DuAll Heating & Cooling Blog : Archive for August, 2014

How Can Air Conditioning Replacement Save Me Money Over Time?

Wednesday, August 27th, 2014

If your air conditioner seems to need a lot of repairs recently, you may be unsure whether air conditioning replacement is right for you. An older air conditioner is at risk for sudden breakdowns, but the cost of replacement seems unnecessary if a simple fix can solve the problem. If money is the only consideration keeping you from choosing air conditioning replacement, read on to find out how a new AC can actually save you money over time.

Fewer Repair Needs

Sometimes, you only need a repair or two to keep your AC running smoothly for a few more years. However, if your air conditioner has lived a long life, you may run into repair needs again and again. If you replace or repair all of the major parts of your air conditioner one by one, you will most likely spend more money than if you purchase an entirely new system. And a newer system won’t run into frequent problems, saving you money for years to come.

Energy-Efficient Systems

When you purchase a new air conditioner, you can also look into systems with high efficiency ratings so that you can save money every month. When you purchased your older AC, you may have found the most efficient, top-of-the-line system available. But changes in regulations of efficiency standards as well as advancements in technology mean that you may be able to find a system with a higher SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) than your older unit. Besides, while regular maintenance can keep your air conditioner efficient for years, standard wear and tear will eventually cause your air conditioner to require more energy to run. You may see savings right away with a new system.

Proper Installation

Finally, calling a professional for air conditioning replacement can help you make sure your new AC is installed correctly and is the proper size. If your older AC ran into problems early on, it may have been sized improperly upon installation.

DuAll Heating & Cooling will make sure your new system is sized appropriately and installed correctly. Call us today!

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Reasons You Need to Schedule Water Heater Maintenance in Naperville

Wednesday, August 20th, 2014

One of the modern conveniences in your home that you may take for granted is the water heater. When water reaches your home through the water line, it’s generally cool or room temperature. But we use hot water for many tasks, including showering, cleaning, doing a load of laundry, washing the dishes, and even just washing our hands, so most homeowners would be lost without this home necessity.

Water heaters are designed to last many years, so many homeowners don’t run into problems with their units for a long time. But when a repair need does occur, you may be without hot water in the middle of an important task like cleaning or bathing. Don’t wait until this happens. Water heater maintenance can help prevent sudden unit failure and give you peace of mind. Here are some of the reasons homeowners in Naperville may choose to schedule water heater maintenance with a professional technician.

Increased Efficiency and Fewer Repair Needs

If you have a leak in your water heater or a problem with the mechanism that heats the water, you may be spending too much on utilities. However, some homeowners don’t notice these problems until it is too late. If you schedule water heater maintenance, a technician can catch repair needs early on to keep your unit running smoothly.

Peace of Mind

You may choose to schedule water heater maintenance if you have an older unit that just doesn’t quite seem to heat as well as it once did. If you feel that your water heater may be past its prime, maintenance is a good opportunity to get sound advice from a technician about whether you can keep your unit for a little longer or if replacement may be the best choice.

Don’t trust the condition of your water heater to just any service company. Maintenance and repairs should always be left to professionals with years of experience repairing electric, gas, and tankless water heaters.  Our dependable technicians provide repair services and informed advice about your older unit. Call us today!

When you decide to schedule your next water heater maintenance in Naperville, contact the expert team at DuAll Heating & Cooling.

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Late Season Repairs for Air Conditioning in Plainfield

Wednesday, August 13th, 2014

Odds are, you’ve been running your air conditioner in Plainfield full-time for the last 2-3 months. That’s a lot of work for your air conditioner, and you may see some problems develop as a result of use. It’s normal for air conditioning problems to crop up during peak usage periods, and any signs of developing issues shouldn’t be ignored. Calling for a technician sooner rather than later is always advisable, and DuAll Heating & Cooling is here 24/7 to help you with your air conditioning in Plainfield.

Common Late Season Problems

As with any mechanical device, multiple things can go wrong with your air conditioner, but toward the end of summer, we see certain repairs more frequently than others:

Refrigerant leaks

Refrigerant is a chemical in your air conditioning system that helps with the transfer of heat. It circulates constantly, changing from liquid to gas and back again, releasing heat as it goes. Refrigerant is not consumed by your system, so low refrigerant usually means there is a leak. Your AC is built to function with a specific level of refrigerant, so if that level is altered in any way, it affects how your air conditioner operates. Refrigerant leaks can develop for a number of reasons, but the bottom line is that they need to be repaired, and repaired by a professional.

Worn Components

Normal wear-and-tear can wear out small components like fan belts and wiring, and loosen bolts to motor mounts and fan blades. These small issues can be easily resolved with a repair appointment, but, if left unchecked, they can cause bigger, more expensive problems.

Dirty Coils

There are two sets of coils in your air conditioner: the condenser coils and the evaporator coils. During normal use, these coils can become coated with dust and dirt; if allowed to build, this coating can become a layer that acts as insulation which inhibits the heat release process of the coils. Eventually, this imbalance will affect how your system operates. Cleaning dirty coils before they become an issue can help stave off repairs that could develop in the future from excessive dirt and dust.

Don’t Wait to Make Summer-End Repairs

Repairs do not get better with time, and in fact, may very well become worse, especially if they sit through a cold winter. Get ahead of your summer-end repairs today by contacting DuAll Heating & Cooling. Give us a call today to schedule your next AC repair.

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How UV Germicidal Lights Help Protect Indoor Air Quality

Tuesday, August 5th, 2014

Your indoor comfort isn’t just about temperature; it’s also about the quality of your indoor air. There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to indoor air quality, like humidity levels, the presence of allergens, odors and the possibility of biological pollutants like bacteria, viruses, mold, mildew and fungus. Removing all these different particles from your indoor air can require the pairing of different air cleaners, but if you seek not just to remove, but eradicate, biological pollutants, you’ll want to consider the installation of UV germicidal lighting in Romeoville.

What Are UV Germicidal Lights?

UV germicidal lights are lamps that can be installed directly into your system. They are typically placed over the evaporator coils and/or in the ductwork of your system; this is because biological growths like mold, mildew, algae and fungi thrive in cool, moist, dark places. UV lights operate at the same cost as regular home lighting, and installation is simple and straightforward.

How Do UV Lights Work?

UV lights radiate UV-C light rays. These UV-C light rays destroy the DNA in biological particles, preventing them from reproducing, as well as interfering with life-sustaining proteins they need to live. By destroying these cells at their core, UV germicidal lights eradicate biological pollutants. UV germicidal lights are the only air cleaner available that can destroy biological contaminants.

UV Lights Do Not Filter

One important item to note about UV germicidal lighting is that, unlike a mechanical filter, it does not filter anything. This means UV germicidal lighting does not capture dust or other particles, nor can it attract air to be purified; biological particles have to float to the space where the lighting is installed. This is why it’s important to consider the installation of a mechanical or electronic air filter when installing UV lighting.

UV germicidal lighting in Romeoville offers a safe and effective way to help make your home healthier. It is important to hire professionals for your UV light installation because if the lights are not installed correctly, they may not operate as needed.

If you are concerned about biological pollutants in your home, call DuAll Heating & Cooling today and schedule an appointment with one of our installation experts.

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