Atlantic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Inc. Blog: Archive for October, 2014

How Often Should I Schedule Boiler Maintenance?

Monday, October 27th, 2014

Your boiler is a complex device that works hard during the winter months to keep you warm and comfortable. It is not unusual for it to accrue wear and tear each season, including the accumulation of dirt and dust. Operating your boiler season after season without scheduling maintenance can reduce the energy efficiency of the system by up to 5% each year. This is one of the reasons why it’s so important to schedule boiler maintenance in Lewes. The cold weather is coming, so don’t hesitate to schedule maintenance with your Atlantic Refrigeration technician today.

Why Schedule Maintenance?

There are several important reasons to schedule maintenance for your boiler:

  • Better energy efficiency – your boiler was made to operate at a certain efficiency level. When the system and its components are worn down from seasonal operation, it can be difficult for your system to operate as efficiently as it should. During a maintenance appointment, components are cleaned, adjusted and lubricated, allowing them to operate as they should. This helps your system retain its original energy efficiency.
  • Prevents repairs – during a maintenance appointment, your system undergoes a thorough inspection. This inspection allows the technician to look for and detect any existing or developing issues with your boiler. Small issues, like frayed wiring, will be repaired during the maintenance appointment; larger issues will be reported to you so that you can schedule an appointment for repair. Resolving potential and existing problems immediately can help prevent repairs down the road.
  • Less wear on your system – a system that operates under stress for a long period of time due to a lack of regular maintenance can prematurely age. Properly maintaining your boiler keeps the system and its components in good working order, which helps prevent early aging.

How Often Is Maintenance Needed?

Ideally, maintenance should be scheduled bi-annually: before the heating season in the fall, and after it in the spring. However, if you can’t schedule maintenance bi-annually, it is strongly recommended that you schedule it annually, with the best time being in the fall season.

If it’s been more than 12 months since your last boiler maintenance in Lewes, call the boiler maintenance professionals at Atlantic Refrigeration today.

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Why You Should Consider Zone Control for Your Heating System

Monday, October 20th, 2014

As we head toward cooler weather, you may already be thinking about how to more comfortably heat your home. One great way to achieve better comfort, and some other benefits, is by installing a zone heating system in Dover. Professional installation is important for any upgrade to your heating system, so make sure you call the trained professionals you can count on: Atlantic Refrigeration.

What Is a Zone Control System?

With a zone control system, your home is divided up into different zones, as designated by you, and each zone is given its own thermostat for temperature control. The system is comprised of a series of motorized dampers that are installed into the supply ducts of your ductwork, and the dampers are connected to a main control panel. The thermostats for each zone are also connected to the main control panel, which allows the dampers to open and close as needed to maintain the temperatures that are set in the different zones.

What Kinds of Properties Benefit from a Zone Control System?

Just about any type of home can benefit from a zone control system, but certain types of homes may find them particularly beneficial:

  • Homes with specialized architecture like floor-to-ceiling windows, vaulted ceilings or loft space
  • Multi-story homes
  • Homes with finished basements
  • Homes with multiple wings

What Are the Benefits of a Zone Control System?

  • Customized comfort – with a zone control system, you won’t have to worry about complaints regarding individual comfort or uneven heating.
  • Better energy efficiency – with a zone control system, you use only the heating you need. This can reduce your overall energy usage and save you money on monthly energy bills.
  • Less stress on your heating system – zone control can reduce your overall system usage, so there can be less stress put on your system when you install a zone control system.

A zone control system can give a level of control over your heating that you won’t be able to achieve with a single thermostat. Call Atlantic Refrigeration today.

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Some Reasons to Schedule Duct Sealing Today

Monday, October 13th, 2014

One of the best ways to prepare for winter is to get your heating system ready to work – this also includes your ductwork. Ductwork has a long lifespan, typically 30 years or more, but that doesn’t mean it won’t need repair at some point. Faulty ductwork can cause several problems, and one of the best ways to reduce or eliminate these problems is to schedule duct sealing in Rehoboth Beach. With professional duct sealing, you can repair the holes and cracks in your system, bringing your ductwork back to optimal functioning. Call Atlantic Refrigeration today and schedule an appointment with one of our NATE-certified technicians.

What Is Duct Sealing?

When a technician seals your ducts, he/she uses a few tools to ensure that the seal lasts. Typical materials are mastic adhesive, professional-grade foil or fiberglass tape and metal bindings. When repairing holes and cracks, the technician will first cover the damaged area with mastic, which is a fibrous adhesive that hardens into a seal. Next, the technician will place a piece of professional-grade tape over the mastic to reinforce the seal. The mastic is allowed time to cure so that it can harden.

If a section of your ductwork has become disconnected from another, the technician will apply mastic to both ends, then join them and wrap them in a metal binding. The binding will be secured with sheet metal nails and the mastic will be allowed to cure.

Benefits of Duct Sealing

  • Improved indoor air quality – when you have cracks and holes in your ductwork, particles and contaminants can get into your air flow and are delivered directly into your living spaces. This can compromise the quality of your indoor air.
  • Improved energy efficiency – many homes with ducted heating and cooling systems experience a level of air loss, but faulty ductwork can account for up to 30% of the total air loss. Your HVAC system will compensate for any amount of air loss, so the higher the air loss, the more energy your system will need to compensate for the loss. By repairing these issues, you can restore your energy efficiency levels.
  • Less stress on your system – not only does your system use more energy when there is significant air loss, it also runs harder. This puts stress on your system that can cause premature aging and wear and tear.

Professional duct sealing in Rehoboth Beach can help improve your indoor air quality and energy efficiency.

Get ahead of winter energy costs this year and schedule an appointment with an Atlantic Refrigeration certified specialist today.

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How Are Geothermal Systems Installed?

Monday, October 6th, 2014

Investing in a geothermal heating and cooling system is one of the best ways to save money every month. Geothermal systems rely on the steady temperature underneath the surface of the earth to reliably heat or cool your home. These systems often require few repairs, and may save homeowners hundreds on cooling and heating costs every year. In fact, the cost of installation may be offset very quickly through monthly savings and local incentives. But while cost is an important factor many homeowners take into consideration when choosing a new system, others are more worried about the installation process. Let’s take a look at how geothermal heating and cooling works, as well as how it is installed.

How It Works

Geothermal heating and cooling systems are also known as geothermal heat pumps. Many homeowners use air source heat pumps, which can also provide both heating and air conditioning. In the summer, air source heat pumps uses refrigerant to absorb heat from the air in your home and release it outdoors. In the summer, the process is reversed, as heat from the outdoor air is distributed into your home. A geothermal heat pump uses a similar process, except heat is absorbed from or released into the earth via a water and refrigerant solution. Because the temperature underground does not change, it’s a more reliable source of heating and cooling, particularly in areas with harsh winter climates.

How It Is Installed

Many homeowners are most concerned about the installation process. The two main components of a geothermal heating and cooling system are the heat pump and the loop field. The heat pump is the indoor component, while the loop field is a set of coiled tubes buried under the ground. The technician buries a set of coiled tubes in the earth, generally in one of two ways.

For many homes, vertical loop field installation is the norm because it requires less space. This requires drilling deep into the ground, so it may be a more costly process than the alternative, horizontal loop field installation. Horizontal loop fields require a lot of outdoor space for installation as long trenches are dug into your property. However, no drilling is required, which generally makes it less costly. In fact, geothermal installation offers some benefits; because these tubes are buried underground, they are not exposed to the elements, which may mean fewer repairs.

To schedule geothermal heating system installation in Ocean City, MD call the geothermal experts at Atlantic Refrigeration today!

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