Does Your Commercial Air Conditioning Need Repair?

April 6th, 2015

We are finally starting to see some warmer weather in our area, and if you have a commercial space, this means you’ll soon be switching from heating to cooling. While you need to be aware of potential problems developing with your commercial HVAC system year-round , the switch between seasons is especially important. Why? Part of your system has been dormant for a few months, and there is the possibility that an issue may have developed during that time. So what kinds of things should you keep an eye out for? Here are some tips from the commercial AC experts at Bartels Heating & Cooling:

Poor Performance

Is your thermostat set to 72 degrees and it feels like it’s almost 80 degrees indoors? Does your AC seem sluggish? Poor performance is a telltale sign of a system in need, so if you are seeing these signs, or are simply questioning whether or not your system is operating as it should, call for an expert.

Sky-High Energy Bills

Have you noticed a significant increase in your business’s monthly energy bills, but haven’t changed how you use your AC? When a part or an assembly in your air conditioning system malfunctions, it will create stress on the system; anytime your system is stressed, it will use more energy to operate. It can be tempting to wait for a full breakdown before calling for help, but this is never advisable. If you are seeing very high, inordinate energy bills, call a professional for assistance.

Strange Sounds

Your commercial AC system is designed to operate with minimal noise, so any kind of loud sound is typically a solid indication that a problem has developed. Examples of abnormal sounds would be clunking, banging, screeching, and anything else that sounds of out of the ordinary in regard to the system’s operation.

It’s critical to the operation of your business to have a cool, comfortable atmosphere in which to work – don’t compromise it by hiring an inexpert or amateur person to repair your commercial air conditioner. The commercial specialists at Bartels Heating & Cooling have been serving southwest Ohio since 1973, so call us today for all of your commercial AC needs!

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3 Ways to Prevent Air Conditioning Failure

April 2nd, 2015

It’s difficult to think about when the outside air is still chilly, but warmer weather will soon be here, and your air conditioning system will be running regularly throughout the day before too long. It can be an alarming situation if your air conditioner breaks down in the middle of a hot summer day, which is why we recommend taking preventive steps now to avoid this. Follow these tips for successful air conditioning operation throughout the warmer months, and call one of our experts now for professional maintenance services in West Chester.

  • Pay attention to problems – If your air conditioning system is struggling, you may be able to tell early on if you know what signs to look for. Noisy operation and slow cooling times indicates trouble. If your system has trouble starting up or staying on, it could do some damage to the compressor. Call for repairs early on to prevent parts from deteriorating any further.
  • Change your filter regularly – The filter of your air conditioning system is designed for two purposes. First, it stops your fan from sucking in large debris that could damage the air conditioning unit. Second, it filters contaminants out of the air so that your family does not breathe these in. If you allow this filter to become clogged, though, air cannot successfully pass through and into the system, which may result in motor trouble or frozen coils, among other problems that could result in system failure.
  • Keep your AC professionally maintained – Changing the air filter regularly is an important part of maintaining your unit, but one of the best things you can do for your system is to schedule regular maintenance visits from a professional. Professional maintenance involves checking refrigerant levels, testing the voltage, tightening electrical components, cleaning the coils, oiling the motors, and many other tasks that help to extend the life of your system. For the most part, these tasks require an expert with the proper tools for the job and the experience necessary to recognize trouble quickly.

Call the cooling experts at Bartels Heating & Cooling for air conditioning maintenance, repairs, and any additional services in West Chester and the surrounding areas.

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The Key to Quality Furnace Installation

March 25th, 2015

If you need a new furnace, it can be tough to pick someone for the job. You want to make sure that your new heating system runs properly, and you also want a technician who will treat your home with respect. Sometimes, homeowners resort to allowing a friend or family member with limited HVAC knowledge to install the new unit as this is someone they feel they can trust. However, if you don’t choose an experienced professional for furnace installation, it may end up costing you far more than you expect.

Here’s what you should know: the only way to ensure quality heating installation is by choosing an expert for the job. The highly qualified technicians at Bartels Heating & Cooling will make sure that your new heating system runs as efficiently as possible.

