Boehmer Heating & Cooling Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

Common Zone Control Heating Problems

Monday, February 24th, 2014

Either as an upgrade to an existing system or as part of a new installation, a zone control system makes a lot of sense. They divide your home into different sections, allowing you to raise or lower the temperature of each one separately. So one family member can turn up the heat in the bedroom to stay warm while another can turn it down while working over a hot stove in the kitchen. Zone controls help cut down on monthly heating bills since you can simply turn down the heat in areas of the home you aren’t using. What kind of issues might those be? It depends. Here’s a brief list of common zone control heating problems.

  • Stuck dampers. With any zone control system, you might have problems with the dampers or valves. If they won’t close (or stay stuck) then the zone they control can’t be heated or cooled the way you need it to. A technician can usually get into the duct system and fix the stuck damper with a minimum of effort.
  • Control panel. The control panel is what regulates the dampers in the zone control system, and because it is electrically powered, most of the problems with it stem from there. If it isn’t working, it may have a faulty component or there may be a problem with the electrical flow coming into it. In some cases, the component can be repair. In orders, the whole panel needs to be replaced.
  • Thermostats. The thermostats for each of your zones can have the same problems as a thermostat that controls the temperature in your whole house.  They can misread the temperature, fail to activate when they should or fail to turn off the system when the desired temperature has been achieved. A trained technician can repair or replace them as appropriate.

For help with common zone control heating problems, Boehmer Heating & Cooling is here to help. We handle all kinds of Pittsburgh heating repair services, and we can address the issues plaguing your zone control system with speed and efficiency. Call us today to make an appointment!

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Common Zone Control Heating Problems

3 Causes of Boiler Leaks

Monday, February 17th, 2014

Boilers have a number of advantages that keep them competitive as heating options. Perhaps the most attractive one is longevity. Boilers have few mechanical parts, which means they are less prone to wear and tear due to age. With regular maintenance, they can last over two decades and require few repairs during that time.

It’s rare for any system to last that long without any repairs, however, and boilers do have a particular issue that sometimes needs professionals to fix: leaks. There are a few different reasons for leaks to occur, but no matter how they happen, they need immediate attention before the whole heating system is compromised or a house sustains water damage. Boehmer Heating & Cooling has worked on boilers since 1933; place your trust in us when it comes to your boiler in Pittsburgh, PA.

Three common reasons for boiler leaks:

1. High water pressure

Boilers are designed with an expansion tank to maintain water pressure inside the main tank as the temperature rises. But if a malfunction occurs that allows the pressure to increase or the water to overheat, it will start to cause leaks to spring up in multiple connections and valves throughout the boiler system. A professional will need to seal the leaks and discover the reason for the pressure spike.

2. Corrosion

Wherever water and metal meet, there is possibility of corrosion occurring. Although modern boilers are designed to resist corrosion, it can still occur because of oxygen infiltration into the tank. Corrosion weakens metal, and will soon cause leaking to begin. Corrosion must be removed as soon as possible before it spreads too far and requires a full tank replacement.

3. Improper installation

We cannot emphasize this enough: you must rely on professionals to install a boiler system. If your boiler received poor installation, it will lead to multiple troubles, but leaking is the most common. Untrained installers usually perform poor soldering jobs on the connections, and these will soon start to develop leaks. Although sometimes repairs from experts can fix initial installation glitches, often the whole boiler will need to be replaced.

If you detect leaks anywhere on your boiler, call for service right away. If you notice a decrease in heating power or hear a rumbling in the tank (often a sign of overheating), you should also call for repairs. Take good care of your boiler and it will reward you with many years of effective warming that will outstrip any other heating system.

Boehmer Heating & Cooling is available for 24-hour emergency service. We also offer maintenance plans to keep your boiler in Pittsburgh, PA in good shape all year.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on 3 Causes of Boiler Leaks

The Boiler Expansion Tank and Heating Repair

Thursday, February 6th, 2014

If you’ve ever taken a good look at your boiler, examined its various external parts and components, you probably noticed what looks like a smaller water tank above the boiler with a pressure gauge attached to it. That’s the expansion tank, and it’s a vital part of the boiler system that can prevent serious problems leading to repairs. The expansion tank itself can need repairs as well, and it’s important for the general health of your heating system that it remains in good working order.

