BEN TEST SITE Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Rocky River’

3 Things That Will Eventually Happen To Your Water Heater: A Rocky River, OH Water Heater Guide

Monday, December 3rd, 2012

You may not realize it, but you use the hot water in your Rocky River, OH home probably every single day. Whether it’s to take a shower, wash your dishes or wash your clothes, your water heater is a busy appliance. With such an important job, it’s always very inconvenient when it starts to break. At Westland Heating and Air Conditioning we’ve responded to tons of calls for repairs on water heaters. We wanted to help out our customers in the  Rocky River, OH area so we put together 3 of the most common repairs that will most likely happen to your water heater at some point.

Rust

Inside your water there is something called an anode rod, also called a sacrificial rod. This metal stick exists to keep rust from forming inside your water heater. It does this by absorbing tiny electrical currents that cause rust to form. But eventually, the sacrificial rod deteriorates. At that point, the inside of your water heater will begin to rust. You’ll start to notice rust-colored water coming out of your hot water faucets. Once that starts to happen, there is rarely any other option except to replace your water heater.

Sediment

If you have hard water in your area, this can cause mineral deposits and sediment to build up on the bottom of your water heater. Eventually, this can keep the heat from the burner from actually reaching the water. This can cause low water temperatures and luke-warm showers.

Water Leaks

Water leaks are another common problem with water heaters. Leaks can happen on the tank itself or with one of the pipe fittings that connect into the water heater. Corrosion from rust or minerals can cause the water heater to leak and the pipes to come a little loose.

If you’re having any water heater issues at your home in Rocky River, OH, contact the experts at Westland Heating and Air Conditioning. We offer fast and reliable water heater repair services throughout the Rocky River, OH area. Call us today!

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Common Winter Furnace Repairs in Rocky River

Monday, November 12th, 2012

It is important that you have your furnace and all other home heating components professionally installed and serviced in order to ensure its proper function and efficient operation. Even with an expert installation and high quality maintenance and repair service, though, your furnace may need some repair work during the winter. Professional maintenance can help reduce this risk and keep any necessary repairs simpler and less costly, but it is important to be prepared for the event of furnace failure this winter. Be sure to call a local Rocky River furnace repair company such as Westland Heating and Air Conditioning the moment you suspect a problem with your furnace this winter. Putting off repairs will just make it more likely that you will have the comfort in your home disrupted for a longer period of time. Here are some examples of common furnace repairs that you need to be prepared for this winter.

If your furnace is simply having trouble warming your home to the specified target temperature there are a number of possible causes. Not all of them even have to do with your furnace. It is good to start off with eliminating any best-case-scenarios causes of the problem. During the off-season for your furnace it is possible that furniture and other objects have shifted around. Make sure that no couches, chairs or other obstructions are blocking your air vents and that the vents have not been accidentally closed. If there is no obvious reason for the trouble, call a professional at Westland Heating and Air Conditioning for help right away. There may be a more serious problem with your furnace itself.

A short-cycling furnace is another common problem that many people face during the winter months. There are a lot of different reasons why your furnace may turn on and off too frequently. One common cause is a faulty thermostat. If your thermostat is malfunctioning or even placed in a poor reading location it can register the temperature incorrectly. This can account for your short cycling problem, resulting in lowered efficiency, increased energy costs and uncomfortable temperatures.

You may also experience hot or cold spots throughout your home, and again there are a few different probable causes. Your furnace may have trouble keeping up with your heating demand. However, it is important to remember that your heating system is comprised of multiple components. This development of cold spots could be indicative of a problem with your ductwork or the insulation around it. This can account for the development of the cold spots and may also cause excessive strain and damage to your furnace.

Whatever issues you experience with your furnace this winter the right decision to make in these situations is always the same: call the Rocky River furnace repair professionals at Westland Heating and Air Conditioning for expert service and repairs.

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Rocky River Heating Replacement Guide

Monday, October 22nd, 2012

When you have to replace your heating system in Rocky River, there are a lot of different factors that you have to keep in mind. We’ve put together a list of some of the most important things to remember:

Efficiency

The efficiency rating of your new heating system will impact the future cost of running your heating system. Newer models tend to have a higher efficiency rating than older models. But among the types of newer systems, the efficiency rating can vary. An average new furnace will probably have an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of 80%. The more most efficient ones can have as high as 95% AFUE. However, geothermal heating systems and some heat pumps can have a 100% or higher efficiency rating. This is obviously very attractive to homeowners who are looking to save money on their utility bills.

