April 7, 2017


Air Conditioner Maintenance

Before the hot St. Louis summer is here, make sure your attic has proper ventilation to reduce your energy costs

An HVAC system has to face a host of battles to ensure efficient indoor air conditioning. One such problem that can adversely impact HVAC efficiency is ventilation in attic spaces. This problem is more pronounced in the warm months when an attic heats up due to the trapped heat from the sun. This heat can radiate through the ceiling and lead to uneven cooling. Our St. Louis HVAC technicians explain the issue in detail.

Beating the Excess Attic Heat

Most homeowners do not feel the need to direct ventilation ducts right up to the attic spaces unless the attic serves as a living space and is converted into an extra room.

However, ensuring proper attic ventilation can ensure that unused attic spaces do not trap heat. Stagnant hot air can be replaced with fresh outdoor air by using attic fans. There are two types of attic fans:

  • Rooftop fans: These fans are installed on the top of the attic roof. They work by performing two functions of repelling stagnant air and replacing it with fresh air at the same time.
  • Gable fans: Gable fans, on the other hand, consist of two separate units that are installed on two opposite sides of the attic. One fan blows in fresh air whereas the second fan sucks the stagnant air out.

Both of these types of fans are available in solar-powered options. These make very good energy efficient and cost-effective options to keep attics well ventilated.

Keeping Moisture Out

Apart from trapping excess heat, unventilated attics are also notorious for ending up as damp moist places due to trapped natural moisture. Apart from natural moisture, attics can also trap moisture from showers, kitchen cooking, and other sources of moisture in the house below.

Trapped moisture can lead to the growth of mold, mildew and a host of bacteria, making attics unhealthy places to inhabit or use as storage. Moreover, depending on the type of insulation, mildew can attack insulation and spread to other rooms of the house as well, adding to health risks.

Effective Attic Sealing

A simple yet effective method to ensure that your attic is well ventilated and that the attic fan works efficiently is to ensure that the rest of the house, including any cracks and gaps in the ceiling are well sealed by good quality insulation. This tight seal will prevent the circulating air in the attic from sucking in the conditioned air from the house, and will help boost energy efficiency.

To ensure effective attic sealing, it is essential to conduct a thorough inspection of the attic, the ceiling, and the rest of the house. All barriers should be well sealed to prevent conditioned air form escaping. Such an inspection should always be conducted by a trained, qualified and experienced St. Louis HVAC technician.

HVAC Maintenance St. Louis

Scott-Lee Heating Company offers Precision Maintenance Agreements for customers who want to keep their systems running at peak performance. When your heating and cooling equipment runs efficiently, you save energy. Save energy and you will save money too. Get a Scott-Lee Precision Maintenance Agreement now before the unexpected happens, and you could help prevent costly breakdowns later.

Call us today at (314) 200-0788 or fill out our online contact form. Our certified technicians will diagnose any problems or system failures, perform precision maintenance and ensure that your equipment is operating according to specifications recommended by the manufacturer.

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