Douglas Cooling & Heating Blog : Archive for February, 2018

Opt In: Zoning Versus SMART Vents

Tuesday, February 20th, 2018

In today’s homes, smart heating and cooling products are all the rage! They offer many benefits, such as easy installation, increased energy efficiency, and seamless integration. However, the question is whether smart vents or a whole-home zoning system is best for your home comfort and ventilation needs. Discover the purpose of both options, their benefits, and which is right for your home.

What Is Whole-Home Zoning

A whole-home zoning system works with your HVAC system to allow independent control of temperatures throughout your home. It sends conditioned air to each area of your home while avoiding buildup in your system. Your home is divided into zones with thermostats communicating directly with a central control panel. Programmable thermostats are the best thermostat for optimized zoning temperature control in your home, allowing more flexibility and customization to meet the demands of your family’s lifestyle.

Benefits of Whole-Home Zoning

Whole-home zoning temperature control offers several benefits, such as:

Increased airflow management throughout your home, whether it’s heated or cooled air. Airflow is managed within numerous zones in your home. Dampers are utilized to direct the flow of air to each zone based on the thermostat in that zone’s orders. The other zones that don’t need extra airflow won’t be affected by the new air supplied by your system.
Customized comfort with enhanced zoning temperature control for each room in your home. Each zone is designed based on the number of occupants, pets, and appliances in the area. The ceiling height is also taken into account for increased customization in each zone.
Increased energy savings go hand-in-hand with a whole-home zoning system. It allows your heating and cooling system to operate less often while still providing consistent temperatures throughout each zone in your home. Energy isn’t wasted by your system continually cycling to provide heating and cooling to every room in your house.

What Are Smart Vents

Smart vents are used as a simple and effective way for homeowners to reduce heating and cooling in areas of their home that aren’t in use. This type of zoning ventilation utilizes a smart thermostat to decide which rooms need more air than others. Smart vents still offer zoning temperature control, but there are vent sensors that communicate with other sensors in an area to redirect the airflow if necessary rather than a control panel, dampers, and thermostats.

Benefits of Smart Ventilation In Your Home

Smart vents offer several benefits, including:

Wireless system control that allows the system components to communicate
Advanced algorithms offer extended battery life up to 2 years
Through the use of a louver system, the airflow is controlled quietly
Zoning temperature control and pressure drops are monitored through embedded sensors to protect the system
Sleek, modern design to match the décor in any home
Increased energy savings
Easy installation with reduced initial cost

Why Zoning Temperature Control Is Important

According to the United States Department of Energy, 50% of a home’s energy bill is spent on heating and cooling costs and up to 90% of all single-family homes only use one HVAC zone. This allows, on average, 2 to 4 rooms in a home receiving insufficient air to either decrease or increase the temperature. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating to learn more about zoning ventilation and smart vents. We will help you decide which is best for your home and our NATE-certified technicians will install your new ventilation and zoning temperature control system quickly.

Invest in a zoning temperature control system for your home and boost your HVAC system’s performance and efficiency. Call Douglas Cooling & Heating today and schedule maintenance, service, and installation by our NATE-certified technicians for all your heating and cooling needs!

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Is it a Bad Thing if My Heat Pump is Covered in Ice?

Monday, February 19th, 2018

There are some symptoms that, when you notice them, should instantly that your system needs to be repaired. Some, however, are a bit trickier to diagnose at first glance. Heat pump ice, for example, could be nothing to worry about. Or, it could mean that your system is in dire need of repairs. If you see ice on the outdoor portion of your heat pump, and you’re not sure what to do about it, read on for more information.

Tags: Heat Pump Repair, Pelham
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Do You Know Where Your Furnace Filter Is?

Thursday, February 15th, 2018

Filters for gas furnaces and other HVAC equipment are vital for your system to operate efficiently during the winter. You should take the time to discover the furnace filter location and what types of furnace filters are required for your gas furnace or heating system. Knowing the filter types and their location will help you make informed buying decisions in the future and stay on top of changing them.