Fuel

Another thing to think about is what kind of fuel you’ll be using for your heating system. Energy prices aren’t coming down and people are looking for all kinds of ways to save their money. Depending upon where you live, the price of electricity, propane, oil and other fuels can vary. Prices fluctuate all the time. For people who have the space, the money and are tired of depending upon fuel supply companies, geothermal systems can be a great option. This system uses the renewable energy stored in the earth to heat and cool their home. However, the installation cost of this kind of system can be prohibitive to some people. Also, a geothermal system needs a certain amount of available ground space in order to be effective.

If you have any questions about replacing your heating system or if you’d like one of our Rocky River heating experts to visit your home, then just call Westland Heating and Air Conditioning today.

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Rocky River Water Heater Guide: Why Your Water Heater is Underperforming

Monday, October 1st, 2012

An underperforming water heater can be a frustrating problem to have. Whether it results in the water in your Rocky River home being cooler than you’d like or if you are simply frustrated with how high your bill have been lately, there are a number of reasons why your water heater might be under performing and not all of them involve replacement or even needing repairs. Here are some and the best ways to handle each:

  • Sediment or Mineral Build Up – Over time, the bottom of your water heater can build up a layer of dirt or sediment due to hard water. This is perfectly natural and doesn’t damage your water heater, but it does block absorption of heat from the burners by the water in the tank and can reduce efficiency.
  • Dirty Air Vents or Grates – The air vents below your water heater can get clogged with dirt or dust which can lead to not enough air getting to your pilot light and it going out on occasion. This can also result in poor burning and inefficient heating which is bad for your system as a whole.
  • Bad Pilot Light Igniter – If the pilot light refuses to stay lit or if you have an electronic igniter that doesn’t always work, it can affect the performance of your water heater in a number of ways. For this reason, it is recommended that you have it inspected immediately for possible issues.
  • Clogged Lines or Bad Thermostat – A bad thermostat may simply read the water temperature wrong and force you to turn up or down your water heater to accommodate. Clogged water lines due to old pipes can also be a problem.

When a problem develops in your water heater that has a negative impact on your home’s hot water supply, the first thing you should do is do a quick check of these things. Whatever the case, an underperforming water heater is almost always something that can be repaired.

For water heater repair or replacement in Rocky River, give Westland Heating and Air Conditioning a call today!

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Maintenance for Radiant Heating Systems in Rocky River

Monday, September 24th, 2012

If you have a new radiant heating system installed in your Rocky River home or are interested in having one installed, it is important that you make regular maintenance a part of your schedule. Annual maintenance performed on a radiant heating system ensures that it not only continues to work as intended to keep you and your family warm, but that it does so as efficiently as possible.

What exactly is involved in maintenance on a radiant heating system? Here are a few tasks we will perform when we visit and why they are so important.

  • Inspection of the Burners and Pilot Light – Older systems may need to be cleaned and inspected once a year. Many newer systems don’t even need this much maintenance because they are installed as sealed systems.
  • Flushing of the Hydronic Boiler – The system should never need to be flushed, but if a leak occurs or if a problem is suspected, this may be a maintenance task recommended by your technician.
  • Testing Pipes – Pipes may be periodically tested to check for leaks or other issues. Due to the nature of the system, leaks are very rare, but should still be inspected every year or so.
  • Clean Around the Boiler – The area around your boiler should always be kept clean and clear of any excess debris, dust, dirt or other things that could get in the way of proper combustion and air flow.

A good radiant heating system will require very little maintenance to operate effectively over time. It is a closed system which means it was carefully calibrated to work properly without any outside intervention. However, periodic checks for leaks, burner issues or pipe problems will ensure it stays that way.

To schedule a maintenance service for your Rocky River radiant heating system today, call Westland Heating and Air Conditioning!

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Avon Heating and AC Guide: Maintenance Really Does Save Money

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

There is no better way to ensure your Avon heating and cooling system works optimally than to ensure they get proper annual maintenance. People generally do not realize the value of opting for maintenance contracts, especially if they have just purchased new systems. Remember however that a small fee paid annually can save you a lot of money in the long run.

