Posts Tagged ‘Heating’

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Cleveland Heating Repair Tip: Signs Your Heating System is Failing

Monday, March 11th, 2013

Knowing the tell-tale signs of a failing heating system is important for every homeowner. Recognizing problems early on can help to prevent major damage and costly repairs in the future. It also helps you to make informed decisions about hiring a professional. But when it looks as though your heating system is failing, you may have to look beyond repairs and invest in a replacement. After all, it makes more sense to invest in the future of your home heating system than to pay more in repairs and utilities for an outdated and broken system. Call Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating for all of your Cleveland heating system replacement and repair needs.

So, how do you know your heating system is failing? Well, here are a few warning signs that should motivate you to pick up the phone for professional diagnosis.

  • Old age. If you aren’t sure about the age of your furnace or you know it is old, you may want to consider a replacement. Not only does an older heating system risk a breakdown each season, but you may also potentially save significant amounts of money by upgrading to a more technologically advanced and energy-efficient model. Many of today’s furnaces and boilers offer AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) ratings over 90%, which can lead to great returns on your new heater investment.
  • Uneven heating. While this may be caused by something as minor as a dirty air filter or leaky ductwork, your heater may no longer be able to heat your home effectively. Ask a pro to evaluate your heater.
  • Loud noises. Loud and excessive noises from your heater can often indicate substantial problems. A rumbling gas furnace might have a blown fan motor, or it might indicate a problem with the fuel supply line.
  • Frequent need for repairs. If you need to repair your furnace or boiler constantly for it to work properly, then you would probably benefit from a heater replacement.

Let a Cleveland heating repair professional at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating help determine whether you need a new heating system. Our expert technicians are highly skilled and trained, and we will be able to help you weigh your options with your budget.  Call us today!

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Westlake, OH Heating Tip: What to Expect with a New Furnace Installation

Monday, January 28th, 2013

Call Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating any time for Westlake, OH heating tips. We’ll be glad to answer your questions and go over the heating equipment we can install for you. We can also go over maintenance tips to help extend the life of your new heating system.

As you are comparing the different models, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. However, there are also certain steps in the installation process to think about as well, such as what to expect before the furnace can be installed and what type of service to expect from a qualified technician.

Before replacing a furnace, you should have a professional HVAC technician or contractor perform a load calculation. This means that the contractor will determine how many BTUs of output you need. Once this is determined, your contractor will ensure that you get the correct size for your particular home, depending on the square footage of the area you want to heat. Part of the service includes removing the old furnace, connecting the new one to the thermostat (or upgrading the thermostat as well), and testing the system to ensure that everything is working properly.

If you have decided to switch from electricity to natural gas, make sure it is available to your home and that the installation of a new gas line is still cost-effective.  Also make sure that when you upgrade your furnace your home has enough insulation to ensure that you are getting the savings you desire. Losing heat through a poorly-insulated attic won’t provide the savings you could get with an efficient home.

If you are considering upgrading the heating system in your Westlake, OH home, call Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating to speak with one of our HVAC experts to ask about our quality products and installation services.

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Is Your Furnace Dead? 3 Signs You Need Furnace Replacement in Avon, OH

Monday, December 3rd, 2012

If you have a furnace in your Avon, OH home, then you’re likely trying to keep it as long as you can. No one likes to have to replace an important component in their home. But eventually that day will come. However, the good news is that you will most likely be able to tell when it’s going to happen. There are a number of obvious warning signs that can indicate there are serious problems with your furnace. The heating technicians at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating have been replacing and installing furnaces in the Avon area for many years. We thought it would be helpful if we laid out 3 of the most common repair problems that we see.

Strange Noises

If you don’t check on your heater often you are likely able to hear it when it starts up. If you start to notice strange or loud sounds coming from it, these might be a sign that something is seriously wrong.

  • Rattling – This could indicate that you have a carbon monoxide leak from a cracked heat exchanger. During proper operation, your heat exchanger should properly exhaust dangerous combustion fumes out of your home. When you hear rattling from your furnace, it can sometimes mean that the heat exchanger is cracked.
  • Rumbling – if you have an oil-fired furnace and you hear a loud rumbling sound when you turn it off, it could be a dangerous problem. This might mean that there is uncombusted fuel still in the combustion chamber.
Call a professional immediately if you think your furnace is suffering from either of these problems.

