Radiant 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.
Oasis Heating, A/C & Refrigeration Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Information’
Why Radiant Heating Is a Great Choice for New Homes
Tuesday, October 31st, 2017How Heating Can Impact Air Quality
Sunday, October 29th, 2017When the snows fall and the weather turns cold, a good heating system can be your best friend. But furnaces and other forms of heating can impact more than the temperature: they can make a difference as far as indoor air quality goes too. Understanding how heating in Arlington, VA can impact air quality can help you avoid any problems in that arena.
The popular notion holds that heating systems dry out the air in your home, which is partially true. Air tends to be dry in the winter as a matter of course, and a heating system can only make it worse. Ideally, you want the relative humidity in the air to be somewhere between 35% and 50%. If it drops below that, you’ll feel it in your nose and sinuses: exacerbating respiratory problems and even resulting in nosebleeds in the worst cases. A humidifier can help the situation.
A more severe problem can take place if your heater isn’t regularly maintained. As dust and dirt build up in the internal components, the heater can affect indoor air quality. The contaminants will blow through your system as the furnace circulates the hot air. The particles can contain allergens and other unhealthy pollutants, which can make existing allergies worse and create irritation in the nose and throat when breathing. You can combat this by changing your air filter regularly, and by scheduling a regular maintenance session to clean the internal components in your heating system.
Because heating often involves the circulation of air, it pays to remember how it can affect air quality as well as temperature. Judicious maintenance from a qualified professional can help. In Arlington VA, heating questions can be solved by the professionals at Oasis Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Inc. Give us a call today!
How a Humidifier Improve Comfort and Health in a Home during Winter
Tuesday, October 24th, 2017Our Virginia summers often get humid, which makes the heat much less pleasant. But during the winter the opposite problem frequently occurs: as the temperature drops, the moisture level in the air declines. This can lead to problems in a home with comfort and even health.
The best way to solve problems from low humidity if they happen in your home is to have a whole-house humidifier integrated into the HVAC system. A professionally installed humidifier will properly balance humidity levels so it’s neither too dry or too humid.
Why You Should Consider a Hybrid Heating System in Arlington
Saturday, October 21st, 2017Do you want to install a heat pump in your home, but are concerned that it might not perform as needed during the winters? If so, consider a hybrid heating system in Arlington. A hybrid heating system offers you the best of both worlds: a heat pump that comes with the back-up of a natural gas furnace. Proper installation is the key for any new heating system, so if you are ready for a new system, call the people you can count on: OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc.
What Is a Hybrid Heating System?
As we mentioned above, a hybrid heating system consists of a heat pump and a back-up gas furnace. The main component of the system is the heat pump. Heat pumps work by using refrigerant to facilitate the transfer of heat from one location to another. During the summer, the heat pump removes the heat from your indoors and transfers it outdoors; during the winter, the heat pump absorbs the heat surrounding it, concentrates it, then sends it into your home. However, when the temperature falls below 32 degrees, it is harder to extract heat from the air, forcing the heat pump to work harder and less efficiently. However, with a hybrid system, this isn’t an issue.
With a hybrid system, the outdoor unit, where the heat pump technology is house, is equipped with a sensor that works in conjunction with a dual-fuel thermostat inside your home. The sensor reads the outside temperature and is programmed with a set-point temperature, determined by you, that tells the system when to switch to the gas heat. When the temperature goes above the set-point, your system will switch back to using the heat pump for heat. The switching in the system is automatic, and ensures that you’ll never have to worry about being cold on an extra-chilly day.
A hybrid heating system in Arlington can be the perfect solution for those homeowners looking to gain the benefits of a heat pump but without worry during the colder months of the year.
If you are interested in seeing what a hybrid heating system can do for your home, call OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc., today.
Some Ideas for New Heating Installations
Thursday, October 12th, 2017Is a Maintenance Contract Worth the Money?
Thursday, October 5th, 2017Most quality professional HVAC companies offer maintenance programs to take care of a home’s heating and cooling system. You pay an annual fee, and in return receive two regular check-ups and tune-ups per year, one in spring for the air conditioning system and the second in fall for the heating system.
Is it worth the money to sign a maintenance contract for your HVAC system? The answer is an emphatic yes, as we’ll explain why below.
With Cool Weather Ahead, Is It Time to Replace Your Old Furnace?
Thursday, September 28th, 2017It’s hard to imagine that September is almost over already! Weren’t we just in the middle of a balmy summer? But the calendar doesn’t lie, and it won’t be long until we will need our heating systems working to keep us cozy all the way until the spring arrives again.
While it’s still early fall and some summer heat lingers, you should give thought to the old furnace in your house. Now might be the best time to replace it so you’ll be prepared for anything the winter season might throw at you.
Should You Get a New Furnace in Time for Winter?
Monday, September 25th, 2017Here we are in the fall, and we can expect to enjoy some gorgeous weather in Virginia in the coming months before the winter cold really arrives. During this space between the temperature extremes of the year is when we recommend that you evaluate your home furnace to see if it needs to be replaced. If you have a furnace that’s only a few years old, it will probably be fine for the winter—as long as it receives its annual maintenance inspection and tune-up. (Get on the schedule for maintenance before it gets crowded!)
Arlington, VA Heating Tip: What to Look For in a New Heating System
Saturday, September 16th, 2017When you are in the market for a new heating system in Arlington, VA, there are many factors to consider. Fuel costs in the area, efficiency ratings, and the size of your home are just to name a few. Whether you are considering a new furnace or heat pump, we’ve put together a few guidelines to get you started in this process.
Feel free to call the Arlington, VA heating experts at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. if you have further questions or would like to go over the different types of heating systems that we offer.
Understanding Efficiency Ratings
As you compare all the different models, you’ll notice that each one has what’s called the AFUE rating. This stands for “Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency,” and it’s a percentage based on what amount of fuel is converted into usable heat. Furnaces and heat pumps with higher ratings are more efficient. You should look for ones with efficiency ratings above 90% if you want more savings.
Fuel Type
If you own an electric furnace and are thinking of switching to a gas model, it may be a more cost-effective choice depending on the local fuel costs. Call the electric company and ask to see your bill history from the past year if you don’t already have it.
You’ll want to consider the benefit of installing other gas appliances if you are looking at the cost of installing a gas hookup. But you’ll also want to compare natural gas costs to the cost of electricity in your area. Should you decide to go with gas rather than electric, call us. We can install a variety of high-efficiency gas furnaces to provide better energy savings.
Advanced Features and Thermostats
When you are comparing the different models, don’t forget to look for advanced features, such as multi-stage settings and automatic defrost on heat pumps. Also look at the difference in a regular heat pump and dual fuel systems that will automatically switch to the backup heat when the heat pump is not running as efficiently in colder temperatures. You can also find programmable thermostats to work with gas and electric furnaces, heat pumps, and ductless mini split systems.
Call the Arlington, VA heating professionals at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. if you would like to know more about what to look for in a new heating system.
What Causes Leaks in My Water Heater?
Thursday, August 31st, 2017If a water heater receives regular maintenance as well as repairs whenever they are required, it should serve a home for many years with a steady and sufficient supply of hot water. But eventually a water heater will run into problems, and one of the more common is water leaking from the tank or other connection points. The moment you see water pooling around the base of your water heater, call for a technician. The system will either need to be repaired, or in some cases, replaced entirely.
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