DuAll Heating & Cooling Blog : Archive for November, 2012

What Can Cause a Heat Pump to Make Noise?

Monday, November 26th, 2012

It is quite normal for heat pumps to make noises. This is especially true in the cold winter months. Most heat pumps have valves that carry out the task of reversing the flow of refrigerant when you switch between the cooling and heating modes. When the pump goes into defrost during winters, the valve is made to shift position. This is accompanied by a whooshing sound that persists for a few seconds. The compressor tends to get much louder after this. Another time when you may hear sounds is during shutdown when Freon pressure tends to equalize. Both of these are totally normal.

Another case where you may hear loud sounds coming from your heat pump is when the outdoor unit shuts off or starts running. Scroll compressors have a tendency to do this in a more noticeable manner. Similarly, some outdoor units tend to create a buzzing sound even when they are not running. This sound is created by the 24-volt reversing valve coil. Since this doesn’t waste any energy, it is nothing to be worried about. The sound of vibration is another common complaint and is quite difficult to get rid of. Rubber tubing can help in this case, but the vibration is not really doing any harm to your pump.

On the other hand, if you hear very loud sounds which resemble metal hitting metal, it may be time to worry. These sounds are often created when the fan blades hit against ice, wires or even tubing. If this is the case, you need to shut the unit off at once. This is a bad sign and can damage the fan and even the motor to an irreversible state. In fact, a misplaced tube can hit the fan blades and also cause a leak leading the Freon to flow out. Grinding or squealing sounds may point to a similar problem that needs to be fixed promptly. So if you hear any of these sounds, make sure you shut the pump off immediately and call for professional help.

Anything including low refrigerant charge, a faulty reverse valve, and defective motors or compressor valves can cause this problem. So make sure you get it checked by a Naperville heating professional if the problem persists.

Call the Naperville Ductless Mini Split experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling to find out what your options are. Contact DuAll Heating & Cooling today!

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Residential Heating FAQ: What Is a Dual Fuel System and Do I Need One?

Monday, November 19th, 2012

Are you considering a dual fuel system but not sure if that is the right type of heat pump system for your home? Call the Bolingbrook heating experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling if you would like to know more about the benefits of a dual fuel system. We can explain the advantages of dual fuel over a standard air source heat pump system, and we’ll be glad to assess your current system to let you know if an upgrade would be a cost-effective choice.

Backup Heating with an Air Source Heat Pump

If you have an existing air source heat pump, you probably have a backup heater. Many people believe that a heat pump will not heat the home during times of extreme cold weather. However, this is not the case. Air source heat pumps—at least the standard ones—simply do not work as efficiently during freezing weather. Using a backup heater is mostly about getting more efficient heat in the winter.

Backup heat is usually provided by a gas furnace, since natural gas tends to be more efficient than electricity. And with a duel fuel or hybrid system, the heat pump control center will know when to switch from the electric compressor to the gas furnace for more efficiency. Before you decide to upgrade, there are a few factors to consider.

Here’s how you can compare the costs of other heat pumps that don’t use this type of technology. First, make sure you know the condition and efficiency of your current heat pump if you have one. If your old system was not sized correctly, or if you’ve made significant improvements to increase overall home efficiency, you may want to upgrade to a more efficient heating and cooling system to take full advantage of those changes.

Make sure you also understand efficiency ratings. They are measured differently for the different types of systems. Check with your heating contractor if you aren’t sure how to read the numbers. You can also just look for the Energy Star label. These models with be about 10% more efficient than the ones that meet today’s basic energy requirements. Also be sure to compare the cost of fuel in your area, and keep a record of your bills every winter so that you can see when you were paying more in heating costs.

If you have further questions or would like to go over your options with one of DuAll’s Bolingbrook heating specialists, call us any time.

