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!
Oasis Heating, A/C & Refrigeration Blog : Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category
What the Color of Your Furnace’s Pilot Light Means
Thursday, December 7th, 2017Problems with Your Electric Furnace? Let’s Look into It
Tuesday, December 5th, 2017Not every house has a connection to a natural gas line, and some homeowners prefer the safety of only relying on electricity to power appliances. For these homes, an electric furnace is always a good alternative source for warmth. Along with their flexibility, electric furnaces tend to have longer service lives than gas furnaces and they cost less upfront to install.
No furnace can be 100% free of problems, however. In this post, we’re going to look at what you can do if your electric furnace begins to lose its heating ability—or it stops heating altogether.
How Damaged Ductwork Can Lead to Heating Problems
Sunday, December 3rd, 2017Ductwork 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.
Why Your Furnace May Be Short-Cycling
Friday, December 1st, 2017What Are the Risks of Delaying Heating Repair?
Saturday, November 25th, 2017The winter is almost here in Virginia. That can mean some rough times outdoors and some cozy times indoors. However, you can be in for rough times indoors as well if you don’t schedule the necessary repairs for your heater right now. If your heater is currently developing troubles or is sending signals (like odd noises and uneven warmth) that something is amiss, you can’t hesitate and hope the problem will improve on its own.
If you need heating repair in Arlington, VA, call OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. as soon as you can. We have 24-hour emergency service!
Here’s what you risk when you delay repairs:
A single malfunction in your heating system will cause the entire system to work harder. A broken fan belt in a furnace, a leaky refrigerant line in a heat pump—these will make the heater strain to reach its target temperature, and that means additional wear and tear that could lead to a full breakdown.
And you know when that full breakdown will occur? On the coldest day of the year. This isn’t a case of Murphy’s Law at work; it’s mechanical logic. Your heating system will have to work hardest for you on the coldest day of the year, and that’s when the strain from lack of repairs will cause it to break. You don’t want to be stuck with a frigid house on a day when HVAC specialists are already scrambling to answer other emergency calls. You may end up with a long wait.
Delaying repairs usually means the repairs will be more expensive further on. Malfunctions won’t fix themselves: they will get worse from the heavier wear. By the time you do get around to scheduling repairs, two other malfunctions may have also occurred because of neglect.
Putting off repairs will cost you in another way: elevated energy bills. If your heating system is straining to reach its regular temperature, it will drain additional power—and that will show up on your bills.
Prompt repairs—and regular maintenance—will fix this
You should do more than schedule repairs the moment you know you need them. You should also enroll in a regular preventive maintenance program. A dependable HVAC contractor like OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. will offer programs that provide you two check-ups and tune-ups a year—one for your heater and one for your air conditioner. These visits will fend off repairs and breakdowns, as well as give you the most efficient heating performance possible.
When it’s time for maintenance or heating repair in Arlington, VA, contact OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc.
What’s So Special About Hybrid Heating?
Sunday, November 19th, 2017Hybrid 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!
Planning for an Emergency Loss of Heating in Winter
Tuesday, November 7th, 2017You can never be too prepared when it comes to keeping your household safe in case your furnace, heat pump, or radiant heating system fails on you during the chilliest day or night of the year. This is a particular worry if you have a home with infants, elderly, or infirm people. So while it is still fall, take some time to lay out preparations for what to do in case of a broken heating system.
Heating Repair in Alexandria, VA: How Do I Know When My System is Struggling?
Sunday, November 5th, 2017When it comes to heating repair, Alexandria VA residents know better than to wait. When winter comes, we need reliable heating systems to keep our homes warm and cozy, and a problem with your heater could turn your home into an icebox. Even if it still runs, a problem can reduce its efficiency, costing you money in higher bills. If you can spot the signs of a problematic system, you can summon a trained professional before the trouble gets worse. “How do I know when my system is struggling?” Here are three possible answers.
- Higher bills. As intimated above, when your system is struggling, it has to work harder into order to heat your home. That translates into more energy expended, which translates into higher heating bills. If your bills are going up, despite the fact that you haven’t run the heater any more often than normal, you may need to contact a professional to look at the unit.
- Low air flow. If your air flow is lower than it should be, or if the air isn’t flowing at all, you’ve probably got a problem. It could be caused by a breach in the ducts, by a blockage somewhere in the system, or by a fan motor that isn’t functioning the way it should.
- No heat. It may be that the air is flowing just fine, but the air being blown is lukewarm or even cool. The problem depends on the kind of heater you have: an electric furnace may have problems with the heating coils, while a gas furnace may have an issue with the pilot light or the thermocouple. Regardless of the possible causes, you should shut the furnace off and contact a service professional as soon as possible.
If you know when your system is struggling – either for these or other reasons – contact Oasis Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc, for help. We’re experts in heating repair, Alexandria VA homes are a part of our service area, and our trained professionals are standing by to help. Give us a call today to make an appointment.
5 Tips for Gas Furnace Safety in the Winter
Thursday, November 2nd, 2017The gas furnace is the most common type of heating system found in homes. This shouldn’t be a surprise: a gas furnace can deliver high levels of heating and is energy-efficient. But some homeowners feel concerned that gas furnaces are safety hazards. This reputation isn’t accurate, but if you have a natural gas furnace keeping your home warm every winter, you still must take some safety precautions. Below we’ve listed 5 tips to keep your family safe this winter while you use your gas furnace.
Why Radiant Heating Is a Great Choice for New Homes
Tuesday, October 31st, 2017Radiant heat: it’s the warmth you feel coming off of a hot surface, like pavement baking in the sun or a glowing lightbulb. Even though it’s the most natural form of heat—it’s the type of heat the sun gives off—many homes don’t make use of it for seasonal heating. The most common kind of heating systems found in houses use forced-air to provide comfort, i.e. distributing heat through air blown out of vents connected to ducts.
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