Bartels Heating & Cooling Blog: Archive for March, 2013

Why Now is the Right Time for AC Maintenance

Monday, March 25th, 2013

Spring is the best time to organize, clean, and get ready for the summer heat. It’s also the ideal time for AC maintenance. No matter what type of air conditioning system you have—whether central AC, heat pump, ductless mini split, or geothermal—you could benefit from professional routine maintenance. In this post, we’d like to inform our customers as to the benefits of our maintenance program. Whether you’ve just invested in a new cooling system or your existing system is getting on in years, we can help. Call Bartels Heating & Cooling for West Chester, OH air conditioning services.

A comprehensive routine maintenance program will make sure your system performs exceptionally. We will execute a variety of check-ups, including monitoring refrigerant pressure, replacing air filters, measuring airflow, adjusting blower components, calibrating your thermostat, and cleaning the coils. Here are some of the benefits:

  • Energy-efficiency. This is perhaps the most readily apparent benefit. Your system will only operate efficiently when its components are free and clear of dust and debris. Maximizing energy efficiency means you pay less on your utility bills every month.
  • Improve system life. Regular maintenance is widely recognized as one of the best ways to improve the life of your cooling system. Your AC is a big investment—by taking care of it, you can make it work for you in the years to come.
  • Reliability. One of the perks of enrolling in a maintenance program is that you receive priority service. Rapid response times are always available. Moreover, routine maintenance makes your system more reliable, an especially important characteristic to keep in mind as we enter the cooling season.
  • Reduce repairs. When left alone, your AC may begin to develop problems and quirks that a regular inspection may be able to take care of before they progress into major repairs or even premature system replacement. Even cleaning and adjusting goes a long way. While dust may not seem harmful, it can actually cause significant damage to the mechanical parts of your blower and even frozen coils.

Still not convinced? Call Bartels Heating & Cooling for air conditioning in West Chester, OH today! 

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Why You Need a Generator

Monday, March 18th, 2013

More and more, homes that rely on energy supplies for everything from their telephone to their heating and cooling, experience hardship when they lose power. That’s why you need a generator. Whether portable or whole home, a generator can provide your home with electricity so that you can weather the storm safely and comfortably. Depending on your home and budget, there is a wide variety of different options. Call Bartels Heating & Cooling for generator installation in Fairfield, OH.

Unfortunately, major storms seem to happen every year. Let’s take a look at some of the primary reasons to get a generator for your home before the next power outage hits:

  • Heating and cooling. When your power goes out, you won’t be able to heat or cool your home, unless you have a backup system. In times of extreme weather, the lack of these basic services can be hazardous, especially for children and the elderly. While you should moderate your use according to your fuel supply during an outage, a professionally installed generator can keep you warm and comfortable throughout a storm.
  • Food. While many homeowners prepare a supply of dry goods and water for outages, much, if not all of the food in your refrigerator or freezer can be lost during even minor power outages. This not only affects your supply of food, but also means losing hundreds of dollars of your hard-earned money. A generator allows you to enjoy the comfort of home-cooked food as the storm passes.
  • Preparedness. The sooner you invest in a portable or whole-home generator, the more prepared you will be for the next power outage. When people know a storm’s coming, it can be difficult to even find a bargain generator at the local hardware store, much less schedule a comprehensive whole-home installation.

Generators were designed to help you through the worst weather conditions. Install one today and let it assist you when the next power outage hits. For generator installation in Fairfield, OH, call Bartels Heating & Cooling today! 

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Geothermal Heating Guide: How Geothermal Works

Monday, March 11th, 2013

As its name suggests, geothermal heating systems use the thermal energy of the ground beneath your property to heat and cool your home. If you’re looking to replace your system with an energy-efficient, year-round, eco-friendly alternative to conventional heating and cooling systems in West Chester, OH, look no further than geothermal installation with Bartels Heating & Cooling. We offer comprehensive services that will not only get you up and running, but will also maintain your system for years to come. In this post, we’d like to introduce you to the basics of geothermal, so that you can make smart decisions when it comes to your home. For more information, call Bartels today!

So how does geothermal work? It is basically a heat pump attached to a set of underground piping. While your system setup will vary according to your home and property, the basic components are the same. Your geothermal system will either be installed using a relatively shallow, horizontal bed of piping, or a set of deep vertical wells, with piping as deep as 100 feet. It all depends on the soil composition of your ground, as well as where your home sits on your land. The underground piping is typically made out of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which circulates a water or water-refrigerant mixture. This is known as the “earth loop.”

The geothermal heat pump inside your home pressurizes the refrigerant and circulates it through the underground loop. During the heating season, the piping absorbs the thermal energy of the underground piping and brings it back up to your home, and your heat pump then creates warm air to be dispersed through your ductwork. The great thing about geothermal is that it also works the other way. During the cooling season, it reverses this same circulation process to air condition your home. The whole system relies on the consistently moderate temperature of the earth.

A geothermal system is an excellent way to heat and cool your home. More and more homeowners are making the switch to this simple, innovative, and eco-friendly home comfort solution. Call Bartels Heating & Cooling today for more information! 

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Why Choose Radiant Heating

Monday, March 4th, 2013

While long used for commercial applications, radiant heating has always been popular for homeowners looking for alternatives to forced hot air. Radiant heating works by heat transfer: it heats people and objects in the room rather than supplying hot air. If you’re thinking of installing radiant heating in your home, we can help you plan, install, and maintain your heating system. Here are a few advantages of radiant heating in Fairfield, OH.

Figuring out whether radiant heating is right for the heating needs of your home requires research, planning, and professional consultation. Here are some of the reasons to choose radiant heating:

  • Efficiency. Radiant heating is sometimes more efficient than forced air systems. Forced-air systems like furnaces and heat pumps use ductwork which can account for up to 30% of heating loss. If your radiant heating is hydronic (water-based), then it uses very little electricity, which can benefit those homeowners in areas with high electricity prices. It’s often the case that the level of indoor comfort can be achieved at a lower temperature through radiant heating than by forced hot air systems.
  • Quality. Because radiant heating doesn’t move air to heat your home it tends to invite less indoor air quality issues. For homeowners who are sensitive to allergens and other particles that can circulate through ductwork, radiant heating is a great alternative. If you don’t yet have ductwork or if your existing ducts are in disrepair, a radiant heating system may be an excellent option.

Radiant heating is an innovative and effective way to make your home comfortable throughout the heating season. For radiant heating in Fairfield, OH, call Bartels Heating & Cooling today.

 

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