Rusted Heat Exchanger

While rust might be a strange thing to have in a furnace, it can sometimes occur when you have an air conditioning system attached to your furnace. During the air conditioning process, condensation can form on the cooling coils. During proper operation, this condensation drips into a pan and drains away. If that condensation pan becomes clogged, the water can overflow onto the heat exchanger. If this goes on unattended, it can rust through your heat exchanger.

Air Flow and Heat Issues

If you’ve started to notice that your furnace doesn’t produce enough heat or if there is very little air coming out of the registers, these might be indicators of deep problems. While low heat or low air flow can sometimes be explained by something as simple as a clogged air filter, there might be other more serious cause of the problems. For example, if you have low air flow, it could be that the furnace’s filter is clogged. However, it might also be that the furnace’s fan is broken. It’s always best to check with a professional heating technician.

If you need furnace repairs for your home in Avon, OH, contact the heating experts at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating. We have years of experience offering reliable and high quality heating services throughout the Avon, OH area. Give us a call today!

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Simple Tips for Efficient Heating in Avon

Monday, November 19th, 2012

At Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating, we believe that everyone has the right to be as comfortable as possible in their Cleveland area home. That is why we offer high-quality and affordable heating installation, maintenance and repair services. The expert heating technicians at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating have the skills, training and background necessary to ensure that your home is comfortable, cozy and warm throughout the coldest days of the heating season.

That being said, some homeowners are hesitant to keep their homes comfortably heated due to the high – and increasing – energy costs that can make heating a home an expensive luxury. Because comfort should be a right in your home, not a privilege or a luxury, Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating has put together some simple tips that you can employ to heat your Avon home more efficiently. Following these guidelines will allow you to keep your home comfortable affordably, just the way you deserve it.

By far the most important way to ensure that you are heating your home in an efficient manner is to schedule regular, professional heating system maintenance. This reduces the need for costly heating system repair service while also helping to keep energy costs low by allowing your heater to work more efficiently. Get the performance you need from your heater with dependable, regular maintenance service.

Do you have a thermostat that allows you to program in settings specific to your lifestyle and heating habits? If so, use it! And if not, you may want to invest in one. Modern programmable thermostats are easy to use and the personalization that they offer allows you to keep your home more comfortable while also heating it in a more efficient way. Don’t waste energy heating your home when it is empty, but also make sure that you have a comfortable home to come back to at the end of the day. By using the programmable settings you can bring your home back up to temperature before anyone gets back while giving your heater a rest throughout the day.

Of course there are plenty of ways to increase energy efficiency when heating your home without making any costly investments. Simply putting some weather stripping in your doorframes or shrink wrapping your windows can make a big difference. Keep the heat that you have paid for inside your home, and watch those energy bills drop.

This should give you a good jump start on heating your home efficiently this cold season. For more information on efficiently heating your Avon home call the professionals at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating. We’re always happy to help you lower heating costs in any way we can.

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Why You Need to Schedule Winter Heating Maintenance For Your Avon Home

Monday, November 12th, 2012

Winter is never a surprise. Once the crisp days of fall start to get a little colder and the sun seems to set a little earlier it should be obvious that winter is on its way. However, some people put off maintenance and then have to call their professional heating service providers for emergency repairs that could have been easily handled before the season started. Don’t let this happen to the heating system in your Avon home. Call Pompeii’s Plumbing and Heating today to schedule the heating maintenance service you need to ensure the dependable, effective performance of your heater this winter.

The biggest mistake that people make with their home heating systems is waiting until something is wrong to have them serviced. It is called preventive maintenance for a reason, after all. Maintenance visits are designed and intended to keep your heating system running properly. Your professional heating technician will thoroughly inspect your heating system, tuning it up and ensuring that it is ready to be put into heavy use. Just because your heater starts up, after all, does not mean that it is in good working condition. You may be able to turn it on and get it running, but there could be minor issues and developing problems that will go unnoticed by your untrained eyes. These minor problems can quickly become serious headaches if you force your heating system to operate in compromised condition. A professional maintenance visit gives your heating technician the opportunity to discover, diagnose and resolve these problems before they can have a negative effect on your heater.

Even with regular, professional maintenance, unfortunately, some level of repair service will eventually be necessary for your home heating system. This is unavoidable, and there is nothing that can be done to change that. What can be done, though, is to make sure that these repairs are as infrequent and minor as possible. The less you keep up with professional heater maintenance the more likely it is that problems will slip through the cracks. Running your heater with these problems in place puts unnecessary wear and tear on your heating system, making it more likely to experience serious damage requiring more extensive repairs.

