Posts Tagged ‘Courtice’

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Uxbridge Heating Guide: Hydronic Heating vs. Forced Air Heating

Monday, February 4th, 2013

At Advantage Airtech Heating & Air Conditioning, we know that there is not any one heating system that is inherently superior to any other. All home heating systems have pros and cons specific to themselves. When it comes to choosing a new heating system for your Uxbridge home, though there is certainly an option that is best for you, your home and your personal heating habits. Let Advantage Airtech Heating & Air Conditioning help you find the heating system most appropriate for you situation. Here are some highlights and drawbacks of two popular home heating methods: hydronic and forced air heating systems.

Forced air heating systems are extremely popular, and for good reason. With a proper installation, maintenance and repair services a forced air heating system using a furnace can be extremely efficient and effective, providing your home with even, comfortable heating. Many forced air systems suffer some heating inefficiency, though, and the cause of this inefficiency is often traced back to the air ducts. A forced air system depends on ductwork to distribute conditioned air throughout your home. If these air ducts are torn, damaged, improperly installed or otherwise compromised then you may wind paying more than you should due to energy loss.

A hydronic heating system does not suffer this sort of energy loss. Hydronic systems circulated heated liquid via a piping system throughout your home. This type of system depends on radiant heat, in which objects are directly heated by the pipes containing the heating fluid. This heat is then transferred radiantly to people and objects in the room. Whether your hydronic heating system operates this way or with baseboards and radiators, though, the installation of this type of system can be problematic. It is best completed during the construction of a home or building. While it can certainly be incorporated into existing homes it can be intrusive and is best scheduled during remodeling.

For more information about hydronic, forced air or any other heating system just call Advantage Airtech. We are always happy to share our expertise with consumers in the Uxbridge area. Let us know what we can do for you to make your home a more comfortable place to live.

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Pickering Heating Guide: Is This Simple Repair Slowly Destroying Your Furnace?

Monday, December 3rd, 2012

There’s a common saying that goes, “It’s the little things that matter.” This could never be truer than with the furnace in your Pickering home. We all love the furnace that we have in our home but it is easy to forget about it. At Advantage Airtech, we respond to countless calls for heating service in the Pickering area. More often than not, there’s one small part of the furnace that many people forget about. It’s this small component, however, that causes the majority of heating problems in many homes. We thought that it would be helpful to our customers if we outlined some of the problems associated with this component and why it’s important to keep an eye on it.

The Air Filter

When you think of an air filter for your furnace, some people might think about air quality control. While those types of filters are a great way to improve the quality of air in your home, your furnace’s filter isn’t intended for that purpose. The filter in your furnace is there to keep large particles like dust and dirt from building up inside the unit. It filters the air returning from your home and the fresh outside air that both go into the furnace to get heated and circulated.

Common Problems

When the air filter gets clogged it can cause a number of major problems. Here are some of the most common problems.

  • Low air flow – This one should be obvious. As the filter gets clogged, it restricts air going through your furnace. This will, in turn, restrict the air that is going to your home.
  • Insufficient heat – Without proper air flow, your furnace won’t be able to provide the desired heat to your home. This can result in not enough heating in your home.
  • No heat – In some cases, the filter can get so clogged that it won’t allow any heat or air to leave the furnace.
  • Overheating – The heat exchanger inside your furnace is the piece of metal that the burners actually heat. The fan in your furnace blows air over the heat exchanger to heat it. But if there isn’t enough air flowing over the heat exchanger it can overheat and shut off.
  • Heat exchanger cracks – When the heat exchanger gets overheated a lot it can actually crack.
  • Reduced efficiency – As the air filter gets more clogged, it makes your furnace work harder to push air through your home. This greatly reduces the efficiency of the systems.

If you’re having any of these issues, it’s probably a good idea to check the air filter on your furnace. However, you never know what kind of damage has already been done to your system from a neglected air filter. It’s probably a good idea to have your furnace inspected by a professional to make sure that everything is okay.

Call the heating experts at Advantage Airtech. We have years of experience offering reliable heating services in Pickering. We’ve worked with every type and brand of furnace. Contact us today!

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Ajax AC Question: Why Is My Air Conditioner Not Cooling?

Monday, June 11th, 2012

Designed to last for a long time, your Ajax air conditioner is able to run virtually trouble free with just a little maintenance annually.  If these little things like changing the air filter and cleaning the drain are not done regularly, the neglected units can really lose their cool.

The Basic Course

Through a process which involves the rapid evaporation and condensation of chemicals called refrigerants, air conditioners use compounds that have properties that allow them to change rapidly from gas to liquid and back again at low temperatures.