Find Your Furnace Filter Location

In general, the filter for a furnace is located inside the blower compartment but every location can vary. Below are the typical places for furnace filter location based on the installation of a unit:

Horizontal Furnace: Check to see if your furnace has a slide-in furnace rack, built into the furnace where the filter is housed.
Upflow Furnace: With air moving upwards, the filter will be located in the blower compartment next to the cold air return. Remove both the top and bottom door to access the furnace filter location.
Downflow Furnace: The air is moving downwards, which means the filter will be located in the upper blower compartment. If you have a V-shaped filter system, you will need two filters for your system. Both filters are up in the plenum in a V-shape.

Types of Furnace Filters

There are several different filters used for furnaces, such as:

HEPA filters
Pleated filters
Electrostatic filters
Polyester filters
Fiberglass/Synthetic filters

Signs Your Furnace Filter Needs Changing:

Your gas furnace or other HVAC system exhibits signs that indicate it’s time to change your filter. Below are signs:

If you notice your filter is gray
Dirt or dust is visible around the unit
Gas furnace is cycling longer than normal
Extremely dusty home

The most prominent sign your filter needs replaced is if it’s been awhile since you remember changing it! Schedule preventive maintenance seasonally with Douglas Cooling & Heating, and we will replace your filter before it affects the performance of your system.

Why Change Your Furnace Filter?

Enhanced comfort: Filters are responsible for removing contaminants from your air supply and keeping the airflow smooth. A clogged filter restricts the airflow and prevents air, warm or cool, from moving throughout your home effectively.
Improved performance: A clean filter allows air to move easily through your system, without forcing your unit to work overtime. Clean filters also reduce the buildup of dust and debris inside your HVAC unit, which compromises its performance. When a filter becomes clogged or dirty, and the airflow is restricted, your system has to work harder to control the temperature in your home, resulting in breakdowns.
Healthier indoor air quality: Your indoor air will become polluted and cause health issues for your family when the filter isn’t changed regularly. The filter is responsible for removing airborne contaminants from your indoor air before circulating the air throughout your home. You will suffer from viruses, bacteria, mold, pollen, dust, and other debris when your filter is dirty.
Increased energy efficiency: A heating system can only function efficiently when it’s not over-stressed. A clogged or dirty filter forces your system to work harder, which results in higher energy use. A clean air filter requires your system to use less energy and increases the energy efficiency of your entire system.

How Often Do I Need to Change My Furnace Filter?

Depending on the types of furnace filters installed in a unit, the recommendation of how often to change them varies.

Standard efficiency filters: If you have a low MERV rating on your filter, you need to change it more frequently than high-efficiency filters, about once a month.
Check the packaging: The packaging your filter comes in should have a recommendation from the manufacturer for when to replace your filter.
System use: The filter should be changed before and after you use your system. Before winter, schedule maintenance on your furnace to have the filter replaced and following winter, change the filter once more.
Higher pollutants: If you have pets or someone smokes inside your home, your indoor air quality is reduced more than homes without pets or smokers. Pet dander, pet hair, and smoke contaminate your filter and air quickly. Consider changing your filter more often to keep your indoor air quality healthy longer.

Locate your furnace filter and know which filter is best for your home. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating to schedule maintenance and have our NATE-certified technicians replace your filter before it compromises the performance and efficiency of your unit or your indoor air quality.

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What Every Business Owner Needs to Know About Commercial HVAC Maintenance

Tuesday, February 13th, 2018

Just like residential homes, businesses have heating and cooling systems that need to be maintained to keep them operating at their highest efficiency and to lengthen their lifespan. Even though both residential and commercial systems are similar, they have significant differences that business owners should understand. When scheduling commercial HVAC maintenance on your system, contact a licensed and experienced central heating and air contractor that specializes in commercial equipment. Our NATE-certified technicians at Douglas Cooling & Heating are qualified and knowledgeable to handle any commercial HVAC repair or maintenance you need!

What Makes Commercial HVAC Systems Different?

