Boehmer Heating & Cooling Blog: Archive for February, 2013

Pittsburgh Boiler Repairs: When to Schedule

Monday, February 25th, 2013

In Pittsburgh, cold temperatures last well into spring. If you want to ensure that your home stays comfortable all year long, don’t wait to schedule boiler repair service. If you think your boiler is no longer operating effectively, it may be time to schedule a consultation with a boiler repair specialist. Call Boehmer Heating & Cooling today for more information.

When should you schedule boiler repair? That depends on the problem, of course, but as a general rule, it’s important to keep in mind that boiler problems do not simply go away. Even if the symptoms are no longer there, the underlying problem is likely still the same and may have worsened. Even if your boiler is still relatively effective, scheduling routine service can significantly reduce the likelihood of major repair needs and increase the durability of the system. Familiarize yourself with the following symptoms—if you recognize any of these issues in your boiler system, then don’t hesitate to call in a pro to have a look.

  • Excessive noise. An appliance as large as your boiler is bound to make some noise, but if there are especially loud or unusual sounds coming from your boiler, it could be an indication of a serious problem. You may have air in the system, water pressure may be too low, or, if you have hard water, there may be lime scale build-up on the heat exchanger inside your boiler, thus causing it to rumble.
  • Pilot light keeps going out. This is a common issue, and may be due to too much debris in the supply line to the pilot, which is not giving the flame enough fuel to burn, or there may be a draft in the system that keeps blowing it out.
  • No heat. Your boiler requires power, and if a fuse has blown or if a circuit has been tripped, then it cannot work. Other reasons vary: water level might be low, thermostat malfunction, pilot light or electronic burner ignition malfunction, and other so on. This is probably the most obvious reason to schedule a boiler repair, but due to the complexity of the factors involved, it is not easy to determine a definite cause.

Thankfully, knowing when to schedule a boiler repair in Pittsburgh is much easier than repairing the boiler itself. If you have any doubts about your system or if it’s already giving you problems, give Boehmer Heating & Cooling a call today.

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Pittsburgh Boiler Repair Guide: Why Does My Boiler Make Strange Sounds?

Monday, February 18th, 2013

Does your boiler bang, squeal, or make other noises? There can be a number of reasons for strange sounds emitting from your Pittsburgh home’s boiler. As one of the home’s most hard working appliances, the boiler accounts for a significant part of your utility bills. It is imperative, therefore, that the boiler stays in top shape throughout the year, but especially during the heating season. The most important thing to keep in mind is that a proper diagnosis must come from an expert. Call the Pittsburgh boiler technicians at Boehmer Heating & Cooling to discuss your concerns with a professional.

If your boiler emits banging noises, as though metal parts were clanging together, it may be the rapid expansion and contraction of your boiler’s internal components. There may also be air pockets trapped in the boiler caused by a decrease in water flow, which may be due to corrosion or a problem with hard water. Water flow problems can also be caused by a flow rate setting or a faulty pump. Strange sounds are only part of the list of symptoms, and assessing your boiler requires a hands-on approach.

If your boiler operates without clanging, but you notice uneven baseboard heating, or if your fuel bill jumps from one month to the next, those may also be signs that your boiler needs expert repair. In any event, know that you can rely on your local Pittsburgh boiler technician to make a professional diagnosis and to offer you a solution.

A noisy boiler is never a good sign. Schedule an inspection with Boehmer Heating & Cooling to determine if your boiler needs repair or if it is a part of its normal operation. It’s the first step to maintaining a effective and efficient boiler. Call us today. 

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Pittsburgh Geothermal Question: Is Geothermal Installation Possible in My Yard?

Monday, February 11th, 2013

Geothermal systems are a terrific way to potentially reduce the amount of energy that you use to heat and cool your home. Most heating systems have to burn a fuel source in order to create heat. But geothermal systems actually use the endless and free energy stored in the earth to both heat or cool your home. At Boehmer Heating & Cooling, we provide complete geothermal installation in Pittsburgh. Because of the unique way that geothermal systems work, not every home can accommodate them. If you’re interested in having a geothermal system installed at your home, here are a few of the considerations that you need to think about.

How Geothermal Systems Work

If you were to dig down into the ground about 10 feet the temperature there would be about 55° F. No matter what the temperature is outside the ground below the surface will stay that same temperature. Geothermal systems use a long series of coils buried in the ground to take advantage of the energy stored there. A heat pump in your home circulates refrigerant through those coils.

In heating mode, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the ground and moves it into your home. In cooling mode it does the opposite: it removes heat from the air in your home and exhausts it in the ground.

Geothermal Installation in Pittsburgh

During geothermal installation large holes need to be dug into the ground to bury the coils. The coils can be installed vertically in some homes where space is limited. The holes need to be dug very deep into the ground to accommodate the long pipes of refrigerant. In a horizontal installation, a large area of ground is dug out and the coils are laid out and then buried.

If you’re interested in potentially reducing the amount of energy that you use to heat or cool your home, call Boehmer Heating & Cooling for geothermal installation in Pittsburgh.

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Call Boehmer Heating and Cooling for Emergency Heating Repairs

Monday, February 11th, 2013

Boehmer Heating and Cooling provides emergency heating repairs in the Pittsburgh area. Boehmer was there to help Pittsburgh resident Robert Hemke when he woke during the night to find his furnace wasn’t working. Boehmer has the following tips for home owners during these cold winter days:

  • Don’t crank the thermostats
  • Maintain temperatures at 68-70 degrees
  • Check for carbon monoxide

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Basic Boiler Components: A Pittsburgh Boiler Guide

Monday, February 4th, 2013

For a long time, boilers have been one of the most popular home heating options on the market. Their great durability and even, efficient heating suggest that this will not change any time soon. Boilers also feature fewer moving parts than many other home heating systems, reducing service needs and the frequency of breakdowns. At Boehmer Heating & Cooling, we believe that homeowners should have a basic understanding of their heating systems. This can help you recognize problems with your system and even to use it more efficiently. Here are a few descriptions of the basic components that make up the boiler in your Pittsburgh home.

The burner that your boiler uses to heat water or create steam is one of the most important parts of your boiler. The thermostat (another important component) that you use to regulate temperatures in your home tell the burner when it needs to kick into operation. Fuel is fed into the boiler and combustion takes place, allowing the burner to heat the liquid your boiler uses to warm your home.

The burning of this fuel takes place in a chamber known as the combustion chamber. Temperatures in the combustion chamber get very hot, very quickly. The heat from this chamber is then sent to the boiler’s heat exchanger.

A heat exchanger is responsible for transferring the heat created in the combustion chamber into heating liquid. The water in a series of pipes absorbs this heat and is pumped throughout your home. This is how the heat created by your boiler is utilized to keep your entire house warm.

While a boiler does not have many moving parts, it is still necessary to schedule routine maintenance service to ensure that all of its components are in proper working condition. This will help to boost efficiency and will also keep your boiler operating safely. Don’t take any chances; schedule boiler maintenance service today.

For more information about the way in which your boiler heats your home in Pittsburgh, contact the home heating experts at Boehmer Heating & Cooling. We can help ensure your comfort and the safe operation of your home heating system. Our professional boiler technicians have the answers to any questions you may have.

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