Heat is absorbed when the liquid evaporates and transforms into gas, making the space around it cooler.  Compressing it tightly together again, the heated gas condenses back into liquid with a residue of unwanted moisture that must be released and is vented usually to the outdoors.

The newly cooled air is distributed through the house by means of ductworks, pushed by fans driven by electric motors.  As the air moves along, it passes through a filter and can be further de-humidified.

Problems in the System

If the filter is clogged, movement of the cooled air is slowed to the point we might think the unit is broken.  If the condensate drain is plugged, the motor can get damaged and stop producing.  Regular maintenance performed by the home owner or as a service of Advantage Airtech Heating & Air Conditioning can avoid or eliminate these simple aggravations.

When the heat builds, however, and cool relief seems nowhere near the air ducts, it may be time to call a professional to dig deeper to find the reason and suggest solutions.

Back to Cool

If not serviced regularly, the amount of refrigerant in the coils may decrease over time or the coils themselves could get clogged and impede the evaporation/condensation process.  A leak in the coils could drain the system, rendering the unit useless and wholly unproductive.

There are belts on each of the two separate fan motors which may be worn or loose, causing the fans to blow less efficiently.  The motor may need to be oiled or have a broken part that doesn’t allow it to push the air at all.

Most of the time, these fixes are relatively minor and do not threaten the life of the air conditioning unit.  Schedule an annual inspection and service from a certified Ajax air conditioning company like Advantage Airtech to take it off your list and stay cool.

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Durham Region Furnace Installation Question: What Is an Electronic Ignition?

Wednesday, March 7th, 2012

Gas furnaces are very complex pieces of equipment in to have in your Durham Region home. Modern ones in particular are designed to use as little gas as possible, and to recapture as much of the heat generated from burning that gas as can be done safely. One of the many safety and energy-efficient advances in furnace technology in the least twenty years is the electronic ignition.

The Purpose of Electronic Ignition

In older furnaces and boilers, a pilot light would stay lit continuously whenever the heating system needed to be available. That meant continuously burning gas throughout the fall, winter and spring months for those times when heat was needed. It was inefficient and unsafe, especially in older devices that didn’t have safety valves.

Today, furnaces are built with electronic ignitions – small devices that only ignite the gas supply when the thermostat is on. there are two types of electronic ignition used in boilers and furnaces today.

  • Intermittent Pilot – An intermittent pilot is unique in that it releases a spark through an electronic component to the gas pilot, lighting the gas burners.
  • Hot Surface Ignition – Hot surface ignition uses an electronic filament (like a lightbulb) to heat up and ignite the burners when the thermostat calls for heat.

Both devices are designed to use a very small amount of electricity and reduce the amount of gas needed for continuous operation of your furnace.

Safety Benefits of an Electronic Ignition

While gas efficiency was a big part of the transition from pilot lights to electronic ignition, safety was an equally big component. Whereas before, the pilot light was continuously lit, meaning gas was continuously flowing into the furnace, today’s furnaces are essentially off when not in use. This means less of a chance that gas will flow unburned or that the pilot will get dirty or burn too soft, releasing carbon monoxide.

If your furnace or boiler still uses a traditional pilot light, consider having it upgraded to electronic ignition, not just to save gas but to keep your Durham Region home and family safer. If you have any questions about upgrading your current furnace, give Advantage Airtech a call today!

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Uxbridge Heating Replacement: What You Should Consider Before Upgrading

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Many Uxbridge homeowners who heat their homes with an older heating system—whether it’s a furnace or a heat pump—may want to consider upgrading to a more efficient system. Older furnaces with an AFUE rating of less than 80%, for instance, could be costing you a lot more than you realize in heating bills.

While it is a significant initial investment, upgrading to a more efficient furnace or heat pump will pay for itself in energy savings. Before you decide on whether or not an upgrade is right for your home, here are some things to keep in mind.

Fuel Costs

Some types of fuel, such as electricity, are more expensive in certain areas. Depending on where you live, you may want to compare the cost of fuel before choosing a heating upgrade. In fact, natural gas may or may not be available to your home. Check with your utility company to find out what types of fuel are available and which ones would be more cost-efficient for heating your home. You can always call a qualified HVAC technician if you have any questions about a heating system upgrade.

Insulation

Whenever you are thinking about upgrading your heating system, you’ll want to make sure your home is properly insulated and sealed. If you purchase and install a highly efficient furnace, it won’t save as much in energy bills if your house is poorly insulated. Get a home energy audit with a local energy resource organization if you aren’t sure. You might want to also consider upgrading your old windows and doors, or installing storm doors and windows to improve air tightness.

