Why Boilers are a Good Choice for Heating in Winnetka, IL

October 1st, 2014

When you think about heating systems, the first thing that comes to your mind is probably a furnace. Forced air systems have been the norm throughout the country for some time, and boilers have become less and less common. That isn’t necessarily a good thing. A boiler system has a number of advantages over a traditional forced air system. Read on to find out why you should consider upgrading to a boiler system this year.

Efficiency

A forced air system loses roughly 30% of its heat to duct leaks in transit from the furnace to the vent. A radiant heating system loses almost none of its heat in transit. This is due to the leak-resistant tubes that circulate the hot water throughout the house. Forced air systems can also create uneven heating striation in a room.

When heated air is pumped through a vent in a room, it immediately rises to the ceiling. Once it cools, it descends to the floor. This creates cold spots where the upper part of a room is warm while the lower area is still quite cold. Radiant heating solves this by transmitting heat through solid objects. As things like chairs and couches absorb heat from the walls and floor, they transmit this heat to the occupants of the room. This ensures that the room is always heated evenly and without striation. A radiant system can also improve your indoor air quality.

Air Quality

When a forced air system circulates air throughout the house, it also carries any particulates that may be present in the air. Allergens, viruses, bacteria, and dust can be spread around your house in this fashion. A radiant heating system does not circulate, and so completely avoids this issue. If you have allergies, or get sick often during the winter, this could be a major benefit to you.

If you are thinking about upgrading to a boiler system, call Malek Heating & Cooling. We offer professional heating services in Winnetka, IL.

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Why Furnaces Are Still Great Ways to Heat a Home

September 24th, 2014

Today, there are many different types of heating systems to choose from when you need a heating installation service. Heat pumps provide both heating and cooling to a home while boilers may need fewer repairs over time. Yet with all of these features, one of the most common systems found in homes today is still the furnace.

Gas furnaces pull in the air from your home and burn fuel to heat the air and distribute it through the ducts. With proper care and maintenance, these systems will last for many years and provide efficient, effective heating throughout their lifespans. For the most accurate information about installing furnaces in Evanston, IL, you can contact the technicians over at Malek Heating & Cooling. But as a primer, here are some of the reasons a furnace is still a great choice for many home heating needs.

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Some of the Advantages of Installing a Boiler in Skokie, IL

September 17th, 2014

There are a lot of choices homeowners can make for heating their homes: heat pumps, furnaces, geothermal systems and boilers, just to name a few. All have proven energy efficiency, but each one brings something different to the table for your home. Today we’re going to talk about the benefits of installing a boiler in Skokie, IL and some of the advantages this heating option can offer you. Heating equipment is complicated to install and repair, so it’s important to hire professionals for any heating work you may have. For over 15 years, Malek Heating & Cooling has helped install, repair and maintain heating and cooling equipment for multiple customers, and we can help you from start to finish with your boiler installation.

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Have Your Furnace Tuned-Up Now to Prepare for Winter

September 12th, 2014

The heavy cold in Illinois is still a few months away, but you shouldn’t delay when it comes to making winter preparations for your home. Part of that is to schedule a pre-season tune-up for your heating system. Take advantage of the slower September and October period to arrange a visit from skilled HVAC technicians to look over your heater and make sure it is ready for the work ahead.

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The History of Labor Day

September 1st, 2014

The official end of summer and the beginning of fall lands on September 23rd, which marks the Autumnal Equinox, when the plane of the Earth’s equator passes the center of the sun and the length of day and night are roughly equal. However, for most people in the U.S., the summer really concludes with Labor Day, the first Monday in September. Labor Day and Memorial Day (the last Monday of May) together serve as the bookends of the summer.

The Labor Day Holiday is a time that people in this country associate with a last summer blast: another reason for an outdoor picnic, a chance for a three-day vacation, family trips to amusement parks, and of course, taking advantage of numerous sales that retailers always offer. (Labor Day is often the second largest shopping day of the year after Black Friday in November.) It’s also the point when school traditionally goes back in session, although some schools start a week earlier and some a week later.

Labor Day’s origins lie in the 1880s. In 1882 Matthew Maguire, a machinist in New York City who was secretary of the Central Labor Union (CLU) at the time, and Peter J McGuire of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), first proposed a celebration of the hard working men and women of the United States. However, five years would pass before the first state made it an official holiday, Oregon. Other states quickly followed this example, although not all selected a date in September.

