Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Heating Installation’

Does Ductless Heating Installation in Laguna Hills Make Sense?

Wednesday, November 19th, 2014

Choosing a heating system for your home can be a daunting task due to the number of options homeowners have. But needing a new heating system can be an opportunity to consider a different type of heating system for your home. One system you may want to consider is ductless heating. Many people are familiar with ductless air conditioning systems, but you can also use a ductless system to provide heat for your entire home. Installation for any heating system should always be handled by trained professionals, so if you need heating installation in Laguna Hills, CA, call who have been in business since 1981: Saddleback Plumbing.

How Does a Ductless System Heat?

Ductless systems heat your home by employing heat pump technology. This means that the outdoor unit of the ductless system has a component called a reversing valve. This valve allows the system to change the direction of the refrigerant flow, which enables the system to both heat and cool your home.

What Are the Components?

The components for a ductless heating system are the same as for cooling, except with the outdoor unit has a reversing valve. The components are:

  • Outdoor unit – holds the compressor, condenser and reversing valve
  • Indoor blower – has a small fan, evaporator coil and filter
  • Conduit – a conduit drilled into an exterior wall connects the outdoor unit to the indoor blowers
  • Dual-mode thermostat – allows the homeowner to switch between modes

Benefits of a Ductless Heating System

  • Very energy efficient – a ductless system does not need fossil fuels to operate; it uses only a small amount of electricity, making it very energy efficient.
  • Easily installed – ductless system are minimally-invasive installations as no ductwork is needed. The outdoor unit is installed and the indoor blowers are mounted flush against walls or hung from ceilings. They are connected by the conduit, which contains the refrigerant line, power cord and condensate drain pipe.
  • Customized comfort – each indoor blower operates individually, allowing you to set each blower at a temperature you want.

Ductless systems can also be great for older homes without ductwork and for adding heating and cooling to new home additions. If you are ready for a new ductless heating installation in Laguna Hills, CA, call Saddleback Plumbing today!

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Plan for a New Heating Installation before the Fall

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014

Heating season is winding down and our heaters are slowly being turned off in favor of our air conditioners. AC issues tend to take a front-row seat here in sunny Southern California, but we still need our heaters during the winter months. If you have an older heater and are thinking about replacing it, you may want to plan for a new heating installation before the fall. When it comes to heating installation, Ladera Ranch CA has the resources to help you out, and you can get it done well before the next chilly day arrives.

As heaters age, they become less efficient, which can result in higher energy bills each month and an increased need for repairs to boot. In many cases, these kinds of issues aren’t enough to cause your heater to stop: it just costs you more to operate it, a sort of “installation tax” you have to pay until the unit gets replaced. Good maintenance can keep those issues at bay, but the longer your heater goes on, the more likely it is that you’ll need to have it replaced.

And when you do, it’s far easier to do it before the fall than in the middle of heating season. An old heater with a lot of problems is just asking or a breakdown. If you wait, you run the risk of a serious heating repair or replacement issue in the middle of heating season when you need it to function the most. That means a lot of scrambling, emergency service calls and general discomfort as you scramble to get the new unit online as quickly as possible. Contrast that with a spring or summer installation, which you don’t need your heater and have the luxury or planning it during a time when your schedule is free.

If you want to plan for a new heating installation before the fall, then the experts at Saddleback Plumbing are here to help. We can set up your heating in Ladera Ranch, CA, which is part of our service area, and we’re dedicated to your complete satisfaction. Give us a call today to set up an appointment. You’ll be glad you did!

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Why Choosing an Over-sized Heater Can Be Detrimental to Your Comfort

Saturday, November 23rd, 2013

When it comes to getting a heating installation in Laguna Hills, CA, residents have plenty of factors to consider. There’s the type of heating systems, the bells and whistles involved, and the AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating, which covers how efficiently the unit heats your home. Beyond all that, however, you need to size your heater right, and especially beware of buying an oversized heater for you home. “But why?” you ask. “Isn’t bigger better?” In this case, it isn’t.

Here’s why choosing an over-sized heater can be detrimental to your comfort.

Heaters spend the most amount of energy when they start up and shut down, which means you want them to stay running for at least fifteen minutes or so every time they start up. An oversized heater, however, will warm the air too quickly, only to see it cycle on and off and the temperature quickly falls again and again. That makes it a huge energy suck, costing you a great deal in monthly energy bills while increasing the strain on your unit in the bargain. Eventually, that will lead to increased repair costs and even shorten the life of your heater.

On a more direct level, all of that cycling on and off will dry out the air in your home, leading to lower relative humidity levels. This can lead to irritation in your nose and throat as well as dry skin, chapped lips, and even bloody noses in the worst scenarios. Homes in Laguna Hills are particularly vulnerable, since our seaside air is salty (and therefore rather day) to begin with.

If you have questions surrounding heating installation, Laguna Hills CA residents can count on Saddleback Plumbing for help. We can explain why choosing an oversized heater can be detrimental to your comfort, then perform precise measurements to ensure that your heater is neither too large nor too small but just right. Our trained staff has years of experience, and we’re dedicated to your absolute satisfaction in all things. Pick up the phone and give us a call to set up an appointment today!

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Space Heating vs. an Upgrade to Your Fountain Valley Heating System

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

If your Fountain Valley home’s heating system isn’t really cutting it anymore, it may be time to take a step back and consider what your options are. After all, upgrading to an entirely new heating system is a big investment and a large project that will likely disrupt your life at least for a short period of time. However, under certain circumstances it’s the best alternative out there.