In this post we’ll explain what the expansion tank is and how it helps prevent problems in your boiler. If you encounter any troubles related to an expansion tank, call Boehmer Heating & Cooling. We have live operators standing by 24/7 to help with your heating repair in Pittsburgh, PA.

The Basics of the Expansion Tank

Despite what the name may indicate, an expansion tank is not an extra water tank. The expansion tank does contain some water, but half of it contains air, which serves the purpose of relieving the pressure of the water in the main tank.

If you were to view an expansion tank in a cut-away view, you would see two separate compartments with a rubber diaphragm between them. One compartment connects to the top of the boiler tank, where rising hot water enters it. The other side contains pressurized air connected to the valve that measures the pressure level. This set-up allows for the water to press against the diaphragm when its pressure rises, pushing against the air cushion on the other side. This relaxes the pressure on the water in the tank.

To create equilibrium, the valve in the other compartment adds air. As the water pressure begins to drop, the pressure from the air eventually restores the balance between the two sides.

Older boilers did not have expansion tanks. Instead, to relive high water pressure, they maintained an air cushion within the top of tank itself. However, this promoted corrosion because of the presence of oxygen. The creation of the expansion tank permitted a release of pressure without allowing the mixing water and oxygen.

How the Expansion Tank Prevents Repairs

High water pressure can cause some serious problems. When pressure spikes, it threatens leaks throughout the system, and could even cause the boiler tank to rupture. Even small amounts of pressure will put extra stress on the system and wear it down. The expansion tank maintains an even pressure to prevent these occurrences.

Sometimes the expansion tank needs repairs: the membrane can rip or come loose, or the valve breaks. When high water pressure starts to affect your boiler, call for repairs right away to see if the expansion tank needs attention.

Boehmer Heating & Cooling has kept people warm since 1933 with our excellent heating repair in Pittsburgh, PA. Make us your first call when you need help with an expansion tank or any other part of your boiler.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on The Boiler Expansion Tank and Heating Repair

What Makes a Furnace High Efficiency?

Tuesday, January 28th, 2014

The modern furnace makes better use of its fuel supply than the models of only a few decades ago. Many furnaces on today’s market carry the ENERGY STAR label from the U.S. EPA because of their efficient use of fuel and high return of heating power.

One type of furnace that goes above and beyond for energy savings is the high-efficiency condensing furnace. Where most furnaces can score AFUE ratings in the 80%–90% range, a high-efficiency model can climb as high as 98%—meaning only 2% of the natural gas goes to waste as exhaust.

Here’s an explanation for how these modern marvels achieve this. If you are interested in installation of a high-efficiency furnace in Pittsburgh, PA, talk to our specialists at Boehmer Heating & Cooling.

High-Efficiency Furnace Operation

The reason these furnaces waste so little energy is that they are capable of using the exhaust from the first part of the heating process to generate more heat. Here is how it works:

A standard furnace contains a single heat exchanger. High temperature combustion gas enters the chamber and heats up its walls. After air is blown around the exchanger and absorbs the heat, the cooled-down gas changes into a vapor. This vapor vents out the exhaust flue.

But a high-efficiency condensing furnace contains second heat exchanger. The exhaust vapor moves into this chamber, where it condenses into a liquid. The process of condensing causes a release of more heat, warming up the walls of the heat exchanger and providing additional warmth for the air that will be sent into the ventilation system. The liquid exhaust is then drained from the second heat exchanger.

The result of this is a reduction in energy waste. The more efficient performance means these furnaces will rapidly make up for their costlier installation with large savings off of heating bills.

High-Efficiency Furnace Repair and Maintenance

There is one drawback to high-efficiency furnaces which you need to know about: because they are more intricate machines that require a balance of many components, they require very attentive maintenance and repairs. All furnaces need regular maintenance and prompt repairs when necessary, but with a high-efficiency furnace you must take particular care of it or lose the benefits it provides.

