Westland Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Avon Lake’

How Does an Electric Furnace Work?

Monday, February 21st, 2022

When we talk about furnaces, we’re either talking about gas furnaces or electric furnaces. We don’t really service oil furnaces anymore because they’re just not as effective or efficient as current models, and oil prices fluctuate too much for us to give you a good deal.

Gas furnaces are often the first choice for homeowners. Natural gas is plentiful, clean-burning, and it does a good job at keeping a home warm throughout our cold winters. But this often leads to electric furnaces in Avon Lake, OH getting a bad rap, which they don’t deserve! Electric furnaces are perfect choices for many homeowners in our area.

Today, we’re going to talk about why an electric furnace might be a good choice. From its lower initial purchase price to its incredibly efficient design, electric furnaces work wonders for homes that need to fight cold temperatures but are a little more off the grid than homes with access to natural gas.

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Keep Your Furnace Safe and Operational With Maintenance

Monday, February 25th, 2019

technician-overlooking-gas-furnaceOne question we want to answer is whether there’s such a thing as too much maintenance. The answer is certainly “yes!”

To keep your heater or air conditioner in good shape, you only need to have it checked once a year. So, if your heater and AC are two separate systems (i.e. not a heat pump), then you’ll actually be scheduling maintenance two times in the year.

On this note, we want to talk specifically about why gas furnace maintenance is not the maintenance you want to skip. In addition to some operational issues, neglected maintenance can also bring about safety hazards.

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3 Things to Look for in a Quality HVAC Company

Monday, May 21st, 2018

trane-hvac-systemA quality HVAC system is the lifeblood of your home. You count on it functioning day after day, season to season, and continuously all year long. It protects you from the elements and, with the right indoor air quality additions, filters the air your family breathes. It is reliable and efficient without creating unexpected spikes in energy costs.

Partnering with a knowledgeable, trustworthy HVAC company is paramount to the enjoyment and longevity of your most personal investment: your home. You want to make sure that you don’t rush into this partnership and you take the time to find a contractor who will do the best work for you.

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Health Issues a Humidifier Can Help With

Friday, March 20th, 2015

People often associate high humidity with an uncomfortable environment. There’s no doubt that when the moisture level is too high in a home that it will cause discomfort and end up placing additional strain on the AC. However, the opposite problem, low humidity, can also create severe issues. Not only does it make it harder to keep warm, but excessively dry air can also trigger health problems in a home.

If you have experienced low humidity in your home (a good indicator is if static electricity has become a nuisance), then get in touch with Westland Heating & Air Conditioning and arrange for installation of a humidifier in Avon Lake, OH. Our indoor air quality professionals offer both humidifier and dehumidifier services so you can have the balanced indoor humidity necessary for comfort, energy savings, and better health.

Health conditions and low indoor humidity

Low humidity is principally an issue during the winter, and it can lead to an increase in colds and flus in a household. Dry air leads to inflamed and dried-out mucus membranes along the respiratory tract. Since these membranes are one of the body’s principle defenses against communicable diseases, when they dry up it will become easy for illnesses to spread from person to person. Dry conditions also allow for a number of viruses to survive longer outside of the human body, making the chance of catching a cold or flu even higher.

Dry air will also cause skin, nose, eye, and throat irritation. There is a specific danger to eyes, because low humidity causes tears to evaporate faster, leaving the eyes exposed to damage.

As skin loses moisture to the dry air (which also takes heat with it, the reason low humidity makes cold temperatures feel worse), it will start to develop cracks and become itchy. Cracked skin also serves as a path for illness to enter your body.

Although there are a number of methods you can use to increase humidity in your home, you must be cautious about maintaining balance. Too much humidity and you will have a whole different set of problems. The best way to be certain of achieving the correct balance is to contact indoor air quality professionals and schedule the installation of a whole-house humidifier.

You can count on the experience of the technicians at Westland Heating & Air Conditioning to see that you receive our professional installation of a humidifier in Avon Lake, OH. Give us a call today if you are suffering from dry air in your home.

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How a Boiler Heats Your Home

Wednesday, October 29th, 2014

Boilers were the first whole-home heating systems, so they’ve been around for a long time. They are more reliable, durable and energy efficient today than ever before, and can be used with several kinds of heat distribution outlets. If you are interested in a boiler in Avon Lake, call the people who have been installing boilers for over 25 years: Westland Heating and Air Conditioning.

How a Boiler Works

Boilers are part of a hydronic heating system, which is a system that uses hot water or steam from hot water to heat your home. The two main types of fuels used with a boiler are natural gas and oil, but propane or solid fuels can also be used. The water in the boiler is held in a vessel and is heated to a temperature of 180 degrees. If the boiler is a steam boiler, the steam is captured in a small dome that sits on top of the vessel; the steam is then distributed throughout a piping system. If the boiler heats via hot water, the water is pushed through the piping via circulating pumps. There are two ways water is heated:

  • Firetube – metal tubes are submerged in the water tank and the hot gases from the burner are directed into the tubes, where they heat the water.
  • Watertube – water inside metal tubing is heated from the outside by the flames of the burner.