Property Value

A lot of homeowners forget that any upgrade or remodeling project will increase the value of their home. Not only will a heating system upgrade lower your heating bills; it will also add value to your home and property. Always make sure you choose the right system for your home so that it lasts as long as possible.

If you are considering upgrading the heating system in your Uxbridge home, call Advantage Airtech Ltd. to speak with one of our HVAC experts to ask about our quality products and installation services.

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A Toronto Furnace Contractor’s Guide: Where to Place a Thermostat for Accurate Heating

Monday, December 5th, 2011

It’s easy to forget that although your furnace is churning away all day to keep your Toronto home warm, your thermostat is the single most important device in ensuring your home is heated to the temperature you want. If it stops working or it misreads the temperature inside your home, your furnace won’t know what temperature it actually is and will turn on and off at the wrong time.

Where Not to Place Your Thermostat

To avoid inaccurate readings, avoid placing your thermostat in the following locations:

  • Direct Sunlight – Direct sunlight will almost always increase the perceived temperature of the thermostat. Unless you live in a greenhouse, this will be very uncomfortable for everyone in your home.
  • Windows – Windows can result in direct sunlight and breezes. If the windows are not properly sealed, cold air can blow in and make it seem cooler in your home than it really is. In any of these cases, your thermostat will misread the indoor temperature.
  • Drafts – Drafts from improperly sealed doors, windows, or anything else in your home can negatively impact the thermostat.
  • Heat Vents – Don’t place your thermostat near a radiator or heat vent where it is likely to be warmer than anywhere else in the house.
  • Kitchens – Kitchens tend to be warmer than other rooms in the house, especially when in use. Avoid placing a thermostat here unless you have a zone control system and your kitchen is separate from other rooms.

A properly placed thermostat will ensure your home is heated or cooled to the temperature you desire regardless of outdoor conditions. If you’re unsure whether your thermostat is calibrated properly, check the temperature with a separate thermometer in a different location in the same room. If it is significantly warmer or cooler in one place than another, try to determine which is more indicative of the actual comfort level in your home. When properly located, your thermostat should never be an issue again.

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Benefits of Replacing Your Furnace: A Guide from Courtice

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

You are about to make one of the largest purchases in your life – a new furnace. Maybe your old furnace is on life support and needs immediate replacement or you are looking for a better, more efficient furnace that will raise the comfort level of your Courtice home while reducing utility bills and carbon emissions.

If the furnace in your basement, crawl space, or attic is 15-20 years old, it may be a single-stage 80% percent efficient model, which doesn’t meet the higher efficiency standards of today’s models. It uses more energy, i.e. gas, oil, or electricity, to operate. And a single-stage furnace does not always provide even heating to all rooms in the home, based on the varying winter weather conditions. There may be large temperature variations from room to room.

Your new furnace will likely be more efficient and environmentally friendly than the one it is replacing – which are the two biggest benefits to replacing an old furnace. So, let’s take a closer look at these benefits, which link energy efficiency to the latest technology – namely two-stage furnaces and variable speed motors.

Two-stage furnaces start out by running in a first stage, which uses less than 70% of its capacity. This stage works well on moderate winter days. On colder days, the furnace will meet your extra heating demand by adjusting to the second stage in the heating cycle. Since the furnace spends most of its time operating in its lower capacity (first or single stage), it burns less fuel than a traditional furnace that always runs at full capacity and then shuts off when heating demand is met. You will see lower utility bills and a shorter payback period on your new furnace investment.

Variable-speed motors can actually save you money on your energy bill as they consume less electricity than standard motors. Variable speed furnaces save you money by having a higher SEER rating. SEER is the abbreviation for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. The higher the SEER, the more energy efficient the unit. The low operating costs of a variable speed furnace can allow you to run your furnace blower. With the low operating costs of the variable-speed furnace you can constantly run your blower without the worry of driving up your utility bill, allowing for continuously filtered air.

And when you shop for a new furnace, look for add-on equipment such as electronic air filters, humidifers, and programmable thermostats. Each will raise the comfort level you will be enjoying from your new furnace.

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Portable Air Conditioners: A Tip From Port Perry

Monday, September 5th, 2011

If you’re in the market for an air conditioner in Port Perry, you’re probably familiar with central and window air conditioning units. But did you know there was another option? While they’re not perfect for every situation, portable air conditioners can provide reliable, even cooling for many homes.

Advantages of Portable Units

Of course, the main reason to buy a portable air conditioner is that it’s, well, portable. With one of these units, you don’t have to worry about which room to put the air conditioner in. Instead, you can simply take it with you wherever you go in the house.

