It is not unusual for a family to argue over the thermostat settings. Not everyone within a household prefers the same room temperature. Families often have disagreements over the heat settings; one person wants to crank up the heat and others want to bring it down a bit. If you are looking for a solution to this problem, our St. Louis HVAC expert has some simple tips for you and your family. Conflict over temperatures generally occur on gender lines as women tend to have slower metabolic rates compared to men, so they feel the cold more. A recent study has also shown that air-conditioned offices are designed for male employees, while women are left to shiver in the middle of summer. Here are some tips for those who find themselves in the middle of the battle over room temperatures. Space Heaters Modern space heaters are relatively efficient and considered safe as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Space heaters offer an easy solution to allow a family member to increase the temperature of his or her room while others can keep the thermostat at the temperature they desire. Improve Your HVAC System’s Efficiency If your arguments over the furnace revolve around money, consider making some efficiency upgrades to save...
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A poorly maintained HVAC system may circulate pollutants and microbes into the air, causing severe illness. HVAC systems play a crucial role in keeping your home comfortable. Proper maintenance of an HVAC system is essential to get the best performance and to safeguard the health and well-being of your family. A poorly maintained system may circulate pollutants into the air that can cause allergies and can become a breeding ground for disease-causing microbes. You may be surprised to know that some of these microbes can cause serious illnesses such as Legionnaire’s disease. Legionnaire’s Disease Legionnaire’s disease is a lung disease that is caused by a bacterium known as legionella pneumophila. Legionnaire’s disease has become more common in recent years. The most common symptoms of this lung disease include: muscle pain weakness chills fever mild headaches mental stress A person may also experience some symptoms of pneumonia such as chest pain and shortness of breath. Many of these symptoms mimic other pulmonary illnesses; a doctor is needed to make a correct diagnosis using a urine test. The symptoms may not present themselves immediately. It may take up to two weeks for symptoms to completely develop. Legionnaire’s Disease and HVAC Systems Legionnaire’s disease can be spread by HVAC systems. The bacterium responsible for this illness exists in natural water...
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Local St. Louis business, Scott-Lee Heating Company, Inc., is recognized by Enertech as one of the nation’s premier geothermal installers! (GREENVILLE, IL – April 20, 2016) – Local residents don’t have to look far to find a highly qualified geothermal installer to help them reduce their carbon footprint and save money on monthly utilities. Enertech Global, manufacturer of GeoComfort geothermal heating and cooling systems, hosted its annual Dealer Meeting April 13-18, celebrating its 20th anniversary, and recognizing its top dealers from 2015. Local St. Louis business, Scott-Lee Heating Company, Inc., is one of the nation’s premier geothermal installers, having earned the Double Diamond award during the 20th Annual Enertech Global Dealer Meeting held in Cancun, Mexico. They offer the complete line of GeoComfort geothermal equipment and accessories for residential and commercial heating, cooling and hot water comfort systems and have significant experience installing and servicing these systems. Enertech President and CEO Steve Smith presented Scott-Lee Heating Company, Inc. with the distinguished award for demonstrating excellence in sales, installation and customer service. “We believe we have the best dealers in the industry,” said Smith. “They can be counted on to provide the ultimate comfort experience for the homeowner, and to hold...
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Keep your building’s HVAC system running smoothly with these commercial HVAC tips. As a facility manager, one of your responsibilies is to ensure the HVAC system keeps your facility at an optimum temperature. How can you get the most from your building’s HVAC system and how long can you expect the system to last? Average Life Expectancy of Commercial HVAC System The life of an HVAC system depends on many factors. In general, a commerical HVAC system has an average life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. A central air conditioning unit can last up to 15 years and a heating furnace has a life expectancy of about 20 years, assuming that they have been properly maintained. Several factors that an HVACs functioning depends on include: the model the manufacturer current age maintenance history the size of the facility Regular maintenance is one of the most important factors that can prolong the life of an HVAC system. A system that is regularly serviced will perform better, with fewer breakdowns and repairs. Prolong the HVACs Life 1. Regular maintenance –Lack of maintenance is the number one reason why any HVAC system will die out before its time. Every machine needs regular maintenance. If an HVAC system is not regularly serviced, it must work harder and will be less efficient. 2. Replacement time – Once an HVAC is...
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Learn about basic HVAC equipment to better understand how your HVAC system works. Are you familiar with the different types of HVAC equipment that make air conditioning and heating possible? Here is some information on basic HVAC equipment and their functions to help you better understand how your HVAC system operates. Coils There are two types of coils – evaporator coils and condenser coils. The condenser coil facilitates heat exchange and condenses hot refrigerant gas. It then releases the refrigerant back into the evaporator coil, turning the air into cold air. The cooled air is then blown through the house’s ductwork. Ductwork Ductwork is normally made of aluminum and is placed within the ceiling. Ductwork is responsible for distributing air to different rooms in the house. Furnace The furnace is the HVAC system’s heat supplier and sends heat to all ducts in the home. There are two types of furnaces – single-stage and two-stage furnaces. A single-stage furnace features an on and off function and a two-stage furnace operates through the thermostat. A two-stage furnace is more efficient because it switches itself off when the desired temperature is reached. Thermostat The thermostat controls the furnace by sensing the temperature and alerting the furnace. A thermostat can be either manual or programmable. Programmable thermostats help save energy...
