Happy Labor Day!

September 2nd, 2013

On the first Monday of every September, we celebrate Labor Day in honor of workers everywhere who strive to make our local community and country great. We enjoy the holiday like any other business as a time for BBQ, hanging out with friends and family, and celebrating the end of summer. It also means the start of the NFL and college football seasons.

The origins of Labor Day are disputed, as is the case with many other holidays. Some cite Matthew Maguire, the machinist and secretary of the Central Labor Union of New York, while others cite Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor. Whomever the original founder, by 1894, the holiday had become widely recognized and was designated a federal holiday by Congress and President Grover Cleveland immediately following the Pullman Strike. This strike pitted US Marshals and US Military against employees of Pullman Palace Car Company outside Chicago, as workers sought to protest wage cuts and firing of union representatives. At the time, the holiday was a way of repairing ties with workers and recognizing the importance of their contributions.

Today, we see Labor Day as an opportunity to recognize all the people who work hard to contribute to our county. Thank you, and Happy Labor Day from all of us! 

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If My AC Turns On, Why Bother with Air Conditioning Repair?

August 26th, 2013

When it comes to air conditioning systems, people focus on performance, especially in cities like West Chester, OH, where the hot summers necessitate daily use of an AC unit. If cool air is coming out and the house is comfortable, why bother with air conditioning repair? In truth, air conditioning repair services are at their most effective when the issue isn’t pressing. Small problems are much easier to correct than large ones, and jumping on an issue early can save you a lot of money and stress in the future.

Take, for instance, the issue of low refrigerant levels, which is fairly common to a lot of air conditioning units. When a hole develops somewhere in the lines, refrigerant can leak  out, and too little refrigerant can cause problems with the cooling cycle. It probably won’t prevent the unit from functioning entirely, but it will force it to work harder and longer to do its job. Ice will likely form on the evaporator coils, leading to water leaks and inadequate cooling. Motors may be put under greater stress. And as the leak continues, the issues will only grow worse .

If, on the other hand, you contact a professional earlier in the process, a lot of that wear and tear can be avoided. A trained technician can pinpoint the leak and then seal it before recharging the refrigerant to its specified levels. That’s a simpler, easier and more cost-effective operation than simply waiting until the AC stops working entirely, and the extra strain of ineffective cooling has caused multiple components to fail.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure as the saying goes, and you can prevent a lot of problems with your air conditioning unit with regularly scheduled maintenance calls. Bartels Heating & Cooling handles all kinds of air conditioning issues in the West Chester, OH area, and can help set up a maintenance schedule that works for you. Contact us today to set up an appointment.

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Air Conditioning Tip: Does My AC Require More Voltage?

August 22nd, 2013

Like a lot of devices, most air conditioning units depend on electricity to function. Indeed, a central AC system often requires more electricity than any other item in the house – up to 5,000 watts when the unit first starts up – which makes it vital to measure both its proper voltage and its efficiency in cooling the home. In West Chester, OH, with its hot muggy summers, an efficient air conditioner is the first, best way to keep your home comfortable. Ensuring that your AC has the proper voltage is an important step in that process.

A central air conditioning system usually needs a dedicated 220-volt or 240-volt circuit for operation, which is usually added at the time of installation. If the voltage is too low, it may cause the air conditioning system to “hard start,” or stutter before it finally fires up. This can cause a great deal to wear and tear on the system, and in some cases may trip the circuit breaker.

Accordingly, it’s very important to determine the right size air conditioning unit to meet your particular needs. A trained professional can help you estimate the amount of power required to cool  your home, usually measure in British Thermal Units (BTU) per hour. (Ironically, an air conditioning that is too large may cause as many issues as one that’s too small, since it will require more voltage to run and will likely cycle on and off too quickly.) Once you know that, an expert can add more circuits if needed, ensuring that your air conditioning has the proper voltage and keeping it running at maximum efficiency.

Efficiency is especially important with the hot summers in West Chester, OH. Air conditioning electrical bills can get out of hand, and you always want to use no more than the voltage you need. Bartels Heating & Cooling has years of experience handling air conditioning issues and can provide you with a reliable estimate of your air conditioning power needs. If more voltage is required, one of our trained professionals can perform the upgrade with your complete satisfaction in mind. Call us today to set up an appointment.

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Air Conditioning Repair: The Problem with Dirty Coils

August 12th, 2013

Like any other mechanical device, an air conditioning unit can get dirty over time. Dust and other particles build up on the inside of the unit, which can result in larger and more significant problems if left unattended. In Hamilton, OH, the hot muggy summers mean that you can’t afford to let your air conditioning system go down for repairs. It may not sound like much when components like the evaporator coils get dirty, but the effects can bite you if you’re not careful.

The coils serve a vital function in the AC’s cooling cycle. Refrigerant enters the evaporator coils and transforms from a liquid state to a gas state, cooling the surrounding air. A blower fan then blows across the coils, distributing the cool air throughout your house. The problem with dirty coils is that it interfere with that process. The caked-on dirt reduces the cooling effects of the refrigerant, making you air conditioning work harder to keep your home comfortable. In some cases, ice can build up on the surface of the coils, increasing the wear and tear of the unit and possibly leading to further damage as well.