Many people like to keep a portable air conditioner in their bedroom to take the edge off at night without dropping the temperature as much as a window unit might. And most portable air conditioners are quieter to operate than common window units. Portable air conditioners also come in a wide variety of sizes, so you can easily find one that matches your needs.

Disadvantages of Portable Units

Unlike window air conditioners that are automatically installed to vent and drain outside of a building, a portable air conditioner requires special setup. That means that every time you move your unit, you’ll have to find somewhere to place the exhaust hose so that fumes don’t accumulate in the room. This also means that portable air conditioners can’t be used in rooms without access to windows or air vents.

The cooling power of most portable air conditioners is not quite on par with equivalent window units either. You’ll want to choose a portable unit with slightly more BTUs than if you were buying a window unit to take care of the same sized room. As a result, the portable unit may cost slightly more to operate during peak cooling months.

Extras to Look For

Of course, while the cost may go up slightly, there are a lot of benefits to owning a portable air conditioner. For instance, many portable air conditioners can be used independently to dehumidify a room without cooling. This is often helpful (and can save energy) when the temperature would be bearable if not for the humidity level.

You also want to make sure that your portable air conditioner really is portable. That means finding a model with wheels and handles or some other mechanism that makes it easy to move it from place to place. If you have more questions about the different types of air conditioners, contact your local AC contractor.

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The Energy Efficiency Rating of Central Air Conditioners: What Is it and Why Is it Important? A Question From Newcastle

Monday, August 29th, 2011

When you are shopping for a central air conditioning system in Newcastle, you will have to evaluate your options based on a number of different factors. For instance, you will need to decide which type of system is the best match for your home and for your particular cooling needs. It is also important to make sure that the central air conditioner you choose is the right size for the cooling load it will have to take on.

However, it is also very important to evaluate your central air conditioning options based on how energy efficient they are. This will have a great deal to do with how much you pay in terms of cooling costs each month, which makes it easy to see why you should take it into account before you make a purchase.

The energy efficiency of a central air conditioner is generally expressed as a seasonal energy efficiency rating, or SEER. The SEER numbers you will typically find on the latest air conditioning systems range from eight to 19.5 with the higher numbers signifying a more energy efficient model.

So it is pretty easy to figure out that a central air conditioner with a higher SEER will save you some money monthly because it will use less energy to get the same job done. But central air conditioners with high SEERs also typically have high price tags. So to determine how high of a SEER you need, you will need to know more exactly how much more money you will save as you move up in the rankings.

You can do this by comparing the SEER of the system you currently use with the new system you are considering and compare how much your current energy usage would cost you with each model. Basically, you want to pick a central air conditioner that will save you enough to offset the purchase price of the unit.

Often, this means that you will be best off with a SEER 14 or SEER 16 because these units save you a considerable amount over older models without carrying too high a purchase price. However, the amount you save will be directly related to how much you use your central air conditioning system. If you have more questions about which type of air conditioner is right for you, call your local contractor.

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Why You Cannot Neglect AC Maintenance: A Tip From Ajax

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

If you have just purchased a new air conditioning system for your home, in Ajax or anywhere, maintenance is probably the last thing you are thinking about. In fact, if you are like most people, you do not think about your air conditioning system at all until it does not work when you need it. But if you simply continue to use your air conditioning system without maintaining it, you will be setting yourself up for a lot of problems later on.

Just like your car or any other machine that you run on a regular basis, your air conditioning system requires a regular tune up to keep it running like it is supposed to. The type of air conditioning system you have will dictate exactly how often this maintenance service needs to take place, but most systems benefit greatly from having a tune up once a year.

When you have just purchased an air conditioning system, the last thing you probably want to do is shell out a bunch of extra cash when the system is still running fine. But it really is much cheaper to pay now rather than waiting until you have a problem with your air conditioner to call for service.

During a regular maintenance visit, your technician will examine all of the component parts of your air conditioning system to make sure that they are working the way they should and not showing any signs of excess wear and tear. This is a great way to detect problems early, even when they have not yet begun to show in the air conditioner’s performance.

Your air conditioning technician will also thoroughly clean out your system to ensure that no excess debris is allowed to build up around the coil or other vital parts of the air conditioner. This is important because it helps the air conditioner to continue to function at peak energy efficiency levels. Without regular maintenance, your air conditioner will gradually lose efficiency over time. It will only lose a little bit every year, but if you do not do something to stop it, those little bits will quickly add up.

Regular maintenance also helps to prevent more costly and inconvenient repair visits later on. And it will certainly help to increase the lifespan of your air conditioner as well. Whether you have just purchased an air conditioning system or have had yours for several years, it is never too late to start your annual maintenance visits.

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