What Can Go Wrong with an Amateur Installation

There are a lot of things that may go wrong if you choose an amateur for heating installation. For one, you may end up with a unit at is not the proper size. This is a big deal because a furnace that is too large will use a lot of energy and may short cycle. A furnace that is too small will not heat the home completely and may expire sooner than it should.

Furthermore, there are a lot of risks when you’re working with a gas furnace. If the unit is not set up just right, you could risk a natural gas leak. Setting up the ventilation system or making sure that your existing flue pipe is compatible with the furnace is also important in preventing CO leaks. You don’t want to leave this job to someone without experience. Every component must be just right in order for it to work properly, which is why you should hire an expert for any heating installation job.

Furnace installation involves intensive knowledge of heating systems, which our technicians already have. Put your trust in the highly qualified, skilled people at Bartels Heating & Cooling as we take pride in our work and have provided quality furnace installation in Hamilton and the surrounding area. Call us today!

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How Efficient Is a Geothermal Heat Pump?

March 20th, 2015

One of the latest trends in energy efficient heating and cooling is the use of geothermal energy. Geothermal heat pumps draw from the thermal energy in the earth to transfer heat to the air in your home for heating, and to move heat back to the earth in the summer. If you decide you want a new geothermal heat pump for your home in West Chester, OH, contact the friendly professionals at Bartels Heating & Cooling. If you’re still concerned about whether geothermal energy is worth the investment, read on.

Many people wonder how much money they will save over time. Of course, we cannot give a definitive answer, as this depends on usage, the size of your household, and a number of other factors, including the cost of electricity in your area. Geothermal heat pumps do still use some amount of electricity in order to move around the air, but this is minimal when compared to the traditional air-source split system air conditioners.

If you had an older conventional split-system AC, then you will likely notice energy savings right away. When you dig deep enough into the ground, the earth remains at a constant temperature, usually around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This means they may be more effective in cooler weather than heat pumps which pull thermal energy from the air. Water or a water-refrigerant blend moves through an underground loop system to absorb this energy, which is then transferred to the refrigerant in your heat pump.

Furthermore, this system uses far fewer of the earth’s natural resources, which makes it a great system for those who are at all environmentally conscious. The initial cost maybe high, but over a number of years, the savings should compensate for the additional cost. But all of this is only true if you choose a professional for installation. Professional sizing and installation is a vital step in ensuring efficiency and performance. If the unit is over- or undersized, you may use up more energy than you need.

Call the friendly experts at Bartels Heating & Cooling to learn how you can get geothermal heating and cooling in West Chester, OH.

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Why Does the Outside Unit of My Heat Pump Run in Heating Mode?

March 11th, 2015

When a technician installs a new heat pump in your home, you’re usually told that it’s an efficient heating and cooling system. However, you may not be too sure as to how this unit functions. How can a single system provide both heating and cooling for a home? And why, unlike with other heating systems, is the outside unit running when you switch it into heating mode?

Here at Bartels Heating & Cooling, we can answer all of your questions about our comprehensive heat pump installation service in Fairfield. Call us today for maintenance, repairs, or installation. We provide quality service from HVAC technicians who care about the caliber of the work they perform.

Heat Pump Operation

When a technician installs a heating and cooling system in a new home, these units are usually entirely separate from one another. Often, a forced-air heating system like a furnace is installed inside of the home and a split system air conditioning system goes both inside and out. The air conditioning coils may sit atop of the furnace, and they likely share a blower fan, but otherwise the units operate independently of one another. Therefore, when you run the furnace in the winter, the outside unit should not run as it only functions as part of your air conditioning system.

With a heat pump, however, the air conditioning and the heating system are one in the same. Just as with a normal AC unit, refrigerant absorbs heat from one area to another. Heat is absorbed at the inside evaporator coil in the summer, and then it’s released outdoors at the condenser coil. With a heat pump, the process reverses in the cooler months. Refrigerant absorbs heat from the outside air and moves it indoors with the help of a reversing valve and multiple check valves. This is highly efficient because it takes less energy to move heat than generate it.

