When Is the Right Time To Change HVAC Filters?

Now that Missouri has seen the first snowstorms of the season, it is time to think about how well your furnace is running. We cannot stress enough how important routine maintenance checks on your home’s HVAC system are. If you have not already done so, we recommend that you schedule one immediately as the temperatures drop even further. Asking For Help From Your HVAC Technician While the certified HVAC technician is out at your home, ask about the filters he installs and how often they need to be replaced. Depending on the grade of filter material used, they should be replaced once a month or once every three months. The filters are easily accessible on most models and this is the only time an HVAC technician should tell you that it is OK to do that maintenance yourself. Have him show you exactly where the filter is in the system and the easiest way to remove it. Ask questions about how it should appear when it needs to be changed. An overabundance of buildup in a month’s time may indicate a serious problem that needs to be addressed by your HVAC company. Understanding the Size and Type of Filter To...

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frustrated homeowner

DIY Projects and HVAC Systems – Never a Good Idea

You may believe that by tackling HVAC maintenance yourself, you are saving a lot of money.  However, you may want to consider the problems you could be creating for yourself. In this age of do it yourself home improvement projects, many people are led to believe that the need for a certified HVAC technician has become obsolete. Homeowners think that by tackling maintenance themselves, they may be saving a lot of money. This is simply not true for anything beyond a simple filter change. A home’s HVAC system is very complex, and should only be handled by an experienced and licensed technician. Safety First There is a huge array of issues to consider when dealing with a central air conditioner or furnace in a home. First of all, the source of power needs to be taken into consideration. Air conditioners generally run on electricity. Messing around with the connections could cause you to be electrocuted or put your home at risk for fire if not properly installed. The same is true for an electric furnace. Gas furnaces pose an entirely different risk of possibly polluting the air inside your home if not handled properly. Not to mention the possibility of...

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St. Louis arch in winter

Keeping Free From Winter Viruses

The winter season is upon us, and with it will undoubtedly come another round of the flu virus. Viruses thrive in the winter and your home may be a perfect breeding ground for them. It is important to try and protect your family, especially infants and the elderly, as the flu can cause life-threatening symptoms to them. A whole house humidifier can help protect you and your loved ones from airborne illnesses as well as improve the efficiency of your furnace. Why Dry Air Can Make You Sick While a furnace provides heat to your house, it does not add moisture to the air. Cold air is less humid than warm air, so when you combine those two factors you end up with a warm, dry climate inside the house. The air, looking for moisture, will pull as much as it can from you and your family. Throats and noses dry out and your body loses some of its protection from germs. Any germs expelled from coughing or sneezing are quickly distributed throughout your house until they find a new place to grow, usually inside  dry throats and nasal passages. Benefits of a Whole House Humidifier One solution to keeping...

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hot water faucet

No One Wants a Cold Shower

We all have the expectation – turn the knob with the H and hot water comes out like magic. You probably do not pay much attention to your water heater until it suddenly stops working. How your home’s water is heated is an integral part of its heating and cooling system. If you are experiencing issues with it you should call your local HVAC company to come to take a look at it. A Lack of Hot Water The first and most obvious sign of trouble with your water heater is a lack of hot water. No one in Missouri wants to be subjected to a cold shower in January. It could be something simple, like a blown pilot light, or it could be an indicator of something more serious requiring replacement parts. In either event, an HVAC expert will quickly identify the issue and repair it. The Color of the Water If you are suddenly noticing that your water has a slight reddish-brown tint, then rust has begun to collect on the inside walls of the tank. The anode rod inside the tank most likely needs to be replaced. The system may also need to be flushed to help remove...

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Detecting Leaks In Your Home

Small leaks to the outside world can cost a homeowner hundreds of dollars in lost energy. In an effort to save costs on home heating bills, many people have gone to great lengths to ensure that no outside air is able to enter their home. Small leaks to the outside world can cost a homeowner hundreds of dollars in lost energy. Luckily there are some easy ways for you to detect leaks in your home and correct them. An Outside Visual Test Start off with an outside visual test. Examine any point in the structure of your home where two different types of building materials come into contact, such as an outdoor faucet. Check for cracks or breaks in the sealant and reapply as needed. Exterior corners of a home are a big source of energy loss. Check these carefully, or ask an HVAC technician if you have any doubts about its ability to keep outside air from entering the home. Next An Indoor Inspection Now it is time for an indoor inspection. You will achieve the best result if you turn off all heating or cooling appliances and shut the windows and doors. Wet your hands and then begin...

