Oasis Heating, A/C & Refrigeration Blog : Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

Radiant heating is an unusual and efficient means of warming your house. It consists of pipes full of warm water or electrical coils directly beneath the floorboards of your house, warming the furnishings (and people) through the direct transfer of energy. When it comes to heating your home in Arlington VA  you have a lot of options, but radiant heating offers a number of advantages to offset the cost and effort of installation. Here’s a brief rundown of the benefits of a radiant heating system.

• Efficiency. Radiant heating doesn’t rely on forced air to warm the room. It transfers energy directly, which means it does its job much more efficiently than forced air furnaces. You can save a considerable amount of money each month on heating bills, helping to offset the cost of installation.
• Comfort. Unlike forced air furnaces, there are no drafts or cold spots to contend with with radiant heating. That tends to create a more comfortable environment overall, as well as preventing the spread of dust and allergens (which forced air furnaces are notorious for).
• Cost Saving. Radiant heating systems have comparatively few moving parts, which means they require repairs less often on the average than other types of furnaces. Perhaps even more importantly, they can last a long time with proper maintenance, which not only extends the benefits of your investment, but can improve the resale value of your home when the time comes to sell.

The benefits of radiant heating installation are considerable, though it’s not for everyone. When it comes to heating, Arlington VA residents need to match their homes and their circumstances with the heating system that’s right for them. When making that decision, it helps to have trained experts on your side. Here at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. we understand radiant heating systems, as well as a plethora of other heating options for your home and offer comprehensive heating services in Springfield and beyond. We can discuss your choices with you, the set up an installation plan that meets your needs. If you want to see the benefits of radiant heating installation, then pick up the phone and give us a call today!

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If your furnace uses a standing pilot light, you may not know it, but you’re behind the times. Standing pilot lights are being steadily phased out as more modern electronic ignition systems come into play. There are many reasons for this. Standing pilot lights are notorious for going out at the drop of a hat, mostly due to their being almost completely unprotected from air flow in the house. They are also surprisingly massive energy wasters. Even a small flame can waste quite a bit of fuel if it is on 24/7. Read on to find out how electronic ignition fixes these issues, and why you may want to consider upgrading.

Intermittent Pilot

The first kind of electronic ignition devices we’re going to look at is the intermittent pilot. As the name suggests, this is an ignition system that still uses a pilot light, but not all the time. When the thermostat tells the furnace to turn on, the intermittent pilot opens a gas valve and creates a small spark. This spark is generated by an electrode that is installed close to the burners. It is this spark that ignites the burners and starts the system.

The intermittent pilot solves a lot of the issues that plagued the standing pilot. No more worrying about the pilot light blowing out, or failing because of a bad thermocouple. Its sensors are more accurate, it doesn’t waste nearly as much energy, and it is relatively low maintenance. If something does break, it will be a bit more expensive to fix due to the more complicated nature of the system. However, it is worth it for all the benefits it provides.

Hot Surface Ignition

This type of electronic ignition relies on a heating filament, rather like a light bulb filament, to light the burners. Just like the intermittent pilot, the hot surface ignition system is not on the whole time. When the heating system receives the command to turn on, the hot surface ignitor runs an electric current through the filament installed under the burners. This filament gives off enough heat to ignite the gas and start the system. Just like lightbulbs, heating filaments can burn out over time. They are relatively easy to replace, though.

If you’d like to know more, call OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc. We provide furnace installation in Springfield and beyond.

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Now, during the early part of heating season, is when you should pay special attention to the operation of your gas furnace. You want to detect any early indications of malfunctions so you can have them repaired before the serious cold weather strikes. After all, you know that when a furnace breaks down, it will probably happen on the coldest day of the year!

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Ductwork runs from a central HVAC system throughout your house, carrying conditioned air to warm or cool your living space. Ducts play a vital role in keeping your home cozy and comfortable, and when they suffer damage they need to be repaired as quickly as possible. Here’s how damaged ductwork can lead to further heating repair needs. For more tips or to schedule a repair, call the Alexandria VA heating repair specialists at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc..

It generally boils down to a question of efficiency. If your heating system is running efficiently, it’s delivering the most heat to your home for the least amount of work overall. The less efficiently it operates, the more energy it needs to use to warm your home (costing you money in higher monthly bills) and the more strain it puts on your system overall. That strain leads to parts wearing out more quickly, which in turn leads to further breakdowns and continued repair bills.

How does damaged ductwork feed into that? Because it reduces efficiency. If the duct is crimped or blocked, then the air won’t flow through it effectively: increasing the time it takes to warm your home. A leak or breach in the ducts will do much the same thing, while dust build-up in damaged ducts can lead to dusty components on the heater itself: increasing friction between moving parts and generally impeding the system’s ability to do its job. Like any other component, the ductwork needs to be in good shape for the heating system as a whole to function the way it should. Repair services to fix damaged ductwork will not only correct the problem at hand, but reduce the need for additional repairs in the future.

If you know how damaged ductwork can lead to further heating repair needs, then you need to call a professional as soon as you realize the problem.  For heating repair in Alexandria VA, Oasis Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Inc. has the know-how you need.

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Hybrid heating refers to heating that uses two or more types of systems to perform its duties. You most often see hybrid heating as a means of augmenting a heat pump, which is commonly used in Fairfax, VA heating systems (as it is in other cities throughout Virginia). Heat pumps combine the features of heaters and air conditioners, using the same basic system to cool your home in the summer and heat your home in the winter. Heat pumps work best in areas where the temperatures stay above freezing. When it gets especially cold, however, a heat pump will no longer heat efficiently, which is why households in this area usually augmented it with a smaller electric or gas furnace. Hence the term “hybrid heating system.” But what’s so special about hybrid heating?

In the first place, hybrid heating is an all-in-one option which can handle your whole home no matter what the weather. Our summers can be as warm as our winters are cold, and hybrid heating makes it easy to keep your house comfortable. Furthermore, they’re safe and reliable forms of technology, able to effectively heat or cool your home with a minimum of fuss and bother.

Perhaps most importantly, hybrid systems save you money. When the temperature is cool but not cold, the heat pump can do the job much more efficiently than a regular gas furnace could alone. On those super-cold days, the gas furnace can kick in and heat your home. Hybrid heating systems can offset the cost of installation through such savings, as well as improving the resale value of your home.

Life every other HVAC system they do still need maintenance from time to time, and you’ll want a qualified technician on-hand to perform the installation. For any Fairfax, VA heating issues, Oasis Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Inc. is here to help. We can explain what’s so special about hybrid heating, then set up an installment and maintenance plan that works for you. Pick up the phone and give us a call today!

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