Celco Heating and Air Conditioning Blog : Archive for November, 2014

10 Facts You Should Know about Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 27th, 2014

Thanksgiving has been celebrated as an official holiday in the United States for over 150 years, so you may think you understand all there is to know about this family feast. Most of us have heard the story of the pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving in 1621 after arriving in North America on the Mayflower. But did you know that only about half of the people on this ship were actually pilgrims? This fact is one of ten things that may actually surprise you about the Thanksgiving tradition!

  1. Although we often consider Thanksgiving a holiday unique to the United States, many other countries and cultures celebrate their own set of harvest-time and thanksgiving traditions. In Korea, Chu-Sok (or “fall evening”) is put on in remembrance of forefathers on August 15th of every year. Brazil celebrates a contemporary version of the U.S. holiday. Chinese, Roman, and Jewish cultures all have a history of harvest celebrations as well.
  2. President Harry S. Truman began the tradition of a ceremony held before Thanksgiving during which the president receives a turkey. George H.W. Bush was the first to pardon the turkey instead of eating it.
  3. In Minnesota alone, farmers raise over 40 million turkeys a year. In fact, U.S. farmers produce about one turkey for every one person in the country.
  4. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the average American will gain about one to two pounds every year during the holiday season.
  5. On the other hand, turkey is naturally high in protein and has been known to support and boost immune systems to protect against illness and speed up healing. So feast on!
  6. Abraham Lincoln issued a “Thanksgiving Proclamation” in 1863, but a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale can be credited with the idea. While Thanksgiving had been celebrated at different times of year in many areas of the U.S. for years, it was Hale, prominent magazine editor and author of the rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” who urged Lincoln to finally establish the national event.
  7. President Franklin D Roosevelt once tried to change the date of Thanksgiving to the second-to-last Thursday of the month in order to extend the holiday shopping season and boost the economy.
  8. Only about half of the people on the Mayflower were what we would consider today as “Pilgrims.” The other (approximately) 50 people were simply trying to find a way over to the New World.
  9. Gobble, gobble! Click, click? While male turkeys make a gobbling noise, females (hens) do not; it’s often described as a clicking.
  10. Even though we celebrate Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November, the month of June has been declared National Turkey Lovers’ Month by the National Turkey Federation so you can continue the celebration in the summer as well!

From our family here at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning, we’d like to wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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Common Problems with Commercial Heating Systems

Monday, November 17th, 2014

In an area like New Haven, you know how important commercial heating is to keeping your customers comfortable. They don’t want to walk into your business and have it feel like a freezer. Moreover, you and your employees probably don’t want to work in that environment either. So it’s a big deal when your commercial heating system stops working right. In order to help prevent costly repairs, it pays to know some common issues with your commercial heating system. Let’s examine some of the most common problems.

Icing Over

As most commercial heating systems are heat pumps, icing over becomes a big issue. A heat pump relies on its outdoor unit to provide thermal energy with which to warm the air. This outdoor unit contains an evaporator coil, which evaporates refrigerant to draw heat into it. There are two side effects to this kind of heat siphoning. The first is that the air temperature around the unit drops. The second is that condensation forms on the unit. The low temperature causes the condensation to freeze, forming ice on the heat pump. Normally, this isn’t a problem, as heat pumps have a defrost cycle that allows them to melt any ice that forms on the unit. If that function stops working, however, the entire unit can ice over and stop circulating heat. If your heating system is circulating cold air instead of warm, you might want to check the outdoor unit and see if it’s got ice on it.

Refrigerant Leaks

Refrigerant is the liquid responsible for transporting thermal energy throughout the heating system. There is a set level of refrigerant included in the heating system during installation, which is recycled during normal operation. If a leak develops in the refrigerant line for whatever reason, it can drain the refrigerant from the system. When that happens, the heater will lose its ability to circulate heat over time.