Distribution Outlets

There are a few heat distribution outlets that can be used with a boiler:

  • Radiators
  • Baseboard heaters
  • Hydronic floor heating

Benefits of a Boiler System

  • Comfortable heating –boiler systems heat homes gradually, which can be more comfortable and consistent than forced hot air.
  • Good energy efficiency – the average energy efficiency of today’s boilers is 89%, and can go as high as 95%.
  • No swirling dust – boilers are a closed heating system, so there is no need to worry about swirling dust, as there can be with forced air systems. This can be particularly helpful for allergy sufferers.

Installing a boiler in Avon Lake can be a great heating option for your home, but it’s important to hire professionals for installation. Call Westland Heating and Air Conditioning today and schedule an appointment with one of our installation specialists.

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The Principles of Commercial Chillers

Wednesday, August 27th, 2014

If your large commercial property has unique cooling needs, a commercial chiller may be the right system for your building. Commercial chillers provide excellent and efficient space conditioning throughout a large space, but they may also be used for a variety of industrial process cooling needs. This may include cooling requirements for laboratory equipment, hospital equipment, or factory machinery. There exist many different types of chillers that can be used for a range of purposes, so it will be difficult to select the right type on your own. To choose the correct kind of chiller for your building in Avon Lake, you’ll want to talk to the experts at Westland Heating and Air Conditioning. For now, let’s take a brief look at how these systems operate and how you should maintain your unit.

How Chillers Work

Chillers rely on a vapor-compression cycle to remove heat. A liquid is chilled as it continuously cycles through the system. While this liquid is usually purely water, water may be combined with glycol or propylene as well. First, the water absorbs heat at the evaporator. Then, the compressor allows water to release heat into the outside air. In most commercial applications in the U.S., a type of mechanical compressor is used, in which the refrigeration process lowers the temperature, but other chillers may rely on air cooling or water cooling to remove heat. In any case, chilled water is stored in a reservoir and a pump circulates water to the building or to the area requiring cooling. The liquid is then pumped back to the evaporator to begin the process again.

Chiller Maintenance

Cooling a large space uses a lot of energy, so it’s important to keep your system efficient by scheduling regular maintenance for your chiller and calling a technician at the very first sign of a problem. Listen for strange noises, check for leaks, pay attention to temperature settings, and call a professional technician twice a year for a professional cleaning and inspection.

Call Westland Heating and Air Conditioning for more information about chillers in Avon Lake. We install all kinds of chillers and offer professional installation, maintenance, and repairs.

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Which Air Filtration System Is Right for Me?

Thursday, July 17th, 2014

Indoor air quality is an important part of your overall comfort. While your air conditioning system comes with a standard air filter, this filter isn’t made to improve air quality; rather, it is used to keep dust and dirt from clogging your system. The best way to improve indoor air quality is with a whole-home air filtration system that can remove problem particles from the air in your Avon Lake home. As air quality specialists for over 25 years, Westland Heating and Air Conditioning has the air filtration products you need and the expertise to install them.

Types of Air Filtration Systems

Mechanical Air Filters

Mechanical filters come in a frame and insert directly into your air conditioning system, just as the standard air filter does. However, mechanical filters are made to remove different particles in the air to improve air quality while the standard air filter is not. The two most common types of mechanical air filters are:

  • Pleated
  • Extended surface (this includes HEPA filters)

Each of these filters strain out particles in the air stream before they can reach your indoors.

Electronic Air Cleaners

Electronic air cleaners trap particles using electrostatic charges. There are two types of electronic air cleaners:

  • Electrostatic precipitators
  • Ion generators

Electrostatic precipitators use an external power source to draw your system’s air through an ionized area, then trap and collect the newly-charged particles onto oppositely-charged plates. These plates need to be cleaned approximately every 3 months to maximize performance.

An ion generator, also known as an ionizer, charges the air the same way as a precipitator, but does not have collection capability. Instead, the charged particles attached to oppositely-charged particles, and land on walls and other surfaces, where you can clean and remove them.

Which Air Filter Is Best For Me?

Choosing an air filtration system depends on your needs. Allergy sufferers will need an air filter strong enough to remove particles like pollen and some mold and mildew spores; asthma sufferers may need help with both allergens and certain types of indoor air pollution. The best way to determine which air filtration system is best for your Avon Lake home is to work with a trained specialist.

For over 25 years, Westland Heating and Air Conditioning has helped Avon Lake customers with better indoor air quality. Interested in improving yours? Call us today.

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3 Reasons to Install a Whole House Filtration System

Friday, May 30th, 2014

Your air conditioner is fitted with filters designed to strain out dust, pet hair and other contaminants. It can thus help purify the air and prevent a lot of problems from developing in your house. On top of the basic filter, you can also install a whole house filtration system that can include multiple additional filters and even a UV germicidal light in some cases. Here in Avon Lake, filtration systems can be installed by a number of qualified companies. But what benefits does such a system give you? Here are three reasons to install a whole house filtration system.