Boehmer Heating & Cooling has maintenance plans that will make caring for your high-efficiency furnace in Pittsburgh, PA much simpler. Our 24-hour emergency service will also put you more at ease. Call us today for installation, maintenance, or repairs for your furnace.

Continue Reading

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on What Makes a Furnace High Efficiency?

Some Options for Heating Replacement in Pittsburgh

Monday, January 13th, 2014

We’re now deep into winter in Pittsburgh, with below-freezing temperatures swirling outside. If you have an old heating system in your home that you think may be nearing the end of its service, it’s time to schedule a replacement so you will have the briefest possible interruption in your heating.

Finding the right system to replace your old one can present a bit of a puzzle, however. You should always contact a professional heating and cooling company to assist you with making the choice, and then let them handle the installation so it goes fast and without complications. Our NATE-certified technicians at Boehmer Heating & Cooling have extensive knowledge of the many types of systems available and will help you pick the right one for your heating replacement in Pittsburgh, PA.

Common choices for heating replacement

  • Furnaces: Furnaces continue to be popular because they offer some of the highest levels of heating and they come in a variety of models that can fit almost any home. Furnaces can use different types of fuel (gas, electricity, propane), so there’s always a model that will work with your current power set-up. Furnaces do require ductwork, however.
  • Boilers: Boilers use hydronic power—the circulation of heated water—to provide warmth. Boilers are energy-efficient, run quietly, and provide cleaner heating because they do not need to use ducts. Boilers also require few repair needs and have incredible longevity. Boilers can run off electricity, natural gas, or oil.
  • Heat pumps: These systems are essentially air conditioners that can switch the direction they move heat so they bring heat indoors instead of moving it outdoors. The huge advantage of heat pumps is that you get an AC and heater in a single unit. Heat pumps use only a small amount of electricity to run and can provide tremendous savings during the winter. However, at very cold temperatures, they can begin to lose their heating effectiveness.

Find the best system for your home

Your home won’t have the same heating needs as another, so there is no “one size fits all” solution to getting the right heater for your home. The best way to discover the correct system for your house is to have home comfort experts perform a heat load calculation, which will measure the amount of heat required from a system to provide the temperature you want. The experts will then match you with the ideal heating system.

Boehmer Heating & Cooling has helped people stay warm since 1933. You can trust that we know how to locate the right heating replacement in Pittsburgh, PA to keep you comfortable all the way to spring.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Some Options for Heating Replacement in Pittsburgh

What Does NATE Stand For and Why Is It Important to My Heating Repair?

Monday, January 6th, 2014

Our Pennsylvania winters get awfully cold, and you need your heating system to be reliable. That’s why professional Pittsburgh heating repair services are critical to the safety and comfort of your home, and why the term “NATE” matters so much in that equation.

NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence; it’s a non-profit certification organization designed to boost the credentials of HVAC repair services throughout the country. The organization was founded in 1997 in Arlington, VA, and tests the knowledge and experience of HVAC technicians everywhere. Because it’s a third-party organization, it can maintain its objectivity and customers can be assured that their findings are accurate. NATE-certified technicians have passed a strict series of tests designed to ascertain not only their knowledge in HVAC repair and similar fields, but the ways that they can apply that knowledge to heating and cooling systems. Because it’s so reliable, many cities, counties and states use NATE certification as a basis for their licensing procedures, ensuring that anyone who practices HVAC installation and repair within their boundaries can exercise a certain amount of competence.

That’s important because it helps you rest easy when your heating or air conditioning system goes down and you need a repair service to fix it. Looking for the NATE certification symbol helps you find a technician who can fix your system with confidence. For heating repair in Pittsburgh, you can count on the experts at Boehmer Heating & Cooling to help. We’ve been in business since 1933 and pride ourselves on complete customer satisfaction, backed up by our solid-gold NATE certification. If you know what NATE stands for and why it is so important to your heating repair, don’t hesitate to give us a call today!

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on What Does NATE Stand For and Why Is It Important to My Heating Repair?

Is It Time to Get a New Furnace?