To combat it, you can replace the air filters in your air conditioning unit regularly. That will help keep the inside of the unit clean. In addition, you should schedule routine maintenance sessions from a qualified Hamilton, OH air conditioning professional. Your technician can safely clean the dirt off of the coils, as well as checking for low refrigerant levels, tightening any loose fittings and identifying potential problems before they get out of hand. Not only will it maximize the efficiency of your air conditioning system, but it should extend the overall life of your system, reducing the need for significant repairs.

Bartels Heating & Cooling has trained experts on staff who can handle air conditioning repair in Hamilton, OH. Our maintenance program includes 24-hour emergency service and a 15% discount on repairs made under the plan. We never charge you overtime if you’re on the plan and we dedicate ourselves to your complete satisfaction. Call us today, and make sure that dirty coils don’t get in the way of cool air.  

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Air Conditioning Tip: Change Your Filter

August 5th, 2013

The filter in your air conditioning unit helps keep the system free of dust and debris. The cleaner a system is, the better it will function and the higher your indoor air quality will be. In West Chester, OH, where temperatures climb in the summer months, a clean, well-functioning air conditioning system is key to spending the summer in comfort. We all have our share of concerns from day to day, and changing the filter in your air conditioning can be fairly easy to forget. In the long run, however, it pays to change your filter regularly.

Filters serve to protect the air conditioning unit from dust and dirt, but they can also serve as a “first warning” for other potential problems. An excessively dirty filter may be a sign of burgeoning issues elsewhere in the air conditioning system, and can give you a “heads up” to call in a trained technician for more through maintenance inspection. More importantly, changing your filters helps keep the air in your house clean and remove irritants and allergens from the air. That’s not an insignificant concern in southwestern Ohio, where pollen and similar allergens have a way of making summers miserable for those allergic to them.

If you don’t change your filters regularly, it does more than just lower the air quality in your home. Dirty air filters can increase the airflow resistance in your system, which means it has to work harder in order to properly cool your living space.  That can raise the cost of your energy bills, as well as increasing the amount of wear and tear on the system itself. Changing your air filter regularly can prevent that, giving your pocketbook a break while extending the life of your unit in the bargain.

For maintenance and upkeep issues, contact the skilled technicians at Bartels Heating & Cooling. We can set up a regular maintenance schedule for you and help keep the rest of your air conditioning clean and efficient. We serve all manner of air conditioning needs in West Chester and southwestern Ohio. Call us today and see what a difference we can make!

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Air Conditioning Repair Question: My Geothermal System Won’t Cool

August 1st, 2013

Geothermal systems use a series of pipes buried in the soil to transfer heat between the ground and your house. In the summertime, the system absorbs heat out from your building and discharges it in the soil. In the winter, the process is reversed, as the system absorbs heat from the ground in order to warm your home. In Fairfield, OH, air conditioning specialists like Bartel’s Heating & Cooling have geothermal system experts available to address problems when they arise. If your geothermal system won’t cool for some reason, it’s time to give them a call.

Problems with a geothermal system can stem from a number of sources. Closed-loop systems use a heat exchanger to transfer heat between the antifreeze that circulates underground and the refrigerant in the heat pump, which heat or cools the air that is circulated in your home. A leak of either component could affect the system’s ability to cool your house. A trained professional can recharge the refrigerant or add additional levels of antifreeze, as wells as identifying the source of the leak and sealing it up.

Open loop systems, on the other hand, often use water in the underground loops; if the water flow is disrupted or cut off by damaged components within the system itself, it will impact the system’s ability to generate cool air. Dirty coils and filters in the heat pump could interfere with cool air as well, disrupting the flow of air and possibly affecting the pressure elsewhere in the system. It may also be a problem with the thermostat itself, which usually needs to be set to cool the house in the summer and heat the house in the winter. If it hasn’t been set properly, it may not be circulating cool air like it should.

Regardless of the causes, a non-functioning geothermal system requires trained experts to properly diagnose and repair. Bartel’s Heating & Cooling offers comprehensive geothermal maintenance and repair services. Our professional staff can diagnose your problem quickly, and we pride ourselves on customer satisfaction.

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Can Poor Indoor Air Quality Indicate a Need for Air Conditioning Repair?

July 22nd, 2013

Your home’s air conditioning system circulates a ton of air throughout your entire home. Because of that, it should come as no surprise that your AC and your home’s indoor air quality are closely related. So what does the quality of your home’s air say about your air conditioner? Here at Bartels Heating and Cooling, we wanted to put together a quick explanation of the correlation between air conditioning and air quality. Call us if you need any kind of air conditioning repair in Fairfield, OH, and our technicians will be able to get your AC back up and working again quickly.