Even though commercial and residential HVAC systems are similar when it comes to heating and cooling methods, as a business owner you need to understand what makes your commercial unit different so you won’t experience costly breakdowns when you least expect them. The significant differences between commercial and residential systems are:

Different locations for commercial systems

The size of commercial heating and cooling systems require unique placement compared to the typical location of residential units. Residential equipment is installed behind or next to a home, but commercial HVAC systems need more space due to the large size of the unit. Installation of a commercial system is on the roof of your building where ample space is available. Placing your commercial system on the roof also protects it against vandalism and offers easy access for commercial HVAC repairs and maintenance without disrupting daily business operations.

Ventilation for commercial systems

Extra ventilation for residential homes is achieved through the use of windows, but commercial units don’t always have windows available for extra ventilation. Instead, commercial equipment utilizes other types of components for more complex ventilation to provide consistent temperatures throughout your building and increase indoor air quality for your employees and customers.

Commercial systems are packaged

With a residential system, the equipment is often split with the blower, evaporator, and condensate drain housed indoors and the compressor, condenser, and condenser fan housed outside. Commercial HVAC units are packaged with everything in one single cabinet. The only part of the commercial system housed indoors are the zone dampers and ducts. Only an experienced central heating and air contractor should perform commercial HVAC repairs considering the system is more complicated with all the major components grouped in one place.

Commercial drainage systems

The drainage system for residential equipment is much smaller than the drainage system of a commercial system. There are multiple pipes and pans utilized to ensure complete evaporation and reduce the possibility of overflow from your commercial system.

Commercial systems are more powerful

A residential system only has to provide enough cooling and heating to a small number of people living in a home. Commercial equipment is much larger and more powerful to provide sufficient climate control to a higher number of employees and customers during peak operating hours, and sometimes are used to facilitate production. Installation of a correctly sized unit for your business should be done by a commercial central heating and air contractor that understands the power you need to create a comfortable indoor environment.

Commercial units are more complex

An HVAC system for a residence is simple with the outdoor unit and indoor unit working together. When one fails, generally both are replaced to create a matched syste,. A commercial system is more flexible and sophisticated compared to a residential unit. An HVAC system for a business is more adaptable to the building’s structure, the number of occupants, and how often the building is in use. Commercial HVAC repairs are performed on components independently in a commercial system, which offers easy replacement for damaged parts without replacing the entire unit.

Why Commercial HVAC Maintenance Is Important

Commercial buildings spend a significant amount of energy with their HVAC systems, and routine maintenance keeps your equipment operating at its highest efficiency. Just like with residential systems, commercial units will perform longer with fewer breakdowns when they are serviced on a regular basis. Replacing a commercial system is far more expensive than a residential unit, which is why maintenance should be high on your priority list for your business. Douglas Cooling & Heating offers commercial HVAC maintenance plans to keep your equipment operating efficiently for a long time.

Douglas Cooling & Heating has experienced and skilled commercial central heating and air contractors that will keep your system performing efficiently year-round! Contact us today to schedule your commercial HVAC maintenance with our NATE-certified technicians.

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Finishing Your Basement? What You Need to Know About Basement HVAC

Thursday, February 8th, 2018

UPDATED July 2019 – Finishing your basement adds value to your home, offers additional square footage to enjoy and offers refuge for severe weather but have you considered your basement HVAC?

Before you can finish your basement and choose decor, consider what it needs to maintain comfortable temperatures. Do you already have basement HVAC ducting installed or will you need to decide where and how to install more?

If your HVAC system impacts your remodeling, discuss your plans with a professional HVAC contractor. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating to have our NATE-certified technicians inspect your current system. We offer affordable suggestions so heating and cooling your finished basement goes smoothly.

In this blog, we’ll cover what you need to know about remodeling and basement HVAC.

Keep Your Basement HVAC System Hidden but Safe

Many homes have air handlers, furnaces, water heaters, water softeners and other mechanical equipment housed in the basement. While planning how you will finish your basement, consider how to enclose your HVAC system and mechanicals. This keeps the focus on the entertainment areas. Incorporating a utility room, for example, conceals the equipment but allows access via a door for maintenance and repairs.