Plus, regular maintenance is the best way to keep your heater operating efficiently. The proper function of your heater and all of its components will increase energy efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and energy costs. It’s as simple as making a phone call. Heat your home more efficiently and affordably this winter while minimizing the risk of serious, expensive damages to your heating system in Avon. Call Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating to schedule service today.

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Choosing a Gas Furnace For Your Avon Lake Home

Monday, October 29th, 2012

If you’re thinking about replacing your furnace, there are a lot of things to think about. We’ve put together some of the most important considerations to think about as you choose which gas-fired furnace to buy for your home in Avon Lake.

Efficiency

Furnaces are rated based on the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). This measures how much fuel is actually converted into heat over a season. Older furnaces have an AFUE rating of 60%. That means that 40% of the fuel is wasted and not converted into heat. Newer furnaces have an AFUE rating of up to 96% or 97%. If you’re interested in increasing the overall efficiency of your heating system, getting a newer furnace with a higher AFUE rating is a great place to start.

Safety

If you have an older furnace, it may lack several important safety features that newer furnaces have. Furnaces burn fuel to create heat. There are several things that can go wrong and cause extreme danger to your property and to your personal safety. Gas leaks, fumes leaking, overheating and fires are just some of the dangers that new safety features are designed to detect and prevent. For example, in the case of a fire or overheating, there are limit switches that detect the heat and shut off the furnace.

Space

Newer furnaces typically are smaller than older models which can free up space in your storage area or basement.

More Reliable

As your furnace ages, you might start to notice that it needs repairs more often or that it provides inconsistent heat. This is just part of the natural aging process for your furnace. With a newer model, you should experience less repairs and more consistent heating throughout your home.

If you have any questions about your current furnace or if you’re interested in replacing it, call the Avon Lake furnace experts at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating.

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Avon Heating Guide: How a Thermostat Can Increase Energy Efficiency

Monday, October 8th, 2012

As energy costs continue to rise you may be tempted to cut back on the use of your Avon home’s heating and cooling system. However, sacrificing comfort is not necessary to help conserve energy. A high quality thermostat can do an effective job of boosting energy efficiency in your Avon home. Here is some information to help you boost energy efficiency by using your thermostat properly from Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating.

  • Digital displays: If you like to keep things simple a manual thermostat may be the best option for your home heating and cooling system. Consider opting for one with a digital display, though. While old dial manual thermostats work fine, digital models make accurate temperature setting simple and are easier to read. Take the guesswork out of setting temperatures in your home with an easy-to-read digital thermostat.
  • Placement matters: Many people don’t realize it, but the placement of the thermostats in your home can affect their efficiency. Make sure that your thermostat is away from windows and doors so that it is taking accurate temperature readings representative of the room’s actual condition. Keep it centralized and out of direct sunlight for best performance.
  • Use programmable options: Programmable thermostats offer users more heating and cooling options to heat and cool their homes more efficiently. Pre-programmed settings are a great way to acclimated to the benefits of your programmable thermostat. Different temperatures can be maintained throughout the day depending on whose home and what rooms are being used. Keep your home comfort systems operating at lower levels during the workday, and program them to kick into a higher gear shortly before you arrive back home. This allows you to enjoy comfortable temperatures when you return to the house without paying to maintain those higher temperatures all day. Be sure to explore these settings to keep your home efficiently comfortable on workdays, weekends and vacations. Never worry about frozen pipes or sweltering pets again with a programmable thermostat.
  • Smart thermostats: If you really like to make technology work for you consider the installation of a smart thermostat in your home. Programmable thermostats are a great start, but the technology utilized by smart thermostats sets the bar even higher. Communicate with your thermostat remotely from a computer or even your smart phone to adjust temperatures, monitor weather conditions and more.
  • Create temperature zones: One easy way to boost efficiency with your thermostat is with temperature zone control. By using multiple thermostats or a smart thermostat connected to your heating and cooling system you can maintain different temperatures in different parts of your home. Don’t pay to heat unoccupied bedrooms during the afternoon. Heat and cool your home more efficiently by moderating different areas with specific settings.

If you have any unanswered questions about how to heat and cool your home more efficiently by making better use of your thermostat, contact the Avon heating professionals at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating for more information!

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Cleveland Heating Guide: Furnaces and Air Handlers – How They Work

Monday, October 1st, 2012

One of the most frequent questions we get, not only from our current customers but from people interested in having a new system installed is how forced air heating from a furnace works. Here is an overview of what furnaces and air handlers do and how they keep your Cleveland home warm throughout the winter.

