Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. Blog: Archive for December, 2014

Why Do We Hang Up Mistletoe?

Thursday, December 25th, 2014

Of course, you probably know part of the answer to this question already. You hang up mistletoe so that the people standing underneath can share a romantic holiday kiss! But what you may not realize is that the origin of this longstanding ritual predates many of the other holiday traditions we celebrate today. Why would a plant that has many poisonous varieties (most types sold for use in the home have few negative effects, but you can wrap it in netting to prevent children from consuming any fallen berries or leaves) be used as a symbol of holiday affection?

There are a couple of ways to explain the positive associations of (potentially hazardous) mistletoe. For one, this semi-parasitic plant has long been hailed as a treatment for illnesses and pain. The ancient Greeks and Romans used it to cure cramps, epilepsy, and more. Even today, mistletoe extracts are one of the leading alternative medicines studied for their effectiveness in killing cancer cells. And because the early Celtic Druids saw it as a sign of healing and life, they may be the first to bestow upon the plant its romantic associations, deeming it worthy of treating the infertile.

But it is Norse mythology that is likely responsible for a majority of the modern traditions associated with this small hanging bunch. One of the powerful Norse god Odin’s sons, named Baldur, was said to be invincible due to an oath his mother took to protect him from harm. But Loki, a god who often set out to make trouble for the gods, set out to find the one thing that could do some damage, and eventually discovered that Baldur’s mother Frigg had never included mistletoe in her invincibility oath. When mistletoe was finally responsible for her son’s demise, the grieving Frigg vowed that the plant would never again be used to hurt another living thing, and that she would plant a peaceful kiss upon anyone who walked underneath it.

And that is one of the reasons that, today, kissing under the mistletoe is viewed as a source of good luck. From our family to yours, we wish you a safe holiday season, and we hope that you and your family are full of joy and good fortune—mistletoe or not! Happy holidays from Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning!

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How Insulation Creates Better Energy Efficiency

Wednesday, December 17th, 2014

Insulation is perhaps one of the most unobtrusive parts of your home. It’s installed in the walls and ceiling, never makes noise, never does anything that would attract attention to itself. Because of the nature of insulation, a lot of homeowners never even think about theirs, or what kind of condition it might be in. This is a mistake, because maintaining good insulation is the key to keeping your home energy efficient year-round. Let’s take a look at what makes insulation so great for energy efficiency.

What is Insulation?

Insulation encompasses a wide range of materials, from rolls of blanket-like batting to loose piles of material to foam spray that hardens after application. Regardless of the material, the purpose of the insulation is the same: to isolate the home as much as possible from the temperature fluctuations outside.

How does Insulation Create Better Energy Efficiency?

The whole reason that insulation exists is to protect the interior of the home from being subject to outside weather conditions. It does this by inhibiting the flow of heat through the walls and roof of the home into the surrounding environment, and vice versa. This is why a poorly insulated home is hot in the summer and cold in the winter, because there is little to impede the heat from flowing from an area of high density to an area of low density.

A well-insulated home is quite desirable because it allows the homeowner to maintain a comfortable climate indoors, even if the temperature outside is quite uncomfortable. If you run your air conditioner in the summer, your house will stay cool for longer periods of time with good insulation. The same goes for running your heater in the winter. This is how insulation improves energy efficiency. If your home loses or gains heat more slowly, depending on the weather, your heater and air conditioner won’t have to work nearly as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature. This is not only good for you, but good for your energy bill, as well.

If you aren’t sure whether your home is insulated well enough, contact Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. and let one of our qualified technicians find out for you. We professional install and service insulation in the Aztec area. Give us a call today to schedule a service appointment.

Tags: Aztec, Insulation
Posted in Indoor Air Quality | Comments Off on How Insulation Creates Better Energy Efficiency

How to Select the Right Heating for Your Business

Wednesday, December 10th, 2014

If you need a new heating system for your business, it may be difficult to decide which type of unit is right for you. In general, you can choose between two different modes of heating: forced-air heating and radiant heating. While a forced-air heating system (like a furnace) may be inexpensive to install as long as you have an existing set of ductwork, boilers can offer greater efficiency and comfort in some cases.

Choosing the right system is going to depend a lot on your preferences, the amount of usage your system will get, your monthly utility budget, and the size and structure of your building. Therefore, this likely isn’t a decision you can make on your own.

If you’re replacing an older system, however, it may be easier to figure out what’s best for your commercial heating in Farmington, NM.

What Type of Heating System Are You Using Now?

In general, if you’re replacing an older heater, you may want to stick to a similar unit, especially if that unit was working just fine at some point. It’s a very involved process to replace a boiler with a furnace, and vice versa. While initial boiler installation may take several days, replacing an older boiler should go a lot more smoothly. And adding a furnace to a property is difficult if you don’t already have a set of ducts for your heating.

You may be concerned about replacing your older unit with a similar model because your property’s old furnace or boiler was not as efficient or high-performance as you’d like it to be. However, you should keep in mind that today’s commercial heating units are far more efficient than they once were, allowing unsurpassed levels of comfort as long as your system and your ducts are inspected and provided that you choose professionals for installation.

Ask a Professional

Of course, the best way to choose the right type of heating system for your business is by asking an expert. Trained technicians are best qualified to assess your property to help decide which type of unit is ideal. The folks at Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. have years of experience installing, repairing, and maintaining forced-air units and radiant heating systems alike, and we’d love to be the company you choose to help select your new commercial heating system in Farmington, NM.

Tags: Farmington, Heating
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Watch for These Signs That You Need Commercial Heating Repair

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014

For all the differences between commercial heating and home heating, there are a remarkable number of similarities when it comes to repair issues. Unfortunately, business owners can be just as ignorant as homeowners regarding recognizing the need for heating repair. Read on for a few of the more common commercial heating repair needs, and how you can recognize them.

Short-Cycling

Short-cycling is the name for when your heating system rapidly turns itself on and off throughout the day. This is caused by the heater control circuit shutting down the system as a safety measure to prevent overheating. When the heater turns on, the internal temperature of the unit reaches a level beyond the established safety level. When the control circuit registers this, it shuts the heater down in order to prevent a fire or further damage to the unit. After the temperature in the heater drops back below the safety level, the unit turns itself back on. The cycle repeats endlessly, as the safety measure doesn’t actually resolve whatever is causing the heater to overheat. In order to actually solve this problem, you’ll need to call a professional to look at it.

Increase in Heating Bills

Heating bills fluctuate as demand varies from month to month. However, you should pay attention to whether your bill either keeps increasing or spikes and doesn’t come back down. This is a sign that your heater is having to work harder than usual, which is caused by some sort of problem with the system. Most often, this is caused by simple cumulative wear and tear. As your heater ages, its individual parts will begin to wear out from use. These parts wear out at different rates, and usually take a long time to completely fail from normal wear and tear. Before that happens, however, parts will reach a point where they can no longer fulfill their role effectively. Your heater will still function, but it will struggle to put out the same amount of heat. It will stay on longer to compensate for the heat loss, which results in higher bills.

If your commercial heating system is having trouble, call Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. to schedule an appointment today. We provide commercial heating repair services throughout Farmington, NM.

Tags: Commercial Heating, Farmington
Posted in Commercial HVAC | Comments Off on Watch for These Signs That You Need Commercial Heating Repair