Wednesday, December 18th, 2013

The cold winter weather has arrived in Pittsburgh, and we hope that you’re cozy inside your home with your furnace keeping you warm. But if you’re not, or if your furnace is acting strangely, then maybe you need to consider a new furnace installation.

Furnaces can last for a long time with the proper care, sometimes past 20 years. But eventually they will start to run down, develop corrosion, and begin to work inefficiently, leading to a complete breakdown. If your furnace is nearing the end of its service life, you should have a new furnace put in before your current one shuts down at the worst possible time. With professional installers on the job, the switch from the old furnace to the new one will go fast and you won’t find yourself stuck in the cold.

Boehmer Heating & Cooling has years of experience with furnace installation; we’ve been in business since 1933! For your new furnace in Pittsburgh, PA, trust to us.

Here are a few of the signs to look out for that will warn you it’s time to get a new furnace:

  • Inexplicably elevated heating bills: As a furnace wears down with age, it will start to work harder to do its job. You may feel the same level of heating, but your furnace must drain more power to achieve it. Take a look at your heating bills each month: if they start to climb and stay that way, it might be the fault of a furnace past its prime and moving into decrepitude.
  • Extensive rusting: If you discover extensive rust along the bottom of the cabinet of your furnace, then it is likely time to get a new unit.
  • Constant noisy operation: One of the best warning signs a furnace can send that it requires repairs is a strange, loud noise. However, if a furnace begins to make rumbling, clanging, and grating noises on a regular basis, it usually means that it has become too worn down for regular repairs to restore it.

It’s a big step to decide on installing a new furnace, but it doesn’t have to be a difficult one if you hire a contractor with the experience necessary to make the installation go fast and smoothly. All of the installers at Boehmer Heating & Cooling are highly trained, so you’ll know that you are getting quality work when you hire them to install your new furnace in Pittsburgh, PA. Contact us today so you’ll have the best heating for the rest of the winter.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Is It Time to Get a New Furnace?

Are Strange Sounds a Sign That It Is Time to Call a Heating Repair Contractor?

Monday, December 9th, 2013

If you’ve spent at least a year with your heating system keeping you warm through a tough Pittsburgh winter, you will have a good notion of the sounds to expect from it. However, if you start hearing unusual sounds that you haven’t experienced before, you may wonder if this is a signal to call for professional repairs.

The answer: “almost certainly.” Odd sounds are one of the ways that heaters communicate developing malfunctions that could lead to a full breakdown. If you can’t account for what’s causing the strange noise, you should call a repair contractor right away to determine the reason and find out what to do about it.

Boehmer Heating & Cooling has emergency operators standing by 24/7 to answer your service calls. Don’t hesitate with heating repair in Pittsburgh, PA: you don’t want to end up in the cold because of a busted heater.

Some common noises that indicate repair needs:

Rumbling boiler: If your boiler tanks starts to rumble, it likely means that the water inside is overheating. There are a number of reasons for this—rust, limescale, sediment at the bottom of the tank—but it needs to be fixed before leaks spring up throughout the pipes. The rumbling could also indicate a mixing of cold and hot water, and that means leaks around the input valve.

Clanking: This can occur in furnaces or heat pumps, and often means that a blower fan motor belt has come loose and is striking against other components. If this continues, the loose fan belt can cause serious damage to other mechanisms in the cabinet.

Rumbling and booming: You might hear this from a gas-powered furnace or boiler, and it is often a sign of a buildup of dirt along the burner where the gas jets ignite. A burner that gets too dirty will no longer be able to draw sufficient oxygen to light the jets. A technician can remove the burner and clean it.

Groaning and squealing: If you hear this from the cabinet of a furnace or a heat pump, the cause is probably motor bearings that are dirty or wearing down. If this continues, the motor will burn out, so have a professional replace the bearings.

Loud clicking at heat pump start-up: You probably have a failing start capacitor, the device responsible for delivering the electric charge that drives the motors in the heat pump. A technician can replace this for you.

