HVAC Archives - Dogtown Heating, Air & Plumbing

HRVs vs. ERVs: Understanding Advanced Ventilation Options

June 17, 2025

Indoor air can get stuffy fast, especially in homes sealed tight for energy efficiency. That’s where advanced ventilation systems come in. Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) offer two smart ways to bring in fresh air without wasting what you’ve already heated or cooled. Dogtown Heating, Air & Plumbing in Urbana, IL helps homeowners choose the right layout, lifestyle, and climate system. How Both Systems Bring Fresh Air Indoors HRVs and ERVs pull out stale indoor air and bring fresh air in. But they do it while keeping as much comfort as possible. Rather than letting all your heated

Zoned HVAC Systems vs. Single-Zone: Is Zone Control Worth the Investment?

May 6, 2025

There are often key decisions to make when it comes to heating and cooling efficiency. One major one is installing a single-zone HVAC system or investing in a zoned one. Single-zone systems condition the entire space uniformly, which may work well for smaller homes or open floor plans. Zoned systems, on the other hand, divide your home into separate areas, each with its own thermostat. Understanding the differences between these systems is essential when selecting the most cost-effective and comfortable solution for your space. In this guide, we will look at each to help you decide

Should You Invest in Geothermal for Your Home?

March 5, 2025

When it comes time to invest in a new heating or cooling system for your home, many options exist. One that’s gaining a lot of traction lately is the geothermal heat pump. We will dive into what this is below and help you make a better-informed decision about whether or not investing in one is right for your home. What Is a Geothermal Heat Pump? Geothermal heat pumps, also known as ground-source heat pumps, can provide both heating and cooling for your home. These systems rely on the fact that the soil temperature remains relatively regular

New HVAC Systems: How to Choose the Right One for Multistory Homes

December 5, 2024

Getting the right HVAC system for your home is important for your family’s comfort and reducing heating and cooling costs. However, those challenges compound when you’re dealing with a multi-story home because of how heat rises and trying to effectively circulate conditioned air through multiple levels. This guide will explore the HVAC systems typically considered for homes in central Illinois, getting the right size, what to consider about HVAC efficiency and advanced practices for comfort control. HVAC Options While there are nearly infinite options for keeping your home comfortable, full HVAC systems tend to be the

The Role of Electrical Systems in Modern HVAC

October 4, 2024

Electrical systems have long played an important role in HVAC systems. Nonetheless, they’ve become more and more important over time as HVAC technology has advanced. In this article, we’ll explore all you need to know about the role an electrical system plays in HVAC units as well as discuss the benefits of HVAC electrification. Why All HVAC Systems Rely on Electricity to Run It’s a basic fact that no type of HVAC system can work if it doesn’t have a constant supply of electricity. Air conditioners and heat pumps obviously require electricity since they’re all

How to Prepare Your HVAC System for Fall

September 5, 2024

As the temperatures start to drop, it’s essential to ensure your HVAC system is ready to keep your home comfortable throughout the fall. Proper preparation can help you avoid unexpected breakdowns and keep your energy bills in check. Let’s walk through some simple steps to get your system ready for the cooler months ahead. Replace Your Air Filter One of the easiest and most effective ways to maintain your HVAC system is by regularly replacing the air filter. A clean filter ensures that your system runs efficiently, providing better air quality and preventing dust and debris

How to Optimize Your HVAC System for Summer

July 18, 2024

As the summer heat rolls into Illinois, it’s crucial to ensure your HVAC system is ready to keep you cool and comfortable. Optimizing your HVAC system for the summer months not only enhances its efficiency but also helps in reducing energy costs. Here are some key steps you can take to make sure your HVAC system is performing at its best. Schedule a Professional Inspection The first step in optimizing your HVAC system is to schedule a professional inspection. A qualified technician from Dogtown Heating, Air & Plumbing can thoroughly check your system, identify any potential issues, and ensure everything

The Benefits of Smart Thermostats in Energy Management

April 4, 2024

Are you looking for smart ways to manage your energy consumption and keep your utility bills in check? Well, look no further because we’ve got just the solution for you: smart thermostats! What Are Smart Thermostats? Let’s start with the basics. Smart thermostats are like the brains of your heating and cooling system. They connect to your Wi-Fi network and can be controlled remotely via a smartphone app or even voice commands. Pretty cool, right? Energy Efficiency at Its Finest One of the biggest advantages of smart thermostats is their ability to

Understanding Energy Efficiency in HVAC Systems

January 8, 2024

HVAC system manufacturers design them with the principle of energy efficiency to ensure consumers enjoy a comfortable indoor environment without high utility bills. But have you ever wondered what the science behind energy efficiency is? 1. System Size The market has different HVAC system sizes, with more extensive systems for large spaces and smaller designs for smaller areas. Oversized systems may frequently turn on and off while undersized systems may overwork to meet the temperature demand. This leads to high energy consumption. The size of an HVAC unit is determined by British Thermal Units (BTUs). Systems

What are the benefits of boilers for my home?

November 17, 2023

Instead of using forced air to heat homes, boilers use radiant heating. Radiant heating is when the system heats radiators, baseboards or in-floor piping to distribute heat. While choosing a boiler for your Paxton home is a major choice, there are many benefits that this heating source offers. Even Heat Distribution Compared to forced-air systems that require a significant amount of hot air to gather towards the ceiling before it spreads out and heats your home, the heat distribution from a boiler tends to be more even. The radiant heat that the boiler produces heats all