There are many advantages of regular maintenance of your heating and cooling systems.

Advantage #1

When a technician visits to perform maintenance of your heating or cooling system, he checks whether all parts of the system are working well and also checks for any sign of wear and tear. He will replace any part that needs it, and he’ll also repair any malfunctioning parts to ensure that there is no unexpected breakdown in the coming months.

Advantage #2

You will spend much less on repairs or part replacement in the long run if you catch the problems early. If one of the parts of your heating or cooling system stops functioning, the entire system may continue to work. However the other parts will have to work overtime to compensate for the malfunctioning part and this leads to excessive wear and tear.

Advantage #3

Getting professional tune ups on a regular basis will also ensure that your system works at optimum energy efficiency. Even the best performing new units lose efficiency, and over a period of time this could result in costlier energy bills.

Advantage #4

You can be sure of paying less on energy each month if you opt for a regular annual maintenance package. No matter how old or new your heating and cooling system is, it is never too late to start. A regular tune up and thorough cleaning will definitely lead to reduced energy bills and optimum functioning of the system.

Extend the life of your Avon heating and air conditioning system through annual maintenance that will give you more for your money. Systems maintained by professionals on a regular basis can even perform well beyond their lifetime in some situations. Just for a minimum annual maintenance amount, you can be assured of long-term, efficient performance of your system.  To schedule an appointment or to learn more about our Ultimate Service Agreement Plan, call Westland Heating and Air Conditioning!

 

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Westlake Air Conditioning Tip: Variable Speed Fans and Energy Efficiency

Monday, August 27th, 2012

One of the great improvements in air conditioning and heating technology is with the variable speed fan.  Westland Heating and Air Conditioning has years of experience working with Westlake air conditioning and heating systems that utilize this wonderful technology and as such can help you understand how variable speed fans provide great energy-efficiency.

Variable speed fans are just that: fans inside air conditioners and heaters that provide multiple levels of speed for optimal comfort and energy-efficiency.  The fan is the part of the system that moves the cooled or heated air through the ducts of a building.  A variable speed fan is actually controlled by a variable speed motor that can be run on a range of speeds in order to accommodate a specific need at any given time.

Since the fan inside these systems is used quite often, the more efficient it is the more efficient your heating or cooling system will be.  Variable speed motors ultimately save money on energy bills since they consume less power to run them than standard motors.  The higher efficiency air conditioning and heating units all use variable-speed blowers and fans.

Variable speed blowers can work at different speeds.  When temperatures outside are more temperate it will run at a lower fan speed, using less energy to do so (normally half the electricity needed during harder usage times).  When the temperatures outside skyrocket or drastically drop, the fan will run at a higher speed, offering the most amount of indoor temperature change possible in a shorter amount of time.

Here is an example of how the variable speed fan runs:

  • When the thermostat turns on the variable speed blower during cooling or heating, the blower will begin by running at half-speed.  This gets the coils cooling down properly without using excess energy to do so.  At this speed the fan is using 50% less energy than a standard fan.
  • After a few minutes the variable speed fan will adjust to working at ¾ speed and hold that rate of speed for much longer.  At this speed it is still using 25% less energy than a standard single-speed blower.
  • Temperature checks are taken periodically.  It may take a few minutes of blowing the fan at top speed to get temperatures right, or it could remain at ¾ speed the full time the system is running.  Once the building is within 2 degrees of the desired temperature it will stay at the ¾ speed until the proper temperature is attained.  This process saves money in power bills to run the air conditioner or heater every time it is used.

In this scenario, if you keep your building at a standard temperature all the time, you will hardly ever have to use the fan at full speed because temperatures will remain fairly constant throughout the day.

An additional benefit of a variable speed fan is improved air quality.  When a variable speed fan is set to “on” or to constantly operate, even after the heating or cooling portion is completed, the fan will work at half speed in order to circulate the air in a building and ensure that there is even distribution of cooled and heated air, even after the proper temperature is reached.

The Westlake air conditioning and heating professionals at Westland Heating and Air Conditioning are always ready to help you in your search for the most energy efficient indoor comfort options available to you – call us today for more information!

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