Are you in the market for a new cooling or heating system for your home? You have many options in today’s crowded HVAC technology market, and it might seem a bit overwhelming when it comes to making a choice that is not only right for your home but also will save your money.
When Should I Schedule Maintenance for My Air Conditioning System?
April 13th, 2015Summers can grow quite hot in Evanston: try to imagine making it through a week or even a few days in July without an AC that will always come on when its needed—and stay on as long as it’s needed. The best way to have this assurance of reliability and performance is to schedule maintenance for the system from a professional HVAC technician. You’ll receive a thorough check-up and inspection, plus any necessary adjustments, that will see that your air conditioner will remain energy-efficient and with little chance of encountering repair needs through the year.
To arrange for regular maintenance from some of the best AC technicians in Evanston, IL and the Chicagoland area, call up Malek Heating & Cooling today.
Here’s Why Low Refrigerant in an Air Conditioner Is a Serious Problem
April 6th, 2015The air conditioning that keeps your home cool during the summers uses a chemical blend called refrigerant to run. This is what allows the AC to carry out the process of heat exchange: the refrigerant absorbs heat from inside your house through evaporation, and then releases the heat to the outside through condensation.
There is something very important you need to know about refrigerant: it isn’t something your air conditioner “uses up.” It doesn’t work like gasoline for a car or natural gas for a furnace. The refrigerant inside the AC won’t dissipate as it goes through heat exchange, and it should remain at the same level (known as its charge) as long as you have your AC. If the charge drops because of a leak, your air conditioner will encounter major problems. At the first sign that your air conditioner is losing cooling power, call for repair technicians.
If you need air conditioning repairs done fast and done right, call on Malek Heating & Cooling for service in Skokie, IL and the surrounding areas. We have 24-hour emergency help available.
There are a number of reasons that low refrigerant is bad news for an AC and needs professional repairs right away:
- Drop in cooling power: Without the right level of refrigerant, the air conditioner will not be able to absorb the amount of heat from inside your home necessary to reach the cooling level you expect.
- Ice along the coils: The refrigerant that moves through the evaporator coil will not warm up enough because of its reduced amount; the remaining refrigerant will stay too cold and begin to freeze water moisture along the coils, which will further restrict heat exchange.
- Damage to the compressor: This is the most serious problem low refrigerant may trigger. The change in pressure in the air conditioner because of loss of charge will place extra stress on the compressor, leading to it rapidly wearing down. The compressor may also overheat because of the lower amount of refrigerant. A burnt-out compressor is the most expensive repair an air conditioner may require, so you must have low refrigerant fixed as soon as possible.
Malek Heating & Cooling has taken care of air conditioning repairs since 1998. Give us a call when you need help with your home cooling. If your AC has lost charge, we will seal up the leaks and recharge the refrigerant to the right level.
3 Air Conditioning Components You Should Know More About
April 3rd, 2015Most homeowners know very little about what goes on inside of the air conditioning system. And for the most part, this is okay. Why should you have to worry about the inner workings of your AC when you can call technicians to take care of AC services for you? For the most part, all you have to do is program your thermostat and let the system do the rest. But if you want to prevent problems from occurring with your air conditioning unit—or even prevent damage to your home—you may want to get a little more familiar with some of the key components featured in this guide. And call the friendly technicians at Malek Heating and cooling when you’re ready to schedule air conditioning services in Evanston, IL.
- Air Filter – You probably know that the air filter helps your family breathe a little easier by filtering out some common contaminants. But you may not know just how much damage a dirty filter can do. When the filter is clogged, air cannot get through, but your unit is designed to let in a certain amount of airflow. Without it, the evaporator coil can freeze over, and many of the components could falter as a result.
- Thermostat – Now, you probably already know the basics of how to use your home thermostat. But are you taking advantage of all of the features yours has to offer? Make sure to program your thermostat to cool your home at an efficient temperature when you are home, and to raise the temperature (or shut off the system) when you’re away. Try not to frequently adjust your thermostat or set it to a lower setting than is necessary, as this will reflect on your energy bills.
