Fireplaces are a lovely way to keep warm this winter: providing a cozy and romantic atmosphere while providing inexpensive heat to keep your whole family warm. With winter officially arriving in Hammond, LA this year, now is an ideal time to use your fireplace. Before the season proceeds much further, however, it pays to get the fireplace examined by a trained technician to ensure that it’s functioning as it should. Why? Because doing otherwise might be more dangerous than you think.
Latest Posts:
Get Your Fireplace Checked Out
December 19th, 2016 | Written By siteadmin | Reviewed By Ronnie RoundtreeWhat Kinds of Things Reduce the Air Flow in Your Heater?
December 12th, 2016 | Written By siteadmin | Reviewed By Ronnie RoundtreeFurnaces in the Springfield, LA area usually follow the centralized forced-air model: heating the air via burners and a heat exchanger, then blowing it through the ducts to the various corners of your house. (The same ducts are used to carry cool air from your air conditioner in the summer.) The ducts are often hidden from sight, but they — and more specifically, the vents where the air emerges — can alert you to a potential problem with the system. For example, if the air flow from your vents drops down below the level you expect, it’s usually a sign of a more serious problem inside the system.
Signs of a Duct Breach or Leak
December 5th, 2016 | Written By siteadmin | Reviewed By Ronnie RoundtreeMost folks in the Walker, LA area rely on a system of ducts to move conditioned air (whether hot or cold) from their HVAC system into the rest of their home. It’s a safe and effective way to make sure your household is comfortable, and with the ducts themselves usually hidden behind walls on in spaces like the attic, damage to them is relatively uncommon. Sometimes leaks do spring up, however, and worn bolts or damage from other sources could open up a breach in your duct systems. This is a significant problem since it leeches your system of efficiency: raising your monthly bills and adding strain to other components in your system that can increase the likelihood of a breakdown. But how do you spot a breach if it’s hidden in an out-of-the-way location? Here’s a brief list of symptoms for you to look for.
Install UV Germicidal Lights and Cut Down in Winter Colds
November 28th, 2016 | Written By siteadmin | Reviewed By Ronnie RoundtreeWintertime in Covington, LA is much warmer than it is elsewhere in the country, but that doesn’t mean we don’t experience our share of winter colds and illnesses. Rainfall drops slightly in the winter months, but we still get our share of wet days, which makes an ideal breeding ground for germs and bacteria. If you want to keep your family safe and healthy this holiday season, you should consider the implementation of additional safeguards in your home”: specifically a set of UV germicidal lights in your HVAC system. You’ll be amazed at how much of a difference they make.
Air Conditioning Tips for Thanksgiving
November 21st, 2016 | Written By siteadmin | Reviewed By Ronnie RoundtreeWe’re technically in the middle of fall, with winter on its way, and that means heating season. But the weather in Hammond, LA, rarely gets too cold, and even if things are cool, that equation changes when you have friends or family members only for the holidays. The body temperature of so many people in an enclosed space can elevate the temperature, as well as causing a number of other effects you should be aware of. The same holds true when you’re cooking a big meal in your kitchen: with high temperatures from the oven, the dishwasher and other appliances adding to the situation. You can avert these problems and help make your home comfortable for your holiday get-togethers with a few simple steps.
New Year’s Traditions Explained
December 31st, 2013 | Written By siteadmin | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree2014 is almost upon us, and with the coming of the New Year, we thought we’d take a brief look at some of the more popular traditions associated with this holiday. It’s been around for at least 4,000 years: as long as we’ve figured out how long it takes for the seasons to come and go. Here’s a quick discussion about some of our more modern traditions and where they started:
- Auld Lang Syne. The famous song began in Scotland, where it was published by Robert Burns in 1796. He claims he initially heard it sung by an elderly resident of his hometown, which suggests it has traditional folk origins even before that. It became even more popular when big band leader, Guy Lombardo, started playing it every New Year’s Eve, starting in 1929 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.
- The Dropping of the Ball in Times Square. The tradition of dropping the ball in Times Square started in 1907. It was made out of iron and wood with light bulbs located on the surface, and the ball originally “dropped” over the offices of the New York Times at One Times Square. Dick Clark famously broadcast the event every year from 1972, until his death in 2012.
- The Rose Parade. The Tournament of Roses Parade has been held in Pasadena every year since 1890; taking advantage of California’s warm weather to present a parade of floats, bands and horses. A football game was eventually added to the festivities in 1902, when Michigan dominated Stanford’s team by a score of 49-0
- Baby New Year. The use of a baby to signify the New Year dates back to Ancient Greece, where it symbolized the rebirth of Dionysus (the God of wine and parties). Early Christians initially resisted the pagan elements of the story, but soon came to adopt it since it matched the traditional Christmas symbol of baby Jesus in the manger. Today, people of all faiths and traditions refer to the New Year as a baby, representing new beginnings.
Whatever traditions you choose to celebrate, we here at A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning wish you the very safest and happiest of New Year’s. May 2014 bring you nothing but the best!