Posts Tagged ‘Toronto’

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Commercial HVAC Earn up to 50% of your Project Costs!

Thursday, December 20th, 2012

Commercial HVAC Replacement | Toronto | Advantage Airtech Heating & CoolingIf you own a commercial building and are thinking about replacing your current HVAC system find out how you can get up to 50% of project cost covered. The Retrofit program covers Commercial, Industrial, Agricultural or Institutional Facilities and is open to owners or lessees intending to redesign their HVAC systems to reduce electricity consumption. Find out more!

There is no better time to replace your current heating and cooling system with a high efficiency system. Not only could you qualify for 50% of your total project cost being covered, but you can also save big on your monthly energy bills.

Advantage Airtech LTD. provides excellent heating and air conditioning services in the Greater Toronto area. We have been providing commercial heating and cooling solutions and services since 1987. Call Advantage today to find out all of the great ways that you can save on your new HVAC installation or replacement.

Just to thank you and commend you on your team of professionals. We have for over fourteen (14) years enjoyed the peace of mind that Advantage Airtech has given us and again a big thank you for looking after us.

- W. Johnson

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High Rise Heating Maintenance in Toronto

Monday, December 17th, 2012

If you live in a high rise building it can be difficult to heat your living space efficiently. When you own a house you are free, as the homeowner, to make any changes to that house you would like to. This is not the case with a high rise condominium complex. While you may own the condo you are not able to decide by yourself to make any changes to the exterior of the building. If you live in a high rise in the Toronto area, contact Advantage Airtech for more information about how you can heat your living space more efficiently. Often the best way to get the most out of the heating system in your high rise unit is by scheduling regular, professional maintenance.

Routine maintenance is an integral part of keeping your heating system operating as efficiently and effectively as possible. It is especially beneficial to schedule your high rise heating maintenance service before the cold weather really sets in. Doing so help to ensure that your heater will be ready for action when you really need it. After sitting unused throughout the cooling season there is no other way to be sure that your heater will operate properly come the coldest months of the year.

Scheduling professional heating maintenance is also the best way to ensure uninterrupted heating service in your high rise unit. During the maintenance procedures your professional technician can usually discover any minor, developing problems with your heater before they can do serious damage to your system. The longer a problem is left undiscovered and unresolved the more likely it becomes that major heating repair service will be necessary. Early detection is the best way to get any repairs completed with only minor disruption to your heating service and comfort.

To schedule expert heating maintenance service in Toronto, contact Advantage Airtech Heating & Air Conditioning. We can help you keep your high rise unit comfortable on the coldest nights of the year. Call us today.

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HVAC Services for High-Rise Condos in Toronto

Monday, October 29th, 2012

When considering the HVAC system for a high-rise condominium, there are huge differences between that and a residential system. The expertise gained from residential heating and air conditioning work doesn’t translate well to commercial HVAC systems. In this blog post, we’re going to explore some of the differences between residential heating and air conditioning systems and commercial HVAC systems.

Centralized Systems

For structures with 5-7+ floors, centralized HVAC systems are a popular choice. These units provide heating and cooling from one centralized mechanical area. They are typically very complex to install, operate and maintain because they have to provide heating and cooling to each separate zone or office. One big drawback to these systems is that individual power consumption cannot be accurately measured.

  • A popular centralized system is a four-pipe vertical stacked fan coil system. In this system, hot and cold water are run to each unit through 2 pairs of pipes: one pair for hot and the other pair for cold water. With this system, residents experience the most comfort because they can switch from heating to cooling easily and quickly. This is especially convenient for transitional seasons.
  • A water source heat pump is probably the most popular system for a high-rise building because it provides flexibility and features a lower initial investment than a four-pipe system. This system uses only two pipes to circulate condenser water to heat pumps in each unit. For cooling, each unit has its own compressor and a remote cooling tower is used for heat exhaustion.

Decentralized System

This is the commercial equivalent of a window unit or a ductless mini split system in that each unit in the complex has their own heating and cooling system. These are normally installed in smaller buildings with 6 or less floors. One great advantage of these systems is that exact power usage can be obtained from the unit and billed to the resident. However, because each resident or office has their own unit, calls for service can be frequent. Additionally, these systems can potentially have a shorter life span.

You want a company that has the expertise to work with complex commercial HVAC equipment. At Advantage Airtech Heating & Air Conditioning, we have years of experience installing, repairing and maintaining commercial HVAC systems in Toronto. We would love to talk with you about your project and how we can help.

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Toronto Heating Question: Why Is My Air Handler Squealing?

Monday, September 24th, 2012

Unusual noises coming from your Toronto HVAC system never a good thing; they make you worry that something is wrong.

It’s true that an unusual noise does often mean that something needs to be fixed; however, a noise emanating from your HVAC system does not necessarily mean a major repair. You should always have a technician check out if you suspect a problem with your system, but not all problems are going to be expensive to fix.

One common noise that homeowners notice and complain about is a squealing noise originating in the air handler. Usually, this noise is coming from the fan belt that connects the blower fan and the motor. Over time, the belt can stretch out and become worn or misaligned, which makes it slip and generate that aggravating squealing noise.

