Tag Archives: HVAC

Middleburg, VA, HVAC maintenance

5 Tips for Extending Your HVAC’s Lifespan

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As we approach another scorching summer, take a minute to schedule an HVAC maintenance and inspection service from R.A. Dobson. Doing so can extend your system’s lifespan and keep it functioning throughout the year’s hottest months. A few further practices—such as installing a high-quality filter, giving your unit clearance space, and keeping your home’s registers open—will ensure you get the best performance from your HVAC system.

R.A. Dobson is a 2nd-generation, family-run organization and a stalwart service provider for folks in Ashburn, VA. Our technicians are enthusiastic about their work because they know it supports everyday homeowners and families. Moreover, all our employees carry licenses and insurance to guarantee we deliver on our promises. Call (703) 481-3700 or visit our website to schedule a service appointment today!

Here, we outline some tips on how to protect your HVAC’s functioning:

1. Install a High-Performance Filter and Check it Monthly

Should it start operating less effectively than it once did, or do so at a higher cost, your HVAC may require repair or replacement. That said, a simple filter replacement may be the solution. Consult a professional and ask about a high-performance air filter.

The market’s new and improved filters outperform those made decades ago. Recent models have allergen reduction capabilities, enhanced materials, and high-efficiency ratings. Both you and your HVAC system can benefit from installing one.

No matter what quality filter you have, check it every month. If its surface appears dirty or stained, it requires replacement. Additionally, homeowners with pets that shed often may need to change their filter monthly. If you are unsure whether to replace your system’s filter, contact R.A. Dobson for a professional HVAC inspection.

2. Provide Ample Clearance and Clear Debris

HVAC maintenance Middleburg, VA

While you need not know every aspect and component of your HVAC system, you should recognize whether it has indoor and outdoor elements (as opposed to a window unit). Central HVAC system parts include air ducts, an indoor evaporator unit, and an outdoor condenser unit. These constituents require simple care.

To start, evaporators and condensers require ample open space. Thus, leave no objects or belongings leaning on these units. Likewise, avoid planting trees or shrubs around the condenser. In general, two feet of clearance is sufficient.

Furthermore, remove any detritus that land on these units. Condensers, in particular, tend to collect leaves, sticks, and other debris from their surrounding environment. Some quick cleaning will keep them clear and functioning.

3. Keep an Eye on Refrigerant Lines’ Insulation

Refrigerant lines are another crucial element of central HVAC systems’ functioning. They carry refrigerant fluid into evaporators, where the liquid pulls heat from interior air. That said, these lines should be insulated and intact to preserve their cooling capabilities. Missing insulation—or a broken line—will hamper your HVAC system’s efficacy.

If you notice a problem with your lines, contact R.A. Dobson for maintenance services. We can correct the problem and ensure your system continues to run without a hitch.

4. Make Sure Your Condenser Unit Remains Level

Although it may sound a bit silly considering the bulkiness of condensers, ensure your unit remains balanced. While evaporators sit inside a stable environment with little risk of tilting, condensers may lean due to outdoor conditions.

A technician can help you check that your unit sits on level ground (without any breaching tree roots) and may offer pads to solidify its stance.

5. Keep Your Home’s Registers Open as Much as Possible

Central HVAC systems have registers at the end of air ducts to give a building’s occupants control over the air that enters a room. Closing one register prevents cool air from penetrating a given space. However, closing the majority of a home’s registers can strain the system. Rather than doing so, consider adjusting your interior temperature.

HVAC Maintenance Services Available to Homeowners in Middleburg, VA

Keep your home safe and comfortable by investing in professional HVAC maintenance and repair services from R.A. Dobson. We supply these and further indoor climate services to homeowners throughout the Middleburg, VA, region. Our technicians aim to provide high-quality services and top-performing products to everyday families. Call us at (703) 481-3700 or visit our website for more HVAC information!

Sterling Virginia Heath Pump Installation

4 Heat Pump Features to Look For

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Heat pumps are a highly-beneficial alternative to traditional HVAC systems. They are also more versatile and efficient, providing both heating and cooling while using less energy. Heat pump technology has been improved significantly with the addition of advanced features that increase its lifespan, functionality, and efficiency even further.

With over 45 years of experience, you can be assured that R.A. Dobson’s technicians are highly-capable in efficient heat pump installation, plumbing, air conditioning repair, and more. Throughout Sterling, VA, R.A. Dobson has served thousands of customers, many of whom return for our friendly service, quality workmanship, and competitive prices. 

Here are 4 interesting features you should consider for your new heat pump installation: 

1. Variable/Dual-Speed Motors

One prominent feature among certain heat pump models are variable-speed or dual-speed motors. 

These are connected to the heat pump’s fans, keeping the airflow at a consistent velocity throughout the house. It ensures your home is consistently heated with fewer cool drafts and cooled with fewer waves of heat. 

Keeping your indoor spaces consistently cool or warm also ensures that your system isn’t wasting electricity. The variable/dual-speed motors will help keep your heat pump system energy-efficient. 

2. Desuperheater

Another high-efficiency feature to look for among heat pump models are those equipped with a desuperheater. It is an auxiliary heat exchange component that uses the excess heat produced by the heat pump’s system to heat water. This feature turns your heat pump into both an HVAC system and a water heater system, increasing your home’s energy efficiency. 

According to the US Department of Energy, a heat pump equipped with a desuperheater can heat water twice as efficiently than the common electric water heater installed in most homes. 

3. Two-Speed Compressors

Standard compressors that are installed with most heat pump systems only operate at their full capacity, which can end up wasting a lot of energy over time. 

However, a heat pump installed with a two-speed compressor can increase its efficiency by switching between full and reduced capacity settings, saving energy. 

A two-speed compressor will also have a longer lifespan than a standard one, since it can work at a lower capacity, reducing the amount of strain and wear it receives over time.

4. Scroll Compressor

Another improved feature to look for is a more advanced type of compressor, known as a scroll compressor, which have made heat pump systems even more efficient. This is because scroll compressors improve on the standard piston compressor by having a longer lifespan and producing much less noise when in operation. 

This is due to their improved design, which involves two spiral shaped scrolls. While one remains fixed, the other revolves around it, greatly compressing the refrigerant used for heat exchange. 

Scroll compressors come in a number variants too, each more efficient due to the greater precision they have in capacity control. The standard is the single-stage compressor, which works only at full capacity, while the two-stage and variable capacity compressors are able to switch to lower capacity settings for even greater energy-efficiency. 

R.A. Dobson: Quality Heat Pump Installation in Sterling, VA!

As mentioned in the features described above, heat pumps have advanced into becoming a worthwhile alternative to HVAC systems. At R.A. Dobson, we do our best to keep track of the latest in heating and cooling technologies. To us, our expertise in professional heat pump installation, plumbing repair, and HVAC maintenance, is all about making sure your home remains comfortable and efficient for years to come. Our high-quality workmanship and honest service has made us one of the most trusted HVAC and plumbing companies in Sterling. Contact us at (703) 481-3700 to learn more about our services and get a free estimate.