- Condensate Drain – This is a part you may be less familiar with, but it’s important to know that your air conditioner can leak and cause some major damage to the home, especially if your unit leaks through your ceiling and into your home. Have a technician visit for air conditioning maintenance to prevent this possibility.
Call Malek Heating & Cooling for professional air conditioning service in Evanston, IL. Whether it’s maintenance, repairs, installation, or replacement that you need, our qualified team is here to handle in for you.
Repairs a Radiant Heating System May Need
March 25th, 2015There are two different types of heaters that may be referred to as radiant heating systems. The first, electric radiant heaters, are composed of mats of electric coils which go under the floor or in the walls and ceilings. The second, hydronic radiant heating, uses hot water pipes under the floors delivered via a boiler in the home. Radiant heat fills a room more evenly, efficiently, and effectively than forced-air heating systems like furnaces. This is because radiant heat warms the objects and people in the room, not just the air. Radiant heating systems can last quite a while before running into any trouble, but when the time comes for heating repair in Wilmette, call the experts at Malek Heating & Cooling.
Electric Radiant Heat
Electric radiant heating systems consist of electric heating panels consisting of coils which are installed beneath tile floors, or possible in the walls and ceilings. Though they are more costly to run, most electric radiant heating systems do not experience trouble often, and they require very little maintenance over time. However, when there is trouble with the unit early on, it’s usually due to faulty installation. A new electric radiant floor heating system may trip the breaker frequently if installed improperly. Over time, a loss of heat may indicate a failing panel which needs replacement.
Hydronic Floor Heating
Since a hydronic heating system consists of a boiler, underfloor piping, and some mechanical components, it may need repairs more often. If one portion of your home does not feel as warm as the others, there may be an issue with the circulator pumps which move hot water through the system. You may also run into trouble with the boiler itself, which can encounter pressure troubles from a buildup of minerals. Over time, an older boiler will need replacement if it begins to rust. Call the friendly technicians at Malek Heating & Cooling at the first sign that your radiant heating system is not working properly. If you wait too long to call for repairs, your home may be without heat when you need it most. And our professional electricians are more than qualified for any heating repair in Wilmette and the surrounding areas.
Which Type of Air Purifier Is Best for My Home?
March 20th, 2015If you assume that the air in your home is cleaner than the air outside, you may be mistaken. For many homes in the United States, this is not the case. We keep our homes sealed up tight, but contaminants in the home can still thrive. Besides, this often means that circulation in the home is less than ideal, which makes the air stale.
The best way to get rid of contaminants in the air of your home is by scheduling services with an indoor air quality specialist in Winnetka, IL. Call us today at Malek Heating & Cooling for air purifiers and more.
Air Purification Systems
Any of the following air purification systems may be best for your home. We recommend that you consult with a technician before deciding on a system and scheduling professional installation only.
- Mechanical Filter: The filter in your air conditioning and heating system right now may not be of the highest quality. Usually, the MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) rating of your filter—the way you can tell how effective a filter is—is not as high as it can be. Home filters often have a MERV of about 1-4, while the scale does all the way up to 16. Ask a technician which type of filter will work best for your home.
- Electronic Air Purifier: An electronic air purifier uses ionization to attract particles and keep them out of the air in your home. This includes particles that are much smaller than those which can be filtered with a traditional home filter.
- UV Air Purifier: A UV air purifier contains UV lights which kill small organic matter like bacteria and viruses, which are detrimental to those with immune disorders in the home.
At Malek Heating & Cooling, we offer these systems and more in order to improve the air quality in a home. Not only to we offer filter and purification service, we also carry heat and energy recovery ventilators for better ventilation, dehumidifiers, and professional air duct cleaning. An IAQ specialist will help you to decide which system or service is right for you.
