Bartels Heating & Cooling Blog: Archive for November, 2014

Will Thanksgiving Turkey Really Make You Sleepy?

Thursday, November 27th, 2014

We’ve all heard it before: you feel so sleepy after a Thanksgiving meal because of the main event: the turkey. For years, people have credited extraordinary levels of tryptophan in turkey as the reason we all feel the need to nap after the annual feast. But contrary to this popular mythology, tryptophan is probably not he largest responsible party for your post-meal exhaustion.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which means it’s something that our bodies need but do not produce naturally. Your body uses tryptophan to help make vitamin B3 and serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that sends chemicals to the brain to aid in sleep. But in order to get this essential amino acid, we have to eat foods that contain it.

Turkey has somewhat high levels of tryptophan, but so do many other foods, including eggs, peanuts, chocolate, nuts, bananas, and most other meats and dairy products. In fact, ounce-for-ounce cheddar cheese contains a greater amount of tryptophan than turkey. In order for tryptophan to make you feel sleepy, you would have to consume it in excessive amounts, and serotonin is usually only produced by tryptophan on an empty stomach.

The truth is, overeating is largely responsible for the “food coma” many people describe post-Thanksgiving. It takes a lot of energy for your body to process a large meal, and the average Thanksgiving plate contains about twice as many calories as is recommended for daily consumption. If anything, high levels of fat in the turkey cause sleepiness, as they require a lot of energy for your body to digest. Lots of carbohydrates, alcohol, and probably a bit of stress may also be some of the reasons it feels so satisfying to lay down on the couch after the meal and finally get a little bit of shut-eye.

If you feel the need to indulge in a heaping dose of tryptophan this year, go ahead! Turkey also contains healthy proteins and may even provide a boost for your immune system.

Here at Bartels Heating and Cooling, we hope your Thanksgiving is full of joy and contentment this year. Happy feasting!

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Some Examples of Boiler Repair Needs

Wednesday, November 19th, 2014

Boilers are durable, reliable and energy efficient, which are some of the reasons why they are still popular heating systems today. But like any other mechanical system, your boiler will need repair at some point. Heating repairs should always be left to trained professionals, especially with combustion systems. Bartels Heating & Cooling has been repairing heating systems since 1973, so if you need heating repair, call us today.

Types of Boiler Repairs

Here are some of the more common boiler repairs our technicians see:

  • Leaking – boilers use water to heat your home, so developing a leak isn’t unusual. What is important is to repair any leaks right away. Leaks imbalance the pressure in your system that the boiler needs to operate correctly. As a result, you may experience heat loss in that particular area. Leaks can also lead to the development of rust and create water damage, so the sooner you can have a leak repaired, the better for you and your system.
  • Circulator pump problems – the way the hot water from your boiler is pushed through your system is via circulator pumps. When something is wrong with a pump, the water can’t get to the outlet to release heat. Circulator pumps can develop broken seals that cause leaks; dirt can become lodged in the pump, reducing its ability to operate; and other times the pump may be rusted and/or corroded and require replacement.
  • Combustion issues – whether your boiler uses gas or oil, problems with ignition and operation can develop. For instance, dust and dirt can cover the pilot nozzle, causing the nozzle to have a reduced flame or no flame at all. You may develop a broken thermocouple or the burner may develop a crack. Whenever there’s a combustion problem, it’s imperative to have the problem fixed immediately as issues of safety can develop.

Quality boiler repair service in West Chester requires the expertise of a professional. If you are experiencing problems with your boiler, call Bartels Heating & Cooling to day and schedule an appointment with one of our heating repair specialists.

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Warning Signs You Need Furnace Repair

Wednesday, November 12th, 2014

Unless you’re a heating expert, it can occasionally be difficult to accurately gauge the health of your furnace. Most homeowners don’t bother worrying about this, assuming that any major problems will announce themselves with obvious signs like the heat not turning on. This can sometimes happen, but the goal of any homeowner should be dealing with potential problems before they grow into something major and expensive to fix. The following are some of the most common warning signs that you need furnace repair in Fairfield, OH.

Short-Cycling

When your furnace seems to turn on and off rapidly and continuously throughout the day, that is called short-cycling. Short-cycling is a phenomenon caused by actual or perceived overheating in your furnace system. This can be caused by an oversized furnace, a faulty thermostat, or a clogged air filter. The end result is the same, though. The furnace starts up in response to a request by the thermostat, and begins circulating heat. The furnace control system registers a heat output beyond what the furnace should be producing, causing it to shut the furnace down as a safety measure. After the furnace has cooled a little, it starts up again in an attempt to heat the house and the whole cycle repeats ad infinitum. If you notice your furnace short-cycling, call a professional immediately. Prolonged short-cycling wastes a lot of energy and drastically shortens the life of your furnace.

Increase in Heating Bills

It’s always a good idea to keep a close eye on the cost of your heating bills. Aside from the obvious benefit of helping you budget properly, this is one of the first ways that heating problems present themselves. The average forced air system loses about 20-30% of its heat on average to leaks in the ductwork. That translates to quite a lot of wasted money on heat that never reaches its destination. A sudden rise in your heating bills indicates that your furnace is losing heating efficiency, which is a pretty good sign that you have a problem.

If you’re experiencing issues with your furnace, schedule an appointment with Bartels Heating & Cooling. Our professional furnace repair service covers all of Fairfield, OH.

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What to Do If Your Heat Pump Won’t Switch to Heating Mode

Wednesday, November 5th, 2014

We are at the time of year when we switch our heat pump systems from cooling to heating – but what if yours won’t switch? There are a few reasons why a heat pump won’t switch modes, but the first thing to remember is not to panic. Bartels Heating & Cooling has the trained technicians to help you with any heat pump issues you may experience, so if you are in need of a heating repair service in West Chester, call us today!

Reasons Your Heat Pump Won’t Switch Modes

Thermostat Problems

Your thermostat is the instrument that cues your heat pump to change modes. Thermostats can malfunction just like any other component, and can require repair. Sometimes the instrumentation inside the thermostat can become dusty and dirty, which can affect how it operates. The wires that connect the thermostat to your system can fray and corrode, cutting off needed electrical flow. Sometimes it can be as simple as an issue of programming. The best way to manage a problem with your thermostat is to call a technician to review and inspect yours for any existing problems.

Refrigerant Leak

Your heat pump needs an exact amount of refrigerant to operate correctly, whether or not the system is cooling or heating your home. During the winter, the refrigerant absorbs the heat in the surrounding air so that your system can heat your home. If there is a refrigerant leak somewhere in your system, the heat pump can’t operate as it should, and the result may be lukewarm air blowing into your living spaces. Refrigerant leaks can be hard to find, and handling refrigerant requires certification, so if you suspect you have a refrigerant leak in your system, call for a technician.

Reversing Valve

The reversing valve in your heat pump is what allows the device to switch from cooling mode to heating mode. The reversing valve can get stuck in a certain position, whether it be a specific mode or in between modes. If the reason for the immobility is traced to the solenoid, the solenoid can be repaired; if the reason for the valve being stuck is attributed to a refrigerant leak or other issue, the valve will need to be replaced.

If your heat pump isn’t changing modes, don’t wait to call for heating repair in West Chester – call Bartels Heating & Cooling today!

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