Oasis Heating, A/C & Refrigeration Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Information’

Arlington, VA Air Conditioning Question: How Is Air Conditioner Capacity Measured?

Saturday, April 15th, 2017

If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, then you may have learned that you’ll need a calculation of your living space in order to assess what size air conditioner you’ll need to cool your home effectively and efficiently. Bigger is not better when it comes to air conditioning. This is a common mistake, and such homeowners will pay for inefficient (and sometimes inadequate) cooling for the next decade as a result.

In this post, we’d like to review the question of how an air conditioner capacity is measured, so that you can stay informed about how your AC works. For more information, or to schedule Arlington, VA air conditioning service, contact the pros at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. today!

Your air conditioner unit uses several measurements to determine its cooling capacity. One such unit is known as the British thermal unit (BTU). It is an international standard, and it is equal to the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by 1° Fahrenheit. In the world of AC terminology, a BTU stands for the amount of energy required to remove that thermal unit from the room. An associated unit of measurement is the ton. One ton of cooling capacity equals about 12,000 BTUH (BTUs per hour). Thus, if you have a 3-ton unit, it can remove about 36,000 BTUs every hour. The unit of the ton is derived somewhat roughly from how much energy it would require to melt a ton of ice uniformly over the course of 24 hours. Thus, our modern AC jargon is handed down from the days when homeowners used ice to cool their homes.

Remember that only a professional will be able to assess adequately what type of cooling capacity in BTUH and tons you will need to cool your home effectively and efficiently. For more information, or to schedule air conditioning installation in Arlington, VA, call the experts at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. today!

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One Way to Help with Allergies in Your Home: Go Ductless!

Thursday, April 13th, 2017

It’s an unfortunate fact that many homes today have too many airborne contaminants circulating through them. A small amount of dust is unavoidable, and even a large amount of pollen, dander, and other pollutants in the air won’t have a noticeable effect on people in a household—unless those people suffer from allergies. These airborne contaminants can trigger even minor allergies, and children are especially susceptible.

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3 Reasons You Should Consider a Tankless Water Heater for Your Home

Thursday, April 6th, 2017

Although tankless water heaters are not a recent invention, it is only recently that they made a large impact on the residential water heating world. After years of popularity in Europe, they are now a common option for new installation in homes across the U.S.

If you are in the market for a new water heater, whether for a new home or as a replacement for your aging current water heater, there are a number excellent reasons to put a tankless water heater high on your list of options. Although you might feel reluctant to stray away from the tried-and-true storage tank water heater, below are three reasons that our technicians you should give the tankless water some serious consideration. Call OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration to learn more about the benefits of this technology.

I. They can save you money

One of the huge differences between a storage water heater and a tankless water heater is that the storage model must maintain its water at a high temperature, while a tankless model only uses heat when a tap requests hot water. This means that a storage water heater will use energy almost constantly in order to replace heat lost from the tank, consuming large amounts of energy. A tankless model only turns on as you need hot water (which is why they are also called “on demand” water heaters) and uses a smaller amount of energy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can achieve savings up to 34% off your water heating bills each year with a tankless unit.

II. They won’t run out of hot water

Because tankless water heaters only heats up water when you need it, they don’t have a supply of water that can run out. In other words… your household can’t use up all the hot water. You will never need to worry about someone getting stuck with a cold shower in the morning rush again.

III. They can outlast other systems

Connected to their reduced use of energy, tankless water heaters have longer lifespans than storage water heaters. The Department of Energy estimates that a standard storage water heater will last 10–15 years, while a tankless water heater can expect to endure more than 20. That means you have at least 5 years, and probably more, to enjoy the energy savings of your tankless water heater.

Tankless water heaters are not ideal for every home or budget, so please make sure you contact the experts at OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration in Arlington, VA for assistance when you’re ready for a new water heater. We will make sure that you receive the best unit for your needs.

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Now Is a Great Time to Install a New Air Conditioning System

Tuesday, March 28th, 2017

The temperatures are now starting to warm up as we move into spring. The air conditioning system in your home might not be doing much work yet—maybe an hour here and there during the middle or one of two days out of the week—but its heaviest period of use is coming up… soon!

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Is a Tankless Water Heater Worth It?

Monday, March 27th, 2017

If you’re asking this question it’s probably because you’ve heard about the growing popularity of tankless water heaters for home installation… and your current storage tank water heater is coming to the end of its service life and you want to replace it. Is going with a tankless water heater the best next step? Or does the cost of this advanced type of water heater outweigh its usefulness?

These are good questions to ask yourself before making a decision. But the best way to find answers is to work with water heating professionals. It’s important to make the right choice for your new water heater installation in Burke, VA, and our team of experts will help steer you toward the best system to replace your old one.

