Boehmer Heating & Cooling Blog: Archive for March, 2015

3 Tips to Avoid Heating Repair

Wednesday, March 25th, 2015

At Boehmer Heating & Cooling, our technicians are committed to a positive customer experience. But that doesn’t mean that you want to see our experts all the time. Scheduling heating repair is never an ideal situation, no matter how friendly, knowledgeable and clean the technicians are. If you’d like to avoid heating repair in the future, follow these tips for a heater that works as well as you need it to.

1. Keep the Thermostat at an Efficient Setting

When your heating system runs at full capacity day and night, it can begin to take its toll on the unit. Parts can start to wear down until your entire system eventually struggles. While maintenance can delay this effect, keeping your heating system running at an efficient temperature is a good way to make sure it does not wear out too soon. When you’re away, program your thermostat to keep the heat turned off or to lower the temperature below what you’re used to, and then to heat back up after you arrive.

2. Schedule an Energy Audit

Have a professional visit your home for an energy audit to find out which parts of your home allow heat to escape and use up energy. A more efficient home can lead to reduced heating times, or you may feel that you can shut off your heat altogether at times. After an energy audit, you may learn that you need to seal air leaks or add some insulation. These steps keep your heater running smoothly and efficiently so that it does not become overworked.

3. Get Professional Maintenance Each Year

A professional maintenance visit can extend the life of your system and prevent repairs. A technician may make a few adjustments to your system and clean up some of the dirtiest components. Afterwards, the tech will let you know what still needs repair, if anything, so you can schedule it at a later date rather than waiting for a heating breakdown.

Call on the help of the friendly people at Boehmer Heating & Cooling for our quality heating repair service in Pittsburgh, PA. We provide energy audits, maintenance, repair, and more, so call us first for all of your HVAC needs.

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What Are These Noises from My Boiler?

Friday, March 20th, 2015

Boilers are known for their quiet operation. Unlike forced-air heating systems, which may have loud fans and motors running at all times, boilers have far fewer moving parts, and these are usually out of the way of your living space. You might not notice that your boiler is in trouble until you move closer to the unit itself, but when you hear loud rumbling, rattling, or other noises, it can seem quite alarming.

When you notice odd sounds from your boiler unit or anywhere in your home heating system when you run the boiler, call Boehmer Heating & Cooling.

Common Noises and What They Mean

If you hear a rumbling or rattling noise from the tank of your boiler, it could mean trouble. Most likely, the source of the rumbling is sediment in the tank. Sediment builds up as hard water moves into the pipes with your water supply. Hard water is water that has a high concentration of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These can leave deposits in the tank, which can then rattle around and cause a bit of noise.

More important than the noise, however, is the effect that these minerals have on the performance of your boiler. When sediment builds up too much, the volume in the tank decreases, which means that pressure increases. Long ago, a boiler in this position could be at risk of exploding, but this is not a concern today. Safety features on the boiler should shut down the unit if the pressure becomes too high or water may leak out from a relief valve. Either way, this is not an ideal situation to be in, and you should have a technician look at the system as soon as you can.

Noises from your boiler, from the baseboard heater or radiator, or from the pipes underneath your floorboard can all indicate trouble. Often, noises from locations besides the boiler tank itself could indicate circulator pump trouble. This can lead to uneven heating or none at all.

Call us today at Boehmer Heating & Cooling. We can drain sediment from your boiler or find a suitable solution with our boiler repair service in Bethel Park. In some cases, a replacement is necessary, but we can help you to find the best system for your replacement needs quickly.

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Common Furnace Problems

Wednesday, March 11th, 2015

During the cooler months in Whitehall, it may seem as though the winter weather will never end. Your furnace works hard to keep you comfortable during the chilliest days, which means each one of the parts of your system gets quite a bit of use. Eventually, excessive use can really take its toll on the parts of your furnace, which means that you may need repairs. Here are some of the most common furnace repairs that our technicians deal with at Boehmer Heating & Cooling.

  • Blower Fan Motor Replacement: Warm air moves into your home through the ventilation system in your home after a blower fan pushes it past a heat exchanger and into the ductwork. If this blower fan is not operating properly, then you won’t get the level of heating you need in your home. What’s more problematic is that the furnace plenum could overheat—were in not for the safety switch in place meant to prevent this. The furnace limit switch shuts off the unit when it’s at risk of overheating, so you won’t get any heat at all. Often, this just means that you need replacement.
  • Cleaning the Flame Sensor: The flame sensor is another safety feature which helps to protect your home and family. This component keeps gas from leaking into your home if the pilot won’t light. When there is no flame, the probe senses the trouble and shuts down the unit. However, this sensor may malfunction and assume there is no flame if it is too dirty, shutting down the unit unnecessarily.
  • Repairing or Replacing the Thermostat: Sometimes, a problem with the furnace is a result of a faulty thermostat. Poor wiring can cause the furnace to short cycle, or it may not turn on at all. You may decide to replace your existing thermostat with a more efficient model, like a smart thermostat that allows you to change the temperature from your smart phone even when you’re far away.

Call the people at Boehmer Heating & Cooling to repair your furnace in Whitehall. We have years of experience repairing and maintaining heating equipment, and we will work hard to get your furnace back to normal operation as quickly as possible or help you to find a replacement unit and install it for you. Call a member of our team of heating technicians today and ask about our comprehensive furnace services.

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A Guide to Different Indoor Air Quality Systems

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

One of the best ways to take control of your health is by paying more attention to the air in your home. You may believe that the quality of your air is just fine. But if you’ve noticed sneezing, coughing, frequent illness, or other health symptoms from the members of your household, then you need an indoor air quality system that will eliminate the issues that are most prescient in your home.

Here are some of the different types of air quality systems you may choose between. Whether it’s a standard air conditioning filter or an electronic air cleaner or humidifier, the professionals at Boehmer Heating & Cooling can install or service it to keep everyone in your Baldwin home healthier.

  • Air Filters: Air filters are standard in any home air conditioning and heating system. But if people in your home have respiratory or immune system trouble, you may need more than your standard air filter. Most filters can only remove large particles from the air. But an air filter with a higher MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) is more effective at removing smaller particles that may induce allergies.
  • Air Cleaners and Purifiers: An electronic air cleaner can take even more particles out of the air. You may choose an electronic air cleaner with a HEPA filter, or an ionization air purifier, which charges particles so that they cling to surfaces in your home, may be best for your home.
  • UV Germicidal Light: UV rays can kill organic matter. Luckily, this doesn’t affect you much when you step out into the sun for short periods of time. However, UV lights can take care of the most common biological pollutants in your home such as bacteria and viruses when installed in the air ducts by a professional.
  • Humidifiers: A humidifier helps to keep the air in your home more comfortable for everyone inside. When there is moisture in the air, your chances of illness go down, and you may notice that your lips are no longer chapped nor is your skin as dry.

Call the experts at Boehmer Heating & Cooling to speak with a professional who understands the different types of air quality issues and knows the best type of system to use as treatment. Call us today to get a new air purifier in Baldwin.

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