If your heating system is acting up, call Celco Heating and Air Conditioning. We can meet all of your commercial heating repair needs. Our technicians cover the entire New Haven area.

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How Does Ductless Heating Work?

Monday, November 10th, 2014

If you’re looking for a reliable heating system for your entire home or a single room but don’t want to deal with the hassle of installation, you’re in luck. Ductless heating systems are now used all across the United States as a whole-home heating and air conditioning solution. Ductless mini splits are a fairly new innovation gaining a lot of popularity these due to efficiency and the ease of installation.

The system consists of two major components: the outdoor compressor unit and the indoor air handler. The only real construction that must be completed is a small hole drilled into the wall to feed through the refrigerant line. The indoor air handler is mounted up high on the wall or suspended from the ceiling and acts as the air distribution port. You will need multiple indoor air handlers to heat or cool an entire home. Let’s take a look inside these units and discuss whether ductless heating is right for your home in Greenwich.

Inside a Ductless Mini Split

A ductless mini split consists of two major components. The outdoor portion contains a compressor and an outdoor coil, while the indoor air handler contains a blower fan and another coil. The ductless mini split essentially works as an air conditioner in the summer months. Refrigerant cycles throughout the entire system. As it passes through the indoor coil, it converts into a gas and absorbs heat from the air in your home. It then travels outside to release the heat, as the blower fan blows cool air into the room.

In the cooler months, the system simply works in reverse. The reversing valve is the component that allows refrigerant to flow in the opposite direction. So, refrigerant evaporates at the outdoor coil and absorbs heat from the air outside to move into your home instead.

Is It Right for My Home?

Ductless heating may not be right for every home. If you already own a set of ductwork, there’s no reason to install a ductless heating system. In fact, you may need an additional heating system as temperatures come close to 30 degrees as your ductless unit may not be able to draw in enough heat. However, in general, a ductless mini split is one of the most efficient heating and cooling systems you could purchase for your home.

Call the expert team at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning to learn more about your options for ductless heating in Greenwich.

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Is it Necessary to Switch from Oil to Gas Heating in Stamford?

Monday, November 3rd, 2014

Homeowners have many options when it comes to home heating, including a choice of fuel types. The most commonly used fuel types are oil and gas, but there is a significant price difference between them, with gas usually being the less expensive option. This difference in price can cause some homeowners to consider switching from oil to gas. Oil to gas conversion in Stamford can be a good choice for many homes, but there are multiple steps involved in the process. This is why it’s important to work with a company familiar with the process and has the trained technicians who can complete the conversion and installation of your new system. Since 1976, Celco Heating and Air Conditioning has helped customers with all of their heating needs, so if you are considering an oil to gas conversion, call us today.

Steps Involved with Conversion

Here are some of the steps involved with an oil to gas conversion:

  • Site Survey – the heating load for your home is calculated, your current heating system is evaluated and the amount of gas piping needed for your home is determined.
  • Coordinate with the gas company – a gas load data sheet is created and has the following information for the gas company: who owns the property, location of the home, what the gas loads are for any current gas appliances and what the gas load(s) will be for new gas appliances, and the make, model and gas requirements of the new heater.
  • Installation of gas piping – once permits are obtained and approved, the gas piping installation can begin.
  • Inspection of gas piping – your local building department and the gas company will inspect the piping to ensure it is properly installed.
  • Installation of new heater – once the gas piping is determined to be sound, your new gas heater can be installed.

Benefits of Converting to Gas

  • Cleaner burn – natural gas is the cleanest of the fossil fuels, which also makes it more environmentally friendly.
  • Effective heating – gas heats up quickly to an average temperature of 130 degrees.
  • Convenience – having gas piped directly into your home is more convenient than managing fuel deliveries.

When it comes to oil to gas conversion, our trained technicians are here to help with the process from beginning to end.

 If you decide that an oil to gas conversion in Stamford is right for you and your home, call Celco Heating and Air Conditioning today.

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