Many homeowners find they like having some unfinished space too, for seasonal decor and other storage. Just be sure to allow for adequate space around your mechanicals. They need proper airflow.

In addition, gas furnaces need to meet gas code requirements for ventilation. The National Fuel Gas Code specifies the number of cubic feet required to vent your furnace based on the BTU output. Your design must allow proper room around the heating unit for safety.

Know Your HVAC Codes and Permit Considerations

Building codes vary depending on different factors. If you don’t have windows in your basement or you don’t have enough for proper ventilation, installation of a mechanical ventilation system might be required to create a healthy and safe environment.

Most unfinished basements don’t have ductwork present for heating and cooling. We recommend you determine what and how much new basement HVAC ducting you need. Put it on paper.

If you need to obtain a building permit, it usually requires you to provide a visible plan. Include in your plan the location of your current system, the supply and return ducts, plus additional basement HVAC ducting you plan to install. Contact your local municipality to find out if you need a building permit.

If you choose a professional HVAC contractor like Douglas Cooling & Heating, our team designs the system and helps with any plans for permits.

Click to Schedule a Free Estimate

Determine the Size of Basement HVAC System You Need

This is important. It’s critical to plan the appropriate size and design of the ductwork to match the capacity of your HVAC system. If the addition of your basement HVAC is more than your heating and cooling system can handle, it creates new problems.

We see this in cases in older homes and buildings, especially, which have had additions over the years.

If your system is over or undersized for the heating and cooling needs of the building, you’ll have uneven temperatures. It also strains your system to keep up and sets you up for more repairs and even early replacements.

Avoid that when you use a qualified and skilled heating and cooling technician to determine the correct size HVAC system needed. If you add supplemental heating and cooling equipment, size only the new finished space for the add-on basement HVAC. Lean on our NATE-certified team for success.

Additions Versus Upgrades

You have two options if your current HVAC system doesn’t meet the capacity needed for heating and cooling your finished basement:

Upgrade your existing HVAC system to a larger capacity unit
Add a second HVAC system to provide the necessary heating and air to your finished basement

The best option depends on your situation and personal preferences. If your HVAC system is fairly new, an upgrade might not be the most cost-effective choice.

However, if your system is old and requires more frequent repairs, upgrading to a higher capacity HVAC unit might be the perfect choice for your home and basement. This might be the perfect excuse to upgrade your system’s efficiency too!

Technology and energy efficiency in heating and air continues to evolve. Previously, an 80 percent efficiency furnace was standard. Now, you can get a gas furnace that uses 98 cents of every dollar spent to heat your home.

Air conditioners and heat pumps are also more energy-efficient. At Douglas Cooling & Heating, we offer Bryant central air models like the popular Evolution ® 189BNV. It’s quiet and thanks to its variable-speed compressor, it offers an ENERGY STAR-qualifying SEER up to 19.

If you prefer a heat pump, we recommend the Bryant Evolution ® 288BNV or 280A. Both use variable-speeds for greater comfort and efficiency. They offer top-of-the-line SEER and HSPF ratings. The 288BNV was named to the list of Most Efficient of ENERGY STAR 2019 while the 280A is specifically known for excellent dehumidification.

New Kid on the Block: Ductless Heating and Cooling

What to do when basement HVAC ducting isn’t available, complex or when a system’s capacity can’t meet the needs of the additional square footage? Try a ductless system. Ductless, used for decades in Europe and Asia, continues to win fans in the U.S.

The heat pump condenser installs outside while the indoor air handler installs on a wall or ceiling. This allows you to comfortably heat and cool your newly-finished basement without ductwork.

The indoor units offer flexibility for installation, and they can be set up on a zoned system for increased efficiency. Depending on the model, you can connect up to six indoor units to a single outdoor AC compressor.

At Douglas Cooling & Heating, we install Bryant ductless heat pumps with cooling efficiencies up to 30.5 SEER and heating ratings up to 10.3 HSPF.

