opportunity, but it is on several levels. One way replacing a failing heating system is a great opportunity is by increasing your energy efficiency. It stands to reason that if you are replacing a heating system that is 10+ years old, there’s no doubt you will increase your home energy efficiency simply by purchasing and using an updated heating system. But if you really want to know just how efficient a particular furnace or boiler system will be in your home, the best thing to look at is the AFUE rating.
Furnace Not Lighting?
Monday, November 30th, 2015We aren’t quite in the throes of heating season yet, but if you have tried to start your furnace to get the chill out of your home during the evening only to find that it isn’t lighting, it’s time to give our heating experts a call. A combustion system that isn’t lighting could be suffering from a variety of issues, and it is very important that you allow a trained expert to handle the problem. Combustible fuel can be very dangerous, and there is absolutely no reason to take an unnecessary risk. Our pros can help you with your heating repair in Orlando – all you have to do is give us a call.
November Is Heating Maintenance Time in Orlando
Monday, November 9th, 2015You may be looking at the daytime temperature and wonder what we are talking about. With temperatures still in the 80s in our area, there seems to be no need to schedule heating maintenance. But if you look at the calendar, we are in November, and this means cooler temps are on their way. If you want your heating system ready to go at the flick of a switch, you want to schedule heating maintenance now with the pros from Downtown Air and Heat.
What Factors Are Part of a Load Calculation?
Friday, March 20th, 2015There are a number of factors that need to be taken into account to properly heat and cool your home or business, but one of the most important of these factors is correct sizing. You may hear that all you need to know in order to correctly size and HVAC system for your home is the square footage; this simply isn’t true. Why? Every property gains heat throughout the day via a phenomenon known as heat gain, and daytime heat gain can increase the heat in your property up to 10 degrees. If you don’t account for this daytime heat gain, you could purchase and install an HVAC system that isn’t the right size. The heating and cooling experts at Downtown Air & Heat know how important it is to correctly size an HVAC system for any property, which is why we offer load calculating services in Orlando and the surrounding areas. If you are planning to install a new heating or cooling system, and need help, call us today!
Factors in a Load Calculation
No one really thinks about the various elements that may contribute heat to a given property, mostly because the focus on the main source of heating or cooling: the HVAC system. But there are a number of ways a property can gain heat:
- Through exposed walls
- Solar gain through windows
- Conduction movement through doors and windows
- Latent gains from electronics, lighting and people
- Fireplaces
So, in order to properly calculate how daytime heat gain affects your property, the following items need to be considered:
- The orientation of the property
- The location
- Climate
- Types and number of windows and doors
- Floorplan
- Number of stories
- Number of rooms
- Number of occupants
- Insulation levels
- Square footage
Once all these factors have been determined, your technician can perform the calculation. The calculation will yield how much heating and cooling you’ll need, and as a result, what size HVAC system you’ll need.
A number of problems can develop when you install an HVAC system that is too big or too small for your home or business.
Contact the load calculation experts at Downtown Air & Heat today and schedule an appointment for your Orlando property!