 The Heating Process

When your thermostat signals to your furnace that the temperature has dropped far enough that heating is needed, a switch flips in the furnace and the pilot light ignites, sparking the burners which heat up the chamber rapidly. The air in that chamber is transferred by a heat exchanger to air that run through a second chamber outside the first. So, the air comes into contact with the metal of the heat exchange chamber and is heated, then moved to the air handler where it can be distributed.

 The Role of the Air Handler

Most air handlers are directly integrated with the furnace and sometimes they are the same device to reduce energy consumption. Once the air has been heated by your furnace, the air handler’s blower fan will turn on and move the air into the ductwork that transfers it to the vents in the rooms located throughout your home. There are a number of switches and parts involved in the transfer here so if any of them stop working, the air handler may not move the air as efficiently.

A good furnace can work properly and at a high efficiency level for decades without needing replacement and will always be there when the weather outside gets particularly cold. The above is just a quick glimpse at how it works. There are many more working parts involved and if you need maintenance or repairs on yours, it is recommended that you call a Cleveland heating professional right away for service.

For heating installation, maintenance and repair service in Cleveland, give Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating a call today!

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Avon Lake Heating Tip: Downflow and Upflow Furnaces

Monday, September 24th, 2012

There are a couple types of furnaces on the market – upflow furnaces that take cool air in at the bottom and warms it and downflow furnaces that take the same cool air in from the top and warm it to release at the bottom. Both furnaces have a slightly different result in heating your Avon Lake home, so which is best and how do you decide what will fit for your home? Here are some things to consider.

 Downflow Furnaces

A downflow furnace releases heat higher in the home and it then circulates downward, creating a cascading effect that requires effective insulation throughout your home and often space in the top floor or attic for the necessary equipment. Downflow furnaces may be needed in homes that don’t have a basement and the necessary space for an upflow furnace.

 Upflow Furnaces

An upflow furnace is the traditional basement furnace that heats and releases air up into the home through vents at the floor level. This type of furnace is more efficient and provides more reliable and comfortable heat, so it is a preferable choice to a downflow furnace, but it is not suitable for all homes, especially mobile homes or those that don’t have space for furnace in the basement (or that don’t have a basement).

Choosing Your Furnace

For the most part, an upflow furnace is easier to install, less expensive to operate and more effective in heating your home, so if you have he option this should always be your choice. However, sometimes a home will require the use of a downflow furnace. Modern technology has greatly enhanced the effectiveness of downflow furnaces, so it will not be significantly less efficient than an upflow model.

For more information about furnace installation in Avon Lake, give Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating a call!

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Using a Zone Control System When Air Conditioning and Heating Your Cleveland Home

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

Zone control technology is a useful way to control and increase the energy efficiency of your Cleveland heating and cooling system. These systems can be easily integrated with your heating or air conditioning system, which will not just bring down your energy costs a good deal, but can also increase your comfort level. Zone control systems allow you to divide your home into up to different areas, each of which can be kept at a different temperature. Different people prefer different temperatures so this can be a real blessing, especially if you have a large household.

Some rooms have stoves or ovens and need more cooling than others. Without a zone control system, you would be forced to turn up your cooling system throughout your home in order to bring the kitchen temperature to a tolerable level. However, with a zone control system, you can keep your kitchen temperature lower while maintaining a different temperature in the rest of the house. This will help you save a lot of energy that would otherwise be wasted by cooling the other rooms that don’t need as much cooling or that are unoccupied.

The following are some of the main benefits of using a zone control system at your home.

  • The biggest advantage of using zone control systems is that you save a lot of money by heating or cooling only the rooms that are being used. On the other hand, if there is just one thermostat controlling the temperature of the entire house, you will be spending a lot more to heat or cool the entire space at once.
  • Using these systems is also a great way to increase the life of your cooling or heating systems. Since only particular sections of the home are being heated or cooled at a given time, the heating or cooling systems in the other rooms will be used that much less, reducing the wear and tear on the entire system.
  • Zone control systems can be easily integrated into existing comfort systems with minimum hassle. On the other hand, if you are looking for a completely new installation, that can be managed as well. And that makes a zone control system that best way to keep your home comfortable all year long without spending a fortune on energy bills.
For more tips on how to use your Cleveland heating and air conditioning system effectively, give Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating a call today!

 

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