Leave repairs to professionals

Modern heating systems are designed for durability and reliability—and they are also highly complex devices that require years of training to properly handle. Leave the repairs to professionals, especially if you have a gas-powered heater.

Boehmer Heating & Cooling can take care of all your needs for heating repair in Pittsburgh, PA. Since 1933, we have helped the city stay warm all through the winter.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Are Strange Sounds a Sign That It Is Time to Call a Heating Repair Contractor?

Furnace Problems Caused by Your Thermostat

Monday, December 2nd, 2013

The thermostat is a small object, but it performs a big job: it’s your means of communicating with the furnace in your home. If the thermostat develops malfunctions, it can threaten the comfort of your home.

When a thermostat starts to go awry, it can first appear as if something is wrong within the furnace cabinet or the ducts. This is one reason you should always rely on assistance from HVAC professionals when you have problems with your heating; attempting repairs on your own can lead to worse trouble if you are trying to fix something that isn’t broken. Call in experts like the ones on staff at Boehmer Heating & Cooling and let them locate the source of the trouble with your furnace in Pittsburgh, PA and find the best way to repair it.

Here are a few of the troubles you can experience with your furnace because of a faulty thermostat:

  • Furnace won’t come on: If the furnace won’t start up when the temperature drops, you should check the thermostat first to make sure you have it set correctly. If the thermostat has lost its connection to the furnace, it won’t activate the igniter. The thermostat might also be miscalibrated, so it senses incorrect indoor temperatures and registers the house as warmer than it actually is.
  • Furnace won’t stop running: A broken thermostat can also mean the furnace will continue to run, overworking its parts and making your home too hot. As with a furnace that won’t come on, this might indicate a thermostat miscalibration. Or it could be electrical trouble with the wire from the thermostat that switches the furnace on and off.
  • Furnace short-cycles: “Short cycling” is when the furnace comes on for only a brief period and then shuts off before completing its heating cycle. Again, this might be a thermostat miscalibration: the thermostat registers prematurely that the furnace has reached its target temperature and shuts it off. This will damage your furnace, drain power, and leave parts of your home cold.

Here’s something to keep in mind about thermostat operation: a thermostat is a switch, not a throttle. It turns your furnace on and off; it doesn’t increase the amount of heat it produces or speed it up. Turning the thermostat up to 90°F won’t heat up your home faster; it will just keep the furnace running until it reaches that point.

Get in touch with Boehmer Heating & Cooling when you need repairs for your furnace in Pittsburgh, PA. You don’t want a malfunctioning thermostat to leave you a deep freeze this winter. We have 24-hour emergency service to make sure you won’t stay cold for long.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Furnace Problems Caused by Your Thermostat

What to Do if Your Boiler is Leaking Water

Monday, November 18th, 2013

When it comes to heating repair, Pittsburgh residents know better than to fool around. Our winters are as cold as they come, and a day without a reliable heating system is almost as miserable as watching the Steelers lose to the Ravens. That means looking for the warning signs of a problem, which may allow you to stop a smaller problem before it becomes a bigger one. If you own a boiler, keep a particular eye out for leaking water, which is one of the most common problems with such a system.

Leaks can develop anywhere in the system, and with a large house, that system may be quite extensive. Checking for puddled water is the most obvious way to pinpoint a leak, particularly around any connections or seals in the pipeline. Unfortunately, many leaks start out very small and the hot water involved can evaporate before it puddles on the floor. By the time you notice the water, the problem may be bigger than you’d like.

A smarter way to check for leaks is to monitor the overall pressure in your boiler’s pressure gauge. If you notice it starts to drop, you’re likely looking at a leak somewhere in the system. Pinpointing it can be difficult; the best thing to do is shut off the boiler for the time being and contact a service technician to give it a look. He can likely hunt down the source of the leak and instigate some high quality repairs.

If you know what to do if your boiler is leaking water, the next step is to contact a professional who you trust. The experts at Boehmer Heating & Cooling handle any heating repair in Pittsburgh, and we’re completely dedicated to fixing your boiler problems the first time, every time. Call us today and make sure the job is done right!

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on What to Do if Your Boiler is Leaking Water