By 1894, thirty states had started Labor Day celebrations. President Grover Cleveland signed the law that made Labor Day a federal holiday only a week after Congress voted unanimously to approve the legislation. The date chosen for the holiday was the same one that Maguire and McGuire had originally proposed.

The U.S.A. is not the only country that celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday of September. Canada observes the holiday as well, although they spell it “Labour” Day. In fact, Canada celebrated the occasion earlier than the U.S., and was an early inspiration in this country for the development of the holiday.

All of us here at Malek Heating & Cooling hope you and your family—whether at work or at play—enjoy a relaxing and memorable Labor Day weekend and have a fantastic start to the fall.

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How Strange Noises Alert You to Air Conditioning Repair Needs

August 27th, 2014

Although today’s manufacturers make air conditioners with many advanced features, they have yet to design one with a perfect self-diagnosing computer that can immediately identify when they need repair and report it to homeowners. You still need to watch out for clues that your AC has developed a malfunction. Fortunately, many repair problems in an air conditioner will create a distinct and unusual sound, and you can use these noises to figure out that you need to call for professional HVAC technicians.

We’ve put together a list of some of the more common noises that malfunctioning air conditioners can make and what they might mean. You shouldn’t use this information to attempt the repair work on your own, however. Call Malek Heating & Cooling—any time of the day or night—when you require skilled air conditioning repair in Northbrook, IL. We will send a technician to your home to track that strange noise to its source and then handle the repair work.

Some Repair Warning Noises to Listen For

  • Hissing: This sound like a high-pressure gas escaping from a nozzle probably means that there is a refrigerant leak somewhere in the AC. Loss of refrigerant charge will lead to an air conditioner that cannot maintain its proper cooling level, and it may eventually cause irreparable damage to the compressor. Repair technicians will locate and seal the leak, then recharge the refrigerant to its regular level.
  • Grinding, groaning: These mechanical noises are often indicators that one or more of the motors in the system is wearing down from excess stress. This can happen because of loss of lubrication or dirt accumulating across the moving parts. Technicians can attempt to repair the motor, or in the case of a burnt-out motor, replace it.
  • Clicking: If you hear a clicking sound as the AC tries to start, you may have dying capacitors. The capacitors store and send charge to the motors to start them running and keep them running. When capacitors start to fail, the air conditioner will “hard start” and drain excess power. Technicians will replace the bad capacitors or install a hard-start kit to overcome the problem.
  • Clanging, striking: This often points toward a damaged fan. Bent fan blades will cause the fan to begin striking its outer casing, and this can lead to the damage spreading. For older air conditioners, this may indicate a snapped fan belt. (Newer ACs use direct motors instead of fan belts.)

Whatever the reason for the strange sounds, don’t let a noisy air conditioner continue to run: the problem will worsen and cause a chain reaction of other malfunctions, and the AC will drain money. Call for repairs right away.

Since 1998, the people at Malek Heating & Cooling have delivered air conditioning repair in Northbrook, IL and the rest of the Chicagoland area with fast and effective service for their ACs. Make us your first call when you hear those strange sounds rattling around inside your cooling system.

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Benefits of a Mitsubishi Ductless Mini Split System

August 23rd, 2014

When considering a new heating and cooling system for your home, the knowledgeable technicians at Malek Heating & Cooling recommend Mitsubishi ductless mini split systems. Not only are these an affordable option but few systems have so many benefits wrapped into a small package. Like any new system, we know you’re looking for something that is energy efficient, quiet, easy to use and will make your home comfortable year round.

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What SEER Means for Your Air Conditioner

August 20th, 2014

Air conditioning a home through warm months and hot spells can become expensive. However, with the installation of a high-efficiency air conditioner you can reduce those steep bills to more manageable levels. The technology of cooling continues to advance each year, and with these advances comes ACs that use less power to produce greater levels of cooling.

The way you can determine the level of energy-efficiency from an air conditioning system is to check on its SEER. This technical specification will tell you how much energy the system will use and how that compares to the cooling power it produces. When you are in the market for a new AC, understanding SEER is crucial for locating the right system for you.

