Boehmer Heating & Cooling Blog : Archive for January, 2013

Pittsburgh Heating Tip: Problems Affecting Your Boiler’s Performance

Monday, January 28th, 2013

While there could be many problems affecting your boiler’s performance, there are a few common reasons your boiler is not heating your home enough. Call the Pittsburgh heating specialists at Boehmer Heating & Cooling for all your boiler needs.

If there’s sediment build-up inside the boiler tank, this could affect the performance. That’s why it is important to have a professional flush your tank during routine tune-ups so that it prevents decreased water levels, which affects how well the boiler heats your home or hot water. Keep an eye on the pressure gauge as well so that you know when the water levels are abnormally low. Consult your owner’s manual if you aren’t sure how to read the pressure gauge. Call a repair technician if the readings are not normal. This could prevent a safety issue or damage to the system.

If there’s too much air in the lines feeding the radiators, this could also affect performance. If you hear hissing noises, there could be too much air inside the lines. In gas boilers, a bad thermocouple sensor is another issue that can cause low heating output. This sensor measures the gas flow, so if it is broken, then you won’t be getting enough heat. Call for repairs if you think this may be the issue.

Lastly, a leaking boiler tank will definitely cause performance problems since a water leak can affect the temperatures of the water. Signs of corrosion or rust on your tank should be looked at by a boiler repair technician.

Call Boehmer Heating & Cooling for heating repair in Pittsburgh!

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Boiler or Furnace: Which is Right for Your Pittsburgh Home?

Monday, January 21st, 2013

Boilers and furnaces are two of the most common heating systems in the United States. There are pros and cons to each heating system but when it comes down to it, the best system for your home is the one that you like the most. But which one is right for your home? This can be a hard question to answer without knowing the specifics of your home, your budget and your personal preferences. Boehmer Heating & Cooling has been providing complete boiler and furnace installation in Pittsburgh for many years. We’ve help countless customers figure out which system is right for their home and then installed it for them so that it works when they need. Here are some of the things to think about as you move forward with this process.

Radiant Heat vs. Forced Convection

Boiler systems generally heat your home using radiant heat. This means that the heat from the under floor or wall pipes radiates out into the room and heats up the objects in the room. You can also have baseboard radiators which heat the air. A forced-air convection system, like a furnace, heats up the air and moves it through your home.

The Pros and Cons of Boilers in Pittsburgh

As is the case with everything, boilers do offer some great advantages to your homes but they also have some disadvantages. To begin with, many people report that radiant is more comfortable than forced-air heating. If you have radiators in each room, you can turn some of them off if you’re not using the room which offers energy savings. However, boilers are typically much more to install and to replace. They also don’t offer any humidity control for your home because they don’t circulate air.

Pros and Cons of Furnaces in Pittsburgh

Furnaces offer certain benefits over boilers. They allow you to incorporate an air filtration and humidity control system directly into your heating system. They also cost much less to replace and to install. However, because they move air around, they pick up dust and other allergens and move them into the air.

If you need any kind of help picking out a new heating system for your home, just call Boehmer Heating & Cooling. We have years of experience providing complete furnace installation and boiler installation in Pittsburgh. Call us today!

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Why Won’t My Pilot Light Stay Lit? Pittsburgh Heating Repair Tip

Monday, January 14th, 2013

There are a few different reasons why the pilot light in your Pittsburgh home may have trouble staying lit. While not all of them are particularly serious, any malfunctioning pilot light should be recognized as a potential safety hazard. If your pilot light just does not want to stay lit, we encourage you to contact the Pittsburgh heating experts at Boehmer Heating & Cooling. We have the skills, training and tools necessary to determine if your pilot light issues are just a matter of a faulty component or if there is a serious issue in your basement.

One reason that your pilot light may not stay lit is a faulty thermocouple. A thermocouple is a safety feature that gas furnaces and water heaters feature designed to stem the flow of gas to the appliance in the event that the combustion process is not safe to perform. Basically the thermocouple detects heat at the burner of your furnace. If there is not sufficient heat to keep the combustion of the fuel going safely the thermocouple will sense this and trigger the shut off of the gas supply. If your thermocouple malfunctions it may not sense sufficient heat even if it is there, causing it to shut off the flow of gas even when there is no threat to your safety.

A more serious issue that may cause your pilot light to go out frequently is a problem with the supply of gas itself. For instance, if there is a gas leak en route to your furnace there may not be enough gas coming in to keep the pilot light lit. Anytime that you are dealing with a combustible fuel like natural gas you need to be sure that it is provided in a safe, effective manner. A natural gas leak can lead to exposure to carbon monoxide, a toxic gas.

For more information on potential reasons that your pilot light will not stay lit, contact the Pittsburgh heating professionals at Boehmer Heating & Cooling. We want to make sure that you are safe in your Pittsburgh home. Let us help you heat your home and water in a safe, efficient manner. Schedule service today.

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Why Enroll in a Maintenance Plan? A Pittsburgh Heating Guide

Monday, January 7th, 2013

Making a sound investment is a great feeling. You work hard for your money, and when you spend it in a way that improves your life over time while saving you money along the way. Enrolling in a maintenance program with your Pittsburgh heating and air conditioning contractor is one of the best decisions you can make in terms of spending a little to gain a lot.

At Boehmer Heating & Cooling, we pride ourselves on not only the quality of our service but the value that we provide our customers. That is why we encourage you to enroll in one of our exceptional maintenance plans available throughout Pittsburgh. Contact us today for more information.

When it comes to getting the best, most efficient and most dependable performance possible from your heating and air conditioning equipment, regular maintenance is your best bet. There are numerous benefits that come with the professional maintenance of your home comfort systems. Maintenance ensures that each individual component of the system is operating properly, boosting efficiency and reducing the risk of damages and breakdowns. It also allows for the safe operation of your heater and air conditioner.

By enrolling in a maintenance plan you get many additional benefits. Our maintenance plans include discounts on repairs and reduced diagnostic charges or an option that includes no additional labor or diagnostic charges. You will not pay any overtime charges and we will always be there when you need emergency services.

Maintenance plans are a great idea considering the busy, hectic lifestyles that most people lead these days. You do not need worries about your heating and air conditioning systems added to your plate. When you enroll in a maintenance plan, you have a professional team to do that for you. You don’t even have to worry about remembering to schedule service.

As heating and air conditioning professionals, we here at Boehmer Heating & Cooling cannot recommend enrolling in a maintenance plan enough. It is the best way to keep your Pittsburgh home comfortable with total confidence. Feel free to call us with any questions you may have.

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