Basement HVAC Design and Installation Experts: Douglas Cooling & Heating in Birmingham, AL

Make the best choices when it comes to heating your finished basement! Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating to schedule a free estimate for a new unit or to schedule service. Questions about whether your current system is sized correctly? We’re happy to help. Our HVAC technicians are NATE-certified and the best in the industry.

After basement HVAC installation, make routine maintenance easy with a service plan membership. We offer three different plans to fit any budget. So call Douglas Cooling & Heating today and schedule an HVAC maintenance visit for your heating and cooling system.

Our team serves homeowners throughout the Birmingham, Alabama area, including Vestavia Hills, Pelham, Mountain Brook, Homewood and Hoover. You’ll also find us in Bessemer, Calera, Chelsea and Helena, Alabama.

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Home Automation and Integrating Your HVAC System

Tuesday, February 6th, 2018

Home automation, also known as smart home technology, allows you to control your home’s appliances, lighting, security, and temperature anywhere via the internet. The face of HVAC technology is constantly changing and adapting to meet the needs of homeowners. To integrate your HVAC system to be more automated, you need to understand what home automation is, what HVAC technology is compatible with home automation, and how smart heating and cooling will benefit you in the long run. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating to find out more about automated HVAC technology and how our NATE-certified professionals will help you with the integration process.

Home Automation Is Revolutionizing Homes

Home automation has been around for several decades in terms of lighting and simple appliance control. Now due to technological advancements, you have control of your entire home through the internet from anywhere at any time. You now have the power to control the temperature in your home through smart heating and cooling via automated HVAC technology.

Your personal preferences are assimilated through this HVAC technology, allowing you to save money, increase your heating and cooling performance, and know when changes happen inside your home even when you aren’t there. Home automation is the way of the future, so don’t get left behind!

The Best Automated HVAC Technology Available

An integrated HVAC system offers ideal climate control, varying between zones in your home. Smart thermostats are the best way to integrate your current heating and cooling system for home automation. They offer advanced technology that learns your routine, adjusts the temperature based on your preferences, and are controlled remotely through your smartphone. Most smart thermostats are controlled through an app that can be accessed from a Wi-Fi connection on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Smart thermostats offer more than just remote access and control of your home’s climate. They offer:

Occupancy sensing:

Awareness of when and how many occupants are in a room is communicated to the smart thermostat via wireless sensors. The sensors utilize motion detection technology combined with humidity/temperature levels to automatically adjust your thermostat based on your preferences.

Location services:

Similar to Bluetooth technology, your phone’s location is synced with your smart thermostat. This allows you to set your thermostat to a preset temperature whenever you leave or enter a specific space close to your home. Your thermostat modifies your indoor temperature based on your movements.

Homeowner alerts:

Once a smart thermostat is installed and synced to your smartphone, you will receive notifications to alert you to several things. With a smart thermostat, you can set up an alert based on your heating and cooling system’s temperature settings. If the temperature gets too warm or cool, the system will alert you so you can call a professional to inspect your HVAC system. Douglas Cooling & Heating offers 24/7 emergency service so even if you aren’t home, your system will notify you there is a problem, and you can schedule service with us before you get home.

System reminders:

Smart thermostats also send you reminders through the smart app for when your system needs the air filter replaced. Alerts will also be sent to remind you when to schedule maintenance for your heating and cooling system.

Energy analysis:

Many smart thermostats send you detailed energy logs so you can see where you are wasting energy and offer suggestions to save money on your energy bill. By controlling your home’s HVAC system with a smart thermostat, you will save money, increase the efficiency of your system, reduce potential breakdowns, and extend the life of your unit.

Discover the benefits of smart heating and cooling in your home! Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating now to talk with our NATE-certified technicians and schedule a free estimate for your new HVAC technology.