However, SEER isn’t the only piece of information you should know: there are many other considerations, and therefore you should always contact HVAC professionals to assist you with selecting new air conditioning in Winnetka, IL. Call Malek Heating & Cooling for the experienced technicians necessary to find the right AC for you. We’ve served the Chicagoland area since 1998.

What SEER Stands For and What It Means

The acronym SEER stands for “seasonal energy efficiency ratio.” It represents the ratio of cooling power an air conditioner produces (as measured in BTUs) to the amount of energy it consumes (in watt-hours) as measured over a whole season. A similar specification, EER (energy efficiency ratio), is measured over a single test. SEER gives you an idea of how much you can expect to pay for cooling during a whole season: the higher the number, the more efficiently the AC converts electricity into cooling, and the less expensive it is to run.

For most air conditioners, SEER falls between 14 and 20. In order for an air conditioner to qualify for the U.S. Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR label, it must have a SEER of at least 14.5. Some high-end ACs can have 20 SEER or even greater.

Although SEER is important, you shouldn’t simply pick an air conditioner with the highest SEER available. There are more factors involved in properly and effectively cooling a home than energy-efficiency. For example, an air conditioner can have an astonishingly high SEER of 22, but if it isn’t sized right to cool your home, all its efficiency will go to waste. You want to find a balance of factors, including SEER, to locate the ideal air conditioner for your cooling needs and your budget plans.

Since you should never attempt to install a central AC on your own, make sure that you have the professional installers involved in the process from an early stage. Experts will help you select the air conditioning in Winnetka, IL that will do the all-around job you need for comfort and savings. Call Malek Heating & Cooling when you are ready to start searching for your perfect air conditioner.

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Why Ice on Your Air Conditioner Means It Needs Repairs

August 13th, 2014

If you notice ice on the indoor coil of your air conditioner, it may seem like a minor problem. Of course, air conditioners cool the air, so ice is to be expected from time to time, right? Not quite! Air conditioners do not actually create cool air. Instead, they cool a home by removing heat from the air as refrigerant cycles throughout the system. Ice on the evaporator coil means that something has interfered with the evaporation process and that your air conditioner may not be able to cool your home properly. Scraping the ice off the coil can seriously damage this component, and allowing it to defrost is not enough to address the source of the problem. When you notice freezing, turn off your system immediately and call a professional for air conditioning repair in Evanston, IL. You may have any of the following problems.

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Protection for Your Home with Whole-House Surge Protectors

July 31st, 2014

Power outages can pose serious problems for your home and family, especially if they last for an extended period of time. Some of the reasons for loss of power from the grid include trees falling on power lines, severe wind conditions, lightning strikes, floods and heavy rainstorms, accumulation of ice and snow, accidents due to construction digging, and even interference from wildlife. Using a whole-house generator to shield your home from a long-term outage is wise planning and will provide you with peace of mind during the times of the year when the frequency of outages begins to rise.

Here is something else to consider: many of the above causes of power outages are also sources of massive power surges. You probably already connect the idea of power surges with lightning strikes and downed lines, but any event that could cause an overload of the power grid or a loss of power could also send a huge power surge into your home that could cause damage to appliances, especially precision equipment like laptops and home entertainment systems. A small power strip at an outlet can offer some protection from this, but not always.

At Malek Heating & Cooling, we advise that homeowners look into whole house surge protectors in Skokie, IL as an adjunct to their new generator installation. These systems installed into your electrical panel will guard your electrical system from both outside power surges as well as any malfunction that might occur with the generator. It will also help with the smaller surges that can occur without you realizing it, and which contribute to slow wear and tear on appliances.

These smaller surges are worth looking at a little closer, because many homes suffer from them. Whenever a large appliance in your home (such as a refrigerator or air conditioning system) makes too large a demand on the electrical circuits, it causes a momentary imbalance that sends a power surge through the lines. If you notice lights flickering whenever a powerful appliance turns on, then you are dealing with a power surge.

Worry about power surges is another reason that you must have professionals install your whole-house generator. If an amateur picks the wrong size unit of generator for your needs, the generator could cause a dangerous power surge in your home when it comes on, knocking out your lights and other appliances and possibly damaging them so that even when the power is restored, they won’t come back on.

Keep Malek Heating & Cooling in mind when you are thinking about whole house surge protectors and generator installation in Chicago, IL. Let our trained technicians know about your generator needs: we will keep your family out of the dark. Give us a call today.

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