So what are the signs that your home’s air quality is suffering? Here are just a few of them:

  • Humidity issues – You can probably tell very easily if your home’s air is too dry or too humid. If you have humid air, you will likely notice a stuffy and muggy feeling in your home. If your home’s air is too dry, you may feel itchy because of dry skin; you may also experience more nose bleeds or dry, scratchy throat. If your home is having problems with humidity, particularly if your home gets humid this summer, it could be a sign that your air conditioning system isn’t working well. Your AC will naturally dehumidify the air in your home be extracting moisture out of it in the form of condensation. If your air conditioner has low refrigerant, a clogged air filter, frozen coils or a broken compressor, it might not be able to properly cool your air or dehumidify it.
  • Allergies – If you or someone in your families suffers from allergies, you might start to notice that they’re sneezing more often or that their eyes are itchy and red. Allergies can be triggered by dust and other indoor air pollutants in your home. If you notice excess dust or strange odors coming from your home AC system, it could meant that you need duct repair. Holes or leaks in your ducts can allow outside contaminants to get into your home’s air supply. Problems with your condensate drain can also cause some allergens to form on the AC unit itself.

Maintaining your air conditioning system, including occasional duct cleaning, can help keep the air in your home clean. If you need Fairfield, OH that you need, make sure that you call the specialists at Bartels Heating & Cooling.

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Using Your Air Conditioning More Efficiently

July 15th, 2013

During the heat and humidity of the summer months, you need to make sure that your cooling system works effectively. Its cooling output needs to satisfy your cooling demands. But another important consideration to keep in mind is that it also needs to cool efficiently. Running your AC is probably one of the chief expenses during the summer months, and with electrical energy costs ever on the rise, energy efficiency should always be a top priority. In today’s post, we’d like to look at some ways you can use your air conditioning more efficiently.

  • Programmable thermostat: One of the most cost-effective improvements you can make to your existing AC is to ensure that you have a programmable, digital thermostat installed in your home. The thermostat is your primary user interface, and as such, it needs to be up to date. Older, conventional thermostats  are only “on” or “off”, whereas programmable thermostat allow you to automatically adjust the temperature depending on the time of say and other factors.
  • Zone control system: A zone control system is also a highly effective way of improving your energy efficiency, though it’s a little more involved than just a simple thermostat swap. It involves the installation of electronically controlled dampers at strategic points in your ductwork that divide your home into separately controlled zones. Each zone has its own thermostat so that you can minimize the cooling in one area of your home and prioritize it in others.
  • Keep your air filter clean: Make sure that your air filter is clean at all times. This relatively inexpensive but crucial part must be kept free of dirt, dust, and other debris if you want excellent cooling performance as well as energy efficiency. When it becomes clogged with debris, then it blocks airflow and makes your system work harder for the same amount of cooling.

Call the Fairfield, OH air conditioning technicians at Bartels Heating & Cooling today to hear about what we can do for your home comfort.

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Air Conditioning Tip: Why You Shouldn’t Put Off Repair Services

July 9th, 2013

It’s the case for most things in life that if you put off dealing with problems that they will only get worse. Your air conditioning system is no exception. It is usually best to call for professional air conditioning repair in Fairfield, OH as soon as you suspect that you’re having any AC problems. Call the friendly experts at Bartels Heating & Cooling today to talk with us about any services that you need. Here is a quick explanation of why you should never put off necessary air conditioning repair services.

  • Comfort – If your air conditioning system isn’t working well, it likely means that your hose isn’t as comfortable as it should be. Whether your air conditioner isn’t producing enough cooling or if it is making a strange noise, call early so that your house can return to normal.
  • Avoid larger issues – If your AC unit is having problems, you might be able to keep those problems from developing into even more complex issues by calling for repair as soon as you notice something is wrong.
  • Avoid long-term damage – Often, your air conditioning system can suffer severe damage from very small issues. Even something as seemingly insignificant as an air filter can actually cause tremendous damage if it is allowed to persist. Not only cause these types of problems cause immediate repairs, but they could also impact the life expectancy of your air conditioning system.

One of the best ways to avoid repairs is to get your system regularly maintained by a professional. During regular maintenance visits, your technician will thoroughly inspect, clean and repair every component of your system. This will allow them to find any small problems that could be developing and fix them early. Not only could this potentially help you avoid repairs, but it could also increase the efficiency of your system and extend the life of your equipment.

If you need air conditioning repair in Fairfield, OH, make sure that you call Bartels Heating & Cooling.

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Have a Safe and Happy 4th of July!

July 2nd, 2013

The 4th of July will forever hold a very special place in the history of the United States of America. On this day in 1776, the second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence.

Not only is Independence Day an important day in our nation’s history, but for many people it is a day that is filled with memories from celebrations of years past. Fireworks, barbeques, baseball games, fairs, carnivals, patriotic music and ceremonies are all scattered through our memories as we’ve participated in annual parties, get-togethers, picnics and family gatherings throughout the years. John Adams, our 2nd president, was right when he said that our Independence Day “…ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

The 4th of July is truly a day to enjoy but also to remember and respect the sacrifice that many brave men and women made over 200 years ago to give us the freedom that we cherish today. However you celebrate Independence Day, make sure that you take a moment to remember what this day is really about.

We wish you a safe and happy 4th of July!

 

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