Call the professional technicians at Bartels Heating & Cooling for heat pump installation, repair, or maintenance in Fairfield today. These are some of the most efficient systems on the market, helping you to save money over time while offering the performance you need.

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Visit Us at the Cincinnati Home & Garden Show

March 6th, 2015

Cincinnati-Home-Garden-Show-®-Hart-Productions-Consumer-Trade-Show

Bartels Heating & Cooling will be participating in the 2015 Cincinnati Home & Garden Show again this weekend! We were thrilled to see everyone who stopped by the Carrier booth to say hello last Sunday, but we’ll be back in action tomorrow – Saturday, March 7 – from 4:00-9:00pm.

The home and garden show runs through Sunday, March 8 at the Duke Energy Convention Center. The show will be open from 10:30am-9:00pm on Saturday and 10:30am-6:00pm on Sunday. Stop by to see what’s new, check out the latest trends, get tips and ideas from tons of home and garden experts, and of course come see us at the Carrier booth. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Water Heater Repair Guide: The Dip Tube

March 4th, 2015

You rely on your water heater for many of the most important activities you do during the day for your health and comfort. You use hot water to shower, wash your face, clean your home, and prepare meals. If your water heater is not keeping your water as warm as you would like it to, repairs can seem urgent. But you may delay water heater repair out of fear that the water heater may need replacement.

Actually, one of the most common repair needs for water heater that is a fairly simple fix for a trained contractor is a broken dip tube. The dip tube is a long plastic pipe that lets cold water in to the bottom of the unit. There is a burner or electric heating element located toward the bottom of the tank. Once the water heats up, it rises up to the top of the tank. Then, a small tube at the top of the tank allows the warm water to exit. The dip tube can fall into a state of disrepair, but a trained technician may be able to solve the trouble quickly.

There are a few things that could go wrong with the dip tube over time. It may develop small cracks that allow cold water to seep into the tank, lingering at the top. This means that you may notice bouts of cold or lukewarm water from your sink or shower rather than an uninterrupted stream of hot water. The dip tube may even simply break in half. When this happens, you might run out of hot water far too quickly.

This shouldn’t be a problem you have to live with. Call a technician for repairs as soon as you suspect a problem. And be sure to schedule annual water heater maintenance as well. This involves a few key adjustments to the system as well as a thorough examination of your entire unit to make sue something like a broken dip tube doesn’t go undetected for too long.

Count on the people at Bartels Heating & Cooling for quality water heaters and services in Hamilton. We pride ourselves on quality customer service and strive to keep your experience as positive as possible.

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The Benefits of Professional Sheet Metal Ductwork Installation

February 25th, 2015

Most modern AC and heating systems require a set of ducts for air delivery. Air is conditioned at the indoor air handler, and a blower fan pushes this air into the ducts, which serve as a pathway to the different rooms in your home. But these ducts may potentially suffer from a number of different problems. Poor duct installation and care leads to problems such as uneven heating and cooling, poor energy efficiency, and broken HVAC equipment.

Only allow your new ductwork to be installed and serviced by a sheet metal ductwork specialist in Fairfield. Call Bartels Heating & Cooling for your ductwork installation, repair, and cleaning needs.

The Benefits of Sheet Metal

Sheet metal ductwork is the most common type of ductwork found in home. There are other options, however, including ductboard and flexible ducts. But sheet metal is proven to be effective, standing up to damages. Fiber ducts can be difficult to install, and the potential exists for fiberglass to move into your ducts. Sheet metal is tough and effective, plus it comes in many different shapes and sizes for ease of installation.

Why Choose Professionals

If you pick a professional for ductwork installation, you can feel assured that the ducts in your home are tightly sealed. When ducts are first installed in a new home, the job is not always completed by HVAC professionals. This is why so many homes suffer from leaky ducts—most homes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In fact, the EPA estimates that the typical home HVAC system loses about 20-30% of its heating and cooling power in the ducts.

HVAC professionals will make sure that the ducts are sized properly for your home and for your HVAC system. They will install the ducts in an efficient way, establishing the most direct route possible between the air handler and the vents in your home. After installation, they will test the ducts with an air pressure test and they may do a test run of your heating and AC system as well. Professionals have all the tools and expertise to ensure that all of the parts are just right.