So, while the squealing can be annoying and unpleasant, a slipping belt is by no means major. A belt is an inexpensive part and a technician can install it in just a matter of minutes.

As long as the noise is a squealing and not a grinding, this simple fix wil often take care of the problem. If you hear a grinding noise, however, immediately shut the unit down and call a technician. This may mean that your motor bearings are worn out and need to be replaced ASAP before further damage is inflicted on the motor itself.

For any heating repairs in the Toronto area, give Advantage Airtech Heating & Air Conditioning a call!

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Toronto Geothermal Guide: Geothermal Myths

Monday, August 27th, 2012

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions concerning geothermal heat pumps and how well they work. While these types of systems certainly have their limitations, the same is true of just about any type of heating and cooling system you could have installed in your Toronto home. But if you are really trying to evaluate whether or not a geothermal heating system is right for your home, you need to know exactly what is true about these systems and what is just not true.

For instance, there is a widely held belief that geothermal energy is not a viable heating option in areas with harsh winters. The fact is, though, that even when the air temperature outside is below freezing, the temperature several feet below ground can be as high as 55°F.

With a ground temperature like that, a geothermal heat pump will have no trouble extracting enough heat to keep your home comfortable even when it is well below freezing outside. And even when the ground freezes, the frost usually only extends three or four feet below the surface. Since the pipes for your geothermal heat pump will be at least four feet down, the frost should not affect them at all.

Also, it is common for people to assume that geothermal heat pumps will always need to have a regular heating system in place to serve as a backup. In fact, a geothermal heat pump is quite capable of providing consistent and adequate heating for your entire house as long as it is properly sized and installed. Make sure you are dealing with an experienced and qualified contractor and you will have no problems along these lines.

There are also plenty of myths floating around out there that geothermal heat pumps are just too expensive to make sense as a home heating solution. The truth is that geothermal heating costs very little to operate.

While it is true the geothermal systems are usually more expensive to install than many of the other options, alternative heating systems will still cost a significant amount to install and you will also have to pay much more to operate them on a regular basis. With a geothermal heating system in your Toronto home, you pay quite a bit up front, but it is a one-time cost and there will be minimal monthly heating bills after that. Call Advantage Airtech Heating & Air Conditioning today to learn more about installing geothermal heating and cooling in your home.

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Toronto Air Conditioning Tip: The Room by Room Benefits of Ductless Splits AC

Monday, July 16th, 2012

Ductless splits air conditioners are designed to eliminate the need for ductwork in a Toronto home where space is at a premium. Usually homeowners with older homes – those built before the 1970s – have very little space to work with when it comes to installing the ductwork a traditional central air conditioning system requires. These homes are often heated with boiler systems and have window units to provide cooling in warmer weather. As a result, cooling costs can be extremely high each summer and the house usually isn’t comfortable during these months.

Ductless air conditioning in Toronto offers a solution to most of these problems. Not only does the technology not require ductwork to be installed; it allows for multiple in-room units on a single compressor and it costs significantly less to operate compared to window AC units.

Ductless System Specifications

Ductless air conditioning systems consist of two major components: a compressor which is placed outside and indoor evaporators. With the use of inverter technology, these systems can support multiple evaporators – usually as many as four to a single condenser. This means you can have a single outdoor unit supporting cooling four separate rooms of your home at the same time.

Each of those indoor evaporators acts as a heat pump, allowing you to both heat and cool the room year round. And because the only connection needed between evaporator and condenser is a single refrigerant line, the cost of installation is significantly lower than it would be for a ductwork based central AC system.

Room by Room Benefits

While the primary benefit of a ductless system is the fact that it allows you to install air conditioning in multiple rooms of your house without the need for ductwork, there are other benefits. Not only do you get a much higher energy efficiency rating than you would with traditional window units (many ductless systems are rated at 16 SEER or higher while window units are frequently as low as 10 or 11), but you can control each unit individually. So if a room upstairs doesn’t need to be cooled during the afternoon hours, simply turn off the thermostat in that part of the house and save money.

There are some factors to consider when installing a ductless system. How many rooms do you need cooled? How warm does it get in the summer? Will the system be used for heating in the winter? These are all things you may want to discuss in greater detail with a Toronto AC contractor like Advantage Airtech when you call for an estimate.

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Proper Airflow in Your Ontario Air Conditioner

Friday, June 15th, 2012

AC Airflow | Pickering | Advantage AirtechProper airflow is important is important for your AC to function efficiently. If your air flow is too slow, because of a dirty filter or dirty blower fan, the air coming out of your AC will be too cold. If the air gets very cold, the coils might ice over. If you think that your AC is producing abnormally cold air, call a technician today to examine your unit, they can quickly diagnosis the issue and get your air conditioner working properly.

Advantage Airtech provides top quality air conditioning and heating services throughout Ontario. We service customers across the Durham region and the Greater Toronto area.

