Last updated 19 hours ago
If you’re a homeowner, you know how important it is to get the most out of every dollar you spend on repairs and upgrades. One of the best investments you can make is on a new energy-efficient heating and cooling system. There are many factors that may go into your decision to upgrade your furnace or AC unit. Here’s a look at the three top reasons to upgrade today.
Sudden Breakdowns of Older Equipment
After many years of trusty service, your furnace or AC system may simply stop working. Even if a repair is possible, the cost of fixing your air conditioner or heater may be too high given the age or energy efficiency of the broken equipment. Replacing your furnace or AC unit may be the best financial decision since it helps you avoid additional repair costs (as well as the inconvenience of an AC or furnace break-down) that are sure to come in the near future.
Big Tax Incentives
Through the 2013 tax year, homeowners can earn up to $500 in energy-efficient home improvements for heating and cooling systems. Although there are a few restrictions and limits, this tax credit can discount the complete cost of getting a new air conditioner or furnace, including installation costs. Talk to your Baltimore area heating and air conditioning contractor to clarify the process and help you take advantage of this great incentive.
Decreased Energy Efficiency
Finally, homeowners will often replace their heating and air conditioning equipment if they notice a dramatic decrease in its energy efficiency. As heating and cooling equipment ages, it requires more energy to produce the same amount of overall comfort in the home. Eventually, the cost of running your air conditioning system or furnace may be higher than purchasing a new, more energy efficient system.
For information on upgrading your furnace or AC system, contact the heating and air conditioning experts at Blue Dot Services of Maryland. With over 40 years of HVAC services in the Baltimore area, we’re the company you count on for the very best energy-saving heating and cooling services. Call us today at (410) 698-6465 to learn more.
Last updated 9 days ago
With summer quickly approaching, homeowners will be cranking up the air conditioning nearly full time in just a few short weeks. But if your home’s air conditioning system isn’t properly balanced, you may have some trouble keeping your entire home cool throughout the day and night. With some help from your local heating and air conditioning expert, you’ll be able to fix this problem to ensure consistent temperatures throughout the home.
This video from Angie’s List explains what factors may lead to inconsistent indoor temperatures, as well as what solutions a heating and cooling professional may recommend. No matter what your repair budget is, you’ll learn something to help you improve comfort with little to no change to your existing cooling system.
For professional advice on improving your home’s comfort with balanced cooling, contact Blue Dot Services of Maryland today at (410) 698-6465. We have over 40 years of experience in commercial and residential heating and cooling repair, installation, and maintenance.
Last updated 14 days ago
Central air conditioning is a modern marvel that keeps your home or business comfortable and cool throughout the summer. But even though you use it daily during the cooling season, do you ever stop to wonder how central AC works? Read on for information on the basics of central air conditioning operation.
The Basic Components
Although central air conditioning systems vary in size and configuration, they all have the same basic components that allow them to turn hot air into cool air. All AC systems utilize a liquid refrigerant that expands and contracts based on its temperature. This refrigerant runs through two sets of coils, known as the condenser and evaporator coils, which help to capture and release heat throughout the system. To move the refrigerant, all AC systems need a compressor.
Cooling Your Home
The refrigerant plays a critical role in the production of cold air. As it moves through the air conditioning system, it changes from a liquid to a gas over and over. When it enters the evaporator’s coils, it absorbs heat from inside the home. As it absorbs heat, the refrigerant turns into a gas, making the evaporator’s coils super cold. When the HVAC fan blows against these cool coils, this generates cool air that is distributed throughout your air ducts.
Cycling the Refrigerant
After the refrigerant gas leaves the evaporator, it then travels through your HVAC’s pipes into the compressor, where it is pressurized back into a liquid. This pressurizing process generates lots of heat, which is released when the refrigerant travels through the condenser coils. These coils quickly cool the refrigerant, turning it back to a liquid. The refrigerant then enters the evaporator again to capture more heat inside the home.
As you can imagine, failure of just one of these components can result in discomfort and huge energy inefficiencies. To keep your AC system running properly, contact Blue Dot Services of Maryland today at (410) 698-6465 to schedule professional AC repair and maintenance services for your home or business.
Last updated 19 days ago
Summer is coming up, and you will want to have your air conditioner in good operating condition before temperatures start to rise. To brush up on your HVAC knowledge and find out what steps you can do to stay comfortable without guzzling energy and racking up sky-high utility bills this summer, read through the information available in the following resources.
If you are looking to have an element of your home’s HVAC system repaired or replaced, or if you are interested in hiring an experienced contractor to conduct a thorough home energy audit, call Blue Dot Services of Maryland at (410) 698-6465.
Last updated 24 days ago
When was the last time a homeowner living on America’s mid-Atlantic coast used a furnace in order to stay cool and comfortable? Sure, winters in Maryland and Virginia can be downright freezing, but the ever more rare reprieves from summer’s sweltering heat are generally considered to be refreshing and welcome by all. Since you already know that the probability you will want to use your furnace this coming summer is zero, you should turn your furnace off now. Here’s why:
Save Gas
Many homeowners assume that their furnaces do not burn any gas when they are not being used to heat their homes. Unfortunately, this is not the case with most furnaces. The pilot light that causes a gas furnace to heat up quickly when a homeowner cranks the thermostat up burns like an eternal flame. The only exemptions are system failure and manual deactivation.
Save Money
At present, natural gas prices in the U.S. are quite low. Cutting your pilot light for the summer months may only save you a cumulative $10 or $15, but that’s still money that would just burn up should you leave your pilot light on. Turn your pilot light off, and use the money to treat your family to an early summer ice cream!
Save the Environment
A more convincing reason to kill the pilot light for the summer is in the name of green living. There is no reason for that pilot light to be on, so why burn gas unnecessarily? An environmentally conscious homeowner whose furnace is on the verge of failing may want to upgrade to a modern, energy-efficient model that doesn’t have a pilot light. A heating contractor can do this for you.
A professionally administered home energy audit from a Blue Dot Services of Maryland contractor can help you identify and address your home’s energy consumption. Serving Baltimore, Annapolis, Columbia, and elsewhere in the Mid-Atlantic region, our experienced contractors are qualified to carry out the entire range of HVAC system installation and repairs. To schedule an air conditioning system check and get a free water heater inspection, call (410) 698-6465 before May 31st!