One option to consider when you’re unhappy with your home heating situation is supplementing your central heating system with space heaters. These are generally inexpensive and can be placed virtually anywhere in your house or taken with you from one room to another.

Especially if there is a small part of your home that your heating system just doesn’t seem to reach or that you want to keep a bit warmer than the rest of the house, space heaters can be an excellent option. They’re small, safe and portable and can easily keep a smaller portion of your home or room cozy and warm.

However, you’ll have to take into account the operating costs of a space heater as well as the initial investment when you’re trying to evaluate the overall cost effectiveness of this option. Most space heaters run on electricity, which often costs considerably more than oil or natural gas. If your home heating system runs on electricity anyway, this might not be so much of a factor. But if you have a gas furnace, you could wind up paying significantly more to run space heaters as supplemental heat over time.

Also, it’s worth considering that new home heating systems are likely much more energy efficient than the system you currently have in place. Although the initial installation cost can be pretty substantial, you’ll wind up saving a very large amount on your monthly heating bills by upgrading to a newer model.

Plus, you’ll be getting a system that should be able to satisfactorily heat your home without the need for space heaters or other supplemental heat sources. This translates into a pretty hefty savings over time and that’s something you’ll certainly have to take into consideration when you’re evaluating your options.

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What is an Electric Furnace? A Question from Foothill Ranch

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

There are many types of furnaces available in Foothill Ranch that use a variety of energy sources to operate. Gas furnaces use natural or propane gas, boilers and radiators use water, heated by electricity. And then there are electric furnaces, which may have an advantage over other energy sources based on energy costs.

Simply put, electric furnaces function through the use of electricity. They do not require the use of any type of fuel – but function through wires and chords. An electric furnace uses heating coils, sometimes referred to as “resistance calrods” to create heat directly in the air flow. Inside the furnace cabinet are controls, a blower, and the circuit breakers for the heating elements. Some furnaces have the breakers accessible from the outside of the cabinet.

Other add-on accessories may include an electronic air cleaner, air filter, humidifier, high performance media filter, and air conditioning evaporator coil.

The heating process begins with the home’s thermostat. A drop in temperature is sensed by the thermostat, which alerts the electric furnace. The coil then warms up, thanks to the electric current that passes through it. The heated coil in turn heats the temperature of the air around it, which is then blown into the house through a blower. The pressure that is exerted by the blower on the heated air, warms it further. The blower is able to overcome the resistance of the duct work and replace unheated, colder air with the heated air. In most homes there are various return air ducts that are used to bring in the colder air to the furnace. This cold air travels through the furnace, through an air filter, the blower, and finally through the heat exchanger. After this it will then be pushed back into the house as warm air.

To maintain a supply of fresh air in the house, some furnaces also suck air from the atmosphere outside. After the air in the house reaches a particular temperature, the thermostat automatically shuts off the electric furnace.

An electric furnace may be less costly to run, depending on the price of electricity versus other sources like natural gas, propane gas, or oil. Gas and oil are fossil fuels and burning them leaves a “carbon footprint” – the release of carbon compounds and gases into the atmosphere. An electric furnace does not burn fuel and thus does not leave a carbon footprint. This electric warming process results in fewer particulates and contaminants in the air, too.

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Things to Look for When Buying a Heating System in Aliso Viejo

Friday, November 11th, 2011

If you are in the market for a new or replacement heating system in Aliso Viejo and don’t know much about heating systems, you are not alone. Many homeowners are in the same boat as you. And many of that number put their trust in their local, professional, and qualified heating and cooling contractor to find the right furnace for their homes.

Before calling for an estimate, there are some things you can do to “prepare” yourself for one of the most important purchase you can make. Here is a checklist of things you should look for when buying a heating system.

  1. Know your energy alternatives. There are lots of options today when it comes to heating your home. Gone are the days when the choices were so cut and dried. Check with your heating and cooling contractor for suggestions.
  2. Know what size your furnace should be. Furnaces are not “one size fits all.” The size of the furnace is determined by its Btu (British thermal unit) rating. For example, a one-story ranch home on a crawl space requires less heating capacity than a two-story colonial with a basement, thus it would require a furnace with a smaller numbered Btu rating. A home with a great deal of heat loss through windows and doors may require various furnace sizes. And don’t forget about insulation. Insulation can affect the furnace size, too. Again, check with your heating and cooling contractor for recommendations.
  3. How much room do you need for your furnace? Some homes have mechanical rooms for furnaces and water heaters while others utilize attics, basements, or crawlspaces for furnaces. If you think you need a big furnace to heat a big home, think again. Furnace manufacturers have been downsizing their heating equipment for years, while maintaining the same heating capacities. One example are wall hung boilers, which utilize water and electric as heating sources and are installed on a wall, making the unit easy to locate and easy to service – while at the same time being off the floor and out of the way.
  4. Will your heating system be “plug and play?” New furnaces can take the place of the ones they are replacing by using the same space. But sometimes a replacement unit may need some altering to fit into an existing duct system. It is almost a given that a new plenum (the part attaching the furnace to the ductwork) will have to be fabricated. But the new furnace may also require some other modifications to an existing duct system. You should understand this ahead of time and be prepared to pay additional costs.
  5. A box is a box is a box. As a rule, most heating systems are made the same. In some cases, one furnace manufacturer may produce several different brand names. The best “brand” is the heating and cooling contractor who installs and services your heating equipment. Do your homework ahead of time and find a qualified and professional contractor. Ask friends and family for recommendations. This is may be the most important thing to look for when buying a heating system

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