Call Bartels Heating & Cooling for quality ductwork services in Fairfield today!

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What to Check before Calling for Furnace Repair

February 16th, 2015

When your furnace stops working or begins to malfunction, your first instinct is probably to call an HVAC technician to examine your system. That’s a good habit to develop, but before you call for professional help there are a few things you should check first. It is possible that your furnace malfunction is actually very minor, and something you can fix yourself. Even though you will likely need to call a professional anyway, examining certain parts of your system beforehand can help isolate and identify the problem. Let’s take a look at what you should check before calling for furnace repair.

The Thermostat

The core of any central heating system is the thermostat. It is the brain of your furnace system, which will not act without an order from the thermostat. As such, a malfunctioning thermostat can pretty effectively cripple your entire furnace. If your furnace stops working, you should always check your thermostat before doing anything else. Examine the display on the thermostat and make sure that all the information and settings are correct. An incorrect display is a sign that something is wrong with your thermostat.

The Air Filter

The air filter is responsible for protecting your furnace from dust and debris that blows in from the ducts. Though it does this job well, the filter has no way to rid itself of any particles that it collects. If not cleaned or changed out every 1-3 months, the air filter can become clogged. This restricts the air flow through the system, trapping heat inside the furnace and causing it to overheat. When this happens, it trips a device called the “limit switch,” which shuts the furnace down as a safety measure. If your furnace suddenly shuts down and won’t restart, it is possible that it overheated due to a dirty air filter. If you replace your dirty air filter, that might be all that is needed to solve the problem.

If your furnace is experiencing any sort of issue, call Bartels Heating & Cooling to make an appointment today. We provide professional furnace repair service throughout the West Chester area.

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Some of the Unusual Movies Released for Valentine’s Day

February 14th, 2015

Hollywood has always tried to match movies up to the seasons to draw droves of viewers to the theaters: October is packed with fright-offerings, while the winter holidays skew toward warm and pleasing family films (as well as Oscar hopefuls). Valentine’s Day falls in an odd spot when it comes to the movie release calendar, however, since February tends to be a slower time for the film industry. The studios are as likely to slot strange movies that don’t fit anywhere else in their annual schedules into the Valentine’s Day weekend as they are films with powerful romantic appeal.

So, while the second weekend of February has featured hugely successful romantic comedies like Hitch, The Wedding Singer, and (of course) Valentine’s Day, some truly weird choices have debuted in this weekend as well. And a few have even gone on to tremendous success despite the bizarre match with the holiday. Here are a couple of the odder Valentine’s Day movie releases:

  • Dracula (1931): Yes, this Halloween perennial and the start of Universal Studio’s Classic Monsters actually came out on Valentine’s Day! But perhaps this makes some sense, as the Dracula legend has often received a “doomed lover” approach in the many years since Bela Lugosi made the aristocratic vampire a screen icon.
  • The Silence of the Lambs (1991): Does any film seem less appropriate for Valentine’s Day than this unnerving and sometimes very violent psychological thriller? What’s even more astonishing than the film’s release date is that The Silence of the Lambs eventually nabbed the Oscar for Best Picture, an almost unheard of occurrence for a movie released so early in the year.
  • Daredevil (2003): This Marvel comic adaptation featuring Ben Affleck as a blind superhero does contain a romantic subplot, but the stronger connection to Valentine’s Day may just be that Daredevil wears a bright red costume.
  • A Good Day to Die Hard (2013): The least successful of the Die Hard film franchise, this is an excellent example of a studio dropping a film into a weekend where it doesn’t fit in the hopes that it works as counter-programming. (It didn’t.)
  • Wayne’s World (1992): Now here is an example of counter-programming that clicked with audiences. This comedy based on a Saturday Night Live sketch turned into one of that year’s biggest hits and spawned a sequel.

Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day with a trip to the movie theater, or you have your own special plans, everyone here at Bartels Heating & Cooling hopes you and your loved ones have a wonderful weekend.

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