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Toronto HVAC Tip: Simple Filter Tips to Keep Your Ducts Clean

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

If there’s one thing you can count on with a home comfort system in Toronto, it’s that there will be higher energy bills in the summer and an increase in dust and debris in your ductwork. But, luckily the latter can be fixed with a few simple filtration upgrades in your home.

The Nature of a Forced Air System

When you flip the switch on your thermostat and your air conditioner or furnace turns on, it starts drawing air from inside your house, conditioning it to the right temperature, and then circulating it back into your rooms through an air handler and ductwork. Of course, a good system should have proper ventilation to circulate new air into the house, but let’s face it – no matter how much ventilation you have in your home, there will always be dust and debris from things like pets, plants and other common household items.

So, when the air gets circulated back through the ducts, all sorts of debris and sediment build up. That’s not to mention the possible presence of actual contaminants like bacteria or mold. Luckily, because of how your forced air system is built, these are not tough problems to deal with.

Installing the Right Filters

Filtration is incredibly important for adding the right level of protection to your home’s ductwork. Usually placed directly within your air handlers, whole house air filters are designed to capture particles as small as 0.3 microns (if you purchase a high quality HEPA filter). That pretty much covers all dust, sediment, pollen, dander and other common allergens.

There are a number of other upgrades you can make to capture just about everything you house spits into those ducts – from bacteria and viruses to smoke and other air pollutants, but at the very least a good filter system will save your lungs, cut back on duct cleaning costs and make it much easier to maintain your home’s air quality throughout the year.

To learn more about HEPA filters and the specific ratings offered in various products, here is a link to the EPA’s guide to home air cleaners. It has a handy breakdown of different types of filtration and what each filter grade can capture.

For more information about how to improve your indoor air quality in Toronto, give Advantage Airtech Heating & Air Conditioning a call today!

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Newcastle Geothermal Installation Question: How Effective Is Geothermal Heating?

Monday, February 13th, 2012

Geothermal heating is an efficient way to use the Earth’s natural resources to heat a Newcastle building’s interior. But is it an effective way?

Consider the cost of geothermal heating. Once you get past the initial installation costs of a geothermal heating system, which are higher than other conventional heating systems, its operating costs are much lower because of its use of a natural, renewable heat source – the Earth. If you plan to stay in your home for many years, a geothermal heating system will likely pay for itself because according to International Ground Source Heat Pump Association, geothermal operating efficiencies are 50-70% higher than other heating systems, which represents a substantial lowering of energy costs.

And according to a leading electric utility company, the cost of electricity for operating a geothermal heat pump is lower than any other heating system which includes natural gas, propane, and oil.

Beyond lower energy costs, geothermal heating leaves a smaller carbon footprint than other heating systems. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the average U.S. home is 17%, most of which comes from burning fossil fuels for electricity. Geothermal uses natural heat from the ground and therefore uses 30-60% less energy than more conventional heating and cooling systems. Using less energy equals less carbon dioxide production.

A geothermal heating system is only as effective as the equipment used to deliver it throughout the building. The most common delivery method is through a ground source heat pump. This pump pulls the heat from the earth and distributes it.

The components of a geothermal system also include a compressor, air handling unit, and duct system. When all are installed and maintained correctly, a geothermal heating system will be just as effective in heating a building’s interior as any other heating system. Just be sure you hire your qualified Newcastle heating contractor, Advantage Airtech, to install and service your geothermal heating system.

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Reasons Your Newcastle Furnace Is Producing No Heat

Monday, February 6th, 2012

The last occasion on which you want to worry about your Newcastle home’s furnace not producing any heat is the dead of winter, when the outside is chilly you just want to seek refuge in your own toasty home…only to discover that it’s not much warmer than the outdoors.

This may seem like a total emergency, and the combination of chill and frustration may cause panic to set in. Don’t start fretting too much just yet, though. There are some potentially simple causes and solutions for this problem, such as:

  • The thermostat may be set too low or on the wrong setting. Yes, it seems obvious, but sometimes the solution is staring you right in the face. Check that your thermostat is set high enough to call for heat and that it is on HEAT mode.
  • A circuit breaker may be tripped or a fuse may be blown. It could be the one dedicated to the thermostat, glow coil igniter or furnace itself. Check the breaker or fuse box in your home and either flip the breaker or replace the fuse. If it continues to trip or blow, get it looked at professionally—there may be a bigger problem going on.
  • The thermostat may not be working, so it is either improperly detecting the temperature or improperly reporting it to the furnace, so the heat does not kick on. Either way, it probably needs to be replaced.
  • The furnace is not igniting properly. This could mean the pilot light is out on furnaces without electric ignition, the gas valve is closed and can’t ignite or some other ignition malfunction. Check the pilot and gas valves to make sure they are on and working.

If you have checked all these things and the thermostat still is not working, or if you don’t feel comfortable looking into these causes on your own, you are best served by calling a professional repairman at Advantage Airtech to diagnose and fix the furnace.

Often, these big failures are just the symptom of a smaller problem, so in all likelihood you won’t have to replace your Newcastle home’s furnace or do any major repairs, especially if it has been well-maintained throughout its life.

 

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