Call us today for our professional air purifier installation or repair in Winnetka, IL, or to learn more about how to keep the contaminants in your home under control.
How Long Does It Take to Install a Ductless System?
March 11th, 2015At Malek Heating & Cooling, we often recommend that customers who are constructing new homes, remodeling a current home, or who live in an older home with limited space, consider installing a ductless mini split heat pump as their principle comfort system. Ductless mini splits provide both heating and cooling, and they work with great energy efficiency that will save money compared to using a standard furnace/air conditioner combination. They also help with increasing indoor air quality, and the lack of ductwork makes them flexible for numerous building and remodeling projects.
A question that customers who are interested in installing ductless heating in Skokie, IL often ask: “How long will the installation take?” The good news is that installation of a ductless system in most cases will not take longer than installing any other type of new heating or cooling system. In fact, in many ways, installing a ductless mini split heat pump is easier than putting in traditional comfort systems that use ducts. It’s a more complicated installation than putting in a small window unit, so it isn’t a job you should attempt on your own; you must look for qualified and licensed technicians familiar with the product. But for those skilled professionals, installing a ductless mini split is usually a fast job that will go without complications.
The average installation job takes one or two days. The actual length depends on the size of the system, in particular how many indoor air handlers need to be mounted inside the home. Each air handler must have a mounting frame put in first and a 3″ hole drilled through the wall to allow of power cable and refrigerant lines through. If you have a large home that requires many air handlers in multiple rooms, the installation process will take longer.
However, not only will the final results be worth the small investment in time, but the installation process is not disruptive. Much of the work occurs outside, setting up the external unit. Mounting the air handlers is usually a fast job for seasoned and trained professionals.
To find out more about outfitting your house with ductless cooling and ductless heating in Skokie, IL, as well as an estimate for how long the installation will take, call our ductless mini split experts at Malek Heating & Cooling. We are licensed Mitsubishi ductless mini split installers, and have helped keep homes in the Chicagoland area comfortable since 1998. Give us a call today.
What is a Mitsubishi Diamond Contractor?
March 4th, 2015Choosing a quality contractor for heating and cooling installation is one of the most important steps you can take in order to make sure any necessary services are completed properly and that your system runs as efficiently as possible. If you select a Mitsubishi Diamond Contractor for the repair or installation of a Mitsubishi Electric ductless AC and heating system, you can feel confident that you’ve selected professionals with all of the proper training and certifications for the job.
Call the friendly people at Malek Heating & Cooling for your new Mitsubishi ductless heating and cooling installation or for any AC and heating services in Evanston, IL. We are accredited Mitsubishi Diamond Contractors, a prestigious title that ensures both expertise and craftsmanship.
Why Choose Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Contractors for Ductless Installation
Mitsubishi Electric ductless systems offer the ultimate in cooling and heating power without the need for any ductwork at all. Mitsubishi systems are known for long-lasting equipment, quiet operation, above-average performance, and incredibly high efficiency ratings. These systems come with a 7-year parts warranty, indoor humidity control, and variable speed settings.
And when you choose a Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Contractor for installation, our technical excellence will help to keep your unit in the best shape possible. Diamond Partners are trained on Mitsubishi systems at an approved training center. They perform any work according to industry guidelines for the most efficient system possible.
When your Mitsubishi ductless heating and cooling system is not installed by Diamond contractors, you cannot be certain that everything will go smoothly. Your technician may not be as familiar with this type of system, and may be unable to complete the job according to the highest standards. But Diamond contractors work extensively on Mitsubishi Electric systems, so you can be sure of a job well done.
In most cases, new ductless heating and cooling system installation takes 1-2 days. A Diamond Contractor will take the time to make sure that everything is sized and installed properly, on top of completing a thorough inspection so that you can rest assured your new unit runs optimally.
Count on your local Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Contractors for ductless heating and cooling installation in Evanston, IL and the surrounding areas. Call Malek Heating & Cooling today!
