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Safety Tips

Air Quality

What are the most common indoor air pollutants?
One of the most wonderful things about the Quad Cities is the variety of homes in our neighborhoods. There are a lot of areas of the country where every house in every neighborhood looks the same, as if they’ve been stamped onto lots with cookie cutters. We have a lot of beautiful new homes in the area, and we have a lot of wonderful old homes. Whether your home is a hundred years old or you just built your house …
Furnace

Can an old furnace explode, and how can I tell if my furnace is dying?
Fireworks are fun outside, not so much indoors! Do you have to worry about your furnace causing indoor fireworks? The short answer is, not likely. Heating fires are more often caused by space heaters than furnaces. Modern furnaces have too many safeguards in place, so explosions are not something most people should worry about. Even if your furnace is unlikely to explode, that does not mean it is necessarily healthy. Hopefully, everything is fine, but it is worth looking for …
Air Conditioning

How long does an Air Conditioning unit last?
The answer depends on several factors, and our team will be more than happy to provide customized estimates for your individual situation. Generally speaking, the average life span of an AC unit is 20 years if maintained properly. We recommend scheduling a precision tune-up, professional cleaning and safety inspection once a year. Regular maintenance will extend the ACs lifespan, and it will also reduce pollutants, reduce the risk of potentially dangerous malfunctions and maintain performance (see Doug’s Annual Maintenance Agreement …
Air Quality

How to Prevent Negative Impacts of Dry Winter Air on Your Family and Home
Your loved ones are most likely to suffer from the consequences of dry air in semi-arid climates and during the cold of winter when the furnace’s heat eradicates most of the humidity. The latter, especially impacts most Quad Cities Area households. Dry air may… Cause sore throats and dry skin which may be confused with COVID-19. Trigger itchy eyes, increasing the risk of catching infections by rubbing the eyes. Make you more susceptible to catching cold and flu viruses according …
Furnace

Propane Tanks *oink oink*
Propane tanks are often called “pigs” because of the shape of the tank and its short legs.  Some people make this point abundantly clear as you can see from these photos… Now, a lot of people think of pigs as cute and if you think so (or if you think Miss Piggy is cute), you can paint your “pig” that way… We all know family comes first and that counts for pigs, too… And finally, to paraphrase the great football …
Air Conditioning

What do you need to know about the Freon Phase out?
If you are using an AC unit made prior to 2010, then you are likely using a R22 refrigerant (a.k.a. freon), which will be discontinued by 2020 per the EPA’s ruling. Any AC unit made after 2010 shouldn’t be using R22 refrigerant, so this blog is only for those of you who have a model made before 2010. For those homes this ruling affects, here’s what you need to know. This is not a ban on the use or sale …
Air Conditioning

In an Emergency, Doug’s is There!
Emergencies have a tendency to happen at the worst time, especially when it’s very hot or very cold out and never during regular business hours. This is why Doug’s Heating and Air Conditioning is proud to offer our 24-Hour Emergency service. We have a special line setup for HVAC emergency situations in order to reach our on-call emergency technicians. Give us a call at 309-764-2500, follow the phone instructions and our technicians will be able to get back to you, …
Furnace

Clean Furnace – Safe Family
With cold weather and snow storms coming our way this winter, being trapped inside doesn’t sound all that bad. But before you fire up the furnace, make sure your furnace is in the right condition to keep your house warm and your family safe. Any parent knows when you’re snowed-in, your kids are bound to get curious and adventure around your home. Here are a few tips to make sure the whole family is safe this winter: Keep Your Furnace …
Air Conditioning

4 Simple Steps to Get your AC Ready for the Summer
Summer has finally arrived, and temperatures are rising. It’s about time to make sure your AC is in tiptop condition! Before going through the following steps, please turn off the power to make sure safety is ensured at all times. Inspect the Outside Unit Winter can be rough, so make sure the fins of your outside unit are clean. Remove any debris first, and use a tooth brush next to gently brush across the metal fins until they sparkle again. …
Air Conditioning

Good Timing
Good timing when it comes to financial decisions is often counter-intuitive, like buying Christmas decorations after the holidays are over or buying stocks during a recession. The basic principle is the following: buy when demand is low to get a better price! The same applies to routine maintenance for air conditioners. You probably haven’t even turned on your AC this year, but now is a great time to get it checked out so that it’s ready when you need it …
Furnaces

Furnace Maintenance: What Really Matters
Taking care of your furnace is an important part of having a safe and comfortable home, especially during the upcoming colder months. While it’s best to have professionals inspect or make adjustments to your furnace, there are a few things homeowners can do themselves! Safety Tip: Before inspecting or cleaning the furnace, make sure the gas line and any electrical circuits connected to the furnace are turned off. It’s important to establish safe working conditions before starting any inspection on …
Safety Tips

Is Your Heating and Air Conditioning System Childproof?
Whether you are a parenting rookie or a seasoned veteran, childproofing your home is essential to keeping your baby safe. Common household items can pose a potential threat to your children, your HVAC system is no different. Your HVAC system may seem harmless, but like most household items, your children can turn it into a hazard. To keep your children safe from your HVAC system and vice versa, follow these safety tips and reduce the risk: Secure Vents: To a …
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