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It can sometimes be difficult to keep your hardwood or tile floors warm. Here are some HVAC solutions for keeping your toes warm! When people consider house heating solutions, they generally consider solutions that heat the air around them. The cold, chilly floors are often neglected. Thermal socks, thick carpets and fuzzy slippers offer only temporary solutions for your loved ones. Try as you might you cannot ensure that your young children and toddlers will keep those socks on. Though your home’s HVAC system can take care of air temperature issues, floors often get left out. For houses that have floors made of wood, stone, or ceramic tiling, the heating system makes very little or no difference. How Can you Keep Your Floors Warm? Keeping the floors warm at times requires simple measures. These are easy steps that can be taken to not only keep floors warm but also ensure the whole house temperature is taken care of. Keep the cold air out – Look at areas in the house where cold drafts enter and keep those shutters shut. Any cracks and holes between walls and baseboards that let air in can be filled up with any sealant. Check if...
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Are you looking for ways to improve energy efficiency and save on heating and cooling costs? Maintain your home’s HVAC system and you will get the best performance from it. Are you looking for ways to improve energy efficiency and to save on heating and cooling costs? Our St. Louis HVAC expert from Scott-Lee Heating Company will share a simple and low cost way to save you money this year. Ceiling fans are a great way to improve energy savings in a home. A ceiling fan does not use more power than a 100 watt light bulb and can help you save money on utility bills throughout the year. Ceiling fans provide various benefits during both winter and summer. Winter Benefits of Ceiling Fans Running ceiling fans clockwise throughout winter months can reduce heating costs by over 10 percent. Irrespective of what season it is, warm air always rises upwards, towards the ceiling. A ceiling fan running clockwise pushes warm air against the ceiling and down the walls, thereby recirculating warm across the room without creating any cold drafts. Summer Benefits of Ceiling Fans Running a ceiling fan in a counter-clockwise direction in the summer months provides great energy savings. Ceiling fans do not bring down the room temperature, but...
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Leaving a window open on a cold, winter day can cause heat loss and waste a lot of energy. There are other sources of heat loss in every home that are often overlooked. Fireplaces, clothes dryers, and folding attic stairs are also sources of air leakage and heat loss, causing cold drafts and higher energy bills. Air leaks are the largest source of heating loss in any home. Air leaks can occur through small cracks around windows, doors, and pipes. These leaks can be stopped with weather-stripping or caulking to reduce heat loss. Our St. Louis HVAC experts provide tips on sealing and insulating these holes. Attic Stairs When a folding attic stair is installed, a large hole is created in the ceiling and the insulation is removed. The hole is then covered by a thin and uninsulated sheet of plywood. The attic space is ventilated to the outdoors, and in cold weather, the attic can be very cold. Only a thin plywood sheet separates the unconditioned attic area from your conditioned home. A low-cost solution to this problem is to install an attic stair cover, which provides an air seal and reduces air leads. Add insulation over the attic stair cover to restore the insulation that was removed at the time...
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If your utility bills are showing some unusual spikes, a faulty furnace might be the culprit. If there is no change in the number of people living in the home or the way you consume power, then your furnace might be causing this spike. Our St. Louis HVAC expert will provide tips on maintaining your furnace in a way that keeps your utility bills under control. Regular Inspections Make sure you get your furnace inspected at regular intervals just like you get your car and other equipment inspected. This will ensure that your furnace is always in perfect working condition and is safe for your family. There are a variety of things that can go wrong with your furnace, so it is best to have a professional St. Louis HVAC company inspect your furnace. It is possible that your furnace may be old and may not be working as efficiently as it used to. The problem could be as simple as the thermostat not being accurate or set properly or the heat pump might be switching to auxiliary heat. There could be several other problems affecting your furnace. There could be leaks in the ductwork or seals around the house, lack of...
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Keep your home warm and cozy without increasing your heating costs. Cranking up the furnace is one way to keep your house warm, but it could be costly in terms of energy expenses and environmental impact. We will recommend some simple ways to keep your home warm without increasing your energy bills. Weather Proof the Garage Doors You might be letting in cool air through the garage doors. Weatherstrip and insulate the garage doors and seal all cracks around the windows. Check the Furnace Filter Regularly Change the furnace filter every month during the winter season according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A clean air filter will improve the efficiency of your furnace and keep you warm even during the coldest of winter months. Check the Vents Make sure that your HVAC system’s vents are clean and not clogged with dirt or blocked by furniture. This is important to ensure that warm air circulates freely across the house. Prevent Cold Attic Air From Cooling Your House The attic access cover and staircase may be a source of cold drafts. Weatherstripping is a good way to counter this problem. Ask your St. Louis HVAC contractor for a ready-made insulating attic access cover. Minimize Heat Loss Through Windows Windows are a major source of heat loss. Use weather stripping and caulking to prevent heat...
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