How Efficient Are Ductless Systems?
February 25th, 2015Ductless systems may seem like a very odd choice for home heating. They’re limited to serving one room per unit, and usually take up a fair bit of wall or ceiling space in that room. It would seem that centralized heating and cooling systems are better suited to service the house in every way. However, ductless systems do actually have plenty of reasons to recommend them over centralized systems. One of those reasons is efficiency. Let’s explore why ductless systems are so efficient, both in terms of output and energy usage.
Ductless System Construction
In order to understand why ductless systems are so efficient, you must first understand how they work. Ductless systems are essentially heat pumps. They don’t burn any kind of fuel to create heat, and instead work by moving heat from one place to another. Their construction is similar to air conditioning systems, with one unit installed inside the house and the other outside. The inside unit is always installed in the room that it is going to condition, either on a wall or ceiling. The outside unit is either installed on the roof, an exterior wall, or on the ground outside the house.
Ductless Operation and Efficiency
Ductless units move heat from one place to another by evaporating and condensing refrigerant. In cooling mode, the inside unit evaporates refrigerant inside its coil to draw heat from the room. The refrigerant gas then moves down a refrigerant line to the outside unit, where it is condensed back into a liquid. The condensing process releases the heat into the open air. In heating mode the flow of refrigerant is reversed, with the outside unit capturing heat to send inside.
This method of operation makes ductless systems efficient in a number of ways. For one, the system saves a lot of money on heating bills by not burning any kind of fuel. For another, the ability to both heat and cool the room means that a ductless system does not need to be supplemented by any other system. Only heating or cooling one room also makes ductless systems incredibly energy efficient. The average central forced air system loses about 30% of its output to leaks in a home’s ducts. Ductless systems always deliver 100% of their output directly into the room.
If you’re interested in a ductless system, call Malek Heating & Cooling and speak with one of our heating experts. We provide professional ductless heating services throughout Wilmette.
Is a Ductless System Installation a Good Investment?
February 16th, 2015A ductless system has a number of great benefits, but we have many customers wondering: is it really a good investment for my home? The best way to assess this is to review some of the costs involved, as well as the savings you can gain, by using a ductless heating system in your home.
Initial Costs
A ductless system is comprised of an outdoor unit that holds the compressor, condenser and reversing valve, and indoor blowers that deliver the air. A single outdoor unit can support up to four indoor blowers, but when purchasing a ductless system, you should review the package to see how many blowers come in the package cost. On average, an outdoor unit and one blower with an output of 13,000 BTUs will have an average cost around $2,000. The number of BTUs affects the pricing considerably, so it’s important to know what size ductless unit you’ll need for your home, which is something your Malek Heating & Cooling specialist can help you determine. A package with four indoor blowers and an outdoor unit that delivers 36,000 BTUs has average costs of $5,200.
Where You Can Save Money
The first thing to keep in mind when reviewing the initial costs of a ductless heat pump system is that you are getting a device that offers both heating and cooling. When you consider that the average cost for a furnace or boiler is around $2,000 or more, and the average cost for an air conditioning system is around $3,000 or more, you aren’t really paying more for the heat pump. Secondly, heat pumps only use electricity to operate, which eliminates any fossil fuel usage and the costs associated with fossil fuel usage, and the amount of electricity a heat pump uses is about 25% of that of a whole-home AC. What does this mean for you? No more fossil fuel costs for your home heating, which can be a huge savings, and the reduction in electrical usage can equal up to $280 of annual savings per year. Lastly, there are a number of manufacturer rebates you can take advantage of, some that can save you up to $1,500 on purchase and/or installation costs, and there are many states offering tax rebates for using a far more energy efficient heating and cooling system for your home.
Some of these numbers can be a bit daunting, so if you have been considering the installation of a ductless heating system for your home in Winnetka, sit down with one of the experts from Malek Heating & Cooling and see how a ductless system may benefit your home’s budget. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.