  • Better health. A whole house filtration system provides a high level of air quality that can make a real difference in your family’s life. It can decrease irritation in the nose and throat and reduce the frequency of allergy attacks in vulnerable family members. This is especially important if you are expecting a baby in the home soon, or if you have elderly family members at home.
  • A cleaner home. Your duct system can spread dust and dirt to every corner of your home, affecting your furnishings no matter where they are. An air filtration system will cut down on all that dust, making cleaning easier and helping to preserve your furniture.
  • A more efficient air conditioner. Among its other uses, an air filtration system will help keep dirt off of your air conditioner’s inner workings, which will reduce friction and strain on moving parts. Not only does that help prevent repair, but it will improve the efficiency of your system, lowering those pesky monthly bills.

Filtration and other indoor air quality services in Avon Lake, OH are provided by the experts at Westland Heating and Air Conditioning. Our trained staff can discuss the reasons to install a whole house filtration system, then perform the operation with the professionalism and care you’ve come to expect. If you think such a system could be right for you, then pick up the phone and give us a call today. We won’t rest until you’re completely satisfied with our work and we’re eager to show you what we can do!

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Signs of Problems with Your Boiler

Wednesday, February 5th, 2014

Boiler technology is a very old and reliable form of heating for your home. In Avon Lake, boiler systems see a lot of use in many homes, and if properly maintained can last you for many years. Sooner or later, however, every appliance needs repairs and your boiler is no different. The sooner you can spot a potential difficulty, the faster you can get it addressed and possibly keep a small malfunction from turning into a bigger one at the same time. Her are a few signs of problems with your boiler.

  • Strange noises
    If air gets into the system or mineral build-ups appear in the boiler, you’re apt to hear strange gurgling, rattling or whistling noises.  The sounds can be a nuisance, but more importantly, they signal a significant problem with the boiler’s ability to function.
  • Leaks
    Leaks can appear anywhere in the system. You can spot some of them by puddles of water forming, but some leaks are too small to develop a drip. Instead, check the pressure gauge; if the water pressure is dropping you’ve probably got a leak somewhere.
  • No heat
    The most obvious sign that something is wrong with your boiler is the simple fact that it won’t generate heat. If could be any number of things, from a broken thermocouple to a valve failure to a lack of pressure in the pipes. It might even be a malfunctioning thermostat.
  • System keeps shutting down
    If the boiler shuts off unexpectedly before it’s heated the home the way it should. That can stem from low water pressure caused by a leak, a problem with the pump, or with a broken valve, among other reasons.

If you spot the signs of problems with your boiler – basically anything out of the ordinary – then you need to shut off the system and call in a trained plumber right away. For homeowners in Avon Lake, boiler repair can be conducted by the experts at Westland Heating and Air Conditioning. Pick up the phone and call us today to schedule an appointment with us for your next heating service repair in Avon Lake. You’ll be glad you did!

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Here Are Some Benefits of Water Filtration Systems

Wednesday, September 18th, 2013

Water filtration systems are installed in your home in order to “purify” the water; that is, remove the presence of chemicals, minerals and other components that you might not necessarily want to consume. Most tap water is perfectly safe to drink, cook and bathe in. Civic authorities have a duty to provide safe, reliable drinking water, and official Avon Lake filtration systems do a good job of removing impurities from our primary water supply, Lake Erie. Even so, water filtration systems provide an extra layer of protection for your home, which in turn improves the quality of life in small but meaningful ways.

Here are some benefits of water filtration systems.

  • Cleaner water. It sounds obvious, but cleaner, clearer water tastes better and is healthier overall than water straight from the tap. A water filtration system can help you do a little test that proves this point. Freeze a batch of ice cubes using filtered water, then freeze another batch using water straight from the tap. He filtered cubes will look clearer and taste fresher than the ones created from the tap.
  • It’s easier on clothes and skin. Bathing in filtered water can help soften your skin and reduce the roughness and irritation that comes from minerals in unfiltered water. Similarly, clothes that are laundered in filtered water tend to feel softer and last longer than those washed in unfiltered water.
  • It’s easier on plumbing. The minerals and other components in regular tap water can create scaling and cause other long-term damage to your plumbing over time. A filtered water system will ease that strain, extending the life of your plumbing and reducing the risk of expensive repairs in the future.

All that in mind, it pays to talk to a knowledgeable expert about the benefits of water filtration systems. At Westland Heating and Air Conditioning, we have the experience and know-how to install a filtration system properly. Filtration systems are a part of our normal services and we understand the specific needs created by local water conditions. So contact our Avon Lake filtration experts today to talk about your options; we can help you select a water filtration system that works for your home, then install it with the courtesy and professionalism you deserve.

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