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Keep Your Electrical System in Good Shape By Following These Tips

Monday, February 5th, 2018

Your electrical system is one of the most important parts of your home. A large number of other systems in the home rely on the electrical system in order to function, so it would be a good idea to keep it in good condition as best you can. Issues with the electrical system have a way of causing serious problems elsewhere in the home, including electrocution and the risk of house fires. Read on to find out more about how to keep your electrical system in good condition.

Tags: Electrical Maintenance, Electrical Repair, Hoover
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Don’t Get Frozen Out at Your Super Bowl Party

Thursday, February 1st, 2018

The Super Bowl is just around the corner, and you need to prevent gas furnace breakdowns or other heating disruptions from affecting your party plans! HVAC maintenance for all types of furnaces and heating equipment is the best way to catch a problem before it escalates. Several benefits come with furnace maintenance, including detecting a problem before you discover your electric furnace isn’t working correctly. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating to find out more about our HVAC maintenance for furnaces and other HVAC products!

Prevent Breakdowns with HVAC Maintenance for Furnaces:

The best way to keep a home warm this winter and avoid furnace failure is to:

Schedule preventative HVAC maintenance for furnaces, boilers, and other heating equipment. Maintenance is instrumental in extending the lifespan of your unit and boosting its performance efficiency. Douglas Cooling & Heating’ professionals are licensed and NATE-certified to perform maintenance on any heating system and will catch anything that might lead to problems in the future.
Replace or clean your filter every month. A dirty furnace filter is a leading cause of why your electric furnace isn’t working, and it’s a simple problem to fix. As your system runs, dirt and debris get trapped inside your filter and can cause even more problems due to restricted airflow throughout your home.
Check your vents to ensure they are open and not blocked by couches, beds, nightstands, or other furniture. Furnaces and other heating equipment are sized to meet the needs of every square foot in your home. When vents are blocked, the air that is supposed to be delivered to a set room gets trapped behind the vents, building pressure and causing furnace failure.
Call a NATE-certified specialist if you think there is a problem with your heating system. It’s not easy to detect when your electric furnace isn’t working correctly, but there are signs you can watch for and call for help before your system shuts down. Douglas Cooling & Heating technicians are all NATE-certified and experienced to handle any problem you might encounter with your heating system. We even have emergency service 24/7 for those times when a breakdown happens unexpectedly.
Consider investing in a new heating system if your current system is older than 15 years or experiencing constant breakdowns and failures. Replacement of your heating system ensures you will have many winters ahead of you without surprise repairs or malfunctions with your unit. Prevention also includes being proactive about your current system and replacing it when necessary.

Signs an Electric or Gas Furnace Breakdown Is In Your Future:

Hearing noises: Both gas and electric furnaces create some level of noise when operating, but strange noises indicate a more devastating breakdown is imminent. Sounds, such as popping, hissing, squealing, and banging should be handled by a professional. Call the professionals at Douglas Cooling & Heating if you notice weird noises coming from your furnace!

Flame isn’t blue: The flame on a furnace should be bright blue when it’s functioning correctly. If the light is yellow or is flickering, the furnace isn’t burning the fuel completely, and carbon monoxide could be leaking into your home’s air supply. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating if your flame isn’t bright blue and ensure you and your family remain safe from carbon monoxide poisoning this winter!
Overworked furnace: If your gas or electric furnace isn’t working efficiently it is a sign that your system is overloading itself to provide warmth throughout your home. An overworked heating system could be due to a faulty thermostat or something much more severe. Schedule service with our NATE-certified technicians to assess your furnace performance and diagnosis where the problem is before it’s too late.
Increased heating bill: An increase in your heating bill is a noticeable sign that something is wrong with your furnace or other heating equipment. When a furnace is running smoothly and efficiently, your heating bills are low. A system that has damaged components, pressure buildup, or other malfunctions manifest their problems with performance through your energy use. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating today, and we will inspect your system for damaged components, leaks in your ductwork, or anything that might be affecting your system’s performance.

Prevent gas or electric furnace breakdowns and other malfunctions with your heating equipment before you invite everyone over. Call Douglas Cooling & Heating to schedule maintenance with our NATE-certified professionals.

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