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Tips On Staying Warm This Winter Without Breaking Your Budget

There are a number of simple ways to reduce the cost of heating your home. We are already starting to feel the nip of the Winter, and with energy prices once again on the rise, you may be starting to worry about the cost of heating your home. There are a number of simple ways that you can combat this. With a few minor adjustments and purchases, you should be able to cut a percentage of those costs down. Tune-up The Furnace The first step is to have your furnace tuned up every year by a professional HVAC company. This should include resetting the fuel-air mixture and cleaning the blower and burners. This assures that you are receiving the most possible airflow at complete combustion. Airflow can also be hindered by dirty filters. During the winter months ask your HVAC technician to check them each month and change them when needed. Your HVAC technician can also help you check for any leaks or disconnected spots in your home’s ductwork. If you have ducts that run through unheated spots, like an attic, make sure that they are well insulated. Install A Programmable Thermostat If you don’t already have one, ask your...

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Do Not Ignore The Noises Coming From Your Furnace

With cold weather already upon us, now is not the time to close your ears and hope that the furnace quiets down. We all grow accustomed to the everyday sounds in our house, and tend to tune them out. If you hear something new coming from your furnace, it is a good idea to have an HVAC technician make a house call to investigate. You do not want to wait until it actually breaks down, especially now, when the weather is so cold. The Sounds of A Noisy Furnace Ignoring a noisy furnace can lead to costly repairs or even a need for a replacement. In some cases it may even be dangerous.  It is imperative that you call an HVAC technician if you notice an unusual noise coming from your furnace. Certain sounds are indicative of a furnace in dire need of cleaning. A dirty furnace can catch on fire and destroy your home. A certain amount of popping or rattling can be expected in your ductwork. The ducts are made of metal, and as it heats and cools it will expand and contract to cause some popping. Rattling is more serious and could indicate that a duct has...

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Cutting Down On The Air Pollution Inside Your Own Home

Many of us spend almost 90% of our time indoors.  Is the air you are breathing indoors making you or your family sick? Air pollution does not just exist outside. In fact, the EPA reports that indoor air can be 100 times more polluted than the air outside, a thought made even more alarming when you consider that we spend almost 90% of our time indoors. Instead of treating the symptoms of air pollution, why not go after the source and have your HVAC experts install a whole-house air purifier? Causes of Indoor Air Pollution Indoor pollution is caused by a number of sources commonly found in your home. Fireplace emissions, stoves, cigarette smoke, and cleaning products all contribute to a poor air quality. High levels of indoor pollution in your home may cause headaches, eye irritation, sinus infections, fatigue, and nausea. If you feel that you or your family suffer from any of these frequently and without explanation then indoor air pollution may be the cause. Consult with a qualified HVAC technician to see how you can benefit from a whole house air purifier. A Whole House Air Purifier System Whole-house air purifiers are installed in conjunction with your...

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Tips On How To Save Money With Your Digital Thermostat

In order to achieve maximum energy efficiency, you must first master the thermostat. You probably walk past it a hundred times a day without ever taking notice, at least until the temperature in your home is uncomfortable. This small, wall-mounted appliance is, in fact, controlling the entire climate of your house. Usually by just the press of a button. In order to achieve maximum energy efficiency from your homes heating and cooling systems, you must first master the thermostat. If you ever have a question or need advice about how to program yours, call your HVAC company. The technician will be happy to show you how to get the best use out of this tiny money saver. How Your Thermostat Works With energy prices constantly on the rise, it may be a good idea to have a basic understanding of how your thermostat works. The look and functionality of household thermostats has changed dramatically over the years. They used to be fairly simple, utilizing mercury and two separate thermometers to control the temperature. Adjustments were made by sliding a small lever across a field of temperatures or turning a dial. Today thermostats are digital and can be programmed to shut...

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Not Maintaining Your Homes Furnace May Kill You

Know the dangers of not maintaining your homes furnace. Thousands of Americans will be flipping the switch in the next coming weeks and setting their thermostats to 68 degrees without giving it a second thought. They will expect their furnace to work just as fine this winter as it did last winter and will never even think about having an HVAC tech come out to perform routine maintenance. In fact, many people do not think about an HVAC tech at all, until something breaks. The trouble with that plan is that in the meantime, your unmaintained furnace could be killing you. Avoid Costly Repairs or Replacements We all know that yearly maintenance can save us expensive repairs or replacement in the long run and yet many people still choose to avoid it. Unfortunately many of us adhere to the adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Trouble is, if the furnace is not cleaned and maintained, it will break. Let’s look at the monetary side first. A system that is not cleaned does not run as efficiently. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are blown away each year by homeowners who do not keep up with furnace maintenance. Changing out...

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