Winter is well on its way – as of the time of writing, we’re only a handful of days away from officially ticking over into winter.
And with cold weather on the horizon, there’s an important question you need to ask yourself: is your ducted heating system ready for winter?
As we all know, Melbourne winters can get a little bit chilly. While they aren’t as bad as they are elsewhere, by no means is winter a cakewalk.
Is your ducted heating and cooling system ready for its annual workout?
Why you should call a professional before even turning your ducted heating on
The risks of an idle system
You’d think that leaving your heating system idle would be good for it – after all, it can’t wear out or break if it’s sitting unused for half of the year, right?
Wrong!
Just like cars in storage need to be taken out for occasional drives, letting your ducted heating sit idle for half a year (or more) can also lead to a range of issues.
- Over time, dust, debris and bacteria and more can build up in your system
- Lubricants can congeal with inactivity, causing issues when you start using your heater again
- Existing issues can simmer and get even worse
Not to mention, how are you supposed to notice issues as they arise if your ducted heating system isn’t seeing any action?
While most of the time your system will start up without issue, there’s always a risk of months of inactivity causing a range of issues – especially if you have an older system.
What to look for in your system before you turn it on: signs you need heating repairs
Chances are you can’t tell a blocked filter from a blower problem.
There’s nothing wrong with that – however, it does highlight the need to have your heating system inspected by a professional on a regular basis.
Unpleasant smells and odours are a sign you need ducted heating repair
The air your ducted reverse cycle heating and cooling pumps out should be fresh and clean, thanks to a complex system of filters.
Needless to say, air that smells suggests a major problem with your ducted heating!
Your system’s filtering system is good, but after months (or even years) without proper maintenance, they can get clogged up to the point where your system is blowing out as much debris as it is warm air.
With split systems, these filters are relatively easy to clean on your own – in ducted systems however, the issue may be hidden deep within your ductwork, necessitating professional help.
It isn’t just filter replacement, either.
For example, what happens if your heater emits a burning smell? In these cases, it could be that a component in your ducted heating has burned out, and needs urgent replacement.
If your heating, well, stinks, it’s high time that you get it inspected by a heating and cooling company in Melbourne.
Whether it’s a simple clogged filter or an issue deeper in your system, we can correctly diagnose the issue and provide the right fix.
The importance of getting gas heaters serviced
Does your home still use an old-style gas heater? If so, it’s even more important that you get it inspected before winter really gets underway!
There’s a very good reason these types of systems are on the way out – not only do they offer less coverage than ducted reverse cycle heating and cooling installation, but they also come with additional risks that aren’t present in more modern systems.
For example, dust build-up can be a fire hazard with these types of systems, as gas heaters still rely on pilot lights.
In some cases, dust and debris can settle near your pilot light, increasing your fire risk.
Another hazard is CO poisoning.
All gas heaters have the potential to emit this deadly gas if they aren’t maintained properly.
Fortunately, regular inspections and preventative maintenance ensures that this isn’t a problem.
In addition to giving you the all-clear to use your gas heater, our heating professionals can also perform CO testing, helping you detect this invisible danger.
Is a new ducted heating and cooling system a better bet for your home?
In most cases, ducted heating repair can ensure that your system is up and running with minimal disruption.
However, there are some cases where it’s better to get an entirely new ducted heating system altogether!
Perhaps the issues with your system are too deep for a repair.
Maybe fixing it up will cost (almost) as much as a new system. It could even be that your current system is reaching the end of its useful life anyway, and the costs of maintenance are simply getting too high.
All we’re saying is that if your ducted heating and cooling company suggests a heating and cooling upgrade, consider the excellent benefits…
All-in-one system
If we’re going to talk about the draws of reverse cycle ducted heating and cooling, we’ll start with the big one: namely, the ability to enjoy powerful heating and cooling, all from a single system.
This has the obvious benefit of:
- Reducing your upfront installation cost
- Allowing you to switch from heating to cooling at the flick of a button
- Staying comfortable all year round (even in spite of Melbourne’s unpredictable weather!)
However, there’s another, less well-known one: namely, the fact that this avoids the issues that come with an idle system.
Reverse cycle ducted heating and cooling systems use the exact same components, whether in heating or cooling mode – the only thing that changes is that they run in reverse.
Instead of sitting idle for months on end, your system sees use all year-round, eliminating the issues that can come with leaving your system inactive for months.
Of course, that doesn’t give you an excuse to skip ducted heating servicing!
Replace your old system with cutting-edge tech
Technology in all aspects of the word has come a long way – heating and cooling tech is no different.
If you’ve been using the same system for years on end however, you may have missed some of the most recent developments.
While these advances can be retrofitted into some older systems, for the vast majority of them, there’s no way for you to fit them into your system.
It isn’t just the ability to enjoy powerful heating and cooling from a single system, either – if you want to enjoy advances like sophisticated zoning systems, smartphone and voice control and temperature sensors, you might want to consider upgrading.
Ongoing maintenance can get expensive
Warranties expire. Production of spare parts stops. Problems can pop up more frequently. The experience of working with older systems may slowly disappear.
All of these combine to make maintaining an older heating system increasingly difficult as the years go on… not to mention, more costly as well!
Sure, you can save some money upfront by holding onto your existing system – however, you’ll also see rising (and more frequent) maintenance bills as the years go on.
Over the life of your system, you may end up spending much more than you would if you just bit the bullet today and got your old heating system replaced with a more modern, more reliable system.
Not only that, but you’ll also experience more powerful heating!
Get your ducted heating and cooling systems inspected today
If there was ever a time to get your system inspected by a professional, it’s now!
The last thing you want is for your heating system to give up on you, right as the coldest part of the year hits Melbourne.
Luckily, that’s what we’re here for.
Alpha Air specialises in all things heating. From ducted heating and cooling systems, to old-fashioned gas heating, we’ve got the skills and experience to keep you warm throughout winter (as well as cool during summer!)
Don’t leave it until the last minute – call Alpha Air today on 1300 854 525, or click here to reach out online. You can also visit us for heating and cooling in Melbourne: pop into our office at F6 / 310-312 Governor Rd, Braeside VIC 3195.
