Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing Blog: Archive for January, 2013

Heating Tip: How Geothermal Heating Can Make Your Home More Comfortable

Monday, January 28th, 2013

Are you considering installing a geothermal heating system in your Chevy Chase home? Call the geothermal heating experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating to get you started. We can go over all the benefits and installation process.

Here are some of the many benefits of a geothermal heating system:

Energy Savings

Geothermal heating systems use the ground temperatures or the temperatures from a nearby water source to heat your home. Ground temperatures are consistent year round, and the heat pump only needs to use a little energy to convert the heat in to hot or cool air. You also get both heating and cooling in one system. Call us if you would like to know more about energy savings from a geothermal system.

Consistency

Because of how they operate, geothermal systems provide consistent heating and air conditioning. However, they must be installed properly. Call a professional heating contractor you trust to install these systems.

Easy to Maintain and Repair

While routine maintenance should prevent repair needs, you may need to call for repairs at some point. Luckily, these systems are easy to repair for most issues. It’s best to call the contractor who installed your system for regular maintenance and repairs since they will know the system best.

The heating experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating are here to take care of all your geothermal heating needs. From installation to repairs, we have you covered. Call any time for your next service in Chevy Chase or the surrounding area!

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Geothermal | Comments Off on Heating Tip: How Geothermal Heating Can Make Your Home More Comfortable

Does My Furnace Need Maintenance Service if it is Operational? A Common Heating Question

Monday, January 21st, 2013

When your furnace is working well, you probably don’t think much about it. We all love to enjoy the consistent and comfortable heat of a well-functioning furnace. It’s only when our furnace stops providing heat that we actually pay it any attention. At Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating, we provide complete furnace repair and furnace maintenance in Chevy Chase. Getting regular heating maintenance for your furnace is always a good idea. We thought it would be helpful if we put together some of the benefits.

Benefits of Heating Maintenance

No matter what kind of heating system you have, getting regular inspections and tune-ups is probably a good idea. We all realize how beneficial regular oil changes and tune-ups are for our cars: the same goes for your furnace. Here are some of the benefits of furnace maintenance.

  • Reduced repairs – Perhaps one of the best benefits to regular furnace maintenance is that it can potentially reduce the need for costly repairs. When you have a professional heating technician from Tuckers looking over your furnace, they’ll be able to detect small problems before they potentially turn into larger ones.
  • Increased efficiency – When you use your furnace often without every maintaining it, dirt and dust will start to build up in it. The moving parts will start to wear out which can lead to a decrease in efficiency. During regular maintenance visits, our technicians will clean out and thoroughly inspect your furnace. We’ll lubricate the fan’s bearings, replace the fan belt and much more. All of this can potentially increase the efficiency of your furnace.
  • Extended equipment life – We called to replace furnaces all the time here in Chevy Chase. Many of those furnaces were destroyed by small problems that could have been detected and fixed during a routine maintenance visit.

If you’re interested in learning more about furnace maintenance in Chevy Chase, call Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating today at 301-670-0034!

Continue Reading

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Does My Furnace Need Maintenance Service if it is Operational? A Common Heating Question

Heating FAQ: When Should I Schedule Heating Repair Service?

Monday, January 14th, 2013

If you need a heating repair service, call Tucker’s Air Conditioning & Heating. Not only do we provide quality repairs, we also provide free estimates on replacement equipment, as well as free second opinions. If someone else has quoted you on a repair that you aren’t sure you need, give us a call.

We’ve put together a list of common heating problems and some of the potential causes and solutions. Remember that it is important to call as soon as you notice an issue with your heater, since this helps to prevent further damage and equipment failure.

Furnace Not Producing Heat

When a furnace is not producing heat at all, make sure it is on and that your thermostat is on the right setting. You should also make sure it’s set to the heating mode. Consult your owner’s manual if you are not sure how to check the mode. A tripped circuit breaker can also cause your furnace to stop producing any heat. You should call for a repair if these simple fixes do not take care of problem. The furnace could have larger issues or need replacement parts.

If the furnace is running but not producing enough heat, make sure the vents are open and that you’ve changed the air filter. Dirty air filters can affect the airflow and cause your furnace to under perform. Change them often in the winter, at least once every two months, or once a month depending on the model.

Boiler Problems

If your boiler has stopped working, it could be a safety feature that has shut down the system when there’s an issue. If you have an older boiler, or one that has not been maintained, it could also be sediment in the water tank, especially if you hear hissing or popping noises. The sediment could be boiling and damaging the inside of the tank.

Call the heating experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating if you experience any of these problems, or if need any heating repair service in Gaithersburg.

Continue Reading

Tags: , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Heating FAQ: When Should I Schedule Heating Repair Service?

Why Consider Geothermal Heating?

Monday, January 7th, 2013

As energy costs continue to rise and the green movement continues to pick up momentum, many homeowners are looking for more efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly home heating options. Before you make any decisions about a new heating system for your home, call Tucker’s Air Conditioning & Heating. We have some information about geothermal heating and cooling systems that you may want to consider. There are a lot of benefits that come with this type of heating system, and we can help you decide if a geothermal heating system installation is right for your home and personal heating habits.

A geothermal system, like other heat pumps, does not consume energy in order to heat your home. Rather, it will use just a small amount of electricity in order to transfer existing heat, allowing it to heat your home in a sustainable way as well as cooling it with a simple reversal of the operation. The elimination of the need for fuel consumption greatly reduces the amount of energy your system will use, in turn greatly reducing the amount of money it takes to keep your home comfortable throughout the heating season.

Geothermal heating systems are also very durable and boast long, efficient lifespans. A geothermal loop system is buried beneath the ground surrounding your home or submerged under water on your property. It is from here that heat is gathered as an antifreeze solution or, in some cases, water itself circulates throughout the loop system. The underground loop system will last you decades, and the heat pump itself has fewer moving parts than many other heaters, cutting down on wear and tear.

The fact that geothermal heating and cooling systems rely on heat beneath the ground or under water also makes them more predictable and dependable than other heat pumps, such as those drawing heat from the air. This is because the temperature beneath the ground or water is much less susceptible to fluctuations than the air is. This makes the geothermal heating option more versatile and reliable in harsher climates.

For more information about why you may want to consider a geothermal heating system on your property, contact Tucker’s Air Conditioning & Heating today at 301-670-0034. We have all the information you need. Call us to discover if a geothermal heating system is right for your home.

Continue Reading

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Geothermal | Comments Off on Why Consider Geothermal Heating?