Bartels Heating & Cooling Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

Why Won’t My Gas Furnace’s Burners Light?

Monday, February 1st, 2021

natural-gas-burners-flame-furnaceWhen a gas furnace comes on, it makes a distinct whoosh sound as the electronic ignition system or standing pilot light ignites the gas jets on the burners. It’s a comforting noise that tells you the furnace is doing its job, generate heating, and the sound of the blower fan will tell you that the heat will soon move through the ventilation system to reach the rooms.

But what if the burners don’t light? This is a problem you may run across, and if the burners aren’t igniting, it will usually cause the furnace to shut down entirely as part of safety precaution built into it. Why is this happening, and what can be done about it?

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Fiddling With the Thermostat All the Time? Could Be Trouble!

Monday, January 18th, 2021

thermostatA piece of advice we often give to people who ask about ways they can save on their heating during the summer is to know how to set their thermostat from maximum efficiency. It’s best to keep a thermostat at a steady setting during the day, usually around 68°F, and then lower it by 8°F during the evening, or when people are away. This saves more energy than moving the thermostat up and down as you alternatively feel hot and then cold. This creates too much stopping and starting for the heating system, which wastes energy. The thermostat is a switch, not a throttle, so pushing it up higher doesn’t get you faster heating, only a heating system that runs longer.

But what if you’re already setting the thermostat at a steady temperature, but one day find that you’re getting too hot or too cold, and you have to fiddle around with the thermostat regularly to get comfortable? This probably isn’t a “quirk.” It’s a warning that something isn’t going right somewhere in the HVAC system.

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Ways to Help Keep Your Gas Furnace Running Safely

Monday, January 4th, 2021

natural-gas-furnace-burnerNatural gas furnaces are in millions of homes around the country—that should be enough to tell you that, as long as a furnace is properly cared for, it isn’t an automatic danger for a household. The modern gas furnace has safety features and is designed to run within strict parameters for protecting a home. 

Of course, it’s possible for a furnace to malfunction or run into issues that can create hazards from gas leaks or combustion. Prevention is the best tool you have to keep your furnace running safely through the winter. In this post, we have some important safety tips to use for the safest possible season with your gas furnace. 

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Electric Heating: Furnace vs. Heat Pump

Monday, December 21st, 2020

heating-elementNatural gas is the most common way to heat homes in the area. But natural gas isn’t an option for all homes, and some homeowners prefer an all-electric house because of concerns over possible safety hazards from natural gas. What options do homes without natural gas have when it comes to winter heating?

There are two main ones: the electric furnace and the heat pump. Both are common, but have different benefits and drawbacks. We’ll look at these pros and cons below and help to shed more light on making the choice between the two.

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Considering Radiant Heating? Here Are Some Pros and Cons

Monday, December 7th, 2020

radiant-heating-tubesWe offer HVAC service in Cincinnati, OH for a wide range of heating system types, including radiant heating systems. Radiant heating covers a type of heating that most people associate with boilers: water is heated in a boiler tank then pumped to different parts of the house where it heats up objects in rooms, such as radiators, baseboard heaters, or in-floor tubing. In-floor radiant heating is a popular option for new homes and remodels, and if you’re currently considering a new heating system for your house, radiant heating may be on the list.

But is it the right choice? The best way to find out is to call our heating experts for a consultation. We can help you navigate the choices to locate the right HVAC system for your house. 

Below we’re going to look at some of the basic pros and cons of residential radiant heating systems. This will help you start thinking about your options.

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4 Reasons Your Home Isn’t Getting Warm Enough

Monday, November 23rd, 2020

cold-man-and-woman-in-parkasAs the cold weather continues to deepen, you’ll rely on your central heating system more and more until it will run during most of the day. You expect your heater will keep your family comfortable—that’s why you installed it, after all. But you might find as the winter starts that the house isn’t warming up the way you expect it to. You set the thermostat at the standard temperature for comfort in the house, but people are complaining that it’s too cold and they’re starting to layer up their sweaters or even wearing parkas around the house.

What’s going on?

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Is This Furnace Repair Worth the Cost?

Monday, November 9th, 2020

furnace-heater-repairYou keep a close watch on your budget so you know when you’re sinking too much money into any one item. When winter weather comes around, you want to pay special attention to your furnace, since your family’s comfort and safety relies on its steady operation. At some point, you may need a furnace repair in Lebanon, OH to keep your furnace running, and that repair may come this winter. When confronting any large furnace repair, you’ll ask yourself if the price is worth it. Is it better to have the repair done or have a new furnace put in?

Sometimes you won’t have trouble with the question, especially if the furnace is relatively young (under ten years) and the repair is covered by the warranty. But we’re going to look at some of the more borderline cases. 

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6 Signs You Have Dying Furnace

Monday, October 26th, 2020

furnaceAs a general rule, it’s best to have a furnace replaced before it has a chance to fail completely. It’s not much different than with a car—you don’t want the car’s final moments to be when you’re on the road. Getting ahead of a furnace that’s in its final year or two is more convenient, and it also means you’ll start enjoying better heating performance and energy efficiency from a new system.

The trick is determining when you need Cincinnati, OH, furnace service to put in a new furnace. We’ve listed 6 common signs that your furnace is approaching the end and it’s time to make arrangements for a replacement.

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Is a Furnace or a Dual Fuel System a Good Choice for New Heating?

Monday, October 12th, 2020

question-markWhen you look at the calendar and see the word October, you know the time is counting down until the first cold day of the season arrives. If you feel confident in your current furnace and you’ve already planned on scheduling heating maintenance (or have already got it done), then you won’t have much to worry about when the cold strikes.

But you may be in a situation where you believe your furnace needs to be replaced. You can go ahead and schedule Mason, OH, HVAC service to put in a new furnace. Or you might consider replacing the furnace with a dual fuel system, a popular way of enjoying a hybrid of electrical and gas heating in a house.

We’ll look at the pros and cons of choosing a furnace or dual fuel system. When you’re ready to make the final choice, call our technicians for an expert opinion and the work necessary to get your new heater prepared.

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It’s Fall—And Your Heater Is Ready for Its Maintenance Close-Up!

Monday, September 28th, 2020

service-blue-markerNow that fall has started, you have plenty of planning ahead for the seasonal weather shift. One of the most important steps to take is to schedule a maintenance appointment for your heating system. Whether your house has a gas furnace, electric furnace, boiler, or heat pump to provide vital winter warmth, it must have a professional Lebanon, OH, HVAC technician gives it a thorough inspection and tune-up.

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