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How to Get the Most Out of Your Heat Pump This Winter

Monday, November 12th, 2012

Do you get excited about your utility bills? It’s unlikely. With the price of energy rising, people in Naperville are looking for every way to reduce the amount of energy that they use. There are many ways that you can cut corners when it comes to your energy consumption. We thought that it would be helpful for our customers in Naperville if we assembled some easy ways to get the most out of your heat pump as you’re trying to stay warm this winter. If you’re interested in learning more about these tactics, contact the Naperville heating professionals at DuAll Heating and Cooling.

Insulation

Insulation is by far one of the best ways to improve the efficiency of your home. The principle is pretty basic: keep more of the hot air inside your home. To maximize your efforts, start with your ceiling insulation. Climb up into the attic where the insulation for your ceiling is typically exposed. If you notice that there are areas that are thin, old or that aren’t touching completely touching the ceiling joists, it might be time to call a heating contractor. You should also check the insulation in your walls and floor as well.

Seal Your Doors and Windows

Another place where heat loss occurs is around door jams and window sills. You can have your heating contractor inspect these areas and suggest an insulation method for them. You should also check the access door to your attic and to your basement.

Seal Your Ducts

Another great way to improve efficiency is to have your ducts inspected. Your ducts are the veins of your heat pump, delivering hot air to all the rooms that need it. If there are holes, cracks or leaks in your ducts then that hot air that you spent money heating is just drifting outside.

Get Your Heat Pump Maintained Before the Winter

A great way to make sure that your heat pump is running at peak efficiency is to have it regularly inspected, repaired and maintained. Your heating technician will be able to detect small repairs that could be decreasing the energy efficiency of your heat pump. They can also replace any worn belts and lubricate the fan’s bearings to make sure that it is working well.

If you have any questions about any of these services, then contact DuAll Cooling and Heating. We would love to visit your home in Naperville to help you get the most out of your heat pump. Reducing your energy consumption is always a good thing. Call us today!

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Why Commercial HVAC Maintenance Matters

Monday, November 5th, 2012

If you own a commercial building you know how much work goes into keeping that property in good shape, regardless of how you use it. When you have business owners or tenants renting space from you or if you have your own business in the commercial space you need to make sure that the environment is as comfortable for everyone involved. This includes tenants, employees, clients and potential customers. An uncomfortable workplace, business or tenancy makes a bad impression, and that is not something that any professional wants to do. Make sure that all users, visitors and inhabitants of your commercial building are as comfortable as possible to make your ventures a success. Duall Heating & Cooling can ensure the proper operation of your HVAC equipment in Bolingbrook

The only way that you can protect your commercial HVAC system is with regularly scheduled professional maintenance. Unlike a residential home, where temperature fluctuation is fine and systems are not in constant use, you commercial HVAC equipment is under extreme demand all of the time. Of course it is designed to handle this strain, but when a single component of this very large system is compromised the performance of the entire thing is put at risk. With a large system it does not take long for wear and tear to develop when a part of that system is not pulling its weight. Keep the workload balanced and ensure the proper operation of your commercial HVAC equipment with regular professional maintenance.

In addition to tuning up your HVAC system during maintenance service your commercial HVAC technician can also use this as an opportunity to inspect and discover any small, developing problems with your HVAC equipment before they have the chance to spiral out into serious issues. The smaller a problem is when it is discovered the less complex – and expensive – the necessary repairs are likely to be. By catching these problems before they have a chance to worsen you are eliminating the risk of having to shut down your commercial HVAC system for repairs and inconveniencing those people relying on your commercial property to conduct their business.

The biggest reason to schedule commercial HVAC maintenance is simply because these systems require a maintenance service professional, such as those at Duall Heating & Cooling, to carry out this service. There are far too many components that are far too complicated for anyone but a trained, certified professional to ensure are in good working condition. Be sure to have your commercial HVAC serviced during the off seasons to ensure its continued efficiency and effectiveness when you need it most. Protect your commercial HVAC property and equipment in Bolingbrook by calling Duall.

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