We want you to enjoy a warm and safe winter season this year, no matter what sort of heating system you use to provide comfort for your house. If you use either a gas furnace or a heat pump as your main heating system, we have some advice for you regarding the presence of snow. Snow can create issues for either type of heater unless you take some precautions.
ServiceMax Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Wilmette’
Watch for Snow Blocking Vents or the Heat Pumps This Winter
Tuesday, December 29th, 2015A Way Furnace Maintenance Keeps You Safe: Cracked Heat Exchangers
Monday, November 30th, 2015Outdoor temperatures are dropping as we cross over into December, and we hope that you’ve already arranged to have maintenance for your natural gas furnace. If you haven’t, it’s still not too late to schedule it with us and have your heating system in excellent shape for when the cold weather really strikes hard.
We’ve written before about why a professional inspection and tune-up for the heating system is something that you must have done every fall. In this post, we’ll focus on a specific safety issue with furnaces you can avoid thanks to maintenance—just one of the many reasons to make maintenance an annual tradition for home comfort!
A Matching System: Why You Should Consider Replacing Your Entire HVAC System
Monday, November 2nd, 2015In some of our recent posts, we’ve discussed the possibility of arranging for installing a new residential heater during the fall. If you have an old furnace that no longer is living up to its former standards, then it is a wise idea to schedule a replacement before the winter arrives. That way you’ll be prepared for the cold and have a system that works at high energy efficiency.
I’ve Got a Busy Fall: Can I Skip Heating Maintenance This Year?
Monday, October 5th, 2015We understand that the fall season can often be one of the busiest times of the year. It hardly seems like the summer has ended before planning for Halloween and Thanksgiving and visiting relatives and kids going to school start consuming all the days of the calendar. With all that’s going on, do you really need to worry about one more thing like scheduling heating maintenance? Why not put it off until next year?
Does My Water Heater Really Need Maintenance Every Year?
Monday, September 7th, 2015The philosophy “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” can lead to people picking up bad habits about important appliances in their homes. For example, the water heater: if you don’t notice anything outwardly wrong with the device that supplies hot water to your household, you may think you have no reason at all to call for a professional to look at it. After all, it’s not broken, is it?
Signs You May Need to Replace Your Water Heater
Monday, August 10th, 2015Modern water heater manufacturers construct their products to last. But of course they cannot make them invincible: no mechanical device can endure forever, and wear and tear will eventually lead to the need to replace it. The water heater that delivers hot water to the taps and appliances in your home—from showerheads to washing machines—will at some point need a professional to remove it and put a new system in its place.
Is Your Water Heater the Cause of Your High Energy Bills?
Monday, June 22nd, 2015If you are currently experiencing a rise in your energy bills in your home for which you cannot account, the problem may rest in one of the household appliances. Two appliances to consider—at least during the summer, when the heater isn’t a possible source—are the air conditioner and the water heater. Both will put in work during the summer, and both consume large amounts of energy even under the best situations. Should either develop malfunctions or suffer from excessive wear, it can mean a leap in your bills. In this post, we are going to look at how your water heater (whether a gas-powered or electric-powered model) might end up raising your bills—and what you should do about it.
Summer Is Almost Here: Is Your Air Conditioner Ready?
Monday, May 25th, 2015We are less than a month away from the official start of the summer season. Now is the time to take an inventory of your air conditioning system to see if it is prepared to make it through the heavy amount of labor it will need to perform all that through and into the fall. If you air conditioning system isn’t in good working order, you may end up with emergency repair calls and even an irrevocably broken AC. You don’t want that to happen, so here are a few steps to take to see that your air conditioner is ready for the coming season.
What Does the Refrigerant in an Air Conditioner Actually Do?
Monday, April 27th, 2015You probably know that one of the basic components that makes an air conditioner work (and most types of refrigeration equipment) is a chemical called refrigerant. But how much do you know about how refrigerant works to keep your home cool during the summer? If you’ve ever been curious about refrigerant, we have some facts to share with you. However, this information is no substitute for professional skill and training, so whenever your air conditioner starts to experience trouble doing its job, make sure to call on HVAC technicians to take care of the necessary AC repairs.
Repairs a Radiant Heating System May Need
Wednesday, March 25th, 2015There are two different types of heaters that may be referred to as radiant heating systems. The first, electric radiant heaters, are composed of mats of electric coils which go under the floor or in the walls and ceilings. The second, hydronic radiant heating, uses hot water pipes under the floors delivered via a boiler in the home. Radiant heat fills a room more evenly, efficiently, and effectively than forced-air heating systems like furnaces. This is because radiant heat warms the objects and people in the room, not just the air. Radiant heating systems can last quite a while before running into any trouble, but when the time comes for heating repair in Wilmette, call the experts at Malek Heating & Cooling.
Electric Radiant Heat
Electric radiant heating systems consist of electric heating panels consisting of coils which are installed beneath tile floors, or possible in the walls and ceilings. Though they are more costly to run, most electric radiant heating systems do not experience trouble often, and they require very little maintenance over time. However, when there is trouble with the unit early on, it’s usually due to faulty installation. A new electric radiant floor heating system may trip the breaker frequently if installed improperly. Over time, a loss of heat may indicate a failing panel which needs replacement.
Hydronic Floor Heating
Since a hydronic heating system consists of a boiler, underfloor piping, and some mechanical components, it may need repairs more often. If one portion of your home does not feel as warm as the others, there may be an issue with the circulator pumps which move hot water through the system. You may also run into trouble with the boiler itself, which can encounter pressure troubles from a buildup of minerals. Over time, an older boiler will need replacement if it begins to rust. Call the friendly technicians at Malek Heating & Cooling at the first sign that your radiant heating system is not working properly. If you wait too long to call for repairs, your home may be without heat when you need it most. And our professional electricians are more than qualified for any heating repair in Wilmette and the surrounding areas.