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The Basics of Ductless Mini Split Heat Pumps

Monday, March 20th, 2017

Heat pumps stand as viable alternatives to traditional forced-air systems, combining the features of a heater and an air conditioner in one. Here in Arlington VA, heating with them makes a lot of sense since they do well in climates with comparatively mild temperatures. Heat pumps are available as centralized units, but you can also get ductless mini split heat pump systems. Why a ductless mini split might work for you, it’s important to understand the basics.

Ductless mini split systems entail a series of individual air handling units placed around your home, each connected to the outside unit. Each one is tasked with heating or cooling a specific section: an individual room or similar area. This section arrangement allows you to tailor the temperature to whatever you want in each room, or even turn the heat or air conditioner off in parts of the home you aren’t using. The indoor units of the ductless mini split systems need to be installed on an outside wall, but otherwise their installation parameters are very flexible, allowing them to be placed wherever you decide they can do the most good.

Ductless heat pumps work just like central heat pumps, they both use a closed loop system that circulates refrigerant gas just like an air conditioner. The gas passes through a compressor which subjects it to a great deal of pressure, then into condenser coils, which bleed the heat off to turn the gas into liquid. (The generated heat can be used to warm your home during the heating cycle.) The liquid then moves through an expansion valve, which releases a set amount into the evaporator coils. As the refrigerant evaporates, it pulls heat from the surrounding air, which can then be used in the system’s cooling cycle. The refrigerant then returns to the compressor valve to start the system anew.

These are just the basics of ductless mini split heat pumps. For specifics, OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc. is standing by to help. We operate in Arlington, VA, heating and cooling are both a part of our service, and we can discuss the installation of a ductless mini split heat pump system with you. Call us today to make an appointment!

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End of Winter Thoughts on Replacing Your Heating System

Sunday, March 12th, 2017

With winter coming to a close, you may be considering a major step in your household comfort: replacing a heating system that is no longer functioning the way it should. The end of winter makes an ideal time for such a move, since you likely won’t need to use your heating system and can set a flexible schedule that works with your life (as opposed to scrambling around at the last minute in cases where you need a heating system asap). Beyond that, you simply need to determine if a new system is right for this point in time, or whether you should continue to use your older system for another season or two.

Here are a few end of winter thoughts on replacing your heating system.

Start by gauging the overall efficiency of your heater. Take a look at your monthly heating bills this winter, then compare them to bills from the previous two or three winters. Are they going up? More specifically, are they going up despite the fact that you didn’t run your heater any more than normal? If so, it may mean that your heater’s efficiency is faltering and replacement may be in order.

You can continue that by consulting with a trained professional about your existing heater’s AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating, so see where it stands. The rating measures your heater’s efficiency, measured as a percentage. If it’s dropped off, you may want to replace it for a more efficient one before next heating season rolls around. And of course the age of your existing heater plays into all of this. If it’s running fine, there’s no need to fret, but if you’re seeing some of the symptoms mentioned above and your furnace is more than 10 years old, it may be time to install a new system.

End of winter thoughts on replacing you heating system are smart because you have the luxury of time to think about your options. Expert heating service in Springfield can be provided by the experts at OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc. Call us today to set up a consultation!

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How Sealed Furnace Combustion Improves Over Older Furnaces

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017

There’s never a wrong time of the year to arrange for installing a new gas furnace for your home. Whenever you notice that your current furnace is failing in its job and is past the point where furnace repairs in Springfield will do much good—or last for long—then don’t delay calling HVAC professionals to arrange for a replacement. If you have a furnace that has seen more than 20 years of service, it’s also time to get a brand-new unit. That old furnace is probably costing you too much money to run each time it comes on, and it may even turn into a safety hazard.

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Pollutants That Might Be in Your Home’s Air… Right Now!

Wednesday, February 1st, 2017

One of the services that we offer to our customers is the installation of a range of air filters, air purifiers, and UV lights to clean their air of various contaminating particles. But many homeowners don’t believe such measures are necessary: after all, it’s the outdoor air that’s polluted and unhealthy, not the air that’s kept circulating through the inside of a house.

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When Is a Good Time to Arrange for Water Heater Replacement?

Wednesday, January 25th, 2017

A water heater that receives professional installation and regular maintenance each year should last for a good long stretch. However, there’s no way for any water heater to perform its job forever. You’ll eventually need to replace it if you live in the same home for long enough. Call our technicians when you believe that your old water heater is ready for retirement and a new system put in its place.

When should you arrange for water heater replacement? Below are some guidelines:

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